THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1923. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4609, 3 October 1923, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1923. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Although dragging operations have been carried out daily since Friday last by Constable Devereaux and Lands Department employees np trace has yet been found of the tody of the late S. V. Dent, who disappeared from a launch in the Piako River at Pipiroa on Friday night. Mr F. H. Claxton, chairman of the Thames Valley Power Board, is at present away on a holiday in Australia. At yesterday’s meeting of the Board in Te Arpha Mr F. E. Flatt was acting chairman. Musical talent is unearthed in unexpected places. At a smoke concert at Netherton on Saturday last a local jazz band of eight instruments made its initial public appearance. Not a hundred miles from Paeroa a motor-cyclist came to grief and left his machine inside a gate. On returning a few days later he discovered that stock had been put in the paddock and t.hey had eaten the seat of the cycle, the high tension cables, and the handle grips, besides otherwise damaging the machine. Under the direction of The Australasian School of Grand Opera musical and elocutionary competitions will held at Thames, commencing November 28. The syllabus is now obtainable at Flatt’s, bookseller, Paeroa. Entries close November 17. During the past month on the Plains rain fell on 18 days. The heaviest fall was on the 18th, being .94 inches. The total for the month was 3.83 inches, and the average 3.11 inches.. The total to date this year is 37.91. In replying to the deputation on matters connected with th Waihi Beach Reserve at the Council Meeting cm Thursday last, the Mayor said that the Waihi Beach scheme had so far cost the Council £7320'. The preliminary costs, including the purchase of the property, amounted to £6285, road maintenance £4OO, interest on loan £420, new plan of survey £l5O, and the architect’s account £65. In addition to this there would probably be some charge* made by Mr Pearson, lanscape gardener to the Auckland City Council, who first inspected and reported on the site. The New Zealand Meat Producers Board has received advice from its London office that owing to the reduction in labour costs,, the International Cold Storage and Tee Company, of Southampton, has been able to reduce its cold storage charges by 5 per cent as from August 1; also a reduction of 5 per cent, has been made in labour and extra charges, making a 10 per cent, reduction bn the latter charges. In addition,, the Southern Railway Company has reduced its charges at Southampton docks for receiving, loading, wharfage and haulage by 10 per cent.' It is of interest to note that in the case of both the cold storage and dock charges this is the second reduction made by the authorities during the current yeaij.