Province and Suburb

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 140, 3 September 1927, Page 5

Province and Suburb

(From THE SUN'S GULF FISHERIES PROTEST AGAINST TRAWLING At the Ohinemuri County Council’s monthly meeting yesterday a letter was reoeived from Mrs. R. B. Watson, of Auckland, stating that a further protest was being forwarded to Parliament urging measures to close the Hauraki Gulf to safe-guard the fishing industry. (sr. A. C. Robinson said that if the practice of trawling was allowed to continue the Thames fishermen would be deprived of a living. He was in favour of prohibiting trawlers operating in the gulf. The council generally agreed that fish had greatly diminished in the gulf and supported a resolution to prohibit trawling as it interfered very seriously with the line-men of the Thames who depended on fishing for their livelihood. FARMHOUSE SMASHED STRUCK BY SLIP An alarming experience befell Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Martin, of Waiotahi, at one o’clock one morning, when a hillside slipped down and struck their house with terrific force. The landslip was caused by heavy and continuous rains and it struck Mr. Martin’s residence between the kitchen and one bedroom. Rising hastily to see what had happened, Mr. Martin found the kitchen door had been stove in and that the floor of the room had been covered half way across with clay three feet deep. The back wall of the house had been stove in; also a partition in the room in which the children were sleeping. Although the children’s beds were against the wall that was smashed, the children escaped injury.

The blocks on which the house stands were forced out of position several inches and since the fall of the slip nine men have been engaged two days clearing the debris away. WHANGAREI STATISTICS AUGUST RAINFALL Although recordable rain fell on 24 days last month, the fall of 6.29 inches did not approach that of August last year, when 11.67 inches fell. Since records have been taken, the wettest August has been in 1920, when 18.62 inches were recorded, and the driest in 1922, when the total fall was 1.77 inches. Statistics recorded at the district registrar’s office for August are as follow, the figures for the corresponding month last year being given in parentheses: Births 35 (26), deaths 16 (8), marriages, 7 (5).

Correspondents.) ROTORUA MOTORISTS MEETING OF BRANCH A meeting under the auspices of the Auckland Automobile Association was held in St. John’s Hall. Rotorua, on Thursday evening. Addresses on behalf of the association were given by Mr. H. G. Farrell, chairman of executive. and Mr. R. Champtaloup. service officer. The Mayor, Mr. T. McDowell, presided over a good attendance and in introducing the speakers affirmed j Rotorua’s appreciation of the excellent work done by the association for the district. Interest in the Mamaku Road, like the mud, showed no sign } of dwindling and the goal they had hoped to reach this winter of a per- j manently negotiable thoroughfare had once again receded into the dim future. The chairman read a letter from Arch- ■ deacon Chatterton, a veteran motorist, expressing in the warmest terms his ; appreciation of the services of the j Auckland association. Mr. Farrell prefaced his address Instating the object of their visit, to secure the fullest data in anticipation of a special map of Rotorua district, the map to be ready in October. A complete survey of the locality would be undertaken, the chart to embody a minuteness of detail invaluable to motorists, and that would do much to ensure safety in travel by night. The advantages of membership were outlined. By-laws insufferable to motorists were multiplying at a bewildernig rate and a legal department had been instituted that tendered its services free to members of the association. Formerly women motorists, charged with breaches of by-laws, had to appear in court, but now the association’s legal adviser appeared for them. The association had erected 2,700 signposts in the province, and would do its utmost to elucidate the traffic signals. Mr. Champtaloup began his address by rebuking Rotorua motorists for apathy and lax allegiance to the association. The loofil membership fell far short of the quota. The advantages of the Lloyd’s insurance scheme were explained. The Main Highways Board was doing a wonderful work, but the destructiveness of heavy motor traffic demanded attention. At the conclusion of the meeting the speakers were heartily thanked for their interesting and informative addresses. HIKURANGI FIRE BOARD PROPOSAL CARRIED The poll held at Hikurangi on the proposal to establish a Fire Board resulted in a large majority for the proposal, but less than one-fifth of the ratepayers recorded their votes. The roll contains something over 300 names. Details of the voting are: For the proposal 44 Against the proposal .. .. 16 Informal 1 Total 61

WHANGAREI NEW MACHINERY PURCHASED A special meeting of the Whangarei County Council was held yesterday for the purpose of fully discussing the report of the engineer, Mr. Xorris, on . the latest and most-up-to-date methods of reconstructing and maintaining the county roads. On the recommendation of the engineer, which was fully supported by the machinery committee, a motion I to purchase a new roller, a power | grader, and two sets of granulated j jaws for attachment to the crushers for the purpose of obtaining a larger supply of fine metal, was put forwa d i by the county chairman. Mr. Luke ! Webb, and seconded by Cr. Hayward. The purchase of this machinery j would entail an expenditure of £2.500. A great deal of argument centred on the purchase of the new roller, i councillors being generally agreeable i that the other machinery was neces- j At the end of a discussion lasting ' nearly two hours the motion was finally } put. five councillors being for the pur- j chase of all the machinery mentioned ( and five being in favour of eliminating the roller from the motion. On the exercise of the chairman s casting vote ; it was decided to carry on with the purchase of the whole, as recoin- i mended by the special committee set j up ! Twelve tenders were received for the ; contract of carting 1,600 yards of metal from Dwyer’s quarry: 1,000 yards from the Oakleigh main road, and 600 yards for the Maungakaramea Road. Mr. L C. "Waldron was the successful tenderer at 5s 3d a yard all round. RAETIHI DRUIDS RITUAL COMPETITION The quarterly meeting of the Miro Lodge was held on Wednesday evening. A.D. Bro. C. Davis presiding. The meeting was well attended, there being several present from adjoining townships. During the evening six new members were initiated, D.P. Bro. B. A. Drury being in charge of the ceremonies. Discussion took place on matters relating to the medical fund, and it was eventually decided by the meeting to slightly increase the amount of subscriptions. During the evening a ritual competition took place, the entrants being Bros. Hunt, Comer and Raymond. After a close contest Bro. Paul Raymond was declared the winner with 46 out of a possible of 50 marks. In presenting the competition silver cup to the prize-winner. Bro. W. H. ; Sandford congratulated Bro. Paul on his achievement. SKATING ACCIDENT MAN BREAKS LEG OPOTIKI, To-day. While skating in King George’s Hall at Opotiki last night a young man named Norman Ross fell, breaking his leg. The sufferer was taken to the hospital and is progessing favourably.

THAMES FINANCE PROBLEM FOR COUNCIL An interesting comparison as to t•..■ merits of the different forms of work ing. namely, the borough staff Join., its own carting and the lotting of tinsame by contract, was given at tinrecent meeting of the Thames Borough Council. The engineer stated that it cost £143 4s 5d under the staff system to collect refuse, etc., for a period of 31 days, and under contract the charge was £lO6 ISs Id. • period of 66 days were £143 4s 5d !. staff methods, and. £ll4 10s for contract. The contract system has been recently adopted bv the council. The Waiotahi quarrv. which is j owned and run by the borough, has iso far proved a failure and it is j doubtful whether it will ever be made to pay. The quarry has cost the ratepayers about £15.000. and the output of metal has not been up to expectations. , At the last meeting the Mayor said they would all realise that things could not go on as at present, as the ! money in hand was near the end. The | weeklv wage bill was £7O. and unless outside orders came in it would bvj necessary to discharge the staff. I A special meeting of the council i> to be held to consider the matter. MOTOR TAXATION FAVOURED IN WHANGAREI At the special meeting of the Whangarei Countv Council yesterda y morning. Cr. Hayward said the t innhad now ceased when ratepayers were the principal users of county roads. With the increasing use of motor transport, and its consequent effect on road maintenance and construction, some other means of providing neces - j sary finance must be sought. As the principal users of roads today, he thought very few motorists j would object to paying a little extra ' in taxation for the betterment of these j roads, and as the matter was occupy - j ing the attention of Parliament at tinI present time, he thought it would ; strengthen the hand of Mr. W. Jones, j their member, if some move were made j by the council. ; A petrol tax appeared to be the most equitable method of dealing with the difficulty, and he hoped that something on these lines would be placed on the Statute Book. He moved: “That this council is strongly in favour of increased motor taxation," and this was carried unanimously after speeches in support from a. number of councillors.