LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 599, 14 January 1921, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Mr Farmer family to the Sports on*SWl®?y22nd.* 271). The Raglan invites tenders for various works ir? the County. Messrs F. Perkins and Co. intimate that in future their premises;, will bo clsoed at 8 p.m. on Fridays, and at 12 noon on Saturdays. See odvertment. A social and dance is advertised to take place in the Mauku Public School on Wednesday, January 19th. The proceeds go towards the piano fund. . ... 1 , On Wednesday next, January 19th. a special train will leave Auckland at 6.55 a,m., Pukekohe 8.33 a.m., for Rotorua races at Claudelands. If there .Is one thing more than another which unconsciously makes or mars a place in the eyes of visitors, it is its cleanliness or its untidiness. Therefore, keep the streets free from rubbish, and their appearance clean and tidy. This counts for more than surface praise. Be loyal to your district. Speak well of it when .away from it ; work for iti when you are in' it, and help it grow, not only (in wealth, for wealth is not all—-but in beauty and in usefulness.

The Fianklin distinct public should shop in their own centres. Every shilling spent in the district helps the district to grow, and every shilling spent outside keeps (it back just that much. Ever look at :it in that way.

What about forming an Orphans’ Club for Pukekohe V There is undoubtedly enough talent—musical and elocutionary—among the young men of this town to warrant the formation of such an institution.

When Arbour Day comes round the children of the various district schools should be gjlvcn the opportunity to plant trees about the various towns in the district. Nothing adds to the charm of a town quite so much as trees.

Messrs Tapper Bros., drapers, Tuakau, advise those ‘in search of absolute, genuine bargains, to attend their annual stock-taking sale, which commenced yesterday. Every article is marked down, and bargain hunters can have their requirements fulfilled by inspecting the large slock. At Tuesday's meeting of the Manukau County Council, Cr Grainger (Turanga) reported that the County ranger had done splendid work in the Turanga Ending, especially the Whitford locality. It transpired, when the ranger’s report was read, that Mr F. Grainger’s name was among those owners who were unfortunate enough to have sonic horses impounded. The report was received with laughter, Cr Grainger reiterating ; “I told you the ranger bad done good work. Cr House said that some time ago a Road Board, not very many miles from Pukekohe, had passed a'by-law that all owners of strayipg stock were to be prosecuted, and the police were instructed accordingly. Next Court day, every member of the Road Board was prosescuted for allowing stock to stray on the roads. At_ the next meeting the by-law was’ rescinded, and the ranger “sacked’,, said Cr Davies (laughtei).

The financial position of the majority of local bodies .is anything but reassuring, and. unless something is done by the Government to assist them in over-coming the difficulties with v.’h,?ch they are confronted, it is safe to predict that during the next twelve months, load and other works will bo seriously neglected. Apart from the financial aspect, labour is extremely scarce, and almost anyone is given a job-—a trial, at any rate. That some local bodies are victims i, unscrupulous exploitation by a a number 'of its workmen fijs demonstrated by the fulioy/intf incident which took place in this district unite recently, “Three workmen were instructed to construct a culvert, with twenty concrete pi pea, pacli 3ft in diameter. Up to last Tuesday, fliO work had not been completed, but the time sheets revealed that tin all the three men Had worked t!B3 hours on the job. Calculating at the rate of working time at 43 hours per week, it has already taken the men live weeks and 4*3 hours, at tire ) ate of Is 10>i,d per hour—Ji-ti 3s 9u. Three men could have done the jot)

A large number of Local Body advertisements that should be perused by ratepayers, appear in this Issue. Sports 1 miss the fust meeting of Chib, January 22nd* f 252.

A three-year-old bullock, bred by Mr W. Claud Motion, of Otaua, and recently slaughtered, tipped the beam at over a ton. The carcase is on view in Messes Bcaftfcv and Marshall’s butchers’ shop, in lying Street. Come and thy Pukekohe Cup won at the SprSWT on January 22nd.* 280.

“Thece is every indication for a! very successful season in Taranaki: from the producers’ point of view,” j said a gentleman closely in touch j with the farming industry in Tara-1 naki. “There is an abundance of j feed, and the hay co ops will be heavy, the spell of fine weather enabling farmers to get the crops in. The ontook could not be better.” Quite a lot of excitement was caused in King Street on Tuesday by a bull, which was being driven to a local stock sale. Drovers were endeavouring to persuade the beast to proceed over the traffic bridge in East Street, but, in spite of their efforts, the stubborn brute would not budge. After a considerable amount of chasling, the animal evidently cried enough, and looked for a jesting place. He chose the spacious 1 passage entrance to the Premier Hall, and therefor made ir bold bid He succeeded, and, by this time, excitement ran high. The doors of the street shops nearby were closed to prevent the burly bull from entering. He careered around the passage, and aroused the suspicions of onlookers as to what damage he would do. On both sides of the passage are large plate windows. Would the bull see himself f,n the glass, and, taking the reflection for an opponent, charge and shatter the plate glass, to the tune of the falling of a thousand of bricks, ; and thus enter one of the premises, !or would he remain calm ? This was ’ the question. It puzzled the owner of i the bull and the owners of the plate glass windows, until sweat was : streaming from their foreheads. What would the damage ho; would I the price reaped for the animal, dei fray the expenses of the damage lie 1 would do. Hardly! At any rate, afj ter the excitement had subsided : somewhat, the bull was coaxed from i the passage. No damage was clone, : and he was taken to the sale, much ; to the relief of the proprietress of I the sweets shop.

Boy ! Bring to the Sports on January ‘JthjSlcr She will be thrilled.* 281.