KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO With which is incorporated "The Kaipara Advertiser & Waitemata Chronicle.'' HELENSVILLE, THURSDAY, Feb. 14, 1918 FLASHES.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 14 February 1918, Page 2

KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO With which is incorporated "The Kaipara Advertiser & Waitemata Chronicle.'' HELENSVILLE, THURSDAY, Feb. 14, 1918 FLASHES.

The Town Clerk notifies that a penalty of 10 per cent will be charged on all rates not paid by Friday, 15th February.

Mr Jas. Hand's Lady Paula (9st 31b) was just beaten by Sylvasco in the Otorohanga Handicap at Te Kuiti on Saturday last.

A good deal of green flax has changed hands in the North lately. A Wellington expert states that the local stuff easy of access is worth anything from £1 to 30s per ton as it stands in the bush.

A very heavy downpour of rain occurred on Sunday night, over two inches of rain falling before 9 a.m. on Sunday morning. This fall, though rather sudden, will be very beneficial to pasture land throughout the district.

Four candidates tor the* Auckland Land Board have been nominated in ,an election closing on March 12. They are Messrs J. Trounson (retiring member), H. O. Cooper, Waihou; Henry Lane, Opua; and Jas. McLeod, Helensville.

It is with pleasure we have to record the fact that the longstanding wash-out in Commercial Road is now filled in, and that a good job has been made by the building in of a large concrete culvert sufficient to carry away all the storm water.

The s.s. Wairua, after having been laid up for some months, is to be placed in commission again shortly. She is to be converted into a partial cargo carrier, on the same lines as the Ruawai, which should prove more satisfactory to all concerned.

A very large number of sheep were put under the hammer at the Auckland Farmers' Co-op. Sheep Fair at Helensville on Friday last. The days are getting noticably shorter, worse luck, as our township is still in darkness during the evening—not a street lamp in the town. Those interested are reminded that the Town Board office will be open all day to-morrow (Friday), from 10 a.m., for the purpose of receiving rates that are due. A meeting of the members of the Helensville Brass Band is advertised to take place in the Library on Tuesday, February 19th, at 8 p.m. Men and women who believe in plain living and high thinking are earnestly invited to assist the Voluntary Economy Campaign. Owing to the Ideal Drapery Stores having had such a successful sale in Helensville, they have decided to continue for another ten days, with a complete new stock. The repairs to the traffic bridge at the lower end of the township arc-now complete, and the new decking, which is of Australian hardwood, will be greatly appreciated by the travelling public The tourist traffic to the Hot Springs is steadily increasing each year. We have now two motor services running from the Railway station to the Springs, both doing a brisk business.

The Waiwera Show will be held on Saturday, February 23, and, given fine weather, this popular fixture should be well patronised. The motor'bus will leave Helensville at 8 a.m. on the morning of the Show.

The Kaipara River, at the present time, is teeming with sharks. One day last week a few natives caught no less than 100 of these monsters. On Sunday last a fishing party managed to hook and land a ten footer, which took four men to bring aboard the launch.

A rare musical treat is in store for the public of Helensville on Friday, February 22nd., when Mr Ernest Drake, the leading tenor of Auckland, who is supported by a brilliant company of high-class artists, will appear at the Lyric Theatre. Lovers of good music should not fail to attend this splendid entertainment. Full particulars in our next issue.

For the purpose of raising further funds for the Helensville school swimming bath, it is proposed to hold a sports meeting on Easter Monday. A public meeting is called for Monday, 25th February, for the purpose of electing a committee,, etc., and making^ other arrangements for the day's amusement. For such a purpose there should be a good attendance of the public so that a good day's sports may be arranged.

The Committee of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Helensville have arranged the following special services .—Church Anniversary, March 3rd, Helensville, 11 a.m., Sacrament of the Lord's Supper; 7 p.m., anniversary service; preacher, Rev. R. L. Walker, M.A., of St. James' Auckland. Harvest Festival, March 10th, Helensville 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.; preacher, Rev. Jas. Pattison, of Somervill Memorial Church, Remuera.

The Waitemata County Council at its last meeting passed a resolution to the effect that the enforcement of a by-law for the eradication of gorse in the special area of 1540 acres at Henderson, should be proceeded with. Mr M. Laing was the only dissentient to the resolution. Some of members said they thought the area too large, and Mr Oliphant, the Riding member chiefly concerned, promised to have it reduced to about 600 acres, comprising the township area and the immediate vicinity only.

Motorists and others please take note of the following extracts from the "Winterless North" weekly :—" We learn that owing to the continued bad state of the main road, the question has been mooted of holding the Magistrate Court sittings in Mangonui for the winter months. Owing to the temporary spasm which convulsed Our erstwhile perfect climate during the past week, the Juvenile Players were compelled to cancel their southern dates." We also have temporary spasms in that direction, but then we have a winter to cool our ardour. One ounce of sugar wasted in ' each N.Z. home means 65,000 701b bags in the year. One ounce of butter wasted daily in each N.Z. home represents 2000 tons a year, the total yield from 32,000 cows.