LOCAL & GENERAL.

Franklin Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 98, 23 August 1933, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Council's Ability to Pay. "Our ability to pay is governed by the position of the ratepayers to pay." —The Franklin County Council chairman, Mr J. N. Massey, M.P., to a deputation to-day. Sunday School Worker Leaving. A prominent worker in the Tuakau Presbyterian Sunday school, Mr L. K. McGregor, is leaving the district in the near future. Mr McGregor is the leader of the school and has been responsible for building it up to its present strength.

Chamber of Commerce. The annual general meeting of the Pukekohe Chamber of Commerce will be held in the Ayrshire tearooms tonight at 7.30 o'clock. In addition to the ordinary business an address will be given by Mr J. Dean, of Pokeno, on the progress and prospects of th. 3 flax industry in New Zealand. The Waiuku Line. "As chairman of this council, I must say the Waiuku line is of immense benefit to the ratepayers in that area," • remarked the chairman of the Franklin county, Mr J. N. Massey, M.P., to a deputation to-day in regard to the carriage of road metal on the line referred to. Minister's Coming Visit. The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. J. Bitchener, is to visit the Franklin county on September 4 and 5 or September 11 and 12. Arrange-, ments are being made by the county chairman, Mr J. N. Masey, M.P., for the Minister to visit the Awhitu and Mercer districts, in addition to other parts of the county. Hall as "Lodging House." Recently a public hall, hot 100 miles .from Pukekohe, was used by a] nocturnal visitor as a "lodging house" j for the night. For a little added com- j fori this individual tore the stage cur- j lain in half to make a suitable blanket ' and used the piano cover for a pillow, i lie was not content to sleep in the i hall but broke into the supper room ; for his siesta. ! Returned Soldiers' Ball. j Very complete arrangements are being made in connection with the Tuakau returned soldiers' ball to be held at Onewhero on September 6. A lad- ' : ies' committee is active in the matter of preparing supper, and this promises i to be something out of the ordinary. ' The committee has had donated 10 i turkeys and two hams. These are to be cooked and dispensed at. the j function. i

Next Band Contest. The hope was expressed at last night's meeting of the Pukekohe Municipal Band that the band would be able to compete at the next contest for bands in the South Auckland district. Conversion Loan. At yesterday's meeting of the Franklin Electric-power Board, the Public Trustee advised that he was prepared to pay out of sinking funds £847 IDs Id; being the amount required to enable the board to issue premium debentures for not less than £SO each. The payments would be charged to the s'nking funds of the loans to which the fractions payable related. The foregoing was subject to the future arrangements regarding sinking funds hong substantially the same as in the conversion scheme which had been submitted to the Local Bodies Loans Board. The Loans Board acknowledged the board's application under the Loans Conversion Act. and advised that as soon as it had been considered, decision would be notified.

Tuakau Girl's Success. A pupil of the Tuakau school, Miss Joan Faulkner, aged 11, has received from the Auckland Education Board a letter congratulating her on her success in the Flag cup essay competition, open to Form II pupils in all the schools in the Auckland education district. The letter states that the essay submitted by her was reported by the judges as being excellent and deserving of special commendation. The board congratulated her on the excellence of her effort and expressed the hope that it would be the forerunner of future successes. Little Miss Faulkner, who is the daughter of Mr and Mrs E. E. Faulkner, has a penchant for writing and will undoubtedly be heard more of in the future. Her teachers say she is a particularly promising pupil.

Remits fop Conference. Advice was received by the Franklin Electric-power Board at its meeting yesterday afternoon, that the next annual conference of New Zealand Elec-tric-power Boards would be held on September 27 and 28. The following remits are to be sent forward for consideration: —That the Government be urged to reduce customs duty on all electrical appliances; that in accordance with the recommendations .of .the National Expenditure Adjustment Commission, the Government be urged to, charge a uniform rate for bulk supply of electric power: that the Public Works Department be requested to adjust peak load" charges for the quarter in which daylight saving terminates : and that Government electrical undertakings be placed in the control of commissions.

77th Birthday Celebration. Mr Robert Bilkey, one of the oldest residents of Pukekohe, celebrated the 77th anniversary of his birthday yesterday. To commemorate the event, Mr and Mrs Bilkey arranged a children's parly at their residence at which tliersj were upwards of 40 present, including all their grandchildren, and needless lo say the young folk thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The children played games out of doors and made the most of peanut , and lolly scrambles. Soon after A p.hi', the little guests sat down to a sumptuous birthday banquet in the spacious dining room, the Rev. J. P. Cowie, vicar of St. Andrew's, .presiding. The tables were gorgeously decorated with" spring flowers. Mr Cowie, in a neat little speech, proposed the toast of the host and hostess, and congratulated Mr Bilkey on celebrating the 77th anniversary of his birthday, and, expressed the hope that he would be spared to celebrate many more anniversaries. On behalf of the children Mr Cowie thanked Mr and Mrs Bilkey for their thoughtfulness and generosity in arranging such a happy gathering. The guests rose and sang "For they arc jolly good fellows," and gave three rousing cheers for their host and hostess. Mr Bilkey, in reply, said he hoped the children would be able to come again on the occasion of his 80th anniversary, when ne would be pleased to entertain them once more. Mr Cowie: I hope we will be here on your 88th anniversary. Shortly afterwards lb" party dispersed, having spent } jolly afternoon.

IWsinister Welcomed. : A welcome to the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. N G. E. Macmillan, on the occasion of his visit to-day "to "the most progressive county in the Auckland province," was extended by the chairman of the Franklin County Council, Mr J. N. Massey, M.P. He remarked that it was the first visit of the Minister to the district, although not an official visit. In reply, the Minister said he would not dispute the fact that Franklin was the most progressive in tli." province. It had certainly gone ahead. Referring to Mr Massey, the Minister said amid laughter: "He is something more than a social pest. If he does not get satisfaction from one minister he goes to the other." He admired Mr Massey's tact, referring to the lengthy negotiations with the Main Highways Board. "It is most embarrassing to find you do not require anything," the Minister concluded. '