DISTRICT NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4483, 25 October 1922, Page 1

DISTRICT NEWS.

NETHERTON. ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER. The Thames Valley Electric Power Board’s jnen are at present installing electric motors in the farmers’ cowsheds and fitting up the residences in readiness for the electric power and lighting. AH the settlers, however. do not appear to realise the value of tihe power, and in one area Mjhere there are 2fr farmers only five are taking advantage of the power. DRAINS. The Netherton Ratepayers’ Association recently urged that the outlet to the river from Drain H. should be blocked up. It is- now pleasing to note that this wonk is being done and good progress is being made. The dredge working on Drain H. is now a short distance to the south of Wilson’s Road. When completed this, drain should considerably benefit the land affected. SCHOOL LIBRARY. The Netherton school children, desirous of adding to the number of books in their library, have inaugurated a shilling fund .and have subscription lists circulated among the local settlers.

A PRESENTATION.

A very pleasant social evening was spent in the hall at Netherton on Wednesday, 11th inst., when a presentation of a dinner set was made -to Mr and Mrs T. Johnson by the local residents and hall committee. The presentation was entrusted to Mr SJ. Laughlin, and Mr Johnson suitably replied. A euchre tournament was held during the evening, the first piizes being won by Miss Bourne and Mr D. R Anderson Owing to the illness of the pianist, the prompters of the function were obliged to resort to voluntary music for the dancing, and the following willingly obliged: Mrs Sarjant (junr.), Misses Heappey, Rice, and L. Sarjant. Mr G. Sarjant (junr.) .was MLC. PROPOSED NEW CHURCH. A movement is on foot to build a church at'Netherton. It will be unden Ike control of the Presbyterian Church, Paeroa, but will also be open for services conducted by other denominations. In an endeavour to augment the building fund the local ladies’ guild organised a social evening, which took place in the hall last Wednesday. The programme include! vocal items, dancing, ,a euchire tour■ament, and guessing competitions, and with a large number present a very enjoyable evening was spent. Mrs Adams and Mr W., Hill gave songs, while the dance music was given free by Mrs Potter, of NgateaThe euchre tournament .was won by Mrs Harms and Mr W. Richmond. Miss E. Bourne and Miss Dixon were successful in guessing competitions, while in another the following three tied for first place : Mesdames J. A. Lock, A. Craig, and Mr W. Hill. Mr W. Hill undertook the duties ofl M.C. for the evening. DAIRYING. If the roads at Netherton were as attractive in appearance as the pastures there wpuld be few complaints. There is plenty of feed,, the rain having come at the right time. The cows appear to be doing well and one farmer at ahyrate has had good results during the past month. He claims that he has 1 done better this year than he has done for the past twelve years, and during flhe month of September he averaged over one pound of butterfat per cow per day with a fairly large herd. VACANCY ON COUNCIL. Rumours are current of the prospestive candidates to fill the vacancy on the Council occasioned by the resignation of'Cr. Death. The name of one ratepayer, is consistently mentioned as likely tp be a contestant, but it appears that he will not be the only candidate. According to some of the farmers it seems as though there may be two or perhaps three others in opposition.

THE HALL. The Netherton public hall is' shortly to be fitted up with electric light. KEREPEEHL A NEW WHARF. Work h,as commenced on the erection of a new wharf which will he for the exclusive use of the Lands Department The wharf, which is being built near the new depot, will be a well designed structure and able to carry heavy loads. It will be 60ft. long and will carry a ten-ton crane for heavy lifting such as the unloading of dredge parts. A store shed, 29ft. 6in, by 36ft. will be built on the wharf. ROAD METALLING. The road between the wahrf and the Ngatea-Kerepeehi corner is tp be metalled by the Lands Department, and the work has already commenced. This rp.ad certainly requires metalling, as in many places the surface was very uneven. Metalling is' also being done past the corner towards the Wharepoa ferry. The contract has been let for the metalling of the Awaiti West road. MANGAWHERO. WHARF AND SHED. A temporary wharf and shed at the end of the Mangawherp road was recently promised the settlers on the road. Enquiries at the Lands Departement office at Kerepeehi disclosed the fact that the work of erecting the wharf and shed is to be commenced very soon. There is no dpubt that t;he wharf is required, as usually a large amount of cargo is dumped; on the bank by the Auckland boats, and

it is’ sometimes found very awkward mooring the vessels alongside the bank. Without a shed the perishable goods in wet weather are rendered useless. NGATEA. PUBLIC LIBRARY Consequent on a r,ecent meeting held to further the establishment of a public library in the old. post, office, the matter has been further gone into by t'he settlers and residents concerned, and it is understood that the report of their activities will be made at another meeting to be held at an early date. BAZAAR. The ladies of Ngatea have been working hard preparing for the baza,ar which is to be held on the last day of the month and the first day of next month in aid of the hall funds. The proceeds of various entertainments have provided money for the purchase of material, which has been made into saleable articles. AU arrangements ,are being carefully planned, so that a successful bazaar should eventuate. BUILDING ACTIVITY. A year has seen many changes, and there has been considerable activity in the building line at Ngatea. There have also been several other buildings mooted, but they have not yet materialised. During the year there have been six new buildings put up in the township, two are now in the course of erection, and there have been additions made to two other buildings, while another has been removed to a more suitable spot. Two others are shortly to be erected. This is surely a isign of progress, OPEN DRAINS. One of the wide open drains in the township was', about a week ago, nearly responsible for an accident, which might have been attended oy more serious consequences. A horse attached to a cart, in which were a couple of children’, was startled by a passing motor-cycle and backed the cart into the drain. Luckily the children were thrown clear on to the opposite side of the drain and escaped unhurt. If the drains are not covered over they will certainly some day be the cause of some serious accidept, so it would therefore be wise If they were covered before something serious does happen.