Province and Suburb

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 257, 20 January 1928, Page 12

Province and Suburb

(From THE SUN’S Correspondents.)

RAIN IN THE NORTH STILL MORE NEEDED The dry areas in North Auckland have, for "the most part, been relieved since Sunday by showers which have freshened up the country. In some places there has been very heavy rain, even compelling the Hon. O. J. Hawken, Minister of Agriculture, to alter his itinerary. The rain should be of great assistance to dairy farmers, and the milk yield should increase considerably. Farmers, although pleased with the change, are hoping for at least another inch. THROWN FROM HIS HORSE TOWN BOARD CHAIRMAN HURT Mr. R. F. Beautrais, chairman of the Manunui Town Board, met with a painful accident on Wednesday, through being thrown Tieavily from his horse, in the vicinity of Messrs. Watkins Bros.’ mill, near Kakahi. He was /found in a dazed condition by Mr. R. Barnett, some time after the accident, and was suffering from a serious cut on the head. Mr. Beautrais was attended to by Dr. Fisher, of Taumarunui, and later was well enough to re- ; turn to his home at Manunui. RAILWAY TRAFFIC BOOKINGS AT FRANKTON The passenger revenue for which tickets were isued at Frankton station for the year ending December 31 had a total value of £40,014 6s Sd, and the number of tickets actually issued was 77,630. Of these, 6,158 were excursion fares. About 26 per cent, of the travellers journeyed first-class. The first six months of the year was the better period, owing to the severe motor competition which developed later between* Hamilton and Auckland. October and November figures are the lowest for the year. In the first week of 1928 slightly better returns ■ were recorded than in the corresponding period of 1927. Easter is easily the busiest time for the travellers. TE KUITI SHOW PREPARATIONS IN HAND Mr. W. J. Tappin presided at a meeting of the King Country Central A. and P. Association, held at Te Kuiti on Wednesday, for the purpose of discussing preliminary arrangements in connection with the forthcoming summer show on March 15. Advice was received from Mr. J. G. Cook, wool instructor of the Department of Agriculture, acceding to the association’s request to act as judge in the wool classes, a new feature of the show. A ayool demonstration will also be given by Mr. Cook. It was decided to ask the Plunket Society to consent to the Plunket nurse being in attendance at the show, as in previous years. Messrs. Petch Bros, have donated ,a pedigree bull to the association, and the committee accorded them a vote of thanks for their generous gift. It was decided that the usual smoke concert in connection with the show be not held this year. SETTLERS’ HALL OPENED AT TE KAWA The opening of the new hall at Te Kawa, situated at the Tokanui crossroads, took place on Wednesday evening. The building was formerly used by the New Zealand , Co-operative Dairy Company as a casein factory. The work of converting the building into an up-to-date social hall was carried out by Messrs. Broadhead and Co., Hamilton. The main -hall is 50ft by 30ft, and other portions were transformed into cloak-rooms, supperroom and social room. The exterior of the building has not been much altered, it being thought more desirable to concentrate on the interior portion, so as to have the hall available as early as possible. Mr. D. S. Reed, M.P., said he thoroughly appreciated the opportunity to formally open the hall. The settlers were to be congratulated. He felt that settlers in country districts not too far removed from a progressive and well-equipped town had an advantage over the town-dweller nowadays, for each country home seemed to be equipped with the telephone, electric light and power, and even wireless. Dancing was kept up till well after 1 a.m., the gathering having thoroughly enjoyed itself. TROUBLE OVER BRIDGE COST EXCEEDS ESTIMATE The resident engineer of the Public Works Department, Mr. P. J. Keller, exploded a bombshell at the last meeting of the Taumarunui Borough Council by means of a letter in which he advised that the cost of the new bridge over the Ongarue River would exceed the estimated cost by £2,360. As the bridge, which Is a handsome structure in ferro-concrete, is on a main highway the "Main Highways Board will require to find half of this amount, £l,lBO, and the other half will have to be shouldered by the Taumarunui Borough and the Taumarunui County Councils. The engineer notified that his. head office wanted an assurance that the additional money would be forthcoming before further authorities would be issued, and the borough council, as the controlling body, was asked to take necessary action. In covering remarks on the position which has arisen, the engineer reminded the council that no satisfactory tender was received for the work, and he contended that by the Public Works Department doing the job it was—even with the additional cost—a good deal cheaper than it would have been by contract. Additional and unexpected trouble with the work was enumerated in support of this contention. The council decided that nothing could be done in the matter till a conference had been held. The clerk read a letter from the Mayor, in regard to the extra cost, in which the opinion was put forth that the matter would require very careful handling, and that a conference would need to be arranged between the county, the borough and the engineer. “I am certainly of opinion,” wrote his Worship, “that we must enter a very emphatic protest on the way the work has progressed, and the discrepancy of over 40 per cent, between the engineer’s estimate and the amount ; i we ars now told the job is to cost.” :

LIQUOR AFTER HOURS FINES AT CAMBRIDGE For being on licensed premises alter hours on the evening of December 9, Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., fined five Cambridge residents £1 and costs each. Victor Foster Cray, barman at the Masonic Hotel, was fined £2 for supplying liquor after hours on the same date, and Thomas S. Cray was fined £ 5 for exposing liquor for sale after closing hours. STRUCK WHILE CRANKING • WHANGAREI MAN HURT Mr. Frank Armstrong, a settler of Whangarei, met with an unusual accident yesterday afternoon. He was cranking his car when the crank handle flew up and struck him in the face, cutting his lip and bruising his jaw. He received medical attention and was able to proceed home. CHURCH TRANSFER HAURAKI TO PONSONBY Members of the Church of England at Kerepeehi assembled at the Kerepeehi Hotel last Saturday evening to bid farewell to the vicar, the Rev. W. W. Averill, and Mrs Averill. On behalf of the parishioners and friends an inscribed silver teapot was presented to Mr. and Mrs. Averill by Mr. J. M. Thompson. The Rev. W. W. Averill has been in charge of the parish of Hauraki Plains for the past two years, and will be-leav-ing about the end of this month for All Saints, Ponsonby. He will be succeeded by the Rev. D. Maddison, who is due to arrive in New Zealand from England on February 6. DEATH OF CONSTABLE JOHN MUIR FLEMING Constable John Muir Fleming died at the Waikato Hospital yesterday, at the age of 52. He was born in Scotland and for some years served in the Glasgow Police Force. Twenty-one years ago he came to New Zeaalnd and joined the force. For the last two years he was stationed at Arapuni and was transferred to Hamilton three weeks ago, when the Arapuni station closed. Constable Fleming was a single man and was said to be the biggest in the force. KAWHIA RECLAMATION SAND DUNE PROBLEM The Minister of Lands. Hon. A. D McLeod, intends to visit the district of Kawhia in January to inspect the large area of sand dunes which lies between the township and the coast. The Kawhia Chamber of Commerce has urged that this tract should be taken in hand by the Government for reclamation purposes. The Minister states that he will be accompanied by Hon. O. J. Hawken Commissioner of State Forests. The area should prove suitable for afforestation purposes as it could cheaply be reclaimed. An officer of the department has already reported favourably regarding its possibilities. BATH FOR RAETIHI PROJECT LAUNCHED A public meeting to consider a proposal for a new swimming bath was held on Tuesday evening in Ashwell’s Hall at Raetihi, the lilayor, Mr. W. H. Sandford, presiding. It was decided that a swimming bath of the following dimensions be provided: Length, 25yds; width, 10yds; depth. 3ft to 7ft. The site chosen is in the bush reserve and near the camping site. An organising committee was oppointed, consisting of Messrs. T. Fagg, D. P. Scarfe, C. E. Whittington, and L. J. Plank. A “working bee” committee was also appointed, consisting of the following; Messrs. W. H. Sandford, N. Brown, N. L. Barratt, and P. O'Rourke. Mr. G. P. Jaques was appointed secretary. THAMES BOROUGH SUPPLEMENTARY LOAN At a meeting of the Thames Borough Council on Wednesday evening, presided over by the Mayor, Mr. W. Bongard, a capitation payment of £BB was made to the Thames Volunteer Fire Brigade. Eight Grafton Road residents stated as a result of the spreading of loose metal several accidents had occurred. The Works Committee reported the matter was receiving attention. The Thames Harbour Board intimated its willingness to lease a portion of the foreshore at Tararu to provide bathing facilities at a rental of Is per annum under certain conditions. It was decided to complete the agreement for the lease of the area. The council decided to raise a supplementary loan of £6,500 for sewerage works in the Block 27 area. The tender of Forrest Brothers, of £5.654, was accepted for work in this area. It was decided to continue the observance of the Saturday half-holiday. HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY LEASE OF WHARVES At a meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council, presided over by the chairman, Mr. E. L. Walton, the Department of Lands and Survey agreed to allow the council to lease river wharves to settlers, provided it accepted the responsibility of maintaining the wharves. The Public Works Department advised in connection with a request for a bridge at Waitakaruru that an amendment to the Main Highways Act gave the council power to borrow the necessary funds for the reconstruction of a bridge with a 30ft or longer span. Mr. Miller reported that the District Highways Council would recommend the declaration of certain roads as additional main highways. In view of the number and extent of the proposals advocated by other county councils, he thought the council had been well treated. Reporting on the * success of the Hauraki Plains West water supply scheme, the engineer stated that the margin allowed for contingencies would assure the completion of the scheme well within the moneys available. Improvements on the original plans had been effected providing a surplus of saleable water, the revenue from which would help to finance the cost of adi ministration and running expenses.