HIKUTAIA NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4534, 2 March 1923, Page 3

HIKUTAIA NEWS.

TENNIS. The first tennis match played on the local courts took place on Saturday, when a team from Kopu, consisting of six men and four ladiesj pitted themselves against an equal number of local players. Generally speaking, the advantage lay with the latter, the “quickness” of the strange courts handicapping the visitors, who are accustomed to play on grass. The games, as a rule, being clpse and well contested, were thoroughly enjoyed by all. At the adjournment for afternoon tea Mr J. Renwick, Kopu, congratulated the local players on their win, and trusted that the initial victory would be the' forerunner of many others. The members of his team were delighted with the courts, which were both fast and true, and the defeat, experienced did not in any Way detract from the thorough enjoyment of the various games. The visitors were under deep obligation to the Hikutaia ladies, whose hospitality, it: the way of a splendid lunch and a dainty afternoon tea, they highly appreciated. He congratulated them on the manner in which they had sustained, if they had not surpassed, th® name Hikutaia had rightly won for lavish and sumptuous hospitality. On behalf of the local team Mr J. Elliot acknowledged the graceful sentiments expressed by Mr Renwick, and hoped that the meeting with Kopu would be succeeded by many others, such games being a splendid means not only of improving the play on both .sides, but of leading to acquaintances and friendships thav would prove ■ mutually 'advantageous. The game had been fought put. on sportsmanlike lines, and , the small margin in favour of Hikutaia would entirely dissipate any feeling of elation over victory or any sting that at times accompanied defeat. He was pleased to know that, the hospitable intentions of the ladies had merited ;the approval of the guests, stating that the local players appreciated the attentions of the ladies to the innei man as highly as their visitors did. Appended are the results of the various games, the Kopu players being mentioned first: — Ladies’ Singles.—Miss Murray v. Miss Walker, o—6; Miss Watene V. Miss G. Gibb, I—6.1 —6. Men’s Doubles.—D. Currie and W. Williams v. G. and C. Gibb, 4 —6 ;S. Satchell and W. Savage v. son and W. Paetai, 6- —5; J• Renwick and R. Samson v. L. Alexander and J. Elliot, 4—6. Men’s Singles.—D. Currie v. G. Gibb 4—6 ; C. Gibb v. W. Williams, o—6; H, Satchell v. H. Morrison, 6—5; W. Savage v, W. Paetai, 6 —4. Ladies’ Doubles. —Misses Murray and Watene v. Misses Walker and G. Gibb; o—60 —6 ; Misses Williams and Newland v. Miss Frost and Mrs L. Alexander, 6 —3. Combined Doubles. —Miss Williams and J. Renwick v. Miss Frost and L. Alexander, 6—3 ; Miss Newland and R. Samson v. Mrs L. Alexander, and J. Elliot, 6—3. Hikutaia thus won by 17 points, the totals being 65 against 48.

ACCIDENT. On Monday the little daughter, aged some 18 months, of Mr C. Rheims, came in from the outside, where she ■ had been playing, with the upper part of a finger just hanging to the lower part by a shred of cuticle. The child was at once taken to Paeroa, whence she was- immediately dispatched to Thames Hospital for further treatment. How the accident happened was, and still remains, a mystery. HARVEST FESTIVAL. The members of the Paeroa Salvation Army, together with tile brass band and quite a large number of local sympathisers, met in the Hiku-z - taia Hall last Thursday evening,, when ' the grains, fruits, and vegetables e characteristic of. the season made a good display, and their sale netted a fair sum to the organisers. BOWLING. On Saturday quite a number of bowlers turned up for practice, the x various games being closely and well contested. It is stated that competitions for the prizes promised or donated will commence immediately. The following rainfall statistics, for Paeroa for the month of February have been supplied by the local office of the Public Works Department: The total rainfall for the month was 2.10 in. Rain fell on nine days, the heaviest fall being recorded on the 3rd instant,, when .64in fell.. For the same month last year rain fell on eleven days, a total of 5.80 in being recorded. Many New Zealanders will probably be surprised to learn that they consume on an average almost two tons of coal per. head every year. Figures' in support of this statement were given by Mr Ashley J. Hunter in an address at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers in Auckland. The coal output during, the period 1885 to 1895 followed very closely the line of_population, said Mr Hunter, amounting to about one ton.per head. After 1895, the output rhpidly increased,, outpacing the growth pf population, until just prior to the outbreak of war the output and consumption had risen to two tons per head. Great variation was shown in the succeeding years, and up to 1919, this being due to strikes and the accumulation of stocks. The mean demand over a few years followed very closely the average annual consumption, which for the past ten year had acounted to nearly two tons per head, and this probably represented the normal requirements of the country for coal for home consumption.