LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 286, 2 May 1929, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

During the week a number of Rugby football enthusiasts formed a working bee and devoted an after--coori to helping in the work of erecting the Putaruru Rugby Union’.-, training shed. ■ ■ ■ Putaruru presented a busier appearance on Saturday than it has done for some weeks past. No doubt the opening of the football' season had something to do with the increased number of people about. Messrs. East and Priestly, inspectors under the Auckland Education Board, have been in Putaruru durng the week conducting the term examinations at the Putaruru District High School.

At a meeting of the Putaruru Library Committee on Friday evening it was decided to take up the question of the formation of a modern drama circle of the Workers’ Educational Association and to work in with the Farmers’ Union in its efforts to have a branch of the association formed in Putaruru. On Friday the members of the Putaruru Town Board, with the engineer, assistant engineer and clerk >f works, met on the frontage of Princes street and inspected the work in progress. The question of levels ind loan procedure was explained to frontage owners. The strength of the Girl Guide .movement in Putaruru was strikingly illustrated at the Anzac Day service at the Town Hall on Thursday. Twenty-six members were on parade, and the fine hearing of the "iris was responsible for many a complimentary remark. The Putaruru Town Band, after a lengthy period in retirement, made ts first public appearance at the united service in the Town trail on Anzac Day. The band, which contains a number of youthful players, created a very favourable impression, and Mr. H. Brown, who is bandmaster, is to be congratulated, together with the members, on the progress made. Future appearances of the band will be awaited with interest by the public. A meeting of the executives of the Bowling, Croquet and Tennis Queens’ Committees was held at Mr. and Mrs. J. Francis’ residence on Monday ovening. Final arrangements were made in connection with the coronation and dance on Thursday. Mrs. Francis entertained those present to a delightful supper. A vote of thanks to Mrs. Francis for her hospitality on several occasions was proposed by Mr. A. G. Leggatt and carried by acclamation.

The recently-revived Boy Scout movement has caught on among the boys and 37 have joined. Rev. S. R. Wareing is scoutmaster and he has as his assistants Messrs. Tovey (formerly of the first Leyton troop, England) and Hoad (late of the Willersloo troop, England). Tirau lads are joining the local tvnnn. that the prospects for a successful branch of this organisation are bright.

Mr. L. W. Dixon, of Paeroa, is at present relieving Mr. Brookes, of the clerical branch of the Putaruru railway station staff, who is absent on sick leave.

The positions of the queens in connection w, u i the queen carnival are as follow : Bowling 4098, croquet 3017, tennis 2910. It is understood that there are in the vicinity of 2000 • votes sU 1 . 1 available that may swing I the honours to any one of the three. ; The interests of the young people as regards social enjoyment are not ■emg negiectea. Recently a club for boys, the “ Pymi ” Putaruru Young ivtuii s institute, was formed. Mr. Marshall, master in charge of the secondary department of the Putaruru District High School, is the prime mover in tne matter, and enjoyable evenings are spent by the —dinners of tne cluo. In welcoming Mr. T. S. Reid, chairman of "the Putaruru Library Committee, -to. tne meeting of tne Putaiuru branch of the Farmers’ Union on Saturday, the president (Mr. A. R. Vosper) said farmers sometimes thought of themselves as farmers only, but they should realise they were members of a community, and it was to the mutual help of all that there should be co-ordination between all classes. The carnival has caused much excitement during the last fortnight, for the crowning ceremony of the elected queen takes place to-night in the Putaruru Hall. At the present moment voting is very keen, each committee working hard to get its queen in. The evening promises to be most interesting, starting at 8 p.m. with a dance, vo.ir.g closing at 9 p.m., the crowning ceiemony taking place at 9.30, when a number of residents will be presented at court. The queen carnival, which has been in progress for several weeks past, is now nearing an end. Keen and friendly rivalry has been the order of the day between the bowling, croquet and tennis queens and various money-making yet enjoyable functions have been held. The various committees have worked hard and the culminating feature is to be reached to-night, wnen a grand coronation dance is to take place. A spectacular ceremony has been arranged, Mr. C. H. Clinkard, M.P., coming specially from Rotorua to crown the successful queen. An interesting feature will be the investiture of local celebrities. In addition to the worthy cause towards which the proceeds will go an enjoyable and novel entertainment is promised patrons.

The question of representation on the Motor Transport Advisory Council was before the Putaruru branch of the Farmers’ Union’ on Saturday. The provincial secretary, Mr. A. E. Robinson, wrote asking the branch to pass its opinion on the constitution of the board, which is made irr as follows : Or.e Government chairman, one representative of each of the following bodies, North and South Island Motor Unions, New Zealand Master- Carriers,’ New Zealand labour organisations, omnibus proprietors, service car proprietors, wholesale ar.d retail motor trade, New Zealand Counties Association, Municipal Association. The letter stated inter alia “ that a representation of one in nine promises ..little. .Any senerne introduced by the Minister of Transport without due regard to the interests of the railways is bound to react prejudicially to the farming community, upon the members or which all costs of railway transport are eventually heaped. The object in setting up the Highways Board was to relieve the ratepayers as much as to provide more economical roads for motors, but the tendency has already been to lean too much toward the motorist, who it should be remembered obtains for nothing all the tens of millions already expended in the past.” The secretary, Mr. L. M. Nicklin, suggested taking three away from the motor representation and giving one to railways and two to the farmers. If the motor trades were to be divided, as they were, why not the farmers into representatives of sheep, dairy and other farms? The branch decided to enter a protest against the representation as at present constituted.