LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 25, 3 April 1924, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At a meeting of Turanga-o-moana property holders on Friday it was decided to take preliminary steps towards forming- a rabbit board.

It is understood that the spinsters of Putaruru are arranging a ball, to be held early in May, in response to the bachelors’ ball on March 21.

Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., who has charge of the Thames Valley circuit, from Thames to Putaruru, returned from a visit to Australia last week, and will resume his duties on Monday next.

It is understood that a project is on foot to establish a sawmill in the Wharepuhunga country, the output to be brought to the Putaruru railway station by motor lorry, via the Arapuni access road.

The football season was unofficially opened at Putaruru on Saturday afternoon, when, despite steady rain, a practice match between the Rovers and United clubs took place. Each team was considerably under full strength. Rovers won by 13 points to 11. Mr. S. C. Snell acted as referee.

Several Christchurch motor importers have been advised from American factories of an increase in the prices -of some of the leading American cars (states a southern paper). This will mean an increase in the cost of future shipments. One importer states that it looks as if the constant drop in car prices had come to an end, and the public may, with the rising cost of production, look for dearer cars.

The ratepayers’ list for the Tokoroa Rabbit Board was confirmed by Mr. J. G. L. Hewitt, at the Putaruru Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. Only one objection was received, this being’ a formal objection to tlie“inclusion of the whole of the T.T.T. railway on the list instead of the portion within the district only. The objection was ’duly allowed and the list amended accordingly and confirmed.

A post office at Arapuni was opened on Monday in the Public Works Department office at the camp at the dam site, the clerk in charge there, Mr. F. J. Treanor, having also been appointed postmaster. As from Monday, too, the daily return mail service, Putaruru-Puketurua-Arapuni, started. The Arapuni post office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, with a half-holiday on Saturday. Together with the corresponding Public Works Department offices the post office will probably be removed shortly to the new building at the Arapuni village site.

A meeting of the Putaruru Athletic Club was held last Thursday evening. Only four members were present. The chairman, Mr. J. Barr Brown, presided. One offer only was received for the refreshment booth rights on Sports day, Easter Monday. The amount offered, was £4. The matter was Wei red to Mr. S. C. Snell to inform the.applicant that the club considered the rights, worth £5 at least. Messrs. R. Mavtin and R. McLeod were appointed gatekeepers for the sports. Correspondence was received showing that the Putaruru club had withdrawn its objection to the Northern Athletic Union granting Easier Monday as a sports day for' the Rotorua club, provided the latter confined its programme for that day to chopping and cycling events.

The growth of the fruit business in the hands of Asiatics was emphasised by a remark made by one of the parties to a Hindu breach oj* the pear case in court recently (says the Hawera Star), when he said: “ We have now the biggest trade in New Zealand.”

New Zealand will observe the following bank holidays at Eastertide this year:—April 18, 19, 21, 23 and 25. From Good Friday the banks will close for four days, but will open on Easter Tuesday owing to the number of holidays that week, close on the Wednesday, open on the Thursday, and close again on the Friday for Anzac Day.

Preliminary preparations in connection with the establishment of a Masonic lodge in Matamata are now well in hand. A lodge room, built of concrete bricks, is to be erected on a site at the east end of Elizabeth stieet. An impressive and memorable function should take place when the new lodge (to be known as Lodge Matamata i is dedicated by Grand Lodge officers about the middle of the present year. The danger of a person handling the telescopic rails between carriages when the speed of the train is beingchanged, states an exchange, was emphasised by a particularly painful accident which occurred on a Lower Hutt train as it was slowing up at Lambton station recently. A boy, passing from one carriage to the other, grasped the side rail to steady himself, and as the train eased up the rail telescoped and cut off the tops of two of his fingers.

The body of Mr. Thomas Leonard Allen, the young man who was swept away and drowned while bathing in the Waikato river at Ongaroto on March 9, was discovered on Tuesday evening of last week floating at the head of the rapids opposite Cox’s mill, Ongaroto, and about two miles or so below the scene of the fatality. The body had thus been in the water 16 days, and was discovered "by two men who were fishing at the time. It was brought to Putaruru by the T.T.T. train on Friday and thence taken to Auckland for interment at Purewa cemetery.

To illustrate a point during his reply to the civic reception recently, Sir Maui Pomare told a little story (says an exchange). A Norwegian took his sweetheart out for a drive, and after the beams of the moon had streaked through the leaves of the trees, and all that sort of thing, he proposed and was accepted. Then there was a long interval. At last the sweetheart said: “ Olaf, Olaf, do say something.” And the reply was: V Well, I think I have said too much already.” A charge of having taken wood, valued at ss, from the Putaruru Domain plantation, was brought against a local resident, a young married man, at the sitting' of the Putaruru Magistrate’s Court on Friday. The circumstances of the case were that on making a visit of inspection to the Domain some weeks ago, members of the board found marks of some wood having been dragged away. The marks led to where this man was working, and, on being asked about the matter he freely admitted he had taken the wood, adding that he did not think there would be any objection. Under the circumstances the board brought the prosecution not to secure a penalty but as a warning to the public generally that timber could not be taken without permission from the Domain. Accused, who pleaded guilty, was convicted and ordered to pay costs, 12s. The Fairlea Friesian stud, Putaruru (Mrs. L. E. Allen’s) was very successful at the Matamata show last month, securing the following prizes: —Pedigrees Friesians: Bull, three years or over, second (Romeo van Segis); yearling bull, second (Romeo Rex of Fairlea); two-year-old heifer in milk, first and second (Fairlea Domino de Kol and Bracken Springhill Magie, respectively); heifer calf, third (Myrtle of Fairlea); breeders’ group, second. Grade Friesians: Mature cow, first and second; twoyear heifer in milk, first; yearling heifer, second. Open class: Grade dairy cow, first. The cow which won this last mentioned class was commented on as a particularly fine animal by the judge, and she won for her owner the Duxfield Cup for the champion dairy cow at the show and the N.Z. Co-op. Dairy Co.’s special cash prize of £3 3s for the best dairy cow. This stud also won the Banks’ Cup for the most points in the Friesian classes. Mrs. Allen has purchased Mr. A. S. Thirlwell’s cow which won the class for mature pedigree Friesian cows.

Intending competitors for the Putaruru sports on Easter Monday arc reminded that entries for the classical events close with the secretary, Mr. H. L. Martin, Putaruru, at 5 p.m. on Saturday next.*