DISTRICT NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5305, 27 July 1928, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

TURUA. THE TOWN BAND. Un.der the very able instruction of Mr H. Christie the Turua Town Band, which now comprises twenty-five boys, is making very satisfactory progress, and public performances are contemplatedl in the near, future. About tlie middle of next, month a sacred concert will be held in. Turua, and several items will be presented by the boys of the band. As a. mean;s of awakening public interest in the band arrangements have been made for a Thames band to give an open-air concert. in Turua next Sunday afternooji. A collection, will be taken up on. behalf of the Turua Town Band, which is faced with heavy expense in procuring sufficient insWuments for the boys who desire to become members. The management, of■ the band is in capable hands, and already a, large, sum of money has been raised by public subscription anjd by means; of stock drives to the monthly Turua sale. As advertised in this paper, the band will hold a ball early next month, and arrangements haye been made to bring dancers; from all parts of tlie Plains, as well as from Paeroa, AVaihi, and Thames. The Turua Town Hall is big enough to accommodate hundreds of dancers, and the band- is making arrangements for hundreds to be present.

NGATEA.

STREET LIGHTING.

Of all places, on the Plains Ngatea is perhaps the most dismal-looking at night-time. Accredited; by other centres as being the- most aggressively progressjivc: community in the county so far as their own iowuship is concerned, the tardiness of Ngatea people ill regard to the township street lights shows that, they have been either unjustly judged oil that they no longer warrant the 'reputation earned in the past. The streets have not been, lighted since the beginning of February because sufficient subscriptions to refund,' to the guarantors the amount paid for power consumed last year have not been forthcoming. Some £32 was owing when- the committee decided that the lights should be cut off until funds came in;, and though a, thorough canvass has been made , the total amount received is still about £l2 short of the sum required to liquidate the debt. Included in the amount received was; £7 from the County Council, being the. amount contributed annually to each riding for street lights. Discouraged again.st making further effort, and disinclined to. incur further liability, the committee will not have the lights relighted until the finances are put. on a sound basjs and next year’s cost is in; sight.