Province and Suburb

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 283, 20 February 1928, Page 10

Province and Suburb

(From THE SUN J 3 Correspondents)

TE AWAMUTU R.S.A. THE NEW BADGE Mr. G. W. D. Osborne presided over a meeting of the Returned Soldiers’ Association at Te Awamutu on Thursday. Mr. Garner reported that headquarters had asked for a return of members requiring the new badge. The badge is the same design as the one at present on issue, but is much smaller and in every way much neater. It was moved that a letter of condolence be sent to Lady Haig in the death of her husband, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig. The motion was carried in silence. COMMERCIAL CLASSES OPEN AT TE AWAMUTU Following on the approval of the Minister of Education that instruction in commercial subjects be allowed at district high schools, the Te Awamutu School Committee has been working to secure the introduction of this course at Te Awamutu. The names of some 40 pupils have been obtained by the headmaster, Mr. .T. F. Roberts. Owing to the committee not having power to appoint instructors, obtain equipment or even secure the necessary rooms for the classes, delay was caused. The position was discussed by the chairman of the committee (Mr. G. S. Clarke) with the Auckland Board of Education on Wednesday. As a result he was informed that rooms at the technical and manual school can be used when not otherwise occupied. Applications are called for the position of commercial instructor by the committee. The classes will be under two grades: (1) Matriculation, and (2) commercial course with a view to passing an examination qualifying them to takg up a commercial occupation. PAEROA NOTES LIBERATION OF PHEASANTS On Wednesday last "the Ohinemuri Acclimatisation Association received a consignment of 50 three-months-old pheasants from the Auckland society. Thirty of the birds were liberated In the Rotokohu district, five on Mill Road, Paeroa, and five up the Waitawheta. One of the oldest residents of Ohinemuri, in the person of Mrs< Ellen Barra tt, died on Wednesday at her late residence, Waihi Road, Paeroa. She was 72 years of age and had been in Paeroa 50 years. There is danger of a shortage of water in Paeroa if the present dry weather continues. It is now taking nearly twice as long for the main reservoir to fill as it did a few weeks ago, and it is only with the greatest economy and care that the reservoir can fill during the hours of darkness. The new swimming bath, which have been under construction in Paeroa for some time, is expected to be finished in March. Baths for Paeroa have been advocated for over 20 years and a borough loan recently taken up has “done the trick” at last. PAPATOETOE WATER

PUMPING NECESSARY With the sinking of the shaft at McLaughlin’s Hill, Puhinui, in search jof a water supply for Papatoetoe, it has been found necessary to instal a pump. This will be in operation for the first time to-day. At the depth of about 32 feet water began to make, and despite efforts by the workmen, no impression could be made upon the inflpw by baling out, and the water maintained a depth of about two feet. * During the past ten days a quantity of rock has. been encountered and blasting has had to be resorted to. It is thought probable that the main supply may have been tapped, but until the water is cleared and investigations made it is yet early to anticipate results.

To benefit by the full flow of the stream the shaft will have to be sunk further, but how far is only conjecture at present.

I THAMES OLD BOYS ANNUAL REUNION The Auckland Old Thames Boys’ Association held the annual excursion to Thames on Saturday, and the Rangitoto conveyed about 500 Aucklanders to the old goldfields town. The local association held a welcome gathering in the Miners’ Union Hall in the evening, when the reunion of many old friends was witnessed. A fine programme of music, singing, elocutionary items and story made the evening a pleasant one for the 200 visitors present. On Sunday evening the Rangitoto made the return trip to Auckland, and was farewelled at the Thames Wharf by a large crowd. WORKERS’ HOMES OTAHUHU PROPOSALS It ,is officially announced that 46 of the employees of the railway workshops who are on transfer to Otahuliu have been granted loans for the building of their and it is understood that the wor /ill be put in hand by various contractors at an early date. Special arrangements are being made with the Railway Department, which finds the necessary cash, and these loans do not come under the State Advances Department. BOAT REMOVED BEACH VANDALS Acts of vandalism are again becoming frequent at Price’s Beach, Papatoetoe, where a little time ago some youths used the moored boats as targets for rifle practice. The latest report states that a dinghy, owned by Mr. W. Strong, of East Tamaki, has been removed from its moorings and although a diligent search has been made for the missing boat nothing has been seen or heard of it for a couple of days. The matter has been placed in the hands of the police. RIFLE SHOOTING MATCH AT THAMES The cup presented to the Thames Defence Rifle Club by Mr. M. Labarre, and known as the Father Time Cup, was shot for by members of the club last Saturday afternoon. There was a fair number of entrants, and Rifleman Stuart Inglis won with a score of 91. Next Saturday the Miller Cup will be competed for. and the present holder, C. Cameron, has to win from scratch to secure outright possession. He has already four wins to his credit. Following are the results of Saturday’s shooting:—•

HOUSE PROBLEM SHORTAGE IN OTAHUHU In striking contrast to many of the suburban areas around Auckland, there is at the present time an acute shortage in Otahuhu of medium-priced houses to rent. Agents are daily disappointing prospective tenants, and it is impossible to rent a four-roomed house under 35s a week in the borough. The transferring of hundreds of railway employees to the workshops in the district, is sure to make the position more acute, as it is not likely that all the new arrivals intend to erect their own dwellings. The position is directly opposite in Papatoetoe, where there are numerous houses available, but as the residents of this suburb have to rely on the house tanks for their water supply the vacant dwellings have been visited by the neighbours, whose tanks have gone dry, and without water the unoccupied houses are not wanted. HUNTLY NEWS TOWN BOARD MEETING The ordinary meeting of the Huntly Town Board took place on Tuesday there being a full attendance, Mr. K George, chairman, presiding. Mr. W. Farrar was appointed dog registrar on similar conditions to the previous year’s appointment. A building permit was granted to Mr. J Cummings, of Kimihia Road. A complaint regarding the tethering of horses at the entrance to the railway station and thereby creating a nuisance is to be referred to that department, in the hope of a remedy. Accounts totalling £9B 12s lOd were passed for payment. Messrs. W. Hallam, G. Sale and Jas. Hanley waited on the board regarding a drainage difficulty in Lignite Street After hearing the deputation, the board decided it would be best for the parties to confer and report to next meeting. Master Norman Shepherd, the eight-year-old son of Mr. M. Shepherd plumber, had the misfortune to fail while playing, and struck his head on some broken glassware, receiving serious cuts on the head. He was removed to the hospital for treatment, which necessitated several stitches. At latest advices the young sufferer was making good progress toward recovery. Mr. Tom Walace, of the traffic staH of the Railway Department, leaves for Otahuhu next Thursday, under transfer. He was well liked here and will be missed. * * * Building goes on apace, and in addition to a handsome structure being erected for Mr. Joseph Weaver, in Rayner's Road, a contract has been let to Messrs. Street and Street, of Hamilton, for a shop and tea-rooms for Mrs. Mills, in the main street. Living accommodation is also provided for, the building to be of brick and concrete. HAURAKI DRAINAGE UNITED BOARD MEETS The Hauraki United Drainage Board met at Turua on Friday, Mr. s. S. Murray presiding. Petitions were received and deputations were heard for and against the proposal to construct a drain in the Opou area. Notice of motion was given to defer action until the present system had been tried out next winter. The chairman reported that the lands drainage engineer had approved of the board’s additional loan works, with minor exceptions. In accordance with

this it was decided not to improve the • top section of the Te Kauni No. 2 drain. Government subsidy totalling £919 14s 5d was received. Tenders were let for fiuming the outlets known as Kneebones’, Millers’, and Shell-bank, and for cleaning the vv harepoa Road drains and Price’s outlet. Tenders for the annual cleaning of the board’s outlets will be called shortly, and tenders are to be called for improving Johnstones’ drain and the soutnern end of the Wharepoa Road west side drains. The foreman, Mr. E. Flavell, reported that the No. 1 Te Kauri outlet ; torilv aCtS Were Progressing satisfacLands Drainage Department ad- . vised that damage done to the Piako stopbank drain would be repaired. It was decided to request the Lands De- i

partment to sluice out the l/tV& McDuff outlet. . t *Jg» The chairman reported Public Works Department woui install an additional floodgate * Wharepoa Road, contending was unnecessary. The Turua Town Board oisc liability for slips in the that * drains, and gave formal J? otl lace d qp future spoil was not to be P the roadside. . JjtfS i As it was proved that a inis been made in the plans to Kauri No. 1 outlet contract, » ; mit-.ee was authorised to co * the contractors, with power

200 300 Hep. Tl. S. Ing-lis 37 8 91 R. Pearson . . .. 43 4 88 P. Trebilcock/ .. . 40 4 81 J. Morrison .. . . .. 41 40 84 A. Poole 37 8 81 R. Brown 31 9 83 C. Cameron .. .. 38 2 80