Province and Suburb

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 271, 6 February 1928, Page 10

Province and Suburb

(From THE SUE’S Correspondents)

GISBORNE RAILWAY MINISTER INVESTIGATES Yesterday the Hon. K. S. Williams, Minister of Public Works, went up the Wharekopoe Valley and along the Rotorua stock-track to investigate a proposal for the construction of a new arterial road. As well as investigating the road proposal the Minister discussed railway matters wherever possible. The Minister was so impressed with i the possibility of a road to serve as a feeder to the railway and open up a large area of good country, that he authorised the Public Works engineer, Mr. G. W. Albertson, to make investigations. On arriving at the Hangaroa June- j tion, the Minister was met by settlers ! who submitted statements in favour of the inland route for the railway. KING COUNTRY ROADS GRANT FOR TE KUITI The possibility of the early completion of the mtailing of the portion of the main highway between Te Kuiti and Hangatiki is now much brighter, on account of the Main Highways Board having made a grant of £I,BOO toward this important link in the road between Auckland and Taranaki. The secretary of the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce has received the following letter from the chairman _ of the board. Mr. H. M. Wynyard: “You will be glad to hear that the Main Highways Board has agreed to find the sum of £I,BOO free in connection with the completion of* this road. The original estimate was £ 8,000. and the present estimate to complete is £9,800. The resolution of the board is to the effect that it wil lfind this excess of £I,BOO as free money. I think you w r ill consider this arrangement satisfactory to the county, your chamber, and the travelling public, as it should enable the road to be completed at an early date.” NATIVE LAND CLAIM EXCESS IN AREA An interesting case was heard before Judge McCormick at the Native Land Court, sitting at Te Kuiti on Thursday. Rewatu Hiriako, an elderly native chief, of Pio Pio, claimed an area of 11,000 acres which, he alleged, was wrongfully taken by the Crown in 1892. The claimant stated in evidence that he had commenced the contest when quite a young man. 40 years ago. Mr. G. Elliott, who appeared for the claimant, said the case presented some unique aspects. Two petitions had been presented to Parliament —in 1907 and in 1915. The first, with all records, was totally destroyed by fire which occurred in the Parliament Buildings. In 1893 claimant was placed under arrest for contempt of court by the late Judge Scannell, and also in 1915 by the late Chief Judge Jackson Palmer. Still persisting, Rewatu petitioned Parliament in 1915, when the Native Affairs Committee recommended favourable consideration, resulting in the present inquiry before the Native Land Court. Briefly the case is as follows: In 1907 Rewatu and others petitioned Parliament for the return of 5,000 acres of land wrongfully included in the Waiaria block which was sold to the Crown by the owners. Petitioner objected to the survey lines in 1893 when the title was being investigated by Judge Gudgeon, at Otorohanga. As a result of this protest a surveyor was called, who showed that there was on overlap of 11,000 acres from Umukaimata block included in Waiaria, which had been taken in excess. Eventually the Government met the case by awarding the petitioner 2,500 acres, and the Native Land Court was empowered to ascertain the persons rightfully entitled to ownership in this grant. Mr. Moverley, for the Crown, did not admit there, had been an overlap. Some points raided were quite new to him, and he asked for an adjournment irt order to prepare a reply by reference to records. The case was adjourned till June next at Te Kuiti. The land in dispute extends from the Mokau River at Totoro to the southern boundary of the Rohe Potae or confiscated area. The area is mostly settled, including Aria, Rotopotaka, Kaeaea and Ohura districts. BIG HOUSE BURNED FIRE AT PUKEKOHE An eight-roomed boarding bouse. "Westcourt,” situated in West Street, was gutted by fire at two o'clock this morning. L'pon arrival the brigade found the dining room, kitchen, and passage enveloped in flames. With the aid of two leads and a* strong head of water the outbreak was kept confined, and finallv subdued. The boarders, numbering about a dozen, escaped with their personal belongings, but the bedding was no damaged. Two firemen, E. Wild and S. McKinnon, fell through the burning roof The former suffered a sprained knee, and the latter cuts and abrasions. The building was owned by Mr J W. Johns, of Pukekohe Hill, and was insured for £I,OOO in the State Office. The contents were covered in the Phoenix Office for £u«o. MILFORD PROGRESS THE TRANSPORT WAR The burying of the hatchet in the transport war at Takapuna has enabled the residents of Milford to get on with improvements to the beach and the neighbourhood. During the pre-Christmas week the area alongside the Wairau estuary was cleaned up and made attractive to picnic parties, in fact so attractive that took their motor-cars right on to the cleared up place and made the most of it. The entrance to the beach has been completely remodelled and the road widened out. The Surf Club has in hand a project to acquire a gymnasium for the use of the youth generally. Last Saturday afternoon the Milford Association formally took over, on behalf of the public, a roomy dance pavilion erected under the pines. Mr. G Malcolm, chairman of the Takapuna Borough Council Parks Committee, in the absence of the Mayor, formally accepted the donation to the attractions of the beach which has been made possible by the generosity of the North fehore Transport Company. He referred particularly to the need for fitting up the beach and the Wairau essitfie? ln the m ° st mod ern way pos- .. M . r - T\ Walsh, secretary of the North Shore Expansion League, eonsnirit 'wh'b-| M ‘ lford °" its Progressive spirit which was bat a reflex of the

healthy optimism now whole of the North Shore j? . «*• greater degree. Takapuna ' ** » Club was a great asset to the »,* Mr. H. Warbrick. of the gressive Association. expresGa thanks of the association toVn had made possible the latest aa.**I'’ 1 '’ to the attractions on the called for three cheers for theT port Company. Mr. A. M GtniU B*' 8 *' mer Mayor, drew attention to !»- that at least one part of the°LL v "' frontage had been public and that the Inga Hosn other schemes were but part *** plan for the improvement of ford area. Ul ® *£• In the evening the Mavor e,. puna. Mr. J. Williamson, opened the pavilion. BRIDGE OPENING ARRANGEMENTS AT THAMES At a meeting of the Thames trough Council on Saturday, the Mi Mr. W. Bongard. expressed strong*** l approval of a suggestion that ,1' Thames Harbour Board, Chamber'* Commerce, Borough and CountTca® cils should meet to discuss the 2?' brations at the opening of the Bridge in April. Mr. Bongard said the Hauraki pm County Council, which was contrilS? ing £12.000 toward the cost bridge, should receive priority i r A* such invitation to commemorate nl occasion. It was his intention siorr! to consult with Mr. E. L. Wfitto chairman of the Hauraki Plains C Council, and Mr. H. Lowe, chaimA of the Thames County Council what form the opening cerrmJ! should take. The estimated cost of the briire£s2,ooo, to which the Hauraki County Council is contrii uuZ £12,000, Thames Borough cwm £12,000 and Thames Countv c £6.009 RIFLE SHOOTING MATCH AT THAMES The quarterly shoot for the Birr Cup by the riflemen of the Defence Rifle Club took placi Saturday. This coveted trophr won by Rifleman A. Poole for tie far time. ln addition to the Cu>, tfc* shooting: score also counts in the due championship Aggregate. Reel Its ¥. Saturday's competition are as fab low: 200yds 300yds E’ctiT A. Poole 41 35 H r, R. Brown .... 27 39 ! 5 J. Morrison .... 41 37 • t R. Pearson .... 38 37 4 U C. Cameron .... 43 32 * S. Inglis 29 37 1 J BUTTERFAT RETURNS WAIHI RESULTS f The effect of the drought on te dairying industry about Waihi is reflected in the returns prepared by te New Zealand Herd-testing Assxdstior for December. These go to Slow as average falling off in milk proluctkc. compared with the corresioadhf period last year, of 461 b a cow, and & drop in butter-fat of rather over lib. The fat will, however, be much acre pronounced for January, as it if knerc that quite a number of herds iroppee fully 30 per cent, on the output rf the first three or four months of ttt present milking season. In all, 80 Waihi cows were tested in December and gave an average of 8611 b of mill' and 36.121 b of fat on a 4.1 test, agmiar. 758 cows with 9071 b on a 4.1 test for the same month last year. Tl« highest producing herd. 39 cows, average 45.691 b of fat for the 30 days under test, and the lowest, 52 cows, 15.438 The best cow in the grou> gw* 93.601 b of fat, and took fourth jiMU in a total of 69,224 cows tested by th» association during the montl. The average yield for the 69,224 core tested was 8391 b of milk (Waihi Mllbl and 34.671 b of fat (Waihi, 36.121 b). « a 4.1 test.