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Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 134, 19 January 1916, Page 3

I PUNI.

The district jiitit now presents a ry busy aspect. Hay making is full swing and stacks are springg up like mushronms. The rroers f*ave commenced to harvest eir onion crops, which are qute i to the standard'cf past yea's, pecialiy with seedling onions. Mr oeald's crop is particolaily good The dairy farmers are beginning > feel the effects of the dry spell, d a few showers of, rain would ; grealy appreciated The labour problem has greatly oubled farmers this season. The auris demanded a price per bag for ij?Ring potatoes far above that lven in past year, and tor day ibour Is 3d an hour was wantel lot contented with Is 3d an hour, certain class of them are demanding Is 3Jd an hour. The season enerally as regard potatoes and nions has not been a very financial ne an the ruling prices have been ow. It ii therefore to be noDed hat the grain, chaff and straw rops will give a good return Tenders are out for the building if the new school. The Puni store has changed lands, Mr Smith having disposed if the business ti Mt Glover A very fine patch of lucerne is to ie seen on Mr Preece's farm, and be is now cutting it for the second time inside of three months. Other farmers would do well to follow Mr Preece's example, as his lucerne is giving an abundance ot feed Mr Stone, the well-borer, is about ti commence boring operations on Mr V Rodger's farm. He has just been successful in getting water on Mr Tobin's property.

MANUREWA

BEWARE OF THE CROSSING! A corn spondent writes: The boundary between Manurewa and Takanini is the Papakura stream. It h here that the Main Trunk line now crosses the Great South road, but the alterations in progress to the railway line will bring the rrosing of the line and South road abnut a quarter of a mile nearer Manurewa townenip. The new crossing will be by overhead bridge. This will be a distinct improvement. But to aecure this result such radical alterations have been made to the Great South road, as shown by the work in progress, that the re idents h=re are wondering when the County Council, local Koad Boards, Automobile Associations and others interested are goinz to protest against the making of tbe South road a dargerous roadway. The extensive alterations to tbe railway tack are being [undertaken to secure a better grade. Whilst this is all right for tbe railway, it is apparent that the Department have, to suit their own purpose, put a big bump on the Great South road. This defect is bad, and the sharp deviation made in the road will becoma a nienaes and a danger. This is now patent to the any casual observtr. We have tha Manukau County Council now making extensive alterations to the Great South road as it traverses the towrship. Ttrse alterations have been undertaken with tha main object of obtainrg a good grada. The work in hand to b3 next undertaken by tha County Council ia in removing the dangerous deviation in the South road just before entering Papakura, known as Walter's Corner. Midway betwean these County Council South road (.'lterations are the Railway Department's alterations, and tbe very defects 'he County Council on both sides ara seeking to r?move, the Railway Department have intensified to a very great degree

Miss Dans Elliman, wlio is on the nursing staff of the Glencairn Hospital, Te Arobe, returned to her parents' home at Manurewa on Friday la»t on holiday. She expects to stay a few wzeks At (he (Jiahuhu Carnival on Saturday one ot the most interesting items was the parade of tbs t>y*h, Otabuhu, and 70 hj, Manurewa and Papskura districts, companies oi the Senior Cadets. The salute was taken by the Mayor of Otahuhu, Mr J Atkinson, and Lieutenant A G Mabee, officer commanding the VOih Company. Physical and bayonet exercise also formed part of the programme, which was much appreciated. The priz?s for the two smartest cadet* were wan by Sergeant G L Jthnson, 70th Company, and A burnand, 69th Company Mr H Osborne, of the Manurewa creamery, who has been an inmate of a private hu.'pital ror about a fortnight, has so far recovered as to return to his home. His friends will wish him a speedy recovery The annual meeting of the Manu rewa Public Hall Society will be held on Thursday evening, when the orricsrs for the ensuing year yti\\ be elected.

POKENO.

STUCK SALU Ihsre was a fair yarding of cattle at th? usual monthly stock sale conducted by Mi-sera BucklanJ and Sons in their Pokeno yards on Monday last. Young cattle penned well. Bull?, according to size and quality, made from JES to £lO 10s. Empty cows £5 10b to £7 ss; Best calves, £2 10i to £2 178 fid, and good calvts, a'Jb to Ms; small and weedy sold from 10a to 28s. Beef sold at Westtield rates. Yearling to 18 month] heifer 3 exchanged hands at prices from £i to £i 7a (id

—*!»— WAERENGA-

Although somewhat delayed owing to carting difficulties the contract of erecting the Waipuna bridge W ill be commenced in a day or two and should be completed about ri»c weeks hence, whin an opening ceremony, in conjunction with the annual school picnic, will be held The Waipuna settlers arc arranging lor the acquisition of a sawmill to cut some 100,000 feet of standIn g bush

MERCER.

The engagement i 9 announced of Mias Selina Stone, of Uuntly, to Lieutenant Anseli, of the Defence Stiff A correspondent, signing trims* If "Equity." writes:—"ln the Mercer Domain the Town Hoard have a very fine asset if it is properly managed and let by advertisement. At presert ratepayers have tte privilege, for a nominal sum, to graze cattle or horses. Ic takeb quite the biggest proportion of these feeg to pay the caretaker or ranger. Under tha constitution of the Domain it has always been contended by the governing body that the Domain is for the benefit of residents' cattle, and they have had the privilege always, for a small turn, of running their animals ihere. Tte money received in this way g _ es to the revenue of the Town Board and i aturally eases the ratepayers' potkets. Quite the larger number of residents run neither horses nor cowa thsre, and thus receive no benefit fiom the grazing. What I contend is the most equitable arrangement would be to call tenders for the grazing only, and reserve to the public picnic and sport rights. Thus a considerable revenue would be raistd, which wculd go to easing the rates of the whole community. Naturally a strong opposition would be raised, as those who are reaping a benefit at presnt would kick """to retain their so-called rights, viz, getting grazing at about threepence per week per head at the expense ot thoEe ratepayers who don't keep animal*, also at the expense ot these who have sufficient land within tte town area, and keep cows to supply the town and bave to put up with this unfair competition." WEDDING BELLS. The wedding took place on Dec 30th at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Khyber Pas', Auckland, of Mr George H. Mclndoe. son of the late Mr Wm. Mclndoe, of Auckland, to Miss Ethel V. Gallery, of Mercer. The Eer. H. B. Wingfield performed the ceremony, the bride being given away by her father. Miss Hilda M. Gallery was bridesmaid and Mr A. J. Sloman acted as best man.