THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 1927. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5167, 19 August 1927, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 1927. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The next sitting of the Ohinemuri Licensing Committee is to be held at Paeroa on Monday, September 5.

At the Paeroa Police Court yesterday morning, before Messrs H. J. Hare and E. Edwards, J’s.P., a middleaged man, a first offender, was charged with being drunk in Normanby Road on Wednesday evening. He pleaded guilty, and said that he was willing to take out a prohibition, order. Constable J. McClinchy said that defendant was a good tradesman, but liquor appeared to be getting the upper hand of him. In entering a, conviction and flue of ss, and authorising tire issue of a prohibition order, the- Bench expressed the hope that defendant would appreciate the lenency shown him. Seven days were allowed in which to find the money.

Wet and cold weather continues to prevail locally. Although no rain fell during the hours of daylight yesterday the weather was cold and bleak, and early last night torrential rain fell and continued intermittently during the night. Bright sunshine prevailed for a while this morning, but the barometer is still falling and the prospects for a fine week-end do not appear to be too bright.

An interesting point was brought out by Mr Walton at the Court at Thames on Wednesday during the hearing of appeals against classifications. He explained that while it remained for the drainage board to determine the difference bet wen the A, B, and C rate, the difference in the past had only been I4d in the £ on the unimproved valuation in each case. On the average valuation of £2O an acre the difference was only 5d an acre a year. There was nothing whatever to prevent the board making the difference in the three rates one l-100th of a penny in the pound or anything less. For this saving of a. minute sum per acre the appeals, were lodged.

iOn Wednesday morning a first offender appeared before Mr F. E. Flatt, J.P., at the local Police Court to answer a charge of drunkenness. He was convicted and fined 10s.

A lad, 18 years of age, whose name was ordered to be suppressed, appeared at the Thames Police Court in the early part of the week on the charge of attempting suicide and was remanded. According to the evidence the accused was brought out to New Zealand from England seven months qgo by the Salvation' Army and placed on a farm on the Hauraki Plains. He became depressed and very home sick, hence the attempt on his, life-. The wound the lad inflicted on himself was not a very serious one.

With a. view to increasing interest in hockey the Thames Association is putting forward for competition a handsome cup, donated by an interested gentleman. The cup will be competed for by the Thames, Hauraki Plains, Paeroa, and Waihi associations’ representatives, and the first game will be played shortly. Under the present arrangement Waihi and Paeroa will meet, the winners to play the winners of the Thames-Hauraki Plains match.

A poll is being taken to-day to elect a councillor for the Karanga.hake Riding of the Ohinemuri County Council. Two nominations have been received, namely, T. A. Barrett, Paeroa, and JB. Morris, Karangahake. The polling booths are at the County Chambers, Paeroa, and the Miners’ Union Hall, Karangahake. The complete roll for the riding shows .that there are approximately 89 ratepayers .who are eligible to vote. So far as the Paerba booth is concerned, little interest is being taken in the election, and at mid-day to-day very few votes had been recorded.

Good progress is being made with the reconstruction of Nonnanby Road. During the. last few days the drain on the south side of the street from a point near the Commercia.l Hotel to just near the Municipal Office has been completed and partly filled in. A good class of metal, has been used, and as this has been spread and rolled to consolidation further metal ■has been added and rolled again. With favourable weather it is hoped to complete the. work this week. The street will then be carefully watched and. repaired where necessary for the next few months, when the. whole area will be bituminised.

The stirring contests at the N.Z. Grand National carnival at Christchurch and the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting are featured in characteristic fashion in this week’s issue of the “N.Z. Sporting and Dramatic Review.’ Keen interest will also be taken in the Auckland-Wellington Soccer match at Blandford Park, while the Kings v. Grammar annual college contest will find numerous supporters. The centre pages are devoted to overseas scenes, representing the Riviera Golf Course, departure of Arctic Expedition, and exciting outdoor sports. The stage and motion picture sections have an attractive showing of artistic portraits, and fashion, and the social world are given prominent space.