Local and General.

Franklin Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 21, 23 February 1940, Page 4

Local and General.

Horticultural Society’s Show. Attention is drawn to an advertise- , u.ent in this issue in connection with th, ; : Pukekohe Horticultural Society’s ri mud show. Compulsory Service. “Compulsory service is not a matter for tlie local bodies to decide but one for the state." remarked Mr G. T. Parvin at Wednesday's 'meeting of the Pukekohe Borough Council, when . a lot ter on the subject was received from the New Zealand Defence League. The council decided to urge the Government lo introduce conscription. Patumahoe School Anniversary. The Patumahoe School will celebrate its 70th anniversary on March I, when opportunity will he taken to open the centennial gates. A Minister of tiie Crown, possibly the Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Education, the lion. P. Fraser, will he present. A dance will he held in the evening. Money Coming in Freely. The joint treasurer ol' the PukeI;i,lio soldiers’ farewell committee, Mr A M. Walters, advised this morning, in “connection with the canvass for funds with which to purchase farewell gifts for troops proceeding overseas. that the collection was proceeding satisfactorily. Money was coining in very freely and there was every prospect of the committee’s anticipations being realised. The final results of the appeal will be announc’d in the Times next Wednesday.

Orchards Suffer. Orcluirdists in Hawke’s Ray have continued lo lie harassed by blustery north-westerly gales which, for about four weeks now, have swept through Ihe fruitgrowing districts. With each successive "blow” the losses to growers have mounted, and taken over the whole district they are now considerable. However, most varieties of fruit have been hanging on exceptionally well, and in consequenec the damage cannot vet he described as disasI rous.

Another Poorly Attended Meeting. "The public meeting called on Monday night, in llm Coronation Chambers. for Hie purpose of launching the ■Fighting Services Welfare Appeal' in Paeroa was very poorly atLended, making organisation a difficult task." stales the llauraki Plains Gazelle. So Pukekohe is nol Hie only place where ils people shy clear uf anything savouring of asking boys “to“ go to the front.” It will he recollected that only 15 attended a meeting in Pukekohe recently to discuss recruiting. Another meeling will he held shortly when a full attendance is requested.

Auckland Metropolitan Show. The Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s annual autumn show opened on Ihe Epsom showgrounds today in line, cool weather, and in the presence of a large attendance. despite the counter attraction— Mie arrival of H.M.S. Achilles. There is a inagniticenl display of stock and hall exhibits. ’Tomorrow is* People’s Day when a record crowd is expected. ’I he grand parade of slock and the ring competitions will he Ihe principal attraction. There is every prospect of Ihe 194(1 show being among Ihe best ever staged by the association. Everylhing' is complete, thanks Lo a bond of energetic officials ably direelO'! by Ihe secretary-manager, Mr W. F O’Donnell.

Bee Hives in the Borough. Complaints were before I lie Pukekohe Borough Council on Wednesday evening Dial a number of residents l ad suffered slings from bees when passing a certain apiary situated not fa • from Ihe centre of Ihe business Torljon of Pukekohe. It was stated that one individual had suffered a severe sting which resulted in a lovely black eye. Dozens of others have also been stur.g. The town clerk (Mr \Y T. Cheeseman) reported Ilia! an officer of Ihe Department intended inspecting the apiary in a day or two. The matter was left to the Mayor and town clerk to take whatever action was deemed necessary. “Bees,”, it was stated, “were rather more savage than usual this year, he.cau.se of Ihe lack of sunshine.”

Rents in the Early Days. Apparently there were tenants who vacated houses without paying their rent away hack in Ihe ’eighties of last century, for we republish a paragraph from a Wellington journal published early in 1888: —“Talking about debt, 1 heard a funny thing today! About debl ? 1 don’t see where the fun comes in! A farmer was down from Masterton and he met a lieutenant, of his who owed him £5. A lieutenant? Was Ife in Ihe ;volunteers? Ha, ha; no! A lieutenant ;isji pleasing euphemism for a lenant 'who has left without paying. Well, did he get the money? Not exactly; lie asked for it, hut the man said, ’I can’t pay you the cash today: but I’ll give you a P.N.!’ Did the farmer take it? No ! He looked rather astonished.! and then said, “Blow your pea ’enf. I don’t want no pea ’ens. I’ve got more poultry up at Masterton now nor I knows what to do with!"