LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 183, 16 June 1916, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The next ordinary monthly meetiug of the Pukokohe Borough Council takfs place next Wednesday. Bv reason of dilution of purnership a clearing sale is to lie held on Messrs Costello and lugley's latin at Ararimu South I>v Messrs Alfred Buckland and Sous on Thursday. For particulars see advt.

Messrs Eoulston Bros.' thoroughbred gelding " Bowler " his beou taken taken out of training for a few weeks and is being given a rest spell at his old home quarters iu Pukekohe.

Traders and private residents of Pukekohe are mvited to become members of the Chamber of Commerce and to attend the annual meeting of the Chamber to be held in the "Times" office on Monday evening next,

In recent casualty lists (wounded) appear the names of Pte. E. J. Burgess, brother of Mr W. Burgess, of Pukekohe, Pte. R. K. Keith, sou of Mr W. Keith, of Maungatavvhiri; and Pte. A Woolsey, son of Mr A. Woolsey, of Patumahoe. The death occurred at his daughter's residence in Auckland on Wednesday of Mr George Hay ward, who until recently had resided in Pukekohe for several years, having previously lived at Pokono. l'he funeral took place at the Pukokohe cemetery this afternoon.

At the N.X. Loan and M A. Coy's, monthly stock sale at Pukekolio on Tuesday large number of buyers met a short market. There was an excited demand for cattle of all classes. • A quantity of indifferent fattened beef was penned and sold at high prices. No grown steeis were yarded, and a small muster ol yearling to eighteen months cattle showed a big rise in values.

Tbe Home Missionary vacancy on the Fukekohe Methodist Circuit has been tilled by the appointment ot Mr A. J. Davis, of Stratford. Mr Davis has served a a a Methodist probationer for iome years, but owing to ill-health had to retire from the work eome six years ano. He is now recovered, and will commence his duties here on July Ist, residing at Bombay and assisting in the general work ol the Circuit.

The progress of tlio homeseparation system in the district is again being denoted iu regard to the coming dairying season. lhe Waiuku creamery is to be closed and only cream is to be received at the Waiuku factory, wliilct supplies at the Clevodon lactory, which has been taken over by the New Zealand Dairy Association, are siuiilailv to be limited to

cream. The residence of Mr J. lv Moßae in Pukekohe was the scene of a merry partv on Monday night to bid lareweil to Mr David E. flird who is leaving shortly for Irentham. Progressive euchre was indulged in and musical items given by all present. The Maori stonos of Mr j. I\. Mcliae were a feature of the evening. The sinking of Auld Syne aud God Save the King brought an enjoyable evening to a close.

At a meeting of the Knitting Committee of the Pukekohe Branch of the Auckland Women's Patriotic League, it was decided that a clasps of instruction in the work lie held weekly. Our soldiers in Europe are requiring all the woollen comforts that can be sent and it is hopeu that all who possibly can will attend and assist the numbers who are already living their assistance in various ways. A member of the Committee will be in attendance at the Borough Council Chambers, Edinburgh Street, every Tuesday from 2 00 to 1 p.m.

Following on the special mission services at Bombay next week, a similar series is to be conducted at the Pukekohe Methodist Church. The missioners will be the Kev. J. B. Suckling and other?. Alexander's Hymns will be used, and the meeting wili be hsld each evening at 7.30, exeppt Wednesday, when a young people's service will be held, commencing at 7 p.m. Thursday's gathering will be of a social nature, when it is hoped that all members and sympathisers wili be present. The meetings will conclude on Friday night.

On Wednesday night the Pukekohe Ladies' Presbyterian Bible Class gave a return social to the Young Men's Class. The evening was spent in games and song and was heartily enjoyed by the eighty members present. The young ladies are to be congratulated on the capable way in which everything was arranged and mauaged. The Presbyterian Bible Class Union of New Zealand have between four and live thousand members doing battle lor King and Country. Several members of the Pukekohe branch are leaving shortly to do their bit.

Memorial services in connection with the death of Earl Kitchener were held in St. Jam cb iresbytcriaa Church, l'ukekohe, 011 Sunday, large congregations bring present. in the morning tbc National Reserve, Territorials and tluy Scouts attended in a body, ana in the evening the congregation w93 more than the Church could hold, many being unable to gain admittance, I'he Kev, S. Nixon conflicted both .services. The choir rendered i'iarl Kitchener s favourite antbem, "Abide With Me," and at Ihe conclusion of the aervic: the "Dead March in "Saul" was played by the organist. Cry J. Flanagan and I. J. Lockwood, who visited Wellington last week, to urge the claims of Franklin County for favourable consideration in the preparation of Government grants for public works, interviewed various Ministers and were in every instance most couiteously received. They wore, however, given to understand that owing to war expenditure there was little probability ol any now grants being voted and that local authorities would have to lie content with a re-vote oi the grants ut last year that had nut been expended la tiie case, however, ot the Great South Koad the delegates expect assist nice in the way of some special maintenance grant as the Miniver ciiii. fiiied in Hi-nisi'il that ui It all iiii |>< >vI iut highway, w il h itrapidly increasing volume of trallic, warranted preferential treatment.

OPENING CEREMONY. The official opening of the new Methodist Sunday School Hall, situated in the tiroadwav and adjoining the Methodist Church, took (.ilace on Wednesday last, the occasion bsing attended with great rejoicing on the part of members of the local Methodist body by reason of the event testifying to tha successful accomplishment ti' elforts put forward te provide a building to be used not only lor the training of the young but also for social gatherings connected with the Church. It is interesting to remember that d:i March 21st last the new structure had the distinction of having its foundation stone laid by no life an important personage the the Frime Minister nf the Dominion, the Kight Hen. W. F. Maßßey, M.F , other supporting stones being laid by Messrs A. C. Caughey, A. Trenwith and S. Etfans.

On Wednesday the opening ceremony was performed by Mrs W. Kichardson, who had always been prominent in local Methoidst circles and whose husband, Mr W. Richardson, is the trustee of the Circiit fund and Treasurer of the Trust Fund.

t'roceedinga commenced at the entrance to the school with the singing of a hymn, tollorced by prayer altered up by Bar J. YYatkinsor, Auckland.

At tbe request of the l'astor, the Kev. VV. d. I'ottcr, a short address was then delivered by the architect of the building, Mr F. W. Miuntjoy, who presented Mrs Kichardson with a silver key with which he asked her to unlock the main door of the School.—The inscription on one side ot the key read "Presented to Mrs W. Kichardson by F. W. Mountoy, architect,'' and on the tevcise side was inscribed "Fapakura Methodist Sunday Schojl, opened June 14th, I'JIG."

Mrs Kichardson expressed appreciation of the honour done her in being selected to perform the christening ceremony in connection with the riew Sundav School. As an old member of the congregation, she said, her heart ana soul were wrapped up in the Methodist cause and she trusted that the new building would promote the spiritual uplifting of both young aad old alike. Her concluding words were: "1 now unlock the door and declare this building officially opened. Those present then proceeded into the interior of ths building, where the tables had been laid out for a sumptuous tea, to which full justice wes done.

After the tea the Ilall was crowded for the entertainment which followed. I'ne chairman was Mr George Wmstone, vice-president of the Methodist Church of. New Zealand.

Addresses were given by Kev. Burley, M.A., of Auckland, and Rev. W. S. Hotter. Mr D. B. Stewart, chairman of the Town Board, also occupied a seat on the platform and expressed his pleasure at being present, and also complimerited the trustees on the fi'.e Hall they had built.

Songs wera rendered by Miss Kimmer, of Auckland, Mearss Higgot, Corin, Mabee and Seaton. The children also took part by singing one ot their favourite hymr.s. Mr Kiehardson announced that he would donate the special prizes that the late Mr li. D. Smith had given to thoss children who never misaed a Sunday in the year. The secretary, Mr S. Evans, in his report stated that seven years ago the Sunday School was started and held in the Public Library. Some months afterwards it was moved to the new church, and now it was going into the new Sunday Schnol, proving that it had not only increased in numbers but had outgrown the size of the buildings that it had occupied. Mr Evans proceeded to say that some four years ago Mr and Mrs Fothergill, when leaving the disttict, gave the trustees a cheque for £25 as a thank dieting tor benefits received by their family while labouring in the Sunday School, and that was the commencement of the buiiiing scheme. Two years a?o the trustees thought it was time to start and plana were preoarcd by Mr Mount joy, the architect. The work began soon afterwards, and some people advocated postponing the building, but towards the end of last year it was decided to proceed in apite of the war. Mr Evans next stated that the building hail coßt, including seats, lamps, etc., £836, and direct donations and collections towards the cost of the building were £4oL>. The total receipts amounted to £GIO and expenditure £i<Bo, leaving a debit balance ot £270. Votes of thuDKs were given to those who by their generous donations had made the building of the Hall possible, also to the builder, Mr tJirst, who had done such faithful work; to those who had laboured in cleaning up the premises; and to all the ladies and gentlemen who had assisted in making the opening function such a great success. Last Sunday opening services were held in the Hall, the preachers being the Kevs. 0. H. Garland and W. S. Potter, and further commemorative services will be held next Sunday, when the Kev. G. Bond will occupy the pulpit. DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING.

Tho building is erected 011 elevated

•►round on tho eastern side of tho ('lunch, and, standing well up front tin- road as it does, tho front prosonts a very pleasing ell'oct. The design

is after the order of the Northern Italian Romanesque architoctum. There is a large, well-dpniguu I Venetian window with centre sninieircular lights glazed in dioicn coloured fancy glass well set in the front gable. Thote also aro two largo lights on either side of the front entrance, with radial bars in the fanlights, the sashes being glazed in the choicest pattern fancy glas-s with delicate tints. Over the front entrance is a well-balanced pediment, supported on heavy columns on concrete bases.

Tho front entrance doors are recessed and leading up to these doors are line wide concrete stops well set in between nicely finished liases. The interior is designed to give special facilities for Sunday school and gymnasium work also to cater for tho special social requirements of tho Church. The auditorium is large and spacious, the seats being arranged with two centre aisles. At the southern end of-the auditorium is a stage with a nicely paunolled proscenium, 17 feet wide by l(i feet high ; on each sido of the proscenium are wing doors by means of which entrance is made to the stage from the auditorium. Entrauce to tho stage can also be made from an auteroom on tho left. Provision has boon made for panic by putting large lire escape doors on tho outer wall. Tho roof is of the open order. The principals are mado of heavy oregon and aro specially designed for gymnasium work. Tho whole of tho roof is linishod in ligured rimu.

Provision has been made for ventilation in tho apox of tho roof, tin arrangement being screonod by fancy fretwork. Tho auditorium is well lighted with extra largo sashea and faulights glazed with fancy glasi giving a very pleasing oll'ect to the oyo.

(>n the eastorn side of the auditorium aro four spacious class rooms with casemont wiudows glazed in fancy glass. Entrance to these rooms is mado from tho auditorium. On tho south-eastorn comer is a tino largo kitchen with copper boiler 3et in, with water laid on to copper aud washing-up table. The dimensions of tho building are 61ft by 12ft. Tho foundations throughout aro in concroto and brick. The building proper is built of wood with iron roof. Tho seats are specially constructed for Sunday school work, tho backs being reversible, so that the moving of soat* to form classes is considerably minimised. The contractors for tho work were Messrs William Hirst and Son, of Auckland. The joinery and seats were manufactured iu Papakura by Messrs Richardson Bros. The iron work for the roof was made by Messrs Stonox and White, of Auckland. Tho building was desiguod and erected under the supervision of Mr F. W. Mount joy, architect, of Pukekolie,