ACCIDENT AT HANGATIKI.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 465, 15 May 1912, Page 5

ACCIDENT AT HANGATIKI.

CAUGHT IN CHAFF-CUTTTER. A painful accident happened to a young man named Arthur Shields, emnloyed by Messrs Hattaway and Fitzpatrick. whilst cutting chaff for Mr Board, of Hangatiki, on Saturday. It appears that something went wrong with the chaff-cutter, and Shields put the belt on the loose pully and went to regulate the machine. The belt slipped off the loose pully and started f the machine, with the that Shields' left hand got caught in the b lades. All the sinews on the back of the frosd were severed whilst the forefinger was almost cut off. All the other fingers were badly injured. Shields was brought to TeKuiti. where he was attended to by Dr Faxton. He was removed to the Hamilton' Hospital the same evening.

A tri-weekly mail service has been inaugurated from Waimiha to the Tangitu, Mapiu and Mokauiti post offices.

The work of erecting the telephone line from Waimiha to Tangitu has commenced and the poles have been laid along the way for the full distance. It is over eighteen months since settlers first guaranteed the interest on the cost and working of the line and settlers are now very pleased that the work has at last been put in hand.

The work of improving the main road between Waimiha and Tangitu nas been continued during the past week. Two teams are engaged on the Tangitu end pumicing and fascining. A similar work is being carried out at the Waimiha end and in the meantime the worst places are being attended attended to. Mr Graham will offer by auction as per advertisement Mr Wells' nice residence in Rata street, quarter-acre freehold, easy terms. This pruperty is on the market for positive sale. Full particulars may be obtained at the mart.

A rink of Te Awamutu bowlers, consisting of Messrs Clements junr., Lawrie, Wallace and Clements senr journeyed to Te Kuiti on Saturday last and tried conclusions with the following local players:—Verrall, Mclndoe, Stevens and C. Matthew. The game proved to be a most interesting one, and ended in favour of !the local men by four points.

The prospects of Te Kuiti dairy factory for the coming season are highly satisfactory. Since the opening of the factory in January the supply of cream has been steadily increasing, and despite the lateness of the season the amount received at the factory during last month exceeded that of any previous month. When next season opens a largely increased supply is expected, as arrangements have been made with settlers throughout the district who are preparing to milk. The work of forming the road from the southern end of Rora street towards Waiteti is proceeding apace, and, with fine weather, the contract, as far as Dr Paxton's, should be completed satisfactorily. The spell of fine weather experienced last week provided a welcome break in the succession of rainy days which for weeks previously had rendered the roads almost unfit for traffic. The majority of county contractors had stopped work, but advantage was taken of the fine spell to proceed with the work on the Te Kumi road. If the metal can be laid to the bottom of the hill leading to Oparure it will be a great boon to settlers, as the road along the flat to the racecourse will otherwise become impassable.

The crane being use at the railway station for the loading of waggons is being condemned by carriers who have to use it. On Saturday last Mr Robertson, of Mapara, whilst loading a boiler on to his waggon, the crane failed to ac£ and slipped with the result that the boiler came down on one of Mr Robertson's fingers, taking the tip right off. Shortly afterwards Mr Wallis, carrier, who was loading a case of corrugated ircn with the same crane, which again refused to act, had the misfortune to have his foot badly hurt by (he case dropping on it.

Mr A. V. Snadden, manager of the local branch of the Union Bank of Australia, Ltd., left on Monday last for a month's holiday at the Bay of Islands. Mr Collard, of Wellington, is relieving Mr Snadden during his absence.

Mr Graham advertises details of Mr Williams' auction sale in to-day's issue. Every line must be sold as Mr Williams is leaving Te Kuiti. One good horse, saddle, bridle and riding poncho will also be offered. The Marokopa Dairy Factory Company directors estimate that their output of butter for this season will be twenty-two tons, and is considerably in advance of expectations. It is estimated that next season the output will be augmented to a large extent as a number of settlers with fairly large herds have notified their intention of milking.

In connection with the seam of coal recently located on Mr A. Barnett's property at Waitewhena, it is stated that Mr Barnett intends to erect a small aerial train from the seam near the road to the flat below, a distance of 25 chains, with the view of supplying coal to the Ohura residents. Considering the short distance from the seam to'ohura, there is every prospect of the coal being supplied at reasonable rates.

The extension of church work in a new district is always an indication of progress, and the fact that an Anglican clergyman is to be stationed at Ohura is but further evidence of the steady advancement being made in that district. The Bishop has succeeded in securing a clergyman in the Old Country, but it will be some months yet ere the mission in the back blocks will be taken up. At the annual meeting of the Ohura branch of the Farmers' Union a resolution was carried in favour of approaching the County Council with a view to having the name of the town changed. Aa the postal name of the chief centre is Ohura and the commonly known designation is Mangaroa, the change is considered necessary in order to prevent eonfusion. The new post office is shortly to be opened and the time for the change is considered opportune.

In consequence of the night chosen for the opening of the Debating Society's programme clashing with the Pio Pio Medical Fund concert the society very properly decided to postpone the opening of Parliament, and a date will be advertised later. The formation of a Cabinet has been undertaken by Mr Sharpies, and it is understood the Governor's Speecn is well under way. Unfortunately a number of meetings are booked for next week, and it is probable the opening night will have to be fixed for the following week.

Nominations to fill ths vacancy on the Borough Council caused by the resignation of Cr Sims, closed to-day. The nomination of Mr E. C. Falwasser being the only one received that gentleman has been declared duly elected, Mr S. W. Fitzherbert notifies in this issue that he has several thousand pounds for immediate investment at 5 per cent. For the benefit of: our Hangatiki readers we announce that the Eev. K. B Gosnell will conduct service in the school on Sunday afternoon, 26th inst., at 2.30. Mr Gosndl will visit the district during the week and confer with the residents with reference to a regular service in their midst.

In consequence of Mrs Burnell being unable to attend the concert in aid I of the Pio Pio Medical Fund, Miss-Ivy Graham has kindly consented to take the part in the programme originally allotted to Mrg Burnell. Attention is drawn to the advertisement appearing in this issue convening a meeting at Pio Pio on Tuesday next, of ratepayers in the Paemako, Te Kuiti, Mairoa and Aria ridings. The meeting will probably have a most important bearing on the metalling proposals outlined at the recent Pio Pio meeting, and it is to be hoped settlers will attend in force to discuss the matter. Included in the subjects to be brought forward is the system of rating. Mr Ismay and his wife are providing an endowment fund for 11,000 pensions for disabled seamen and wives of victims as a memorial to the Titanic crew's heroism. —Press Association.

Mr J. L. Guilford, of the Tangitu settlement, was taken to the Hamilton Hospital last evening suffering from blood poisoning, as the result of a wound receive in the arm whilst killing a beast a few days ago. Mr Roosevelt's committee is adoptinga very optimistic tone in connection with the Presidential election. The committee declares that in the only States where the popular will was expressed in the preliminary elections vast majorities were recorded against President Taft. It has been the aim nf the Rev. E. S. Wayne : since he came to Te Kuiti, to have at least a Church of England service once a month wherever there is a State school in the district, and also services in Maori wherever possible. Two years ago Hangatiki was the only place where a monthly service was held, besides regular services at Te Kuiti and Otorohanga. This month the list includes: First Sunday in the month, Mangapehi, Poro-otarao. Mr Keighley's house beyond Kaeaea, Kaeaea, Aria; second, P'o Pio, Honikiwi; third, Kio Kio, Hangatiki, Mahoenui, Paemako; fourth, Pio Pio, Mairoa, Oparure, Putake, Upper and Lower Waitomo. Arrangements have yet to be made for the Rangitoto block and Mangaronga, but it is huped to do so in the near future, and to increase services next summer. Many services are being held by the Rev. H. R. Heke, in Maori, including one in St. Luke's Church on the second Sunday in each month. The extension of this work has absorbed much time, and the Rev. E. S. Wayne has been away from Te Kuiti every second Sunday for long periods at a time, and now must be absent for three Sundays in succession, but after that hopes to be able to give much more attention to the town. Without the help of the local lay readers, and the willingness of many of the people in the town to make sacrifice for the sake of the back blocks, this etxension of work would have been impossible.