LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4392, 20 March 1922, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The atmosphere during the weekend was evidently heavily surcharged with especially yesterday. People who were obliged to be near metalware of any kind were not feeling very happy. At times the telephones rang, and ironwork attracted the current. However, no serious consequences Have as yet been reported. A popular win at the Ohinemuri Jockey Club’s meeting at Paeroa on Friday was that of Messrs S. and W, Bain’s (Paeroa) Miss June, who narrowly defeated the favourite Finelli in the Karangahake Handicap for two-year-olds. "Building Society” is the leading item on the .agenda paper for the Paeroa Chamber of Commerce meeting to-morrow night. In our advertising columns sellers for art union tickets are asked to communicate with box 1186, Wellingtop. ' x

Temporary relief for natives in the flood areas of this district .whose crops were destroyed by the last flood is being provided by the Government. In this issue Constable MeClinchy, Paeroa Police Station, advertises for fifty pounds’ worth of potatoes to distribute ampng the natives. ✓There were two things that were very favourably commented upon at the Ohinemuri Jockey Club’s meeting, one being the fine new stewards’ buildings and appointments, .and the other the excellence of the various arrangements as carried cut by the officials. Attention and courtesy were met with on every hand, and all requests were promptly attended to. The secretary (Mp H.. Poland), and those assisting hims are certainly worthy of a worj, of praise, for their combined efforts undoubtedly conduced in no small measure to the success and harmonious tone of the annual fixture.

Owing to the slipping back into position of a lever on the Lands Department's Bucyrus dredge ait Ngarua. and unexpectedly setting the machinery into Mr T. J. Bogue, one of the engineers, had his foot badly crushed and was removed to his home. The rainfall registered on the Hauraki Plains for the 24 hours eliding 8 a.m. to-day is 1.14 in. A large haystack belonging to Mr Hallyburton Johnstone, Ngatea, was burned down on Thursday night during the early hours of the morning. It was still smoking at a late hour on Friday morning. .

The press representatives at the Paeroa Races from Auckland/, Hamilton, Te Aroha, Waihi, Thames, and also the local scribes were very appreciative of the arrangements made for their convenience in the Ohinemuri Jockey Club’s new buildings. The room to themselves and the telephone proved very acceptable indeed, and the sending up to the press room of various particulars (throughout the day saved a lot of worrying work. The good name the Club has gotten for itself by the improved facilities will mean more pressmen another year, and it looks as though the two little tables will have to give place to the system uf having a bench around the wall. Certainly, the pressmen “cover” the Paeroa meeting with more ease and pleasure now than they could possibly have done in the past.

Three men, reports the “Gazette” Hauraki Plains staff reporter, received electric shocks last evening during the progress of the thunderstorm. They were standing on a concrete kerbing at the residence of Mr Hallyburlon Johnstone, Ngatea, when one man received such a shock that he was sent rolling along the pathway. Mr Johnstone himself was affected, and the third man felt a distinct electric shock. Similar instances are reported from other parts of the Plains.

On the occasion of a recent burial in the Paeroa Cemetery there were several remarks on the inconvenience caused by the position of the entrance, which' necessitated a long wa'k around with the coffin A loiig carry, on up-hill grade, slippery in wet weather, places a considerable strain on the palKbearers. The locality where the burials are now taking place is near the south-western corner, adjacent to the main road, and a gate at this point would make things much less arduous for those upon whom falls the task of carrying the burden from the hearse to the graveside. It may also be observed that the cemetery is ill-kept, in some cases tl\e position of graves being almost impossible to locate on account of the unsightly growths abounding.

The “Financial News” (London) has an amusing paragraph in reference to the quick flotation df the Thames Valley Power Board’s loan. It states that many “nervous old ladies,” on the look-out for gilt-iedg-ed securities!, thought-the locality referred to was on the Thames River, London, and that the money was required to pay for the electrification of some part of the world’s metropolis. They were greatly astonished and somewhat perturbed when they found out that it was a New Zealand concern the money was going to. The “News” kindly comments that perhaps the Thames Valley, New Zealandi, is just as sound commercially as the populous and wealthy place frpm which it takes its name, and that the said “nervous old ladies” r.eed have no fear as to the soundness of the security or the prompt payment of interest and principal in due course.

Outdoor sales are specialised in by T. Parker, the Thames auctioneer. In a replace advertisement in this issue it is intimated that Parker’s Auction Mart, Thames is the sole address.