THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY. MARCH 24, 1926. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4955, 24 March 1926, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY. MARCH 24, 1926. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

1 Nothing further is known in connection with the theft of money from the of Mr W. Thompson, Lands Department overseer at Patetonga, on March 4.

Good progress is being made with the metalling of Wilson’s, Road, and if the present rate continues the first) course of metal' should be completed in a week’s, time. About 70 yards of metal are being spread daily. The road is yet to receive a four-inch course of blue metal and a course of red blinding metal.

Sir Oliver Lodge, in an address upon death before the Christchurch Grey Friars, urged that people should dismiss the idea of death as gloomy. It was- really a great adventure. “We do not fear to emigrate,” he paid, “but look forward to nd’w conditions with interest. So should we look forward to death.' Our souls are no,iV-enclosed in a body matter which is a nuisance to get rid of. There are no dead in the churchyards,. I have never seen my son Raymond’s grave in France. He asked me not to. I know there is po extinction, because I■■ frequently talk with people who have gone. Tire matter looms far too big in our attitude. We should greet the unseen with good cheer.”

YWhat ideas are suggested to’ the minds of English people by the name New Zealand ?” inquired a "Dominion repi esentative of Dp. West-Watson, the Bishop-elect of Christchurch. “The All Blacks,” wias the immediate respontse of His Lordship. “We’ felt rather sorry for ourselves in England at receiving such a drubbing from your wonderful team last year.” Smilingly, he added: “Of course, now .that I am a New Zealander I shall regard from a more satisfactory point of view.” ' ‘

A patent clock which refused duty resulted in .an unenviable experience for a Palmerston North business man on Saturday night. At about 10 o’clock a tenant in one of the town’s newest buildings' had occasion to visit his offied, and before climbing ,the stairs he thoughtfully locked ,the main door behind him. A short time afterwards, on attempting to leave the building, the tenant found that he was locked in, and all the screwdrivers, pocket knives, and similar implement's in his possession failed to remove the stubborn lock. After over an hour’s work he concluded that there wps nothing for it but to spend the night in his, office. He did so. On rising in the morning he again made a determined effort to regain his freedom, but it whs not until 2 p.m. that his plight was discovered. Another tenant, who desired admission to the building, found himself locked out. After a visit t,o a number o4’ shops the second tenant obtained a powerful screwdriver that forced the door open. The first tenant made a hurried exit in search of dinner. -

An important furniture sale is .tp be hold in. Paeroa on Saturday next, when the whole of the contents of the Paeroa Hotel will be offered for disposal. Mr V. S. Roberts, auctioneer, will conduct the sale.

At a meeting held last night the Paeroa Ladies’ Hockey Club, decided to hold a social, and euchre tournament during next month as a means of raising funds to purchase necessary gear and to form the nucleus of a fund to meet .the travelling expenses of the team. A strong sub-committee has been set up to arrange details.

Brevet Lieut.-Colo.nel C. E. Andrews, N.Z.S.C., and Captain E. A, Porritt, M.C., leave Paeroa, to-day for the East Coast. The Whakatane and Opotiki territorials attached .to the Hauraki who are at present undergoing a seven days’ camp at Whaka r tane, will be injected, after which it is probable that a vis.it, will be made to the Gisborne area df the regimental district.

One o*f the new motor-car owners of the Patetonga district should be made to wait some time for his driver s license. While approaching another cai on Sunday his actions warned the other driver to look out. Accordingly the car was- driven to' the side of a wide road, but despite this, the amateur motorist drove his car straight into it, bending the chassis and doing other damage.

. At the fortnightly meeting of the local Oddfellows Lodge last night it was de'cided to challenge the Paeroa Druids Lodge to a game of football before the Rugby 'Union competitions commenced, ft was also suggested that steps should be .taken to secure a shield for annual competition among the Friendly Society lodges in the district.

The Minister of Finance has issued figures which illustrate the activities of the State Advances Departpiept. During the eleven months of the financial year loans, amounting to nearly seven millions have been authorised. To 3885 settlers the sum granted was £4,413,67'5. The number of Ave.rkers.who received loams' is 2797, file amount being £2,330,892. These sums include 22,705 loans, totalling £2,476,692. for the erection of houses,.

When “Queensland Harry,” a wellknown figure among- peregrinating showmen round this country, was; giving evidence in the Magistrates Court at Hamilton last week, in answer to an application by his wife for separation, he specifically instanced one occasion on which, according to “Harry’s” story, his wife was the aggressor. The circus w|as in session •at one of the North Auckland centres at the time, when “Harry”, alleged his wife rushed into the ring, scratched his fa;c§, and kicked him. That was during the performance, to still quote “Harry,” who added that he “passed it off” .to the audience as one of the items df the programme. Maybe they jenjoyed this little “tit-bit” on the bill of fare

The quarterly conference of the N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Company’s suppliers’ committees wag' held at the Soldiers’ Club, Pa,eroa, yesterday, and ■was largely attended- Mr Dynes Fulton, chairman of directors, presided, and witli him were Messrs W. E'. Hale, director representing ,the Hauraki Plains ward; H. H, Sterling, general manager ; A. E. Missen, and C. J. Parlane. An apology for absence was received from. Mr G. Buchanan, local director, who is at present indisposed. Mr Llyne's Fulton dealt with the position pf the company's; affairs for the present season, so far as output, ship'ping, and marketing were concerned. A' number of subjects affecting the company’s business were dealt with and explained to t,he satisfaction of those present. '

Captain Guest (C.), in the recent House of Commons debate on unem-ployment,-urged that the solution lay within the Empire. He has now elaborated the idea of .temporary emigration in the form of an Expeditionary Labour Army’ analogous to wartime, with a. separation allowance, but he prefers young single men as more likely to settle down permanently. Unemployment relief', he said, had cost the country £340',0'00,000 since the Armistice without the slightest return to the nation. The scheme would ensure larger Empire production of foods and benefit shipping. "'We are at present trusting to God and our customers to pull us through,” concludes Captain Guest.

The latest London market cable received by the N.Z. Dairy Co. quotes Anchor butter, salted and unsalted at 1745, Kangaroo 168 s to 170 s, Argentine 1565, to 160 s, Danish 183 s, f.0.b., with the market quietly steady. There is a narrow marginal, difference between Australian and New Zealand owing to short stock of choicest Australian being completed for certain buyers, enabling larger retail profits. The position is only temporary, and retail is unchanged. Whitei cheese is quoted at 97s to 98s, coloured 995, to 100 s, with very quieti market. The consumption is low owing 'to' cheap eggsi and bacon, which competes with cheese for workere’ midday meal.

Mr John Mosley, of Stirling, who has gained fame in various parts) of the Dominion through his, ability in water divining, is' also able to locate the precious metals with the, aid of his divining .twigs (saySi the Balclutha Free Press). He has but recently returned from an expedition into the wilds of Western Otago, .whither he went on a mission for a, mining syndicate. Needless to say, Mr Mosley is very reticent as to the exact locality but he has brought back concrete evidence of the success, of his mission in the shape of a small bottle nearly full of rough water-worn gold that evidently had not travelled far from the main lode or “mother reef,” which he also located after some rough travelling in difficult country. The result will be an important mining development beiore long.

The number of motor-cars in Patetonga is increasing at such a rate that a second motor me’chanic has considered it Worth while opening a repair sjiop.