THE Hauraki Plain Gazette. With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY’ 9, 1924. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4646, 9 January 1924, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plain Gazette. With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY’ 9, 1924. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

During the past twelve months 48 bankruptcies have occurred in the Waikato district, the total assets being realised at £8655- The dividends and preferential claims paid totalled £4637.

A Plainsite who recently motored through to Opotiki and back via Waihi and Tauranga reports that the worst stretch of road encountered was between Paeroa and Kerepeehi. Though the road between Tauranga and Te Puke was rough the remainder was in fair order. In the Whakatane County the roads are excellent

"I am afraid there is beginning to be too much time devoted to sport,” stated the headmaster (Mr A. E. Featherstone) at . the annual breakup of the Middle School, Invercargill. “I am not a spoil-sport, but I think it is occupying too large a place in the school life.”

“How do you arrive at your estimate of the damages to which you ar? entitled?”- inquired counsel for the defence of the plaintiff in an assault case heard at Blenheim. "How does anyone arrive at damages ?” protested counsel for plaintiff.' Mr Matinsell, S.M., remarked that it was like a girl’s claim for £5Ol for damages for breach of promise, and the juryman’s suggestion that it meant —£1 for the girl and £5OO for the lawyers. (Laughter.)

A most distressing accident occurred to Rex, the youngest son of Mr and Mrs W. J.. Towers, of Rye Lane, Paeroa, during last week-end. It appears that the lad was attempting to inflate a toy balloon when the wooden mouthpiece became detached and was swallowed. As soon as this became known Dr. Little was summoned, and ordered his immediate removal to the hospital. The little sufferer was taken to Auckland, where, after an X-ray examination, an operation was performed and the obstruction removed from the lung, where it' had become firmly embedded. The operation was successful, and the little chap is progressing as well as can be expected.

A little sm of Mr Roy Cullen, uf Waihi, aged 4% years, was savagely attacked by a chestnut horse at Waihi Beach on Monday evening. The animal inflicted serious lacerations on the bdy’s face seizing him with rbs teeth, also kicking his face and leg. The horse was eventually driven off by an eye-witness. A medical man from Waihi attended to the boy’s injuries. The horse was subsequently identified as tn ex-hurdler, well known as Golden Glow.

The sky was overcast yesterday, but no rain fell until after 5 p.m., when a steady drizzle set in and continued until 10 p.m. The -sky then cleared, and the weather continued fine until early this morninng, when heavy and welcome rain began io fall. The majority of farmers have now completed hay-making operations, and abundant'rain is anxiously locked for to increase the supply of green feed, turnips, and other crops.

The passenger traffic at the Paeroa railway station has been exeptionally busy during the recent holiday sea,soih For the fortnight ending January 5, which period covers the whole of the holiday season, the Railway Department’s figures show that 4000 inward and outward passengers passed over the Paca-pa platform. These figures show an increase of over 1000 passengers for the same period last year. The largest number of passengers to leave Paeroa during the holidays was on New Year’s Day, when 350 tickets were issued.

Spoken to on the question of the proposed visit of a party of Auckland business men to Waihi —as part of the tour suggested by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce with a view to advertising the district—the Mayor of Waihi, Mr W. M. Wallnutt, said he was in sympathy with the proposal, and, subject to the Council’s approval, would give the project all possible assistance. Some time during the week the sub-committee of the Council appointed to look into the matter would consult with leading business men hi the town on the subject, and any decision reached would be communicated to the secretary of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, who had saked the cooperation of the Waihi Chamber in providing cars and otherwise assisting in entertaining the Auckland visitors during their stay in these parts, which will clcjse the proposed tour. On referring the matter to the Mayor of Paeroa (Mr W. Marshall), His Worship stated that he had received nc intimation of the action of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, but he was decidedly of the opinion tint if possible Paeroa should be inch, led in the proposed tour, and with that end in view he was prepared to go into the matter and seek the cooperation of the local Chamber of Commerce and Paeroa Business Men’s Association.

In the opinion of a Plains .man who recently traversed the Rangitaiki Plains, in the Bay of Plenty district, that district does not compare favourably with the Hauyaki Plains. Although the soil is more poms and drains better, and the climate is milder, the quality of the land is not as good- At present the country has a neglected appearance, as raupo, rushes, and weeds abound, and little land is under cultivation. Most of the swa.mp is privately owned, and much of it changed hands during the bo-jin. The drainage was done by the Lands Drainage Department at the request of the settlers, and is not being paid for as on the Hauraki Plains by the sale of sections, but by a drainage rate. This is a big burden. The roads that are metalled have been done by the county council, but in that district main roads are county matters, and so are paid for by the whole county. A loan of R6ooo' has just been authorised to metal the road alongside the railway. Although there is a butter factory with about 170 suppliers, the greater) part of the country appears to be used for fattening for the Whakatane freezing works and for growing maize. The freedom from frosts permits maize to ripen in the Bay of Plenty as in few other districts.