THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 1927. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5076, 17 January 1927, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 1927. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The weather locally over the weekend was fine and summer-like. Yesterday morning a warm westerly wind prevailed, but this ceased before midday and bright sunshine prevailed. The swimming pools adjacent, to the town received a large, quota of bathing enthusiasts, many people taking edibles and enjoying a picnic.

The young man, David Laing, aged 23, appeared before Mr Justice Stringer for sentence at the Supreme Court, Auckland, on Thursday last, on a charge of carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 16 at Paeroa. His Honour reviewed the. circumstances explained in tjie report of the probation officer and fined accused £5, in default one month’s imprisonment.

At a meeting of the Paeroa Domain Board on Thursday night, last the Hauraki A. and P. Association forwarded a cheque for £5 ss, for the rent of the domain for the two days’ annual show. The show committee, also expressed its thanks 'for the help accorded the association, and congratulated the board on the improvements made at the domain-.

Matters at the . Ohinemuri Racecourse are very brisk at present,. Training is in ’full swing, and no less than 12 horses are undergoing preparation. The latest additions to JW. Cathro’s team include the gelding Chairtaine and a three.-year-old by Potoa —Lady Viola. The course, proper is in splendid condition for training this year. A good sole of grass provides perfect going.

So far the Public Works Department has not made a start with the construction of the deviation of the Waitakaruru-Pokeno highway round the present unme.talled section, and it would appear that unless the work is commenced shortly and expedited it will not be completed before the. coming winter.

The fine weather attracted a large number of motorists to the Waihi Beach during the weekend. Yesterday the motor, traffic was, heavy, and in addition to a large number of private cars several char-a-bancs loaded with passengers made the trip.

A working profit, Of £113,108 is shown by the Railway Department’s accounts for the four weeks -ended December 11. The corresponding return last year was £143,649. The receipts comprised £351,979 from the North Island railways, £225,826 from the South Island railways, and £45,901 from miscellaneous services—a tot,al of £622,806. ’■ The corresponding expenditure was £267,928, £217,781, and £23,9^9—a total Of £509,698. The North Island railways thus earned a profit of $£84,051. the South Island railways a profit of £8045, while the balance of miscellaneous receipts was £2.1,012.

For many years there has been a launch service on the Waihou Rive? between Kopu and Turua, connecting with tlie. trains, and conveying mails and newspapers. This service ceased at the end of last year and great inconvenience. is being caused, as mails and newspapers now arrive 16 hours later than formerly, and passengers 'for Turua arriving by train have t,o hire a taxi from Thames.

The road from Waitakaruru to Miranda was graded up last week, and is now in very good order. Repairs have been effected to the crossing of Coxhead’s Creek, and from now on the beach 'from Miranda to New Brighton will regain its popularity.

“Aussie” fits itself into, the mood of tlie season of the year, but always in the cheerful sense. So it is that we find the January issue of the maga-. zine soaked with wagm sunshine, the fun of the holiday party at the beaches or in the bust], and in the general carefree spirit that eharatcerises the glad month of the golden weather. The leadiilg humorous writers and artists of Australia and New Zealand are well represented in all these humorous phases. Outstanding features are provided by Fred J. Broomfled, P. J. Miller, Rod. Quinn, and other leading writers. The New Zealand section of the magazine is full of humorous interest.