LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 356, 1 March 1918, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Papakura Town Board invite applications for a man to carry out their sanitary service. For particulars see advt.

The Tuakau Town Board, per advt. in this issue, invite tenders for road work at Tuakau. Mr W. G. Kirkman, manager of the Pukekohe butter factory, accompanied by Mrs Kirkman, left to-day on a month's holiday to be spent in Eotorua, Taupo and Tauranga.

Messrs W. G. Shotbolt and Co. are making a special display of hats, blouses, costumes, dresses, etc., at : their establishment in Pukekohe and an inspection of the same is invited. The rainfall for the month of February, as recorded on the Rosemont gauge by Mr Stanley Sinclaire, totalled 3] inches as compared with 9-£ inches for February of last year. Rain fell on eleven days, the heaviest falls being "2ins. on February Hth and 61ins. on February 15th. Mr W. Tapp, of Onehunga, the well-known raiser of onion seed, gives denial in our advt. columns to any suggestion that his seed has been a failure and he anuounces that the new season's seed is obtainable of his Pukekohe agent, Mr Wm. Roulston.

At the meeting of the Auckland Education Board on Wednesday Miss I, D. Frost was appointed assistant teacher at Pukekohe East school and Miss M. Ross relieving teacher at Aka Aka, the name of Miss F. A. Battersby being selected to be forwarded to the Papakura School Committee for proposed appointment as assistant teacher at that school.

In connection with the forthcoming patriotic carnival to be held at Otahuhu on Saturday of next week attention is drawn to the advt. in our columns relative to the competitions for cookery and produce. As there are no entrance fees payable it is hoped that ladies in the Pukekohe district and elsewhere will enter.

Official advice his been received by Mr Robt. Bilkey, of Pukekohe, that his third son, Private Overend ("Ovey") Bilkey, is in hospital suffering from heart trouble One other member of the family is still in the trenches, a second has been wounded and is in hospital, and another son was returned invalided some time since

The annual harvest festival will be held in St James' Church, Pukehohe, on Sunday next. The service in the morning will be conducted by the Rev S. Nixon and in the evening there will be a combined service of Buckland and Pukekohe congregations at which the Rev S. Nixon and Mr E. Allan will officiate. Special anthems will bo rondoroil l>y the choir.

The N.Z. Loan and M,A. Coy are to hold their second snoop lair of the season at Tuakau on Thursday next.

The usual monthly meeting of the Franklin County Council will be held next Thursday.

Messrs Alfred Buckland and Sons are to hold their second sheep and ram fair of the season at Tuakau next Monday. Particulars of the entries are advertised in this issue.

Mr John Boatty, on behalf of Messrs W. and R. Fletcher, Ltd., will bs buying pigs at Pukekohe next Monday, at Runciman on Tuesday, and at Tuakau and Pukekawa on Wednesday.

Messrs Frank Perkins and Co announce by advt. in this issue that they have just opened up the new seasons grass and clover seeds, samples of which can be seen at their stores at Pukekohe.

The N.Z Farmers' Co-op Bacon and Meat Packing Co., Ltd., will be buying pigs next week as follows: at Pukekawa and Onewhero on Monday, at Tuakau on Tuesday, at Pokono on Wednesday, and at Te Kauwhata on Thursday.

The list of schools for which certificates of merit for school garden and elementary agricultural work during 1917 were awarded by the Auckland Education Board includes Aka Aka, Afriston, Bombay, Mangere Bridge, Mauku. Patumahoe, Rama Rama, and Tuakau. Under the chairmanship of the Mayor (Mr H. G. R. Mason) a small but representative gathering assembled at the Masonic Hall, Pukekohe, on Tuesday evening last when interesting addresses on " Waste Products of the Dominion " were delivered by Messrs A Schmitt (late of the Farmers' Union) and T. H. Fegan. The speakers dealt with the advantages to be gained by utilising the bi-products of slaughter houses, sawmills and flaxmills, household refuse, scrap tin, etc. A deputation from the Pukekohe School Committee waited on the Finance Committee of the Auckland Education Board on Tuesday evening last and urged that the claims for the establishment of a Technical High Bchool at Pukekohe should be considered by the Board. The deputation consisted of Messrs F. Perkins (chairman), J. Patterson, J. Wyatr, A. F. Brown, E. Smith, J. Bellhouse, and Rev S. Nixon. The deputation pointed out that in view of the rapid growth of the district an urgent need was felt for 'the establishment of a well equipped Technical High School at Pukekohe and claimed that the grant made fey the Government of the sum of £286.1 for the erection of a suitable infant school did not meet the requirements of the district. The deputation mentioned that the proposal had the support of the Borough Council and that it was hoped the request would receive the serious consideration of the Board. The Board, replying to the deputation, promised to defer proceeding with the erection of an Infants' Department until after the visit of the Hon J. A. Hanan (the Minister of Education) and Dr Anderson (the Director of Education) to Pukekohe at an early date. At the meeting of the Board on Wednesday the Finance Committee recommended that the erection of a separate infant department at Pukekohe, for which a grant had been made, be deferred for the present. The recommendation was approved.

" One of the rank and file " writes as follows:—With railway revenue diminishing and expenditure increasing, as shown by the latest returns, economy on the part of the Railway Department should, it is only reasonable to expect, be practised. Another "soft" billet ha.-, however, been brought into existence, t lady having been appointed as ai inspector for the station dining rooms, ladies' waiting rooms aud ladies' sleeping cars. Since a male supervisor already exists, whose duties comprise inspection nnd examination of the dining rooms, and as there is in each instance a manager on the spot, it would seem that such an appointment as has now been made is superfluous as regards the dining rooms. Then again a stationmaster surely exercises supervision over his station premises whilst sleeping cars are looked after by the attendants. Nevertheless, the facts are that the new post carries with it the nice little remuneration of £250 and it lias been bestowed on a lady who was previously a member of the staff of a Wellington drapery firm, and whose particular qualifications for the appointment are unknown except perhaps to the officials responsible for the selection.