LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5183, 26 September 1927, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

To-day is the 20th anniversary of New Zealand as a Dominion. The charge of status from a colony to a dominion was announced at the opening of Parliament on June 27, 1907, and came into force on September 26, 1907. Locally the holiday is being observetfi by the banks and solicitors. Flags arp being flown from the Government offices, municipal chambers, and Ohinemuri County Council offices, and also from the district high serfeol, where appropriate reference to the anniversary was made by the teachers.

A man, a first offender, aged 63 years, was convicted and fined 10s for drunkenness in the main street by Mr G. P. Lamb, J.P., at thfe* local Police Court on Saturday morning.

In answer to a member at the annual meeting of the Ohinemuri Acclimatisation Society on Saturday night, Mr W. P. Routlege said that a Maori was not privileged to shoot game on his own ground out of season. The- Treaty of Waitangi did not include that protection.

Senior-Sergeant D. A. Maclean, vho has been in charge of the Waihi police district during the past three years, has received advice of his transfer to Gisborne. He will be succeeded at Waihi by Sergeant Calwell, from Auckland.

To-day six employees of the Thames Valley Power Board commenced the work of planting 14,00'0 trees on the board’s property beyond Waitakaruru. Thei work is under the direction of the State Forestry Department, which is advising the Power Board on its scheme for the growing of electric power poles.

At the annual meeting of the Ohinemuri Acclimatisation at Paeroa on Saturday it was decided to hold a social evening on a date to be arranged, and to invite officials from the Auckland society to be present.

While attending to the battery of his wireless set on Thursday last Mr Phil. Innis, of Kerepeehi, splashed sulphuric acid into his eye. First, aid was rendered by Mrs Inder until the arrival of Dr. Lange, of Turua, and the sight of the eye was saved.

Another mishap has befallen the truck owned by Mr C. Scott, butcher, of Turua. On Thursday it ran Into a deep drain at Kopuaraihi, and the driver, Mr W. Capes, was thrown through the windscreen and rendered unconscious. Wounds by broken glass on his arm required stitching. The truck was badly damaged. This truck has had an eventful career, and the place where it went into the drain on Thursday is within a few yards of where it previously had a “ducking.”

Local and district motorists are advised that a public meeting is, to be held at the Centenary Hall on Wednesday night. The meeting will be addressed by Mr R. Champtai,oup, Auckland Automobile Association’s officer, on the aims, objects, and work of the Automobile Associaiton. In view' of Paeroa being a natural centre and an important junction, the possibility of establishing an A.A.A. inquiry and service bureau here is likely, provided there is sufficient support forthcoming.

Prior to the commencement of business at the annual meeting of the Ohinemuri Acclimatisation Society at Paeroa on Saturday night a vote of condolence to the widow and relatives of the lat 6 Mr A. R. Aitken, Karangahake, was moved by the president, Mr J. Hamilton. Speaking to the motion, Mr D. Leach said that he had been acquainted with the late Mr Aitken for some years, and he had been a thorough sportsman and had done a lot of valuable work for the society. Tribute to deceased was also paid by Mr A. W. Maclarn, who said that the district would be considerably the poorer by the untimely and tragic death of Mr Aitken. The motion was carried in silence, the members standing.

The Ngatea Football Club made its annual excursion to Auckland on Saturday, and its team, considerably augmented by outside players on account of the inability of local men to make the trip, played the Auckland Suburbs team at Eden Park, and won by eleven points to nil.

A Maori, aged 47 years, a first offender, was charged with drunkenness in Belmont Road on Saturday afternoon, before Mr H. J. Hare, J.P., at the local Police Court this morning. He pleaded guilty and was convicted and fined 10's.

. It was stated by a member at Saturday night’s meeting of the Ohinemuri Acclimatisation Society that wild cats .were increasing greatly in the Komata Reefs area. The speaker (Mr D. McKee) added that he had seen .remains) of quail and young pheasants that had been eaten by •cats.

Changes in the landscape along the Turua-Net.herton road are being made daily by the Public Works Department in connection with its Work of improving the Waihou River. A great number of trees on the line of the stop-bank have been hauled jout and stacked up by a steam winch. Several gangs of men are employed in constructing drains, making culverts, and erecting necessitated’ by the enlargement of drains. Near the old factory at Netherton the big electrically driven suction dredge is continuing the stop-bank and opposite Fisher’s Road the steam suction dredge is pumping sand from the river and forming the stop-bank. At the Pekapeka Road landing a big pile of red metal is being accumulated by the County Council for the summer’s work on Pekapeka and Wairau roads section of the main highway.

The annual meeting of the paeroa Cricket Club is to be held at Mr Bain’s rooms to-morrow night. All cricket enthusiasts are invited to be present.

Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure For Couphs and Colds never falls.