LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 21, 16 March 1915, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The annual meeting of the Pukekohe Ratepayers' Association is to be held on Thursday evening next in .the Oddfellows' Pall. In addition to ordinary business matters in connection with the coming municipal elections will be discussed.

A highly-talented company presented the drama "Within the Law" at the Premier Hall Pukekohe, on Friday evening last. All the characters were well sustained and the large audience testified their appteciation of the abilities of the artistes by the loud applause that was forthcoming at the final fall of the curtain.

Or. Saturday evening last, in the Masonic Hall, a farewell "smoker" was tendered to Mr Jack Clark, of the local railway stall' \»ho has heen transferred to Mt Albert Station. Mr M. Mclntyre was in the chair, and in making a presentation of a set of pipes and a tobacco pouch, the chairman relerred to the esteem in which Mr Clark was held by his many friendß and acquaintances, and the obliging arid capable manner in which he h«d carried out his duties while stationed at Pukekohe. The recipient suitably replied. During the evening the ÜBUal toasts were honoured, interspersed with tongs, recitations, etc.

Just arrived ! Goldsworthy's famous -(raw coloured Spanish Onion Seed. Bi ok vour orders early, only a limited -upply.-F. PERKINS & Co., Pukenolle.

A movement is on foot to form an-Orchestral Society in Pukekohc, and a meeting is to be convened for the purpose at an early date. The handicaps for the Waipipi Sports, to be held to-morrow (St. Patrick's Day) will be found elsewhere in this issue.

The opening day of the Pukekohe Rod and Gun Club has been fixed for Saturday next, when numerous trophies will be shot fur in Kenn»liy's paddock. The Lyceum management announce the screening of "Nero and Aj>rippina,'' 10,000 feet in length, for to-morrow night only, at usual prices.

'lhe strike of labourers engaged in tha construction of the new Waiuku line (recorded in our last issue) quietly fizzled out, work bting resumed yesterday by those who had previously ceased operations.

A well attended meeting of supporters of Mr C. K. Lawrio's candidature for re-election to the Mayoral chair was held laat evening, and a committee was appointed to prosecute a fampaign.

At a J.P.'s Court yesterday a Croatian, nam:d Johan Letica, labourer, was charged with having stolen at Patumahoe a suit of clothes, valu;d at £4 15s, and two shillings in cash. He was remanded to appear before tne Magistrate on Thursday.

An amended advt. inviting lenders for road work for the Franklin County Council appears in our advertising columns in this issue. Two other contracts, Nos. 109 and 101, appear in the notice in addition to those that were advertised in last Friday's paper. With the laudable object of establishing a Pukekohe branch of the Auckland National Reserve, Mr K. F. Webster has convened a public meeting to be held in the Masonic Ball ou Saturday evening next The speakers will include Adjutant Hall Skelton and other officers. Pukekohe farmers who are interested in the pig and bacon trade should make an effort to attend a meeting to be held in the Borough Council Chambers on Thursday evening next when a representative of the Waikato Farmers' Co-operative Bacon Company will deliver an address on various phases of the bacon trade.

In the course of, a tour of inspection of the Dominion railways, Mr E. H. Hiley, General Manager, paid visit to Mercer, Pukekohe and Paerata on Saturday last. At Mercer he enquired into the proposed dredging to secure additional depth at the railway wharf, and at Paerata he inspected the easement grade* works in progrees.

"Spuds" and ouiona are Pukekohe's main product", and that they go far afield is instanced by an order just executed by Mr W. Roulston for a southern client for the export to Vancouver of 1500 crates of onions, equivalent to nearly 70 tons. Although similar exports of local onions have previously been made through Auckland agents, the oider just sent forward is the first despatch from Pukekohe direct for overseas. The execution of such a large order has naturally had a beneficial effect on rrarket rate.-, and it is estimated that prices are higher by about £2 per ton than would otherwise have beei the case.

Delightful weather greeled the Ladies' Guild of St. Andrew's Church for the "At Home" given by them at the Oddfellows' Hall on Wednesday afternoon last. This, no doubt, helped to account for the laige number of ladies who came in anwser to the invitations, almost nne uur.dred being present. The hall had been tastefully arranged, small tables with vases of yellow flowers and greenery forming the decorations. Afterncon tea was served by the Guild ladies, and the following musical programme, arranged by Mrs I. Motion, was most capably rendered and enjoyed:-Pianoforte solo, Beethoven's Sonata, Mies M. Taylor; song, "SunsHne and Ram," Mrß B. Andrew; song, "Come, Beloved," Mrs J. Wylie; pianoforte solo, "Rustle of Spring," Miss F. Dobeon: song, "An Emblem," Mrs Ivan Motion; pianoforte solo, Beethoven's Sonata, Miss M. Taylor.