DISTRICT NEWS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 134, 19 January 1916, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS

PAPAKURA. Mr John McKenzie, now of Apiti, Fielding, and late of Papakur?, is at present on a visit to his friends h;re. Mr McKerzia is the lie-nsee ot the Apiti Hotel The good ship "Transfer" left l'apakura on fcunaay with a large cargo, but principally on fishing bent. The tide was nut Kind to the boat and two "distinguished" passengers were asked to lighten the load by embarking in the dinghy, which they did—to their sorrow. Their action, huwever, resulted in a start being made, the dinghy and its occupants being nearly surrendered to Davy Jor.es' locker in the process. The man wh i caught the ti st Hah was not hcky, because the contents ot his pecket were accidentally emptied overboard. Twelve lavely shillings were thu3 consigned to keep hosts ot schnapper company. Tis said that one angler caught fifty-nine fish and the proverbial cold, while another gut one, "a ducking" and well blistered. The reception tendered to the fishermen on their return with two hundred and sixy-nn eot the iinest schnapper ever drawn from the Waiuku Channel was indeed warm, as were the fish next morning. The management of the cr»ft was a distinct credit to Messrs Walker and Sadler, and the nczt tup will be eagerly looked forward 1) Mr E H Hiiey, the G.neral Manager ot New Zealand Railways, is shortly expected to visit Papakura and a deputation consisting of the chairman of the Town Boaid and ether prominent townsmen will wait upon him in connection with an alteration to the suburban service, and the stopping of at Last one of the expresses. Their argument in favour of the latter ahculd he strengthened by the fact that it is tie Department's intention to remove the Drury station still further from l'apakura. That I'apakur; l is not being treated tanly in the matter of express trains is pro;ed by the fact that stops are made at muc'i hss imparfa ,t stations.. The general feeling of ratepayers in Ihe matter of loans appears to be in favour of an alteration of boundaries before anything i |se la undertaken. This matter wa«, we under „tand, left in the hands of two gentlemen to attend to, and it is rarobabla that their report will so.i bs placed before the members of the Town Hoard. On the other hand, there aro certain members of the Board who want to refrain from undertaking anything in the nature of a progressive step, preferring rather to leave such matters to the new Board to be elected next September. Why this couree should be adopted they themselves only know.

Fapakura residents will be pleas.d to learn that they are at last to be favoured with a reliable pictu-e and orchestral entertainment. The concern will be under the manaeement ot Mr Malcolu Brunette, of Fukekohe, who is well-known in op?ratic circles throughout New Zealand. The pictures to be shown will include America's greiteU drama "Arizona.'" As mirthmakers the two Keystones will be hard to ourpasa, whit 3 a picture fuil 0; interest is tli* War Graphic. The ijrst entertainment will be on Frjday or (bit) week

TUAKAU We regret to have to record the death, at Hamilton, of the ten-year-old ion of a late resident of luskau, Mr A B Ccliter, and a grandson of Mr Adam Madill. The deceased was an exceedingly bright and promising lad and gieat sympathy is felt for his sorrowing relatives

LAND OWiNEKSHIP DISPUTE The announement displayed on a property at Tuakau of a forthcoming tale of the section concerned was responsible tor Michael B Geraghty, ot Tuakau, bting called on at the tVkekdu Magistrate's Court yesterday to answer a charge that he hnd wilfully removed a "For dale" notice that had been erected therein by the instructions cf Mr James Dliworth Mr P E Dromgool defended and exploited that Mr Dilworth received a grant of tome property at Tuakau in 1869, but had never lived on it, and possession of authority had b;en cb'.aintd by Patrick Geraghty. Constable Watson stated that Dilworth was the owner ot the property and he placed it in Mr J I Stem bridge':; bands lor sale. Mr Dilwoith had paid the rates on the property and Mr Stcmbridge had found that the deeds for the same were in Dilworth's name. A "For Sale" notice was |iut up on ihe sectior', but Geraghty pulled it down.

Mr Dromgool: He exercised his proprietary rights over it. Constable Taylor said that trom complaints made by Mr [Stembndge he made enquiries re the removal of the notice, and was informed by Geraghty that be had removed it, and bad been advised not to give it up. He was informed by the Clerit of the Tuakau Town Board that Ihe property belonged to Jam s DiUort 1 . G.'raghty threatened to remote any other eun that might be erected \ i its place. Juhn Thomas Stemhridge stated in evidence that Dilwortu had instructed him to s 11 the property os the 21 t inst. He searched the deeds and found that DiUortb owned the property. A sale notice was erected thereon, but two daya later he was informed by [Dilworth that it had been removed, su he informed the police. By the Magistrate (Mr Cuttcn):* He was cot award of the reason why the notice was taken down. Cro9e-2xamined by Mr Dromgool, Mr Stembridge said that he searched the deeds in the Bank of New Zealand, Pukekohe. He knew of no dispute over the property at the time when he made the search and did net entertain any doubt aa to the ownership. Mr Dilworth had paid the rates on the property fur the past three years. Mr Dromgool said that in 1892 the land was cleared, ploughed and fenced by Mr Geraghty, and he bad since continued to crop it and to exclude trespassers. He bad made a formal application to the Land Begistrar, which had been approved but had cot been completed through the delay in surveying the property. The defendant deposed that he was a farmer, resident in Tuakau, and the property, which originally was in James Dilworth's name, had been in his possession for the past twenty-five years. It bad been fenced and cropped and was now in crop. He had exercised the full right of ownership over the pro? , prety. Dn tre 9th Junuary he ie< moved the "For Sale" notice, which had been nailed to a post on the property. Mr Dromgool explained that Ueragnty was occupying the land on behalf of his lather, and accord* ingly received instructions from him.

Cross-examined by the police, defendant Mated that he was not aware that his father had offered to purchase the property. Mr Dromgool mentioned that be had been paying th? rales on the property to toe Franklin County Council on behalf cf Mr (icragbty. The Magistrate considered that there was no criminal intent, and consequently no criminal charge, and therefore the .ase would be dismissed.

MAUKU.

STEAM ROLLER DAMAGES BRIDGE While the r.ew road roller purchased by the Waiuku Town Board wa3 being take a to that place for delivery yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon it broke through the decking of the bridge over the Mauku stream at the creamery, destroying the planking for a distance t»f seraral feet. It was impossible for the engine to extricate itself under its own steam, as the revolution of its heavy wheels only resulted in the further grinding up of the wood-work. Fortunately a traction engine employed in breaking road metal tor the County Council was in the neighbourhood, and after a good deal of work hid been done in jacking up the roller and packing it with timber it was safely drawn out on to solid land. Temporary repairs were thib morning effected to the bridge and it was made passable for traffic. Further work will be carried jout to-morrow. Mast of the grain crops bave now been reaped, and a considerable portion is safely in stack. Most of the oat crops are moderately bifavy, though many are affected by rust. 1 lie wheat appears to be slightly above the average, and bay crops arc much heavier than is usually the case.

WAIAU PA.

The local creamery dobes down to-morrow after the buppiy ol the mornings milk. Ihia step' hai been brought about by two oi' the largest suppliers adopting home pcparation and consequently without their aid the expenditure attendant on runnirg the establishment did not warrant its continuance. The whole of the other suprt'c? have therefore installed home separation plants. The hay and oat crops in the district are especially good, and everywhere are to be seen large tacks ol the produce. A (ait amout cf sw.dcs bss been oowo iOf winter and these aru breaking through the ground, bat the dry weather is naturally regarding growth.