DISTRICT NEWS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 120, 13 December 1915, Page 4

DISTRICT NEWS

MERCER.

The death of Mrs Ellen ColemaD, wife uf Mr Fred Coleman, took place on Wednesday last. Deceased had been ailing tor some little time past with pleurisy. She was 47 yeais of agp, and leaved a family of three suns and one daughter t) mourn their loss. Fiivats Claude Cilcmar, tbe deceased's eldest sod, was wired for to Trentham, but unfortunately could not make the journey north by r.asonof the fact that it transpired that hs was on ths sick-list and was a patient at one of the Wellington Ho«pitbls. 'lac amount of business transact. d in the bcal p st office by th* postmaster, Mr Clifford, aod his three assistants, is not realised by the outside public. Possibly few persons are aware that at the Mrrcer Post Offci the mails from stations between and including Prai.kton Junction and Papakura, totalling thousands per weik, are oistiibuted for their varhus destinations, and that the Mercer and b'rai.kton pest offices are the distiibuting offkts for all stations south ct Mcrc.-r. ISitiiat d as it ii oa the railway line, half way between Hamilton and Auckland, aod also bting the stopping place for the express trains, Mercer lends itself admirably for the purposes of a distributing centre. In addition, a faidy l'n tikgrapbic business ii traisacttd, some 850 telegrams being received and sent every week. Tbe telegraphic store, whercfrom Pukekohe and surrounding post ai d telegraph departments obtain thtir supplier is also at Mercer, and the cistiict worked by Mr Bldiidford, the Department's Linesman, which includes Papakura to Huntly and Woodl.iih, Glen Murray, etc., is one of the largest in the Dominion.

Provision for the establishment (f a Kitchen lor the cooking of the "tare" offered in the Railway Dining Cars is beitg made at the Mtrcer Railway Station, where six of tie D.'partm.iit's workmen have been busy for a week renovating a ioodi fur the purpose mentioned. It in anticipated that the work when finished, about twu wcefcs hence, will help to relieve the duties entailtd on the chefs in the dining care. With the cargo trade exceedingly brisk un the riv*r Captain Ragg has just ade'ed to his craft a 40ton oarge, w*mh is to be used fur the transp rt of coal. That water freightage u much :a demand may be instacced by the fact that on Wednesday last the launch Freetrader arrived at the whatf with 66 tons of coal, and on Thursday wiih an additional 50 tous. It is becoming no uncommon scene at the waterside, in fact it is now a regular occurrence, to see thiee boats along'ide the wharf on Moldaye. This week the Kreetrader is dealing with 100 tons ot manure consigned ta farmers in the Glen Murray district, l'be carriage of flax 1 st month wrs also particularly heavy. Six hundred tons of flax were carritd by the boats flying the All-Britieh Company's flag alone. Of this amount 286 tons were to the order of Mr W H Deane. One feature of the busineis, however, which is sadly deficient is that in which the Kailway Department is concerned. It is claimed that when a long waggen is engaged and is run up on the whaif its bulky nature will only allow for one boat to be worked at the one time.

There is abu demand far Iruit boxes ana timber from the Uoitei Timfcer Company. On Thursday last an idea of the enormous output from the mill could be s=en at the wharf, where fourteen trucks heavily laden with fruit boxes and timber were lined up. A well-;arned holiday is shortly to be taken by Mr W H Dean?, who has effected a jjint-iease of his flaxmill to Mr Spiers, of Foxton, and Mr Leonard Ueane.

DRURY La=t Ihursday night will be remembered by many in Drury for some tim 1 . Oo that evening the tinal of the trio of entertainments organised by the Patriotic Committee eventuated, and like its predecessors was a tine uuccess from an artistic point of view, as well aB financially. New vocal artißts of repute were introduced to Drury in tha persons of Messrs G Smith and J W humming, both ot Auckland, who at once found favour with the large audience and had to comply with enthusiastic encores. Old favourites with Druryites are Miss McPfterson, Messrs Woolford and Keid, whose contributions were heartily applauded and deservedly so. A daring innovation by the committee in introducing in their programme a patriotic speech by the Rev W G Wood, of Papakura, was hailed with delight Ifae vicar's speech was a masterful effort and was listened to with rapt attention. To say he was heartily applauded at the finish is a poor weak method ot expressing the way in which the aiaience received his effort. Miss McNaughton acted as accompanist in her usual skilful and obliging manner. Mr J Flanagan was chairman and was happy in his remarks. Mr Fyfe returned thanks on behalf of the Patriotic Committee to the artists whj bad made the function such a success and the singing of "Uod Save the King" brought to an end an enjoyable concert programme. Special mention should be mide of the paper tearing exhibition bv Mr W Sutherland, a young Druryite of promise and ability, the designs he made from paper being artistic in the extreme. The dance that followed was more like a fashionable ball than a social "bop", and ths large and commodious hall was none too large for the great number who tripped the light fantastic. The dance was under the management of Messrs Tooman and Hamilton. Mr T Swan was steward, and although unseen in bis duties he deserves apecial mention for his willing help in all good things. The assistance of Messrs Ulasson and Quinn and Miss Hamilton was noticeable in helping to the success of the entire function. The music for the dance was supplied by the Cossey Bros., and the catering was in the capable hands ot Messrs J and J Kugg, and left nothing to be desired.