FLASHES

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 18 May 1916, Page 2

FLASHES

For the edification of some of our correspondents, we desire to point out the fact that •' abuse is not argument."

Visitors to EUerslie Races, to be held on King's Birthday, 3rd June, may have a joy ride from Helensville at excusion rates.

The Waitemata County Council invite the public at the official opening of the Waimauku Bridge, on Saturday, 20th May.

The Helensville laundry will be reopened under new management, on Monday, May 29th.

Mr P. E. Monk, farmer at Parakai, has been accepted for military service, and proceeds into camp with the latest reinforcements.

Holiday railway excursion tickets are to be issued in connection with the Waikato Winter Show, on May 30th and 31st, and June 1, 2, and 3.

There will be a Public Bodies parade and service at the Presbyterian' Church on Sunday next, 21st inst., at at 11 a.m. The speaker will be a well-known Auckland business man. All welcome.

In the casualty list issued on Tuesday last, by the Defence Department, we are sorry to see the name of W. B. Downer, Helensville, as having died of pneumonia, •n May Ist.

News has been received by Mrs McEwin, Kaipara Hotel, that her son George, who is at the front, recently went under an operation ; otherwise he is feeling splendid in health.

The usual monthly meeting of the Helensville Town Board, called for Thursday, 11th inst., lapsed for want of a quorum, only Messrs Field, Elliott, and Lambert being in attendance. The meeting was adjourned to Tuesday, 23rd May.

A conscientious objector writes that he will only enlist on the distinct understanding that he is not asked to leave the country—except in case of invasion. —Plucky fellow.

Advice from Wellington states that the Government intends to market the gum it purchased to aid the diggers earlier in the war. If the State can find means to ship the gum, it will dissipate the fear that it might be thrown on the market.

We have much pleasure in announcing the fact that our local butter factory (the Kaipara Co-operative Dairy Factory Company, Ltd.) is giving for the month of May no less than Is 5d per lb for butter-fat. Last month the rate was Is 3d per lb.

At a recruiting meeting at Dargaville the other evening, Mr J. G. Coates, Member for Kaipara, informed his constituents that he had enlisted for active service and would proceed to Trentham next week. He had arranged for a Member of Parliament to visit his electorate every six weeks. So that we shall be well looked after by a wet-nurse as it where. Helensville especially will be pleased •to learn that we can still keep on crying to someone for pap.

Thus the Mangonui Age :—" Mr Pearson in moving at the last meeting that plans be prepared for an isolation ward at Mangonui limited the cost to £00. As quite half this amount should be subscribed by the public, we have not much to thank Mr Pearson or the Board for." For the life of us we cannot see what the ' Age' has to growl about, as the amount appears to be nil.

While a party of sportsmen were out on the sand hills, near Helensville, one day last week, after rabbits, one of the members espied bunny at a short distance. He put up his gun and pulled the trigger ; but there was no response, and bunny smiled. Several attempts to fire off the gun were made, but it still refused to go off. Now the remainder of the party are asking each other, " Who put the safety catch on ?"