DISTRICT NEWS.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 673, 7 October 1921, Page 5

DISTRICT NEWS.

MARAMARUA. A dance was held in the MaSfamarua Hall on Friday night, there being a fair gathering and everyone seemed to €njoy themselves. The music was sup plied by Mrs A. Mclnnes and Mr H. Dimmock. Mr James Mabey acted as M.C. Dancing was kept up until 2 a.m. ' A very nice rain passed over the district on Thursday evening between the hours of four and six o’clock, and then again between four and five o’clock on Friday. The rain came down very heavy on both occasions. The £ain seemed to pass over in a seam, as no rain fell at either the east or west ends of the district. The cream cart, which has been running three times a week, has started to run fou£- times a week, owing to the increase in the cream supply since the rain a few weeks ago.

MEETING AT ONEWHERO. An important meeting was held at d&fhe Lower Hall, Onewhero, on Wednesday evening, to discuss the proposed nev.' road‘to Tuakau. Mr C. Walters was in the and in a few -.veilchosen words welcomed Mr King fahe County engineer), who had come to laj the details before the ratepayers, and regretted that the attendance was not larger, as the subject was one of the most vital importance to the district, and also expressed his appreciation , of Mr Hawk (the Councillor for thePakekawa Riding being present. Mr King stated he had made an exhaustive survey of the proposed deviation. which would leave the present road on the Tuakau side of the Mission track cross Mr property and reach the Pukekawa road at gate whieh would snoren the distance to Tuakau by forty-seven and a half chains, and would give a grade at its deepest of one in fourteen a manifest gain on the present road, a half. The new route offers <ertain engineering difficulties, but there was no reason why they should 'not be overcome. The matter was merely, one of cost to the ratepayers. There was one bad gully, which would need culverting and filling. The estimated cost of earthworks and formation .would be within £6OOO. This would elude the purchase of land, hut not fencing. Certain improvements would be necessary on the Pukekawa road ; .these would work out at £2BO. Then the question of surface had to be considered, and Mr King impressed on those present the necessity of giving the matter careful consideration. Metal roading had a life of about 8. years, and the annual cost of maintenance was roughly speaking £4O a mile. Tarred Macadam was good, but unfortunately not very durable, as owing to the action of the atmosphere on the chemicals in the tar, these were very soon lost, and disintegra- . \ tion tepk place at a very rapid rate, fu fact to keep a good surface it would have to „be tarred every two years, but a bitumen road was aosolately the most satisfactory solution of the problem the ratepayers had* before them. Bitumen was obtained from a boiling lake of bitumen; in Trinidad, and was the most durable form of road that could be laid, where the conditions were similar to those obtaining in Onewhero Riding. Its cost was not prohibitive, compared with the ordinary metal road at £I2OO, tarred Macadam at £I4OO, .oitumen works out at £IBOO per mile, and its lasting properties were far greater than any other kind of road,

and where necessary could be easily anti cheaply repaired. Should a fourteen foot road of bitumen be laid from the Waikato bridge to Onewhero township, it would cost ‘the ratepayers under £IO,OOO, inclusive of acquiring land, formation, and necessary earthworks. To do this it would be advisable to strike an additional %d rate over the whole Riding, but the speakar was confident that the ratepayers would find it a paying nroposition. They had valuable dairying (and and magnificent sheep country, but it was placed at a great disadvantage owing to the inconvenient means of access.

Mr Riley-Taylor (Councillor for Onewhero) expressed his appreciation of Mr King’s lucid explanation, and the trouble he had taken in laying the position before the ratepayers, and added that it was absolutely essential that the ratepayers should interest themselves in the work® that was being done in the district. To be a Councillor was somewhat a thankless task. A few ratepayers realised the difficulties that have to be met and dealt with, the main difficulty being insufficient income. Since he had been a member of ,the Raglan County Council, he had endeavoured to get as much as possible done in the district, but the time was coming when we must aim for greater efficiency in the up-keep of roads. In this Riding alone there were over seventy miles of roadage, and it would sooner or later be essential to purchase about twenty acres and a heuse, in order to attract the right class of roadman, one who was a first-class teamster, capable of handling all modern road implements. We should thus be able to reduce the cost of feeding the teams, and get work done in a more satisfactory manner and with more economy.

Mr Hawk, in replying to a motion of thanks, proposed by Councillor Riley-Taylor, said that he did not take the trouble to come ov4r to “be patted on the back,” but that he was there to assure the ratepayers that the Pukekawa Riding would be prepared to come in with Onewhero in the improvements which would be necessary to the increased traffic on the Pukekawa road. One thing was that the rciad would have to be secured from all danger from floods. This could be easily and cheaply done. He was somewhat surprised at the poor attendance of 'ratepayers, as he had quite expected, considering the importance of the meeting, to find a difficulty in getting a seat, but at any irate those that were there were very enthusiasic. On the motion of the chairman, it was decided that the engineer should inspect two otheV possible routes, in order that the best should be decided

DRURY. The Papakura Musical Society, under the leadership of Mr T. C. Seaton, recently visited Drury and rendered a very succesful concert, consisting of orchestral pieces, part songs, solos, and recitations, all most creditably executed. A dance followed, and ended a very enjoyable evening. LAWN TENNIS SOCIAL. The Lawn Tennis Club held a social evening on Wednesday, September 27th. Several songs were rendered, and dancing was up until midnight. Music was provided by Mr Ledge (cornet), Mrs Lodge (piano), and Mrs McCullough (violin). There was a fair* attendance and a pleasant evening was passed ODDFELLOWS’ LODGE: -w Th'e Manchester Unity of Oddfellows have formed a Lodge at Drury, and ; are holding a, meeting in the public hall. Sever&l members have recently joined this excellent associar

The alteration to Mr W. J. Brooks’ store, at the corner of the St tion Road, recently finished by Mr W. Dixon, hlas much improved (the appearance of that part of Drury township. Mr Brooks is to be congratulated on his enterprise, and is deserving of much encouragement. Mrs Sloane has sold her house and store at Runciman, and the new owner has taken possession, and hopes for a share of the business of the district.

More gain would be acceptable to the milk suppliers to keep the grass growing, and to increase the supply of milk. There is much dissatisfaction here with the last test-sheet sent out; some of the tests are absurdly low. I wonder how the districts are faring.. A new cream room has just been erecjted here, so as to keep the cream under etter conditions, out of the sun and dust of the road. The stone crusher has at last made its appearance, and is very busy crushing the spawls tha,t have been so neatly piled up on the s ,: des of the roads for so long a time, and we hope to have some of the metal spread on the roads soon and the holes filled up, so that the carts can get to the

creamery without the cans jumping out before they get there. The Waihoehoe road and Appleby’s road reed especial attention, as no metal has been nut on them for a long time (about three years, I think), and there is a lot of traffic on them.

A practice game of cricket was played last Saturday in the paddock adjoining the hotel. ,

TUAKAU.

It was reported at Tuesday’s meeting of the Town Board that the ratepayers appreciated the fact that the Board had reduced the rates. The Board members are now “jolly good fellows.”

The Tuakau Football Club held a very successful social and dance on Wednesday evening last. The hall was tastefully decorated, and the floor was in real good order. A good programme of dancing and music ws thoroughly enjoyed by a arge gathering, and during the evening several presentations were made. Miss May Geraghety and Calvin Deed supplied the dance music, and extras were played by Mrs Sjtrahan and Mr Lowe. Vocal items were sang by Mrs W. J. Taylor, Mr Lowe (of (Pukekawa), and Mr Harry Peat. An important item on the programme was the presentation of valuable prizes Won by members of both senior and junior teams, showing (the most improved and efficient play during the past season. The president of the club (Mr W. J. Taylor) before making the presentations, took occasion to complimen,t the selection committee for these honours in the most impartial way their selections had been made. With a neafc, congratulatory speech for each of the rizewinners, the presentations were then made as follows :—Mr Walter Yoang's beautiful silver cup for the most improved and efficient senior player, to Mr Roy Smeed,, of Tuakau. This was a very popular win for Mr Smeed, who was received with great applause. So hard had. it been for the selectors to decide the winner of this Smeed and Mr Walter Bilkie, of Buckland, that the club had decided to Off sent Mr Bilkie with a gold medal. The honours had indeed been close between these two players, and amidst great applause and congratutions the president presented the club’s prize. Mr Walter Young's silver cup for the most improved and efficient junior, player was then presented to Mr McKean, of Buckland. This also proved a very popular decision, and further rounds of aoplause greeted the recipient as he stepped forward to receive his reward. One of the most pleasing ceremonies of the evening was a presentation to the popular president of the club (Mr W. J. Taylor). MiDynes Fußon (patron) made the presentation on behalf of the Football Club, and in a very complimentary speech, referred to the vast amount of woi*k done and the keen interest taken in foqjtball matters by Mr Taylor. The club were indeed fortunate in having such an president, and many valuable services had been willingly rendered in many different ways for the club’s welfare. The football Club felt that they could not let (this occasion pass without locogi-ising hi some form Mr Taylor’s many services, and as a mark of their high est i-vj a» a appreciation. Mr Fulton asked Mr Taylor o accept a handsome gold medal in a leather leather case. The medal is of beautiful workmanship, and is suitably inscribed, “Presented to Mr ~W. J. Taylor for his esteemed services to the Tuakau Football Club.” Cheers and great applause were then given .for the popular president, who afterwards suitably replied. / A very enjoyable social, in aid of Si. Andrews’ Presbytery was held in fthe Tuakau Town Hall on September 30th. The hall was well filled and was gaily decorate with banting, fernery, aurm lillies, and other flowers, the stage being set out as a drawing room. The floor was in excellent order and faultless music was supplied by Miss Geraghety, of Tuakau, at the piano, and Mr Calvin Deed, of Pukekohe, voilin. Miss Thelma Fitness, of Pukekohe, made a very favourable impression bv her singing of “I passed by your window,” and in response to an encore gave “Swanee,” and later in the evening “Freckles.” Miss Fitness was again encored) and was afterwards presented with a lovely bouquet of roses. Miss Lucy McGahan delighted iCne audience with a pianoforte solo i*i her usual finished style and vac

vec! a hearty encore. Mr Harry Peat was in rear good voice and 1 did full justice to “The Carnival,” and having to respond to an encore gave “An old fashioned town.” A good deal of interest was aroused over the waltzing competition, which attracted a large number of entries, and was judged by Mr Clay, of Auckland. The judging proved a difficult task but eventus'ally the first prize fell to Mr and Mrs Lonergan, with Mr Deed and Miss Geraghety an easy second. Mrs Bush, of Tuakau, supplied the music for the competition, and Misses

Strahan and Dickens played extras. Mr Sid. Conolly acted as M.C. A most enjoyable supper was supplied by the ladies, and altogether the evening was a great success. PATUIYIAHOE. A PRESENTATION. Mr W. Pleydell, an esteemed member of the Pajtumahoe Football Club, who h;as been transferred from Patumahoe to Pukekohe Telegraph Office, was met on Wednesday night by members of the club and presented with a slight token as a mark of the esteem in which he was held. Mr W. Finley, in making the presentation, wished the recipient success in the .future. Mr Pleydell suitably responded.