HIKUTAIA NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4591, 27 July 1923, Page 2

HIKUTAIA NEWS.

CHURCH. The Rev. Mr Jefferson, of the Paeroa Methodist Church, held service in the Anglican Church here on Sunday afternoon, and will continue such services -in the second and fourth Sundays every month. Since his ar rival in the district the weather has been atrocious, so that the wet weather and bad roads have militated against large attendances. Last Sunday,. however, was an exception, a fairly large congregation being in attendance. Mrs Roberts presided at the organ. ROADS. With the exception of- that part between the quarry and Alley’s.bridge, the Paeroa-Hikutaia Road is in very fair condition, and contrasts very favourably With; the excepted portion -which has suffered from the heavy transport of road metal to the landing at the creek side. Formerly, the metal was brought to the pontoons by the horse-drawn vehicles for which a motor lorry has now been substituted. Judging frojn the heaps of metal that are en situ on the side of the road due provision is being mads for early repairs. The HikutaiaThames Road suffers in comparison, so that vehicular traffic avoids it as much as possible,, the tendency thus being to make Paeroa the shoppinr centre instead of Thames, as of yore. To return to the status quo ante a good road is indispensable. THE FARM. This being the slack season, as far dairying is concerned, farmers are taking advantage of the opportunity for holiday purposes. The Auckland Winter Show attracted several, while others are visiting friends in the Taranaki and Wellington provinces. After the prevalent heavy rains recourse is being made to the handfeeding of stock, and the haystacks as a Jesuit -are : diminishing in bulk. Fortunately, last season’s, hay harvest iA this district was an exceptionally heavy one. SOCIAL. A .social organised by Mrs A. W. Alley in aid of the Tennis Club was held in the hall on Thursday of last week, when there was a good attendance. Though ladies .were in the majority,, and had all the dancing, if not more, than they wanted, all preserf appeared to enjoy themselves thoroughly. An innovation in the shape of a local orchestra., consisting of-Miss Smith (piano), Messrs M. C. Smith (conductor), H. Smith-(violin), E.\ Lemon (flute), and T. Brewer (cornet)- provided the music, which formed the theme of many sincere encohiums, and evoked the 'opinion that with so" much talent at home the of outside musicians should not be called upon as regularly as heretofore,, for with jmore combined practice the local orchestra will give unbounded satisfaction, and bring an important point—“ more, grist to the mill ” of the organisers. Mr G. H. Hannam acted as M.C. After justice had been done to the nice supper provided, Mr M. C. Smith presented the prizes in the euchre competition to the successful contestants, Miss O’Connor and Master Geo. Johnson. CROQUET CLUB. Steps are being actively taken by the members of the Croquet Club to erect a- pavilion, and to meet, an anticipated • increase in next season’s membership the question of laying down a second lawn is being mooted. The members of the Tennis Club are moving on similar lines, but before doing so it might be as well to* effect immediately the improvements urgently required on the courts. If not done at once the coming tennis season cannot be very successful. HEALTH. Though heavy colds„ accompanied by headache and throat, affections, are prevalent a very few cases of influenza have been reported. Ah index of the general condition is the school attendance, which, through, sickness, wet weather and bad roads; has been reduced by over. 20 per cent. The cases of influenza are of a mild type, and, so far, have hot been, accompanied or followed by pneumonia.