LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 84, 17 September 1915, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Bev. G. Frost will preach in the Pukekohe Methodist Church on Sunday morning on " Christian Patriotism." A notice ot importance to plumbers appears in an adt. in tbis issue concerning the regulations of tbe numbers' Board of Mew Zealand. The following subscriptions have been received by Mr H. Bockett for Dr Barnardo's Homes, viz. : Jas. H. Tozcr and H. Bockett, £1 each; Wm. Koulston and Wm. Towneon, 10s each; Mrs and Miss Towneon and Miss Shepherd, 5s each; total, £3 15s. Recent donations to the " Times " Tobacco Fund for the benefit of troops at the Front are £2 7s (received from Mr Coady as half-pro-ceeds of last Wednesday's picture entertainment) and 10s from Mr H. Dell.

The existing spell of "muggy" weather is causing consternation to the potato growers cf the district. The dieaderi blight, as previously retorted, has already wrought havoc among the early varieties of "epuds" and a continuation of close and humid atmospheric conditions will, it is feared, lead to further extensive trouble. Spraying operations are being everywhere vigorously resorted to.

Writing under date of July 2iJth to Mr S. W. Mills, of Pukekohe, Lieut. Hatt states that he had just received from Mr Mills a present of 50 cigarettes. He say?, "It is so good ot you to send me some smokes and it soothes a fellow, besides going a long way to help over a very rough time."

Two cases of diptheria in Pukekohe are engaging the , attention of the Health Department. The patients are young children, who reside at diverse ends of the borough. Prompt steps have been taken by the Departmental Officers to arrest extension of the outbreak. The report is current that the source of the affection was common in both cases but such is incorrect inasmuch as the children concerned have never been in contact and only one of them was attending school.

Mr F. Perkins, of Pukekohe, has just completed a visit paid to the leading centres of the North Island in connection with the forthcoming opening of the potato season, and cc states that mtrchants freely complain that many ot tbe Pukekohe growers show a complete disregard of grading requirement?. Mr Perkins is ot opinion that unless proper grading methods arc observed Pukekohc's potato industry will be adversely affected as retailers in other parts threaten tj endeavour to make arrangements for potato growing tit be carried out in their respective localities on a large scale.

A particular feature of Messrs Ccoper and Curd's busy coach building and motor works in Pukekohe is tbe specially arranged enclosure where motor curs are painted. An artist, with 15 years' city experience in this particular branch of the trade, was to be seen at work a few days ago putting on the finishing touches to Mr f Je:rge Morgon'a (Mercer) 35 horse-power, 8-seater Hudson car. Before painting the car was washed down, four dajs bting spent in preparing it for the paint, which wai of a battleship grey ctlour. Dust is prevented from lodging ci the car during painting operations by the dust proof awijgs that are arranged overhead and at the sides. The car, when finished, had qaite a bran new appearance.

At the meeting of the Pukekohe Borough Council on Wednesday, Cr Comrie tendered his ren'gnation as a member of the Council, due to his transfer of residence to Auckland. The Mayor moved that the resignation should be accepted, and that the Council should place on record their appreciation of the services Cr Comrie had rendered the town A Councillor from the creation of the Borough, Mr Comrie, the Mayor said, had always commanded the confidence of the ratepayers. Cr Hubbard seconded. and Crs Barter, Uilkey and Patterson all bore testimony to the good and tearless work performed by Mr Comrie. The resolution was unanimously carried, and Mr Comrie suitably replied in acknowledgment. The Returning Officer, Mr J. V. Deane, has fixed Monday, tbe 27th insr., as the last day of nominations for hilling the vacant seat on the Council, polling, if any, being fixed for Wednesday, October 6th.

Whilst on a business visit, just completed, to the principal towns in tbe North Island, Mr ¥. Perkinß, one of Pukekohes's leading traders, made a point of securing information that might * prove some guide in influencing the choice that sooner or later tbe residents of Pukekohe will be called on t) make between gas and electricity for lighting purposes. The enquiries made by Mr Perkins convince him that gas is everywhere being superseded by electric light, and that the latter should certainly secure the preference in Pukekohe. In addition to its facilities and advantages in regard to illumination, Mr Perkins states that busness men all testity to electricity surpassing gas es a source of power for driving machinery.