POKENO AFFAIRS.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 617, 18 March 1921, Page 4

POKENO AFFAIRS.

Sir,, —Through the medium of your columns kindly permit me space to put your correspondent “ Cowpuncher” to right. If news of Pokeno is consistently conspicuous by its absence, “Cowpuncher’s” statements are conspicuous by their inconsistency. He states “that even the Rabbit Act fails to move the people of Pokeno.” He, apparently, is unaware that it was through a settler beings moved by the Rabbit Act that he lost his cow. As for the one who lost a pig let us appraise him for breakingthrough tradition and having sufficient enterprise to experiment. Even the blackbird is misrepresented. The incident happened in the night and on examination it was found that the bird had fire blight, contracted, we believe, from the flames which consumed the gorse that once grew on the square, now occupied by the soldiers’ monument. So, Mr Editor, the tragic happenings so greatly regretted are nought but signs of the high road to progress. “Cowpuncher” claims to have a sense of humour. When he speaks of electric trams and the Hotel Cecil on the corner,, his imagination is equalled only by Frank Reid’.s. Speaking of “Cowpuncher’s sense of' humour, as long as it does not bring others within reach of the long arm of the law, he is entitled to this idiosyncracy—a word to the wise is sufficient. Do not give too much publicity to the fact that the ratepayers’ meetings are so entertaining, otherwise the convenors of these meetings will be confronted by a collector demanding the amusement tax. We are all indebted to “Cowpuncher” for having reminded us that we require a post .office with a telephone exchange and here, Mr Editor, by your permission, let me interrogate your correspondent. Is there any reason why a post office with a telephone exchange should net be erected in Pokeno? Does not the distric warrant the stopping of an ex.press train? Is not a public hall an absolute necessity, and that forty small children have to travel two miles or more to school; a public scandal? I do not know what “Cowpuncher” may think of these projects, but I am convinced that the Pokenoites have sufficient public spirit to back a man who is sufficiently public spirited and has time and will organise and agitate for these objects.—l am, etc., ANOTHER T)OWEL IN THE WHEEL OF PROGRESS.