Province and Suburb

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 330, 16 April 1928, Page 10

Province and Suburb

From THE SUN’S Correspondents

MANGAPU DRAINAGE MINISTER GRANTS SUBSIDY The Minister of Lands has notified Mr. J. C. Rolleston, M.P. for Waitomo. regarding- the Mangapu Drainage Board's request for an increased subsidy, as follows: “Referring to your interview with me at Te Kuiti on the 18th ult., when you introduced a deputation from the Mangapu Drainage Board, which desired to have the subsidy of £4,000 on a 10s for £1 basis, which was ivovided on last year’s estimates, converted to a subsidy on a £1 for £1 basis, I have now to advise that I have approved of the subsidy being made available on the terms desired by the board.” The Minister added that no f ircher subsidy could be expected. NEW ROOMS FOR HAMILTON TECHNICAL SCHOOL Tenders have been called for the erection of an addition to the Hamilton Technical High School. The plans provide for the building of five classrooms, four 24ft by 22ft and one oOft by 24ft. and a small teachers’ room. The building will be erected in brick, with a Marseilles roofing, and will be detached from the present school. Provision has been made to enable additions to be made to the new block 1 in future. LONDON MEAT MARKET SMITHFIELD PRICES Under date April 33, the London office of the New Zealand Meat Control Board cabled the following list of Smithfield delivered prices:— New Zealand Wethers and Maidens, Canterbury quality, selected brands, 561 b and under, a lb; 571 b to 641 b, 6 l-8d; 651 b to 721 b, s}d; other brands, 561 b and under, 6 5-8 d; 571 b to 641 b, 5 7-8 d; 651 b to 721 b, 5 1-Sd. New Zealand ewes, 641 b and under, 5 l-8d a lb. New Zealand lambs, Canterbury quality, 361 b and under, 9 3-8 d a lb; 371 b to 421 b, S 5-8 d; 431 b to 501 b, B£d; seconds, 82d; selected brands, 361 b and under, 9 3-8 d; *7lb to 421 b, Sid; other brands, first quality, 361 b and under, 9d; 371 b to 421 b, 8 3-8 d; second quality, 301 b to 821 b average, Bgd. . . Australian Lambs. —Aictorian: .First quality, 361 b and under, Sd. Argentine Lambs. —First quality, 361 b and under, 8d; 371 b to 421 b, Bd. New Zealand Beef. —Ox fores, o 2 d; ox hinds, 4 5-Sd; cow fores, 3*d. Argentine Chilled Beef.—Ox fores, oid; ox hinds, 6gd. _ Argentine Frozen Beef. —Ox fores, o 7-8 d; ox hinds, sid. Frozen Pork. —Porkers, 601 b to SOlb, id; Sllb to 991 b, 6id; 1001 b to 1201 b, 6 a d; baconers, 1211 b to 1801 b, 7d. . Lamb.—Market very firm; prices bettCMutton Market. —Good inquiry; stocks llfa Beef Market. —Fair inquiry; nominal prices owing to small supplies. Frozen Pork.—Baconers, market is firmer; porkers, no change in prices. BANK OF NEW ZEALAND LONG-TERM LOANS Returns of the long-term mortgage department of the Bank of New Zealand, published in the Gazette show a gradual expansion ot operations. Under the authorising legislation capital not immediately required by the department may be transferred to the ordinary business of the bank, and each of the first three returns showed that the bulk of paid-up capital had been so employed. The fourth showed slightly more than half the average amount to have been advanced in loans, but in the latest the ratio is lower. Following are the five returns published since the inception of the scheme, setting forth the average amounts for each quarter of capital and loans, the balance of the former being shown as transfers to bank:

The actual amount of capital paid up at March 31 was £615,952, comprising £175,781 in respect of the C shares issued to the Government and £440,171 in respect of the D shares (as against £428,077 at December 31). The last instalment of 5s a share on the first issue of capital is payable on June 30. It will increase the capital of the department to £703,125. PAYMENTS TO DAIRYMEN An advance payment of £4,500, based on Is 31d a lb fo.r superfine butterfat, will be made to suppliers of the Hinuera Dairy Company for cream supplied during March.

OPOTIKI COUNCIL CANDIDATES NOMINATED Owing to the resignation of Councillors C. H. Fleming, W. Burrett and T. 11. Pearson an election to fill the vacancies on the borough council will be held on April 26. Seven'nominations were received today as follows:—Messrs. A. J. Butt, E. Webb, J. J. Moody, W. Burrett, T. Hitchens, A. L. Arrowsmith and T. H. Pearson. FIRE BRIGADE SKILL PAPAKURA DEMONSTRATION The Papakura Volunteer Fire Brigade continued, their demonstration on Saturday, on the Railway Reserve, the attendance being small. Three members of the East Tamaki Brigade were present. Foreman Walker, of the Papakura Brigade, won the cup, results being: Foreman Walker, J; Captain J. Richardson, 2; Secretary C. Thorburn- and Fireman Clarke tieing for third place. Other results are:—One-man event: Fireman Scott (East Tamaki), 48sec, 1 ; Foreman Walker (Papakura), olsec, 2: Secretary Thorburn (Papakura), 627sec, 3. Gilbert Memorial Cup: Fireman (East Tamaki), lmin 6§sec, 1; Foreman Walker (Papakura), lmin Bsec, 2; Secretary C. Thorburn (Papakura), lmin 12?.sec, 3. CITIZENS HONOUR FIREMAN THAMES PRESENTATION A representative gathering of citizens and fire brigade officials met in the Thames fire station on Saturday evening to do honour to secretary P. E. Jenkins, who has completed 25 years’ service in the Thames Fire Brigade. Visitors were present from Auckland, Pukekohe, Rotorua, Te Aroha, Waihi and Paeroa. Superintendent A. Garrett presided. In presenting Mr. Jenkins with a gold star, the coveted emblem of all lire brigadesmen, which is the gift of the New Zealand Fire Brigades’ Association, the superintendent said he could not hope to receive better efficiency and service than that given by the guest of the evening. The Mayor of Thames, Mr. W. Bongard, in congratulating Mr. Jenkins on his attainment, said the borough council recognised the voluntary work of the brigade, and it was with pleasure that the council supplemented the gold star with a gold medal as a slight mark of gratitude and appreciation. Mr. J. W. Ban by, chairman of the Thames Hospital Board, and others, also spoke eulogising the work of the brigade, and Mr. Jenkins in particular. Mr. Jenkins, who was received with cheers, suitably replied. Buring the evening silver bars wertS presented to the following firemen for two years’ service, after the first five: Foreman A. Fleming, A. Hoskins, R. Bo well and J. Hardman. Proceedings were enlivened by musical items by the following: Messrs. W. Johnstone, J. A. Briggs, E. C. Christensen (Te Aroha), G. Foster, W. Beech, B. White, E. Symonds, W. Hardman (Auckland), J. Galloway and H. A. Thomson. Messrs. J. Buchan and W. J. Scrimgeour played the accompaniments.

NATIVE RATES ARREARS COMMISSION IN TE KUITI The Native Consolidation Commission, which is at present visiting Te Kuiti, held conferences with the native chiefs at the Maori pa on Thursday and Friday, when a special committee was set up to consider the various 'v*oposals submitted regarding the solution of the native rating problem. Impassioned speeches were delivered by several leading chiefs of the King Country, the gist of which was that in return for permission to construct the Main Trunk railway through the Rohe Potae, the lands adjoining the line and adjoining roads leading to the railway should be exempt from the operations of the Rating Act. The Maniapoto tribe, standing behind t°ac pledge, declared that they should be exempt from rates. Sir Maui Pomare challenged the chiefs to produce a document to that effect.

Sir Apirana Ngata quoted from the petition presented by the local tribe to Parliament in 1884, which stated that the lands would be exempt from rates until leased, cultivated or sold. He stated that the natives owed £25,000 for rates to local bodies and £21,000 for survey liens to the Government.

A leading chief said that they had agreed to pay the survey liens to the Government. On Friday evening the commission conferred with the Waitomo Coixity Council. The discussion was hell in camera, and a. statement was issued to the Press on Saturday. The total amount of outstanding rates for a period of five years amounted to £25,098. It was agreed to deal with four years of these arrears, and to estimate the arrears that would accrue during the next two years. It was estimated that £ 28,000 would be owing by 1930. Owing to the time necessary to complete the consolidation scheme, and to provide the Maori owners with titles, thus placing them in the same position regarding rates as Europeans, the rates two years ahead had been taken into consideration.

The chairman -stated he had been authorised by the Maoris to make an offer of £7.000 foi* rates due from 1924 to 1930. This offer was accepted by the Waitomo County Council. The commission met at the Te Kuiti Borough Council in conference on Saturday, when unpaid borough native cs were discussed.

A statement showed the total unpaid native rates from 1922 to 1928 amounted to £4,351 11s sd. The total collected during the same period amounted to £1,545 17s Bd. The commission had been authorised to make an offer of £I,OOO in settlement. This offer will be considered b” a full meeting of the borough council. Mr. A. W\ Babbage, chairman, and Mr G. A. Esther, clerk of the Kawhia County Council, met the commission au-'ing the day. Kawhia’s unpaid native rates amounted'to £12,341 for the years 1921 to 1928. An offer cf the commission will be considered by the Kawhia County Council at the earliest opportunity.

r «,, p if«i TransLoans. fers. .. £307,351 £35,833 £281,531 379,000 119,077 259,923 Third .. . . 182,174 312,525 507,95 i 357,987 249,964 Fifth .. .. 300,129 306,592