The Franklin Times PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOON. MONDAY, MAY, 23, 1932. LOCAL & GENERAL.

Franklin Times, Volume XXII, Issue 59, 23 May 1932, Page 4

The Franklin Times PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

MONDAY, MAY, 23, 1932. LOCAL & GENERAL.

Office and Works

ROULSTON STREET, PUKEKOHE. Phone No. 2. P.O. Box 14

We notning extenuate nor aught

set down in malice."

! Borough Estimates. i The Borough Council on Wednesday j evening asked the finance committee to bring down the estimates for the j current year as soon as possible. The Soldiers' Park. The foreman, Mr S. J. Clews, was asked by the Borough Council on Wednesday evening to have certain repairs carried out to the tennis courts and the park.' I Literary and Social Club's Dance. The Pukekohe Literary and Social i Club have arranged to hold an open \ dance in the Oddfellows' hall on Saturday next. Members will be admitted i'ree. | Bombay Women's Institute. j A short play entitled, "Aunt Lizzie's i Friend," was given at the Bombay Women's Institute birtaday on Wednesday by a group of members of the Pukekohe institute. The item was very well received. Ordered off the Field. During the Pukekohe Rugby Union's competition games on Saturday, three piuyers were ordered off the Held for alleged illegal tactics. They will be dealt, with at the next meeting of the union. 14 Days Allowed. Ratepayers who are cropping or grazing unused roads in the Pukekohe borough are to be given 14 days in which to pay the rental charges, otherwise the roads are to be opened, which means that the adjoining property owners will be asked to fence same. Schoolboy Howler. Schoolboy howlers were to the fore at the social evening held under the auspices of the Putaruru Chamber of Commerce last week. A local dominie was responsible for the following, which he averred was the product of a pupil of a school not 100 miles away from Putaruru. The class was asked to complete partly given proverbs, and one bright pupil handed up the following proverb: "Necessity is the mother of virtue."

Wellington Street Path and Mower. The Borough Council on Wednesday evening asked the foreman to include in his estimate of requirements foi the current year, the cost of tarring and sanding Wellington street footpath. The works committee was asked to report on the advisability or otherwise of purchasing a grass mower. Department Overridden. There are times when a local body can override a Government department, and this the Pukekohe Borough Council did at its meeting last week. An application was made for a permit to connect a drainage system" with a bore on the premises of the Central Boardinghouso. The department refused to grant a permit, but the Mayor and town clerk granted it. The council confirmed their action. Tear Gas Prohibited. Weapons such as those occasionally used in the United States and on the Continent to discharge tear gas or overpowering fumes are declared illegal in New Zealand by a proclamation in the Gazette. Gas pistols or any device for discharging stupefying gas will now be covered by the Arms Act, 1920, and their possession by a civilian will be as illegal as the carrying of an automatic pistol.

A Good Autumn. "I think farmers should consider themselves specially favoured, for they have had a truly wonderful autumn," remarked a district farmer on Thursday afternoon. When reminded that many farmers were lamenting the low prices prevailing for dairy produce, he said that that was so, but they had also to realise that low prices combined with an unfavourable season climatically would have been far worse. " 'Be thanful for small mercies' is my motto," he added, as he moved away.

Success Achieved.

The Stratford Sclf-llelp Club, formed last year mainly through the offices of Dr. Goris Gordon, has achieved great success. The club aimed to assist the unemployed to cultivate gardens with a view to growing sufficient vegetables for use during the year. Seeds and manures; were provided free and the services of an instructor were made available. The result is that there is an abundant supply of vegetables in Stratford. A shop day was held last Saturday to dispose of the surplus, and in addition to a profit of £4 being made by the club, a large quantity of vegetables was handed to the local welfare officer for distribution. What is the Position? ,l Is the rule of consistency practised by officers of the Pukekohe telephone exchange? A short time ago a member of the Times literary staff asked several times for a certain number and re'eeived the reply "engaged" each time. "Tell them to hurry up" said the reporter. "We can't do that as they are on toll," was the answer, which was accepted in good faith. A few nights later the same reporter had another experience. He was connected with Pokeno and the exchange attendant chipped in several times with the remark, "Hurry on, the line is wanted." To-day a Times representative when unlucky to strike two numbers, both "engaged" was informed after allowing five minutes grace, "They can have the line as long os they want to." No doubt the exchange attendants are governed by regulations but the least they can do is to apply them consistently.