LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 59, 9 November 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A lady resident of Utiku was the lucky winner of a £IOOO prize in the Oid field Cup. It is stated that much apathy is being displayed by quite a section of the public in connection with the general elections. A reporter was informed a day or two ago that it is being found by committees of candidates that numbers of electors have had their names removed from the roll and are ignorant of the fact, not having troubled to make inquiries about the matter. In the first place j all who did not vote at the last general election will have had their names struck off the roll. Secondly, all the names of persons whom the post office officials cannot locate in the electorate will have been struck off. These are the two main factors governing tho deleting of names. At Saturday’s meeting of the Upper Wangachu Road Board, the foreman (Mr. E. J. Titter) reported as follows: —October '.lias: been a fine month, and the roads throughout the district are in very good order for this time of the year. During October the grader worked 23i days and graded 34 miles of road. Grading is practically completed, except a few miles on the Upper Wangaehu Valley Road. J. Kilkolly and P. Chase have practically completed their shell-rock contracts. Owing to the damage done by, heavy trafiic in the winter, ~e luuuuii Road from McGregor’s to McKay’s will need filling up in the centre. I require authority for raising fillings on the Turangarcre and Pongaroa Roads, and also laying down a few culverts on both these roads. The Waimho Road wants widening and metal-

ling in several places —about eight chains in all —as there will be a good deal of wheel traffic on this road from

■ The contract for the improvement of the tennis courts is well in hand. All excavation work is completed, and if weather conditions are favourable, the remainder of the work, the aspualtiiiH-, should be completed within a fortnight. In such case the opening day will probably be fixed this month.

The metalling of some 121 miles of the Omatane Road has~ now been definitely commenced. The contract is in the hands of Mr. F. Manson who estimates that the work will be finished by the end of April. A metal road will prove a boon to the settlers affected, particularly during the winter months.

Shearing in this district will be practically in full swing at the end of the present week. On Friday, Messrs. - . J. and W. Dixon, of Papanui Station, commence their clipping, which is calculated to produce this year between 300 and 400 bales. Mr. Holes, of Tc Mohan Station, makes a start on Monday next. Shearing at a great number of the smaller stations is already under way.

The sawmilling trade in the Rangitikei and Waimarino still shows little signs cf a return to normal times although there is no perceptible falling off in orders. The majority of the mills continue to work four days a week. Messrs Ellis and Bernard's mill at Ongar. has temporarily sent down. The building trade is reported to be practically at a standstill. No permits were issued in tne Taihape Borough last month.

An accident that might have been attended (with more serious .'consequences occurred to Mr. D. Munro while he was driving home from Mataroa on Saturday afternoon, The horse, a young one which had been out of harness for some time, suddenly turned at a sharp angle to take a by-road with the result that the gig capsized. The occupants were thrown to the roadside, but escaped practically uninjured. The vehicle was not seriously damaged.

Robert Erskine, a bushman working for Mr. Jensen, a settler four miles from Raurimu, was falling bush witn his three mates at 0 a.m. on Thursday when a tree, in falling, dragged down another, which came down on Ersdne s chest. His mates carried him five miles through tho bush to a house, and then twelve men brought him in relays tHutson’s, Raurimu, arriving at 9 p.ni. on Thursday. He was sent on by Friday afternoon’s tram to Taumarunui hospital, where ho is now reported to be progressing favourably.

There will be at least seventy five polling booths in the Waimarino electoral district at the coming election is against sixty three last year. The increase hag been necessitated by the fact that since last election a great deal of new country, chiefly in Kaitleke and Waimarino counties, has been added to the electorate. Much difficulty it is anticipated will be experienced in obtaining some of the returns, as many of the new booths are only connected by seemingly unending bridle tracks with the convenient centres. Two rooms in the District High School will constitute the booth for the Taihape Borough.

The influence of the war on the sth of November celebrations locally was seen in some instances by the fact time some youngsters gave their guys the alias of ‘•'Kaiser Bill,” the usual immolation of fire being accompanied by hearty imprecations on the head of lie of the mailed fist. By three little boys—Willie Adair, Bertie Diamond, and Jim Diamond—the “Day” was celebrated for a much more useful purpose lhau has obtained hitherto. The “penny for the guy” was collected and put aside for the Belgian Relief Fund, in place of being wasted on fireworks. The trio of youthful patriots succeeded in raising 5/-, which sum was duly handed over to the local committee. The youngsters are to be commended for the spirit of patriotism and thoughtfulness that prompted their action.

The rainfall for the month of October was 1.11 inches. There were eight days with rain and the maximum fall was 0.35 inches, on the 11th. Tho average fall for the corresponding month of the previous eight years is 4.23 inches. The rainfall for the last .four mouths has been 6.15 inches, and the mean rainfall of the coresponding period of the past eight years is 13.41 inches. The mean maximum temperature in the shade for the month was 58.2 degrees F. and the mean minimum temperature in the shade was 40.5 degrees F. The extreme maximum temperature in tho shade was 73.4 degrees F., on tho 9th, and the extreme minimum temperature in the shade was 31,3 degrees, on the 19th. The mean terresriol radiation. (grass) temperature was 35.9 degrees F., the minimum being 28 degrees F., on the 3rd. The mean earth temperature at 2ft was 50.7 degrees F., ranging from 48 degrees on the Ist to 53 degrees on the 28th.