DISTRICT NEWS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 128, 5 January 1916, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS

MERCER. The Franklin County Council's apparent reluctance U> push ahead the contract for repairing the Stoney Hill road, from Mercer to Koheroa, is causing the settlers who use the road no end of inconvenience. As a result ol the water-tables on the road being blocked, the flow has diverted on to the paved road and runs for some 17 chains thereon before it finally finds an outlet. On th 3 Mercer side of the bill, a "death trap," in the form ot a cavity in the road, large enough to bury a horse, awaits ths unwary traveller. The ratecavers in that portion of the County are very indignant at the Council's slackness in the matter, and consider (hat when the- contractors commenced operations on the road Bcme liltli time past the Council fhould have s-en that tha contract was computed and in a reasonable psiiod, 'there is now ampla time before vret weather sets in for the work i> be finished, and with an abundance of metal cl ise at hand there seems ty b2 no dittical'y in the way of tha Council putting the work in hand and thus preventing increased expenditure on the locality al a near distant date.

In Mr Arthur Lloyd, who joins the Auckland Infantry in camp next Thursday, the Keinforcements will have an artist of no mean ability. His black and white sketches of heal celebrities are well known, particularly those tf his fellow-workers at th> butter factory, where he haa Van employed for the past two years, Mr Lloyd has slso gairn.d prominence as an artist ip oils and exhibited with succees both in England and the Dominion. The license of the Mercer Hotel is to change hands very ehurtly, wh n the owner of the premises, Mr Frank Gimblet', who formerly held the hcerse for a number ot years, will again take over the hotel.

Fate ha 3 been kind t) Trooper "Des" Kelly, who leit as a signaller with tne 11th North Auckland Regiment of th2 Main Expeditionary Force, but who is row, after being on active service fjr twelve months, attached to a machine gun section. la a letter received by Mr Kelly, senr, from his son, the latter st'dt:d lhat be was at the time of writing with his company at Lemnas Ibland. where it was being reorganised, and he added that hi wa9 the only signaller of his old regiment lhat had not been rendered hora-de-combat.

TUAKAU

The Tuakau Patriotic League held an ao.purned meeting on the L'lst ultimo when Mr I). Fulton prcßidcd, and i e-3 flirmed bis inability to continue as chairman of the League owing to pressure of private all'aira. He fuithcr intimated that Mr Quinlan had accepted the posi tion of secretary vice Rev, Lutterworth, who had resigned. As there appeared to be no alternative Mr Ful tcifa realgrialETinwaT~ tfccepteo' with regret, but he agreed to retain the position ot chairman until after the holidayp, when it was reeulved that a fuller meeting should be called to consider the matter. The action cf the sub-committee in arranging lor presentations to recruits, costing £4 ss, was confirmed. Mrs Hunter read a state uient of accounts troni the Ladies' League, showing a credit balance of 12s.

A notable absence of drunkenness was a distinguishing characteristic of the Tuakau district during the holiday:-. A number of prominent residents have transported themselves to various seaside resorts for the holidays. Amongst those are Mrs Cheesman, Mr Urahato, Mr Peacock, Mr Free and their families.

Sergeant C McUahan and Private Sid Collins, who had been spending their final leave with their parents, have returned to camp at Kangiotu. Flax still displays a rising tendency, and great activity is prevalent in that industry.

AKA AKA

tUEESE FACTORY STAKTS

The new cheese factory at Aka Aka commenced operations on Monday last, and the daily output is now in the close vicinity of one ton. Three out ot the fjur vats installed are being utilised, the cheese-maker being Mr George Harvey, late manager of the Matangi Cheese Factory. Prices tor the procjuct are being well maintained on the English matket ar.d authorities are very sanguine that vabts will continue at a high mark. The Aka Aka establishment is the third cheese tactory opened by ttie Waikato Co-operative Cheest' Company, Limited, this season, tht; ether two bei r g at East Tamaki and Hairini respectively. The ceremonial opening of the building is to be carried out on Thursday, the 27th inst, when a large company of dairy experts is expected to he present.

MANUREWA.

STACKS AFiltE

Vcßtcrday (Tuesday) morning two stacks of hay belonging to Messrs Jones tiro?., at Manurewa, were d:stroyed by lire. |t ia thought tint a t-park Irom a railway engine set the grass alight, and (hat the Hanrs spread to the stack:'. Messrs Junes Brothers appear to be untor turate in this respect, as lust year a crop ot hay was burned jn the paddock. Ins stacks were still smouldering last evening.

A so:ial and dance waa held in the Manurewa l'ublic Hali on Friday last. The attendance was fair and large enough to cause a most happy even inn to be spent. After midnight the proceedings took the form oi a Leap Year social, and thus the ladies were obliged to ask the gentlemen tor dances. In this tiny were bashful toi a while but later entered into the spirit ot the idea, and lew partners were tlliwed u ell out. The music was supplied by vaiioui ladies, and the lidir? a I ao carrud out"'the catering ap'raugemen's. The work of reforming the roads and making footpaths througa the Manurewa township is proceeding

apace, and it is expected to be completed tiis week. Ih a work has been carried out under the supervision cl the Foreman of Works, Mr Dixon, and the road promises to be a credit to his engineering. It has a hand-paved foundation and the old metal has been put on top, with the result that the road will conoist of at least fifteen inches ot metal.