LOCAL AND GENERAL

Franklin Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 44, 20 April 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Essential Undertakings. Last week’s New Zealand Gazette contains the information that the activities of the Roose Shipping Company, Limited, at Mercer, have been declared essential undertakings under the National Service Emergency Regulations, 1940.

Reservoir Remote Control Line. At last week’s meeting of the Pukekohe Borough Council, the waterworks committee reported that the Franklin Power Board had indicated that it had approved of the board’s power poles being used for the installation of a remote control line from the reservoir on doctor’s hill to the pumping station at Hickey’s springs. The committee recommended that the engineer (Mr F. 0. Turner) be empowered to have the control line constructed at an estimated cost of £7O. —The recommendation was approved.

Fire Plug Indicator Posts. The Pukekohe Borough Council in meeting last week gave the engineer, Mr F. 0. Turner, authority to take appropriate action in regard to arranging for the clearance of growth surrounding fire plug indicator posts, so as to make them readily visible. The noxious weeds inspector was also given lull power to act. in regard to the same matter. Indicator posts are to be painted yellow as opportunity permits and the distances of the posts from the hydrants indicated. Hydrants are also to be cleaned and inspected quarterly.

Snow on Wit. Egmont. An early fall of snow has occurred on Mount Egmont. On the northern side it reached down to Humphreys Castle, and on the Dawson Falls side to the zig-zag half-way down Fantham’s Peak. The summer has been phenomenal on the mountain, in that the summit has not once been clear of snow —the first season of this kind for many years. In normal years a snowfall is not usual on Egmont from late November to early May, but, in addition to the most recent, there were falls at the beginning of February and two on consecutive nights the first week in March. Though these falls were not heavy, they were exceptional for the time of the year.

Outbreak of Eczema. A mild outbreak oi eczema among sheep in several Hocks in the Waikato has been reported from some sources, but additional reports indicate that there are only isolated cases in most districts. It is usual at this time of the year for a case or two of eczema to be discovered in the flocks, but some owners are concerned as the proportion is said to be slightly larger than usual. The most dangerous period of the year for an outbreak of this kind has been successfully negotiated. The expected spell of cooler weather when the rain ceases will do much to allay any possible spread of the outbreak, and owing to the lateness of the season, many prominent sheep owners are confident that even if the outbreak is more widespread than usual there is little cause for alarm.

Destruction of Rabbits. To encourage rabbit destruction throughout the year, even when the market prices for skins are relatively low. a form of price equalisation is introduced by the Sale of Rabbitskins Emergency Regulations, gazetted at Wellington. The regulations provide that at periods when the prices for skins are high a levy may be imposed to form a deposit account, from which a price subsidy will be paid at other times. It is hoped thus to reduce to some extent the difficulties of the Rabbit Controller created by the manpower shortage. A committee to administer the scheme will comprise the Director of the employment division of the National Service Department, the Director-General of Agriculture, the Under-Secretary of Lands, and not more than four other members appointed by the Minister of Labour.