DISTRICT NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4826, 27 March 1925, Page 4

DISTRICT NEWS.

WAITAKARURU. TELEPHONES; A s.tart was made on .Wednesday to inslal the switchboard for the new telephone exchange at Waitakaruru. There is space on the board for 3V lines, so there is ample room for fu-tu.’-e requirements, as although there are 42 subscribers to be connected there will be only one line not a. party wire. HUTS DESTROYED BY FIRE. Five huts, occupied by tlie Thames Valley Power Board’s construction gang, situated on the roadside near Waitakaruru, were destroyed by lire on Monday afternoon. The origin of the fire its a mystery, as i.t. commenced in a hut in which there was no cooking 'stoves and the workmen had not been near the camp since early morning. From this hut it quickly spread to the others, as they were only a foot or so apart. An unsuccessful attempt was made to drag one of the huts away with a tractor that was working nearby, but the wire rope was not strong enough. The small crowd which had collected then turned their efforts to salving the belongings of the occupiers, and in this they were fairly successful. Included in the loss were several sums of money and a gold watch and chain. Tne party, which numbers ten, has joined the telegraph construction pa'-ty’s camp nearby. CANAL ROAD. Since early spring Lands Department workmen using two tractors, two graders, three scoops, and six hired horses have been engaged in forming the mile or so of road on the western bank of the Maukoro canal at Waltakaruru. A splendid job is being made of the formation, but, considering that much of the work will be neutralised by the winter traffic, it appears that the better proposiiton would have been to do less of this work and utilise the money in metalling portion of the ro.ad. STREAM BRIDGE. The Public Works Department has completed the erection of the bridge across the Waitakaruru stream on the I’okeno road, blit work on the approaches yet remains to be done. WATER SUPPLY. The erection of a dam in the Waitakaruru stream and the installation of a gauge as required by the Government in connection .with the granting of permission to utilise the stream as .tlie source of a water supply for the western portion of the Hauraki Plains was completed on Tuesday. The dam is about three feet high and over twenty feet wide. . ROADING. Good work is being done by county workmen using a caterpillar tractor, together with a grader, scoop, and pl nigh, on the Waitakaruru-Patetohga road. A great many miles have been completed and several culverts attended to. KAIHERE. FOOTBALL. ' ; The annual meeting of .the Hauraki Plains West Football Club was hejd at Kaihere on Monday evening, Mr D. Downs presiding over an attendance of twenty. Officers appointed for the season were: Patron, Air J. F. Mayir; prqsident, Mr D. Downs' (pro tem) ; secretary and treasurer, Mr T. H. Whitwell'; auditor, Mr A. Whiteman; delegatus to Hauraki Plains Rugby Union, Messrs E. AV. Harris and J. Christie; selectors, Messrs T. Cassin, H. Duffy, and. captain (seniors), and Messrs AV. Mclnnes, J. Christie., and captain (juniors); management committee,

president, secretary, Messrs G. Garry, J. Millington, and D. Cowdrey. The annual subscription for players was fixed at ss, and honorary members 10s, admitting them free to all home matches.

It was decided that a letter of thanks be sent to Mr AV. Mclnnes for having acte.d as delegate to the union during last season, as .this had meant riding many miles at night, over roads that were considered impassible owing to the mud, and also to Mr J. Cnristie for his services as secretary and delegate. A practice match was arranged for to-morrow. PATETONGA. BAZAAR POSTPONED. The Pate.tonga Hall Committee hail Hoped .to hold’a bazaar to-day for tlie purpose: of raising funds to mee,t the annual interest and instalment due, but owing to the Health Department’s restrictions the function had to bo postponed. It was expected that over £loo' would have been collected. . ROADING. A mile or iso beyond Kaihere on .the Patetonga road there! is a portion of the road significantly known as “the glue pot.’’ It is a spot where the road dips into and crosses a valley, and the clay used in tlie read formation was of a particularly viscid kind. On Wednesday last a fe|w of tlie settlers from the neighbourhood, together witli Or. J. F. Mayn, formed a working bee and commenced metalling tlie road. It is hoped to complete tlie work in tlie next, few days. TURUA. FOOTBALL. The prospects for football in Turua this coming season do not appear to be very bright at present. A preliminary meeting ,w'as called for Wednesday evening, and there were eighteen players present. The president sent an apology for non-attendance, and a message to the effect that unless more interest was taken in the future lie would tike no part.

The secretary was not present, but he sent a message intimating his intention to resign.

Mr D. Hill wais appointed chairman and Mr A. McConnell secretary for the meeting. it was decided tiiat a further meeting be called for Monday, March 30. The secretary was instructed to ascertain from the Wharepo.a club a date suitable for a senior and a junior match.

For the purpose of making several piesdntatioirs a dance was arranged to be held in ,a fortnight’s time. Tire question of tlie insurance of

players wais discussed, and it was decided to invite an agqnt to attend the next meeting.

Arrangements were made to improve the playing fields.

KARANGAHAKE.

RUMOURED ASPIRANTS. FOOTBALL. ('lie Karangahake Football Club opened the season on Saturday last by playing a friendly game with a team from AVaikino on tlie Mackaytown Domain. Notwithstanding the Dot weather conditions, tlie game proved very fast and resulted in a win for the home team by 17 points to 5. For tlie visitors R. Campbell was successful in scoring a try which ‘lie converted, while J. O’Brien (2), B. King (2), R. Ratliff (1) scored for Karargahake, one try of which was converted by E. McLeod. Mr E. Smite controlled tlie game. To-morrow West and Karangahake will try conclusions.