THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 1928. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5232, 27 January 1928, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 1928. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Owing to Monday, January 30, being observed as Anniversary Day, there will be no publication of the “Hauraki Plains Gazette” on that date;

All schools under the jurisdiction of the; Auckland Education Board will reopen on Wednesday next, February 1. The schools have been closed since Tuesday, December 20, for tbje Christmas vacation.

Settlers who are dairying on the hjgh land off Thames Road are experiencing a worrying time at present. Gyving to the continued dry spell of weather feed has become very short, and what was good, green pasture a. few weeks ago, is now parched, and lacking nourishment. One settler in particular, whose property is about two miles from Paeroa, stated yesterday that his milk returns wei’e down to about two-thirds <i£ wliat they should be;, and within the next few days he would be compelled. to feed out hay to his dairy ■herd. The position was fast becoming serious, especially in view of the fact that large, sums of money had been spent in; bringing in some of the hill country, and making it fit for dairying. It appears as if such areas were suitable for sheep grazing only.

When the full story of Tom Heeney’s rise to fame is told it will read like highly coloured fiction. According to a Wellington friend of the boxer, he was penniless when he left England. Since, he has been in America he has sent £15,000 to his people in Gisborne, and has accumulated a further £20,000..

“Summer time” will last in New Zealand for wily five more weeks. According to the terms of the Act, the clock must be put back one hour at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in March— March 4- Unless, another Bill is introduced during the 1928 of Parliament and passed, ‘‘summer time” will ont come into operation next summer, since the Act of last year expires in September.

Mr Wesley Woolhouse, piano tuner and repairer, is in the district, and orders left at this office will be promptly attended tb.

The call of the beach and the great outdoors is well portrayed in this week’s issue of the “N.Z. Spotting and Dramatic Review.” The centre double pages are sure to catch the eye with their snappy seaside studies on Auckland’s beaches. Much interest will be evinced in the series devoted to the French tennis champions in- their match against New Zealand players at Wellington. The miscellaneous section deals with interesting subjects, and the Wellington Racing Club’s summer meeting will create interest. Besides the stage, screen, and society features there is a beautiful two-coloured supplement of the lost Ao-tea-roa.

With the barometer steady at 30.08, the prospects for a fine week-enrif locally appear good. There are no immediate indications of. the drought breaking, but, needless; to add, - a steady downpour of rain would be very welcome.

Arrangements have been made by the proprietor of the Central Billiard Saloon, Paeroa, for a visit by Clark M'cCpnachy, N.Z. Professional Champion, to Paeroa on Wednesday, February 8. Mr A. A. Rustom of Paeroa, has been selected to meet McConachy, and a game of. billiards of 750 points is to be played, commencing at 8 p.m.

Bitumen is undoubtedly a suitable material for road-making, but it is .hardly suitable for use where sjieeip are concerned. This morning a couple of sheep, which had been grazing, sought some shelter near a fence; and lay down to rest. The spot selected happened to be covered with bitumen, which had melted in thej sun, and later on, when the sheep decided to move, they found they could not rise. It took the combined efforts of a couple of men to release the animals;, the bitumen on their wool having stuck to the grass and held them fast.

On making inquiries yesterday afternoon with reference to the Paeroa. water supply it was learned that the method of cutting out the main reservoir at night -and drawing the supply from the old dam was having the; desired effect and the water in the reservoir was increasing during the hours of da.rknejss. However, even in the early morning the main reservoir is, still some distance below the usual level, which clearly indicates that the Tarariki Creek is carrying considerably less ,water than is usual during a normal summer. It should not be necessary to again; stress, the fact that great care should be exercised to see that there is no wastage of water. The. hosing of gardens and washing down of mototr vehicles cannot be permitted, and the authorities look for-the help and co-operation of consumers to -conserve the water supply.

When Mr H. A. Hamilton was starting his motor-car in ’Wharf Street, Paeroa, yesterday morning a fire started inside; the bonnet. An inspection was made quickly, and. it was found that a wire leading from the main starter to the self-starter had come unscrewed and was hanging down near some spilled oil and benzine. In turning over the engind the Rose wife emitted sparks, and these ignited the petrol fumes. In a sec°ntl the engine was, ablaze, but with the aid of a chemical fire; extinguisher the flames were quickly subdued. The only damage the fire did was to burn through some wiring, the engine being ing undamaged.

Basing his claim on the fact that his wife, who is 65 years of age, is in her dotage, and that he needs youthful company, Zaroag}<a, a Turk, who claims to be 155 years old, is seeking a divorce. If successful, he intends to marry again.

There; will' be no official tennis matches on l the Hauraki Plains tomorrow, but those players who are not visiting Paeroa will undoubtedly be getting in practice for the Plains Association’s competitions, for which entries close h'n Saturday evening.

The continual dry weather is having a very detrimental effect on the red macadam roads of the Hauraki Plains, which are breaking up very rapidly. In their present state the roads are very hard on tyres.

Hauraki Plains cricket matches for to-morrow are : Kopuarahi v. Turua, at Turua ; Kaihere v. Waitakaruru, at Waitakaruru ; Pipiroa v. Orongo, at Orongo.