LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 349, 1 February 1918, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tenders are invited by the Auckland Education Board for additions (in wood) to the Waiuku school. For particulars see advt in this issue. The hearing of the Mauku riding election petition is to be resumed at the Pukekohe Courthouse next Wednesday at 11 a.m. Messrs Frank Perkins and Co., of Pukekohe, desire to make it known that they are purchasers of bacon pigs, their price being per lb. The N.Z Farmers' Co-op. Bacon and Meat Packing Co., Ltd., will be buying pigs next week as follows, viz: At Pukekawa (9 a.m to 12) and Onewhero (12.30 to 3 30} on Monday, at Tuakau on Tuesday, at Pokeno on Wednesday, and at Te Kauwhata on Thursday. Particulars will be fouud in our advertising columns of entries for Messrs Alfred Buckland and Sons' sheep and ram fair to be held at Tuakau next Monday and of the N.Z Loan and M.A. Coy's similar sale at Tuakau next Thursday.

The special roll of ratepayers in connection with the proposed loan of £4OD for formation and metalling he half-chain road from DruryCuakau road towards Razorback (£300) and formation and metalling Jericho road (£lO C) has now been prepared and can be inspected at the office of the Franklin County Council.

The Fletcher milking machine is one of the best appliances of the kind on the market. The proprietors are the Fletcher Milking Machine Coy., whose headquarters •ire at Hamilton. Mr Fletcher proposes to vi it the Lower ,Waikato at an early date and farmers, contemplating the installation of machines, re invited to communicate with

The electric light installation in Pukekohe has not been on its best behaviour of late and for some evenngs in succession it has been a case of the light that failed, private houses being left without illumina tion thereby. Last Sunday evening the congregations at the various churches had to summarily depart, • 'evotions being rudely disturbed by the electric current suddenly ceasing.

As the result of some technical prror in the official arrangements as regards the substitution of Monday last as a bank holiday instead of Tuesday (Anniversary Day) the city branches of the banks alone closed on Monday, the country branches being open on that day and observing the holiday on Tuesday. No little public inconvenience was caused thereby. Someone hud blundered !

Following on an inspection made lately of the Waikato River Board's yroyues at Kaitangata by the Dis'rict Engineer of the Public Works Department, word has been received that the River Board have been requested to move about 70 pilles from the Kaitangata groynes which were right in the fairway leading to the Aka Aka channel. Tins has nothing to do with the larger question ot the groynes affecting, the Aka Aka channel or the eastern drain, but is the outcome of representation made by a launch proprietor to the Marine Department who have control of the river for uavigating purposes.

The Colonel was addressing a baud of Eed Cross nurses who were ab.mt to start for the war. He s.\i(l: —- ' Some of you are very young and voiy pretty - most of you are young and pretty—and I advise you to work hard over there and to do no tlirting Serious courtship is a different thing. Many of you, I'm sure, will be courted seriously, and will make good marriages with our soldier boys in France. But flirting, I know, you will avoid. A flirt—what is a ilirt'r A llirt is a rose from which everybody plucks a petal, leaving the thorns for the future husband "

Commenting in November on the shortage of paper, a Loudon trade journal said Owing to the paper ehortage no more foolscap paper will be used f. r official correspondence. Quarto and octavo sizes will take its place We venture toprelict that if the war is still going on in six months' time there will not only he further reductions in sizes of all publications, but that serious consideration will have to be given to further increases in price. If the paper shortage continues prominent wholesalers forecast that the publications to go first will he the cheaper novels, then poriodicals and luxurious papers, and last, tradn papers and newspapers should continuance of publication become impossible.

Intending exhibitors are reminded that entries for the Franklin A. and P. Society's annual show, to be held on Friday and Saturday. February 22nd and 23rd, close on Tuesday next. Mr John Beatty, on behalf of Messrs W. and R. Fletcher Ltd., will be purchasing pigs at Pukekohe next Monday, at Runciman on Tuesday, and at Tuakau and Pukekawa on Wednesday. Among the returned troops who arrived in Auckland yesterday were Walter L. Elliott (Papakura), James A. Mansell (Ofahuhu), Fred Marshall (Pukekohe), Lawrence G. Perry (Pukekohe), Thomas Scurrah (Otahuhu) and Ted Wall (Runciman). Messrs J. T, Stembridge and Co., are to carry out on Wednesday next a sale of the household effects of Mrs Lawson at her residence in West Street, Pukekohe. The house and section will also be submitted to auction. For particulars see advt. The triennial Licensiig Committee elections are to be held this year throughout New Zealand on Tuesday, March 12. The voters' register will be the same as that for Parliamentary elections, and the electoral rolls are now in course of preparation. The day is to be observed as a half-holiday from noon onwards, and all hotel bars will be closed. Messrs Roulston Bros., of Pukekohe, intend to shortly put into training a ccuple of 2-year-old geldings, one by Elysian— Seadeltoria and the other by Coronet—Te Coma. They are among the entrants for the Avondale Guineas to be run next spring. Another promising thoroughbred belonging to the same owners is a colt foal by Robert the Bruce and present indications are that he is likely to develop into a first-class performer. Messrs Boulston Bros. Bowler, whose running has been most disappointing, is now back at Pukekohe for a spell but may be ?iven a test later on over hurdles.

In reply to Mr G. Harrison, of Rama Kama, who wrote asking for information as to the difference between the live weight and the dead weight of pigs—(l) baconers, (2) porkers, the "Journal of Agriculture' supplies the following information, viz : "In the case of baconers. for dressed weight of carcase deduct 31 per cent, from live weight on the farm, or per cent, at the works if, say, two days after leaving farm, With porkers, deduct 35 per cent, or 31 per cent, under similar conditions."

The statistics of the Pukekohe Magistrate's Court for the year ended December 31st last show that criminal fines inflicted totalled £153 9s as compared with £7O 5s 9d for 1916. The increase is mainly due to the penalties imposed in connection with the Maori liquor cases from Tuakau. The actual number of prosecutions, viz, 63 charges and 57 convictions, were, however, less than in 1916 when there were 78 charges and 70 convictions. On the civil side last year 141 plaints were entered, £62 14a being paid in fees, and £1204 2s lOd being recovered as against 143 plaints entered, £B3 6s paid in fees, and £866 Is 5d amount recovered in 1916.

Although it would naturally be thought that Court records and books, as well as official documents, would be in secure keeping at any district court-house it is a curious fact that up to the present at Pukekohe they have been by no means f.lear of the risk of being destroyed by fire. In asking for certain improvements to be effected at the Pukekohe court-house a deputation of local J.P's. recently brought this fact under the notice of the Et. Hon, W. F. Massey, as the member for the district, and a reply has now been received that a safe is to be added to the equipment of the building.

There was only a small attendi nee at the meeting of the Pukekohe Ratepayers' Association held in the Council Chambers on Wednesday evening la9t. Mr E. F. Webster presided. The chairman read a letter from the Town Clerk (Mr J. P. Deane) stating, in reply to the representations made by a deputation from the Association, that the Council could not revoke its decision to collect from adjacent owners half the cost of kerbing and channelling roads. After an informal discussion a committee consisting of Messrs E. F. Webster, H. Faueett, Harold Smith, J. B. Brown and G. Blake were appointed to confer as to what action should be taken after ascertaining the legal position with regard to the matter in dispute. High values ruled for fat stock at the Westfield market on Wednesday last. Choice fat oxen sold as high as £2 13s per 1001b, and the average for this quality was £2 12s, last week's highest rate. Other beef cattle brought from £2 4s to £2 lis. Steers realised from £ll to £25. There was a steady demand for sheep, of which there was a good yarding. Generally the prices were equal to last week's rates. Extra heavy prime wethers realised from £1 17s to £ I 19s 9d. A moderate yarding of lambs met with keen sale at advanced prices. Fat lambs sold at from £1 10s to £l 14s 3d, the latter price being the record for the season Pigs sold well, choppers making up to £7 los, baconers £4 to £5 ss, porkers £2 to £4, and woaners from Ha to lis 6d.

It happened in a Christchurch auction room, (says the " Sun "). She was determined to purchase a certain suite of furniture and gave her bids determinedly. In the doorway stood a man of a type of bidder often seen at an auction—a man who, with back turned to the proceedings, intimated his bid to the auctioneer by the simple and blase process of flicking the ash from his cigarette. The price rose as the result of competition between the two from £l6 to £27, at which stage the flicking of the cigarette ceased, and the lady, in full triumph of the right to call the furniture her own, turned exultingly to her defeated rival. He also turned. There was a simultaneous gasp of amazement, as well there might—for they were husband and wife ! Through a misunderstanding, both had attended the sale with the specific intention of purchasing the same thing and hence the tragedy. Their little misunderstanding had resulted in a loss to them of £ll.