WAERENGA.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 101, 29 October 1915, Page 1

WAERENGA.

A letter, dated Bth September, has been received by Mrs Carter from her soo, Trooper Bert Carter, who is with tne Waikato mounted section of the Sixth Reinforcements. lie states that at the time of writing they were crossing the line, and the heat was intense; otherwise the trip bad deen enjoyable. At Ablany they were dismissed from early morning until midnight. The public there treated them well, but despite that their vessel was the first boat to leave that port without absentees. "Have any more of the boys enlisted?" he asks.

Farrier-Sergeant "Saady" Blacicwood, a member of the same section as Trooper Carter, writing to % friend at Waerenga, states that the troopship was travelling about 300 miles a day. A shoal of flyng fish had just been passed, and one landed on the deck. The ship had been through a heavy sea, which washed away the skylights, flooded the forehead hold and washed some of the boys' banks with the result that some of them appeared on deck with their life belts. The troopship carrying the infantrymen kept close alongside and cheers were exchanged. He had witnessed, the burial at sea of an Auckland boy, Private Rose, who had died of pneumonia. The whole troop was paraded and as the troopship steamed ahead the body went overboard. The letter went on to »ay that Tioopers Bert and Arthur Glass, of Te Kauwhata, won the wheelbarrow race for their squadron and would be competing against the other squardon winners on the "Grand National All the men were anxiously awaiting the receipt nf the first mail from New Zealand. Two church parades were held on Sundays, while during the week-days evening concerts were held. Messrs Waterbouse and Waite, the successful tenderers for the ferro-concrete bridge to be erected across the Waipuna stream, hope to commence operations in a few days. The tridge will be constructed under the supervision of and in accordance with plans pre* pared by Mr Geo. H. Herbert, engineer to the Whangamarino Koad Board. About six weeks should see the completion of the' undertaking. It will be the first and only ferro-concrete bridge under the control of the Board. Provision has been made for the structure to accommodate two vehicieß passing on the bridge, the dimensions being four feet wider than the present bridge. A wish haa been expressed by a number of the ratepayers that the opening of the bridge should be marked by a special function, at which Mr J. G. Brown, chairman of the Board, should officiate.

Works under way and to be Btarted, out of loan money, under the supervision of the Road Board, include metalling on Harrock's and Falls roads, Drapers' road, and Mr P. McPherson's road, Waipuna. At the request of Mr George H. Herbert, engineer tu tbe Board, an experiment was tried some lew months ago of blinding some of the metalled roads in tbe district with screenings from the MorningHide quarry. Tbe metal bas not only done all tbat was said in its favour, but iB a saving on the expenditure on roads. Reporting on the work done by the pupils attending tbe local school, after an inspection, Dr James W. Mcllraitb, of the Auckland Education Department, states tbat the pupils made a creditable showing, the arithmetic, composition, drawing and handiwork being very good. A good tone prevailed, and the work was undertaken with spirit and expedition by the pupils. In a previous report Dr Mclwraith mentioned that the road and horae paddock fences were falling into diatepair. Surely this is a matter tor the School Committee to deal with. The school garden is abundant with plants in flower, the result of an enthusiastic endeavour ty the children to make a fair showing. The young horticulturists often spend their spare hours in the garden. The boys have, in addition, sown a crop of maize. Tbe roll number bas recently increased from 28 to 31, and is still on the upward grade.

Sergeant Cedric Oswald Bennett, aon ot Mr S. J. Bennett, of Waipuna,, returned home invalided on the lofua. Sergeant Bennett went into camp with the Mam Expeditionary Force, Dut was prevented from leaving with that force thruugh developing measles and pneumonia. He departed, however, as a corporal with the Waikato Infan try Section of the Fourth Kelnforcements, and was later on promoted Sergent. He had been 111 the trenches nine weeks when he became ill.

Mrs J. Loughlin has much improved since her arrival in Rotorua, so much so that she will return home in a fortnight.

The daily postal service between Te Kauwhata and Taniwha and the post offices en route, inaugurated by Mr Charles Teddy, is a decided improvement and much more convenient thn the old service, when the mails arrived less regularly.