DISTRICT NEWS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 139, 31 January 1916, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS

MERCER.

'AT THE FRONT,

UNFOUNDED RUMOURS

Writing to Mr P A Kelly from St Heliers, Auckland, Major C K E Msckesy, of the 11th Squadron, Auckland Mounted Kifles, who has returned to New Zealand after thirteen munths absence on active service, expressed astonishment to find the erroneous impression in the minds of many people that only such man of the Mounted Brigade went forward to fight on foot at Gallipoli who volunteered to do so and that those who remained behind in Egypt to look after the horses did 90 through "cold feet," etc. The Majjr says that such was entirely false, and as Mr Kelly's son was one of the men of the Major's squadron who was in charge of the horses, and bb the idle rumour might have reached Mercer he took the opportunity of writing to Mr Kelly. The actual facta were that early in April the New Zealand Infantry received orders to go forward, and BrigadierGeneral Russell asked permission to take his Mounted Brigade forward 011 foot, but it was refused. Afterwards, at ths beginning of May, the Mounted B'igade was ordered out on foot, acd at no time was any man asked whether he would go or not. Mr Kelly's soa was attached to thu signallers of the Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment and went fjrward with that body m May, but as none of the horses were landed there he had to return to Alexandria wiih them and remained in camp at Sidi Bisber until July, when ne again went forward, and after Bome time returned sick, but was eventually discharged, and ha believed that he was once again at the front. The effect of the impression, how gained he did not know, was to throw discredit on tha boys wfco were detained in Egpyt, all of whom were breaking their hearts to get away to the tiring line. In the opinion of th; officers, it was very much ti the credit of those men that their discipline and soldierly ipirit was such that they aid obey orders and remained behind in Egypt, when it wbb a fairly simple matter to break camp and go forward as stowaways. He asked Mr Kelly to combat the impression if it had gained ground in tha district, and if necessary he cojld use his (the Major's) l.tter and his name, for he cinsidered it a shame that discredit should be thrown upon fome of tha bravtsi men that had ever left the Dominion.

If attention is paid to the numerous promising young tennis players who are to be seen practising regularly on the court*, some interesting games should be forthcoming next season.

The pupils of the Mercer School have exhibited a commendable inclination to deprive themselves of luxuries in order to assist the Patrhtic Funds. Already the secretary of the of School Committee, Mr Ed Hallett, reports that £3O has been contributed by the children t6 the fund?, and an additional £lO is in hand. Although the season has not teen favourable to flower growing tha young horticulturists who attend to the school garden have not 1 ust heart in their work, but have worked all the more vigorously, with the result that the school garden now presents a pretty sight. The schoolmaster, Mr Edwards, is collecting the ceeds to help the children along later, when planting time comes round There seems to he no end to the recruits coming forward fjotn the Railway Department for New Zealand's forces. The latest to enlist are Messrs C Quinn, L Stewart and Williams. Mr Quinn has already left the Department's service, while the latter two ate yet to leave. Captain Ragg, of the s.s. Freetrader, reports that the river is improving for navigation purposes. The channel is diverting into one particular parsing, making the water more comraodiouj and scouring the sand better. The traders on the river hHve accordingly been able to make their usual trips more comfortably than for some time past l'lnse concerned in the formation of a shipping company consider that the trade on the river is deserving of a fast steamer built for both passenger and cargo traffic. They are also of the opinion that if a company was formed a "slip" could be erected to make good any necteaary repairs to the steamers. At present it repairs have to be unertaken the owners have to go to tbe trouble of beaching tbeir steamers.

Members of the Huntly Red and Uun Club are complaining that the lowering of Akanoa lake qnd lagoons in the vicioitj the:«of is accountab|a for by the River board's operations and it is liktly that a letter to that effect will *': c forwarded to the Board. They ate indignant at their sport ol fishing, etc., being endangered

PAPAKURA.

SOLDIEKS FAKEWELLED A farewell dinner was tendered in the l'apakura Hotel on Thursday evening to Messrs K .Dunn and L) Somerville, who are shortly leaving for Trenthani to go into training. The Kev W C Wood, chairman of the l'apakura Farewell Committee, occupied the chair. Despite the inclement weather there was a thoroughly representative attendance, and the good things provided by Mr and Mrs Bygrave, the host and hcsless, were done full justice to. Their part of the contract was faithfully carried out, and consequently the excellence of tbe catering was freely commented upon. In proposing the toast of the "Navy and Army," Mr D Stewart, chairman of the Town Hoard, said it was gratifying tJ all •Britijoers when they considered what their Navy had done. It was now apparent to every colonial that they had hardly realised until the present war how much the Navy was dependel upon. The growth of the British Aimy during the* present crisis was also distmc ive ot a nation that, rose to every occasion. Not eighteen months ago Britain had eent her standing Army to combat the forces ot the Uernian Empire, aud sad to r.Lt'J it

had been nearly wiped out in the course of a tew months. A natioa Wsofidars had, however, arisen to arcnge the men who had fought at Mont.- and the gallant Bilgians who bad defended Namur and Liejje. Mr £ D McLennan said that it waß apparent that the old signal "England expects every man this day to do hi* duty"—was being obeyed that day aa firmly as it ever had been, Britain and h?r Allies were decided that thi tight must be ore to a finish, and the manner in which they were flocking from all parts of the world to tight with the British Navy and Army demonstrated that the British nation, far from deteriorating, was greater than ever. He thanked the assemblage for the hearty and patriotic manner in whici the toast bad been received.

The tuast of "Ih3 Bnys who were Fighting Our Battls" was proposed by Mr E C Cole, who said that it was indeed beautiful that a nation which hd the world in civilisation should rise to the height of its f<«me by shedding the blood of i's best ia the cause of the right. It was sad, but yet glorious, that men who were living so far from the nation's centre should lay down their lives on the Gallipoli Peninsula fighting for a nation's heritage. Thosa wbo had uot responded would some day be eonfrnoted with the question as to why they did not go, and the bloed of those who had died, or of those who had lost limbJ, or bad been ■battered in healtb, wculd appear to them redder than eve-. Ttoae men wbo would never return to their native country would surely reap a reward, fitting their glorious death, in another world Mr J Murray replied to the toast. He asid that it had been hiped that one of the returned soUiers would have been present to respond, bat untortjnately the elements and his indifferent health had prevented him from making the j ;umey Mr E D McLennan was entrusted witb the toast of "The Allies." He suggested that conscription of wealth and men were necessary to b-ing this great war to a successful canclusion. He thought the time hid arrived when the National Government should take the initiative aud see that the quotas of men and money were forthcoming from the propsr quarters

In proposing the toast ot the evening, "Our Guests," Rev Wood said that there would undoubtedly have been even etill more present but tor the fact (hat the date of the function had been altered and that a number of prominent residents were detained at the "Bwear-iog-ia" ceremony in connection with the new rifle club. The warmth uf the reception to the men who were going away was, however, unmhtakeable. Ih; Rev gentleman delivered a brilliant recruiting speech, and was accorded rounds of applause. He said that in all over one hundred brave hearts had left the Papakura, Clevedon and Macurewa districts with regret, but willingly, to go and fight for civilisation. The gaps in the populace tfere now apparent, and the absence of loved ones was being felt, yet the circumstances were such that it would be gratifying if every man of a military age was now ia training. The guests of the evening coold be complimented on the tact that knowing full well what they were going to face they had offered themselves voluntarily. The voluntary system was a gbrious heritage of the British Nation and he did not wieh to be misunderstood whan he said that he was in tavour of conscription. But although the voluntary system had fulfilled all that was expected of it the conditions were such that be was glad whtsn he read that the Conscription Bill had passed its third reading in the British House ot Commons. Nothing had given more concnn to Germany than the ultimate knowledge that the British Nation was in earnest as regards the Bill. The Teutonic people had been buoyed up with the beliet that the laddists of Britain would fail to pay the terriffic price that was to be exacted before victory could be secured. The moral effect on our Allies would also materially assist in a successful prosecution ot the campaign. He tiusted that Captain Somerville and Trooper Dann would carry away pleasant recollections of thnt evening, and that through the dispensation of the Wi:e Providence they would te allowed to return to Papakura. Both, he hoped, were standing on the threshold of a successful military career and would,come back covered with honour and glory. (Loud appiauHa,) Both guest* suitably responded. The toast ot "Host and Hostess" was most enthusiastically honoured. In proposing it, Mr R M Gillespie, who was secrttary of the tunction, and who had worked veiy hard in the matter, referred tp the excellence ot the catering and the treatment ineted out to the committee by Mr and Mrs Bygrave. The "spread," he Baid, was hard to surpass, and wa9 a credit to the Hottl and Papakura.—Mr Bygrave responded 'lhe toast of the chairman was proposed by Mr Stewart who complimented the Rev. Wood upon the manner in which he had carried out his duties and tor the stnring speech that he bad delivered Musical and vo:al items were rendered by Messrs Neilson, J Murray, S L Bygrave and A G Yardley

TUAKAU.

the proposed BUTTER FACTORY.

Chatting with a "Tunes" representative during hia visit to Aka Aka last Thursday in connection with the official opening of the Aka Aka chf-ssw fV'tory. Mr Wm (ioodfellow managing director the # a ik a to O operative Dairy CompVr-' Limited, mention-d '.hat tbe p- -lib. Tv o' a butter tac'nrv b°iog erected ;u lu.iV.ciij irus year w ".,. , f mote. Negotiations, lis tx- , 5 f proceeding satis to'i v early ''' Otc-" r director- had arranged to inspect |jh C site, but then the Knlgamation pioposals came forwarH ami matter was dropped. N'jthin? he added, had been deiin,tf!y anf'"ged, but a decision would I.'- armed at at a meeting ol directors to be held on Tbuisday next 3rd rebiuary. It was the comply 8 intention, he said, to enlarge the Frankton Junction fac-

Tory, but poasiblv the Mercar fctory would remain intact f'r enothrr teason. If the war ended 'this year plans would be altered, and possibly the erection of the factory at Tuakau might be pushed ehead.

Mr Alex Dickson, the genial representative if the Waikato Cooperative Dairy Co, Ltd, who was stationed at Tuakau for several months, is, we are sorry to relate, a pa tie it in the Hamilton Public Hospital. Mr Dickson contracted typhoid fever and has been in hospital for two weeks past TUAKAU POSTAL SERVICE. Mails Close at Tuakau For Auckland daily noon, 3 p.m, and 5 p.m. „ Buckland, Pukekohe, Drury and Papakura—daily—noon. „ Mercer and Pokeno—daily—- • 9a m. () Whangarata— daily—s p.m. „ Onewhero and Te Hirua—daily —11,45 am. „ Pukekawa—Tues, Thurs., Sat. —9.45 a.m. „ Thames, Rotorua and Lower Waikato—daily—lo.ls am. „ Wellington and South—daily— 10.15 a.m. and 5 p.m.

AKA AKA

During the flush of the present season Messrs Louden Broe., with a herd of 104 cows, of which 28 are two year olds, secured an average yield of 38.751bs of milk daily, and for one month their cheque was £230