LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 543, 25 June 1920, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Up to the present time i.2(X»t) worth of debentures in connexion with tho CB4,ofto borough ioan have' been disposed of. All members and intending members of the Pukekohe Chamber of Commerce are requested to attend the annual meeting, to be held in the Carnival Tearooms next Monday. See advt. ; The captain of the local lire brigade, Mr. L. Kr<vyn,<j&peaks in glowing terms of the assistance rendered by the local telephone exchange 011 Wednesday night in connexion with the lire on I'ukekohe Hill. Children to the number of over 500 attended the special of "The Land We Live In" Ml the Premier Hall on Wednesday'''afternoon, :.nd apart from the benefits of an educational nature they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Ihe teachers who accompanied the c'liidieu were histli in their praise of the film, and besides affording the children mu«h pleasure has added considerably to liicir geographical knowledge ot New Zealand.

The address giver, by the Rev. M. K. Cilnionr in the Methodist Church J last Monday evening was so intensely | interesting* that the church authon- j ties have prevailed upon Mr. Gilmour to pay a return visit next Monday, and bring with him his original collection of slides illustrating native manners and customs, and setting iorth the beauties of the islands of Papua, and the work of the missions. The Premier Hall has been secured for the night, and the pictures will he screened by Mr. Coady. A short musical programme will also be giver.. A collection will be taken up during the evening in aid of mission funds. The necessity of a motor reel for the local fire brigade was strongly emphasised* on Wednesday night, when the brigade was called out to an outbreak of fire at a residence on Pukekohe Hill. The place where the brigade was needed is a considerable distance from the (ire station, and for firemen to drag u heavy reel over a mile, and laden with 1000 feet of lire hose, is out of the question. It is an unfair thing for the firemen themselves to do their duty, alter exhausting ttieir energy in getting to the fire. Under the circumstances the men are tired out before their efforts to quell outbreaks of fire are needed. The mutter is one of vital importance, and a motor reel is one of the very first things that a lire brigade requires.

Judging by the experience of a local fruiterer a few days ago, it is unsafe for any persons to leave their premises unattended, even for a minute or so. It appears that the businessman in question had occasion to leave his shop unattended for a couple of minutes, while he went out. The door of the premises was lett open. When he returned he was amazed to find that his till had been

opened and a pound note missing. There was a quantity of silver in the till, but this had not been interfered with. It is surmised that during his temporary absence someone who evidently was aware of his whereabouts went in and helped themselves to the one pound note. Such an occurrence will no doubt be a lesson to others who frequently go out leaving their premises unattended.

for some time past the officers of the fire brigade have endeavoured to have a telephone installed at the lire brigade foreman's residence in Prospect Terrace, but so far without success. On Wednesday night, when the fnebell sounded an alrm, the firemen who reside in Prospect Terrace were unaware of the alarm, and consequently did not turn out. As there is only a limited number of men in the brigade, the loss of the services of the firemen is felt by fellow brigadesmen, who are called on to do more than a fair share of a lirefighter's task, and sometimes the absence of a few men is the means of disaster. This is another important 'matter that should receive the attention of the Borough Council urgently. The time may arrive .vhen the services of every available man in the town is required, and experienced men are generally worth more than inexperienced fire-fighters. In the interests of the public, the authorities should recognise forthwith that "Foresight is the weapon of the. wise."

At twenty-two minutes past six o'clock on Wednesday evening the firebell sounded an alarm to an outbreak of lire at Mr. F. H. Rae's residence on the side of Pukekohe Hill. The residence was formerly occupied by Mr. W. King. The origin was due to a leak in ihe acetylene gas fittings, the gast igniting in a partition. Fortunately, the occupants of the house had the presence of mind d-pon discovering the lire, to promptly turn off the gas at tiie generator. They succeeded in partly subduing the outbreak, and the brigade arrived in good time to put the finishingtouches to what may have been a disastrous fire, in view of the fact that a gale was raging at the time. Only slight damage wis done, and Mr.' llae* must consider himself very fortunate indeed. Had the services of the brigade been required with hose and water, it would have been up against a stifl proposition, because at least 1500 ft of hose .would have been required from the nearest plug. This naturally would mean a

considerably reduced water pressure, and the brigade would have had a louiih proposition to deal with the tire when such a gale was blowing. People requiring' good furniture are advised to watch the ''Times'' next Tucsdar for particulars of Mr. Maurice Coughlin and Sons' clearance sale at Pi.ni, part of which announccit cut appears, on page 4, where tne particulars about the furniture will he found added on Tuesday.- (Advt.) 101