THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. FRIDAY. MARCH 21, 1924. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4677, 21 March 1924, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. FRIDAY. MARCH 21, 1924. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

John Ellis, the hangman, .has resigned. He executed two hundred persons, including Crippen and Casement. He was formerly a barber, bur is now a traveller. He is a sensitive, nervous man. When he kept fowls be got a friend to wring their necks.

Several ears from Waihi and Paeroa went through to Auckland thm morning to be present at the motoi races, which are to be held at Muriwai to-morrow afternoon.

A wide range of pictures appears In Ziiis week’s issue <>f the ‘‘N.Z. Sport ing and Dramatic Review,” making ic one of compelling interest to all. The Napier Park Racing Club’s autumn meeting i.s represented in a series of interesting snap-bops, the Ohinemui 1 Jockey Club’s popular annual gathering at Paeroa is depicted in attractive style, while photographs at the Rosebill meeting give a glimpse of racing in Australia. The centre pages are devoted to the brilliant musical comedy “Sally," and a very beautiful set of illustrations shows the River Seine in flood, taking in various buildings and streets. The Ponsonby Swimming Club’s carnival, crews at Wanganui regatta, and Wirth’s circus, among others form an attractive series. The theatrical and motion picture world are specially featured in an up-to-date issue.

Hamilton Competitions, Music, Vocal, Instrumental, Chorus, and Solos. Entries close Secretary, Box 70, Hamilton, March 31. Send for Syllabus.*

In connection with the boundaries commission which is to be held in Paeroa early next month the chairman, Mr J. G. L. Hewitt, intimated in the Court on Wednesday that the second petition would he heard on the same day as the original petition.

A four-roomed house at Shelly Beach, owned by Mr Bond and occupied by Mr E. A. Campbell, was totally destroyed by lire about 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday last. The origin o f (lie fire i.s unknown. It is understood that there was no one in the building at the time. Mr Campbell being working at the back of the farm. The Imilding was covered by insurance, but not the contents. Nothing was saved.

It is understood that steps are be• ing taken to consider the advisability of pumping hot mineral water from the Martha mine into the municipal baths at Waihi. The water from the mine has been analysed, and the mineral properties it contains are said to be equal to Te Aroha waters.

A start was made this morning by the Education Board’s workmen to tar and sand the playgrounds at the Paeroa District High School. It is gratifying to know that the Board has taken this step, as the asphalt, in the boys’ playground particularly, has become badly chipped, allowing the clay and mud to work through during wet weather.

The editor of the Waihi Telegraph received the following letter yesterday morning from Mrs Higgins, written in Auckland prior to her departure for Canada: “The Editor, Sir, — As 1 am leaving for Canada to-mor ■ row I felt I could not go without thanking the public of Waihi and Waikino for what they have, done for myself and my two boys. I cannot express myself. Down in that lonely bush I could not eat or sleep thinking how to get out of my dreadful trouble. They all know about the Mayoress and the three ladies win came down and comforted me in my sad plight. My lieartfelt thanks to them all, especially the Mayor and Mayoress, and the Salvation Army.’’

A balance-sheet has been prepared by the New Zealand Miners’ Federation regarding the funds forwarded through the federation to the West Coast for the relief of miners’ dependants during the recent coal trouble. Of the total of £8991 19s lOd raised, £7(M4 0s 10d was subscribed by miners in Australia, £1255 Its was raised by the New Zealand Alliance of Labour, £67 7s 4d by members of various unions, and £l4 by individual .subscribers. Of this amount £8946 1.4 s 4d wa,s paid to the Westport Miners’ District Council and £1 4s 8d was spent in cables and telegrams to Aus tralia and the AVest Coast Council. There is a balance in the bank of £44 0s lOd.

An inquest was held at AVaihi on Wednesday afternoon, before Mr W. M. Wallnutt, coroner, touching the death of Charles Sergeant, whose body was found in a well 120 feet deep. Evidence was given that whilst deceased was attempting to deepen the well, and when ascending the ladderway, a portion of the ladder broke, precipitating deceased to the bottom of the shaft, which was then dry. Deceased was probably killed by the fall. A verdict of accidental death was re turned. Deceased was 77 years of age, and a native of Linton, Cambridgeshire, England.

Some very odd reasons have been given from time to time for grant!rj; a school half-holiday, but one of the oddest instances surely ■ happened down Rotorua way, where one of the neighbouring schools was closed on the occasion of the recent Rotorua race meeting. When the Board of Educa.ion inquired into the matter the headmaster said the secretary of the? committee approved the granting of the holiday. The headmaster added that he himself did not attend the. race meeting. It was decided to send on tliis explanation to the local committee, which had been asking for in formation.

The American steam dipper type of dredge recently built at Kerepeehi was taken up the Awaiti Stream ctL last week and set to work yesterday widening the canal front the flaxmill to the Awaiti lakes, a distance of about four and a-half miles. The Wilson Walker machine is working alongside, digging a 12ft supply drain and depositing the .spoil with that from the floating dredge to form a stop-bank and road. Two other dredges are also working in this cut. a Bucyrus being engaged 'near Kerepeehi is widening, and a Priestman that recently came in from Waitoa for repairs is removing slips. The Rood iand machine is making a supply drain and a stop-batnk on the Kerepeehi Block, and is now located opposite the Ngartta landing.’ Two Priestman dredges are still widening the river between Kerepeehi and Ngatea. A Bucyrus is still shifting the Ptihanga canal stop-bank, while the Maukoro canal work i,s being carried on by a Priestman, The. second American steam dipper dredge is now being erected at Kerepeehi.

Thus the Christchurch Star': “The eternal argument as to whether New Zealand is part of Auckland or Auckland is part of New Zealand doesn’t crop up very much at Methodist Conferences, as the ministers stationed in Auckland get bundled down south before they can get thoroughly ‘oneeyed.’ But Auckland did get a look in. though, in a roundabout way. The Rev. G E. Brown, of AVellington, who is on transfer to Auckland, had been waxing eloquent on the question cf where the connexional offices (now in Christchurch) should be located *n the future. He wanted them shifted to Wellington. The offices should not be kept in what is after all just a provincial capital, but should be in the chief city of the Dominion, he declared with emphasis. ‘That’s Auckland,’ ’nterjcctcd the president to the accompaniment of much laughter.”

Competitions open Hamilton, May 7, 1924-. Entries close March 31. Syllabus from Competitions Secretary, Hamilton*