LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 605, 4 February 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Clevedon A. and P. Show takes place to-morrow.

The Pukekohe and District High School opens on Monday next, February 7th.

Owing to pressure on our space a number of reports have been held over until our Tuesday’s issue.

Rabbits in the Franklin County are increasing as fast as possible and some drastic steps will have to be taken to exterminate the pests, said Cr. Heald at Wednesday night’s meeting of the Franklin County Council.

As fine a piece of window sign painting as we have noticed for many a day is to be seen at V. S. Roberts’ premises, Premier Hall Buildings, Pukekohe. The work has been conceived and carried out by a local firm of sign painters, Messrs. Gribble Bros., and they have every reason to be proud of their workmanship.

The decorations of the dining room and tables of the Pukekohe Hotel yesterday, on the occasion of the complimentary dinner tendered to the Prime Minister, Right Hon. W. F. Massey, and the Minister for Education, Hon. C. J. Parr, were gorgeous, and great credit is due to the licensee’s wife, Mrs. Gardes, who had everything regading the arrangements left entirely in her own hands. The tables groaned under their load of toothsome delicacies, and indeed, the spread was as good as could be wished for.

It was stated at Thursday’s meeting of the Franklin County Council, that it took the rabbit and noxious weeds inspector about three months to cover the whole of the Franklin County area. Councillors contended that the area was too large for one inspector to work satisfactorily. One member stated that of late the inspector was more or less engaged attending to the inoculation of stock. On this work they were completely run off their legs, and could not possibly attend to noxious weeds and the rabbit pests, which were rapidly increasing all over the county.

Referring to the rabbit nuisance at Thursday’s meeting of the Franklin County Council, Cr. Charles (Karaka) said that the rabbits were exceptionally bad in his riding. As a matter of fact they were swarming, and have been increasing rapidly during the last six years.: Rabbit committees had been formed, and in the

last six years, during which period the pest was bad, not one property owner had been prosecuted. He understood that the inspector had such a large district to cover that after he had inspected one district he moved on to another and so on, until he had completed the circuit. If notice to exterminate the nuisance had been given to property owners, the inspector did not have time to inspect the locality as often as was necessary to see that the instructions were complied with. People knowing it took him some months to cover the county, did not trouble much about the inspector. He strongly advocated the appointment of an additional inspector.

For some time the hold up of passengers at Auckland railway station gates has caused much dissatisfaction, and matters came to a head on Sunday night when the Main Trunk express was due to leave. A consid-

erable crowd assembled outside the barrier, and finally the gates were rushed, the crowd surging on to the platform. The dissatisfaction on this occasion was particularly marked in view of the fact that those who had formerly applied for reserve seats on the re’ief express were informed that on this train it was to be a case of first come, first served* no reservations being made. By some means, however, when tVi carriages were reached by those who had pushed past: the gates it was discoveered that 90 per cent, of the seats were labelled “reserved " Tn view of what they bed been previously told at tbe hr- “r,fi r 1 y 1)0 ds” took 110 110,-f ,-f f h T' r 'S-- -'-a f ; ( --n labels, and tbe to-i'd it impossible to deal v'"th a (*->• w 1 w’-iofi was in no mood for official interL’eience.

Ratepayers of the Franklin County should bear in mind that all rates should be paid on or before February 28, 1921, otherwise proceedings for the recovery of the same will bej taken by the Council.

The borough foreman (Mr. 3. J. Clews) was granted three weeks’ holiday at the Council meeting on Wednesday. . It appears that though entitled to two weeks per annum, the foreman has not been able to avail himself of the privilege for the past three years. Councillors were unanimous that he well deserved a holiday.

Before proceeding with Borough Council business on Wednesday evening, His Worship the Mayor, Mr. C. K. Lawrie, extended to the new editor of the “Times” a welcome to the district and expressed the hope that the same cordial relations which had previously existed between the paper and the Council would continue. In returning thanks, the pressman assured the Council that he certainly hoped that the same relations would continue and that the “Times” would continue to interpret public .opinion on all matters.

As a result of the appeal made by the chairman of the School Committee (Mr. Frank Perkins) at the opening of the Pukekohe Technical High School yesterday, for funds towards making the grounds picturesque* the following donations have been received:—Mr. Percy H. Basley, £5 ss; Mr. C. McCormick, £2 10s; Mr. C. Shipherd, £1; third contribution from Mr J. B. Sim, Tuakau, 10s; and half a ton of onions valued at £3 10s from Mr. Alex. Donald.