Province and Suburb

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 66, 9 June 1927, Page 7

Province and Suburb

(From THE SUN'S Correspondents.)

FRANKLIN POWER BOARD

The Franklin Electric-power Board met on Tuesday, Mr. J. Dean presiding. The Waiuku Town Board made application for the erection of 10 additional street lights, and the engineer reported that arrangements were in hand for the completion of the work. The chairman and the engineer were appointed to attend the conference of electrical local authorities with the Minister of Public Works, at Hamilton on Thursday. The board’s solicitors reported that they had completed arrangements for the raising of £50,000; required for the purpose of extensions in reticulation and the repayment of the board’s indebtedness to the Pukekohe Borough Council. It was decided to pay the borough £21,650 of the sum in three months’ time. The engineer intimated that when the alterations to the telephone lines at Mercer were complete the board could proceed with the reticulation of that district.

NORTHCOTE CARNIVAL Preliminary arrangements in connection wit,h a queen carnival which is being organised were advanced a stage further last evening, at a meeting of the Northcote Ratepayers and Residents’ Association. A committee, consisting of Messrs. E. O. Davey, A. T. Munn, F. Fullbrook, and J. Hanna, was appointed to wait on the various sports bodies in the district, urging support of the carnival The purpose of the carnival is to raise funds for bathing sheds, which will be erected on the two North Point beaches.

HAMILTON TRADE A brighter tone is reported to prevail in busines ciicles in Hamilton, and tradesmen have no reason to complain of the outlook, according to statements made by several prominent retailers to a b : JN representative Trade has undergone a distinct revival, and farmers are more pleased with their outlook. Winter Show Week brought considerable trade, anu if one section of the business ccmmunitj did not directly benefit, it did sc indirectly.

A NEW DAIRY FACTORY Fifteen tenders were considered by the Northern Wairoa Co-operative Dairy Company on Tuesday evening for the construction of a new factory at Kirikopuni, there being a difference of £ 2,000 between the highest and lowest. A small committee was set up to consider the offers and certain modifications, and a decision will probably be reached to-morrow.

WINTER FACTORY ADVANCES The fact that the Opotiki Dairy Association has decided to make an advance payment of Is 4d per lb. for butter-fat during the months of June and July has caused some considerable comment as these advance payments will probably be higher than those paid by any other factory in New Zealand. In conversation wjth the SUN correspondent the manager of the factory said these increased payments are for the purpose of encouraging the production of butter in the winter months, and thus have a continuous supply of fresh butter the whole year round. As it costs more to produce butter in the winter it was only fair that that a better price should be paid to the producer. Having a supply of fresh butter meant that the public would receive a better quality butter as it would not be necessary to store butter for winter Consumption. It is the intention of the Opotiki Dairy Association to follow the example of the Danish producer by endeavouring to encourage farmers to milk the whole year round and thus prevent a glut on the market at certain periods. That the extra payments last year had an encouraging effect on winter production is shown by the fact that the amount produced by the Opotiki factory in the months of June and July last year exceeded the corresponding months in the preceding year by 40 per cent. The manager hopes for an even better improvement, this winter.

WAIKATO ELECTRIC SERVICE It was reported to the monthly meeting of the Waikato Central Elec-tric-Power Board held at Hamilton yesterday, that the work of extending the 11,000-volt line to Ohinewai had been completed, including low-tension and service lines. All the poles had been laid out for the 11,000-volt extension to the Renown Collieries, while l«w----tension lines had been erected at Rukuhia, Ohaupo Road, Te Rapa, Elliott’s Road, Ngaruawahia, Huntly and Newstead. Additional service lines had been completed in various districts. The area reticulated by the board is constantly expanding, and there are now 2,714 consumers.

WAIKATO DRAINAGE Drainage matters were discussed wlien the Mangawara River Board met at Hamil Lon yesterday, Mr. L. W. Reid presiding. A committee was set up to interview the Public Works Department with the object of making further financial arrangements for the cost of the Lower Mangawara works. It was decided to delay the calling of tenders for the ten-foot scheme pending more definite financial arrangements.

LONG SERVICE

On Tuesday night a very representative gathering took place at the Tokanui Mental Hospital, the staff assembling to bid farewell to Mr. and Mrs. A. Brown, who are leaving to take up their residence at Te Awamutu. Mr. Brown, who retires on superannuation, has completed 31 years in the service of the Mental Hospitals Department. During the latter part of this period he has occupied the position of head attendant since the opening of the Tokanui institution some fifteen years ago. Dr. J. Macpherson, medical superintendent, expressed regret at losing so valuable an officer, and in presentthe guests of the evening with a pair of divan chairs and a handsome smoker’s stand, the speaker asked Mr. and Mrs. Brown to accept the gifts as small tokens of the goodwill and very best wishes for their future prosperity from all members of the staff.

MINISTER INTERVIEWED The Hon. K. S. Williams, Minister of Public Works, arrived in Opotiki at midday yesterday and received deputations which urged the necessity for the completion of the Ease Coast road and the Motu Bridge. Mr. Williams stated that the matter was in hand, and he would further the project as soon as he arrived in Wellington. Mr. J. T. Merry, county clerk, brought before the Minister’s notice the fact that a loan of £4,400 had been raised to construct the OpotikiMatawai Road. The resulting interest, £2OO yearly, could not be borne by the settlers. The Minister said it was a difficult problem to endeavour to get the Government to take over the road, but he would use his efforts to get the loan transferred. A deputation from the Jockey Club asked the Minister if he could induce the Minister of Agriculture to introduce a thoroughbred stallion to the Bay of Plenty for the purpose of raising quality stock in the district. The deputation also sought a reduction in taxation on totalisator and gate takings and stake money. Mr. Williams promised to keep the various requests in view.

ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES A meeting was held in the borough council chambers, Te Awamutu, on Tuesday, when consideration was given to the changed electoral boundaries. The Mayor, Mr. L. G. Armstrong, was voted to the chair. There were also present: Messrs. D. S. Reid, M.P. for Waikato, S. C. Macky, Waipa County Council; J. Marshall and W. J. North, Te Awamutu Borough Council; R. A. Coyne, J. Oliphant and A. P. Warburton, Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce; D. T. B. McArthur, Te Awamutu Power Board, and H. Andrew, Te Awamutu Ratepayers’ Association. The mayor explained the object of the meeting. The primary object was to give proper consideration to the question of electoral boundaries. The new boundaries would cut right through the district, and it was this phase, particularly, that had to be considered. After consideration it was unanimously decided to make a protest against the present boundaries, and to ask that the commission in some manner seriously endeavour to avoid the division of the locality bordering upon Te Awamutu, so that there could be maintained the community of interest that had hitherto obtained.

GOOD BUSINESS Approximately £2,000 in orders were booked with a milking-machine firm which had a stand at the Waikato Winter Show, and the vendors state that the business was directly the result of the exhibit. They expect more contracts following inquiries made by farmers at the show and are firmly convinced that the success was the outcome of taking a stand at the winter show.

AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION The annual meeting of the Franklin branch of the Auckland Automobile Association was held at Pukekohe on Tuesday evening, Mr. J. Fulton presiding. Members elected were: Messrs. W. M. S. Plood, R. G May, -C T. Holden, Drs. L. J. Forman-Bull and J. McWhirter The secretary. Mr M. S. Campbell, reported that the membership of the branch stood at 153, and the credit balance on the years working was £67 11s. The election of officers resulted: President, Mr. J. Fulton; vicepresidents, Messrs. G. T. Proude and A Duthie; executive, Messrs. 11. Curd, I. G. Wymer, A. B. Grezzie, C. Dickie, E. T. Frost, C Bennett, and Dr. J. McWhirter; secretary and treasurer, Mr. M. S. Campbell; auditor, Mr. W. W. O ’Lough len. A resolution was passed affirming the adoption of a petrol tax for the purpose of the construction and maintenance of roads, in the event of a readjustment in taxation being found necessary. The branch endorsed the action of the parent body in its endeavours for the introduction of a compulsory third party insurance policy. Complaint was made that the grade of one in 20 on the new Great South Road deviation, from Pokeno to Bombay, had increased the danger of probable accidents by 50 per cent.