LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4535, 5 March 1923, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tlie share-milking ease, D. Bustard v. V. Young, which was adjourned from March 1, is being continued before Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court to-day.

The Punjab Indians on the Plains are good fricpds to the farmers, foi they eat on an average lib of butter a day. A mill-owner had occasion recently to visit one ’of their camps, and saw the making of a curry for the meal of five men. Three pounds of butter were used. The mill-owner has to pay the store accounts for the different gangs in his employ, and whereas an average month’s bill for seven white men is £lB that of the Indians usually comes to £3O.

The Netherton Ratepayers’ Association held a dance and progressive euchre tournament on Friday last. About 60 couples were present, and a very pleasant evening was spent. The music was supplied by Mrs Potter, and extras were played by Mr Alley. Musical items were contributed by Mrs Smith, Miss Bayliss, and Mr Duncan. The euchre .tournament was won by Mrs Harold and Mr Maude.

The Paeroa Cricket Club is fortunate in having been able to induce where between Thames and Kaitikatj, Mr H. E. Christian, to come from Te Kuiti to play for .their dance cn Thursday next. A few years ago “Brookie Christian” was a name to conjure by in dancing circles anywhere between Thames and Katikati, and those who have had the pleasure of dancing to his music still stoutly maintain that there has never been anyone like him since, but that the most soberminded member of the community must yield to the magic of hie music and dance when “Brook ic” plays, even as the little children were compelled to follow the playing of the “Pied Piper of Hamelin.” The committee of ladies and gentlemen which has the arrangements of the dance in hand is working with a will, and js determined to make this one of the most enjoyable dances of the 1923 season.

This morning eleven boys from the local high school left for a week’s tuition in a practical agricultural course at Ruakura Experimental Farm. The boys will be billeted in quarters previously occupied by the returned soldier trainees. Mr C. Hudson, of the Agricultural Department’s staff, will be the instructor. This is the first occasion on which local boys have had the opportunity of acquiring this practical knowledge.

The Hauraki Plains as a tourist resort seems a somewhat ludicrous id'ia, yet withili four miles of Waitakaruru there are hot springs that may be capable of exploitation till they reach the standard of Te Aroha, Helensville, or Hamner.. At present the existence of these springs is known only to a few, and they have not been examined or the water tested ; but at least one case of chronic sciatica is known to have been cured by bathing there.