36 YEARS AGO.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5466, 26 August 1929, Page 4

36 YEARS AGO.

(From the “ Ohinemuri Gazette ” of August 26, 1893. The purchase by Government of the Fxeroa township from the Natives is now an accomplished fact—and a very good bargain, indeed, the Government has got! The price paid for the equity of redemption of the block which contains 167 acres in all, is £2OOO. Etu Paaka, who held a share and a half, received £lOOO J Morehu te Putu, one share, £650 ; and a minor —a girl named Moho Puna—£3so for her half share. We presume that the rental of £75 per annum, which the present lessees have been paying to the natives, will now go to the Government, who will then get at least a fair interest for their money during the seventeen years currency of the lease, and will have a property worth quite £5OOO at the expiration of that time. It is to be hoped that the Government will not stop at this, but buy out the present lease as soon as possible. In a case such as this the perpetual lease system might be tried with good effect, should the Government have the whole thing in their hands. Much has been made of an alleged jealousy between the twin townships. We fail to see where it comes in ; the good of one must be the good of the other—indeed, the two flats scarcely make up a decent-sized township. We trust that now matters are more satisfactory in this connection steps will be taken to effect the better paving, drainage, and road system of the township, not to make mention of the much-desired water supply, etc. As we have often said, these things, to be properly carried out, require the constitution of a borough. Every day brings us nearer to that consummation, which we prophecy is now within measurable distance. LOCAL AND GENERAL. We have heard an ugly rumour that there is leprosy among the local natives. Tenders for widening, forming, ana metalling the Karangahake Gorge road, and laying a drain at Paeroa, are called to-day by the county foreman. Lovers of skating will be pleased to hear that the Elite Rink reopens at the Town Hall on Saturday evening next. The prices are absurdly low—--3d admission, and 6d for skates. A number of skatists have signified their intention of beirg present,, and the craze seems to have quite caught on again. The electoral roll for the Bay of Plenty district, as at June 12, contains 2098 names. A large number of Ohinemurians are off, and the graveyard is well represented. Mr J. Jordan, who, by the way, is relieved of his duties as. Registrar for the now defunct Te Aroba electorate, will be pleased to answer any inquiries as to the roll. It is as well to know that applications for registration are post free. * THE MARKET. Potatoes, although plentiful, remain firm/ Prime sorts are £6 to £6 10 ; early seed varieties, scarce, £7 to £8 10s. Onions, scarce, prime, other, Jd to Id. Maize, plentiful at 3s to 3s 3d ; bran, £2 12s 6d ; sharps, £4; oats, feed, 2s 9d Wheat, good, 3s : poor, 2s 6d. Pumpkins, 5s to 6s. Mangolds, 20s. Carrots, 30s to 40s. Rutter, really prime fresh, is scarce at lOd to Is; factory Is. Eggs, plentiful at 6Jd to 7d. Bacon, prime local, 7d ; other qualities 5d to 6d ; hams, local, 6d to Bd, poor 4d. Salt butter, prime. 6d ; poor quality glutted, with no buyers. Fruit : Lemons, plentiful at 3s to 4.s per case; other fruit scarce ; apples 8s to 10s. Poultry : No change to report. Pigs still com mand good prices ; dressed pork 4d tc 4Jd. MASSING NOTES. A business firm in Auckland used to have a lot of trouble in hunting up J’s.P. to sign documents and so forth. Now they have no more bother that way. They have engaged a couple of porters wh;» both proudly sign “J.P.” after their names, when any J.P-ing is required. Tom and Dick, or whatever their baptismal appellations mav be, are called in and do all the signing that is wanted. It’s all in the day’s work. This idea of keeping a J.P. or two on the premises is one worthy of imitation by other big firms.