LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 683, 11 November 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

To-day is Armistice Day.

According to a New York paper when a man’s thumb was recently cut off in an accident the stump was treated wfth a secret lotion and the thumb grew again. If we know our Yankee friends, we shall soon hear also that the thumb was similarly treated, and the man grew again.

“The coal that came from Wales recently was the *dirtiest’ that, has ever been landed in New Zealand. You’ll probably hear more about it later,” said a memberr of the waterside workers’ deputation to the Harbours’ Conference in Wellington.

A well-known Australian, writing form New York to a friend in Wellington, says : “The workmen here are accepting big reductions in salary, and are working 70 and 72 hour’s. 1 wonder if the working men throughout the British Empire realise that .they are going to be left ini i . the lurch through their , country being flooded with goods from America while the British factories are out cf business.”

The suggestion that New Zealand is not known abroad is not always borne out in experience, as a Masteiton business man recently discovered. Mr C. E. Daniell was recently motoring in Southern California, and, coming across a party of road-makers, stopped! and spoke to them, sayinglie was a New Zealander seekng information about concrete roads. One of the party approached and said, “Oh, I’ve played against one of your All Blacks.” The announcement, said Mr Daniell, was an open sesame to all he wished to secure.

The railway Station at Jerusalem, is three .tinges as large .as it was piim to the war; increased booking facilities have been supplied; modern lavatories and electric lighting are bein o- provided. The bridges on the Jerusalem line are benig strengthened to carry a heavier ’type of locomotive ; 16 hospital coaches have been altered to serve as passenger carriages; the service of dining and sleeping cars arranged in February, 1920, is much appreciated; m November last a daily train service was begun between Palestine and Egypt. These and many other improvements go fto show how much the ccuiytry is progressing under iJntisn administration.

At the Borough Council meeting on Monday night it was mentioned that a letter from Thos. Hughes, Medical Officer of Heaith, had been received re unregistered . plumbers. The letter stated complaints have been received tha,t unregistere plumbers do sanitary plumbing in Pukekohe. Inspection has faded to disclose, a specific instance,, but it is quite probable that breaches of the Plumbers’ Registration Act, 191-., do occur from time to time, and as the by-laws stand at present there is ample opportunity. I would most strongly recommend that the Pukekohe Borough Council draw up bylaws governing sanitary plumbing, specifying materials to be used, etc., and appoinjt an inspector’ to see that proper manner. The Council decided to receive the letter.

The Rama Rama Flower Show takes place on Wednesday next, and indications point to immense local interest being taken in the function. The entries constitute h > record, j

The following letter from' . a' lady ratepayer was read at a meeting of the Wairarapa South County Council recently : “I am sorry to have to say [that I refuse to pay any rates, because of the inconvenience. lam continually suffering from the want of water, and also the dreadful conditions of the road.” ,

Mortality among dairy herds in the Feilding district appears to. be vrey prevalent this season. One farmer from Makino who is visiting. Wanganui. states 'that he had the. misfortune to lose 31 milking cows out of a herd of 2, and another neighbour lost 13 out of 14. Various treatments have been tried on the; cows, but without success.

At the Borough Council meeting of Monday last, it was brought forward that a letter had been received from the secretary of the Pukekohe Chamber of Commerce re the fact that numerous persons are removing ferns and shrubs from Roose’s Bush. It was also: stated that almost every Sunday people may be seen with armfuls of ferns, etc., and of course if this is allowed Jto go on the beautiful fernery and bush will soon be destroyed. Action was approved of.

One of the annoyances with which the Mount Everest expedition had to put up with was (the difficulty in getting reliable (in.ormaiioa from the Thibetans as to distance. They have no measurements, and no two Thibetans will tell the same story. For shorter distances inquiries were met with the astonishing reply that the place mentioned was distant “two or three cups of tea,’ which had to be interpreted as the [time needed for drinking two or three cups of hot tea. ... - !

The Mayor (Mr J. Routfly) , moved at last' Monday’s Council meetinig that the clerk write to Mr Roulston .thanking him for the very fine gift of the public park, the title deeds of which, were handed over on Sunday last. This was unanimously agreed to. The Mayor further stated that he thought some iis'eful object, say, a drinking fountain Ip.: itiarble, should be erected in the park bearing the name of the donor. Cr Armstrong endorsed the Mayor’s remarks and the Council ■ agreed to carry out the suggestion.

An immense African irrigation project to enable the French • colony to raise France’s cotton, instead of leaving (the country dependent upon the United States, is conjtainied in a Bill recently presented in the Chamber of Deputies. It will require the expenditure of about 250,000,000 francs-for damming Ithe Upper? Niger in the French Soudan, and irrigatin'* three and three-quaVter -friillion acres. With the Niger utilised between Maimnako and Timbuctoo, it is calculated the yield will .exceed that in America. • l

At the Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr J. G. Russell, J.P., three youjths from Tuakau were charged with stealing from Messrs Frost Bros.’ factory, at Tuakau, leaves of bread, tins of milk and sugar. The accused were remanded to appear before the S.M,. on Thursday, November 17th. , . Attention is drawn to an error in the date advertised by the Farmers Union stores, Pukekohe, in connection with the free gift of, £5 ss. The day (Friday) was correct, -but the date should have been the 11th November (to-day).

This week’s issue of the Sporting and Dramatic Review will have special significance for the sporting fraternity, several interesting race meetings being covered in a comprehensive series of snapshots. Among (them are the Auckland Racincr Club’s Spring meeting, the Auckland Trotting Club’s iecent gathering, |the Waikato Hunt Club s Carnival, and the Poverty Bay lurl Club’s meeting. The centre pages are devoted ito Miss .Cecil Leitch, golf champion, at play in the United States, while other phases of sport and pastime are embraced in a varied selection of illustrations.

The readiness of retort of Mi Lloyd George is proverbial. On one occasion he began a speech by saying, “I am here >. and before he could say any more an mjterjector shouted, “Arid so am I! Yes, was the ready reply, “but you are not all there!” On another occasion he was speaking on Home Rule, and saying he wanted to see it not only for Ireland, but for Scotland and for Wales. “And for hell, jtoo. exclaimed an interjector. Certainly, mv friend,” came Mr Lloyd Georges unexpected retort, “I always like to hear a man stand up for his country!”

A plea for the serious consideration of expanding spa work in New Zealand is made by the Government Balneologist, a,t Rotorua in his annual report. He states : It has been admitted by the world’s leading hydrologists that our mineral waters are without rival; and I need _to point out that with the increasing number of nervous disorders and ari accumulating prevalence of fibrositis (so-called rheumatic affectations) everything should be done to make our spa the most valuable and efficient in existence; moreover, since 1914, with the knowledge gained by war experience, hydrotherapy has become an exact science capable of effecting cures that were previously considered impossible. Therefore, pari passu with the expansion of the work of the Health Department, I would urge that fhe wqf t k of our spas is as valuable as that of any branch of medical science ; and in view of the means in hand, spa work in New Zealand should be considered in the light of a national necessity.”

If you want a neat printinig job executed, call at the “Times" Office.

We understand thrjt tenders : will be called for the erection of the new High School buildings in about ten days’ time.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the ManuCounty Council the Engineer reported that during October building permits, amounting to £3720, had been issued. - ...

The ladies ol the town and district are asked by 1 advertisement to-day to ineqt in the A. & P. Office on Tuesday afternoon next at 2.30, to consider some form of entertainment to raise money for Band uniforms.

The monthly meeting of the Franklin Plunket Society is to be held in [the Franklin County Council Chambers on Monday next at 3.15 p.m. Business is in connection with the erection of a store in King Street, Pukekohe.

A wedding of local interest was solemnised at St. James’ Church, Pukekohe, on Wednesday last, the contracting parties being Miss Marid McWatt and Mr Harry Stevens. The Rev. Nichol, from Tuakau, officiated. Entertainimeuts

“Americans have called New Zealand the breeding ground for purebred stock. It is a great compliment to the stock raisers in the Dominion, and an endeavour should be made to make it an established reality,” saicl a speakei- at the A. and P. Society gathering at Carterton. At Tuesday’s meeting of the Manukau County Council, the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, acknowcordial message of welcome extended to him on his returji jto the Dominion He warmly appreciated the congratulations on his work at Home, in which he assured them he endeavoured at all times to do his best ..to forward the interests of the Dominion and of the Empire.