LOCAL AND GENERAL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 328, 15 September 1932, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Band Congratulations Th'e Rotorua Borough Council last evening on the motion of Crs. Coleman and Johnson congratulated the Municipal and Boys' Bands and their conductox-, Lieut. Tregilgas on their success at Whakatane. Improvement in Traffic The stationmaster at Rotorua, Mr. W. Thompson, reports that a eonsiderable improvement has been noticed in the passenger traffic to Rotorua during the past week. ; In the Old Days. It was stated by Mr. H. P. Ford, ' chairman of the Rotorua County j Council at the meeting of that body yesterday that when he and' his brother took up his land they had had to put their roads in order themselves for a start and had no help from the county council until they did so. GaYser Valley Visitors Visitors to Wairakei have- been very numerous of late and the guides havo been kept busy eonducting parties through the Geyser Valley throughout the day. A large party of tourists at present visiting Rotorua are very enthusiastic over their visit to the area yesterday.

Many Bookings Indications that Rotorua will have many visitors for the Labour Day weelc-end are shown by reports of heavy bookings received from many of the local hotels and boardinghouse>s. Enquiries for accommodation for the Christmas season are also well up to the figures of this time last year. Refunds for County. Vouchers for £330 14s 5d were received by the Rotorua County Council at its meeting yesterday from the Treasury in settlenient of claims for Government grant works completed by the council. Demand for Small Houses "There is a distinct demand for i small cheap houses in Rotorua," Cr. ! E. Johnson told the Rotorua Borough Council last evening, "but they have' to be small and cheap to come within the means of the average worker of to-day." Cricket Season In preparation for the approaching cricket season, the annual general meeting of the Rotorua Cricket Association will be held in the Citizens' Club rooms on Monday, September 26, at 8 p.m. At this meeting rules governing the Williams' Cup eompetifcion will be discussed. Ngongotaha Donations The eommittee ef the Rotorua Plunket Society acknowledge receipt of a box containing 9s ld from Ngongotaha, the amount being a contribution towards the drive to augment its funds held by the society last month. Low-rated Property. It was revealed at yesterday's meeting of the Rotorua County Council that for a 200-acre property a settler paid £1 10s per annum in rates, and that anoth-er paid £1 Os 4d for 258 aeres. Labour Day Excursion As in past yeai's, a Labour Day excursion from Auckland to Rotorua has been arranged by the Railway De~ partment for this year. A special train will leave Auckland on Saturday, Oetober 22, arriving in Rotorua at 7.27 p.m. The return train will

leave Rotorua at 4.18 p.m, on the following Monday. Rates Come in Slowly. The treasurer's report to the Rotorua County Council disclosed the fact that £3 17s lld, cui'rent general rates, £1 17s lld, current special rates, had been paid during the past month, together with arrears of £61 3s 5d, general, and £26 2s special rates. Saturday's Hockey Final To decide the winner of the Wai-rua-a-Rangi Cup, the Shamrock team will meet Mourea in the final club game of the Rotorua Ladies' Hockey Association's competitions at the Government Grounds on Saturday next. The match will be played on No. 1 ground at 2.30 p.m. To-day's Eclipse This morning an eclipse of the moon will take place, but although nearly at totality, it will not be clearly seen in New Zealand as the phenomenon will occur in daylight. The moon will enter the penumbra at 5.35 a.m. and at 8.30 a.m. nine-tenths of it will be obscured hy the earth's shadow . The eclipse terminates at 11.25 a.m.

Big Wages Payment Since its last meeting the Rotorua County Council' has paid out £1986 2s ld in unemployment relief payment. Traffic Fines Profitable. Revenue to local bodies from fines for traffic breaches is quite an appreciable item. Last qnarter the Rotorua County Council collected £11 8s from this source.