THE Hauraki Plain Gazette. With which is incorporated. THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1924. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4649, 16 January 1924, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plain Gazette. With which is incorporated. THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1924. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In ,the 1924 Year Book the population figures applying to Paeroa and neighbouring towns and counties are given for the years 1922 and 1923, these for 1922 being in parenthesis : Paeroa Borough, (1684) 1700 ; Ohineinuri County, (8269), 8285 ; Hauraki Plains County, (3394) 3170 ; Thames County, (6655) 6680 ; Thames Borough, (4858) 4880 ; Waihi Borough. (3910) 3890 ; Te Aroha Borough (2211) 2250; Piako County (9744) 10.150 ; Turua Town District (380) 38 r . These figures do not include the Native population.

I’he people of the Dominion are noted tea drinkers, and the returns of imports for tea, which have come tn hand, for the 11 months ending Navembei' 30 last give an indication of the amount which is brought into the country. During that period 8,595,0'311b of tea arrived in New Zealand, the cost being £543,089. The consignments arrived at the following ports : Lyttelton, 2,283,6881 b ; Dunedin. 2,146,1391 b ; Auckland; 2;006;6G3lb ; Wellington, 1,722,6721 b ; other ports, 435,8691 b. Taking the consignments to the four main ports, it will be seen that the South Island received 700,4921 b more than the North - Islanfl.

A special meeting of the Plains County Council was held prior to the ordinary business meeting yesterday to (ix the nay for the statutory halfho’iday for-shops in the district. As no objection to the present day had boon received it was decided that the present day (Saturday) should remain the statutory half-day.

At the Warden's Court at Paeroa yesterday the following applications were granted : Majestic Gold Mining Co, Ltd., for 28% chains on McBrinn’s Creek at Maratoto, for purposes of i> water-race ; Majestic GoldMi’iing Co., Ltd., for a machine site of 1 acre 3 roods at Maratoto; Majesth" Geld Mining Co., Ltd., for a residence site at Maratoto; William Seharnian and Crawford Nicholl, a prospecting license over 66 acres at Waitekauri.

A pleasing little function took place in the. Ohinemuri Club yesterday afternoon, when Mr S. J. Bishop was the recipient of a tennis racquet from a number of friends who had been associated with him in the various games of sport with which he had associated himself. Several speakers eulogised Mr Bishop for the part taken by him in sport, particularly in the games of tennis, golf, and cricket. Reference was also made of the good work done by Mr Bishop on the library committee and the part which mattered most, namely, his success as master of Standard VL, and also agricultural instructor.

During the year ending December 1923-no fewer than 267 civil summonses were disposed of at .the local Magistrate’s Court, which number is an increase of 90 compared with the previous year. It is pleasing to state that few criminal cases were handled in Paeroa during the past year, the total number beingB4, as against 124 for the previous year—a decrease Of 40. Although there has been a slight revival in mining affairs in the district recently the number of applications dealt with during the year were 75, an increase of four over the previous year. Taking the civil summonses for the past throe years the figures arel92l, 146; 1922, 177; 1923, 267. Criminal cases : 1921, 115 : 1922, 124 ; 1923, 84. Mining applications ; 1921, 93 ; 1922, 71 ; 1923, 75.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Plains County Council, when the chairman of the Turua Town Board .asked that the council take .steps to raise the sum of £3OOO for the purpose of erecting a public hall in Turui he was informed by the county clerk, Mr E. Walton, that this was a matter for the Town Board to undertake. A ruling of the Chief Justice was that a town board could have a town hall erected to hoiuse its office. At any rate, except that a defendant town board’s by-laws' must not override those of the county council, the only thing controlled by the county in a town board area was the matter of roads. In regard to the question as to whether the town board could raise the loan by petition instead of by a. poll of ratepayers, the Local Bodies Act provided that where the number of ratepayers did not exceed 109 in number this could be done.

The men of St. Paul’s Church spent another very enjoyable evening in the. Parish Hall laist evening. This was the. third of a .series of socials that are being held, and that they are becoming increasingly popular was evidenced by the large number who attended last night. The objec: of holding such gatherings is to bring the young men and the workers of the parish together, thereby furthering the work of the church by social intercourse and exchange of ideals. Last evening the time was pleasantly spent playing cards, chess, draughts, and other forms of amusement. About 10 p.m, a delicious “bachelor” supper was partaken of.

As the number of deputations that wait upon the Hauraki Plains County Cov.ncil at its meetings take up a great deal of the time of the council, and the members pf which do not trouble to send notification beforehand of their intention to be present. as required by standing orders, ■the question was raised at yesterday's meeting whether several deputations should be heard or not. They were, however, admitted, and occupied the attention of the council for over two hours.

Mr F. 8. Budd, who is leaving Paero'i for Hastings, announces a quantity of furniture for private sale.*

The number of milking plants in use in New Zealand last year was 13.533, as against 12,468 in the previous year. Cream separators numbered 40,916, being an increase of 2055 over the number shown in 1922.

Discussing the merits of sand as a foundation for metal roads a member of the Plains County Council said that he did not know whether this was advisable, but he did know that there was a quotation in the Bible relative to a man who built his house on a sand foundation.

A majority of 75 per cent, of the miners who voted on the settlement 1 proposals in connection with the Westport miners' was in favour of the settlement arrived at by the conference. It is estimated that the miners have sacrificed £120,000 in wages, and that the loss to the employers will he about £30,000.

So far (says the Wanganui ‘Herald”), the response in this district from the farmers to take boys from Hmnc under the Farmers’ Union immigration scheme has not been great, onlv three signing up to take boys. It is confidently expected that this numbei will be increased before the end of the month.

It has been suggested (Isays an exchange) that the Westport gaol be transferred to Hokitika for the exhibition. This venerable relic of the early mining days is still in use, though it is understood that the prisoners are not allowed to lean against the walls. Lt was built i'i 1862.