FLASHES.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 31 May 1917, Page 2

FLASHES.

The Helensville Town Board are advertising for applications for the position of pound-keeper.

Our local stationmaster, Mr Mirams, returned to Helensville last week, after a lengthy holiday down South. He has greatly benefitted by the trip.

The Postmaster notifies that the address " Zeaclub" has been registered as a Pacific code address for New Zealand Soldiers' Club, Russell Square, London, W.C.

The usual monthly Military Memorial Service will be held next Sunday afternoon, at the Lyric Theatre. ChaplainCaptain Dixon will conduct the service, and all local bodies are requested to attend. I

During last year New Zealand sent three-quarters of a million pounds to Japan for rubbish that was not required. Why talk economy ?

The block of buildings in Commercial Road, recently purchased by Mr Jas. Hand, are beginning to look, quite spic-and-span with a new coat of paint. Mr J. Bradly was the successful tenderer.

The annual meeting of the Parakai branch of the Auckland Women's Patriotic League will be held in the Parakai Hall on Tuesday, June sth, at 3 p.m, All residents of the district are earnesly requested to attend.

We learn on good authority that nothing more has been heard of the burglar who entered a house in Garfield Road on Thursday evening last, and took away a small sum of money and a key.

Two Christchurch newspapers, the Canterbury Times (weekly) and the Evening News (a daily evening appanage of the Christchurch Press), and also the Ohura Advocate, are to suspend publication during the war.

Mrs Burfoot has been appointed postmistress at Kaipara Flats, in place of Mrs Brown, who has left the district. Mrs Brown will be greatly missed, as she attended most carefully to her duties during her term.

It is reported that the latest device of the navy for combating submarines is xeputed to be infallible, and when it is in operation on an extended scale the days of the submarine campaign will be numbered.

We had a visit on Monday last from the Member for the Bay of Islands (Mr Vernon H. Reed), who was passing .through on his way to Dargaville. He has a very hopeful future for this township when 'the line goes through to Whangarei, as the traffic then Will no doubt be enormous.

Don't forget that on Monday next a grand concert is to be held in the Lyric Theatre, Helensville, in aid of the V.M.C.A. Trench Comforts Fund. The object is a most laudable one, and exceptionally good talent will contribute items, Miss Cook, elecutionist, of Sydney, also having kindly consented to assist.

We are in receipt of a letter from the Organiser of the National Service League requesting us to ask all those who have received shillings from the sale of the patriotic song, " We'll Never Forget Our Boys," to remit the same to the Secretary of the National Service League, Masterton. . I

The question of whether suppliers to a co-operative milk factory, having shares, but not supplying for a full season, are entitled to a bonus on the year's working, is the subject of a Supreme Court action at New Plymouth.

What has become of the project, originated some time back, for beautifying the township of Helensville? The idea seems tahave lapsed. However, it is pleasing to note that a nice selection of shrubbery has been planted on the vacant allotment at the back of the railway refreshment rooms.

It is stated authoritatively that 29 tons of nails of all sizes were used in the construction of hutments and other buildings at the Featherston Camp. It will give one an idea of the size of the camp, which is one of the largest in the world.

The Helensville Defence Rifle Club will pay a visit to the Dargaville Rifle Club on Saturday next, and hold a shooting match. Several of the local members were at the range last Saturday afternoon doing a little practice, but the weather was quite unfavourable for shooting.

The slumbering people of Helensville were aroused at an unearthly hour on Monday morning last by the continued Whistling of a steamer on the river. Thinking there was a fire, one of the members of the local Fire Brigade got into harness and turned out. After a wait of about half-an-hour, and as no one else put in an appearance, the solitary hero returned home, sadder, but no wiser.

A suggestion that the public parks in Napier should be utilised for growing potatoes does not find favour with the Mayor. "I think the idea is absurd," he declared to a Press representative, " and those who advocate it should go' and try to dig. Where potato-growing could ba carried on with educative and profitable results is in the schools in the country. I advocated this scheme to the Efficiency Board, and was thanked for the suggestion. To turn our parks into potato patches with prospects of no reasonable gain, is absurd."