Province and Suburb

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 246, 7 January 1928, Page 10

Province and Suburb

(From THE SUN’S Correspondents.)

HAY HARVEST WORK AT PAPATOETOE Papatoetoe has presented quite a rural appearance during the last couple of days ■with the mowing-machine, and the hay-presser in full blast within a couple of chains of the main street. On account of the unfavourable season there is a possibility of a grave shortage of hay for winter feeding and parties have been busily engaged harvesting all that is available. ALFRISTON SCHOOL ADDITIONAL PLAY GROUNDS The Alfriston School Committee has received advice from the Education Board, authorising the purchase of an area of two acres, adjoining the present school property for the purpose of providing an additional playing area for the scholars. Negotiations regarding the price of the section required are proceeding, but up to the present no finality has been reached. PAPATOETOE ORPHANS ANNUAL QAMP Situated on the sea shore, over two miles from the road, at Karaka, is a stately French hospital tent >vhich in former days did good service “somewhere in France,” but at present is housing 84 children of the Papatoetoe Orphans’ Home, who a.re spending their annual summer vacation on the farm of Mr. Yates, which is some 500 acres in extent. In addition to the sleeping quarters, there is a large marquee, used as a dining-hall. Smaller tents are used for housing the staff, who are all present looking after the needs of the little ones. The days pass all too quickly for the juveniles, who indulge in fishing and rabbitting, and have been so successful on occasions that the matron has found it necessary at times to cancel the meat order, so that the extras may be disposed of. The daily swim is also on the programme, and during the hot weather which has been prevailing of late, this item is keenly looked forward to ‘by the large gathering. Daylight-saving has not been recognised at this camp. Old time was reverted to from the first day, as the matron stated that it was hard enough to get them to bed and asleep without daylight-saving. The food question for such a camp entails some consideration. Thirtyfive pounds weight of green vegetables are forwarded daily from the home farm at Papatoetoe, 12 gallons of milk from Yates’s farm, with 400 gallons of fresh water, and two carcases of mutton (a week) from a neighbouring farm. At the Christmas dinner, 15 head of poultry disappeared as if by magic.

FROZEN MEAT PRICES ON HOME MARKET The following cabled advice lias been received by Dalgety and Co., Ltd., from London, dated January s:—Frozen meat: New Zealand prime North Island lamb, 361 b to 421 b, lid; 281 b to 361 b, ll£d; second quality, 9£d to lOd. The market for New Zealand lamb is firm, owing to light stocks. The demand runs principally on finest qualities. New Zealand prime North Island mutton, 561 b to 641 b, 5 3-8 d; prime North Island ewes, 481 b to 641 b, 54; prime North Island mutton, 641 b to 721 b, 5 l-Bd. The market for New Zealand mutton is firm and the demand moderate. Australian lamb, third quality, 6£d: The market for Australian lamb is quiet and unchanged. The demand is poor. Australian mutton, f.a.q., 301 b to 551 b, sd. The market for Australian mutton is steady and the demand quiet. Beef: Argentine chilled hinds, 6£d; fores, 44d. Pork: English, 9Jd to 10£d; New Zealand porkers, 801 b to 1001 b, B£d; New Zealand porkers, 1001 b to 1201 b, 8d; New Zealand baconers, 1201 b to 1701 b, 6£d; New Zealand baconers, 1701 b and over, 6d. The market for new season’s lambs is likely to decline on the arrival of larger supplies. CHICAGO WHEAT By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright. Reed. 10.24 a.m. CHICAGO, Friday. Wheat.—March, 1 dollar 30 1-8 cents a bushel; May, 1 dollar 31£ cents; July, 1 dollar 27 cents. —A. and N.Z. TALLOW MARKET FIRMER Cable advice received by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., dated London January 4, reports:— Tallow.—C.i.f. and e. values: Fine mutton, 39s 6d a cwt; good beef, 10s; mixed, 38s. The market is firmer.

THE BUTTER MARKET Mr. G. Paviour-Smith has received the following cablegram dated January 6 from his London principals, the AngloContinental Produce Co., Ltd.—The market is stagnant. New Zealand butter is making 160 s a. cwt; Australian is selling at 158 s a cwt and Danish is marketed at 170 s a cwt. F. 0.8. cheese is quoted at 925. LINSEED MARKET The Department of Agriculture has received the following cablegram, dated sth inst., from Messrs. Landale, Clark and Company, Calcutta, with reference to the linseed market:— “We quote £ls 12s 6d for linseed per ton net c. and f. Sydney, for immediate shipment. The market is steady.” AUCTION NOTES Messrs. Alfred Buckland and Sons, Ltd., will hold a sale at the Pukekohe saleyards on Thursday, January 19, of the following lines: At 10.45, dairy cows and heifers; 11 a.m., pigs; 1 p.m., beef and store cattle. An unreserved sale by public auction of 18 seaside sections at one of Auckland’s most popular beach resorts, Murray’s Bay, will be held by. Messrs. Samuel Vaile and Sons, Ltd., at their rooms. 83 Queen Street, on Monday, January 23, at 2 p.m.

OPOTIKI RAINFALL Records show that 54.3 inches of rain fell in Opotiki in 1927. The figures for the previous two years were 52.97 and 50 inches. The heaviest rainfall during the year was in July, when 10.2 inches fell. DISTRICT FIRES TWO HOMES DESTROYED An eight-roomed house, owned by Mr. J. Handley, of Paeroa, was totally destroyed by fire on Friday afternoon. A house of eight rooms at Coroglen. formerly the mill manager’s residence and occupied as a farmhouse by Mr. M. Rakich, was destroyed by fire on Thursday morning. CHILDREN’S CAMP SEASIDE HOLIDAY Bv the kindness of a number of Hamilton residents, a holiday camp has been set up at Okete Falls for children. About 67 boys were selected, transport arrangements were made and the children went into camp on Wednesday. They are accommodated in four large marquees on a delightful site. The Okelte stream passes along the boundary of the property, and the waters of the Ragian Harbour lap the frontage. Dr. F. M. Spencer and Mr. W. H. Paul are in charge of the camp, and they are assisted by Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Ross and four prefects from the Hamilton Technical School. The boys’ ages range from 8 to 14. Some of them have never seen the sea before, and had never seen operations on a dairy farm. Camp breaks up on January 14, and the boys’ places will then be taken by a party of girls, who will also be entertained for 10 days. About 48 young members of the Y M.C.A., Hamilton Branch, under the charge of Mr. P. M. Velvin and Sergt.Major E. Purdom, are also at the camp.

MOTORING ACCIDENTS KING COUNTRY RECORD During the New Year holidays several minor motor accidents occurred in the Te Kuiti district, but, fortunately, without serious results. Close to Lemon Point, on Kawhia Harbour, a child suffered two broken ribs as the result of a collision between two touring cars. Two accidents occurred on the bridge between Otorohanga and Hangatiki. A large car fouled the approach with the result that it struck the railing on one side and completely levelled it. The car was only prevented from falling into the creek by the crankcase being caught on the edge of the bridge. The car did not receive much damage. A car containing Mr. Hildebrand, of Rotowaro, his wife and three children, was just approaching the bridge when a tyre blew out, resulting in the car and its occupants being thrown off the bridge into the creek, a drop of over seven feet. One of the children, aged six years, was badly cut on the arm and forehead, and was taken to the Te Kuiti Hospital for treatment. The other occupants of the car had a severe shaking.

SUBURBAN WATER PAPATOETOE AND OTAHUHU The residents of Papatoetoe are at present feeling the need of a good and reliable water supply for the district. A large number of the house tanks are "bone dry.” and the carting of water has been necessary. Fortunately there are numerous bores dotted all over the landscape, and as a standby they are very handy, but in the majority of cases the water is quite unfit for drinking. When the Town Board appeals to the ratepayers for their sanction of the water loan, in the near future, the present shortage should be borne in mind. . * * On making inquiries at the Otahuhu Borough Council office, a SUN representative was informed that the water supply of Otahuhu was keeping well up to the mark, and causing the authorities no concern whatever. No restrictions have been issued regarding its use, and for the present there is no need for the curtailing of the supply. The latest Health Department report states that it is up to its usual standard of purity. For the present, therefore, Otahuhu is not considering the proposal to the switching over to the Auckland system.

PAPATOETOE’S NEW PARK CRITICISM OF LAY-OUT The plan of the proposed lay-out of the new park area of some five acres, which was recently purchased at the rear of the Papatoetoe Town Hall, has been meeting with some severe criticism since it has been displayed. The main entrance has been made off Wallace Road, a side street, when there is the possibility of an equally good one from the main road. All that exists at present is a passage down the side of the town hall, which % necessitates the passing of the hall conveniences for access to the park. The section of the ground delegated to the children, mainly for whom the purchase was stressed, consists of a basin near the railway line, which forms the natural drainage area for stormwater for the park, and a lot of private property adjoining. There is good high land available, and splendid shelter already provided. Another proposal which is the cause of much contention, consists of the carriage-way- giving the entrance from Wallace Road. This continues straight till it is practically in the centre of the park, when it takes a wide sweep to the west, and comes to a dead end on the park boundary, corresponding with a road that has already been formed about a quarter of a mile away, and with which the road through the park is proposed to link. “If the park is for the children, keep it for them, and don't make a thoroughfare of it for those who wish to cut up their estates, and not provide their own access to the highways,” is a contention.