DISTRICT NEWS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 129, 7 January 1916, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS

MANUREWA

POKENO.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) By l«t Wednesday evening's tram two of our gallant soldiers returned here trom the tront, both having had the misfortune to contract that deadly disease "enteric." Their names are Private P R Walden, of the 16th Waikatos, and Private W Kearney, ot the (Jtago Infantry. Although detained in Auckland owing to the "carrier" scare, both men arrived back in the pink of condition, and in conversation with them your correspondent learned that both are most anxious, after a "rest cure," to return at the earliest opportunity to the front to help their mates still fighting to keep the (lag (lying. It was a sorry day for both of them when they were laid aside by Bickness and prevented (although their hearts were solid) from doing their littls , bit, and their only regret seems to be that they were not sufficiently recjvered to return to the firing line from Alexandria. Both speak in glowing terms of the treatment meted out to them in hospital, and although not really sorry to leave the institution admit thit everything possible was done to make their enforced stay as comfortable as possible. Naturally (and who wouldn't be) both rren are more than pleased to be back again amongst their own kith and kin for a little while, but both admit that tneir stay will only be temporary. The whole town—and what a pity it is that we haven't a band—turned out en masse to welcome back these two local heroes, who have thi satisfaction of knowing that they have done thr-ir bit towards sealing the ultimate fate of th 3 Bud. The townspeople were not slow to show their appreciation as well. As these men tanned by tbe Turkish sun stepped i'.om the carnage vociferous cheering greeted their appearance and this was sustained for some time. Although of retiring and reticent dispositions your correspondent learned that both of the men have hud experiences and hair-breadth escapes galore. Suffice it to say that thty both escaped serious injury and landed back here hah and hearty ani <|uite prepared to return and continue trom when tbey left off. RecogDsnng hat there are thou* sands of elizbles who shoulJ have b:en out there bug ago belpiag tbosi who are still lighting and taking the place of ttnae unfortrnatcs who have laid down their lives cheerfully for their King and country, they consider that the only effective method of compelling these "shirkers" to recognise their responsibilities is by conscription, both are loud in their praises of tbe kindly consideration shown them by tlrse in charge of the Maheno, and are very pleased that they were fortunate to return home in New Zealand's own hospital bhip. Tbey repost again on the 13th for further medical examination, when tbey will probably know how long it will be before they will be per* mitted to return.

It is my pleaasant duty to be abl? to chronicle th 3 tact that Private Gordon, who returned from the front aim; time ago, and who had the misfortune 1i stop a Turk's bullet, is progressing favourably, although it is doubtful whether it will be his privil.ge and pleasure to return. Nevertheless ha is satisfied with the sure knowledge that be at last has done bis share, and if only thiss who are eligible would do the same it wouli be the means ot a speedy termination ot this horrible war.

It is with profound regret that I have to chronicle the indisposition of Mrs Walden the popular proprietress of one of our local stores. We all wish her a speedy recovery and trust she will soon be restored to her usual health.

Quite a lot of old acquaintances have revisited the district on holidays. Chief among them is Miss Grant, at one time our deservedly popular assistant at the school. This yo'ing lady is looking up her old friends and making new ones fast. She is one of the most respected teachers that ever taught in a school. Quito a lot of building has gone on of late in and around the place. Mrs Walden has put up a commodious store room which proves that this district is progressing at a goad rate. A small dance was held in the room last Saturday evening to commemorate the occasion and everybody voted it the nicest gathering of the kind held for a long time. In, the absence of her mother through illness, Miss Walden acted as hostess, and sho carried out her duties (as she always does when sho undertakes anything in a most satisfactory manner and to her aud her sister the thanks of the guests are duo.

Mr Tribe, J.l'., uf Mercer, is erectin- a palatial residence here and it ia understood that it is his intention to occupy it personally in the near futuro. Wo will welcome him in a manner that only we Pokeno- %•« ilea c.in.

i armors are busily ongaged in harvesting their erops aud from what can be seen record stacks are to be expected iu the near future. ludeod there will bo a busy time for the Railway Department iu coping with the chatl aud potato tratlic.

PAPARIMU

A FARMERS' SUICIDE THE INDUES! The inquert on the body of Robert Alexander Walker, aged 08, who as reported in our last issue died on Wednesday morning under tragic circumstances, waa held at * the residence at Paparimu yesterday by Mr C Roadley, J I', the district Coroner. Constable Waugh repr«Bsnted the Police Department. Lucy Walker, the wido*, deposed that her husband arrived fume from Auckland, where he bad been residing, some time on Tuesday night, although she did rot see him until next morning. She then saw her son take a bottle containing brandy from him. This woulJ be before six in the morning. He did not wish the hottle broken, but when tlmi course whs adop ed he said that he would have gvein the bottle to her and allowed her to give him some of its contentß at 1 I

interval*. He said he would have to go and net more and hi dressed himself fully with that intentio-. He then remarked that it was too far to walk, and went and got a cup of water. She noticed that he bad a packet ia bis hand and asked turn whst it was. He replied that it was a scidiltz powder, and she remarked that it would do him good. He later came out ot the room and said "I have done it. That's the end of th? penny sectioo." Witness thought that he was cnly trjiog to frighten her, and she paid no more attention to him until he came out into the passage and exclaimed, "Uh, oh, on, ' and put bis hands up to his chost. He then turned and went back into his room, and witness, at ber daughter's suggestion, continued her breakfast. He had several times previously threatened to poison himself, and that wa3 the reaeoo why they did not take much notice of bim that morning. Otherwise they would have done something tor him. b'he afked her eon to see him in the bedroom and the latter said he was under the imprcsion that his father was all right, but sometime later he called her, and she at once saw that he was dying. He did not afterwards show signs of consciousness, and she applied first aid, Lut of no avail.

Ableit Edmund Walker, son of deceased, said his father slept in his (witness) room on the nigbt he returned from Auckland. He just greeted his father, saving he was late home. He bad been way about a week, and bad been expected home daily during that period. Previously he bad only been on the farm tor about a week. On tbe morning of the tragedy he took bim in a cup of tea, and saw that he had been drinking. He later came into the r:om, while witness was at breakfast, with a package in hi 3 hand, and he asked for a cup of water. Witners thought that be was going to take medicine. When deceased said that he had taken strychnine they did not treat bis'words eeriously. The local mec<ical practitioner gave evidence of having inspected the body at nbout eleven o'clock on Wedneday morning. He came to tin conclusion that life had been extinct four or five hours at least, but could'not swear as to what caused death from external appearances.

Tne coroner here ordered a postmortem examination to be made, the doctor subsequently certifying that dsath was tbe result of hemorrhage of the hugs, winch pointed to strychnine poisoning to a marked degree. The widow, rc-calltd, by th 3 Coroner, said her husband had recently been caretaker at Brown « Ishnd. Thtv had previously lived at Ht Koskiil. Deceased bad no interest in the larm, which belonged to her. Iha Coroner 6aid that frum the evidence there was only one conclusion hs could come to, and that was that the ceceas:d had come to his death through having taken a large amount it slrcyhnwe, the same producing hemorrhage of tbe lung?.

The alterations to a small portion at the Great South road as it pases through Manure wa are rnpidly progressing. The levelling, forming and grading of the road is near completion, and the footpaths are beginning to take shape. The work is under the of the County Council's foreman. Magnificent crops of hay, as Bhown by the larga stacks piling up all around the district, damonstrate the very fine spring that we have experienced. Weymouth, as a coming watering place, has justified itself during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Large parties ot excursionists from as tar down as Otahahi have picmced on tba beaches. The drawback to these beaches is the state of the roads, for despite the fine weather, the main roadJ are full ot ruts and the approaches to the beach are positively dangerous. It is just a pity that the Weymouth people do not vrake up to the possibilities of their district.

Several houses are in course of erection in the Town Board area, and the business people report good holiday trade.

TUAKAU

LADIES' KNITTN'J GUILD

The balance sheet ot th: Tuakau Ladies' Knitting Guild has besn completed. The gross income titalicd £ll7 ]Js 4d, made up ot general iund account £Bl 131 7d, waistcoat fund jEJ4 la. and Kcd Cross tea receipts £1 16a 9d. The expenditure amounted to £llO 19s 4d, viz,, on general fund £75 Is 7d, waistcoat fjnd £34 Is and Kcd Cross tea £1 16s 9d, leaving a credit balance ol £6 12s. The items of the waistcoat fund were; Receipts £3l la (social even Jng £6 Bs, dance * 2 ' donation Mr Kevtll S«S subscriptions for waist coats £25 8s), of which amount £33 Is wa3 forwarded to the Mayoress of Auckland, the balance of £1 being paid tor hire of hall. The general fund account figures were as follows: - Income—Proceeds Gift Auction, June 16th, £46 8s ad; ladies' subBcriptione. £2 17s 6d; August 13th: Farewell concert. £lO 18s 6d; donations, 6s 6d; sale ot wool, 14s 9d; ladies' subscriptions, £1 17s 7d; October 11th: Proceeds bocial evening £3 5s 6d; donation 'luakau Fcu'tball Club, £2; ladies' buds, 12s 6d- December 7th: From secretary Patriotic Leagu?, £5; December Mb: Proceeds farewell concert, ±b 14a; ladies' subs, 18s: total, £Bl 1 Expenditure -Paid to Mr Tapper tor Hospital Ship, £26 0s 9d; paid for wool, £l9 18i sd, George Court tor wool. £3 is 9.1; hire of hall, 10s; stamps, 2s lOd; wool, 'ls ad; George Court, £3 lis 3d; cut out garments, £2; wool fron George Court £1 4s 2d, H B Free £1 8* JUJ, G and C 4s 4d, £3 is 4d; stamps, 3s 6d; Gaze £2; Utffgs Court, £5 3s 6d; hall rent, ss, Court', Ltd., 5s 6d; stamps, Is, Smith and Caughay, £2 6a; hire o hall 15a; to secretary Patriotic league £5; credit balance, Kfi 12a; total, £Bl 13s 7d. The following is a list ol work completed:- Soau. 120 pairs; Sens, 39 pairs; Balaclavas, 8b cholera belts, 37; scarves, 30,

thirls, II; undershirts, 1; Nightingale, 1; dressing gowns, 3; handkerchief", 6; titil, 314 articles. Mr Fred Haddinott, who his been oa the relieving staff of the clerical devision Railway Department, and who is well known throughout the Waikato, particularly Tuakau, has been transferred to his old position of traffic inspector's clerk at Frankton.

PAPAKURA.

Chri3tmas cards were this week received from several of the Fapskura "hoys" who are at the front, one such greeting coming to hand to Mr Harry Wilson from his son Harold.