LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 168, 25 April 1916, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The next sitting of the Pukekohe Magistrate's Court takes place on Friday next and Mr F. V. Fra/er, S.M., will probably again be the presiding Magistrate. A well-known Pukekohe sportsman had the satisfaction of being the holder of a tote ticket for the horse that paid a dividend little short of " four-score " pounds at Ellerslie last Saturday. The property known as Routly's Estate, Pukekohe, is to be submitted to action " on the spot " by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company on Saturday afternoon nett. The estate immediately adjoins the borough and comprises some of the host of the Pukekohe land The sections to be offered are six in number, each of ten acres, I So that New Zoalanders may kuow " Australia's Unknown "' —so that their children will understand the nevGi'-naver—so that the wild things of Australia may be seen and understood, everyone should be preaeut at tho Premier Hall on Friday evening when the records of Ilurloy and Birtles 9000 miles dash into tho interior will be shown. Tho Pukekoho Military Reception Committee liavo arraugod to mako a l>ti?Bflntatioti to the boys of tho Thirteenth Contingent who are now on final leave. Tho presentation will take place at 0.30 p.m. on Friday evening at tho Premier Hall when a short interval will be arranged between tho pictures. "The Boys " di« invited to their parents for whom no charge will be undo. An iuvitatiuu is also extruded to all soldiers in uniform to i>o pre»J3nt. DreaduouKui Bouts and Shoss, best on the market. Sold only by FRANK

Interested parties are reminded that Messrs Alfred Bucklaud and Sons are to carry out at their salerooms in Auckland on Friday next a salo of seaside sections at Waiau Pa on brhalf of Mr Isaac Clark. Paiticulars of the property will be found in our advertising columns. Practically the only outward and visible sign in Pukekoko of to-day being Anzae. Day is the tlying of the Dominion tlag at the Post Office. Other than offices the business establishments remain open and the sole form of recognition of the day is afforded in special services held at the respective churches. The public are again reminded that the film " Australia's Unknown.'' showing the records of Hurley and Birtle's 9000 miles dash into the interior, is to be shown at the Premier Hall on Friday next. In order that business people may be able to see the picture the performance will comprise films of the usual order and " Australia's Unknown " will commence at 9.10 p.m. Mr W. G. Abbott's farm on Pukekohe Hill, sub-divided into ten lots from five to eight acres each, was submitted to public auction by Messrs Alfred Buckland and Sons at their Pukekohe saleyards. None of the property was, however, disposed of, the only bid forthcoming being an offer of £OO per acre for Lot I (five acres), which failed to reach the reserve price.

At a meeting of the Pukekohe Military Reception Committee held last Wednesday, it was reported that the Committee as constituted of the whole of the Borough Council and certain other residents did not lead to satisfactory working, being too large and resulting in very few members attending. It was decided to dissolve the existing Committee and to appoint the Committee previously in office, viz, the Mayor, Ore Barter and Motion (representing the Council), and Messrs Lawrie, J Boulstou, Grigor and Coaly, Mr Lawrie to act as chairman.

Dr Gilruth, Administrator of the Northern Territory, speaking of the films of " Australia's Unknown " says :—" I would not have believed it possible for anyone to have obtained such an excellent record of the Great Far North, and particularly of the fauna. It is altogether a remarkable production, and will teach far more of the resources and the possibilities of the Great Far North than could possibly be effected in any other way." The suggestion that emanated from the subscribers of the Pukekohe Public Library at the annual meeting held on Wednesday afternoon for the library to be municipally controlled and books to be issued free to resideuts was brought under the notice of the Borough Council the same eveniDg by Or Barter. Ho suggested that as the library's credit balance was ouly a few pounds and as no Government subsidy would be forthcoming this year the danger of the library closing down was imminent as the result of there now being only 18 subscribers He thought that the Council should come to the rescue and instead of making a grant of £?o should strike a rate to provide £ 100 (equivalent to a rate of one-lifteenth of a penny) for the library and to make it entirely free to residents. He thought that it would be a retrogressive step for the town if the library could not continue to exist.—The Mayor considered that a personal canvass for donations to the institution might relieve the situation.—Cr Hubbard supported Cr Barter in his proposal. —Cr Patterson contended that the library should be closed, as it was scandalous that only 18 out of 1500 residents were prepared to pay for the privilege to read the books. The Mayor suggested that the library should be kept open if only for historical reasons, as it was the oldest public institution in the town. —It was eventually resolved to hold the matter over for f urttrer consideration when the estimates for the new year were being prepared.