HAURAKI PLAINS NOTES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 683, 7 June 1929, Page 14

HAURAKI PLAINS NOTES

The poll of ratepayers of the Waitakaruru watr supply special rating area, which was taken on Wednesday on the question of raising a loan of £2,400 for the purpose of providing extensions, resulted in 22 votes being cast for the proposal and two against. The loan will carry a £1 for £4 subsidy, and will entail a 3d rate, but the consumers ‘will be charged for water to bring the cost equal to that paid by the main area consumers. The question of providing abattoirs for Hauraki Plains was mentioned at the monthly meeting of the Ngatea branch of the Farmers’ Union last evening, and it was decided to urge the County Council to proceed with tho matter. It was also decided to ask that all meat for human consumption be inspected. It was explained that 18 months ago the council had been asked by the Veterinary Club to provide abattoirs, but had decided to take no action. Later on a number of butchers who were faced with expenditure for new slaughterhouses asked the council for a definite decision, and the council asked them to take action. * * At the Hauraki Plains West Drainage Board’s monthly meeting at Ngatea yesterday, it was reported that all the drain-cleaning contracts and all the improving contracts with the exception of four had been completed. The Lands Drainage • Department advised that the Phillips Road drain would be under dual control until the Pouarua Canal was constructed, when the position would be reviewed. The rainfall recorded on Hauraki Plains last month was the lightest in any month of May since 1918, and was l.Sin. below the average for May of the past 17 years, being only 2.26 in. The gauge at the office of the Lands Drainage Department at Kerepeehi showed that rain fell on 12 days luring the month. The total for the year to date is 13.69 in., which is 3.57in/below the average of the first five months for the past 17 years. The heaviest fall was on May 27, when 1.07 in. was recorded. The Ngatea branch of the Farmers’ Union is not in accord with the desire of the provincial executive to strenuously oppose the enactment of daylight saving. At the monthly meeting yesterday members expressed approval of a 30 minutes’ advancement of the clock, but opposition to an hour’s advancement was expressed. No action was taken. The Paeroa District School dental officer, Miss D. C. Ellis, has established a sub-base at Kerepeehi, and will be at that school for the next th-ree weeks. Mr. G. i Griffiths, headmaster of the Waitakaruru School, has been transferred to Wellsford. A successor has not yet been appointed. Expert advice on fertilising Hauraki Plains soils is desired by the Ngatea branch of the Farmers' Union and at yesterday’s meeting it was decided to ask the Agricultural Department to send an officer to investigate the question and deliver a lecture to farmers. It was mentioned that an j English expert was at present in the - Dominion on loan to the Agricultural | Department.