LOCAL AND GENERAL

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 139, 27 January 1939, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Convent Re-opening. An advertisement in connection with the re-opening of St. Alary’s Convent School appears in to-day’s issue. The school will re-open on Wednesday, February 1. Anniversary Day Dance. The Opotiki Cricket Association will hold its annual dance in the Woodlands Hall on Monday night (Anniversary Day). Annual Sheep Fair. The annual sheep fair will be held in the Opotiki saleyards on Wednesday next. The yards will be taxed to capacity as no less than 25,000 slieep have been entered. Cricket. Two interesting matches, will be played during the week-end. Opotiki will meet Rangitaiki in a representative match on Sunday, and Returned Soldiers will meet Returned' Soldiers’ Soais on Monday.

Anniversary Day. Monday next will be observed as a general holiday throughout the Auckland Province. As the day is being observed only as a provincial anniversary holiday the Post Office will be open in all its branches as usual. The Opotiki News will not be published on Monday. , Yachting Race. A yacht race will he held in the Opotilci river on Monday, commencing at 1.30 p.m. from the wharf. The race will probably last more than an hour and will finish at the wharf. A meeting of these interested in discussing arrangements for the race will be. held at Mr. C. Brownie’s residence at 7.30, o’clock to-niglit.

Temperatures. North Island temperatures on Wednesday at 9 a .in. were as follows.— Auckland 61 degrees, TaUranga and Wellington 60, Opotiki and East Cape 65, Gisborne 66, and Napier 61. Yesterday’s temperatures were : Auckland, Opotiki and Gisborne 63 degrees, EastCape and Napier 64, and Wellington 58. : Speaker’s Cycling Tour. A cycling holiday, which terminated on Saturday, took the Hon. W. E. Barnard, Speaker of the House of Representatives and M.P. fox Napier, on a leisurely jaunt through the Nelson district. Accompanied by Mr. S. J. Bennett, of Palmerston North, Mr. Barnard spent a very enjoyable tour of the hop and tobacco-growing aiea, pausing at various places lor a game of bowls or to '• rpo f some industry in which they were interested.

Public Address System. Special mention was made at the inter-club sports meeting held in 0potiki last Saturday, the great assistance rendered to the club by Mr. I. Parkinson, owner and operator of the public address system at the meeting. It was stated that Mr. Parkin'soii had operated his address system at each fortnightly meeting and at the big sports meeting free of cost to the club and that the club and the public were very appreciative of Mr. Parkinson’s assistance at the meetings. '

Shipping. ) The lii.s. Waiotahi left Opotiki yesterday morning for Auckland and is expected! to arrive back in Opotiki on Sunday. The Opotiki Band. During the., discussion at the recent meeting ,of the -Centennial Committee, it was stated that the Opotiki Band could he easily reformed if a suitable person could, be found for the position of conductor. It was stated that plenty of players were available with first-class instruments also available. Any person willing to undertake the responsibilities of leadership of a band is asked to communicate with Mr. T. G. Johnson.

Wharf Extension. The driving of the first pile at the Opotiki wharf in connection with the improvements and extension work wasundertaken yesterday by the contractor, Mr. F. G. Milky. No trouble was experienced in driving the pile, which bedded down nicely at the anticipated depth, giving a solid foundation. The pile driving is being done first at the wooden portion of the existing wharf, and will then be extended a further 35 feet to the south. The newer sited which overlapped the old sited by about- two i'eet was cut back, to the level of the first shed before the derrick was brought- around ou to the wharf. Frogs at Matawhero Still Moving. Hundreds of thousands of frogs of all sizes have continued to move from, the old river bed at Matawhero since Saturday night, according to further reports received. On Monday evening, the frogs were again almost as thick as swarming bees on the main highway,. and again on -Wednesday night, large numbers were moving aei’oss the road's in the direction of the "Waipaoa River. The frogs are moving from the temporary lagoon, which, was flooded during the heavy winter rains, only when the grass is wet. The reason, for the trek towards the river is unknown, but it is surmised that the space in the drying up lagoon is .becoming too cramped for their comfort.

Morere Mlail Bag Theft. Although inquiries have been madeby the police in the various districts concerned, only two of the five registered letters which were sent to Gisborne in the mail bags which were removed from the truck on AjLorere Hill early this month so far have been traced back to the senders. These two letters came from the Hastings and l Palliatua districts. It- will be remembered that two or three days, after the robbery an open fire was found a few yards off the Alorere Hill road, and here the police discovered the remains of the missing bags and. charred mail.

Income-Tax. The Commissioner of Taxes draws, attention of taxpayers toi the notification appearing in to-day’s issue that the due date of payment of Incometax is on Wednesday, the Bth. day, of Feruary, 1939. Additional tax will accrue if the tax is not paid on or before Ist. 'March, 1939. The demands will be posted from the office of the Commissioner of Taxes on or before Ist. .February, 1939. Demands must her presented with all payments, and if a demand lias not been received the* Commissioner should be communicated with.