Province and Suburb

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 306, 17 March 1928, Page 11

Province and Suburb

(From THM SON’a CorreapontenfJ

<; TE AWAMUTU NEWS POWER BOARD MEETS A number of accounts considerably overdue are owing to the Te Awamutu Electric-Power Board. At the meeting yesterday the secretary. Mr. n. McArthur, asked for instructions with a view to recovery through the Court, lie said that about £2OO of the total amount overdue was for plant supplied. The ordinary business risk had been *aken in most cases, but there were some customers who ignored demands. Authority was given to proceed for the collection of overdue accounts through the Court. Most of them refer to installation and service lines for periods of more than two years. Approval of the erection of a dwelling on the board’s property provided that the cost does not exceed £BSO was given by the Minister of Public Works. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETING AT TE KUITI A number of questions of interest to the district were discussed at the monthly meeting of the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce, which was presided over by Mr. S. Craig. Messrs. A. L,. Flux and J. A. Taylor, delegates of the Tangitu Settlers' Association, said the Tangitu settlers were of the opinion that the Main Highways Board should take over the roads in their district. Regarding the extra Government grant of £I,BOO for the construction of the Te Kuiti-Hangitiki portion of ihe main highway, the chairman stated that the chamber had been largely responsible for obtaining this. The secretary stated that this road would possibly be completed this summer—an objective for which the chamber had been lighting for years. In dealing with the soil analysis tests recently conducted in the Mairoa district, it was decided to ask the Department of Agriculture for a report on the matter. The Mairoa settlers thanked the chamber for its assistance in securing lime for experiments which were now being conducted. Mr. Flux brought up the matter of the reduction of commission charged by stock firms, and suggested that reductions should be made by the firms concerned, now that conditions were more stabilised. Regarding the deferred payment system of the native township sections which had been freeholded, the chairman stated that the existing term of 10 years had been extended to 36 years, but those who wished to avail themselves of the longer period must make application to that effect. The Cawthron Institute wrote savlng that it would not be possible to distribute the cinnabar moth this year It was hoped, however, to secure an open permit and have a largo quantity of larvae for distribution throughout New Zealand in the spring.

RAETIHI SCHOOL AFFAIRS VISIT OF MINISTER A number of questions of local interest were brought before the Minister of Education, the Hon. R. A. "Wright, when he paid an official visit to Raetihi yesterday. The Minister inspected the school in company with Mr. R. W. Smith, M.P., the Mayor. Mr. W. H. Sandford, and members of the School Committee, and was welcomed by the headmaster, Mr. L. J. Pluck. Mr. E. Neary brought before the Minister the need of a central heating system far the school. He also brought up the question of the dental clinic. He said a nurse had been stationed at Ohakune, but was only there for a short period. The Minister thanked them for the welcome they had extended to him, and said he was glad to see the progress the district had made since his last visit. With respect to the central heating, he said there was no doubt the committee could not do the work itself. The rule laid down was that the department would 4 e lP» hut the committee must do something toward meeting the cost. It was an expensive item, and lie asked them to do what they could to raise money for the purpose. Parents would do what they could, he felt sure, and the board would make a contribution and the Education Department would also help. He realised their need and if the committee would apply to the board he would see what could be done. The dental clinic, said the Minister, was a matter that had been pointed out by Mr. Smith to the Minister of Health and it was one that came under the jurisdiction of that department. When he went back to Wellington he would discuss the matter with the Minister of Health. As to manual training, continued the speaker, he did not know the exact position., but he would look into it. The question was one which he thought could be met without much difficulty. Mr. Smith, on behalf of those present, thanked the Minister for his sympathetic reply and said h© was quite confident that all that was possible would be done in connection with the representations made. The Minister then addressed the' school children.