HIKUTAIA NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4626, 16 November 1923, Page 2

HIKUTAIA NEWS.

QUARRY. Repairs having been made to the stone-crusher used in the Hauraki Plains County’s quarfy on the Hiku-taia-Paeroa road, the production of road metal has been resumed. A large barge is at the landing immediately above Alley’s bridge waiting to be filled. SCHOOL COMMITTEE. The business transacted at the last meeting of the Hikutaia School Committee was of a routine nature, and consisted mainly of passing several accounts for payment and arranging for cleaning. The chairman (Mr A. R. Robinson) stated that this year again the inspector’s report on the school was a good one, and that the educational work was being done in a manner that reflected the utmost credit on the headmaster and his staff. It was very gratifying' tp parents to know that the best interests of their children were being so well advanced. BOWLING. The draw for the Bowling Club’s tournament pairs having been completed, play will be commenced at once. One rink has been entered for the Thames tournament, which eventuates next week. As Mr Pat Read has been appointed caretaker of the grounds members can be assured of having a rink or two always ready for play. This appointment is a step in the right direction, and will conduce to an increased membership. TIMBER. Recently the roads have improved so much that the .output of timber, mostly kauri of excellent quality, from the mill owned by Messrs Buchanan, Ltd., can be canted to their yards at the railway station. The mill in question is situated on the Whangamata side of Marototo. Shortly after the New Year holidays a second timber mill, it is expected, will commence operations at Marototo, an Auckland firm having purchased the machinery and timber rights from the former.company that worked in that neighbourhood. The head of the firm and the mill manager paid an inspection visit to the district last week-end. ALLEY MEMORIAL PARK. A meeting of the executive committee of the Memorial Park was held on Tuesday night, Mr W. A. Alley presiding over a full attendance. Several letters congratulating the committee on its splendid and auspicious opening, and conveying thanks for the open-handed hospitality received, were read. Votes of thanks were accorded the committees responsible for the excellent arrangements made, and .the secretary was instructed to convey their high appreciation of the orchestral music supplied by Mr M. C. Smith’s orchestra, it being freely stated that the music was an important factor and had contributed very materially to the success of the official function. Several ladies and gentlemen were, admitted to membership of the bowling, tennis, and croquet clubs. The proceeds from entertainments organised by the croquet players, which amounted to nearly tw’enty pounds, were acknowledged by the .treasurer, and the ladies were cordially thanked fo’ - their. welcome addition to the funds. Permission to hold a social on the 21st inst. and a sale of work early in December was granted to the same ladies. It was decided to make inquiries concerning prices and quality of garden seats, and to procure the balls, etc., as requested by the crcuet club. The treasurer was authorised to forward the fees for affiliation with the South Auckland Bowling and the Auckland Lawn Tennis associations. SALE. The fotnightly sale by the Farmers’ Auctioneering Co. was held on Wednesday, when there was a capital yarding of cattle and a large attendance of buyers. Beef was in demand, good bullocks bringing £ll ss. Good stores were sold at prices as high as £5 10s; sheep from 35s to 37s 6d, store pigs from 20s to 30s, and porkers as much a,s PERSONAL. Mr McCaskill, instructor in agriculture to the Auckland Board of Education, visited the local school on Tuesday and gave a capital lesson to the senior classes on soil exhaustion, manures, and rotation of crops. TREE DISEASE. The fine rows of pinus insignis round the Bushy Park homestead at Omahu by its first owner, the late Mr EH’ot, have been suddenly attacked by a disease that is spreading rapidly and giving the timber a decayed and decaying look. The brown appearance of the leafage resembles the ravages of fire-blight. The preservation of the fine shelter timber is giving Mr E. Elliot some cause for perturbation. Though only a little overthirty years old some of the pines are over sixty feet in height and eight in diameter. A means of cheeking or delaying ultimate destruction is being somewhat anxiously inquired into.. Shou’d this not be found the only recourse must be made to the woodman’s axe. TELEPHONE. The long-anticipated installation of the local telephone service will soon be an accomplished fact, as a fairly large body of linesmen is engaged on tho work of erecting the poles and", the wiring. The men engaged are incamp near the station, where there is; at present quite a miniature canvas town.