33 YEARS AGO.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5487, 14 October 1929, Page 1

33 YEARS AGO.

(From the “Ohinemuri Gazette” of

October 14, 1896.)

LIBRARY AND READING ROOM. A short time ago we suggested the advisability of having the Public Library removed from its present out-of-the-way and most inconvenient position to the site originally set apart for it, we believe, being one of the allotments belonging to the County Council. At the last meeting of the council on the Ist inst. the question of leasing their allotments was discussed, and it was decided that the only one that could be leased was the one adjoining the stable in Belmont Road. The matter was, however, deferred until next meeting, when we hope that an attempt will be made to obtain this allotment from the council on lease for the site of the public library. We do not anticipate there will be much trouble in this if the matter is taken in hand promptly. We would very much like to see, as we have said, a free reading-room added to the library, as we are confident that such would be a very great boon to numbers of men, especially young men, who would be only too glad to avail themselves of the opportunity it would afford. Among all the many improvements that are going on in Paeroa none, we are assured, would be hailed with more general satisfaction, or be productive of more good to the general public, than a library and reading room.

LOCALS.

The Hon. Captain Morris is expected to arrive at Paeroa to-morrow.

We are sorry to learn that Mr R. Gillespie, master of the Owharoa school, accidentally fell down last Friday and dislocated his knee. A very old resident in this district, Mrs Hunter, mother of Mrs Noble, of Mackaytown, passed away last Sunday, and the body was taken up to Auckland yesterday in the s.s. Waimarie for interment.

The Hauraki Hotel, Waitekauri, will be opened next Monday evening, the 19th inst., when Mr Rae, the proprietor, will, to duly celebrate the occasion, give a ball in the Waitekauri Hall.

It is said that Mr George Wilson, mining inspector, will hold an inquiry in Paeroa on the 28th inst. into the circumstances leading to the recent death of the man Devlin.

There is a most marked irregularity in the time-keeping of the PaeroaTe Aroha train. It took a most unconscionable time both from and to Te Aroha on Saturday, being an hour and a quarter late. It is now suggested that train catchers be placed upon the cows frequenting the line, as the train seems annoyingly to impede the progress of the cattle whose business leads them along the permanent way. On Friday evening last a son of Mr W. S. Montgomery, of the Owharoa Hotel, had a very narrow escape from being killed. While he was riding a rather high-spirited horse between Owharoa and Karangahake the animal stumbled, throwing him off its back. Unfortunately, the lad’s foot was caught in the stirrup, and when the horse started off again he was dragged along the road. Before he had gone far, luckily for him, the girth broke. Montgomery received a severely lacerated knee, besides being bruised in othei’ places, but 'his injuries were subsequently attended to by Dr. Buckby, and at last accounts he was doing well.

From and after the 15th inst. a post Office will be opened at Waikino (commonly called Thorpe’s Hill) between Owharoa and Waihi. Mails will be despatched daily by Paeroa-Waihi coach.

The notice to carters and contractors is called to an advertisement inviting tenders for carting five 9-ton boilers from the Junction to Waihi. The concert to be given in the Karangahake Hall on Friday evening, the 16th inst., the advertisement of which appears in this issue, will, we have no doubt, be very largely attended, as, apart from the very attractive programme to be rendered, the object towards which the proceeds will be devoted, namely, the erection of a new Catholic Church at Karangahake, deserves hearty support. We understand that already a sum of £llO has been raised towards the dwelling fund, and we hope a very substantionl addition will be made to this as a result of the coming concert. PAEROA FIRE BRIGADE. The first annual meeting of the Paeroa Fire Brigade was held on Friday evening last, the 9th inst., in the brigade’s shed, Wharf Street. The following were the officers elected for the ensuing year: J. O’Hara, captain ; F. C. Griffiths, lientenant ; W. H. Griffith, foreman, hose and reel; W. J. Hank, assistant foreman ; H. Moore, senior branchman ; H. Jones, assistant branchman ; R. Bush, treasurer ; R. Septon, secretary. .Lieutenant Griffths proposed a vote of thanks to those among the inhabitants of Paeroa who had given the brigade their support by so liberally contributing to the funds. Mr Bastings, in responding, said though he was comparatively a stranger to Paeroa, from what he had seen of the brigade, especially at the late fire, he thought they had worked manfully and well, and were well deserving of the hearty support of every person in Paeroa, especially of those who had any interest in the place.