LOCAL TOPICS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 304, 5 September 1929, Page 5

LOCAL TOPICS.

(By

“ Verax.”)

The Road Mender? Probably there are few readers of the Press who have not read “ The Road Mender,” by Michael Fairless. This is by way of introduction to the subject of the Putaruru roads, for the road menders have been again at work, and “ Verax ” makes no apology for saying that the money of the ratepayers of New Zealand, as well as Putaruru (seeing that the Main Highways Board is said to be bearing a share of the cost), has again been wasted, for to merely fill the pot holes with metal without any binding or rolling is waste of

money, and the metal is scooped out by motor traffic in about as short a time as it takes to fill the holes. There is no denying the fact .that the roads are in need of attention—never were there roads in more urgent need—but to repair them in the haphazard manner referred to above is a “ bit over the fence,” if one can be pardoned for using a colloquialism. A traveller who has been coming to Putaruru for the past 10 years stated to “ Verax ” that the roads in the town were not much better now than

when he first came to our little city. The writer once heard a distin- j guished American visitor (a Senator) lecture, and the lecturer stated that the art of roadmaking had yet to be ] learned in New Zealand. Goodness j OTll V lcnnws wlinf VIQ xxmnl/l limm fmi/1

if he had come to Putaruru ! Surely i roller could have been borrowed from the Matamata County Council. Fhis is the second time within five nonths that the roads have been so n ended.

God’s Acre. A prominent member of the Cemetery Board of Trustees, in conversation with “ Verax,” stated that a meeting of the board would he held at an early date, when certain recommendations would he brought down that would be responsible for placing “ God’s Acre ” in conditions bordering on decency. The Town Board’s attitude on this question was the only possible one to adopt in the circumstances. What the writer would like to see would be a good clean up in the first place by a strong working bee and then have the cemetery placed under the control of the Beautifying Society.

Epidemic of Departures. Influenza and other ills that human flesh is heir to are not the only things that assume epidemic form. Putaruru has of late suffered from a visitation of removals of well-known and highly-respected citizens, until, as one gentleman recently put it, instead of presentations being given to departing guests such should be made to those who remain behind.

Helping the Young. Judging by a reference to local Court statistics there is an almost entire absence of juvenile crime in Putaruru, and no doubt the many organisations that exist for the amusement of the young in the town are largely responsible for this very satisfactory feature of the life of Putaruru. In few towns of a like size are there so many institutions catering for the entertainment and education of the young as is the case In our village, and those who so unselfishly give up their time to conducting these no doubt feel rewarded by the success that attends their efforts. In too many towns sittings of Juvenile Courts are far too frequent. A Splendid Effort.

The splendid effort made by the Putaruru branch of the W.D.F.U. last May, when the contribution from Putaruru was the second highest in the Dominion, calls for congratulations, but it was only to be expected from such an enthusiastic organisation. “ Verax ” is only a mere man and therefore does not attend the meetings of the W.D.F.U., but he knows that the members of the Farmers’ Union often wish that their members displayed the enthusiasm that the ladies do. Apparently they do not have to wait for an hour for a quorum to turn up. The ladies are indeed to 'be congratulated in upholding the reputation of the district as they have done.