DISTRICT NEWS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 157, 21 March 1916, Page 4

DISTRICT NEWS

PAPAKURA. 70tu COMPANY AUCKLAND SENIOR CADETS. SHOOTING CONTEST. A most successful prize meeting was held at Papakura on Saturday last by the 70th Company Auckland Senior Cadets, when the silver cup presented by Lady Godley, together with twenty gold and silver medals and other trophies, were fired for under service conditions (10 shots, I seconds per shot, snap shooting), some very good scores being put up The greatest credit is due to Staff - Sergt.-Major Lowe for the way in which he organised and carried out the meeting, also for the splendid trophies which he obtained through the generosity of the residents of the district. The following is a list of the prize-winners : First prive, Lady Godley Cup and gold medal, Cadet G. James ; 2nd, gold medal, Cadet McConnell; 3rd, gold medal, Cadet W. Matheson; 4th, gold modal, Cadet 11. Matheson; sth, gold modal, Cadet H. Harrison ; 6th, silver watch, Corp. Wilson. 7th, silver watch, Sergt. Lockwood ; 8 th, silver medal, Private A. Johnston; 9tb, silver medal, Private Seaton ; 10th, silver medal, Private G. Ferguson; 11th, silver medal, Private L. Hibbard; 12th, silver medal. Private W. Halliday ; 13th, silver medal, Private C. Coxhead ; 14th, silver medal, Private E. Trail; 15th, silver medal, Private A. Costar; Kith, silver medal, Private L. Brown; 17th, silver medal, Private C. Paton; 18th, silver medal, Private F. Johnston ; 19th, silver medal, Private, E.Corrigan ; 20th, silver medal, Private P. Morgan.

TUAKAU.

PROPOSED NEW SCHOOL SITE INSPECTOR'S KEt'ORl With a view of relieving the tax, on the accommodation at the Tuakau School, Mr E K Mulgan, Chief Inspector, has furnished the Auckland Education Board with a report wherein he sguggests that a site for a sctool, between the present school and the raiwlay line, should be purchased and that several of the pupils attendirg the Tuakau School should attend the Whangarata and Harnsville Schools. In a comparison of tbe air space at the three schools he gives the following particulars, viz., Tuakau, 105 pupils, 800 square feet; Whangarata, 37 pupils, 1200 square feet; Harnsville, 82 pupils, 982 Equaie feet, showing that whereas there is 32J tett per pupil of air space at the Whangarata School and 12 feet at Harnsville, tbe scnocl with the air space for the largest attendance, viz, at Tuakau, is limited to 7£ feet per child. He further suggests in regard to the proposed school site that a new building might have to be erected, in which case the Harrisville school would have to be shifted to a site, to depend on the trend of settlement, apparently in the direction of Pukekoke East. The Tuakau School Committee have also been supplied with a copy of the report, which will receive due consideration.

With the exception of the rates due on a few quarter-acre sections in the old Road Board area, MrJA. H. Tapper, the clerk to the Town Board, has recovered nearly all this year's rates. This is highly creditable, as he had to contend with serious difficulty in connection with several absentee owners' sections, which the Board intend to have adjusted as far as the ownership is concerned.

Mr J. Eoutly, consulting engineer to the Town Board, visited the district on Saturday last to lay out the scheme of work to be followed in connection with the permanent footpaths to be constructed at the entrance to the saleyards.

WAIAU PA.

An interesting feature of a traction 5-furrow plough demonstration at one of the local farms last week was the number of new settlers who were included in the company that were assembled—a testimony to the rapid development of the district. Very good progress i 3 being made in the formation work of the Waiau Pa-Paturnahoe straight road, which is now in the hands of the contractors. This route will considerably shorten the distance to Pukekohe. Operations are also brisk at Suter's cutting on the Creamery load, which will effect a great improvement when finished. The matter of improving the accommodation at the Waiau Pa School is receiving the attention of the local School Committee and on a visit paid last week by a member of the Education Board preliminary arrangements wore made with a view of the present school buildiug being re-erected on a more central site. Under trying circumstances and many difficulties Miss Maloney, the teacher, has carried out her duties in admirable stylo and great credit is duo to hor for the successful manner in which she has overcome obstacles.

Ploughing is in full swing and several fanners have laid down their paddocks in new grass despite tho ruling high price of grass seed. The successful dairying season that has been experienced and future prospects have, however, given settlors full confidence that their enterprise will not bo in vain.

Evidence of remunerative farming in tho district was forthcoming at last weok'ssale in Pukekoko when some ten steer calves were sold at a figure of £■> 83 per head aud others of the mob at slightly lower rates. Then again as the direct result of Messrs Dimock and (Jo's ndvt in the " Times " a local fanner last week dispo-od of 10 pigs in one lot at a return of from A'.*>s to i'(>o, based on tho (i.UI per lb rate. A difference of opinion seems to havo arisen us to tho dairying arrangements for next season, borne suppliers favour the renewal of the present contract for the cartage of cream to the Pukekohe factory whilst othors express preference for its transport by water from the wharf to the Waiuku factory.

DRURY

The following is the financial statement of the patriotic concert rerently held in Drury, acd although the expenses as sat out include the cost of hire of hall, prizes ana printing of preceding concert the satisfactory balancs of £lO 3s 3d resulted and was paid into the Wounded SJdurs' Fund at Pukekohe. Receipts: hale of badges, 4s; proceeds of concert, £9 15s; sale of post cards, 7s; sale of collection of gum donated by Mr 3 K Merrington, £2 18s; sale of canaries and cage donated by Miss Perry, 10s; donation by Mr Houghton, ]os; donation by Kev Madill, 10s; lotil, £l4 145.-Expenses: fate and wire, 33 6d; stamps and stationery, 4s; ball hire, £1 18s 9d; catering, £1 3a; prizes, 9a; printing, 12s 6d; total, £4 10s 9d

HARRISVILLE.

Mr M. B. Geraghty was engaged on Saturday carting metal chips to be laid in the playground at the Harrisville school. The'work when finished should be the means of doing away with standing pools of water, which were by no means appreciated by the pupils.