HIKUTAIA NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4599, 17 August 1923, Page 2

HIKUTAIA NEWS.

CHURCH. The Rev. Mr Jefferson, of the Paeroa Methodist Church, conducted ser; vice in St. Mary’s Church on Sunday last. There was a good congregation, and the services were much enjoyed. Mrs I. M. Murdock officiated as organist. BALL. Owing to the spread of influenza the committee of the Croquet Club has been most reluctantly compelled to postpone the plain and fancy dress ball, which was to take place on August 21, to a date that wi’l be fixed later on. INFLUENZA. Influenza continues to spread, there being very few households unaffected. Fortunately, the malady is not of a. serious nature. The school attendance i,s suffering, over one-third >f the pupils being absent —mostly through the epidemic, which claims new victims daily. SCHOOL. inspector Munro inspected the district school on Tuesday and Wednesday. Though the attendance was considerably under the average, he seemed very pleased with matters as ne found them, and satisfied that the year’s work showed satisfactory progress. The pleasant conditions which the new buildings allowed met with his warm approval, his opinion being that the building jvas thoroughly up to modern requirements and compared more than favourably with the many schools under the jursidiction of the Auckland Board of Education. He suggested that the draining of the grounds and the tarring and sanding of a portion of the area round the building were matters that required attention. DAIRYING. The cows are coming in rapidly with the advent of .spring, so that at a very early date dairying will be in full swing. Owing to the abundance of winter feed the cows as a rule are in good condition. The spring growth is not as yet very far advanced, most of the pasture lands being somewhat bare, though scarcity of feed is not experienced to such an extent as it is on the Plains. Owing tp the recent heavy rains the conditions for milking are not ideal. SPORT. The last meeting of the executive committee of the Hikutaia Bowling, Tennis, and Croquet Club was held on Monday night, Mr W. H. Alley presiding. The resignation of Mr A. W. Alley was accepted with great regret. Mr H, L. Morrison, grounds superintendent, reported that the lawns and green had been top-dressed, and that improvements to the tennis court were required. Sites for shelters for the .tennis and croquet players had been marked out, and a portion of the ground needed for a second croquet lawn had been ear-marked. The annual report and balance-sheet to be presented to the general meeting, which was fixed for the evening of Monday, 27th inst., were considered, while suggestions for a greater expenditure on the grounds generally were left to be dealt with by the new executive. Before the meeting closed the chairman thanked the members of the executive for the support accorded him, and complimented them on the zeal and industry that had resulted in the formation of grounds .that were practically free of debt and formed a beauty spot that was i credit to all concerned. He trusted that their successors would follow in their footsteps, and do more, if possible, to carry dn t,he good work. He paid a special compliment to the treasurer and secretary for wholehearted services rendered. The chairman was eulogised for all he had done during the past season. ROADS. The attention of the powers that be is directed to the .state of the main road from the hotel to Alley’s, bridge. It, is one, series of pot-holes, which are increasing rapidly in area and crying aloud for filling, and whicn evoke the blessings of all drivers of vehicles .that use the roads.