DISTRICT NEWS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 373, 7 May 1918, Page 4

DISTRICT NEWS.

CLEVEDON. The Clevedon Agent for " the Times" is Mr W. H. Collett, from whom copies of the paper may be obtained. RATEPAYERS' ANNUAL MEETING. Under the chairmanship of Cr J. Lube the annual meeting of ratepayers of the Wairoa Road Board, which is shortly to merge in the Manukau County, was held at the Public Hall, Clevedon, on Saturday afternoon last. There were only a few ratepayers present in addition to the following members of the Road Board, viz., Messrs J. McConanghey, J. Duder, H. Walsh, and the Clerk fMr A. E. Bailey). The annual report was read by the Clerk and on the motion of Cr Luke was adopted. The report was as follows:—"In presenting our annual report for the past year we have to state that the account at the Bank has been drawn upon very heavily. Owing to the amount of repairs we have had to do to the roads by reason of the excessive wet season last autumn and winter, especially on roads not metalled, we have expended funds as far as we dared but there are a great deal more repairs required. On the Ardmore-Alfris-ton and Hamlin roads metal contracts have been let and the work satisfactorily done. On the North road some soft places have keen metalled. On the Brookby road matters in connection with the removal of slips by the Papakura Road Board are still unsatisfactory. At the request of the ratepayers of this Board, in conjunction with the Papakura Road Board, meetings were held with the view of forming a Drainage Board but after some consideration it was thought advisable to abandon the project. The Wairoa River road —Clevedon to Hunua—claimed our attention for some time. We tried to get the Public Works Department to re-erect the bridge across the river but were unsuccessful. In conjunction with the Franklin County Council we approached the Department to get the road opened up for wheel traffic but after some correspondence with the Department and the Premier, who promised to give the matter consideration when preparing the Estimates, nothing further has been done. An Inspector of the Public Health Department visited the township and recommended certain improvements to be carried out by owners and tenants which have since been canied out.

Arising out of the report Mr G. Mnnro raised the question whether the control of Thorp's Reserve would, when the Council took over the assets and liabilities of the Board, be under the County or the Riding. Cr Luke replied that the Riding member would have control although the Reserve would be vested in the County. With regard to the rate Cr Luke remarked that it would be advisable to levy the same rate over the increased value to tide them over the first year. As to the repairs to bridges, which were much needed, Cr Luke said he believed a grant of £2OOO would be obtained to meet that very necessary work. Mr Munro in alluding to the merging of the Board expressed his belief that the control of the district by the Manukau County Council would be beneficial to the district.

The report having been adopted Mr J. Gandy moved and Mr Trail seconded a vote of thanks to the members of the Road Board for their past services. Mr Gandy expressed the opinion that the control by one bodv was better than dual control. The Chairman, in acknowledging the vote of thanks, stated that he appreciated the valuable assistance always given the Board by the ratepayers generally. In thanking M| Gandy for his kindly remarks he assured them all that he as one of their representatives hoped to do better in the future than he had done in the past. Mr Duder briefly added his appreciation of the kind sentiments expressed and the meeting closed.

A Red Cross afternoon in aid of the Girls' Bandage Class was given by Mesdames Atkins and H. Browne at the latter's residence on Friday afternoon last. The attendance would doubtless have been larger but for the postponement of the event from the previous dav owing to the inclement weather. various games were indulged in and tea was served by the ladies. Altogether a pleasant time was spent and about £6 was realised which was regarded as encouraging. On Saturday afternoon a number of friends entertained Miss McKnight at the Public Hall, Clevedon, when tea was served by several ladies and a pleasant afternoon spent. The object of the gathering was to show the high esteem which their guest was held throughout the district and to make a present to her in view of her approaching marriage to Mr George Judd. Vocal items were contributed by ladies, Mr C. Munro, on behalf of many friends, pi evented Miss McKnight witli a gold wristlet watch accompanied with the best of wishes for her future happiness. Miss McKnight suitably replied, thanking all for their gift and good wishes accompanying the same. Miss McKnight, who is a (laughter of the late Mr J. J.. McKnight, as a late Clevedon resident was identified with the Presbyterian Church and Sunday School and always proved a most valuable worker in all social organisations in the district.

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«s £w m research. haai been, ihle twbßCOver, was ia «s«t2,W*JiuaiJJ before the iiirth of Cfcrist,ja«d aat jven then ia its infancy*

Careful scientific oteerwtkwuJahcwß that the average spaed of the transmission of an eartbguflke ttnek it le.WMt. per second. x < '■

Experiments hare pravaA that if\ fish get beyond a certain deptbi in tkeiaea,' they die from the pressune of nates* Which they are unable to yond a certain depth. , i

Boring a hole half-way (throngh ,the sole of a shoe is said to) prevent its squeaking. The reason iassigned ia jthat the air between the layers;of leather is released by the j boring.

The test for symmetry Us to tarn a man with his face to the> wall. His chest should touch it, his rnose should be four inches away, his thighs five and the tips of his toes thnee. (

Simla, the summer seat of thejlndian Government, is situated on'the side of a steep hill, so thai the;roof of one house is often on a .level' With the foundation of one in tier,

In the United Kingdom tliere is no ptate bank, but the Bank oflEngland, ithe Bank of Scotland, and theißank of 'lreland have Royal Charters, pnd the first and the last lend the Government. *

An African elephant is of value only for its ivory, of which a fulHsrown 'animal yields from £SO to) worth. On the other hand, aj working Indian elephant cannot be# bought for less than £SOO to £?7W.

The thickest-skinned quadruped hi the Indian rhinoceros, whoseihide has a knotty surface, and is so* impene* trable as to be able to withstand the claws of the lion or tiger "sand the bullet from the ;bore muskets.

Valetta, the capital of Malta, is oae of the most beautiful cities in the world. The whole of the buildings are of white stone, and there being no jsmoke or fog to discolor them, they fire as fresh now as they were the day they were erected.

Were it not for the multitude of storks that throng Egypt every winker there would be no living in some parts of the country, for after every inundation frogs appear in devastating swarms.

"Tommy Atkins" lias become the nickname of the British soldier from the fact that the printed forms used in the Army have the name "Thomas Atkins" printed 10 indicaie where tie user should write his name.

In Asia Minor, the "leader" of s herd of camels is frequently \a donkey —a much-respected animal in tha East. If the leader happens to tall ill, or be absent from any other the herd almost invariably mutißtaa,

•Birds cannot open the foot lrbtn the leg is bent; that is the reason 'they do not fall oft their perch, II you watch a hen walking, you will notice that it closes its toes as It raises the foot, and opens them, as it touches the ground.

The vital spark in tortoises is vflKjj strong. There is a recent reooni of « tortoise which lived six months aftm its brains had been removed. Another which had suffered decapitation showed life in the severed head thru 'days afterwards.

That which is popularly known m the "funny bone," just at the point of the elbow, is in reality not bone all, but a nerve that lies near the soß| face, and which, on getting a or blow, causes the well-known tinci line sensation in the arms aa| fingers.

Those who believe that feeding bottles for babies are the reault of modern civilisation are out of data The Greek nurses used to carry with them a sponge full of honey in a small pot to stop the children from crying, and in the British Museum are two Greek vases dating from 7H 8.C., which are much like feeding bottles used by the Romans sabW-i quently.

In Belgium it is the custom to give certificates of marriage in the form of little books, which also contain a summary of the marriage laws, and lamong a mass of other miscellaneous information, directions for the feed-, jing and care of infants. There plso places for entering the names birthdays of the children of the piarriage.

In each wing of the ostrich twenty-, eli long white plumes grow to maturity In eight months. In the males these are pure white, while those aj jthe female shade to ecru or grey. The jßhort feathers are plucked for tipej pnd each wing furnishes „seventy-ivs pt these. The tail feathers are of a {deep old Ivory color, and sixty-five of £ha&e have a commercial value. _ 1