THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 1926. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4932, 29 January 1926, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 1926. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Eighteen hundred Christchurch people are waiting to be connected with the telephone; and four hundred of them must wait eighteen months yet. This; state of affairs was disclosed by an inquiry at the Telegraph Office, Which says the department can never catch up with the demand.

Dogs and horses with rich owners must find the. world a hard place when their masters die. It will be easier for those which belonged to Charles Gould, a millionaire who died recently. He left £4OOO for the care of his pet dogs and hordes.

There now only remains, one store on the Plains that does not use a ■motor-truck fop delivery purposes, and that store does not deliver its goods. Mr A. G. Davies, of Kaihere, is the latest grocer to acquire a truck. It would be interesting to learn if there is any ether district, of the size of the Hauraki Plains with such a large percentage of shopkeepers with motor-trucks.

Sunday next, January 31, Paeroa Presbyterian Church, Macky Street, 11 a.m., the Rev. J. A. Ryburn, interim Moderator. Important congregational. meeting following. At 7 p.m., Mr E. R. Rossi, M.A.. Service in Tirohia Schoolhouse, 2.30 p.m., Mr Ross. Newcomers and visitors cordially welcome.*

Now that the effects of last week s storm have passed the recent rainfall is commencing to manifest itself in the growth of the root crops and pastures at Paeroa. A few weeksi ago a good rain was' urgently required, and jus.t when .matters were assuming a serious outlook for the dairy farmers a copious rainfall was recorded. The grass is now growing very satisfactorily, and there is no immediate shortage of feed for cattle. The recent rains and warm weather have also had a very beneficial, effect on the turnip and maize crops, in the district, and the country generally is regarded as being in great heart for this time of the year.

County workmen are now grading up Pekapeka Road in preparation for the metal. On Ngarua Road steady progress is being maintained with the metalling by the Lands Department. Most of the new broken metal has been blinded with red metal, and it iis proposed to continue this.

On Saturday the Turua tennifS' team will play the Mangawhero team at the latter club’s courts, while the Waitakaruru “B” grade team will, play at Kerepeehi. A match between the Netherton and Hikutaia. “B” grade teams has been arranged.

“Denmark exports to England £7,500,000 worth of eggs a year,” remarked Mr C. Dahl at a meeting of the Manawatu-Oroua Pig Breeders’ Association. He also stated that for every person in the country there were 6% hens, while in England there was only one hen per head of the population.

At a special meeting of the Thames Borough Council on Tuesday evening last a petition signed by ten grocers, eight drapers, three butchery, one printer, and followers; of other callings, containing in all 47 names, was presented, praying for the declaration of Saturday as the statutory halfholiday. The request was unanimously acceded to.

“There arc 2,000,000 excess women in the Old Country, and here there is an excess of men. We should quietly, but steadily, pump the women into New Zealand day and night,” said Commissioner D. C. Lamb, of the Salvation Army, who is on a .tour of the Empire, when speaking on migration and settlement, in the Chamber of Commerce Hall at Christchurch recently, reports the "Presis.”

Business in farm land in the Waikato district within a radius of a comparatively few miles, from H.amil/ ton to the extent of nearly £40,000 in the last month was reported to a “Times” representative this week by a local land agent. The total acreage concerned was 3000, divided into four properties, situated at Whatawhata, Waimai, and Te Awamutu.

In common with other schools in the Auckland Education Board’s district, the Paeroa District High Scnool will jeopen on Monday morning after having been closed since December 18 last. Regarding the "half-time” system during 'the hot weather in February, 'it is. explained that the beard has approved of a System which enables the headmaster of a school, bn any day when he considers the weather .too sultry for the pupils to be kept inside, .to consult the chairman of the School Committee. If they agree upon the matter the school is closed for the half-day.

Steady progress is being maintained on the erection of the new municipal chambers in Normanby Road. The large strong-room in the centre of the structure is to be completed tod&y. The main walls, are now '.a single storey high, and are ready for carrying the joists for the ceilings and roof.

The Hauraki plains A. and P. Association has decided that the annual athletic sports, meetijig shall boi held on Easter Monday, ap usual. A committee has the matter in hand.

Despite all .the I’ain that has fallen during the past few weekis the peat fire on the Plains is still burning merrily on one section near Ngarua Road.

There'will be no alteration fri the usual local post and telegraph arrangements and hours to-morrow’ (AnniversaJ’y Day). Thd telephone exchange will be open as usual.

“Go slow” was resumed in two freezing works at Christchurch on Tuesday. Islington and Borthwicks are the works concerned.

Several people have evinced interest in the white coloured bricks which are being used in .the erection of the new municipal, offices at Paeroa. In conversation with Mr Beagley, one of the building contractors, it was. learried that the. bricks are manufactured at Ngaruawahia, the component parts being sand and .lime. This mixture is placed in moulds and subjected to a 6401 b pressure of steam. Before being sent but for building purposes each brick is carefully tested by .means of applying 20001 b pressure .to the square inch. Mr Beagley statesi that the white brick is superior to the more common type of red brick for building.

This week’s (issue of the “N.Z. Sporting and Dramatic Review” is well up to its usual high standard. The centre pages are graced with, notable wteddings, ballet beauties, girl polo player's, and skaters,. Racing is catered for in snapshots of the Wellington meeting, and the American are featured in action. Parisian modes and stage, moton picture, and social subjects have their usual prominent positions., and the miscellaneous section is wide and varied.