DISTRICT NEWS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 382, 11 June 1918, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

'CLEVEDON. FARMERS' UNION MEETING The monthly meeting of the Olevedon Branch of the Farmers' Union was held in the committee room of the Public Hall on Saturday May 25th, the members present being Messrs C. 0. Munro 'President), JnoShaw, H. J. Bull, C A.Fawcett, J. Luke, A. L. Atkinson, F. Stephens, J. Hancock, W. Stephens, L. H. Burgoyne, W.T. Bell, P. C. M. Waters, A. D. 8011, and J A Gundy (Secretary). Various corresi ondence was first dealt with, amongst which was a letter from the National Efficiency Board, appointing Mr C. A Fawcett a member of the Auckland Business Board of .Trustees working under the Efficiency Board. As Mr Fawcett thus automati-lly ceased to be a member of the local committee appointed to deal with appeals, it wts resolved to consider the appointment of a successor at the next meeting. The Provincial Secretary wrote asking what the Branch would suggest with respect to the Trading Company's negligence in the matter of collecting the Branch subscriptions Mr Gandy stated that he had interviewed l)r Huey (the Provincial Secretary) and found that he was powerless to act in the matter as it was the Trading Company's place to collect the subscriptions of Trading members, and they would not ttouble to do so. It was reto'vtd that the Secretary should write % to the Provincial Secretary, pointing out the Branch's views, and asking them to state definitely what they intended to do iu the mttter, as it would seem that the Trading Comeroy was treating the Farmers' nion Branches and the Provincial Office as a very secondary consideration. One new member was elected. It was decided to call the next meeting for 7 30. pm. on Saturday June 22nd.

" SLEEP V HOLLOW."

(By " Rip Van Winkle ".)

" I've bjought ye the keys o' the hall," said Tainmas, " au' yo'll ken Donal that its a great responsebetoy I'm ha din' ye as the new caretaker." ** Mon Tamma?," said Donald, 11 is no so tecreble as nw tint uoo, is it? May to I aucht to ha giy'n mair couaideerHtion tae the job before I took it." 4 Oh ! Ye'll na 'lo.t turn oot a ven guid iuon on the job,"' said Tauuua% " an' I'll ae be aboot tae assist ye wi' a weo kindly advice." '• Wit I in' o' advice," asked Tonald ? •« W< •'," f-aid Tammas, « wi' thae kddii'H throwra' stTnes thro' the A indecs aud breakin doon the fences be a beezy nion the noo; au' gang easy wi' the laddies, Donai, or mebee they'll gie a wee bit o' attention tai your ain windees." '«Losh!" said Donal, "I'm no likin' the job ihe noo." " Ye'll be ae* right an' ye gang canny," said Tammas, " an' noo I'll jut gie ye a leetle advice wi' respect to the management. Ye'll ken tae be ekenomeecal wi' the lights and no' waste guid mateereal. Ye'd ken tae pit jist a wee drappio kerosene in ate o' the big lamps, an' it'll gang oot afore the end o' the evanin' an' ye'll save a wee bit that way." " Mou !" said Donald, •■ Yons a graand idea, I wonner I i.o thoiht o' it masell" '• An' after a meetin' ye'll no mak' the floor too clean," sari Tammas, ''the dirt 'll keep the floor fra wearin' awa too soon. An' ye'll pile the lumber up in the cloak room, Dona), so the boys can no sit doon, an' that'll save the scats o' theii pants a wee." " Mon !" said Donal 1 , <; but yo're daein fine " 11 An' ye'll keep an eyo on yon new commettee," said Tammas. " an' no let Hum get awa wi ye They'll na dooi wish tae improve things a w>e, an' that'll no bo popular wi thae folk. An' ye'll no whisper that a light ootside the hall would be a grand improvement, or mebee they'll get anithir lamp an' kerosene's a f-arfu' price the noo, an' the convenience o' the j üblic is no' to bo thought o'. An' wi' these few rr-mniiks I'll lie gangin' awa the noo an'l'll meheo gie ye a woo bit look inaincein a whi'e, an' jist fea ye dinna gft fii>ky on the job."

EXIT WAIROA ROADBOAH)

T<> THE EOiroH Sir, I do not think it is proper to let the Wairon Bond l'oanl di--without using the occasion for m appreciation of its most nota' 1< chairmnn, viz , Mr C. W. Stephens senr. Ho occupif d the chair for thirteen yeirs Without doubt he wa the most useful and painstaking public man Olevedon hi:3 hud an 1 certainly the best Rrad Poaid chair man. Therefore when lie retired he woe treated to absolute non rrcogni tion of I is services. The s< lid con dition of the roads aid trills ol Olevedon is duo to il e energy, wisdom and foresight ol' Mr Pteph ens. To him is din tlin rnehlling tf the main road to Papakura, widiout burdening the ratepnynrs F.»it must bo remombcred h • only hud a little over £250 a v r 0" r t" me for the whole dish r> I fail. think our present p'o Id emld do it w.th their £'. ; oo<", oi is i f to . hr* £IOOO next year ? 1; In the face of grrat opposition Ko took advantage of tho Govnrr.mental offer of loans on the pi ii.e'pv of borrow £;>, hu* only n»fd t 1 : iy ► of £1 spread over twontv y> 1 « Mr Stephens also gut h ; s eifrih work dine in the sp ing wln»n t'»-■ ground was soft, but dry wi ith'i WAS ouning >n. and woo to the nun who tiiod to hint metal in wit weather. I would like to have he ml him on the raetal-haul : ng wo hud last winter in the wot! l!lio managers would not wnnt a repetition. In church work Mr Stephens was

also tir&t class and convoyed the finances of the Anglican Church and parsonage to satisfactory conditions. School Committees and other local affairs also got bis attention. Ih»n when he retired and left the distiiut to take his repose, not one word of public thanks or appreciation was tendered him—a sure sign he had done good woik. As it is written in Scripture : " A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country "—lam, etc., ' SAM. A. BROWNE. Clevedon.