THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. MONDAY, MARCH 14, 1927. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5100, 14 March 1927, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. MONDAY, MARCH 14, 1927. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

On the recommendation of the chairman of ’the. Domain Committee (Cr. J. W. Silcock) at Thursday night’s meeting of the Paer«a Borough Council it, wap decided to let a contract immediately 'for the clearing of all noxious weeds on Primrose Hill and its environs.. The question of ploughing the accessible portions was referred to the committee for further consideration.

An unfortunate mishap has. befallen the well-known steeplechase gelding Passin’ Through, owned by Mr S. Cleaver, of Hawera. Mr Cleaver has accepted for the Hauraki Plains Steeplechase to be run at Paeroa on Thursday, and Passin’ Through was shipped on the Rarawa at New Plymouth f :, r Onehunga on Saturday. On arrival at Onehunga it was found that during the trip the horse had sustained a deep cut on his forehead, and had also injured his fore fetlock. With his owner, Passin’ Through reached Paeroa by the s.s. Taniwha this morning. Mr Cleaver is naturally very disappointed, and is keenly feeling tne misfortune that has befallen him. Every effort is being made to get the black gelding fit ’for Thursday’s event.

According to a Press dispatch from jordanville. New York, published in the American papers on January 27, a two-year-old boy in that town, Bruce Harold Harter, has no less than eleven living grandparents. The tally includes two grandmothers, two grandfathers, four great-grand-mothers, two great-grandfathers, and one great-great-grandmother. The latter is Mrs Delina Filkins, whose 112th birthday falls di May 4.

It was reported at the last Paer-aa Borough Council meeting that the croquet lawns had been considerably improved as the result of additional rolling and other work recently carried out.

From April 1 the Family Allowances Act comes into force. A father of three or more children, whether sons <>r daughters, stepsons or stepdaughters, or legally adopted children, may make application, and payment is to be made to the mother, except under special circumstances, and the money granted is to be used for the benefit, of the children. The allowance is payable at the rate of 2s a week for every child of the applicant in excess of two, but it is only payable when the average weekly income from all sources, of the family of the applicant, does not exceed £4.

“A little Maori girl of eight years went to Stratford to see the Duke and Duchess of York (states a Taranaki correspondent to the Dominion). Having spent an enjoyable day, whicn, besides seeing tlie Royal visitors, included a visit to the local baths with teacher, and to the fire brigade demonstration, where she said the ‘policemen climbed ladders,’ she arrived home by the train very pleased (after chewing gum all the way ni the train), and while driving home with some paheka friends, asked the question, “Which was F' .nem and which was the Due 1 ? .ae Duke ?’ ”

The family is th try, runs the . -e root of any councount 'for adage, and if number's town '■ . anything one barber in H r aas a firm grip «n New Zealand. e was a debtor, who stood in the box in the Magistrate’s Court the other day, being cross-examined by his creditor’s solicitor. Counsel was apparently under the impression that he was getting along swimmingly, when he adduced that the debtor was earning £4 to £4 10s per week, working on his own account, as a barber. “ Any family ?" asked the legal luminsai'y. Quietly, the barber dropped his bombshell. “ Yes, 14,” he replied, “ the eldest is 21, and there are 12 at home, eight being of school age.” The magistrate gazed solemnly at the debtor. “No order,” he murmured. — Whangarei Advocate.