LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 429, 26 November 1918, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We must apologise to our readers for a scarcity of news in this issue but with different members of our reporting and composing staff laid low with influenza publication at all has been a matter of no little difficulty.

Tenders are invited by the Franklin County Council (per advertisement in this issue) for various road works.

It has been decided that the public schools, which were closed owing to the epidemic, will not be re-opened until the conclusion ot the Christmas holidays. In a late list of miiitary decorations conferred upon soldiers we notice the names of the following local men Corp. Franklin C. Fruin, Waiuku (died of wounds), M.M ; Pte. Edward M. Huggins, Mangere, MM. and Pte. Robert Thompson, Mangatangi, D.C.M. According to present arrangements the usual sitting of the Pukekohe Magistrate's Court is to be held next Thursday, when Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., will preside. The adjourned cases due to come on for hearing include the Onewhero school controversy libel action.

The death took place at Ohakune on the 13th inst. from influenza pneumonia of Mr John Henry Stone, only son of Mr and Mrs H. Stone, of Edinburgh Street, Pukekohe. The deceased, who was 29 years of age, served with the Bth Reinforcements but returned invalided a few months ago. Pukekohe's postmaster, Mr W. Walters, who for some time past has been a patient in the Auckland Public Hospital suffering from typhoid fever, has now been discharged as convalescent from that institution. Mr Walters is still, however, very weak and will not be able to resume duty until the New Year.

A good deal of dissatisfaction has been expressed for some time past as to the irregularity of thu Northern Steamship Company's service beween Onehunga and Waiuk'u and way ports, the same causing great inconvenience to farmers in regard to deliveries of goods, manures, etc There is now a talk of re forming the Old Settlers' Shipping Company that was formerly in charge of the shipping service. One of the local doctors, in conversation with a " Times " representative to day, mentioned that although Pukekohe has so far escaped comparatively lightly from the prevailing scourge yet a wave of serious infection might even now visit the town unless the people realised the importance of observing medical directions. First and foremost, he said, there should be free

ventilation of rooms at night-time as well as in the day and as it was advisable that sunlight should be admitted in the rooms blinds ehould be discarded. People should keep out in their gardens in the sunshine, mothers should abstain from kissing their children, and single occupation of a room (where possible) and certainly of beds was desirable. Any cases of influenza should be promptly isolated and the standard influenza medicine administered. Every one a least once a day ought also to pass through the inhalation chamber.

In conversation this morning with a " Times " representative, Mr W. Y. Kirkman, the N.Z, Dairy Association's manager at Pukekohe, mentioned that the arrangements whereby all cream usually handled at the Waikato Co-op Dairy Company's factory at Tuakau was being received at Pukekohe and at other of the Dairy Association's factories were now working smoothly. Much of the cream received since Saturday was, however, an accumulation from the early part of last week and had suffered in quality by reason of the delay in forwarding. That fact might confuse suppliers and when checking deliveries it would accordingly be necessary for suppliers to remember that several days had elapsed between the consignments of cream to Tuakau and their arrival at Pukekohe. In fact some of the cream sent on to the freezing works from Tuakau was still at the works. Mr Kirkman, in conclusion, asked that suppliers would forward cream promptly during such time as the arrangements continued as quick delivery would assist the staffs at the factories in dealing with supplies to the best advantage.