DISTRICT NEWS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4485, 30 October 1922, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS

TURUA. CHILDREN’S CLEVER CONCERT. It was a very successful concert which was 'held, in the Victoria Hall on Friday evening, the proceeds, amounting to over, £2O, being for the purchase of an organ for the Anglican Church Which is about to be erected at Turua. The stage was nicely decorated with Japanese lanterns, cherry blossoms, and artificial flowers. The programme, which was given entirely by children, was a most enjoyable one, and the large number present ■showed their appreciation in the usual mode of applause. Ths promoter of the concert was’ Mrs' F. U. Bell, who .was ably assisted by Mesdames Walker, Horrox, and Goodsell, and to these ladies great praise is due for the outstanding success which attended their efforts. The children, too, did their part well. After a pianoforte duet came the opening scene, that of a Japanese reception, in which a large number, of children took part. They were beautifully costumed in complete Japanese attire made by Mrs Bell. With coloured lighting effects (obligingly worked by Mr Olsen) the scene was a very pretty one.

The closing scene, “Rainy Days,” was also very pleasing. The boys, muffled up in heavy mac,lntps|hes, big rubber boots, and huge umbrellas, ready for the worst storm, pre*sented a striking contrast to the girls in summer frocks apd big sunshine Kats. Of the other items "Mr Baggy Breeches” was one worthy of comment. Mabel Horrox was the girl and Trixie Ansford the boy. There were also four other young couples, who, like the two leaders, were suitably attired in patches, which we”e of purple and pink and of yellow, and the said patches' were very prominently displayed throughout the sbng. In another action song, depicting three little “Dutchies,” Doris Olsen, Mabel Horrox, and Trixie Ahsford gave another pleasing performance, as also did Master and Miss Thompson in a Hawaiian song and dance. Lorna Beck in rags and tatters sang “Please give me a penny,” and was rewarded with showers of - them. Other items were well rendered by Doris Olsen % Trixie Ansford, Beryl Sutton (recitations), Kathleen Truelove, Eva McQuoid, Master Alex McConnell, Master C.. Horrox (vocal items), Gladys Farley and Lorna Schmidt (pianoforte duet), and Master White (violin solo), Mrs Walker acted as accompanist. HUIRAU ROAD FACTORY.

At a recent meeting of suppliers to the Huirau Road cheese factory Messrs Buchanan and Dixon, representatives of the N.Z. Dairj r Company, were present. Mr. Sutton was in the chair. Several points in the balancesheet were discussed, and the amended balance-sheet, increasing last year’s pay-out by 3-*sd, was adopted.

At the present time the cream supplied to the factory is being sent to the Ngatea factory for butter-making. A proposal was made to revert to cheese-making at the beginning Of next month. This was put to the vote and carried by a bare majority.

WAITAKARURU. WORK ON CANAL. The wprk of digging the Waitaka-ruru-Maukoro Canal is proceeding rapidly, and the Priestman dredge is now three miles from the mouth. A dam is being built so as to raise the level pf the water, and so enable the dredge to work more expeditiously. MIRANDA ROAD. The Miranda Road is said to have been in a very bad state lately, but it is pleasing tp note that a quantity of metal is to be put ‘on the worst section shortly and the level of the rbad raised.

WANTED, A LAUNCH SERVICE. Waitakaruru is still without a launch service to Thames, despite the fact that the local branch of the Farmers’ Union has 1 been making endeavours to inaugurate a daily service.

Last week a meeting was convened by Messrs T. J, .Beaver, and R. T. Williams, and a number of settlers attended. Mp C. W. Harris, who was elected to the chair, explained that as president of the local branch pf the Farmers’ Union he had received four applications from! launch-owners with regard to the run, ,and alsp an inquiry from one, Mr McLennan, requesting information of the approximate trade offering between Auckland and Waitakaruru-. At present there was a weekly service from Auckland. While travelling in the north, .the chairman said, he had made inquiries’ at Monganui, Whongaroa, and Russell, and at the last mentioned place he had obtained particulars of a launch ■wihich.’ he explained tq the meeting, On the motion of the chairman and Mr W. Stretton it was eecjded to write to Mr F. F. Porter asking him if he would give the Thames service a month’s trial, at-the same time giving an assurance that it would be a remunerative proposition.

It was ’ decided, on the motion of Messrs Beaver and Williams, to supply Mr McLennan with particulars of trade offering between Auckland and Waitakaruru.

- NETHERTON. OLD STORE DISMANTLED. Messrs Hague-Smith’s’ old store at Netherton has been dismantled and the timber shipped to Puru, where two bungalows are to be erected with the timber, KAIHERE. QUARRY AND TRAMWAY.. There are prospects pf a quarry being opened alongside a branch of the_ Toreh ape stream and about half a mile west of the Waitakaruru-Mor-rinsville road. The Lands Department also proposes to lay a tramway from the quarry tp the road, and then along the new Torehape Road down to the Pulhanga canal. By this means the road yfjll be, clayed, and

later metalled, and, perhaps the tramway may be left for the conveyance of the settlers’ requirements from the river. There !has’, however, been a little delay over the laying down o£ the line, but it is anticipated that the work will commence shortly. Tne sleepers are at present being split. NGATEA* THE BRIDGE DEBATE. Last night’s debate, which concerned the proposed Kirikiri bridge, was enjoyed by those present, as was also a short musical programme which preceded the debate, Messrs A. R. Vowles, G. T. Davidson (in favour of the bridge), and W. Madgwick and S. Blacklaws (against) were the main speakers. The contest was so close i that it had tp be settled by. the casting vote of tlie chairman, Mr W. McDuff. The following contributed to the musical programme: Misses R. .Hilford and E. Hiltord (piano duet), Mr Titchener (song), and Messrs Shultz and Hobin (vocal duet). The last'mentioned iteni 'was a particularly pleasing one, and was loudly encored. Miss R. Hilford was the accompanist. THE BAZAAR,

At a meeting of the ladies.’ and men’s committees after the debate on Thursday evening final arrangements were made for the bazaar, which opens to-morrow. It was expected that the bazaar would be a good source of revenue and that the hall funds would considerably - benefit. MAIL SERVICE. With regard to the proposed establishment of a mail service between Ngatea and Pokeno, a communication from the chief postmaster, Thames, has been received by the postmistress at Ngat.ea. The letter states: "As a considerable difference of 1 opinion appears to exist among the settlers regarding this matter I wish the issue to be at opce placed before every settler with whom you can get into touch, and ascertain their -wishes, in writing, on the attached petition. Of course, it is understood that if the proposed service is an additional facility to the existing service the settlers would naturally favour it, but as I do not consider that the two services would be warranted I desire to ascertain whether ,tlhe present or- the proposed service is preferred by the settlers. You must ’clearly lead the settlers' to understand that they are voting for one service only.”

Enclosed were two petitions, one for the signatures, of those wishing to retain the present Paeroa-Ngatea service and the other for those who desire the institution pf the proposed service via Pokeno. On Saturday there were twice as many signatures on the former petition as there were on the latter.

THE FARMERS’ UNION. The usual monthly meeting of the Ngatea branch of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union, which was to have been, held bn Saturday afternoon, lapsed for want of a quorum, the secretary being the only member who put in an appearance. The president was indisposed, suffering from a prevalent complaint, and perhaps other members were too busy, this being a time when all farmers have ,a great deal of work to do, but if members really had the welfare of their district at heart they would have attended the meeting. The Farmers’ Union is a body which can do a great deal of good if even only half the farmers are members and half the members attend the meetings, but it appears that only a very small per cehtage of the settlers attend the meetings of the branches' bn the Plains —and. there are enly a few live branches in existence in the district. Perhaps the present is a time when the farmer is tied to his holding, but at the same time he must attend to matters affecting his well-being. The secretary of the local branch (Mr C. W. Shultz), speaking tp "Gazette” reporter, said that there were at present a large number of pigs round Ngatea fat enough for sale and there were no companies buying. Some farmers were finding that their pigs were getting too fat. Mr McDuff had received a telegram from the Farmers’ Auctioneering Company intimating that they would send a buyer to buy pigs at 4d per lb in the sty. Recently, said Mr Shultz, the N.Z. Dairy Company’s representative (Mr Tattersail) had taken soil samples from the district, but so far nothing further had been heard of the matter.