Province and Suburb

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 328, 13 April 1928, Page 14

Province and Suburb

From, THE SUN’S Correspondents

OPOTIKI FARMERS’ UNION

NEW OFFICERS ELECTED A motion objecting to the Government spending so much unemployment relief money on nearby towns was carried at the annual meeting of the Opotiki branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union yesterday. Members considered that more should be spent in the country. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr. G. S. Moody; vice-president, Mr. G. Martin; secretary and treasurer, Mr. T. H. Pearson; auditor, Mr. J. T. Merry; committee, Messrs. J. H. Reid, W. Saxby, A. Dodson, A. R. Small, J. Dunlop, W. Bradshaw, A. F. Summers, S. Maxwell, A. McDonald, V. Smart; delegates to provincial conference, Messrs. G. S. Moody and Joblin. BIRKENHEAD AFFAIRS The Birkenhead Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association held its monthly meeting in the Foresters’ Lodge Room last evening, Mr. Canty presiding. • The borough council advised that the council intends considering the question of fire-fighting when estimates for the ensuing year are being dealt with. To increase the funds of the association it was decided to hold one or two social evenings. The need of the automatic telephone being installed was again stressed, also public call-boxes in different parts of the district, and it was decided to send a letter to this effect to the P. and T. Department, reminding it of its promise to install the public boxes. The department is also to be reminded of recent accidents and fires, where delays in obtaining assistance occurred owing to the manual telephones being disconnected. A deputation will also wait upon the department in connection with the same subject.

HOSPITAL PROGRESSES WAIKATO INSTITUTION Remarkable progress in all branches has been the year's record of the Waikato Hospital Board which, besides controlling the big Hamilton institution, also has authority over the branch, institutions at Kawhia, Matamata, Huntly and Te Kuiti. The sum of £15,328 in fees has been collected during the year, compared with £II,BOB last year. This increase will materially relieve levies for the new financial year. There is an all-round increase in the number of cases treated and in the number of persons afforded charitable relief. Outstanding in the estimates for the coming year is the allocation of £II,OOO fo.r the new maternity ward. The total proposed capital expenditure aggregates £18,350. A feature of the report of Dr. G. W. Gower, medical superintendent, presented at the annual meeting of the board yesterday, was the question of establishing a dental clinic at the hospital. The provision of equipment, he said, was not a costjy item, but the staffing was a different matter. It would be be.ftor to establish a chair at the main hospital. he thought, and arrange with a local dentist to give part of his time at th© hospital. The matter was deferred until the next board meeting. HAURAKI SPEED LIMITS Speed limits for motors in the County of Hauraki Plains were fixed at a special meeting of the council on Thursday. The limits were fixed at 35 miles an hour, with reductions to 20 miles an hour within notices denoting town-

ships, and 15 miles an hour within 10 chains of a school. At yesterday’s monthly meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council a very satisfactory financial position was shown by the Annual report presented by the treasurer, Mr. E. A. Mahoney, who was commended for j the thoroughness, completeness and promptness of his statement. The general rate collections totalling over £23,000 exceeded the pre- } vious year’s collection by £126. The j cost of administration was 5.49 per i cent., as compared with the Dominion average of 7 per cent. Both the ferries had proved profitable Undertakings and the return from licences and fees, totalling £BOO, was £3lB over those of the previous year. The Public Works Department offered to build a bridge at Waitakaruru on the Pokeno highway and to receiv© payment in 10 annual instalments of £97 19s 3d. The offer was accepted. The Minister of Public Works advised that the £2 for £1 subsidy for the Patetonga Riding roads excluded the top road and the Mangawhero Road. He said h© did not feel justified in making a promise in regard to Oiese roads until the main scheme was completed. Tho engineer, Mr. F. Basham, reported that the metalling of the section of the Paeroa-Pokeno highway at Nethe.rton on the new stqpbank was being carried out by the council for the Public Works Department. The bottom course had been laid and th© laying of the second course was in progress. HUNTLY INTERESTS The Minister of Health wrote to the Huntly Town Board on Wednesday advising that his department could not agree to an enlargement of the Kimihia Cemetery. This was received with regret, as it means the local body will now have to decline Mr. W. J. and Miss S. M. Ralph’s offer of a donation of additional ground for the purpose. Inquiry is to be made re th© cost of installing an electric ’motor at the quarry, and work is to be pushed on in the meantime,with the tractor. It was decided to sand a strip of the

pathway in the board’s area as a trial and if satisfactory to do the whole of the township pathways. The following councillors were elected to the Library Committee: Messrs. E. George, W. H. Bailey and Dr. R. C. Macdiarmid. The Waikato Hospital Board having an ambulance for sale, the chairman intimated that he had written asking them to give it to Huntly if provision was made for its maintenance. Mr. George emphasised the urgent need for it in a big mining district, and said he was calling a meeting of mine managers. medical societies, etc., to discuss this most important question, in conjunction with the Town Board. The St. John Ambulance headquarters being in Huntly was an additional reason why an ambulance should be in the town. The recreation ground movement is fast assuming definite and Mr. Blake, surveyor, has promised an early report to enable a start with the preliminary work. NEWS FROM DARGAVILLE Members of the Dargaville Fire Brigade on Tuesday evening made a presentation to Fireman A. H. Xeild. of a silver teapot, suitably inscribed, and congratulated the recipient upon his marriage. Superintendent P. W. Hayward wished Fireman Neild and his wife every happiness and prosperity. Fireman Neild suitably replied. With the exception of a match to be played between Pukehuia and Southern for the Laidlaw Cup, the Dargaville cricket season is at an end. A list of the Dargaville team’s batting and bowling averages shows that Max Parore heads the bowling average with 5.47, and O. Sundberg the batting with an average of 22.11. Mr. FV J. Dargaville’s prize, a match bat, goes to Rush for the best batting average, as O. Sundberg unfortunately only completed 11 innings, the conditions providing that a player must have completed 12 innings.