LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 315, 21 November 1929, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Building permits to the value of £BO 10s were approved by the Putaruru Town Board at its November meeting.

Ivan Jenkin,_of Putaruru, appeared before Mr. Justice Herdman in the Supreme Court at Hamilton on Tuesday, charged with a serious offence against a girl. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty.

Swimming parades for Putaruru District High School children was commenced last week, and a great deal of interest is being taken in the weekly lessons.

At the November meeting of the Putaruru Town Board, Donald McBeath applied for permission to transfer the sanitary contract to A. Schiska.—The board decided to agree to the transfer subject to everytMng being in order.

Surprise at the progress of the development of Tokoroa was expressed by members of the Thames Valley Power Board on Thursday. One member stated that he wished he lived close enough to take up several hundreds of acres for turnip growing purposes.

In connection with the farewell visit of Their Excellencies the Gov-ernor-General, Sir Charles, and Lady Alice Fergusson, to Rotorua next week, the Putaruru company of Girl Guides have been invited to form part of the guard of honour that will be provided by the Bay of Plenty district.

At the last meeting of the Putaruru Town Board there was a letter from the Waikato Hospital Board to the effect that it was proposed to add to the capital expenditure of the Hospital Board to the amount of £3500 for the erection of additions to the infectious diseases ward. The chairman (Mr. G. G. Griffiths) said that it meant an increased levy next year.

The esteem in which the late Mr. Walter Lilley was held by Arapuni and district residents was evidenced by the large cortege that followed his mortal remains to the Putaruru cemetery on Sunday afternoon. The Rev. E. H. Atkey officiated at the graveside, and he also conducted the service of the Oddfellows’ Lodge. The pall-bearers were the deceased’s tunnel mates. A large number of floral tributes accompanied the casket. Several members of the Thames Valley Power Board who visited Tokoroa on Thursday last, expressed themselves in no uncertain tones about the action of those responsible for the tree-planting on the Club Run. It was pointed out to these gentlemen that even the Minister of Lands (the Hon. G. W. Forbes) expressed surprise at the then suggestion that the block in question was to be so utilised.

When the question of building permits were under discussion at the November meeting of the Putaruru Town Board, the clerk (Mr, A. H. Dukeson) said that a building inspector'was wanted badly. The permits were always provocative of a great deal of trouble. The chairman (Mr. Griffiths), in referring to a building inspector, said that they could have anything if 'they were prepared to pay for it.

| At the November meeting of the Putaruru Town Board the chairman (Mr. Griffiths) gave notice of motion to the effect that a brick area be constituted, such area to extend from Yandle’s butcher shop around past Simpson’s, to the school, Princes ; street to the school, along the main road to Spears’old garage, and up to A. E. Barr Brown’s. Mr. Griffiths said that this was a rough idea and would serve the purpose for opening up the subject.

The Putaruru District High School was the scene of a pleasant little function on Friday afternoon, when Standards 5 and 6 met to say farewell to Mr. E. Cooke, who has been a member of the teaching staff for some time past. In presenting Mr. Cooke with a fountain pen, Master Neville Barnett, head prefect of the primary department, paid a tribute to the interest taken in the two classes by • the departing teacher. Miss Eunice Yandle, head girl prefect in the same department, endorsed the sentiments. Mr. Cooke suitably responded. After afternoon tea had been served, the gathering broke up with the singing of “ Auld Lang Syne.”

The Urijan Rating Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives last session, and subsequently shelved, was referred to at' the November meeting of the Putaruru Town Board. The chairman (Mr. Griffiths), in referring to the clause providing for a commission to be held if undue hardship was alleged, stated that the difficulty lay in proving “ undue hardship.” The local body should share in the increment tajade by the provision of roading and the establishment of houses around farms so situated, so that the ratepayers who have borne the burden should be able to recoup themselves. There would be no handicap to farmers so long as they ran such farms as a business. Mr. Tomalin was of the opinion that no farmer could pay rates asked for in town areas. He believed in the unearned increment going to the people who helped to make it. The Putaruru Brass Band will play a programme at Arapuni on November 17 at 2.30 p.m.*

It is freely rumoured in Putaruru that a reduction in railway freights is shortly to be made by the Railway Department.

At a recent meeting of directors of the Morrinsville Dairy Company the following resolution was carried unanimously : “ That this meeting strongly protests against the action of the Government in withdrawing the export subsidy upon pork exported to Britain without concurrently abolishing the import duty upon grain offal suitable for pig / The danger of tinkering with a light close to benzine was exemplified by an incident that occurred during the week-end. Mr. D. Taggart, of Moorhouse street, .was endeavouring to solder a leak in a benzine tank and pilayed a blowlamp on to the outside of the tank. Immediately a small quantity of benzine inside the receptacle was turned into gas, and as soon as the flame was played over the hole the gas exploded. Mr. Taggart’s face was scorched, while some of the flying debris became embedded in his forehead.

A miraculous* escape from serious injury was experienced by three boys, Robert. Albert and Leonard Gallaher, at the Te Rapa racecourse on Saturday "afternoon. The lads, who are aged 15, 14 and 8 years respectively, were knocked dowif by a motor car driven bv Mr. J. Pretty, of Morrinsville, which was passing through the gate at the entrance to the grounds. As the races had just concluded there was a big crowd about at the time. The boys were run over by the car and were pinned underneath. Two escaped with bruises and Leonard received abrasions to the face.

Newspaper men in the course of their daily rambles come across all kinds of interesting and uninteresting things, but the most interesting found by a Franklin Times reporter for a long time, is an old horse in the Waiau district. The old chap, according to the owner, is 34 years of age, and has been owned by Ms present owner for 20 years. “ Has he ever had anytMng wrong with him ?” asked the pressman. “ Yes,” came the reply, “ he was ill four years ago, and to my knowledge that is the only occasion on which he has been ill.” The old horse appears hale and hearty and after his years of usefulness, is spending his declining years at leisure on a beautiful farm. True, he is a great favourite with the owner’s family, and is, as far as known, the oldest horse in Franklin.

The joint conference of Hawke’s Bay counties in Napier the other day passed a new by-law making it necessary for persons who travel from place to place soliciting orders by samples, to take out a hawker’s license. One delegate remarked, amid laughter, that such people should be under the Noxious Weeds Act. One delegate asked if the by-law covered the seller of a motor car as he took his sample with him. Another speaker commented that the car salesmen were a bigger nusiance than anyone. It was remarked, however, that the by-law was not meant to cover car salesmen.

The b? a certain mental hospital recently decided to give one of the inmates —a sweet old lady —a motor airing. The car duly came round to the main entrance and the party, wMch included a dignified police sergeant, took their seats. No sooner were all comfortable than the little lady took the sergeant’s shako from his head and lightly tossed it on to the roadway. Now, a police sergeant cannot be expected to look dignified without his helmet, so he gravely recovered Ms headgear, and resumed his seat in the car. No sooner had he settled himself, than the little lady again tossed Ms shako on to the roadway. As he resumed his seat the second time the little lady, with a winning smile, placed her hand gently on his arm, and murmured: “ Don’t wear that cap, dearie; it makes you look so old.” It was a long time before the sergeant fully recovered Ms dignity. Among incidents related by Mr. 18. L. Dallard, Prisons Controller, as illustrating the beneficial effect of more humane treatment in Borstal Institutions to youthful lawbreakers was the following:— Two lads were placed in a position of trust. They responded well and were granted many privileges by the officer. One afternoon the opportunity came to steal the officer’s bicycle. They took it and escaped. After having ridden a considerable distance, towards nightfall they stopped to rest awhile. While resting one said to the other: “ Old J hasn’t been so bad to us. Don’t you think it was rather a low down trick letting him down like this?” The other agreed. They set to and cycled back to the institution. That night two weary lads were let in at the door by the night watch. The officer in charge, when he heard what had brought them back, was overjoyed that the two lads had found themselves.

There is at the present time a serious shortage of farm hands in the Morrinsville district, the demand being far greater than the supply. The difficulty of obtaining suitable men was emphasised by the experience of a Kereone farmer, who advertised three times both in an Auckland daily and in the Morrinsville Star without securing a single reply. Another farmer had a similar experience. Labour beaureaux stated they had no farm hands on their books. One Auckland mar. was given his train fare to Morrinsville but failed to put in an appearance. In desperation the farmer mentioned above started answering applications himself. requesting the advertisers that if they received more than one reply to forward the application to him. He has now got a man, but there are a number of farmers in Kereone and other districts who are still vainly looking for men. Apparently the relief works have gathered in all available labour. , , ,