THE OPOTIKI NEWS Friday, October 7, 1938. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 94, 7 October 1938, Page 2

THE OPOTIKI NEWS Friday, October 7, 1938. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Choral Society. The Opotiki Choral Society's next concert will be lield on October 26. A new and attractive programme lias been arranged. - Dance and Presentation. The annual dance and presentation of trophies in connection with the ■-O----potilci Golf blub, will be held in the Tyne Hall, on November 2. ' H igher Temperatures. \ For the first time since the winter the temperature at 9 a.m. reached 60 degrees in Opotiki. Fairly high temperatures were general. Auckland,- Opotiki,. and East Cape registered 60, Tauranga, Gisborne and Wellington 62, and Napier 67. Horticultural Society Meeting. Considerable' interest should be shown in the second lecture and exhibit evening to be held in the Parish Hall on Tuesday night next. Special blooms will be on exhibition and a lecture on manuring and pruning will lie given. The society’s first evening proved a most interesting and educative one and members were very keen to show appreciation of the value of the society’s work. Collection of Rates. Satisfaction was expressed at the monthly meeting of the Opotiki County Council at the manner in which rates are being collected. During the first SO days 52 per cent, of the current year’s rates were collected. One councillor mentioned that ‘farmers seemed better aide to pay their rates. 24 Hour Service Station. A request for the Council’s support in an application to, open up a 24hour service station in Opotiki was made by a now firm at the County Council meeting to-day. The, applicant stated that he had taken a petition around to farmers who were all in favour, and asked for a letter of recommendation from the Council. The speaker stated that motorists were unable to get petrol at night without a ]./- opening fee. and also that it was impossible to, get petrol in the early morning. Councillors agreed that it was high time a 24-hour service was provided in Opotiki and it was unanimously resolved to support the application .

Natives On Valuation Roll. At the monthly meeting of the Opotiki County Council held to-day a litter was received from the Under-Sec-retary of the Native Department re Native nates and the placing of natives on the valuation roll. The letter stated that the work of bringing ragwort land into a state of productivity was financed by loan money and that rates cannot- be. paid from that money. Cr. A. E- Blake claimed that the statement was quite untrue as the men were being paid out of employment funds. Councillors considered that the letter was evasive. Air. Merry said the men on the land were willing to pay rates and he placed on the roll. The council decided to fellow up the matter. Otara River Erosion,At the monthly meeting of the- Ojjotiki County Council to-day a letter was received from the district engineer, Mr. Ronayiie. suggesting that it might be possible lor the Council to assist in obtaining a grant to prevent river erosion on the Otara, river bank. The letter was accompanied by a letter from Air. Roberts, Public AYorks engineer in Opotiki. who stated that an inspection revealed that six settlers and about 110 acres ol good grassing land were affected. .V channel would cost 650 and the total cost would lie .-6155. Settlors had already made a start on the work which would remove the danger. The council decided to- lend all possible assistance in obtaining a grant from the' employment promotion fund.