Province and Suburb

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 463, 19 September 1928, Page 2

Province and Suburb

(From THE SUN’S Correspondents.)

BUSINESS TRAIN TO NORTH KOHUKOHU ARRANGEMENTS An enthusiastic meeting of the Hokianga Chamber of Commerce, representative of the county council, was held in connection with the business men’s visit to, Hokianga. Mr. A. W. Wellsted. commercial agent of the Railway Department, explained that a special train had been arranged to carry the 60 business and commercial men throughout the Auckland Province. They would visit the various centres by rail, and also the outlying country if means of conveyance could be arranged. The train is to’ leave Auckland on October 26 for the south, returning to reach Okaihau early on Friday, November 2. It was unanimously decided to fall in with a suggestion that about 25 cars and motor launches should be engaged to meet the visitors, who would be taken to the most interesting parts of the country. A luncheon would be provided at the most beautiful centre, Broadwood. GOOD SERVICE RECOGNISED PAPATOETOE CLERK HONOURED Mr. H. C. Ernest, who recently retired from the position of town clerk to the Papatoetoe Town Board, after 15 years’ service, was the guest at a supper last evening. Mr. A. W. Hall, chairman of the Papatoetoe Town Board, presided over a large number of past and present members of the board. In eulogising the good services rendered by Mr. Ernest, the chairman said that their guest had been an honest and painstaking servant, and in recognition of his faithful services he asked Mr. Ernest to accept a testimonial, signed by all the past and present members of the board, also a solid gold Rolex watch and guard. Mr. John Watson, the first chairman of the Papatoetoe Town Board, also spoke in high terms of Mr. Ernest’s capabilities as a clerk. Mr. John Franklin, an ex-chairman, and several of the past and present members, endorsed the remarks of the earlier speakers. Mr. Ernest suitably replied. KAMO TOWN BOUNDARIES The commission consisting of Messrs. O. N. Campbell and F. Blackburn, appointed to inquire into the petition against the retention of the Kamo Springs flat in the Kamo town district, has given its finding as follows; (1) That the lands held by the petitioners are flat and low-lying, are damp and not suitable for small farming and are unsuitable for residential purposes; (2) that development works, such as street formation and drainage works, will in due course lead to higher values. Having taken other factors, such as electric light and drainage, into consideration the commission recommends that, subject to a small adjustment in the proposed boundary where it seems desirable, the prayer of the petition be granted and that the area be excluded from the town district. This means that the Kamo Town Board and the Whangarei County Council, which objected to the petition, have had the decision given against them. Regarding *costs, the commission recommends that each party pay its own costs and that the Government costs be paid by the petitioners. An order was accordingly made. HUNTING AT TAURANGA Tho first meet of the season was held at Tauranga on Monday. The weather was most unfavourable, there oeing strong and cold squalls throughout the day. About 60 men, women, and youths assembled at the Triangle. The meet took place at Otomoetai, on Mr. Tollemache’s farm. Several hares were raised, but owing to the strong wind the scents were lost, and no kill was made. However, a good day's i sport was enjoyed. MORRINSVILLE NEWS It is intended to erect handsome gates at the entrance to the Recreation Ground at Morrinsville in recognition of the valued services rendered to the town by Mr. D. Coghill. At a meeting of the Borough Council the engineer submited alternative plans, the cost* of the works being estimated at £99 10s and £125 respectively. The Morrinsville Golf Club benefited to the extent of £22 by a “shop” held on Saturday. The workers were Mesdames Seville, Mueller, C. McKay, T. Ryan and Seifert. Competitions were won as follow:—Cake, Mr. C. O’Conngr; turkey, Mr. W. G. Plummer; lamb, Mrs. Otorohanga. PAPATOETOE TOWN BOARD The Papatoetoe Town Board decided last evening to inform Messrs. Johnstone and Western that the board declined to make any alteration to the decision arrived at previously in connection with their subdivision plan, regarding the easing of the roading conditions. A letter was received from the Papatoetoe Town Board asking when the erection of the band rotunda would be proceeded with. It was decided to recommend the incoming board that the work be proceeded with. A payment of £IOO on account was made to Messrs Jones and Adams for services rendered in connection with the water supply. Mr. Shortt, who was injured at the fire on August 19, was granted £lO compensation. Mr. R. Corbett accepted the board’s offer of £l2 10s as its contribution to the laying of concrete slabs on the footpath in front of the new theatre. WITHIN WIRELESS RANGE— The following vessels are expected to be within range of the undermentioned wireless stations to-night:— Auckland. —Tofua, Maui Pomare. Port Hunter, Spinanger, Berwick Law, City of Cambridge, Sussex, Wairuna. Kaituna, Hatkhola, Antonio. Chatham Islands. —lonic, Turakina. Wellington. —Maori, Wahine, Ngaio, Arahura, Tamahine, Gallic, Pakeha, Port Napier. Ravenscar, Kairanga. Awarua. —Makura, Maunganui, Manuka, Coptic, Cambridge, Kirkwood, Port Dunedin, Canadian Transporter. PORT OF ONEHUNGA—ARRIVALS YESTERDAY TUTANEKAI (2.45 p.m.), 811 tons, Bollons, from Northerq lighthouses. DEPARTURES YESTERDAY ARAPAWA (4 p.m.), 251 tons, Pert, for Raglan and Kawhia. The Rarawa, due at Onehunga tomorrow morning from New* Plymouth, sails again at 3.30 p.m. to-morrow for the same port. The Hauturu is due at Onehunga at four o’clock this afternoon from Raglan. The vessel's departure for Hokianga has consequently been postponed till 3 p.m to-morrow. The Arapawa is scheduled to sail at 3 p.m. on Friday next for Wanganui.

POST OFFICE AT NORTHCOTE NEW BUILDING AUTHORISED A new post office is to be erected at Northcote according to advice received by the Northcote Borough Council last evening from Mr. A. Harris, M.P., who said the Public Works Department would be calling tenders for the erection of the building. It was decided to inquire on which of the two sites held by the department it was intended to erect the post office, and whether the services of the present postmistress would be retained in the new office. It was contended by some members that the proper location for the future post office would be in the vicinity of the war memorial, and that a branch post office would always be required in about the same position as that of tho premises now in use. NETHERTON DRAINAGE MEETING OF NEW BOARD The Netherton Drainage Board, which was elected last week to take over the control of the area about Netherton, previously administered by the Lands Drainage Department .under the Hauraki Plains Act and by the Public Works Department under the Waihou and Oliinemuri Rivers Improvement scheme, held its first meeting on Monday. Mr. George Buchanan was appointed chairman, and Mr. J. E. Green temporary clerk. It was decided to call applications for the position of clerk at a wage of £IOO for the first year. A vote of appreciation was accorded the Government Lands drainage engineer, Mr. E. Taylor, and the Public Works Department’s resident engineer, Mr. O. G. Thornton, for assistance given prior to the constitution of the board. It was agreed that at the next meeting, after plans of the district had been procured and a visit of inspection made, the area would be cut up into wards. HUNTLY SPRING SHOW RECORD ENTRIES RECEIVED The Spring Show of the Huntly Horticultural and Beautifying Society was held on Monday in the Town Hall, and was a pronounced success. Record entries and a record attendance characterised this year’s exhibition. Mr. W. Lee Martin, M.P. for Raglan, officially opened the function. The unanimous verdict of patrons was that the display (particularly daffodils) was the best from a numerical and quality point of view ever benched. Exhibitors and growers from all parts of the North Island were present and competition was so keen that in many awards only one point decided the issues. Mr. Fred. Meek, the indefatigable president, assisted by a willing committee, had matters running smoothly throughout, and a warm word of praise is due to Miss C. S. Burns for lier handling of the secretarial duties, which were onerous. The chief prize winners were as follow: Huntly Daffodil Cup.—Mr. W. H. Shepherd. Glen Eden. Champion Blooms.—Mr. G. A. Shaw (2), 1 (open); Mr. G. A. Shaw 1 (amateur); Mrs. Chris Bailey (1), 1 (amateur); Mr. T. Cox (1), 1 (amateur). Lee Martin Cup.—Mr. G. A. Shaw. Novices, Mr. H. Meadows. Decorative, Mrs. Geo. Shaw. Cut flowers, Mrs. E. Foster. Certificate of merit, Mr. J. H. Bralthwaite, three firsts in open classes. Fancywork and sewing, Mrs. A. H. George, Te Kulti. Rhododendrons. Mrs. Foster. Seedling. Mr. J. H. Braithwaite. Pot plants, Mrs. G. Shaw. HENDERSON AFFAIRS YEAR’S WORK REVIEWED Henderson ratepayers met on Monday evening to receive a report from the retiring Town Board. The report stated the installation of a water supply had been carried out satisfactorily. The total cost of the Town Hall was £7,216, this including pianos, seats and other furnishing;'The receipts from the hall totalled £593, covering all expenses, including the interest and sinking fund on the loan of £ 6,050. The loan of £13,600 for street improvements was practically spent when the board took office, but as the board was pledged under the loans scheme to the formation of Rata Street, a contract for this work was let and com? pleted at a cost of £550, this sum being paid out of the general revenue. The total amount of the loans raised was £37,250, the interest and sinking fund being £2,538 a year. The workers’ dwellings account contributed £2BO toward this ancount, and the hall paid its own interest and sinking fund, but the balance was a first charge upon the rates. The receipts from all sources for the year ended March. 1927, were £17,454, and the expenditure. £16,820, leaving a credit balance of £633. OPOTIKI COUNTY RATES EFFECT OF NEW SYSTEM The latest valuation of the Opotiki County by the Valuation Department has created an extraordinary position. At a special meeting of the council held yesterday to go into the matter of the valuations, third-class lands have been greatly reduced. Lands previously valued at 17s 6d to £1 an acre on unimproved value are now valued at 2s and 2s 6d an acre. Unfortunately there are large areas of this land within the county. First and second-class lands have been reduced only slightly. The immediate effect of the new valuation from a rating standpoint is that if the maximum rate were struck in some rid* ings the amount would be insufficient to enable the council to function properly. Although this fact is serious enough in itself, the position from the standpoint of settlers occupying firstclass land is positively alarming. Through the value of third-class lanu having been so considerably reduced the maximum rates that may be imposed on these lands will produce only one-seventh what they did under the previous valuation. The result is that an extra burden of rates will have to be borne on first and second-class lands. The discussion on the problem at times became heated. After a lengthy discussion it wks decided to strike the following rate?. Ohiwa Riding, 6£d; Waiotahi, 6*“; Waioeka Riding, Upper Waioeka, 1WOtara, lid; Coast, 17d. The rate? struck last year were respectively 3*d, 3*d, 3d, 4d. 3*d, 3*d. The rate is estimated to total £11,750. The total last year was £13,045. Although the council has appeal to the Ministers of Lands and ‘Pub Works for relief no reply has »>e V