DISTRICT NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4469, 20 September 1922, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

IUBUA. town board election. An election to fill the vacancy on the Turua Town Board created by the resignation of Mr E. L. Whimp is set down to take place on Thursday, September 28, nominations to clpse today. POSTAL. It is apparent that postal services in the Thames Valley could be speeded up somewhat. Only last week a letter posted in Morrinsville took four days fn reaching a business man at Turua. CHURCH BUILDING FUND. Ip an endeavour to augment the funds to erect an Anglican Church at Turua the Thames Literary Vagabonds last week gave a. very entertaining concert'before a large audience in the Victoria Hall. The programme included two short sketches, "Box and Cox” and “The Bathroom Door,” which were greatly appreciated. Included in the Vagabonds numbers were Mrs Garland, Misses Beck, Wilson, Messrs Gleeson, Gallop, Marshall, and. Garland. As a result of the entertainment the church building fund should benefit considerably. — * NGATEA. , - A REMOVAL. On Monday the work commenced of removing the county engineer’s office from its present position opposite the boardinghouse to the pound site. STOCK SALE. The Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd-, hield a stock sale at its Ngatea yards on Friday, when also Mr J. Dunwopdie’s effects were sold. Tnere was a fair yarding, including large entries of store cows, but the demand was not very keen. The demand for stock in general is slack, not that the stock is not wanted, but the necessary capital does not appear to be available. The following prices were realised : Good 3-yearold heifers,, £5 to £11; store cows, 10s to 30fe; yearling steers, 25s ; 2,-yeanold heifers, £3 ; bulls, 10s; store pigs, 23s ; sows,, 50s, The furniture and effects were sold at ruling rates. THE SEASON'S PROSPECTS. ' With favourable weather the grass is coming on very well and'there is now plenty of feed. The cows are milking well, as is shown by the increased supply to the factory. The cream launch now runs daily to Patetonga. The demand'for store pigs at present appe.ars ,to be influenced by the current rumour that only 4d per ib i& to be paid for baconers. ■ 'THE SCHOOL ROLL. The roll number at the Ngatea school is increasing weekly, and has now reached the century. The average for a recent few weeks has been ,92, which, if maintained for a quarter, is the required standard for another teacher to be made available for the school. . COMMUNITY SINGING. . Yet another successful singing evening was held in the Ngatea Hall on Tuesday, with Mr Schultz ip the chair and Mr J. Banks as song lead-' er. Items were rendered by Messrs Jarman, Titchener, Bradley, and Hobin, and Miss Lux, while the Misses -Costello obliged with an “Irish Jig," all of which were well received and called for special commendation from the chairman. Mahy old favourites were sung, and a happy and enjoyable evening passed only too swiftly. A collection was made for the proposed Ngatea Public Library. PUBLIC LIBRARY. At the close of the community singing a meeting .was held to endeavour to inaugurate a public library. The chairman (Mr Schultz), in his opening remarks, said that a library was an essential to Ngatea, and that now that the old settlers’, post offce had been vacated it. was suggested that the building could be obtained for a library. After some discussion it was unanimously decided to go on with the proposition, and the following committee was elected : Messrs Walton, McDuff, Jamieson, Norrisi, and Hemmings, Mesdames Dudding, Costello McKercher, and Potter. The matter of raising funds was left in the hands of the committee. At a isubsequent meeting qf the committee Mr Walton was elected chairman and the Rev. Hemmings secretary. Messrs McDuff and Norris formed a committee to acquire the old post office, which, if acquired, will probably be placed in the pound site until such time as the site is required for building purposes. It was also decided to canvass for subscriptions 1 ; also to ask for gifts of books, magazines, etc. TENNIS CLUB. Tennis is now in full swing at Ngatea. Applicants fon membership are rolling up daily, and there is every prospect of a strong club being formed. They are realising that the present tennis court at the school will be too small for such a membership and that they will have to exert themselves to find an extension of at least an extra court. X WAITAKARURU. LAUNCHSERVICES. Recently a meeting of Waitakaruru. settlers passed a resolution supporting the present route (via Thames) for the carrying of the mail. It now appears that the launch at present on the run is to be taken off at the end of the month. The local branch of the Farmers’ Union is now making endeavours to invite some launch-owner to run a daily service between Waitakaruru and Thames. PATETONGA. DAIRY FARMERS’ UNION. At a well attended public meeting held last week it was unanimously decided to form a branch of the Dairy Farmers’ Union. Mr Fear (organiser.) gave a very interesting and Instructive address on the aims and objects of the union and Mr Harkness, Government dairy instructor, also spoke briefly, and intimated that Mr Fear and himself intended io again visit Patetonga at an early date to give more details on. the various

subjects pertaining to the dairying industry. NEW BILLIARD ROOM. Messrs Evans Bros, have just had completed a .very compact and roomy billiard room, which was opened a few days ago. They are to be congratulated on their enterprise, and the completeness oP the building.