THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. MONDAY, MARCH 19, 1923. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4541, 19 March 1923, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. MONDAY, MARCH 19, 1923. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

« The need for better and more adequate hotel accommodation in Paeroa was again clearly demonstrated during last week. Numbers of racing patrons were forced t,o seek board and lodgings in Thames and Te Aroha, some even returning to Auckland, rather than remain in a “dry” town, where the catering for the public is not conducive to patrons remaining in the town. Not only is a bad impression of Paeroa gained by visitors, but much valuable money which wquld otherwise be circulated here is lost to the town. A team from the Te Aroha Croquet Club paid a visit to Paeroa this morning. A progressive match is being played against the local club members. Constable McClinchy advises that ihe behaviour of the large crowds in Paeroa during last week, Wednesday and Saturday particularly, was very good. There had been no cause for complaint in any way. On both race days the car drivers were careful to observe the rules of the road, and the work of the police .was thereby considerably lightened. .No accidents have been reported. A large car was returning to Matamata from the races on Saturday when it broke down about a mile from Paeroa. All efforts 'to restart the machine were unavailing. The party abandoned the car on the roadside and returned to Paeroa for assistance. On returning to the car later on in the evening they were dismayed to find that sneak thieves had been at work during their absnece. The thieves, had relieved the car of a new tyre, latest automatic pump, car jack, plugs, and tools. The police have the matter in hand. . It is to be hoped that the offenders will be brought to book for their particularly mean theft. .

The Pipiroa Domain,on which the first picnic ..was held on Saturday last, is an ideal picnic ground. It is ten acres in extent, and is situated opposite the school and within a few chains of the wharf. When the Domain Board was formed some years ago the ground was a mud patch. Now it is all levelled, fenced, and in grass. Rows of trees have been planted, and are doing well. The board projwses planting more trees this year and fencing them so that the domain can be let for grazing purposes.

The Turua Town Board wrote to the Hauraki Plains County Council at its last meeting asking for the appointment of a ranger, and stating that, they had found a suitable man, and had agreed to pay him 2/6 per head as an extra inducement to make a good job. The letter also stated that the Hauraki Drainage Board had agreed to contribute a like amount. The clerk reported that a site for a pound was available next to the saleyards,, but the ranger could use the Wharepoa pound. I„t was decided that the man suggested be appointed ranger.

The monthly meeting of the local Chamber of Commerce will be held at the Borough Council Chambers tomorrow evening at 8 o'clock. Tn connection with the figures ot butter manufactonred at Ngatea and Paeroa factories during February it is interesting to note that not a single box of second grade butter was made at Ngatea during the month under review. This fact speaks very highly for the Plains settlers in co-operat-ing with the factory manager (Mr H. E. Harvey) to produce only superfine, or at the least first grade butter. A sequel to the recent accident at Waihi Beach, whereby F. Quintal, a fisherman, and H. Pipe, were seriously injured in boat by an explosion of gelignite,. the former having his right hand blown off, transpired in the Magistrate’s Court, Waihi, last Tuesday, when charges of procuring explosives without a license and having the same unlawfully in possession, also using gelignite to blow up fish, were heard. Defendants pleaded not guilty. Pipe submitted that he was the guest of Quintal, and was unaware that, there was gelignite in the bo.at when leaving the shore. Quintal was fined £5 with costs on the charge of using gelignite to destroy fish, and ordered to pay costs on the other two charges. The informations against Pipe were dismissed. A little girl who gave evidence -G the Supreme Court in Wellington recently, according t,o the Evening Post, was shown to be lacking in general knowledge. She said that she was fifteen years of age, and could neither read nor write, although she appeared to be quite pleased to be able to count up to twenty. The little girl said she did not go to church, nor had she ever had any religious' teaching at home. She said that, she did not know what the Bible was, and she did not understand the meaning of an oath. The Kiwi Bacon Co. notify that the dates for buying pigs at Paeroa will bo every Wednesday between 11 a.m. and 3 P.m.