LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Putaruru Press, Volume VIII, Issue 354, 4 September 1930, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There was a fairly large number of visitors at Arapuni on Sunday. The area available for inspection is still restricted.

During August 30 water-heaters, 6 electric ranges and 55 motors, of which 26 . were milking motors, were connected with the Thames Valley Power Board’s mains.

Mr. Les. Ellis met with a painful accident last week. While working at the Taupo Totara Timber Co.'s mill at Putaruru bis hand came in contact with a circular saw, and three fingers were severely lacerated.

Mr. M. Heavey, of the Putaruru railway station staff, spent several days in Paeroa last week, instructing railway officials there in the operating of the motor tractor recently sent to Paeroa from Putaruru.

has been ideal spring weatherJror the last several weeks. A fhtaryru farmer of many years residence informed a Press reporter that the present spring was- one of the best yet experienced in Putaruru. Over dale cross road on the Bufeiruru-Tirau road has always bedn, regarded as a possible source of danger to motorists. Users of the roads Will be pleased to learn that two danger signs are to be erected in that locality by the Auckland Automobile Association. Ehirijag a heavy gale on August 3 two-x Soles in the Thames Valley Ppwer'Boafd’s area were broken off dab out 15 feet above ground, where there was excessive rot. Neither or the poles was listed in the board’s schedule for replacement, as they were sound at the ground. Thejjfcfftal number of consumers connected to the Thames Valley Electric Power Board's mains is now 7535, including 1101 in the Thames and 684 in the To Arolia boroughs. There are now connected and operating 2022 water-heaters, 401 electric ranges and 2415 motors on farms, of which 1924 are milking motors. Mr. Yates, the Auckland Automobile Association’s sign posting patrol officer, was in Putaruru on Tuesday. New sign posts indicating the way to ten towns were erected in Oxford place, and a new sign post giving the direction to three other districts was erected outside the railway station gates. The effect of defects in power lines on wireless sets was mentioned at the September meeting of the Thames Valley Power Board. In response to a request from the Thames Radio Society the board’s representative examined a power line and located a slightly defective switch at Parawai, which by not closing tightly was interfering with the reception of many wireless sets at Thames. This was rectified. In a letter to the board the radio society expressed its appreciation to the board for the action taken to assist listeners-ih. The engineer commented that the board’s officers were willing at all times to rectify faults in the power lines on being notified by owners of wireless sets.

The popularity of electricity in the Thames Valley Power Board’s district is shown by the fact that over 2000 water-heaters and over 400 electric ranges are now connected.

Top price for extra-prime mediumweight' bullocks was obtained by Mr. E. *W. R. Leslie, of Wiltsdown, at the Kranlkon sale on Tuesday. They realised £ls 15s each.

Large congregations marked the special •’ spring ” services in the Putaruru Methodist Chu’—H on Sunday. The church was inaua Beautiful with a wealth of spring flowers. There was hearty singing, both by the congregation and choir. The Rev. G. H. Marr preached appropriate sermons at both se^ces. Professor Hornell, the Swedish expert who is reporting on Arapuni for the Government, and his party, arrived at Arapuni last week. They motored from Wellington, spending the night at Napier and passing through Putaruru on the Thursday evening. A large pax-ty of Public Works officials are at Arapuni assisting in the examination that the professor is making.

During ' the course of his evening ad<jress to his congregation on Sunday Itev. E. H. Atkey, vicar of Putaruru, pleaded for a greater interest in local civic affairs. He mentioned the coming Town Board elections as a call to citizens to recognise their civic responsibilities. Mr. Atkey asked for a greater encouragement, and less criticism, on the part of citizens towards those who were the town’s representatives. \,J|luch inconvenience was caused in the’- western districts of the Thames Valley * Power Board’s area on FriAugust 22, due to an interruption ’»f- the supply of power. At 6 a.m. a bittern flew into the 11,000 volt line at Hoe-o-Tainui, and broke two of the wires, with the -result that milking machines which had just started the morning’s work were put out of action for about two hours.

“ There is going to be a big reduction in the revenue from milking motors under meter rates as against the former flat rate charge,” stated the manager of the Thames Valley Power Board, Mr. R. Sprague, at the September meeting. This was due to lower charges to farmers under the meter rates. However, the fall in revenue would be balanced by a reduction of about £6OOO in the amount the board would have to pay to the Public Works Department for power, oW-jru; to less power being wasted. Electric ranges continue to be snstailed, ’at a steady rate throughout tine Thames Valley Power Board’s area, although the board has not pushed the sale of cooking appliances since Arapuni was closed down. Had we put canvassers on we would have greatly increased the sale of ranges,” remarked the chairman, Mr. F. M. Strange, at the September meeting. “ However, there has been a considerable, increase in the number of ranges in operation with no canvassers in the district.”

The advisability of warning Maoris of the danger of touching power wires was mentioned at the September meeting of the Thames Valley Power Board. A correspondent stated that during a break in thf power line at Hoe-o-Tainui, Morrinsville, a Maori had picked up the fallen wire and tossed it aside. Fortunately the part he touched was dead. The chairman doubted the necessity for notices in Maori, as very few Maoris nowadays did nqt know English better than Maori. The board decided to get a suitable warning notice translated into Maori for use near Maori settlements-

The need for greater care in the despatch of bobby calves to freezing works was strikingly illustrated one morning last week in Putaruru. A consignment of calves was loaded at Ngongotaha in an uncovered waggon, and, it is alleged, left in the railway station yard all night. The truck was attached to the train that arrives at Putaruru at 8 a.m. On arrival at Putaruru it was found that six of the calves were dead, and a number of others were in a pitiful condition. The Putaruru stationmaster (Mr. J. D. C. Davis) and his staff, together with the guard in charge of the train, did all they could to mitigate the plight of the unfortunate animals.