THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE HAURAKI PLAINS GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1926. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4976, 19 May 1926, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE HAURAKI PLAINS GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1926. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

When thanking the Minister of, Mines, at Waihi for the increase from, £l3 to. £l7 10s for the funeral expenses of miners who had died of miners’ phthisis, ithe president of the Waihi Miners’ Union (Mr E. Dye) said that on behalf of the union he wished to publicly thank Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., for his efforts in placing the matter before the. Minister. He is-aid that'the local mining community owed a deep debt of gratitude to Mr Samuel. . . ■

The N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Company? London manager has cabled under date of the 14th inst. that butter and chdese a;re still at Government maximum- Although' the strike has been declared off difficulties, still exist, individual unions delaying resumption df work. Strike-conditions still prevail, although transport hasi much improved. Danish is bringing 168 s f.0.b., and the American and German markets are unchanged, Rletail prices remain tire siyne.

Firth’s- flaxmill has been shifted, from the banks of the Awaiti canal at Kerepeehi to a site at Tahuna, MrFirth is -manager of. the big Christchurch syndicate’s interests on the Plains, and the shifting of his mill to Tahuna may mean that the syndicate will not proceed with the erection of a mill at Kerepeehi, as originally rumoured.

The first visible signs of the commencing of work on the Hauraki bridge at Kopu are now materialising. Workmen are busy erecting the huts for the workers. Three of these huts will be placed close to the ferry approach, and the remainder are situated in Queen Street, close to the old dairy factory site. A cottage is also being erected for .the caretaker of the plant, and it is evident that within a month a gang of men will commence operations.

"Aussie” is a great companion, for the winter fireside, and it has 1 a rare fund of laughter to add brightness, and cheer to the home. The pictures in the May issue, are particularly good, and it is here that that clever artist G. K. Townshend shines in his flill-page drawings. 4 The New Zealand section of the magazine has never been better, and the front Pag® cartoon by “Alec” is a particularly clever skit on the visit of Zane Grey to New Zealand.

A start has been made with the work of widening the Ngatea bridge. It is proposed to extend .the‘decking out to the iron ways- in which the counter-weights run. While on\ the job it would be well: tor .the decking to fie covered, as, ithe planks: have been worn almost, half through where the wheels run.

Figures are now available of ithe numbers, carried on the amusement devices .at the Dunedin Exhibition. They show a total of 2,205,155, as under: Scenic railway 507,168, water ca,ve 281,342, dodgem 339,163, fun factory 34'9,789, caterpillar 255,237, whip 280,470, merry mix-up 149,986'. Dividing the total by four, on the assumption that each person patronised tour devices, gives 551,289 persons, or 17 per cent, of the total admissions.

Consumers of electricity on the main street (from the new post office to the old railway station site are advised that, the supply will be cut off from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to-morrow. This step has been rendered, necessary owing to the removal and replacement of certain poles in the circuit.

Replying to the welcome at the complimentary luncheon accorded to him .at Waihi on Thursday last the Minister of Mines (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) congratulated the district on having a. representative of Mr A. M. Samuel's calibre. Mr Samuel, he said, had a dogged personality, and was a- man who, if he believed he had a fair and reasonable claim to espouse, would hang on determinedly and fight until he received satisfaction. (Applause.)

For the year 1925 the record profit of £3500 was made by the administration of the \W.aitomo Caves under the Tourist Department. A record in the number of visitors was, also reached by the total of 8163.

Commenting on the progress Paeroa has made, Mr C. R. Bellingham, who is visiting the town after an absence of nearly ten years, said that when the block of land on which now stand the shop of Mr D. 'McWatters and the engineering works of the late Mr J. Hubbard was first cut up he. bought it, and sold iti later on at the price, of £.12 a sectioh.

Following on .two heavy frosts x the weather locally yesterday and. to-day has been wet .and cold. Last night the Wind changed to a more- easterly, direction, and blew with almost hurricane force during the night and early this morning. Heavy rain ha£ fallen curing the past 24 hours, and the barometer at 9 o’clock this morning was still falling.

There appears to be a mild epidemic of colds and sore throats prevalent locally at present, and a number of people have been confined to their homeis: as a result. The wave df chicken-pox among small children appears to be lessening, but there are still a number suffering from this form of illness.

An inspection .of .the premises a,t .Kerepeehi for which it is hoped to obtain a publican’s license in .the near future was made, by some of the members of the Licensing Committee on Saturday last.

After nearly six years ofc faithful service as financial secretary of the Loyal Jubilee Lodge, M.U., 1.0.0. F., Paeroa, Bro. W. North, P.G., has ’resigned the position owing to his intention to live at Te. Aroha. At last night’s meeting of the lodge it' was resolved-to record the sincere thanks and appreciation of the members to. Bro. North for the valuable services he had rendered in advancing Oddfellowship in the district. Several nominations were received to fill the vacancy, and the ballot resulted in Bro. J. M. Fox, P.G., being elected.

A pocket pencil that will write in a,ny one of five-colours is a new convenience for the man. It. is, of the. self-feeding type, (says .the World Magazine, New York). When a lead of a certain*colour is to be used an indicator near the point is turned until it registers the desired colour. A twist on a knurled knob at. the end of the. holder then ejects ,the lead to the point. .The pencil has a clip to fasten it to the coat pocket.

. Here is a typical joke from the latest issue of that popular little Weekly magazine “Humour” : Little girl (to ancient lady visitor) : “Arc you very old ?” Visitor : “No, ’ dear.” Little girl: “Then when did you get so crumpled?” The result o£ the recent £lOO competition, will shortly be advertised in “Humour.”'

The Kerepeehi soccer team played Thamejs: at Thames on Saturday, .and in the senior grade gained- a, victory by three goals, to one after what recognsied as the best match of 1 the past two seasons. The. juniors were beaten by two goals to one.