THE Hauraki Plain Gazette. With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1923. NEW YEAR, 1924.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4643, 28 December 1923, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plain Gazette. With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1923. NEW YEAR, 1924.

On Monday next at midnight the cuitain will be rung down on what has probably been one of the busiest an-.l most progressive years in the hisiory of Paero.a. With the-rapid development and settlement of the land adjacent to the town, notably the famous Hauraki Plains, it was only to be expected that Paeroa would prosper and grow, and one only has to take into consideration such

important steps as the new post office, now railway station and increased yard accommodation, maternity ward and casualty hospital, to realise that the year has been a busy one and that the proposals and endeavours will have far-reaching and decidedly beneficial effects. Let u<s pay tribute in full measure to our worthy Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) for the energy an I unbounded enthusiasm that he has displayed since assuming the arduous ro'e of mayor of our town. The various undertakings just referred to have been brought to their present stage largely by the efforts of His Worship, and it is confidently anticipated chat ere six months of the new year have'passed over our heads Paeroa will be the better for at least three handsome and necessary buildings in its midst. Reviewing still further the progressive works that have been undertaken during the year nearly ended, one that will probably meet with the general approbation pi the ratepayers is the expenditure of money on permanent street improvements—a necessary adjunct to any progressive town. In this connection the work is to be commenced early in the new year:. Then there is the sewerage works, a large proportion of which scheme has already been completed. Let our burgesses lake heed and be not unmindful of the necessity for efficient sewerage in a town with a growing population, as only by their hearty cooperation can the scheme be brought to fruition and the town kept wholesome and clean from dirt and disease, and the dread of 'epidemics lessenedThe various branches of sport in. our midst have also made progress. The Rugby Football Union in Paeroa has adopted the boundary system for its various clubs, and by so doing it is hoped that the public will be accorded more spectacular games this coming. season, and also that the teams will be more uniform and the competitions keener. The Bowling Club has passed another milestone in its history by the installation of electric light for night play. The innovation is filling a long-felt want, and is availed of not only by members of the club, but by a large number of the youth of our town, who prefer the game of bowls out in the fresh air io being cooped up in billiard rooms iu the evenings. The Paeroa Tennis Club has become a duly incorporated body, and by its enterprise has purchased land, erected a pavilion, and opened four grass courts for play. Residents of Paeroa must rightly feel a thrill of pride and admiration for these enterprising clubs, which are not only improving their own status and conditions but are drawing favourable comments from other less fortunate or less enterprising centres. By the fostering of all branches of sport on thoroughly sound lines will teach our young people not only tolerance and comradeship, but will equip them more efficiently to stand the bumps of life, broaden their outlook, and generally make them better citizens. To that silent band of workers, the Beautifying Society, we offer our hearty congratulations on their valiant efforts; to beautify ar.d better our town. Their work in the past has been of the highest order, and although sadly handicapped by the lack of funds and public support they have carried out and are maintaining many improvements in our midst. There is still much more to be done, so let us make a. New Year resolution that we will have faith in our town and make Paeroa for the people.. Let us realise how fortunaie we are in the position of pur town, centrally situated a,s it is, in the midst of one of the greatest dairying districts in New ZealandLet us seize our opportunities and make the most of them—co-operate with our various local institutions and make Paeroa a better town and a brighter, happier place to live in. The future success of our town is assured if we make up our minds to pull together. To our local bodies, friends, and readers we wish a “Happy and Prosperous New Year/’ THE HAURAKI PLAINS. The year just drawing to a close has not seen any radical changes on the Hauraki Plains. Just as in all prosperous farming districts, progress is slow, but steady and sure. So it has been on the Plains. No areas of new land have been opened up, and comparatively little buying and selling has taken place. What has been done is mostly in the way of cutting up for closer .settlement, and this has been very marked in certain areas. The speculator has gone, and in his place is the solid, industrious farmer. Work he has> had to, for the past winter has been a terrible one. Almost an average year’s rainfall fell between mid-autumn and late spring, and the effect on a district that a decade ago was an impenetrable swamp was not the best for dairy faiming. However, the lesson then learned will have the effect of minimising the effect of another such season, should one occur. The marvellous. recovery that has been experienced can only be explained by the amazing fertility of the soil. Civic progress during the year compared with that of other districts has been astounding. Although all the schemes have not come to maturity, and only a few are so far accomplished, there is a. vigorous movement in that direction, and when in the near future the proposed work is accomplished the Plains will be one of the most up-to-date districts in the Dominion. The policy of permanent roads is being adopted, and already proposals for bitumensealing most of the roads in the eastern part of the Plains have been approved by the ratepayers. The whole of the area east of the Piako River has been reticulated by the Thames Valley Power Board, and the majority of the farmers now u,se electricity for power and lighting pruposes. All the townships traversed by the power wires with the exception of Netherton are now lighted by electric street lights, and for the size of some of these places this probably constitutes a record. Another progressive move is the proposal—now under way—to form a drainage board in the area between the two rivers to complete the work commenced by the Lands

Drainage Department. Still another proposal receiving serious consideration is the acquisition of a water supply. While the need for this is great, the establishment of a water supply for a farming district such as the Plains would probably be unique. The problem of better means of transportation is being grappled with. The Lands Drainage Department in the course of its operations is improving the rivers for navigation and constructing numerous canals, the worth of which for navigation is hardly appreciated yet as It should be. The Waihou River has its three steamers a week to Auckland, the Piako has two steamers running twice weekly to the same port, and competition has reunited in cheap freights, .while Waitakaruru also has its boat. The long-looked-for railway across the Plains is now nearer than it has ever appeared before. A definite route is at present being selected by departmental officers from data supplied by surveyors who have been working on the job for the past few months. In the matter of road communication, progressive firms have supplied the facilities and, as is always the case, ppople are using them. Daily cars rim between Paeroa and Ngatea, Thames and Ngatea, Thames and Kerepeehi, and a tri-weekly service runs from Ngatea to Pokeno. The progress of-the Plains has warranted much extension of operations by Government departments. Post and Telegraph offices have been opened in many settlements, and Morse telegraphy has been installed at Turua and Ngatea. The office at the latter place has been made a permanent one staffed by permanent officers. Particularly rapid progress has been made in the installation of telephones, and rare indeed is the farmhouse that is not connected with either one of the three exchanges or ti.e two switching stations. The increasing number of pupils attending the public schools has warranted the increase in the size of many of the buildings and the erection of two new schools, and a district high school has been established at Ngatea. In creating facilities for amusement the Plains have not been backward. Almost every place has its tennis courts, and many places that are fortunate enough to have domain reserves are improving them. Carpenters have been kept busy all the year, and new houses have sprung up everywhere. Probably this is most noticeable around Ngatea, wheie th°re have been opened five shops, the Thames Valley Power Board depot, and the Masonic Hall, and chambers for the County Council are now being erected. In Kerepeehi a new store has been opened, the hall shifted, and a new wharf and wharfshed erected, besides many buildings for .the Lands Department and private residences. Lands Department plans show over 20'0 sections being drained and surveyed which will shortly be opened for selection, 62 of thorn being in the Kerepeehi block and the balance between Ngarua Road and Waitakaruru.