LOCAL AND GENERAL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 153, 20 February 1932, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Work Not Justified. The engagement of Mr. F- Tschopp, landscape arehitect, hy the Borough; Council was criticised by the Ratepayers' Association at its annual meeting on Thursday night. "Could the town afford this appointm'ent?" one speaker asked, and Was answered by cries of -"No!" Would the plans be of any use to the town? the speaker proceeded. Where was the ihoney to cpme from to carry them out?' It was ill-advised to pay Mr. Tschopp when so much other work was re- . quired th be done in the borough. The ratepayers had a right to' protest against his employment and tlie preparation of elaborate plans: Sports at Mamaku Good entries have -been received by the Mamaku Sports Club for their combined chopping apd athletic meeting, which is to be held' at Mamaku this afternoon. Entries in the chppping events number seventys'ix, which is a record for the club, and a justification for the increase in the prize money provided. The ho^se and running events are also well patronised and given fine weather the meeting should command a large attendance of enthusiasts. Delinquent Councillors. "We put them in (the Borough Council)' to give us good streets,' foot- ' paths, 'lights and efficient services, but instead of doing this they go ip for wild-cat schemes to waste money," •said Mr. A. H. Foggin at the Ratepayers' Association meeting on Thursday night. Band Concert ; The Rotorua Municipal band under Lieut. E. Tregilgas will give another of its popular concerts in the Government Grounds on Sunday evening, at 8.30 p.m. The programme will in- 1 clude th'e Lustpiel overture, "A Mili- i tary Church Parade," a selection from I "The Maid of the Mountains," "The Lost Chord," a cornet solo and other popular numbers. Sealing Town Intersecjtipns The permanent sealing of the intersections of the streets throughout Rotorua, which was deferred through lack of finance, when the road surfaces were improved, will commence in about a week's time. A eertain amount of preparatory work has already been carried out by the removing of loose metal. According to Mr. F- J. Lenihan, acting borough engineer, about £1600 is available to spend on this work. Gratu'itous Work. A question was asked at the Ratepayers' Association meeting on Thursday night as to why the Council had employed Mr. F. Tschopp to prepare plans for a residential area on the lake front when it had declared its intention not to lease any seetions? The secretary, Mr. Naumann, informed th'e meeting that Mr. Tschopp had drawn the plans in his own time, without expense to the Council.

Given a Chance. In the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, a married man named Jam.es Leslie Miller, who had been in custody since February 7 for a breach of his maintenance order, was released upon his own recognisance for £20 -and the charge adjourned for two months. Mr. Potter, for the defendant, said that his client had an opportunity of again starting in business and hoped to be able to make up the arrears, £6 2s. Mr. Roe, for the complainant wife, was agreeable to this arrangement. Borough Roading Work 1 Considerable roading improvement j work is being carried out throughout the Rotorua Borough. The formation ' of Phillip Street is now almost com- I pleted and a gang is engaged on con- j struction a cycle track down Pererika Street. Another gang is straighten- ; ing the northern end of Ranolf I Street and repair work is being car- ( ried out to the bridge across the 1 Utuhina Stream on the Old Taupo i Road. New work is also being done j to the western end of Hinemoa Street. j i

Sports Postponed Owing to the inclement weather ex- j perienced yesterday, and the conse- j auent bad state of the ground, the iRotorua Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club's sports meeting which was to he held at the High School j grounds last evening had to be post- j poned. Although no decision has yet been arrived at, the events will possibly be run off on the same grounds on Monday evening next, and competitors and officials are asked to hold themselves in readiness to participate on that evening. A further announcement will be made in the "Post" on Monday morning. Unusual Caravan at Motor Camp Camping motorists should not fail to see the "Parkerbilt" folding trailer caravan — a folding holiday home on wheels — which will he at'the main: motor camp from Sunday afternoon till Monday evening*

An Involuntary Exhibition. One Thames resident, at any rate, will hold memories of the visit of portion of Wirth's Circus to Thames. He was riding quietly along the street when the elephants came in sight (and smell!). Round whipped his horse, and with a series of snorts and squeals, put up as neat a little exhibition of buckjumping as has been seen outside a circus ring in Thames for many a a day. The resident remained "put" but he does not intend to go riding around the town whilst there are elephants about. By Post. The remark of a disgusted spectator at the Hawke's Bay-Canterbury cricket match at Napier caused a general laugh. After the batsman had seiit a ball to the boundary, a fieldsman returned it rather hard to the bowler, who missed it. The ball was returned to him a second time, with the same result. This was too much for the onlooker, who eried, ' "Send the ball by post!" Goats Only Thorough Method. Herds of goats are attacking the blackberry with good effect, says a Uawke's Bay paper, and although progress is slow a definite improvement has been noticed on a number of properties. Goats have been on the increase in the Wairoa County during the past five or six years, and it is estimated that there are now about 5000 in the district. The use of goats is regarded by the inspector of stock and noxious weeds, Mr. Hill, as the only method that has so far proved thoroughly effective in 'exterminating the vines. So far sodium chlorate has not always proved reliahle in completely eradicating blackberry. The -growth is certainly withered hack hy the use of sprays, but in some cases, at least, new growth has commenced sliortly after applications have ceased.

Hawera Jubilee. "It happens only once in 50 years," is the slogan adopted hy the committee in "charge of arrangements for the Hawera Borough Jubilee, and a week's programme has been perfected to celebrate the event in an appropriate manner. There will he processions and fUnetions for children, the Maoris, and the pioneers as well as for the 'citizens of to-day. A half-ton birthday cake has been prepared. It is studded with gold and silver coins,and will be cut and sold. The celebrations will commence towards the end of this month. Ragwort Pest. A Cambridge resident, who journeyed into the Urewera Country last week, reports that ragwort appears to be obtaining a serious hold in the bush country, and as it is more or less "no man's land," it is likely to become a great menace in a year or two. Patches uf over an acre or more were seen from the road at Te Whaiti, and the pest is reported to he even more general in the heart of the Urewefca.