The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. FRIDAY, MAY 7, 1920. LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 529, 7 May 1920, Page 2

The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. FRIDAY, MAY 7, 1920. LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY.

Judging by the class of literature in demand at the Pukekohe Library it does not seem that the people of this borough are at all studiously inclined, or that they are making any attempt to store their minds with material for reflection and recreation against the time when physical powers decline and people are thrown back on their mental equipment for means of pastime and interest. Neither do they appear to consider it necessary or even desirable that they should acquire facility in the valuable art of public speaking: whenever a well-reasoned, fluent speech is made, in public in Pukekohe it is by someone from outside the town. This is natural because local men have practically no opportunities for practice, but as the average of intelligence is much the same here as elsewhere—though the average of apathy is considerably higher—the deficiency could be remedied by the creation of a good live literary and debating society. While it- must always he borne in mind that the reason for the existence of such a society is for the purpose of giving members opportunities of learning to speak fluently and coherently in public, there is also the very important advantage that it causes men and women to think for themselves, to investigate and try to find out the truth about the various problems of life. This can be done without arousing a narrow, soul-destroying partisan attitude towards the various topics discussed. The first requirement is that of leadership but in this respect Pukekohe is lamentably lacking. In most towns the clen-y are recognised as being among the social and intellectual, as well .is spiritual leaders of the people: in truth, it is hard to conceive how, with an educated democracy, they can be spiritual leaders if they do not interest themselves in educational and- intellectual matters. And yet it does not seem as if this desirable condition is attainable in Pukekohe. For example, although a local clergyman has served on the Pukekohe School Committee in the past, not one was even present at the r.nnual meeting of householders in Pukekohe on Monday night. If we go to the next largest town in Franklin, namely, Waiuku, we find there that the Anglican vicar (Rev. •J. C. Fussell) has been re-elected as chairman of the school committee, and the same gentleman's literary and elocutionary powers—which are of no mean order—have been used for years for the benefit of the Waiuku Mutual Improvement Society, and which is materially and personally assisted by all the local clergymen. What is wrong with Pukekohe? The people seem to be able to converse about onions, potatoes, drainpipes and other useful though not at all inspiring things, but when it comes to anything of an even moderately intellectual nature they are dumb. It is hardly fair to the youths and maidens of this town to expert them to take up social and civic positions later on in life if they have not had opportunities for self-culti-vation and the conduct of public affairs. To give an example, how many are acting in the capacity of chairmen of meetings who would not gvt con fused on points of order, multiple .intendments, etc? A good debating society would prove both educative and entertaining.

LOCAL AND GENbKAL NEWS. A number of people in this clistrict have been disappointed in nut being able to secure copies of the '"Times" containing the report of the visit of the Prince of Wales to Pukekolie. We regret having to refuse orders but paper is now so expensive that we do not print many extra e >- pies. The only way to make sure of getting any particular copy of the "Times" is to become a permanent subscriber. It is also advisable to pay for a year in advance, as ii is thereby not so likely that a subscription will inn out and the name be struck off the list before being renewed. Our aim is to publish ml the local news Dial's lit to print. Surely this aim is worthy of the support of every resident having the slightest pretence to taking an interest in the great district ranging from Papatoetoe to Rangiriri. The shopkeepers of Pukekohe have agreed to close their premises at ■ >.;»< i p.m. during the winter months.

When his spouse recently made a certain resident of Pukekohe a presentation of a child he must indeed have been a happy father. Seemingly he was ton excited to ascertain the sex of the newly-born, fo■■ lie advertised it one day in an Auckland paper as a male and another day as a female.

Evidently there are some parents left who do not consider the advent of children a misfortune. The following advertisement appeared in a rient is.Mie of the Auckland Star: ••Curtis On May 1, 1920, at their , icsidenee.. !)!». Williamson Avenue, to Mr. and Mrs Win. Curtis, a daught' r. Mother pleased. Father delight,,l.-

A peculiar mishap occurred to the three-year-old son of Mr. R. E. Elliott, of Pukekohe, on the day of the Pukekohe reception to the Prince ol Wales. The little fellow was carrying a Hag having a broken stick. ilr fell, the jagged stick entering his mouth and making a deep indentation near the throat. Happily he was able to eat after a day's treatment, and is now well again. I

A rather serious accident befel a little girl named Hancock at Bombay I last Saturday, daughter of the late Sergeant Hancock. She was riding a Shetland pony, when the animal turning suddenly iiireated the little! rider, and treading on her arm caused _jv fracture and dislocation. The sul&rev was attended by Dr. Camp-belt-Smith, who ordered' her removal ttt-ijipspital, v.-here a .i X-ray examination was made. We understand the parent is progressing favourably. '

Oddfellows' Lodge dances are suspended. The Pukekohe Chamber of Com-, nierce will meet in the Borough Council Chambers on Monday night at 7.45 o'clock. A number of locally-owned sporting dogs are missing, and it is presumed that visiting shootists have taken them. Consternation was expressed at the Franklin County Council meeting yesterday when intimation was received that the hospital rate had risen from £2762 last year to £4472 this year, making an increase of £lslO.

For being unlawfully in the possession of a fork, the property of the Franklin County Council, Charles Olsen. of Patumahoe. who pleaded that he had merely borrowed the tool, was convicted and fined at the Pukekohe S.M. Court yesterday, the amount being £2 and £1 lis costs. In assaulting Mrs Minnie Cox by striking her on the lace with his clenched fist, a native, David Pekama. was convicted and lined £2, half of which is to go to the Maori woman, together with costs, by Mr. F. K. Hunt. SM.., at teh court yesterday. A prohibition order was also issued against Peknma for 12 months. While giving evidence in a theft case at the court yesterday, a witness who approached the accused, before he knew he was the < ne who took a certain article used in a quarry, informed him that the article was stolen. The second party, who happened to he the real fellow who took the tool, remarked that there were some of the biggest thieves in the world at Patumahoe. As it turned out the man who made the remark was the one apprehended for the crime,, although at the time the remark was made the witness was ignorant that he was conversing with the thief.

The total value of the butter and) cheese production of the Auckland district for the year ended June 30, 1919, was approximately £3.187.000. The value of the butter and cheese received into the grading stores to the end of April this season is approximately £3.170.000. Making an allowance of £90,000 for the butter that went straight into consumption in the early part of this season the total value of the butter and cheese produced in the Auckland district to April 30 this season is about £73,000 in excess of the total value of last season's output. The Franklin County Council does not intend to allow the good, work of the past in legard to noxious weeds and rabbits to be nullified. At yesterday's meeting, on the motion of the chairman (Cr. W. Claud Motion) it was decided to write to the member for Franklin asking him to make representations to the Agricultural Department with a view to having a substitute provided for the inspector who was recently removed from this district without being replaced. The opinion was freely expressed that there should be an increase, not a decrease, of inspectors, and that strenuous and consistent efforts should be made to get rid of the pests.