HIKUTAIA NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4602, 17 September 1923, Page 1

HIKUTAIA NEWS.

WHARF. It is stated on good authority that, unless remedial measures are put in hand at once, the Hikutaia wharf will be unapproachable by the river steamers that ply regularly between Auckland and Paeroa. According to your correspondent's informant there appears to be a snag in the river immeliately above the wharf. This affects the current in such a way that debrital matter is deposited there, thus forming a sand bank which is continually growing larger in the direction of the landing. Owing to the danger that may be incurred the boats at night time do not call, so that passengers from this district must board the boat either at Paeroa or at one of the landings lower down the river. Should this sand bank continue to increase at its present rate, the wharf will be unapproachable by river botts within a month’s time. As it is largely used for both passenger and goods traffic the lack of a wharf will become a matter of grave inconvenience to the settlers and storekeepers, by whom it is so much used, all sincerely hope that the necessary steps will be taken at once to remove this obstruction to river navigation. QUARRY. Owing to shortage of punts the motor lorry thaib carried the broken metal from the Hauraki Plains County’s quarry at Hikutaia to the landing at Alley’s bridge lias been taken off, and the metal is now being trjanpported in carts. Work is continuous at .the quarry, the output being greater than the means of transport can cope with. ( The result is that the contractors’ time is much b’-oken and their earnings seriously affected. The difficulties to contend with are considerable, but no doubt means will be devised to give greater satisfaction all round, the County Council and its employees being anxious to attain the maximum production. dairying. As far as the daily farmers are concerned the late warm rains have proved satisfactory, and with the absence of hard frosts the prospects for an abundant pasturage are much brighter than before, as, owing to the severe and wet winter, feed was beginning to be scarce, and the milk supply to the factory to decrease. ROADS. like most places Hikutaia has to contend with bad roads, those to the cheese factory an dto Thames (es,Specially that part on the Thames County boundary) being in a very bad state. The Thames County engineer was at Hikutaia at the beginning of the week with the local councillor, Mr Alf. Alley, and had a look at the conditions prevailing. It is to be hoped that as a result of the visit the much needed repairs will be effected without loss of time. If Mr Alley had more “ backing ” from those interested improvements might follow more quickly, and Mr Lowe’s promise to start bituminizing work from his county’s boundary in Hikutaia might materialize. Bad roads result in loss of trade —for trade undoubtedly follows the good road—and in this respect Thames suffers- more, than Paeroa. PERSONAL. As a result of the unfortunate accident which happened recently,,- by which the upper part of the forefinger of the right hand was cut off, Mrs Geoge Avery was ordered to the Thames Hospital, where she underwent a minor operation on Wednesday. • Mr F. Maxwell is at present in Rotorua whither he proceeded to consult his medical adviser. Mr Maxwell has been “ under the doctors ” for well over three months. Miss E. Hassett has been appointed to the District School as temporary assistant vice Miss E. Walker, who was transferred to another school. Msesrs Hudson and McCaskill,, agricultural instructors under the Auckland Board of l Education, visited Kikuta la on Thursday. The former has been transferred to another district, while the latter is taking over the area formerly supervised by Mr Hudson.