THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1928. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5285, 11 June 1928, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1928. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Piako Cricket Association’s trophy for, the highest batting average during the past season was won by G. Stack, of the Paeroa A team, with a fine average of 52.5 runs. The Bowler Shield, presented for interclub cricket, was also won by Paeroa.

Tlie auxiliary barquenti'iie Margaret W, 550 tons (Captain AV. Watchlin), laden with electric power line poles from the Clarence River, New South Wales, berthed at Ktopu early on Friday morning.

Colone] S. 8. Allen, C.M.G>., D. 5.0., has ..relinquished the command of the Hauraki Regiment, and is posted to the reserve of officers. The appointment of Major F. Prideaux to' the command of the regiment is gazetted. Major Prideaux, who resides at Whakatane, saw service with the Army Pay Corps during the war of 1914-18. On being attached to the Egyptian Expcditioxnar.y Force lie took part in compaigns in Egypt and Gallipoli, and in France and Belgium. Major Prideaux was mentioned in despatches on March 16, 1926', and holclst he 1914-15 Star, British War. ■Medal, and Victoria Medal. The headquarters of the Hauraki Regiment will remain at Paeroa.

On account of the considerable confusion that has arisen with reference to clause 4, regulation 7, of the Motor Vehicles Regulations, the Auckland Automobile Association has secured the following interpretation from the Public Works Depai tment: “That provided a tail-light, incorporates a red. glass which has a surface of not less than two inches square in area, effectually reflecting any light showing from rearward of the vehicle, then no additional fitting is needed to the car. If the tail-light does not meet these requirements, then there must be attached as, near as, possible to the tail-light ,an effective red reflector meeting the requirements of the clause.”

The Auckland Education Board has advised ’that schools will close for the Christmas holidays at 3 p.m. on December 19, 1928.. and reopen on February 4, 1929.

Very few people ever attain their hundredth birthday, but one early settler residing not many miles from Oamaru lays claim to three above tlie century mark, and still retains, remarkable activity a.nd health (say’ s the North Otago Times). His sight is not impaired, and he only resorts to spectacles when read .a newspaper. A good' tale ctoneerning the centenarian was related the other day. A truck of goods consigned to him arrived at the nearest station, and after signing for it. he wals, asked by the stationmaster who was going to do the unloading. “ I have my two boys with me.” was the laconic reply. Becoming curious, the stationmaster espied two bewhiskered gentlemen,, both in the vicinity of the allotted span, awaiting their parent. The railwayman’s astonishment only .abated after the truck had been cleared with remarkable celerity. Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. For Children’s Hacking CUugh.

On Saturday afternoon the West a.nd Suburbs senior teams took the field pretty well on scheduled time, and after, the customary exchange of cheers and the toss-up tlhe players dropped back into their positions. It was then found that neither team Irajl taken a ball on to the field, and a delay of ten minutes occurred, during which most of the players left the field and donned overcoats, while a, boy was sent to a shop in the main street to procure the forgotten ball.

While members ef the Ngatea Hockey Club were motoring to Kopuarahi on Thursday evening to attend a meeting of the Hockey Association, the driver. of the car, Mr J. E. Reid, was blinded by the lights of an approaching car, and in swerving to the side of the road crashed into a. telegraph pole. The side of the car was damaged, and Mr Keith Clare had his ■hand crushed between the pole and the door of the car.

Lieutenant G. H. Nicholls, C Company, Hauraki Regiment, ha®. been promoted to captain as from November 22. 1927.

For the conveyance of holders of invitations to the Turua Footballer’s’ Grand Ball on Thursday next, 14th inst., free buses will be run from the following places : Kerepeehi, at 7.30 p.m. ; Ngatea, at 8 p.m. ; Waihi, via Paeroa, at 7 p.m.; Thames, 7.45 p.m.*

With the exception of about ten chains, the right bank of the Waihou Rfver from the Ngahina wharf. Puke, to the Kaimanawa landing, Hikutaia, lias been stop-bankefi. to its permanent level. A Ruston drag-line dredge is now covering the clay bank with turf, in readiness for grass-seed sowing ?;n the spring.

The habit of spectators to crowd over the line on to the playing field Was very noticeable at the local, domain on Saturday, especially on. the No. 1 ground during the West v. Suburbs match. On several, occasions the referee had to hold the game up while he cleared the line of people. The only’official noticed to make any attempt to keep the crowd back was the chairman of the committee of the Rugby Union. Considerable! time and trouble could be a,voided if more of the officials took an interest in the matter of keeping the side-Unes clear.

At a meeting on Friday' night of those ‘interested in tlie formation of an, association under the Rural Intermediate Credits Act it was definitely decided to proceed with the formation of an. associaton, the required number of signatures having been obtained; The provisional directors are : Messrs J. Irwin, Paeroa ; V. Young, Hikutaia; G. Death and M. A. Carter, 'Netherton ; and secretary-treasurer, Mr. N. R. Robson (acting). The registration of the association W'll, be proceeded with immediately.

We have to acknowledge from the Thames Borough Council, on behalf of the Thames and Hauraki Plains County Councils, the receipt of a piece of blue ribbon, measuring six inches and suitably inscribed', being portion of that used in, connection with the opening ceremony of the Waihou River Bridge at Kopu on May 11. The ribbon has been forwarded as a souvenir of the occasion.

A lot of very bad language appeared upon the charge sheets at the Greymouth Court the other day (says the “Star,”). In fact, it was, too ba.d for repetition, turd the papers were therefore passed from hand to hand. The clerk passed them to a constable, who showed them to th© persons accused of using the la'nguage, to counsel, and to the witnesses. It was ra.ther different from the procedure in the case heard not So long ago in which the language alleged to have been used was repeated in a loud voice, to the obvious embarrassment of several women in. court.