LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 181, 9 June 1916, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Messrs Frank I'erkins and Co and Messrs A. 1\ Home and Son announce that on behalf of tha Te Aroha Bacon Company they will be buying pigs at I'ukekohc and Buckland on Monday, the I'Jth inst. In consequence of the discontinuance of the Thames express on and after Monday next, the mail for Rotorua and Thames will close at Pukekohe at 10.15 a.m., to connect with the Kotorua express train. The usual monthly meeting ct the Franklin County Council was held yesterday. Some of the matters dealt wiih are reported in this issue under separate headings, and the remainder of the report of the proceedings will apppear iu our issue of Tuislay next. Particulars of farm land at Clenbrook and business propsrty at Waiuku to be submittei to auc iia on behalf of Mr Francis Henry on Friday next by the New Zealand

Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, at their sale rooms in Auckland, will be found in an advt. in this issue.

Opportunity to acquire a desirable dairy farm is afforded by the sale to be held in their Pukekohe saleyards next Monday by the NewZealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company of the property of 7(> acres situated at Glenbrook formerly in the occupation of the late Mr Donald McPherson. It will come as a painful shoci to a great many people to find that the drink bill for the Dominion has increased largely durirs: the period of the war. At a time when onr Allies ana other parts of our Empire bave adopted many devices to reduca the consumption oi intoxicants the inhabitants of New Zealand have spent a great deal more than usual on liquor, and this despite the fact that so many able-bodud men are at the front. For 1915 the Dominion drink bill, uccording to Mr A. S. Adams, reached to £4,808,185, an increase of over 1914.

At the meeting of the Franklin County Council held yesterday the following resolution, proposed by the Acting-Chairman (Cr T. J. Lockwood) was adopted, viz. : " That this Council deeply deplores the lamented death of Earl Kitchener, Secretary of State for War, also its appreciation of tho great services he has rendered to our nation as a soldier and statesman, nor can we ever forget tho groat army he has organised during the great war in which wo are engaged." Interested parties are reminded that in consequence of his disposal of the property au important clearing sale of pure'bred Komneyand other sheep, cattle, horses, etc,, is to be carried out on Mr J. Loughlin's farm at Waerenga ou "Wednesday next by tho Farmers' Co-operative Auctioneering Compauy.

Cr J. Flanagan, chairman of the Franklin County Council, is at present in Wellington for the purpose of giving evidenco before the Parliamentary Petitions Committee in favour of the establishment of a central station for Drury and Runciman aud also to advocate the County's applications for grants for road works. In the latter instance he will act in conjunction with Cr Lockwood, who left for Wellington by last night's express.

Gratifying testimony both to the patriotic support given to deserving movements by the people of Fukekohe and to the efliciency of the organisation of the local branch of the Women's Patriotic Laagup, of which Mißs V. H. Webster is president, is afforded by the fact that Pukekohe heads (In list of country districts in the province in contributions tor the monthi of April and May to the Uiminion Gift Fluid, . with a tottl of 6 I J. r > gifts—either in cash or goods of the value of 2s 6d each.

Members of the Franklin County Council j'esterday passed a resolution congratulating the Hon. Sir F. W. Lang M.P., on tlio knighthood bestowed upon him by the King, Cr l.yons, in proposing tho notion, recording tho interesting fact that lie exorcised his first vote when Sir Fredorick was the member for the district A resolution was also adopted congratulating Majoi Ralph Wyinan, formerly of Pokeno, in tho honour ho had gained by receiving the l>.N(). mill in seconding tho lnolimi Cr Wileo\ mentioned that ho had two Miiis serving under tho gallaut olß'-er.

" That this Council, whilst joining with the whole British Empire ami our Allies in deploring the threat ami grieviuus loss of so many brave and noble lives in the recent naval battle in the North (Sea, rejoices that our grand old navy upheld all its most noble traditions and the lesult justifies all the coulidence the Britisri Empire has always placad upon its splendid navy and its heroic officers and men," were the words of a resolution passed yesterday by the Franklin County Council.

The committee appointed to supervise the work of renovating thi Pukekoho Methodist Parsonage at a recent meeting of the Trustees reported that the contract had been satisfactorily carried out by Mr H. J. Rollinson. The Superintendent of the Oilcuit, tho Rev. J. 11. Suckling, in retelling io tho satisfactory character of the renovation, expressed on behalf of himself and Mrs Suckling high appreciation of all that had been dono to make the parsonage comfortable and pleasing.

The many friends in this district of the Hon. F. W. Lang, the Speaker of the House of Kepresntative?, will be gratified to find his name in the list of Hirthday Honours, he having been created a Knight Bachelor. The distinction conferred on him will bs a popular one, for both in the House and out of it he has hosts of friends and no enemies. During bis long Parliamentary career, dating, with only one break, from 1893 to the present time, he has been distinguished for sincerity and integrity, an£ also for an unspoilt modesty somewhat rare in politicians. We trust Sir Frederick Lang, K. 8., may long be spared to represent Manukau and to fill the Speaker's Chair with bis wonted urbanity and impartiality.