THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1926. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5048, 5 November 1926, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1926. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Giving evidence before the Arbitration Co'uit at Melbourne in a 44-hour case Dr. William Henry Simmons .said that the most healthy population in the wild is that of New Zealand, then followed the Australian States, then the rest of the world. On death rate figures New Zealand starts at 8.3, followed. by Queensland 8.9, West Australia 9.1, South Australia 9.2, New South Wales 9.4, Tasmnaia 9.5, Victoria 10.1, South Africa (white) 9.7, Great Britain 12.6, Quebec 13.3.

The gross expenditure by the Government for the quarter ended September 30, 1926, on the Hauraki Plains Settlement account was £ll,776 Os lOd, compared to £11,730 14s. 6d tor the corresponding period last year. On the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement account the net expenditures were; £13,512 16s 80, and £12.924 12s Id.

It was decided by the Thames Valley Power Board at Tuesday’s meeting to close its Thames depot a ; nd sell the property. The bulk of the stock on hand to be transferred to the Ngatea depot. The chairman (Mr F. M. Strange) said that the depot at Thames had been a losing props sition to the board for some time past.

During the last few months many of the dances organised on the Plains have, not been a success from a financial standpoint on account of the .‘■'ms'llness of the attendance, but the record must surely go to Kaihete. A dance was to have been held one, evening recently, and the. custodian of the hall lit the lamps and went home. Awhile afterwards the two musicians arrived, but as no one else turned up they went home.

Information has been received fre'm Mr A. M.' Samuel, M.P., that a conference has been arranged between the Lands Department and tire Awaiti settlers concerning drainage matters.. The conference is. to be, held at 10 o’clock on Friday morning, November--12 at the corner of Wilson’s road and the main Netherton drain.

While returning to .Waihi From the Thames napes on Saturday quite a number of cars broke down. Among these was that of Mr Archibald Andavton, of Waihi, whose car got. out of order - when, in the vicinity of M’ackayto.wn. Mr Anderton left it on the road, intending to go down on the. Sunday to bring it home. When approaching Owharoa he noticed a car, or rather* the- remains of a car, that had been destroyed by fire, and to his surprise found that it ,was what rer mained of the vehicle he had left at Mackaytown the previous evening. Jnvestigatiotns made went to show that a person; allegedly acting without authority, took a mechanic but on the Saturday night and had the, carfixed up. This person was driving it towards Waihi when he met a car that was pulled up owing to having run out of petrol. The party in Mr Anderton’s car offered to supply some, and a match was struck to enable the plug of Anderton’s, can to be located. Suddenly there »was a blinding flash, and belWre anything could be done thq car burst into flames and was quickly destroyed. It was insured for £175 in the Ocean Accident Guarantee Corporation.

A broad smile was see.n- on the faces of the councillors at the Ohinemuri County Council meeting yesterday when one of them felt through his pockets, apparently to find some, notes of business he wished to bring forward but could only produce a disused “tote” ticket. The councillor suffered further embarrassment when the chairman, who h'a.d not seen the joke, asked him what was the matter.

Accounts amounting to £774 15s 4d were passed for payment at yesterday’s meeting of the Ohinemuri Count.v Council. The revenue for the month erf October was £2BB 14s lOd.

During the early part of this, week the Local police received advice that a number of valueless cheques .had been issued Paeroa business people victimised. Investigations - have been made, and the police advise that in the meantime business people should exercise caution in cashing cheques. At the final.meeting of the Christchurch Citizens’ Unemployment Committee it was reported that £7OOO had been spent on relief work. Concern was expressed at what would happen next year unless immigrants were only brought in at times, when most required. It was. decided to call, a conference of local bodies to discuss the whole subject. Arising put of a collision between a cyclist and a motor-car in the Timaru district some months ago a claim for damages was settled the other day in the Supreme Court. Douglas Christie, the cyclisti in question, who lost a leg as a result of the collision, was awarded £lOOO damages and £5O ocsts. Defendant was George William Brehaut. A counter-claim was dismissed without costs.

Among the interesting sales effected at an auction of used motor-cars at Wanganui a Perry, a .two-seater, realised £l6. A Maxwell four-seater that could not hide its age went for £9, the price of a bicycle, and a fiveseater Overland, plus spotlight and other accessories, was an obvious bargain at £l7. The terras of sale; Were easy— a third down and the balance by arrangement. Under these circumstances any office boy with his salary in his pocket could become a plutocratic car owner.

Complaint is sometimes heard that Government departments are the last to utilise the latest improvements, but it appears as though a forward move is to be made in connection with the coaling of locomotives.. The Railway Department has written to the Thames Valley Power Board stating that a proposal was being considered at present to utilise electric power for working coal cranes, and particulars were asked regarding the supply of power to the Morrinsville depot. The board’s engineer (Mr N. G. McLeod) was authorised to supply the particulars.

The total gross payment made for the quarter ended September 30, 1926, in connection with the re-arrangement of the Paeroa railway station and marshalling yards was, £7,157 12s 2d, compared with £11,764 17s 7d, for the corresponding period in 1925.

At yesterday’s, meeting ot the Ohinemuri County Council the local troop of Boy Scouts, on the application of the district commissioner, was granted the use of a shed at the rea.r of the Coronation Chambers. The building, which is to be used as; a bandroom, was leased for a term of three years, with the right of-repewal, at a rental of £1 a year.

An attractive schedule of prizes has just been issued by the Hauraki A. and P. Association for its annual show, which is to be, held at the Paeroa Domain on December 1 and 2. The classes provided total 157, and good cash prizes and trophies are offered to competitors. Provision i.s made on the second day for the holding of a monster baby show, and also Tiding and jumping competitions. Intending competitors and exhibitors are advised that entries close with the secretary, Mr Edwin Edwards, on November 25.

At the request of Cr. W. F. Johnstone. at yesterday’s meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council the chair-* man (Cr. H. M. Corbett) said that an opportunity would be given members at the December meeting to consider the question o® rating on the unimproved value in the county, instead of on the capital value, as- at present. Information and comparisons had been prepared by the clerk, and statistics were now available for the information and guidance of councillors.

Arising out of a circular relative to the carriage of goods, etc., by the Railway Department, received at yesterday’s meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council ,the chairamn (Mr H. M. Corbett) remarked that the settlers, greatly appreciated the department’s earnest endeavour to improve the train services .and provide increased facilities.

The following recommendation cf the finance committee was adopted by the Thames Valier Electric Power Board on Tuesday: “That no milking motors be connected after the first month of every quarter, starting from January 1, 1927, unless consumers; agree to pay two-thirds of the quarter’s charges.”

The flaxmlllsi at Kaihere and Maukorq are expected to commence working next week, and activity is also expected to commence shortly at tlie sawmill at Maukoro. Up to the present ther has be.en too much (water about for the mills to work.

In spite of the many attempts by the struggling farmer, the gum lands of the North Auckland district have proved unsuitable for general agricultural purposes. Cropping is not a paying proposition in those parts. There is one exception, however. Tobacco thrives well in these latitudes, and splendid typqs of leaf have been produced on soils that not long ago were covered with ti-tree and fern. A small portion of these waste lands if planted in tobacco would be sufficient to transform this poverty-stricken district into regions of affluence and wealth ; £5O net is the average yield of a tobacco crop per acre, and often more. Few people realise the immense possibilities of the tobacco industry, but anyone wanting information on the subject is referred to the ready manufactured article, Riverhead Gold, mildest of all ; Toasted Navy Cut (Bulldog), of medium strength ; and Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullhead), full strength. Do not forget that all three brands are “toasted,” and, therefore, are more wholesome than the average class of goods from overseas, often so harmful on the score of excess nicotine.*