THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto “Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1928. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5252, 16 March 1928, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto “Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1928. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The lirst vehicle to paps over the new traffic bridge across, the Ohinemuri river at Paeroa was the Borough Council’s steam road roller. The barricades were removed on Wednesday afternoon and the machine, driven by Mr W. Page, crossed over safely in t'he prepence of Public Works officials and the" Mayor (Mr, W. Marshall). E,arly yesterday morning a start was made with the bituminising of the surface of the bridge, which, is 300 ft in ‘length and 18ft in width. This work is being undertaken by the Paeroa. Borough Counc.'l by arrangement with the public Works Department. Good progress was made with the work yesterday, and it'3s hoped to complete the undertaking, including the approach on the Te Aroha side, by to-night. Provided, the weather is suitable the department 'expects to throw the bridge open in time to carry the race traffic to-morrow (St. Patrick’s Day).

A recent visitor to the Hauraki Plains was the representative of a. big Australian flax .syndicate which was seeking 25,000 arpres of '.land' on which to plant flax. Although he was prepared to take up three or four blocks, he had experienced a difficulty throughout the Dominion in securing areas of suffie’ent size and could’ not do any business on the Hauraki Hlains.

As a result of a trap set by tlie borough inspector and the police for speeding motorists on the first day of the Te ArOlia races the names of 68 drivers who were alleged to have exceeded 30 miles an hour while going through /the Morrinsville borough were .handed in to the Borough. Council. It w;ais decided to prosecute in all'cases.

Although the safe in the Kercpcehi store which was destroyed by fire last Saturday evening was made red hot, the books and papers enclosed were not injured. The cover,s of some of the books were\ merely slightly charred. The safe was cut/ open in the presence of the owner, the police, and the insurance adjusters.

A large car was driven down the main street in Paeroa yesterday afternoon at a dangerous pace, and one that made pedestrians stand and' stare after it. AU went well until the car was opposite the “Gazette” Office, when it narrowly missed a/ stationary motor-car on tlie side of the street. While trying to pass the car and a horse-drawn waggon, and without slackening speed, the driver ran over and killed a dog belonging to Mr T. Ciiissell,. of Netherton. The driver mafic no attempt to stop, and continued along Belmont Road. Such a callous act aroused the feelings of the witnesses, several of wb.om had the presence of mind to note the registration number on the car. The •police were informed, and they lost no time in tracing the offender, who is a resident of Tc Puke and! on a visit to Paeroa. it is likely that more will he heard of matter.

Mr R. D. Macklow, of Tui ua, has decided to commence tlie practice of his profession as a solicitor in Auckland, and will be .leaving in. about a month’s time. He .will he very greatly missed, part'culaifly by. the three sports bodies, tennis, cricket, ami football, of which he has been secretary for many seasons.

At the Magistrate’s Court, ,Te Aroha, a young native named Punch Taupaki was charged with the theft of a pair of hair-cutters, valued at 30s. from the proprietor of a hairdressing saloon.' After Taupaki had been shaved tlie cutters were missed. He later .handed' them back in the presence of a. constable. Mr F. W. Dlatts, S.M.. senlenced. Taupaki to reven days’ imprisonment.