THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1923. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4593, 1 August 1923, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1923. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At a meeting of the Paerpa Business Men’s Association last evening it was unanimously decided to support the Chamber of Commerce in its efforts to obtain restoration of licenses in Paeroa. It was agreed that an hotel,, properly conducted and run on up-to-date lines, would be an acquisition to Paeroa. Mr J. Couper, local agent for the N. Insurance C 0.,, Ltd., has an advertisement in this issue advising that his company has made a substantial reduction in fire premiums. A pleasing little ceremony took place at a meeting of the Loyal Jubilee Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., at the lodge room, Centenary Hall, on Monday evening, when Bro. C, E. J. Gwilliam, P.G., was presented with a handsome Past Grand’s collar in recognition of his services to the Lodge. The presentation was made on behalf of the members .by the N.G., who referred to the valuable services rendered by Bro. Gwilliam as treasurer and organist to the lodge, and in many ways furthering the cause of Oddfellowship in the district. P.G. B’-os. W. T. Power and W. North, and O. Bro. J. Nolan also spoke in eulogistic terms of the services rendered by Bro. Gwilliam since joining the Order. After the honours of the Order had been conferred Bro. Gwilliam in a neat speech thanked the brethren for the presentation.A petition was presented to Parliament last week on behalf of James Campion, formerly of Okirae, of Fordell, and now of Hastings, sheepfarmer, asking for compensation to meet an unusual case. Mr Campion bought an area of land which was supposed to total 1308 acres, and a survey found it to be 741 acres short of that area. Petitioner claims that the mistake was a result of carelessness in the Survey Department, and he says he has been advised he cannot recover at law, though the department admits the shortage.

A start has been made to erect a telephone line from Waitakaruru io Mangatarata. The construction gang has shifted camp from Ngatea to Mangatarata.

In our report of the annual meeting of the Hauraki A. and P. Association in our last issue the name of Mr E. J. Walters as vice-president of the Association was inadvertently omitted.

The following vital statistics for Paeroa have been supplied by the local registrar (Mr J. G. McDougall) : Births 8, marriages 1, deaths 6.

The rainfall on the Hauraki Plains for the month of July, as recorded at the Lands Dainage Deparmerit at Kerepeehi, totals 5.01 inches. Rain fell on 17 days during the month. During the previous twelve years the average rainfall for July had beer. 3.61- inches. Since the wet weather started, 100 days ago, the total rainfall has averaged .46 inches daily.

A young man named Florence Duggan, better known as “Pat” Duggan, w.as apprehended by Constable McClinchy at the Paeroa railway station on Monday morning. For some days the unfortunate man had been acting in a peculiar manner,, and doubt was expressed as to his mental condition. On Monday afternoon Duggan was examined by the doctor, before Messrs Marshall and Flatt, J’s.P.,. and was committed to the Mental Hospital, Auckland, for treatment and observation.

The following rainfall figures for Paeroa for the month of July have been supplied by the local office of the Public Works. Department: The total rainfall for the month was 7.15 inches. Rain fell on 16 days in July, the heaviest fall being on the 14th, when 3.16 inches was recorded.

A suggestion was made at the last meeting of the Paeroa Chamber of Commerce that the proposed war memorial should take the form of a new public library. At the monthly meeting of the Paeroa Business Men’s Association, held last evening, the suggestion of the Chamber was adopted, and the association agreed to support it in its endeavours to have the suggestion carried into effect. It was generally agreed that a War Memorial Library would be a far greater asset to Paeroa, and a more suitable form of memorial to the fallen soldiers, than entrance gates to the domain.

The third annual meeting of the Pseroa Benevolent Society was held on Monday evening. Mr P. E. Brenan presided. The attendance was poor, owing no doubt to the fact that little interest had been manifested in the fund during the past year. The report, presented to the meeting showed that the only income during the year was interest, £1 17s 6d, and the expenditure amounted to £3, which left a credit of £52 6s Bd. Since the preparation of the balance a grant of £lO had been made to an urgent case. The following were elected a committee; His Worship the Mayor Mr W. Marshall (chairman), Messrs F. E. Flatt, P. E. Brenan, J. Couper, W. J. Towers, Mrs H. Poland, and Miss Shaw (hon. secretary).

The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has received cabled advice from its agents that the shipments from South America to the United Kingdom for the fortnight ended the 28th instant were as follows: 190«076 quarters chilled beef,, 66,849 quarters frozen beef, 48455 carcases mutton, 88,355 carcases lamb. The quantity shipped to the Continent of Europe during the .same period totalled 4:6,.527 quarters frozen beef and 1263 carcases of mutton.

Mr Bert Durney, the well-known paperhanger and house decorator, of Thames, wishes to notify the public of Paeroa and Hauraki Plains that he is open for engagements, and solicits a trial. An interesting advertisement to this effect appears in the advertising columns.*

Considering the weather during the past few months the metalled roads on the Plains are in a fairly good .state. The clay roads are, however, in a worse state now than during the wettest weather. Many are absolutely impassable for traffic, and settlers are isolated. The red roads are in good order. The Paeroa-Turua road is rough, particularly from Carter’s corner to Turua. In the town board area much metal has beeru.spread by members of the board and settlers. For a metalled road that between Turua and Orongo is indescribable. It is the rule rather than the exception that motors get stuck. Many have been seriously damaged. Cases have been reported of broken differential gear-boxes, chassis, and axles. A spare wheel was torn off the carrier at the rear of a Ford. A certain motor vehicle wallows through this road daily, spewing spoil and metal in all directions.

•Since the library committee decided to open the reading .room of the Paeroa Library during the hours cf 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. it is worthy of record that many people have availed themselves of the opportunity to go in and rest. Numbers of country people, and womenfolk especially, have been glad of the chance to go in and rest for a few minutes when on a shopping expedition in Paeroa. This was particularly noticeable on the occasion of the stock sale in Paeroa last week, when the town was very much busier. Although the reading room in no way provides the facilities necessary for a ladies’ rest room, it is much appreciated by many visitors to Paeroa, and will no doubt ’’fill the bill” until such time as the Borough Council can see its way to erect up-to-date conveniences. It is reported that very few papers and periodicals have been stolen from the reading room during the day when it is unattended, and it is to be hoped that that state of affairs will continue. Should the privilege be in any way abused the library committee will necessarily have to restrict the hours of opening the reading room. Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure For Coughs and Colds, never fails..