THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO With which is incorporated "The Kaipara Advertiser & Waitemata Chronicle" HELENSVILLE, THURSDAY, March 21,1918 FLASHES.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 21 March 1918, Page 2

THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO With which is incorporated "The Kaipara Advertiser & Waitemata Chronicle" HELENSVILLE, THURSDAY, March 21,1918 FLASHES.

Boy wants situation on farm. A reward is offered for the return of a brooch (military badge) lost on Saturday last. At the Town Board meeting on Thursday last a resolution was passed asking Mr A. Becroft to prepare plans for the I new Fire Brigade station. The Railway boys intend holding a fancy-dress social in the Star Theatre on Monday evening next, and a good time time is anticipated. It was decided at the last meeting of the Helensville Town Board to abandon the tree-planting scheme until proper levels have been taken and the main street has been properly formed. When you're invited out you're now expected to take your own tea, sugar, and butter; and on account of the shortage of men, girls must bring their ' own spoons.—London Opinion. The Town Board decided at its last meeting to tar and sand Awaroa bridge, to erect a fence at Pipitiwai bridge, and also to fence the approaches on the town side of the concrete bridge. The Ideal Drapery Stores, Commercial Road, advertise that they will soon be opening up a big stock of winter goods, and that all summer stock will be reduced to half-price. At the last meeting of the Helensville Domain Board it was decided that Mrs H. C. Gunn be appointed as bath attendant at the Springs from March 28th, and that Miss McGrorry be asked to continue the duties until April 6.

The amount of moneys received by Mr J. Sproston as payment for Dog Tax collecting, £4 19s, has been kindly donated by him to the Helensville Publi c Library for the purchase of new books. The Town Board has also donated a sum of money for the same purpose.

The work in connection with the Helensville School swimming bath has commenced in real earnest. Early in the week a strong working bee was busily engaged unloading a quantity of shell and sand for the concrate work. It will not be long now before these baths are a reality.

The annual harvest thanksgiving services will be held in the Kaukapak apa Church on Sunday next at 3 p.m. and 7.45 p.m. The Rev. Morgan Richards of Howick will preach at both services. Everybody is invited to be present, and gifts of fruit, produce, preserves, etc., will be gratefully accepted.

A special meeting of the Helansville Town Board will be held on Monday, 25th March to confirm a resolution adopting a scale for the licensing of motor vehicles. The matter of the £1400 loan to be raised for the purpose of paying off the liability already incurred by the Board in connection with the erection of the Helensville-Parakai Bridge, will also come up for confirmation at the meeting.

A special War Loan advertisement appears in this issue, and is of yital importance to everyone. The war has reached a great crisis, and only by absolute unity can freedom be maintained. It is admitted that to overcome aggressive and brutal force a superior force must be employed. To provide such a force money is a prime necessity. A further nine and a-half millions is now required, and no person or class should neglect their financial responsibility, be it ever so small or ever so great.

Widespread damage was caused by the cyclonic gale which raged during the early part of the week, and from the King Country comes news of terrible suffering and awful devastation through bush fires —the most, disastrous in the history of New Zealand. Miles of forest, many sawmills, thousands of stock, and homes-and public buildings have been demolished, the township of Raetihi, eight miles south-west of Obakune, suffering the greatest destruction. The hundreds of homeless people were conveyed to Ohakune, and measures have been taken.for their immediate relief. The fires were checked by ha-avy rain on Tuesday morning. The whole countryside is smouldering, bat the danger is now believed to be passed.