LOCAL & GENERAL

Franklin Times, Volume XIX, Issue 40, 8 April 1929, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL

Footballers in Training.

On Saturday afternoon a large number of footballers donned their jerseys for the first time this season and indulged in a period of strenuous training.

Shopping Week. The next meeting of the Pukekohe Chamber of Commerce will be held on April "17, when the question of a shopping week for Pukekohe will be discussed.

Bazaar at IVlauku.

The bazaar in aid of the Mauku Victory Hall funds will be opened tomorrow afternoon by Mr J. N. Massey, M.P., and will continue through the evening. The stalls will contain a large and. varied assortment of things to suit all tastes.

The Hospital Board. Mr J. D. Chalmers, of Waiuku, who has for several years represented this district upon the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, was to-day nominated for the office again by Mr John Routly, Mayor of Pukekohj, and Mr J. N. Massey, M.P.. chairman of the Prank-in County Council. So far there has been no indication that anyone is likely to contest the seat with Mr Chalmers. i Tautology Run Wild. The latest kind of road has been defined by a scholar at the Te Awamutu District High School. The class was writing an essay on "Good Roads" ' and had been specially cautioned against the use of the same adjective j more than was absolutely necessary. ! One scholar, having used the word r "good" in describing roads, introduced a novel touch when she said "When r ] macadamised they are virtuous roads."

Girl Guides' Jumble Sale. On Friday last the newly inaugurated rangers of the Rata Girl Guide Company, held a jumble sale, to obtain funds for necessary equipment. This innovation was surprisingly successful, and the officers and rangers wish to thank Mr Stembridge, the Health Inspector, Mr'Keveri, and all the other friends who helped so generously.

"One Up!"

Rather a good "hit" was scored the other day against a citizen who is connected with the by-law making in

Te Awamutu. He was trundling a wheelbarrow across the intersection of Bank Street and Alexandra Street when a local jokester espied him. "Say," said the wag, "don't you know that the by-laws require the driver of every vehicle crossing this intersection to put out his hand to indicate the direction he proposes to take." For a moment the barrow pusher looked helplessly at his hand, when what he said need not be repeated.

Poachers' Ways.

Mention of the wily ways of poachers of native game was made by the president of the Southland Acclimatisation Society at a meeting held recently. A ranger visited the camp of a suspected poacher and, as it was locked and the visitor was in possession of a search warran he removed a sheet of iron from the chimney and entered through the fireplace. He remarked to a companion that the camp had been recently occupied as the ashes were ; warm and the blankets still on the ' bed. "Here is his overcoat under 'the bed," he continued, and then ! he attempted to pull it out: "Goo.l 1 heavens! Here he is, too." ! I Taking no Risks. i In reply to the annual cadge for ■ funds, a North Queensland cricket club secretary received the folowing: Exkuse me writing in pen and ink, as I can't find me pencil in anser to your ! welcome letter making me a'vice pres- ' adint of your club. I will have to decline the possition as the missue says I have quite enuf vice in me now without ebing made a prcsadint of il , and that a lot of good presadints in ' other countries get killer and a vice ' presadint would stand no chance it all in this one. P.S. —v[ have put in ! a ten-bob note to become a member of J your club. PP.S. —On second thorts i you had better put me down as an animos Donah.

Stoats and Poultry

At last week's meeting of the Manawa'tu Rabbit Board, Mr F. G. Raikes stated that he had considerable experience with stoats on his property at Oroua Downs, where he was engaged in poultry farming. He had often seen his pullets with necks stretched gazing at a stoat capering about some distance away. All the time the animal was approaching nearer and nearer its intended prey, cavorting and throw--ing somersaults in the air, and holding the fowls spellbound by its queer antics. But" once it got within striking distance it was a different tale, j Before a fowl had time to move it ' would be seized and killed. Stoats, he j said, had a peculiar habit of gambilling | about in front of burrows in which ; their intended victims were possibly j spellbound with terror awaiting their i end. Mr Raikes added that he found j a very effective way to account for stoats in a poultry run was to place a trap between a couple of culverts or drain pipes. They were most inquisitive animals, and could not refrain from investigating any opening they came across, and would always run down a. pipe or culvert lying on the ground, and so could easily be caught by setting a trap in a pipe