THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1923. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4583, 6 July 1923, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1923. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

• The Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Education, has informed -Mr Poland, M P., that he has approved of the expenditure of £9OO in effecting additions and repairs to Kerepeehi and has also arranged with the Lands Department t,o purchase three acres adjoining the school for school purposes. During the month of June 64 cows, 27 steers and heifers, 132 sheep, 4 lambs, 4 calves, and 17 Pigs were slaughtered at the local abattoirs. A rumour is current that a syndicate comprising four men of Nether ton has drawn £5OOO in "Tatts.” The special general meeting of the Paeroa Golf Club called for Thursday, July 12, is now cancelled on account of clashing with t,he Beautifying Society’s social and dance. The meeting is now being called for .Tuesday, July 10. During the last month 163 cases of explosives were received into the Local magazine and 37 cases were delivered. The fees collected totalled £1 15s 7d. Occasion was taken at the Ohinemuri County Council meeting on Thursday by the chairman (Mr A. R. Robinson) to welcome Cr. S. H. Morgan to the conucil table again on his ret,urn from- the Thames Hospital, where he underwent a severe operation. In replying to the welcome Cr. Mo-gan thanked the chairman for his kind remarks and the Council’s expression of sympathy. He could not .speak, too highly of the kindness and skill that he had experienced whilst an inmate of the Thames Hospital. Everything that it was humanly possible to do was done cheerfully find well t,o relieve suffering. The district was to be congratulated on having such a fine institution and capable hospital staff in its midst. Cr. Morgan said that an expert had told him that the X-ray plant in the Thames Hospital was .second to none in New Zealand. The Council, as one of the largest contributing bodies to the institution, should feel proud and gratified at this fact. “I, have nothing but the highest praise for the staff and its administration,” he concluded. Tor Children’s Hacking Cough, Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure.

The Turua street lights were switched on for the first time on Wednesday evening. Five lights only have been erected at present, but others will be installed when material arrives.

On Sunday evening next a lecture will be given in the Druids’ Hall by Mr W. Holmes, who is a prominent Christadelphian lecturer, and one who has lectured successfully in many parts of the Dominion. The lecture is one that will appeal to those interested in prophecy and the history of the natipns, and was delivered in Auckland on Sunday last to an appreciative audience.

A little diversion from the usual stolid business of a monthly meeting was enjoyed by the members of the Ohinemuri County Council at its meeting yesterday, when Mr F. E, Flatt very kindly loaned ’his La Gloria gramophone to the county clerk, who produced the record containing the messages from Their Majesties the King and Queen to the .school children of New Zealand. The councillors expressed pleasure at the opportunity of hearing the Royal messages.

Settlers of Waitakaruru and Pipiroa are using a drain plough to drain their paddocks. This implement cuts a channel about three inches ’n diameter about eighteen inches below the surface, and is drawn by eight horses in circles about, half a chain or less apart around the paddock. A channel is then cut, and the water pours out. The idea is not a new one, and was successfully used at Turua about ten years ago. The drains functioned for about four years.

At the last meeting of the Thames County Council the clerk advised that Messrs A. S. Patterson, agents for Big Tree petroleum products, had forwarded sixteen signboards, free of charge, for erection at cross-roads. It was decided to accept the signboards and to thank Messrs A. S. Patterson for their gift. .

At the meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council yesterday it was decided that a general rate of twopence in the pound on the capital value of all rateable property should be struck in the following ridings: Paeroa, Karangahake, Wait,ekauri, Waikino, Kaimanawa, and Mangaiti. The rate will date from April 1, 1923 to March 31, 1924’. Also a Hospital and Charitable Aid rate of five-sixteenths of a penny in the pound on the capital valve of all rateable property in the county. Each of these rates will be payable in one sum on the August 1, 1923.

Entire-satisfaction in the test strip of hitumnious road in Turua township was expressed by members of the Town Board at a recent meeting, considering the conditions under which iit. was put down. Some valuable lessons have been learned.

With the exceptionally heavy rains du:ing the last few days the Piako River is rising rapidly. A telegram received at all offices along the river from MorrinsviUe at noon on Wednesday .seated: “Piako rising rapidly. Over four feet above normal now.” This water will hardly have reached the Plains yet. At Tahuna the river was then about five feet above normal. At Patetonga, Kerepeehi, and Puhonga the height is being recorded halt-hourly during the day by Lands Drainage Department officers. Ait. Kerepeehi the difference between high and low water on Tuesday was eighteen inches, and on Wednesday a little ovej nineteen inches. Bota the high and the low levels were nearly five inches higher on Wednesday than on Tuesday, though the tides are becoming slightly lower daily. The average difference between high and low level at Kerepeehi is about five feet.