THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1925. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4916, 16 December 1925, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1925. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The monthly meeting of the Paeroa Chamber of •Commerce is to be held to-morrow (Thursday) evening, when, in view of the fact that the weekly half-holiday -question is to be discussed, a large attendance of business men is expected.

The report of the public presentation to Mr Hugh Poland ex-M.P., and Mrs Poland, which took place last night, will appear in our issue on Friday. ’

The Arawa sailed for New Zealand with 340 migrants, and the Ruahinc will sail next week with 250, thereby completing 9600 for the year. A, further 5000 are embarking in .the next three months!-

“Pay within three months or else be sued,” was, the purport of a resolution moved in connection with outstanding fees at a meeting of the Thames. Hospital Board on Monday.

At,a meeting of.the Paeroa Domain Board on Saturday night ‘it was resolved to grant the local troop of Boy Scouts the use of the Domain for the purpose of holding a sports gathering on December 19-

The chairman of'the Domain Committee (Cr. I. W. Siloo-k) reported at Saturday night’s muing of /lie Pae--ro.a Borough Council that the ladies’ rest room had oeen ecmpleted. Au hority was given to purchase a mirror, settee, chairs, and small table foi the room.

A “Southland News” reporter was informed by an Invercargill business man that a big goldmining company is to be floated shortly with a capital of £lOO,OOO. The claims' are in the Lower Shotover River, being promoted by a Ipcal firm. The shares will be offered at £1 ? and it iis stated that this is one of the - largest dredging propositions in the Dominion. The shares will be placed on the market after the holidays.

The accounts pf .the Auckland city tramways for the last financial year have been published, and show a revenue of £601.21'2; with operating charges and maintenance of £476,508, leaving a gross profit of £124-,707, which is only £6OO leiss than for the previous year, but, owing to bus. competition, is £lo.ooo' less than was estimated at the beginning of tiie year. The capital aiid other charges absorbed £119,762, leaving a net surplus of £4-942, against £11,585 for the, previous year.

The list of Justices of the Peace has been gazetted, and to everyone’s astonishment there is| not a single appointment made at Thames (says the Thames "Star”). We know that the Chamber of Commerce recommended' some names for the positions’, so- .what can have happened to stop these being appointed ? Thames is very short of Justices, and some unwarranted delay has been caused at t'mes owing to the difficulty in finding a .HP. Strong representations should at once be made to remedy the omission.

Mr H. j. Hare, Paeroa,, has received notification from the Hon. Minister for Justice that he has been appointed a Justice of the Peace as, from December 9, 1925.

When speaking of improving the stock at the Tararu Homes, at Monday's meeting of the Thames Hospital Board Mr J, W. Dauby raid that it appeared as if purchasing cow® waj? as treacherous as. buying fiddle strings.

Laurence Joseph Towers, aged 54, bath and park caretaker at Thames, was found at the foot of Fremonial Hill on Thursday night with a dislocated thigh, having been missing 24 hours. He died in the hospital yesterday morning of acute pneumonia, due to exposure.

The brick and hardwood fence facing two sides, of the new post office building is now nearing completion. The fence is of handsome appearance and unusual design. It is a great pity that the department could not accede to the representations made by the local borough council and chamber of commercb arid continue the fence along the full front of Normanby Road at least.

William Bramwell Willetts, an employee of the New Zealand Roads Company at Turua, was arrested' at Orongo on Monday by Constable Devereaux, and on the charge of the theft of £8 from the roqm of a workmate, Mr L, W. Bowden, was remanded by Wr-H. Lucas, J.P.. yesterday, to appear at Thames on December 21. It is understood that Willetts ha® many previous

The peat fire on the Hauraki Plains has now practically burned itself out, and there its- now no danger, as only in isolated spots is timber burning. The blocking of the drains has, flooded a big area. Very little damage has been done. About half one section. that would otherwise be fit for graznig in the near future has been burnt, and slight damage has been caused-to the Torehape Road fascines. It is perhaps fortunate that the fire occurred so early in the summer, as otherwise" it may have been much more serious.

The senior and single members of the Star of Paeroa Lodge, U.A.0.D., are tendering a. Christmas tree treat to the children of members on Saturday next- The gathering will be held from 3 toi 5 p.m. in the Druids’ Hall? Paeroa, and is already exciting the Christmas spirit in the brerasts of the young folk. 1 The afternoon tea to members, their wives and children will be followed by the distribution of the toys to the little ones.

The tender of Messrs Robinson and Beagley, contractors’for the new post office, has. been accepted for the erection of the Preroa municipal chambers. There were only two tenderc. that of Messrs- Robinson and; Beagley. £1561, being the lowest The price accepted does not provide for shelving, pigeon-Ilol.es, etc., but there is "ft sufficient margin between the contract price and the loan authorised by the ratepayers to provide for certain office furniture and fittings:.

Cliarles Lawson, ■the 13-year-old Waihi boy who, with Mr D. Leach, was' for three days and two nights adrift in an open boat, seems little the worse for his terrible ordeal. He is-, however, very badly sunburned and plastered about the face, arms., and legs. The lad, who is bigger and sturdier than most boys of his age, stated that although .the days spent in the boat were extremely hot the nights were bitterly cold; As he had but one oar to manage the craft she Sihipped a lot of water. On the first night, he said, he bailed out easily 150 cans full.

The Landon manager of the N.Z. Co. operative Dairy Co., quotes- the London market price of Anchor butter at 180 s, unsalted 182 s. The market is more active, with heavy selling round about 170s-1725. and lower. Midweek Anchor was held firm at 176 s and turned the market. Butter is selling well, and price is advancing," Danish being 183 s after touching 178 s. Continued activity is anticipated next week. Retail, New Zealand Is 10d, Danish 2s-. Cheese is bringing 108 s, and is quiet, with retail unchanged.

At the proficiency examinatipn held in the High School, Paeroa., on Thursday last by Mr W. Hi. Newton, Ac-tingr Inspector of Schools, 25 pupils were presented from the Paeroa District High School. Of .these 22 gained the proficiency and 2 ,the competency certificate. This result must be very gratifying to the teacher of the sixth class, Miss J. McCalskill, who has had a. shortened period in which to prepare her claes. It is noteworthy that the number of pupils in the sixth standard this year is, low, and as it is from the successful ones, in this class that the numbers in the high school department are kept up, it, is hoped that all parents who can will give their children a chance to benefit by the higher education so well provided for by the local high school teachers.

Details are now to hand of tlie manner in which Mr Frederick Epps, a Hauraki Plains farmer, was seriously injured in the Pipiroa district! on December 2. It seems that Mr Eppis was riding a particularly quiet and gentle horse along the road when he heard the noise of a car coming from behind. He guided his horse to the edge of the metal, buti the anima,l- detoured slightly to avoid an obstruction, and was still on the edge of the metal when struck in the rear by the car and violently jo’ted. Mr Epps lost his stirrups, but later regained his seat, when the car again struck the horse, which rshot out from under its rider, who fell on the road on his, hands and knees. Before he could move the car was upon him, causing the injuries mentioned. The car was occupied by two women. Epps is making a. good recovery frqin bis injuries, which include a dislocated pelvis, .and cuts about the head.

Haymaking is now being carried out at many places on the Plains, bnd several farmers arc making ensilage.