DISTRICT NEWS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 122, 17 December 1915, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS

TUAKAU

PAPAKURA.

The Rod and Gan Club held a guccespfol shoot on Saturday last, when Mr Foley's Cup was shot for, togitber with a handicap sweepstake. The conditions wera favourable for shooting and a good exhi bitioi was giwen. The new ground # the aaleyards paddock, was used for the first time and was rhueb appreciated. • In the Filey Cup handicap, 10 birds, there were eight competitors, three of whom tied for first place. In sbootingoff S Thornp, 10yds, won with moe killi out of a possible- ten. The handicap swecpstakr, three' blids was won by F Woolley, off 15yd*. - There were five other competitors All shot off the 16yds mark. Com p3tition tor the Foley Cup has b*n particularly keer. Although It has been shot for on eix riiff rent occasions no competitor bas secured it twire in succession. The cordi tnr.a under which tbe cup can ba w.)n outrisht are, viz Either by winnirg it three tim.s in -succes sioa or fiva times at interval'* The previous holder of tbe cup was Mr A Drake. At a meeting of "brither Scots" held in Tuakau on Friday list, presided over by "Baillie" J arms Pirret, it was unanimously decided to h jld a monster Caledonian Picnic at th 3 Waikato Heads on Mew Year's Day. l'he proposal bis taken on well, a large number of people having already intimate! their intention of attending. Mr Maitland, of Auckland, whose - reputation ai a singer is well known in the Queen City, will take the solos at the Anniversary Services, morning and evening, in the Methodist Church on Sunday next. The richness and valuable fattening propensities of tbe Wairamt? Rama, Gnewheru and Te Hirua districts are evidenced by the' abundant supply of store cattle that has left those districts for Weatfield of late, 19 trucks, .< fully loaded, being despatched by the railway authorities for last Tuesday from Tuakau station. Not haviog been seen by her neighbours for some time feus were entertained last Monday that the widow of tbe lata Mr Esau Gale, whoße tragic dehth a fjw months ago was duly reported in these columns, was probably lying dead in her hoqee near the laakaa Landing Stage 1 where she lived alone. Constable Taylor waa communicated with and proceeding to Mrs Gale's residence toe found her in an unconeciona condition. For purposes of medical treatment ahe was removed to the Tuakau Hotel, and Dr Wake, who waa aummoned from Pnkekohe, found that she was suffering from theeßects of atarvatiun. Stimulants were administered and Mrs Gale, ,who is 80 years of age, had sufficiently recovered an Wednesday to be conveyed -to ,a home in Auckland. A penalty of 10 per cent is to be charged by tbe Tuakau Town Board on all rates outstanding on tbe 31st December. X . '

COMPLIMENTARY DINNER, Mr A. WILLIS ENTERTAINED. On Wednesday evening- the mem* bers and ex-members of tbe Papa* kura Town Board who have sat trader tbe late chairman, Mr vA. Willis, met to tender bim a -'com" pljmentary dinner in the Papakura Hotel. Tbe catering arrangements were in the capabje bands of Mr & L. Bygrave, and about twejva mem? beta were pres;nt to partake of the good things provided. Mr-D Stewart occupied the chair. He stated that tbe members and ex? memberj were pleased to be present to express tbe pleasure they bad experienced under Mr Willis' stewardship. Mr Wilis'term on the Board had been marked by a devotion to doty which cuuld hardly be excelled. He bad used tact in occupying tbe position, which was ad arduous one —more arduous than the ratepayers - real iaed. He had been the aobjeet of criticism, but what public men were not. It was a heatbly sign when ths residents of a town s levelled criticism at the members on its Board, because it served to keep tbe members on tbe que vive. Mr Stewart detailed the many improvements which had been carried out by tbe Board at Mr Willis's instigation, and Btated that those works were a monument (o bis perseverance and seif-sacrjfice. On behalf of bis municipal comrades he had pleasure in making a presentation to Mr Willis uf a sovereign case and cigarette holder as a tribute ti his work and a mark of esteem. Mr D W Jones, in endorsing the chairman's remarks, said that when * he was first elected it was one ot his pleasures to know that be would get his first experiences of the Board under the able leadership of such an experienced member and chairman as Mr Willis. There were many people in Papakura wh) thought they could occupy the chajr better than the late chairman, but he personally thought that tbe a;r : vices be bad rendered bad been most valuable to the ratepayers, and his retirement was a distinct Ijss to the district. He trusted that in the naar future he would again be enabled to devote his time to tbe interests of Papakura. He was a man of back-bone wbicb was a most necessary qualification now so seldom met with. It took considerable persuasion before he would alter bis opinions, but he was not ohsiinate and could bs coavinced as to the tightness or otherwise of matters brought betore the Board. Mr E C Cole said aa one of the oldest members of the Board—he was a member J 5 years agQ—he was delighted to be present He had sat under the only two chairmen the Papakura Town Board bad bad. He spuke of/the disadvantages under which the old ' Board had worked, and stated (bit it was a matter of congratulation that the Board was not in debt. In this respect the Board bad, under Mr WilliA' direction, attained a position of which teW local bodies in the country could boast, and it was in the poßiticn, when a more favourable time came, to go for a loan fur the purposa of furthering tbe improvements which had been commenced by the Town Board. Mr W Kichardson said he was one of the three oldest Town Board members he having been elected at

the same time ai Mr Willis. Be dealt with the. opera'iors of tfce Town Hoard at the time he was a member and instanced the poorest that the to an made at the cutset, and rpuke of the most favourable that the town wss now i\ HP® trusted that the Board would il continue to adopt a progressive i policy. Mr Will : s, upon rising, was greeted with applauir. He eaid he felt the action of the m mbers ard hu old comradea meat keenly, and waa most thankful to them. It had , teen raid (hit he had alwayi done kis duty, but he would not say tiat. He wot Id say, however, ibst he had always endeavoured to di | his duty. (Applause). When he I J"®"* 'into tin U a'd he hsd no axe to grind and he felt that the ratepayers were ratified that his wcrk had been in the int re ts of Fapa-

hura sohiy. He gava a resume of toe work of the Bo rd ucder thf lata Mr James Walker and himself, ■nd pail « ghwing tribute to the nJtmory of Mr Walker, who ho laid had retxieied faithful services. In conmction with proposed impovemerts, Mr Willis said that it was ptobabla that if application was made to. thd New island Loan and . Mercantile Company it wouli entertain the idea of surrendering the remaining portion of its lease of the corner of the sal yardp, and so t allow for the straightening ot Broad--1 *>y. Siitca tha "Pukekohe Time*" had been in existence, saij Mr | Willis, tha Board and its doings iJiad been given prominence in its and this h d been of Beaded benefit ti the district which been advertised as it should he. He was of the opinion that Ihere waa decided promise for the town and the time was nearly ripe for the foima'ion cf a borough. He regretted that it bad not been f pos.ible for him to remain on the Board (o see the borough formed, bat he hoped that in the future he would again be able to olfer bis services. Be alsoi advocated a loan

(or improvements when the tima waa opportune. Mr D Wilson alio spike, and testified to the brilliancy of the lite chtlrmin's ability, and stated that jt waa a pleaiure to ait with kirn. Ihe following toasts were also •nthuaiastieally drank"The King," "Our Guest," "Present Chairman," VThe Boja at the Front," "Ex - members." Sengs were rendered by Uessrs W Richardson, senr, and A Yardley. In Auckland, on Tuetday, James K Hunter, formerly a resident of Fapakura, was remanded to appear at Fapakura next week on a charge of stealing seven tow If, the pror perty of Walter Colin. "Poor" Hunter, on the same fday, was convicted and fined on a charge of Miaul t at Papakura. Residents will learn with pleasure that there ii a proipect of tha Great Sou'h road bring Straightened at the Ulenora Park Bbrner. Mr Walters has met the [Manukau County Council moat Onerously in the matter, and at the meeting on Tuesday he was accorded a warm vote of thank*. ; A high-class programme of pictures is to be screened at the Fapakura Hall to-morrow evening, the leading film being a production of the well-known story "An Englishman's Home." Other subjects include War and humorous items. Ihe pictures are guaranteed to be presented by up to date machinery and quite free of flicker.