LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 642, 17 June 1921, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A novelty concert, 'at which articles and produce will be auctioned, will take place, in aid of the Plunaet Society, in the Premier Hall on Wednesday, 29 inst. An appeal for articles to be sold is also made in our ad. vertising columns to-day.

During the discussion that ensued when the rates were being struck at tne Manukau County Council’s meeting on Tuesday, Crs House and Waters mentioned chat the Mangere and Panatoetoe ridings contributed 55 per cent, of the total working expenses of the whole county.

-The time has arrived for the county to cut down expenses as much as possible. We will have to do the same as all private individuals and economise as much as possible/*--The chairman (Mr A. D. Bell) at Tuesday’s meeting of the Manukau County Council.

As one travels' about the country several complaints are to. be heard concerning, the new valuations of properties. In one instance, 1 not 10 miles from Pukekohe, a person is asking £2OOO for his place which is valued at £750, while another whose value is assessed at £I3OO oojects strongly to the new valuation. V\hen asked if he would take £I3OO for it he replied with a distinct “No.

t At Tuesday’s meeting of the Manukau County Council it was reported that the valuer, who revalued the county, once lived in the Papakura riding. He resided on a propertj valued at that tinte at £4 10s an acre and it was stated he could not make a “do” out of it. The same farm was now valued at £lB 10s an acre and. how is the present owner 'going to live if the valuer could not make it pay when it was valued at £4 10s an acre? This question was/asked by the member for the Papakura riding.

Some local bodies lire at times confronted with knotty problems.. It appears that in the Mangere. riding of the Manukau County Council, milking cows are licensed to graze on the roads and reserves between certain hours. At Tuesday’s meeting of that body \ the ranger requested to know the Council’s definition of a .milking cow, but it did not take muen time to dispose of. Cr Davies (Papakura): “I should say a milking cow is riot a milking cow until she is, in milk 1 " Tnis definition is to be forwarded to the ranger.

A glowing instance of rating on the unimproved value system and the unfairness of rating on the capital value is to be found-at Tuakau. Two properties adjoin each other and both are of about the same area.. The lady in the case spent large sums of money improving her property, while that owned by the man is covered more or less with weeds, The property owned by the member of the fair sex is rated considerably‘higher than the unimproved property. Rating on the Capital value system one has to pay rates for improving his or her property. The boot should be on the other foot, especially in thickly-popu-lated areas.

Seddon Street appears to be a feed ground for numerous horses and cattle On Wednesday evening two well rugged horses of a heavy tvpe were meandering along the footpaths stretching" their heads over garden fences looking for a feed. This may be cheap grazing for the owners of the animals, but it is a wanton, disregard for private property and the ratepayers’ money spent or. footpaths.* Why, oh why, is this permitted to go on night after night, week in and week out. Surely some one has the courage to do something. If net why not advertise in other districts that the borough, of Pukekohe welcomes owners of animals to its precints and encourages their use b\ freely offering . them cheap grazing on the borough streets;

Our readers’ attention is directed to the advertisement on the nrst page of this issue relating to the International Correspondence Schools. The I.C.S. is the largest' educational institution in the Empire. Since their inauguration in 1891 they have enrolled 2,500,000 students. In New Zealand 15,000 students have been enrolled. This is due to the fact that at; I.C.S. student can acquire the necessary, training to qualify for a responsible position without inter ierxng in any way with his present occupation. The instruction is private, can be studied at any time,, and is within the means of all. A free booklet describing in details the 180 different courses taught by these schools will be forwarded on application to the 1.C.5., 814, New Zealand Insurance Buildings, Queen Street, Auckland.

The opening of the first shop in the Lester Wood buildings m Cavell Place, Manurewa, was signalled by a very pleasant social function, ararrcnged by Miss Freshney the occupant. Messrs Craig, Whitburn and ButterwOrth voiced heartygood wishes to the ipew enterprise. Miss Freshney and Mr Lester Wood thanked one and all for their kind expressions.

Prize money won at the recent Win* ter Show may tie had cn application to the secretary, Mr IX R. Hamilton, on Wednesdav, June 22J

Mr Davios, the new Pukekohe draper has an advt, in this issue of great interest to the ladies of the district, A careful perusal is urged.

A meeting of a'l referees in the* Franklin Union's district is convened for Wednesday night next in the A‘, and P. offices, Pukekohe. As matters of great importance are to be discussed a fuli attendance is requested,

■ Owing to the mildness of the sea.-* son rabbits have been breeding in ant unusual manner for this time* of the year. Half-grown rabbits are to* be seen in many places. Usually rabbits do ont breed at this season, and consequently from this one may expect a larger increase of the pest during the coming summer than we have had for couple of years past. Another reason for the increase is that last winter, owing to the higher price for skins the farmers’ sens and anyone: that could destroyed rabbits for their skins. This winter, with tow, prices ruling, there is not the incentive to destroy burry. ■ j