HIKUTAIA NOTES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4467, 15 September 1922, Page 2

HIKUTAIA NOTES.

PICTURES. The picture, "Over, the Hill, ’ screened in the Public Hall on Wednesday night, was viewed by an audience that filled the hall, even though the prices were double those usually charged for admission. Owing to the ‘ energy of the management this picture, which proved so popular, and liad so long a run in Auckland, was shown simultaneously in Paerpa and Hiktuaia, a relay of cars carrying the spools from where the entertainment commehced at 7 p.m., to Paeroa, where the usual opening hour was observed. ACCIDENTS. Mr W. H. Alley met last Saturday with an accident which, though, not at all of a serious nature, will necessitate, according to medical advice, cessation of work for a ■week. On going home from the pictures on Wednesday a middle-aged resident, Mrs Oliver, had a. narrow escape from what might have proved a serious accident. To avoid a car with dazzling head-lights which was coming from Thames Mrs Oliver, stepped so far to one side of the road that without any warning she found herself standing in the ditch, which runs parallel to the road—a ditch which is between six and seven feet deep and contained three or four feet of water and mud. Fortunately, her cries for assistance were heard, and, when extricated from her highly unpleasant and malodorous position, it was found that ■ she was bleeding profusely from a nasty wound on the forehead, and that shd was suffering from the shock engendered by the sudden fall. Mrs Oliver was taken to the hospital at Thames, where it was found that the wound was not so serious as the loss of blood portended. Except for the shock she is doing well. Accidents of this kind have been anticipated for a long time, as these ditches fjre veritable traps. An especially dangerous one is that, at the crossing to'the footpath on the east of the hotel, the dapger being aggravated by the fact that the ditch occurs on each side of a piped Crossing, which on a,dark night is difficult to negotiate without making acquaintance with the sticky, black ooze tbat forms the bottom. This neighbourhood is a real “danger, zone,,” and will, unless something is done at once to remedy matters, sooner or later become the scene of a painful, if not a fatal, accident to man and beast. STRAY DOG PEST. The number of stray dogs at large makes the ordinary man in the street wonder if the “gentleman collars” ever visits the township. That the poundkeeper does is now well known to several residents who only escaped a trip to Paeroa or Thames by paying on the spot ta the ranger the pound fees that liberated their captured cows. Similar energy on the part of tlie dog registrar would net a bountiful harvest, and would have the effect of ridding the place of numerous pests. SALVATION ARMY “RALLY.” For quite a year now the officers of the Salvation Army, whose headquarters are at Paeroa, have conducted a Sunday School in the Hikutaia Hall. Well attended, the institution has proved a success, and to celebrate that success, as well as its anniversary, a “rally” was held on Thursday night, when quite a large concourse of pupils and their parents and friends assembled ,at the hall to show their sympathy with the Army’s effort. With songs, recitations, and games i very pleasant evening: was spent, a highly popular item on the enjoyable programme being the supper, to which ample justice was done. COMMUNITY SINGING. The programme for the third community sing-song has just been issued and contains a large number of the old favourite songs judiciously blended with a sprinkling, of new ones. As this will most probably be the last the evening of the 20th should see the hall packed. There is sbme talk of finishing up the series with a short dance.