THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1927. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5084, 4 February 1927, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1927. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The adjourned annual meeting of the Ohinemuri Licensing Committee is to be held at the Courthouse, Paeroa, on Monday next at noon. The only business before the meeting is an application by Mrs C. V. Crosby for a license f,or the Royal Mail Hotel, Paeroa. The quarterly meeting of the committee is to be held in March next, when several applications for transfers are set down for consideration.

The trains on the Thames-Waikato section were delayed yesterday owing /o a subsidence ■cjf the track between Morrinsville and Motumaoho. A gang was taking about sft off the top of a grade when the surface was cut ■through into the peat subsoil, thereby making the line insecure. The permanent way had to be ballasted after every train passed, and while crossing the area a goods, waggon became derailed and further delayed progress. The Frankton-Paeroa “wild cat” got through on time last night, but the express and afternoon trains were very late on reaching Paeroa. The service is being maintained as usual this morning.

Mr A. R. Russell, opthalmic surgeon and eye-sight specialist, is on a visit ‘(0 Paeroa, and may be consulted at Mr G. P. de Castro’s pharmacy. Day or evening appointments can be made to suit those requiring glasses*

A resolution of sympathy with Mr E. Shaw, county engineer, in his leng-hy and serious illness was rEcorded at yesterday’s council meeting. On the motion of the chairman was resolved that Mr Shaw be granted three months’ leave of absence.

At thq Maori pah at Kerepeehi en Tuesday evening an argument arose between a Maori woman known as “Snowy” Whittaker and a young Maori man, Enoka Huhuia, known as Anderson or Andrews, and it terminated in the woman striking the man on the cheEk with a piece cf firewood. His cheek was pierced and two teeth knocked out. On being forcibly taken to the doctor at Turua the Maori strenuously opposed having his wound stitched up, but eventually a few drops of chloroform were administEred and three stitches were inserted.

Business has been brisk at the Ohinemuri County Council’s explosive magazine during 1926. In that period 1198 cases of explosives were received and J 96 were issued. The fees received 'for the year amounted £lO3 7s 4'd.

A member of the Paeroa Athletic Club, A. R. Morrison, of Netherton, met with considerable success at the athletic sports held at Waiuku recently. In addition to annexing the Waiuku Cup Morrison won thq 220 yards and 120 yards races.

A-t( the request of Cr W. F. Johnstone at yestErday’s meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council it was decided that each member should be supplied with a return showing She financial position obtaining in his riding at the time of the meeting.

The rainfall at Kerepeehi for the 21 hours ended at 8 a.m. on Wednesday last was 1.20 inches. At Ngatea, a few miles distant, the 'fall was very light.

Mr P. W.-Maddock, representing Metro-Goldwyn-Maycr Films, was in Paeroa yesterday arranging for the screening cf the big picture attractions for 1927. Amongst other bookings, “The Big Parade,” “Mai'e Nostrum,” “The Scarlet Le'-iter,” ami “Bardleys the Magnificent * were booked for early release in Paeroa.

Keen interest characterised the meeting held in Mr Bain’s Roooms last evening to consider ways and means of assisting Mr Eric Robson, and ex-Paeroa boy, who is at present an inmate of Pukeora Sanatorium, Hawke’s Bay. A committee including Misses I. Taylor, M. Smith, V. Shand, C. Taylor, D. Smith, E. Freeman, and Messrs S. Kerr, D. Smith, R. Swann, and K. Slylield (secretary) was 'formed. A definite Plan of campaign, tc be finalised by a benefit entertainment during the first week of March, was decided on. Tentative arrangements made include a dance, and a euchre and dance in Paeroa, and a dance and euchre at Karangahake. The committee decided 'io endeavour to enlist the services of interested parties, jncludin.; footballers, with whom Mr Robson had been associated.

In reply te> a councillor tire, clerk (Mr R. W. Evans) stated at tire Ohiuemuri County Council meeting yesterday that the rates were coming in ’fairly satisfactorily. Since December nearly £2OOO had been paid in by ratepayers.

A Wellington College boy, Paul S. Falla, has been responsible for what is probably a record fcir Ne t w Zealand in recent examinations. He is only 12 years of age, and he gained a Junior National Scholarship with 592 marks, a Senior National Scholarship with 1701 marks, the highest gained in the Wellington district, and also passed the Matriculation Examination.

The Auckland Education Board has resolved to send out a circular to ah schools, leaving the question of school hours to be observed during Febru-’ ary to 'the discretion o'f the chairman of the local school committee and th& headmaster. The circular, which is similar to that sent out last year, states that discretionary powEr is to be used only when the days are of an abnormal temperature, and a reminder is added that schools will still be required to be opEn on 400 half-days of the year. Any failure to comply with this requirement will be an infringement of the regulations.

Interesting figures in connection with iihe amount of meat eaten by people of Paeroa and immediate district were produced at yesterday’s meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council. During 1926 602 cows, 267 steers and heifers, 1765 sheep, 195 lambs, 21 calves, and 77 pigs were slaughtered at the Paeroa abattoirs. Fees received by the County Council from t;hat department totalled £548 0s lid.

Motor registrations for December of last year show that there are Over 100,000 motor-cars in the Dominion, and taken at an average value, of £l5O this means a capital valuq of not, less than £15,000,000. The enormous advances in this branch o'f trade are evidenced by the importation during the first eleven months of last) year of 21,108 motor vehicles —Excluding motor-cycles—valued at £3,360,000. In addition, during the same period New Zealand imported motor spirits valued at"£2,204,000, lubrica'tjing oil ar £265,000, rubber tyres, tubes, and covers at £877,000, and other materials and parts at £323,000, making a total of £3,669,000, exclusive of the cost <f. the motor-vehicles themselves.

Some time ago an argument arose between the Thames Harbour Board and the. N.Z. Roads Co., Ltd., concerning an account for harbour dues 01; metal landed over 't.|)e riverbank at Turua. The Turua Town Board was also interested in. the matter, and it was stated at a Town Board meeting by the commercial manager of tjhe company that the Harbour Board could not sue for the amount on account of a flaw in its by-laws. Whether this was so or not, Harbour Board recently revised its by-laws, and at Tuesday evening’s meeting they were adopted. They will come into force on March 1 next, or as soon therEafter as approved by the Marine Department.

The following Examination successes have been recorded at the Ngatea District High School during 1926 : Public Service Entrance, Jack Shaw ; partial pass for Teachers’ “ D,” Hazel Dale, Norma Elliot ; senior free places, Mavis Beaver, Norma EHio'ti, Esma McDuff, Keith Clare., Jack Shaw ; St. John’s Ambulance first-aid certificate. Hazel Dale, Norma Elliot, Mavis Beaver, Vera Spencer. The results o'f the Intermediate Examination have not yet been received.

Enchanting views of the Bay of Islands taken on the occasion of Their Excellencies’ visit forpi the beautiful centre pages of this week’s issue of the “N.Z. Sporting and Dramatic Review.” The Anniversary Regatta on the Wai'tiemata is depicted in an attractive series, while, the Kellerman Cup harbour swim furnishes another animated page. The Takapuna Racing Club’s meeting is generously dealt wi'Sih, and patrons- at the Wellington races occupy two interEsting pages. Another feature is the Military Pageant at the Auckland Domain. The stage and motion pictures have their customary brilliant showing, and there is a host of striking miscellaneous subjects.

The wireless set installed in the Tu*rua Public Hall has not proved a,success, possiblj' cn account of the machine being a stock model for use in a drawing-room, and n<>t a special machine with sufficient amjjjifica'tion for a large hall. It will probably be returned. The secretary of the company, Mr J. E. Green, states that the company is not under any obligation to purchase the outfit;, which was installed purely as an experiment to test its valtiE as a form of entertainment.

The chairman (Mr H. M. Corbett) o'f the Ohinemuri County Council stated at yesterday’s meeting cif that body that during the illness of Mr E. Shaw, county engineer, Mr L. E. Shaw had been carrying on the work satisfa> torily. There, was much work to be done, but with the co-operation of all the staff the work in hand was being undertaken with as little delay as possible.