LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 25, 30 March 1915, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Special lines in ladies'and gentlemen's wearing apoarel are advertised by Mr W. Koulslon. The summer opening of the Telegraph Office at Pukekohe between 7 and 8 p.m. ceases as from Xlst inst. Tenders are invited by Mr J. Kartell, architect, on behalf of the Auckland Education Board, for additions to the Waiuku School. For particulars see Mr F. Ashurst, who is well known in local musical circles, announces in this issue that he is prepared to give private instruction in music tu a limited number of pupils. The Pukekohe Belgian Relief Fund to date is as follows: Amount previously acknowledged, £205 17s 2d; F. Hubbard, £1 10s; total, £207 7s 2d. The legal business for some years past carried on in Pukekohe of Thorne, Campbell ar.d Thorne will in future be known as "Thorne, Thorne and Hopkins," Barristers and Solicitors and Notaries Public. For the Farmers' Union Picnic to be held at the Kuakura Experimental Farm to-morrow (Wednesday) a special tiain will be run from Auckland stopping it stations as required on the outward and return journeys. Most of the business establishments in Pukekohe will be closed for the Easter holidays from Friday to Monday next, both inclusive. Deliveries of bread will, however, be made by the bakers on Saturday. The Lyceum management announce that for Good Friday eight a special picture programme will be screened, tne star item being a renowned story entitled "The Seed of the Fathers." The perfoiamnce commences at 8.15 p.m.

l'he contents of the residence of Mrs Doway at Whitiki, near Fap:ikura, are to be sold by public auction by Messrs J. T. Stembridge and Co. on the pr«perty on Saturday next. Particulars will be found in our advertising columns. Mr B. H. Andrew, secretary of the Pukekohe Chamber of Commerce, has decided to accept nomination lor membership of the Pukekohe Borough Council, Mr C. Roadley, proprietor of tho Bookery, who since liis coming to l'ukokohe has displayed marked ability in local business circles, has also intimated his intention of oJl'eriug him elf fur election. The following Uok place one night in one of the military camps. Sentry: "Halt! who gees there?" Voice: "Friend!" Sentry: "Advance j and give the password!" Voice: "Sorry, scniry, but I've forgotl.cn it. lie all right, though, you kniw' who 1 am. I'm Captain Brown."j Sentry: "Very sorry, sir, bu! my j orders is not to let pny uue gu by unless e tfce password!" fciuarse voice from adjacent tent:! "Don't stand arguilyiiig there all j night, Jim, shoot the blighter!"

Mr and Mrs J. Ruulston are to leave Fukekohe on Monday next lor Sydney, where they intend to spend a holiday.

The agitation lor extending the opening hours of the I'elphnre Exchange in Fukekohe las at last borne fruit, and as from Saturday last the telephone is now available up to 10 p.m. daily. It may be mentioned that the half-rate of 3d for three minutes for communication with Auckland after 8 p.m. also come 3 into force for the benefit of subscribers.

The heavy thundastorm that broke over Fukekohe on Friday afternoon last was res[o!isib!e for the railway service beirg disorganised for some time. Owing to the lightning the wires of the electrical signalling board at the railway station fused and ro communication could he secured southward to Buckland. As a result thi working of the tablet system was put out ot operation penaing repairs b;ing effected by an elcoti ician, who cfiriri down from Auckland, l i place, of "litis clear" being sigrallej by the tablet, working by means of a pilot hid to bd tempor?rily resorted to.

Mr W. Adams has submiit d to us a sample of an excellent second crop of Northern Star potatoes he has just dug on his section in Harrington Avenue, Fukekohe. The "spuds'' are of good size, clean and of great quality, and Mr Adams cunsidtis that they f );m amplj testimony of the rich fertility cf Pukekohe land for potato growing purposes. The section in question was only broken up last August, and a first crop wai secured in December, re-sowing then being resorted to with results as stated in the foiegoirg. Mr Adams estimates his yield for toth ercps at an average of 10 ton.i per ncie per cmp.

Mr Joseph McGovern, a member of the Samnan contingent of the iNew Zealand Expeditionasy Force, returned to hja home in Pukekohe on Thursday last, on his srtival back from Samoa. Mr McGovern had reiurned with the last batch of invalided troopers, havkg suffered from dengue fever, but is i.ow thoroughly convalescent. In course of a conversation with a 'Times" representative he st-ited that a considerable numb.r of his comrades in Samoa had suffered from th: sam J complaint, and the heat ar.d Ih2 glare of the sun was a general cause of somewhat severe heaJaches, the glare al o dazzling and paining the eyes. The climaie was oppressive and there were no cool evenings. Another trouble that the men had to try and overcome wps the insects, which are exceedingly numerous on the island. Kats end centipedes were particularly annoying, and when on picket duty, rats, much bigger than the pe-t in New Zealand, would come out of their hiding places and hiss at thrm and appear as if to denote they would show fight, hut the jjickac sojn finished them off with their bayonets. In the early stages of the occupation the men slept in tents, but after the sixth week tad pas3cd the troops built barracks which accommodated the majority of them. A hospital was aleo erected for patients who were seriously ill. Seven nurses from Wellington attended the patients, Major Daweou, officer commanding the Medical Corps, being in charge of the hospital. The food was not up to the mark the men anticipated, and it was not until the sixth week that they saw either bulter or milk. The staple food was "hully" beef and biscuits. The men slept on the floor on canvas sheets provided by the Government. The townßhip of Apia was small, but it compared favourably with the country townships of New Zealand, although it was lacking in places of amusement. There were no picture theaties or entertainments of any description. Th2 majority of the business houses \>ere controlled bv Germans. The Catholic Cathedral was a handsome building, and members of the troop collected £4l and placed a stained-glass, window in that church. Just arrived ! Golds worthy's famous straw coloured Spanish Onion Seed. Book your orders early, only a limited supply.—F. PERKIN'S & Co., Pukekohe.