LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 438, 3 January 1919, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The next sitting of the Pukekohe Magistrate's Court will be held on Thursday, January 16th. The annual meeting of users of Beloe's road inoculation yards is to be held at the yards on Saturday of next week at 6 30 p.m. Messrs W. and R. Fletcher, Ltd , advertise that they will be receiving pigs at Pukekohe on Tuesday nand at Tuakau on Wednesday. Tenders are invited 6n behali o the Tuakau Town Board for crush' iog, screening, carting, and spreading blue metal. For particulars fee

advertisement. The New Zealand Loan and Mer- j cantile Agency Company's sales foi ! next week include a horse sale at Pukekohe on Monday, and stock sales at Takapuna, Papakura, and Warkworth on Monday, Tuesday and Friday respectively. Hai vesting operations in this district have been in progress for some weeks, and progressed without interference until the beginning of this week, wheu the summer weather broke, with the result that work was retarded to some extent. " You will have gathered from my previous letters that Jericho is not exactly a health resort," writes a Now Zealand mounted man in Palestine, '.'and I consider that the expression ' Go to Jericho ' should in future be classed under the heading of ' obscene language.'" The Pukekohe Bowling Green during the hoiidays was the centre of much activity. In spite of the fact that a large number of efithusiasts spent the vacation elsewhere several members remained at home and took part in games. The turf wis in excellent order, thanks to the painstaking efforts of the caretaker, Mr. A P. Daysh New Year's eve in Pukekohe was characterised by some lurrikinifin, in which a number of gates were removed from their hinges while a letter box also received a severe mauling. The matter is now in the hinds of the police and as a result of their escapade three youths will probably appear before the Magis trace's Court at the next sitting on a charge of having committed wilful damage to property. At least one story that is b«ing told of the present ppidemic Ins its humorous side (reports rh» Mataura Ensign). A local duet.r was called to tlio country to a man who was a victim, im la perfufjctoiy exumi iation indicated that the j.ationt would b« much bettor off uc a hospital, where he rould receive prop ir treatment. The worthy sawbones suggested much, but tho sufferer expressed doubt whether hospital authorities would take on the responsi hi lit v "Oh, yes, they will," said the medico ; " they have a special ward for case's such as yours." " Whero is tho ward ' ' enquired in fltnjDza. "At tliH racecourse,' said ■ hrt ductor This had the effect of thoroughly arousing the patient from liis lethargy. "The racecourse!" he said " For God's sake, don't send me there, doctor. I've never had any luck on a racecourse yet."

Stock sales are to be held next week by Messrs Alfred Buckland and Sons Ltd., as follows: At Helensville on Monday, at Wellsford on Tuesday, at Kumeu on Wednesday, at Turua on Friday and at Waiuku on Saturday. An accident which might have been attended with serious results occurred on the main road to Patumahoe, about a quarter of a mile on the Pukekohe side' of the by-road leading to Puni, on New Year's eve, a motor car driven by Mr H. Barber, of Pukekohe, colliding with a horse and gig driven by the Misses Dale. The gig was smashed and overturned, the occupants being thrown out. Fortunately no one was injured, but the Misses Dale suffered slightly from shock. The distressing side of the history of the influenza epidemic is relieved now and again by funny incidents, of which one occurred at a hospital a day or two ago. Among the inmates have been a few babies, either patients or the children of patients. Among them was a baby from Opanake, and this baby was supposed to be sent home. The other evening, however, a lady arrived at the hospital and asked for her baby. The young man who lately has lately been doing volunteer work to assist the staff went along to the nurses and asked for the baby, which was dressed and given to the mother. Handing the infant very carefully, the ( young man took it to the waiting 'room and was handing it over when > the lady declared it was not hers. ■ Here was a dilemma. It was the only baby left, and, much as the nurses love babies, they have ■ been so overworked that they were i .pleased to be releived of it, and the young man was lotb to return it to their care. Leaving the child with the lady he went back to the nurses and told them it was the wrong baby. They came to the conclusion that, like " dear little Buttercup" in ' '"H.M.S. Pinafore," they had mixed the babies up and sent the wrong one to Opunake. The young man returned to the waiting-room and informed the lady of the mishap that had occurred She looked carefully at the child and recognised it as her neice or nephew (we are not sure whether it was a boy or a girl) and she undertook to see to the exchange herself, much to the relief of the young man and the nurses,