DISTRICT NEWS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 194, 25 July 1916, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS

DRURY

WOMEN'S PATKIOTIC LEAUUE. The annual retoit ot lbs Druij. Kurciman and Karaka braicli ef tbe w Women's Pa'ri jtic League states M that since tbe incepiioii of tre i branch on June 17th, 1915, twelve general meeting*, one speciel general meeting ad t*o meetings of the Executive have breri held with an average attendance of BNiete o members. The in mbera have devoted their energies chiefly to knitting, and during the year eleven parcels of knitted comfort?, comprising £9O articles, have been forwarded to the Mayoress ot Auckland for distribution. All special appeals have, met with good response and contributions of casi and kind have been forwarded to the Central Committee in each instance. Special mention may be made of the efforts of tba reboot children, who responded so happily to tbe Christmas Gift Appetl and who are now contiiouting tume 5 or 6 Dominion gifts monthly. Each month the membe*s make up and fill 25 hussifs from material forwarded by tbe Central Committee. Tbe thanks of the members are due to the Drury tJsll Committee for tne use of the hall f'ee of charge for their meeting?. The total contributions collected by the League during the twelve monlhs amount to £152 16s KM. made up as follows: -Monthly cortiilmtionp, £92 6a 9.1; proceeds of teas given by memters, £8 9i; proceeds of concert, Papakura, £1 ss; leather waistcoat appeal, £26 13i; Christmas gift appeal, £l7 6s Id; special donations, £3 2s 3d; French Ked Cross appeal, 16s 9d; Kassian Day appeal, £1 7s; Dominion gifts, £1 lis; total, £152 16s lOd. The expenditure incurred is recorded as follows:—Paid into Mayor's Fond, £l6 13s 61; wo 1 and material for comforts for sick and wounded, £64 16s 6f; paid to Mayoress to waistcoat appeal, £26 13s; Christmas gift appeal, £l7 6a Id; French Ked Cross, 16s 9d; Kussian Day appeal, £1 7s; Daminion gifts, £4 2s 6d; petty caib, postage, etc., 10s; total, £132 4s 41; leaviag a balance in band of £2O 12s 6d.

The report and balance sheet, the latter having been audited by Mr S. Fcilding, are signed by K. McMurtrie, president, Amelia (jlassoD, treasurer, a: d Helen Barnes, bon. Eecretary. ♦ ■ ONEWHERO. FAKMEK3 AND THE NAVY FUND. A meeting of tbe Unewhcro branch of tbe Farmers' Union was held in the Central Hall on tbe evening of the 1 llh inst. There was a fair attendance of members considering the boisterous state of tbe weather. Une of the main items of tbe evening was the consideration of a circular recived from tbe Province! Executive explaining their attitude towards the Navy League's' appeal. After full discussion and a personal explanation by Mr Ohisoo, the local representative on the Executive, it WBS unanimously decided to support the Executive in asking tbe Government to increase the Dominion's contribute n to tbe Imperial Navy by a sum of not less than £50,000. This was considered to be much more satisfactory than depending on voluntary subscriptions as in tbe lormtr case tbe money will come out of tbe Consolidated Fund to which all, not only the generou?, must contribute.

The next meeting was fixed for a month hence, and will be held on a Saturday afternoon, when all farmers will be welcome.

TUAKAU See also page 1. The latest donation to the Soldiers' Memorial Fund is the sum of £l, donated by Mr J. Glasgow. Improvements to ths Presbyterian Manse, including the installation of a telephone, were decided on at a meeting of the managers of the Presbyterian Church held last week.

The latest advice received by Mra Cheesman from her husband, Dr P. H. Cheesman, goes to snow that the Doctor continues to keep well and id in Flanders.

A change for the better has apparently set in amongst the Maoris who frequent Tuakau on Saturdays, and instead of unruly conduct characterising the Saturday jaunt into the township, good behaviour is now general. The improvement is mainly due to the close supervision paid to the natives J by Constable Taylor and his tactful handliog of them.

The movement on foot for the establishment of a Maori unit for home defence accounted for Ser-geant-Major Acsell's presence in the district on Saturday, when fco enlisted the sympathy of several enthusiastic young Maoris by making them conversant with the aires of the movement, and as a result a cumber ot young natives of good physique came forward and were enrolled.

Town board members are endeavouring (o obtain particulars of tbe loan proposals so that they may be submittal to Ibc ratepayers at an early date, but the procedure is necessarily slow. In tbe first instanc?, it has to be ascertained whether u: not arrangements can be made to barrow tb3 money, and, Becjndly, it under favourable conditions. Then lol'ows tbe usual delay of about one month between the date if submitting particular to the ratepayers and tbe taking of the poll. Ibc Engineer's allocations have also to be tinslly adjusted and tbis matter is to be dealt with at a special meeting of the Board this evening, when it is propoeed to ioceise the amount of the projected loans to be raised, to allow l;i heavier expenditure en two roads, and also to include * for the installation of a lifting system.

Teams representing tbe Onewhero and Mercer, combined, ard the Pokckobe Territorials ara to fry cmclusnns at Tuakau on Saturday week in a Kubgy match in comprtitun for the handsome cup presented by Major Northcroft, of Hamilton.