THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1926. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4984, 7 June 1926, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1926. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The first of the three standards to carry the pedestrian overhead bridge across the railway lines at Hill Street completed on Friday afternoon. It is estimated that the .work of erecting the bridge will probably take about six weeks.

The trend of the Dominion’s population is distinctly nortnward, according to the preliminary total of the census. The returns to hand so far disclose a total population of 1,227,000, the increase ever the. figures for the 1921 count in the same districts being 126,500, which is equivalent to 11.5 per cent. The North Island claims 87,800 out of the gain, while tile South Island’s share, is 38,700.

A letter signed under the nom de plume of “Advance” is declined, as it is considered that no good purpose can be served by publishing it. Constructive criticism is always welcome.

“Our consumptive sanatoria throughout New Zealand are not institutions for the reception of incurable patients, but for those where there is a prospect of cure within a reasonable time. At the expiration of six months an examination is made, and if progress has been • recorded the patient is allowed to remain until, in the judgment of the superintendent, he is ready 'for discharge. I refer to this matter to correct a wrong impression which a, recent Press 'report has created.” The above remarks were made by the Minister of Health (Hon. J. A. Young) in the course of his reply to a deputation which urged the desirability of keeping the Otaki Hospital open.

Some eighteen months ago a motorist from the southern part of the Dominion wrote to an editor of an Auckland newspaper anent the lack of signboards at the corners of the roads across the Hauraki Plains. Should that same motorist now visit the Plains he might still consider that there was still cause for complaint, but of another sort. At Parry’s corner, for instance, there are now three signposts holding 19 signboards, some of them painted on both sides, so that there are 23 direction fingers for the four roads. Originally there were four signboards eretced by the Lands Department .to point the roads to Ngatea,, Kerepeehi, Turua, and Kopuarahi. The Auckland Automobile Associaiton then applied red boards to indicate the roads to Auckland, Paeroa, Te Aroha, and Thames, but the paint soon faded, a.nd the association supplied yellow boards. The latest and most complete addition has been made by direction of the Main Highways Board. They aite big yel- - boards with clear writing, and in addition to starting the direction and number of the highway, also state the mileage, a.nd in some cases, tlie nature of the road.

A well-known locaj Maori in the person of Pike Taupaea died at Paeroa late on Saturday night. A large tangi in now in progress at the PaeoHauraki Pa,h, off the Old Te AToha Road, and Natives are ■assembling ■from all parts of the district.

Tlie. Paeroa school children who visited the Waikato Winter Show at Hamilton on Friday returned by special train just before 7 o’clock on Friday night. The teachers and parents who accompanied the children reported that a very enjoyable day was spent. The weather was fine a,ll day, and the children, who were taken through the show in parties, were later given a chance, of seeing something of the town of Hamilton. Although tired and hungry, the children dren were all unanimous that they had had a “wonderful day.” It is hoped that the excursion will become an annua) one in the. future.

A motor-cycle accident occurred near Ngatea about midnight on Saturday, resulting in the. rider, Mr O. Usher, being badly injured and a pedestrian, Mr E. Coppins, of Hopai, being slightly injured. Together with several other Hopai people, Mr Coppins was walking home from a, dance when the party was run into from behind by the motor-cycle. Apparently it had no lights. The rider was thrown heavily, sustaining many cuts on the head, body a ; nd limbs. He was picked up and taken to the residence df Mr J. Costello to have his wounds attended to, and on the way became unconscious. A passenger on the pillion seat was uninjured. Mr Coppins’ injuries are reported to be slight.

The special work train which has been engaged on the Paeroa railway station yard extensions and improvements for the pa.st twelve; months was withdrawn from Paeroa, on Saturday morning. This fact indicates that the rearrangement of the present railway station yards and doublethack stop-bank leading to the new bridge over the Ohinemuri River is nearing completion.. It is expected that the Pa,eroa-Wa,ihi line will be changed over to the new line, towards the end of this week.

The question of making a start with the construction of the railway line from Pokeno to Paeroa yvill not come up until the Eest Coast main trunk line is nearly completed (said the Prime Minister in an interview last week). Mr Coates said the field work in the survey had been completed, but he did not. think the data had been fully examined. Before the fine would be put on the Public Works programme of works Vbr early completion the Railway Department would have to be satisfied as; to the amount, of potential business offering, while the. Lands Department would also have a say with respect to tlie land that would be opened up.

Mt C. H. Ladner, furniture specialist, Paeroa, notifies the general, public tha : t he has removed his stock to more commodious and centrally situated premises recently occupied by tlie People’s Auction Mart, next door to the Farmers’ Trading Co., Belmont Road.*

Dancers on the Plains will be well catered for the present month. So far there are seventeen dances or ba,Us advertised to be held in four townships in the 21 days.

A giant, has applied to the. Christchurch City Council, for the position of assistant motor inspector (reports the “Lyttelton Times”). He states that his height is 6ft ll%in, and that iris age is thirty-five, but lie does not claim to be the tallest man in New Zealand. His address is in Christchurch. The application was received by the City Council only .recently, and along with 187 others will shortly he considered by the By-laws Committee, which will appoint five additional inspectors from among the applicants. The closing date for applications has expired, but they are still pouring in.

Supplies of mutton birds are likely to be extremely short this, seajson, a “TaTanaki News” reporter was informed. Last year the New Zealand Government raised the duty on them to 2d per lb, roughly an increase of 25 per cent., but in response to strong protests the old rate was reverted to on January 31. News of this 'did not reach many of the catchers in the remote islands of the Tasm.afni.aii coast, however, and believing their best market was practically shut against them, several did not bother to capture the birds wnen available.