LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4982, 2 June 1926, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It was stated- at the Paeroa Courthouse yesterday that the. last, meeting of the; old Ohinemuri Licensing Committee to be held at Paeroa was in June, 1908.

Steamer packet, licenses for the Taniwha and Waipu were granted to the Northern Steam Ship Co., Ltd., at last night’s sitting of the Licensing Committee, the chairman remarking that it. must be understood that liquor could not be sold on the steamers while passing through no-license areas until July 1.

The handsome public counter at the new post office has been much admired. It is interesting to note that it is a single kauri plank cut to a 25ft length by nearly four ’feet in width. The plank has been specially treasured n.nd seasoned by Messrs Le Manquais and Lamb, Paeroa, for just over six years before it was released to fill the prominent position that it now occupies.

In explaining his claim for a pre.ference license; for a certain hotel bdfore the Licensing Committee yesterday a learned counsel explained that the license had been held "before the flood.” He exemplified his remark by adding that he meant the big flood in Ohinemuri.

The postmaster notifies that the Paeroa Post: and Telegraph Office will be closed to-morrow (King’s Birthday). AU mails will close at 7 a.m., and there will be no postmen’s delivery. The telephone exchange hours will be from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and ■from 7 p.m. to 8 p. m.

At the Domain on Thursday, at 2.30 p.m., the Thames, Physical Training team will play a, Rugby match with a Paeroa team. In the evening a dance will be held in the Soldiers’ Club. Music provided by the Symphony Dance Orchestra.*

For disobedience; of a maintenance order R. T. Shaw was convicted and ordered to pay costs amounting to £1 Is at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Mr R. S. Carden said that Shaw had pajd maintena.nce to May 10, but it was not easonable; t,o expect the; complainant to be put to unnecessary expense in obtaining arrears. The Magistrate (Mr J. H. Salmon) agreed.

A prominent Auckland barrister at the sitting of the Licensing Committee at Paeroa yesterday wa,s testifying to the capabilities of a certain applicant to manage an hote;l. At the conclusion of his remarks the Inspector of Police caused a good laugh by saying : “The police can verify the character of the counsel who volunteered the testimony, Your Worship.” This brought the barrister again to his feet, and he replied : “Thank you, this is. the first time that the; police have testified in my favour.”

At the local Magistrate’s Court, before Mr J, H. Salmon, S.M., yesterday, Angus Ronald McKinnon applied for a variation of an order made on August 10 last directing him to pay £1 10s a week towards the support, of his wife, Alice; Maude McKinnon, and infant son. The application was for a reduction to £1 awe k, a,nd also for a remission of such arrears as the Court deemed fit. Mr C. N. O’Neill said that on April 30 a further payment. of £5 had been paid bff the arrears. On behalf of his client he was prepaired to accept £1 a wteek as from May 1. This was accepted by Mr R. S. Carden for the defendant, and the order was made accordingly.

Few people are probably aware that tobacco was at one time extensively cultivated in England. Winchcom.be, in Gloucestershire, claims the honour of being the first place in the Old Country to grow the weed. The dried and cured leaf was comparatively expensive at first, but by the .time of James 11. the “best Virginia” . w'as sold at 2s. per lb, and was in great demand. It would be interesting to compare, if that were possible, the tobacco of that day with that of our own day. Modern methods of manufacture have, of course, worked Wonders,. Some of the purest tobaccos now on the market are grown in New Zealand, and they owe their fine flavour largely to the fact that they are all toasted — a new departure’ Owing to their containing such a trifling amount of nicotine these brands may be smoked all day without unpleasant or injurious consequences. Riverhead Gold is a fine aromatic tobacco ; toasted Navy Cut (Bulldog label) medium, and Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead), fullflavoured. They are meeting with a big sale.*