33 YEARS AGO.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5481, 30 September 1929, Page 1

33 YEARS AGO.

(From the “Ohinemuri Gazette” of September 30 and October 3, 1896.) LOCALS. We are requested to state that the formal opening of the Hauraki Hotel, Waitekauri (Mr Rae, proprietor), will take place in about a fortnight. When completed it will be one of the most comfortable and best-appointed hotels in the district. Comte Jouffroy d’Abbaus, ConsulGeneral for France in Australia, arrived in Paeroa last evening. The purpose of his visit, we understand, is to officially report for the French Government on the goldfields and its prospects.

Mr Dan Campbell intends running a coach to Waihi on Saturday next, the 10th inst., to take out any persons who may wish to be present at the Waihi sports meeting. At the county meeting on Thursday last, on the motion of Cr. Cassrels, a sum of £BOO was voted for the purpose of putting all the footpaths in Paeroa, Karangahake, Waitekauri, and Waihi into proper condition. This will enable the county engineer to have some basis to work on, in making recom-. mendations for any work needed to be done on footpaths in the district, and there is not the slightest doubt but that the money will be judiciously expended.

OHINEMURI COUNTY COUNCIL. The ordinary meeting of the County Council was held on Thursday, October 1. Present: Crs. Barry (chairman), Bowler, Cassrels, Edwards, Nash, Nicholls, Thorp, and Corbett. General Rate. On the motion of Cr. Cassrels, seconded by Cr. Thorp, it was resolved that at the next meeting of the council a general rate of lid in the £ be struck on the rateable value of the property within the county for the next year. Cr. Cassrels was opposed to the rate being raised to lid, as proposed by Cr. Corbett, as although the value of property in Paeroa had undoubtedly increased within the last year, and would not feel the rate, other parts of the county had not benefited in a like measure by the prosperity caused by the revival in the mining industry —some parts hardly at all —and it would be very unfair to rate them all alike. Finance Committee. The Finance Committee reported as follows : The total indebtedness was £129 5s 6d. The revenue during the month from all sources was £6OB Is. The contract liabilities outstanding amounted to £3448 7s Lid. Accounts were passed for payment amounting to £1535 4s Id. Engineer’s Report. Waitekauri-Whangamata.— Owing to the long continuous wet weather, and traffic, this track now requires repairs, and as those interested in obtaining supplies along it have spoken to me about the track, I would suggest that the county effect repairs as far as Wharekaraupnnga at a cost of about £3O if the interested parties will do an equal amount of work further along. I am having the necessary pegs, put in, in anticipation of your council authorising me to let a contract as above.

MILITARY FORCES. Colonel Fox’s Report. Colonel Fox’s report on the volunteer force of the Colony was laid on the table of the House on Wednesday last. He states that considerable improvement has been made as regards the general knowledge possessed by officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the volunteer force, but the improvement would have been more marked if the instruction had been of better quality. He hardly knew of any volunteer officer whq could pass the examination in tactics, topography, and field fortifications such as is passed by lieutenants in the Imperial Service. He, therefore, insists on the necessity for skilled instruction of officers. The force has shown in the Wellington, Canterbury, and Nelson districts that, officers and men have done all that is practicably possible in the matter of efficiency. He regrets that in Otago much improvement had not taken place, while in the Auckland district, in so far as rifle and mounted rifle companies is concerned, the force is absolutely useless. In each of those districts there is only one capable infantry drill inspector. In the Otago district there are plenty of companies, but many are useless. In Auckland district there are six\ companies, of which only two are of any value. Under present conditions it would be impossible to defend Auckland with the forces available. The only two companies of any value in the Auckland district are the Naval companies, which obtain their instruction from the Permanent Fence. The “A” Battery is not efficient, and the guns are not to be depended on. The Victoria Rifles company, Colonel Fcx holds, has turned the corner, and should be a good company next year. The Avondale company has improved. The Te Aroha company is inefficient, and the non-commissioned officers are ignorant of their duties. T|he Thames Navals are inefficient, and the Auckland City Rifles and Hamilton Rifle company exist only on paper.