THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1925. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4913, 9 December 1925, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1925. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The town clerk (Mr W. C. Alexander) stated at the Paeroa .Borough Council -meeting last night that the sum of £1619 w’as, owing in rates to the borough, which sum, toge'-her with £3960’ still, owing on the current year’s rates, brought the .total up to £5579. The native ratess outstanding amount to £266. Several councillors voiced the opinion that a decided effort should be made to collect the arrears.

A number of people expressed the cpiniai’.'that yesterday v,as the Hottest day experienced locally s.o far this season. The effect of the heat was manifested by the passengers travelling on the Auckland-Thames express yesterday atfernoon. In every carriage men were to be cien sitting quietly, in their seats divested of hats and coatis, and, tn some instances, waistcoats unbuttoned and sleeves roiled up.

A resolution recording the thanks of the council to Sir. James Parr for his, assistance in connection with the transfer of the municipal reserve in Nahum Street to .the Education Department, and also for the reception lie accorded the Mayor and' Cr: Brenan when in Wellington on municipal business recently, was 1 carried at the Paeroa Borough Council meeting last night.

The total area in commercial orchards in New Zealand ly 30,000' acres, of which about 75 per cent, consists of apples.

A huge cabbage, measuring over a yard in width., has been grown by Mr W. H. George at his Manor House estate, near Wellington!

The revenue received by the local borough council for November totalled £736 4s 10'cl, and the expenditure £224 10s lOd. The balances in the various accounts were shown as £892 l'ss 4fcl (credit) in the District Fund. £3511 Is (debit) in the Street Improvements Loan, £5679 8s lid (debit) in the Sewerage Loan, £169 Us (credit) in the Domain Improvements Loanjand £2BO (credit) in the Water Improvement? Loam

After sitting for nearly four hour® last night ,the Paeroa Borough Council adjourned its meeting until. Saturday night, when it is hoped to complete the businesjs for the month.

As has been the custom for several years, past the committee of the Paeroa District High School has granted a whole holiday on Friday, People’s Day at the Show.

The annual, matriculation examination conducted by the New Zealand University commenced on Wednesday, and will be continued until December 18. Thirteen pupils are sitting for this examination at Paeroa! ,

Four permits, to the value of £36, for alterations to various buildings were granted by the Paeroa Borough Council on the recommendation of the works committee at the council meeting last ’night.

Mr E. 'E. Gillman, architect, late of Paeroa, and now' of Hamilton, has been appointed’ to the position of architect to the NZ, Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., and now has full, charge of the whole of the company’s building operations.-

It was resolved by tihe Paeroa Borough Council at its meeting last night to impose the .ten per centt..penalty on all rates, not paid by January 11, 1926.

Repairs to nineteen motor -vehicles cost the Auckland City Council £1963 for the twelve months ended March 31 last. This was exclusive of the cost of tyres. Three low-priced care cost for repairs £162, £l5B, and £l2O, while a medium-priced car had £133 spent on it. Of the six trucks, one cost £4OO in repairs and another £257. It was decided that the tramways department should do the repair work in future.

Replying to Mr F. H Flatt, the engineer said, at -yesterday’s meeting of the Thames Valley Power Board that there was a certain amount of improper use of electricity going on. He instanced one case where a consumer had-taken j wire from the back of the switchboard,-through the existing pipes, and made another connection!. The case was a deliberate one, and a prosecution would follow in due course.

Reference was made to the pending transfer of Mr Li May, resident engineer to the Public Worlds Department,. Paeroa, at last night’s meeting of the Paeroa* Borough Council, and on the motion of the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall), it was; decided to record the appreciation of the services rendered and the helpful advice given by MiMay to the council, and to congratulate him on receiving promotion in the service, and wishing him good health and prosperity in his new sphere. Seconded by Cr. EdwardsSeveral councillors spoke in eulogis,tic terms) of Mr May, and regret was ,expressed at his departure!

We were to-day shown a line bunch of Abyssinian bananas grdwn by MF E. H, Andrews, Cullen Street, Paeroa;. The fruit is well, formed, but judging by the appearance, the elements have been scarcely tropical enough to bring it to full maturity!. The seeds were planted. by Mr Andrews about seven years ago. and although .the palm is now a good height; this is the first occasion on which it has borne fruit.

In reply to Mr W. E. G! Willy at yesterday’s meeting of the Thames Valjey Power Board the engineer (Mr Nl G. McLeod) said that the canvass of Kaihere Road did not warrant the board reticulating that road, and it would not be payable until Hunter’s flaxmill consented to take power.