THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1927. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5130, 25 May 1927, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1927. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Flags were flown from the Government, as well as some private, buildings at Paeroa yesterday in commemoration of the 108th anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria. The opportunity was taken by the teachers at the local district high schoool to make appropriate reference to Empire Day, and the reason for its observance to the pupils.

The estate of David Dingwall, of Auckland, previously stated to be over £lOO,OOO, is now lodged for probate at £200,000, after providing a life interest for his aged sister. Practically the whole of the estate goes to the founding of the Dingwall Presbyterian Orphanage.

Statisticians are naturally fond of statistics, and Mr Malcolm Fraser is no exception to the rule. Out of 1,150,000 schedules printed 815,000 were' used, the Government Statistician stated at Palmerston North last week, and the- total weight of paper was Illa tons. This would cover an area of approximately 25 acres. If the schedules were placed end to end they would run to a length of 287 miles', nearly the distance between Wellington and Te Kuiti. while the printing alone would take forty-five days.

One of the largest deals yet recorded in city property in the Dominion was completed at Wellington last week, when Bond Street, Ltd., acquired nearly all tile properties in Old Custom Street and Parish Street. It is the intention of the company, with tire co-operation of the City Council, who will form wide streets and footpaths, to convert the area into a new fashionable shopping centre. The purchase consists of ten freehold properties. The price is understood to be in the vicinity of a quarter of a million. Many old landmarks of the early days of Wellington will soon be things of the past,.

The dam for the Hauraki Plains West water supply scheme can be finished this week if desired. The work is so far ahead of the rest o,f the scheme that the completion is not a matter of urgency, and the contractors are engaged in opening up the quarry to obtain blue metal and road metal with which to complete the main highway when tlie formation is finished.

Attention is drawn to the- Salon Ecosse, which has been opened in Normanby Road. Paeroa. An advertisement of special interest to ladies appears in these columns.

Tile annual posting of hoys to the senior cadets, youths from the cadets to the territorials, and territorials to the reserve list are at present in full swing at tire local Defence headquarters. The following district area officers are at Paeroa assisting with the work : Lieut. E. J. Browning, N.Z.S.C., Tauranga ; Staff Sergeant-Majors R. Meeeham (W.0.), Rotorua ; AV. W. C. Cossgrove (W.0.), Thames ; G. Patterson (W.0.), Waihi ; and E. Steward. M.M., Morrinsville and Paeroa. It is expected that the work will be completed towards the end of this week.

The Railway Department draws attention in to-day’s paper to the issue of holiday excursion tickets, etc., in connection with the King’s Birthday.

A strong case is made for a proper ranging of the Thames Acclimatisation district by local sportsmen, -who lament the depredations of poachers for some years resulting in the gradual extinction of game- throughout the Thames district. It is estimated that there are approximately 2060 firearms registered in the Thames district., which lies between Coromandel and Ohinemuri. Of this number about 1200 are for shot-guns, yet only 200 game licenses were taken out last year. The inference is that a great many guns are used for the unlicensed shooting of game in ami out of season.

A return was tabled at to-day’s meeting of the Ohinemuri. County Council showing that 40 cows, 12 heifers, 107 sheep, 9 lambs, 2 calves and 20 pigs were slaughtered at the Paeroa. abattoirs during the period from May 1 to date. The fees totalled £29 6s Sd.

The annual meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board, and the election of ehairman, will be hold at Te Aroha to-morrow.