LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 436, 20 December 1918, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Owing to the Christmas and New Year holidays there will be no issue of the •'Times" on Tuesday, Dec24th, or on Tuesday, Dec. 31st. In connection with his reelection as Chairman of the Franklin County Council at yesterday's meeting Cr W. C. Motion entertained his fellow Councillors, officials and members of the Press, at luncheon at the Pukekohe Hotel, speechmaking, however, being dispensed with. Santa Claus has thousands of Toys and Picture Hooks for his little friends at the Bookery, Pukekohe, and also thousands of his special Replica to b« given free to ev?ry child purchaser (Advt) Memorial services will be conducted at the Pukekohe and Bucklatd Methodist Churches next Sunday morning and evening respectively by the Rev W. S. Potter m honour of the late Rev J. B. Suckling who was in charge of the local circuit prior to the present minister (Rev J. F. Martin) coming to Pukekohe.

A male patient, who had escaped from the Avondale Mental Hospital some six weeks ago, was captured at Onewhero last Tuesday by Constable Taylor, of Tuakan. The man who was of powerful physique, being 6ft. 6in. in height, bad been doing farming work since his advent to Onewhero and had proved a most capable labourer, his demeanour in no way indicating that he was not a fit subject to be at large. He sorrowfully submitted to arrest and on Wednesday he was taken back to Avondale. The temporary hospital established in the Fukekobe public school was closed yesterday, four patients having been removed to the Auckland Hospital on Tuesday and one on Wednesday, all the others having recovered and having been discharged on Wednesday. The Waiuku temporary hospital is to close next Monday, the condition of the healths of a couple of patients still under treatment there not making it advisable for them to be discharged before Monday. The following dates have been set down for the sittings of the Magistrate Courts presided over by Mr F. K. Hunt BM. for the quarter ending March 31st, 1919: viz. Pukekohe : Thursdays, January 16th and 30th ; February 13th and 27th - f> . March 13th and 27th. Mercer: Wednesdays, January 15th; February 12th and March 12th. Waiuku: Fridays, January 17th; February 14th; March 14th. As previously announced Mr Poynton S.M. has taken over the control of the Papikura and Otahuhu Courts. The chairman of the Raglan County Council, at the meeting on Wednesday of last week reported that he had visited Wellington before the session, and had interviewed Ministers regarding grants He thought the mission had been successful, but from the estimates he was very disappointed. Contingent promises had not been redeemed, and mony required for old works had not been granted, while money had been voted for new works despite the Ministerial assurances that such would not be done. Councillors complained loudly of the treatment the county had received Santa Glaus during his visit to the Bookery, Pukekohe, this Christmas will make a very special display of War Fire Balloons if the weather is favourable (AdvU The question of a dedication of an unformed road elicited considerable discussion at the meeting of the Kaglan County Council on Wednesday of last week. The road in question was to give access to a tract of Native country. The Council had at a previous meeting agreed that if the legalisation expenses, etc., were paid the road would be dedicated, but expressly stated that it would not pay for the cost of formation Tt was recognised that a big principle was involved, and the councillors were of opinion that dedication should not be accepted until the road had been formed, but there was some doubt as to how far the resolution previously adopted had committed the Council. It was decided to submit the matter to the Council's legal advisers. At yesterday's meetiug of the Franklin County Council a ievolution, proposed by the Chairman (Or W. C. Motion) and seconded by Cr Woods, was passed supporting the action taken by tho Mayor of Auck land (Mr J. H. Gunson) in his endeavour to cope with the influenza epidemic and protesting against the hostile attitude shown by the Minister of Public Health (the Hon O. W. Russell MP) towards Mr Gunson. Cr Lockwood, in supporting the motion, remarked that Mr Gunson had done his duty most conscientiously and that the people of the Auckland Province were under a debt of gratitude both to Mr Gunson and to Dr Franglfy{tbe Acting Chief Health Officer) for the efficient way in which they had acted. '• That the Government should be urged to deport all interned aliens to their own countries " was the subject of a motion adopted by tho Franklin County Council yesterday as moved by Cr Woods. Cr Thomas, in seconding remarked that the Dominion could " well do without that class of cattle." In order that influence should be brought to bear on the Government to carry out the terms of the resolution it was also agreed to circularise all local authorities with a view of securing united action in the matter.

How beat to overcome the difficul ty that arose through contractors being slow to respond to advertised tenders for road works was a problem that received attention from the Franklin County Council yesterday. Cr. Short thought that a good deal of the difficulty arose through figures of quantities not bring supplied to applicants and he stated that his experience was that in many cases men were good workmen but were not capable themselves of estimating. His suggestion was that the County Engineer should supply applicants with measurements. Cr Lockwood pointed out that some Engineers objected to supply figures aud the Chairman (Cr Motion) explained such course was really reasonable inasmuch as the practice was to throw the responsibility of accurate gauging on persons tendering. Cr Short, however, contended that as the Engineer was the Council's official they were entitled to be placed in possession of his estimates. The Chairman agreed to this and it was decided that figures should be supplied and that the Eoad Foreman of the respective ridings should be placed in possession of the same and that in future arrangements would be made whereby information as to works and quantities should be communicated " on the spot " to applicants by the Road Foreman in each Riding. In view of the illness of the Engineer (Mr J. F. McArthur) Cr Thomas advocated at yesterday's meeting of the Franklin County Council that Councillors ought to be given authority to issue directions to their respective riding surfacemen as to works to be carried out. Cr Lockwood expressed approval of the suggestion anil-pointed out that even under ordinary circumstances it was physically impossible for the Engineer to supervise everything. His opinion was that the Engineer ought to be given assistance in the shape of better qualified road foremen being appointed than nnder existing conditions. In two instances, said cjr Lockwood, that had recently come under his notice, seven men were being employed on one dray and the Engineer naturally was not in attendance to see what was happening. Ur Thomas explained that he was only desirous of ascertaining what a Councillor's power was in case of a surfaceman disputing a Councillor's authority but he was assured by the Chairman that all employees of the Council were subject to jurisdiction and that Councillors would be exercising their just rights in issuing directions to them.