THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1929. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5491, 23 October 1929, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1929. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Rain, which has been sorely needed in Paeroa district for some time past, commenced to fall lightly in the early hours of the morning, and before noon was coming down in sufficient quantity to benefit considerably the parched ground.

An aeroplane passed over Paeroa at seventeen minutes to four on Monday, flying in a south-easterly direction. It disappeared flying in a straight line directly over the Karangahake gorge, a route officials of the Auckland Aero Club said would be used by ’planes on their way from Auckland to the East Coast and Bay of Plenty towns.

There, are many rumours -abroad that the cyanide from the Maratoto mines will not affect the swimming pool at Hikutaia this year. It would be well for persons to take no undue risks, and to be strictly guided by the warning issued in this paper last week. It is possible, however, that a sample of water taken from the creek may be forwarded to the Government analyst, for his report, and until this has been done, using the words of the previous warning, the river should be treated as though it were a plague.

The Dornier Wai Dox flying-boat, of which an illustration appeared in Monday’s issue of this paper, on Monday flew for two hours in the vicinity of Friedrichshafen, carrying 160 passengers, and flying at a speed of 115 miles an hour.

September proved a busy month for the Hauraki Plains Farmers’ Veterinary Club’s surgeon, Mr T. Aris. In his monthly report to the committee he mentioned having made 128 visits to 58 members, most of the calls being on account of milk fever, calving, hard quarters, or spinal paralysis. Eight new members were enrolled.

A most enjoyable dance under the auspices of the Hikutaia Ladies’ Hockey Club was held in the local hall on Thursday evening last. The dance was excellently conducted, Mr J. Odlin acting as M.C. in a very able manner. Music was supplied by the “K” Boys’ orchestra. Euchre prizes were won by Miss Handley, Wharepoa, and Mr M. C. Smith ; spot dance, by Mrs McPike and Mr Beck ; and the Monte Carlo waltz by Miss I. Crier and Mr Percy.

The most valuable collection of Jersey cattle to be imported into the Dominion has just been landed from quarantine on Somes Island, Wellington. The shipment, which came direct from New York, is from the famous Linden Grove herd of the late Mr T. S. Cooper. The late Mr Cooper was the most widely known breeder and importer of Jersey cattle in the world. He imported big shipments every year from Jersey to America, and also took selected animals from England to maintain his huge stud at Linden Grove, from whence he despatched consignments of young stock to all parts of America and to New Zealand.

Hikutaia residents were grieved to hear that the 12-months-old infant daughter of Mr and Mrs A. Thomas, late of Hikutaia and now of Taumarunui, died at the residence of hei’ parents last Friday week.

The London market for New Zealand lamb is depressed owing to heavy supplies of Home killed. The market for New Zealand porker pigs is firm with a good demand.

In order to effect repairs to the main, the water supply will be turned off at the headworks on Sunday afternoon next, between the hours of 1.30 and 4 o’clock.

In the Auckland Competitions Society’s festival on Monday night Mr Linton H. Eskrigge secured premier honours in the sacred song division.

The number of motor vehicles registered in the Paeroa district is as follows : Paeroa 300, Ngatea 150, Turua 110, Hikutaia 50, and Patetonga 41. Waihi registrations number 300, and Waikino 40.

The new Paeroa postal delivery arrangements are meeting with general approbation, residents distant from the post office being specially appreciative of the service.

The quarry near Hikutaia has been temporarily closed, as all present orders have been fulfilled. Future prospects for the use of the metal are bright, and at a later date, when the quantity required justifies, the quarry will be re-opened.

The Public Works Department has commenced the work of constructing the bridge across the upper reaches of the Hikutaia stream about five miles from the township of Hikutaia and connecting Maratoto with Whangamata. The cost of construction is in the vicinity of £950 to £lOOO.

Mi’ M. Crimmins, of Waikino, has been appointed a judge of light horses at Royal Shows.

The returns compiled by the census and statistics office show that the number of deaths attributable to motor accidents has nearly doubled in four years. In 1924 there were 94 cases, in 1925 there were 108, and in 1926 the number was 149. The year 1927 showed a fall of 11—to 138 —but last year the total was 176.

No cessation of the annual decline in the number of births registered in New Zealand was witnessed for' the years 1928 (states the annual report on the vital statistics of the Dominion, which has just been issued from the Census and Statistics Office). The actual number recorded was 27,200, this figure being the lowest since 1919, and 681 below the total for 1927. The registrations consisted of 14,082 males and 13,118 females.

Ideal weather prevailed on Saturday last for the official opening of the season’s activities of the Kerepeehi Tennis Club, and players from all the sister clubs on the Hauraki Plains w'ere present in large numbers to enjoy the hospitality of the Kerepeehi Club. I ' That Palmerston North will shortly attain the status of a city is expected by its Mayor. He anticipated that the population of the town would reach 20,000 early in 1930. There are now six cities in the Dominion, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Nelson, and Wanganui. The lastnamed town attained the dignity about four years ago by-passing the 20,000 population mark. Nelson, which has a population of considerably less than 20,000, was constituted a city by Royal Commission in the early days of the settlement, shortly after the creation of the Anglican Bishopric. Other towns which are approaching a population of 20,000 are Napier and Invercargill.

The number of marriages registered in New Zealand during 1928.. was 10,537, this total representing an increase of 59 as compared with the previous year. The marriage rate in recent years is a ; long way below the average rate attained in pre-war years, and the tendency is for the rate to decline still further. This declining movement is not only noticeable in New Zealand, but is evident in most other civilised countries. During the period 1904-13 the normal tendency was towards a gradual increase in the marriage rate, but the outbreak of the Great War in 1914 seriously disturbed this upward movement, and the increasing diminution in the number of males of marriageable age quickly brought the rates to a level never previously approached.

Fair-sized catches over the weekend are reported by local fishermen. The Waitekauri stream yielded the limit of 15 trout to one fisher, but the -ether catches were on the small side. Two of them, fishing in the Ohinemuri, got two each, including a fourpounder, and one in another stream secured two. As yet there are no signs of the fish rising, and in view of this the week-end bags are considered satisfactory.

A Waihi patty of bush enthusiasts paid a visit to the Waitekauri district last week-end. Leaving the car in the neighbourhood of the one-time flourishing township—-now entirely deserted—they made their way -<Jnto the bush, travelling some miles in the direction of the coast line before happening on what they sought, a deep glen in which graceful king fern flourished in all then- stately perfection. It would be hard to believe that finer specimens of this much admired fern exist in any other piece of New Zealand, according to the visitors. In some cases as many as twenty fronds from a single crown reared up to a height of nearly as many feet, forming a spreading canopy of thirty or more feet in circumference.

The colours of the Turua candidates in. the Turua Plunkct Society’s baby king and queen carnival now fly at the top of the pole, having come up from bottom place, probably on account of the vei-y successful dance on Thursday last. The Kopuarahi colours occupy second place, and the southern district’s flag is now at the bottom.

Practice matches were held by most of the cricket clubs on the Hauraki Plains on Saturday last. The Kopuarahi Club held a function in the old school on Saturday evening to celebrate the winning of the association’s competition last season, and though the cup was not there to be filled, members and visitors from other clubs had an enjoyable time with toasts and vocal items.