DISTRICT NEWS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4474, 2 October 1922, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS

NGATEA. EFFECT OF THE RAIN.. . While most of the farmers are rejoicing as the result of the recent warm rain, there is at least one Ngatea farmer who declares that he did not want rain for his farm. It appears that on the eastern side pf the river at Ngatea rpin was required ever so much more than by a portion on .the other side; " One farmer on the western side of the river stated that if there was a great deal of rain it would cause his cattle to scour and yield less milk. The cattle were quite healthy then. There was enough grass before the rain, and the cows were doing well on it. but there was not nearly as much grass now as ther<e was this time last year. The twp days pf warm rain and warm nights has had a wonderful effect on the growth of the grass, which is now coming away very well. ELECTRIC WIRES. Recently wires had been put on to the pole whiejh a short while back was placed on the Ngatea bridge by the Thames Valley Power Board, but as a consequence scows have had difficulty in passing through the bridge as a result pf the presence 0( the wires. The obstructing wires were removed on Wednesday. PERSONAL. Mr H. E. Haryey (local factory manager) was absent from Ngatea for a few days this week attending the factory managers’ conference tn Auckland. BUILDING OPERATIONS. Considerable activity is being shown in the building trade at Ngatea. The work of erecting a new store is to com4nence early this week, while timber is also arriving for the teacher’s residence. Timber has also been landed, it is stated, for a billiard saloon. The county engineer’s house is also soon to be erected. PROPOSED CRICKET CLUB. . It is stated that there is a mover ment. afoot to form a cricket club at Ngatea. If such a body is formed an endeavour should be made to .induce oher centres also to form clubs so that competitions can be arranged. THE FACTORY. The supply of cream to the Ngatea butter factory is steadily increasing, and the plant should, soon be working at its full capacity. For a recent week the butter output exceeded 1000 boxes. A portion of the factpry plant is to be driven by electric'power. Electric lighting is, however, to be installed first. - PATETONGA. A DISTRICT NURSE. Recently the Thames Hospital Board had been approached by the local settlers to provide a nurse for the district. The Board had favourably considered the proposal, stipulating that it would provide a nurse and hen salary if the settlers would arrange the accommodation. A nieeting to consider the raising of funds for this project was held in Mr Alex Whiteman’s house at Patetonga last week, Kaihere, Mangawhero, and Patetonga districts being represented. There were present Messi's J. Patterson (chairman), T.McLouglhlin, J- Christie. A, Whiteman, F. J. Mayn, and J. Wilkins, secretary. A proposal to issue subscription lists was discussed, and it was eventually' decided to circulate lists, th-., vitin g each adult to donate ss, KAIHERE. ROAD GRAVELLING. As the clay roads on the Hauraki Plains become consolidated they become better able to receive metal. The Lands Department recently signified its intention to metal the Ngatea-Kai-here road. A portion of it »s soon to be done apd a contract is now being let to gravel a portion of that road from Mi* T. McLoughlin’s farm to the end of the present gravelling. It is understood that the work is to commence shortly. KOPUABAHI. BUTTER MAKING. A meeting of suppliers ot the N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Co.’s Shelly Beach factory was held last week, Mr D. J. O’Carroll presiding. . The local director, Mr W. B. Hale, was present. The marketing conditions were, reviewed and the season’s prospects discussedIt was decided to continue making butter for another month. It was considered that the railing conditions for he marketing of cheese would hot warrant an immediate change to cheese making. POLITICAL ADDRESS.. An interested visitor at the suppliers’ meeting was Mr A. J. Whiteside, the Liberal-Labour candidate for the Thames Electorate. At an appropriate interval the aspirant fopolitical honours gave a brief address. He said he had not yet commenced his campaign, but was merely moving round the constituency organising for the forthcoming campaign. He criticised the Reform Government, especially the administration of the railways. He also briefly extolled the merits of the party he represented. WAITAKARURU. i LAUNCH SERVICE. rhe last regular, launch from Waitakaruru to Thames was run on Friday. The Idfcal branch of the Farmers’ Union has been endeavouring to arrange for another launch to run a daily service, but to date nothing definite is known of the 'negotiations. If the local branch of thp N.Z. Farmers’ Union is unable to make suitable arrangements for the running of a launch service from Thames co Waitakaruru the district will be in a quandary, as a large amount of goods is carried on that route. The last trip of the present launch was on Friday. The local branch of the Farmers’ Union was making every effort' to induce some other launch owner to take over a daily run, and it is understood that the branch was

in communication with a launch proprietor who it was hoped would take over the service. TENNIS CLUB. Like its kindred bodies in other centres the Waitakaruru Tennis Club is organising-tor the coming summer. The members are showing considerable activity, and are looking forwaid with keen interest to the forthcoming Laidlaw Cup competition. The animal meeting is to be held shortly. PIPIROA. PERMANENT ROADS. Among the new ridings which the Hauraki Pla'ns County Council has decided will come into being next year the Pipiroa Riding will be the ’ most favourably situated for a pe--manent reading scheme. Right from the western boundary jat the Waitakarurn canal to the eastern extremity oh the Piako River there is a splendid road for nearly the whole of the distance ; also for about a mile along the road from Dalgety’s corner to Ngatea there is a splendid newly- ' formed road put down by the Lands Department. The remainder of the roads in that riding are mostly m fairly good order. This fact .has already been recognised by/some of the ratepayers, who, it is said, propose raisihg a loan for a permanent reading scheme. Tarred roads, it is believed, are favoured by the ratepayers. This proposal is certainly an admirable idea. Pipiroa has the good roads, and with a substantial loan the even surface can be improved and maintained to the great advantage and a great saving in the finish to the ratepayers concerned,