HIKUTAIA NOTES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4459, 28 August 1922, Page 2

HIKUTAIA NOTES.

(By Scrutator.) OBITUARY. Mr. Lowry, senr., an old and respected resident and fanner of Hikutaia, passed away in Auckland a fjew days ago. The only members of his family living here now are Mr R- RLowry, the owner of the original farm, and .his sister, Mrs Trembath. Mr J. M. Levin, who died under an anaesthetic in Thames Hospital last Monday, was a newcomer to Hikutaia, he being in charge of the painters • engaged op the new school. Genial and kindly, he was highly esteemed by all who came in contact with him, and the suddenness of his decease came with somewhat startling effec.. NEW BUILDING. The first portion of! the timber for the bungalow of eleven rooms which is to be built to the order of Mrs JCorbett is novr on the ground, so that building operations are imminentThe contract price is said to be under five thousand pounds, the successful tenderer being Mr Pratt, of Hamilton. Thjc new post office, the' new school, and Mrs Corbett’s residence in a line on the Hiktuaia; Paeroa road, form substantial evidence Of progress. THE RAINFALL. Farmers are now inclined to believe that the rainfall has been too copious and top cold to permit of rapid growth. For the sake of allowing the water logged paddocks to get rid of the superabundant moisture a Fairly long dry spell would prove advantageous, COMMUNITY SINGING. • A community sing-song has. been fixed for Tuesday “night. : Mr. ML C. Smith will act as chairnxan, while Mr Venables, the well-known singer of Te Aroha, has kindly agreed to act as song leafier. HIKUTAIA SCHOOL. A Certificate of Merit in Ru al Science for the year 1921 was received at the Hikutaia School during the last week. Unfortunately, bui.filing operations have utterly destroyed; the pretty garden of last year, yrheo the blaze of colour gave :o the surroundings a. well-cared for appearance.

BOWLING CLUB. The first annual general meeting of the Hiktuaia Bowling, Tennis, and Croquet Club was held in. the School on Wednesday evening, Mr W. HAlley presiding over a largo ajid representative attendance. Th 3 report of the Executive Committee showed that the membership of those clubs was satisfactory, but regretted that owing to inclement weather the bowling green and tennis courts were not in the forward state anticipated. Like the King of Spain whose Armada had beep so disastrously shattered, the grounds superintendent had been beaten by the weather after a very great deal of excavation and levelling'had been accomplished—so much sbs, that a coliplc of days’ work was all that was required to level off the tennis .courts, which, that done, .would shortly be 'available for play, while a comparatively small amount of work. was ' needed to prepare the bowling-green for the grass seed, by far the greater portion of the work having been done by voluntary labour. The timber fbr a pavilion was now on the ground. In order to perpetuate of those who left neven to return —to serve in the effeat War, it has been decided to erect :hia.ndsome and substantial memorial gates, the posts., f,or which had been promised by Mr R. R. Lowry, and a fund, now amounting to over £3O, was in hand, as a nucleus to that end, such gates 4o _be erected at the entrance to the groundST'wMeh bore the appropriate name, “Alley kjfefflQTial_ Ad~ vice and assistance had been recSY* 5 ed from many bowlers. Among those whose help had been very valuable were Mr Adamson, of Thames, and Mr Hamiltion, caretaker pf the Paeroa Domain, who had visited the park and bad advised as to its lay-out and ornamentation; Mr Pearson, superintendent of the Auckland Parks, whose expert knowledge of the formation of bowling greens and tennis courts was placed at. the committee’s disposal; and to Messrs Darcke and Hodgkenson, of Hamiltion, who alsp forwarded valuable information.

The treasurer’s statement showed substantial balances in the bank, but also disclosed the fact that many subscriptions were still outstanding, and at .a time .when money was urgently required if the activities so well begun were to be successful! v continued.

Both report,.and balance ii.eet were adopted as read. The rules and by-laws were discussed seriatim, and When passed in toto, it was decided that the club b fi registered as an incorporated body under “The Incorporated Societies Act, 1908 the secretary being instructed to take the necessary steps. The election of office-bearers then took place, the following appointments to the Executive Committee being made : Secretary, Mr J. Elliot; treasurer, Mr F. Maxwell ; auditor, Mr Walter: grounds superintendent, Mr H. Morrison; executive committee, Messrs W. H. Alley, E. Elliot, A. R. Robinson, and I. Robinson, with Messrs A.W . Alley, M. C. Smith, and G. Avery as representat’ves of the Bowling, Tennis, .and Croquet clubs, respectively. As a direction to the newly-fclected executive committee the following motion was unanimously carried: “That the bowliiig green and tennis courts be completed at the earliest date possible, and to that end paid labour be employed.” A vote of thanks to the chairman brought proceedings to a conclusion.