DISTRICT NEWS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 202, 22 August 1916, Page 4

DISTRICT NEWS

I TUAKAU A CHEQUE TRANSACTION. A tale oi a cheque valued at £2 3s 6d was unfolded at the Fukekohe Magistrate's Court on Thursday last when a youth, named Leslie Hunter, was charged with the theft of the same after it bad become the property of Messrs Gallagher and Howe, of Pukekohe. The accused at first pleaded " not guilty " and Sergt Oowan explained that accused had aigned a document, which he submitted, showing that he had intended to plead guilty. The Sergeant proceeded to outline the circumstances that lead up to charge, viz , that accused purchased some bicycle accessories from Messrs Gailagher and Howe, for which- he paid by a cheque drawn in his favour, receiving change for it. The cheque, however, was subsequently noticed not to have been endorsed by accused and it was returned to him by post for his endorsement, the goods also being posted to him. The cheque was not sent back to Messrs Gallagher and Howe and when the police made enquiries of accused he admitted having leceived the goods but not the cheque. It Was, however, found that the accused paid the cheque to Mr S. H. Crawford at Onewhero. The case was ordered to temporarily stand down and on being recalled the accused pleaded guilty, stating that he retained the cheque meaning to call at Messrs Gallagher and Howe's to pay them in cash. Constable Taylor spoke to accused's good character and informed the Magistrate that he was naturally somewhat " simple" in his ways. The Magistrate remarked that he recognised from his manner that the accused was not a biilliant-minded youth but all the same he thought he was not so simple as to be cunning enough to know that he was " working a point " on Messrs Gallagher and Howe. For his own good he would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence, if called upon, within 12 months and in the meantime he would have to' report himself regularly to Constable Taylor.

SEQUEL To A PROPERTY SALE. ACTION IN COURT. At the Pukekolie Magistrate's Court on Thursday last a judgment summons was heard by Mr F. Y. Frazer, 8.M., in which the proceedings took the form of a "friendly action," Dr C H. Wake as the judgment creditor " nominally " applying for an order for payment of £3 13s 6d against Mrs E. Gale in respect of medical attention on that lady. Mrs Gale, who is now an inmate of the Sisters of the Poor Home in Auckland, is the widow of Mr Esau Gale, who it will be remembered was found dead on the road at Tuakau South last year, and matters arising out of the sale of the deceased's property are in reality at issue, the same being under consideration in another quarter. Mr J. G. Haddow appeared for the widow. Charles Dromgool, farmer, of Tuakau South, examined by Mr Haddow, deposed that at Mrs Gale's request he purchased from her the late Mr Gale's property, situated at Tuakau South, for £IOO. He did so to help her and when he agreed to purchase it he made her a payment of £6 so that she could proceed to Auckland to purchase clothing, etc. In his opinion the actual value of the property was only £BO. Mis Gale showed him the Government valuation paper. His memory was not good, but he believed the figure on the valuation paper was £IOO and not £lls. He (Mr Dromgool) was the original owner of the property and he gave it to the late Mr Gale. Subsequently the property was transferred to him (witness) in consideration of a loan but on the

loan being repaid the property was re-transferred back to the late Mr Gale. In addition to the £6, already referred to, he gave Mrs Gale £2, and the balance of £92 was dealt with by his son, Patrick, on his (witness's) behalf. At his (witness's) request his son, Francis, drew up an agreement of bale which both he and Mrs Gale signed at his house. Later the agreement was forwarded to Auckland, as his son, Patrick, practising as a solicitor in Auckland, advised him to pay all moneys for Mrs Gale through him. After Mrs Gale left Tuafcau for Auckland he instructed Patrick to prepare a deed of the property for him He told the old lady she could have the free use of the property for two 3 ears. The old house on the property he only valued at about £5. Mrs Gale went to Tuakau and saw him concerning the balance of the pujchase money, and she was disappointed that it was not being paid direct to her. When he took possion of the property it was lough and in blackberries, besides rabbits running on it. His own section adjoining, which was better land, was valued recently at £3 per acre. Dr Wake deposed that he made application to Mr P. Dromgool, solicitor, Auckland, for the sum of £3 13s tid, but a cheque for £3 6s only was forwarded with an intimation to the effect that 7s Gd had been deducted for " protecting the amount of the account." He returned the cheque and received an answer to the eflect that the cheque had been handed over to Mrs Gale and that no further funds were available for payment. That led him to take legal proceedings. He had never at any time instructed Mr P. L)roii>gool to " protect his account." At this stage the case was adjourned to be further heard in Auckland.

In recognition of the esteem in which she is held in Tuakau by her felluw members of the Methodist community, Miss A. Bridge, who, i after being a member of Messrs Green and Colebrook's staff for the past five years has resigned her appointment to take up residence at Otahuhu, was farewelled, together with Mrs Bridge (her mother) at a pleasant social held in the Wesley an Church last Tuesday evening. The Bev. J. B. Suckling presided over a fair attendance, and a musical programme contributed to by the following was submitted, viz. Misses 0. Revell, E. Bjoroft, A. Long, A. Bridge, Mrs G. D. Hunter, Messrs W. Lee and A. M. Costain. Supper was provided, and during the evening the services faithfully rendered to the church by Miss Bridge were outlined by Rev. Foulkes and Mr Costain. Probably the biggest sale of Tuakau property recorded for some years past eventuated on Saturday last, when the fine block of building site property, on which the Patriotic Carnivals were held, exchanged hands, Mr A. Madill, senr., selling the whole block of 76 acres at £BO per acre to Mr H. Craig. The new owner will subdivide it for building sites at a later date. The proceeds from the sale of home-made sweets at the Farmers' Union concert and dance held on Wednesday last amounted to 17s. The young ladies responsible for the sale were Misses I. Leaman, A. Lewis, B. Geraghty and H. Draper. With a view of enrolling the eligible Maoris in the district for Home Defence, i e. a separate Territorial Cadet Company for Maoris, Lieut Cross, of the Maori ( Reinforcements, and Serge.-Major Ansell, of the Territorial Staff, addressed a large number of Maoris on the subject in the Tuakau Public Hall on Saturday afternoon last. Lieut. Cross spoke in the Maori language and ascertained that in the event of Tonga Mahuta, the Maori King's brother, being given an appointment in the Territorials all the young Maoris would offer their services. The Maori elders, however, are against Tonga Mahuta's appointment to the forces, despite the fact that the Government is prepared to accept hi m as an officer,

their idea Leing that once the Company is formed it will be sent on active service. Tonga Mahuta has had military training with the 70th Company, Senior Cadets, Huntly, and with the Wesley Training Cadets. The result of a meeting held yesterday at Waahi, at which Tonga Mahuta was asked by Lieut. Cross and Sergt-Major Ansell whether he would accept an appointment, has not yet to come to hand.

CLEVEDON. FARMERS' UNION MEETING. A meeting of the members of the Clevedon brancli (of the Farmers' Union was held in the Public Hall on Saturday evening, the 12th inst. The members present were Messrs C. A. Fawcett (president', C. C. Munro, W. Stephens, F. Stephens, W. T. Bell, H. H. Cawte, W. T. Duder, H. J. Bull, D. M. Bryan, J. B. Aieken, J. Hancock, S. A. Browne, J. Luke, A. D. Bell and J. A. Gandy (secretary). Mr Allen Cambridge, of Orere, was unanimously elected to the membership of the branch. Mr E. R. Haßtie resigned his membership. The secretary stated that he had received a reply from the Provincial Office acknowledging the receipt of the Clevedon branch's letter in favour of the Provincial Office collecting the whole of members' subscriptions. and stating that the majority of other branches' replies were in favour of the same course. A further letter from the Provincial Secretary stating that the Education Department were prepared to hold classes in book-keeping (the nearest classes being at Papakura } was received. The secretary reported that he had written the Clevedon Steam Navigation Co., protesting against the raising of freights, but so far had had no reply. Mr C. A Fawcett suggested that something ought to be done in the matter of the drilling of the Senior Cadets, as at present the boys were wasting time in parading for drill and then finding no instructor there. —Other members present spoke very strongly on the same lines, and on a motion being tiken it was unanimously resolved that the secretary be instructed to write the Olficer Commanding the Auckland Military District explaining the position of the training of the local Senior Cadets and stating that the present system is a farce.

THIS YEAR'S SHOW. The Clevedon Agricultural and Pastoral Association have decided to hold their next annual Show on Saturday, November 18 th. The officers appointed are as follows : —Past Presidents, Captain F. Colbeck and Mr A. D. Bell; president, Mr C. C. Munro; vice-presi-dents, Messrs G. Bell, W. J. Hyde and A. McNicol; executive committee, Messrs A. I). Bell, C. A. Fawcett, J. Luke, N. J. Sutherland, C. W. Stephens, J. Shaw, W. Duder, J. Hancock, Fred Stephens, P. Graham, J. A. Gancly, W. T. Bell, H. H. Cawte, M. Wilson, J. B. Aicken and the president and vicepresidents, ex officio ; general committee, the members of the Executive Committee, and Messrs 11. Mullins, A. Murray, J. Muir, W. C. Knight, I>ave Wilson, C. Atchison, John Dow, J. Meagher, Major McKenzie, J. H. Alexander, H. Ward, D. M. Bryan and H. T. Bull; ground committee, Messrs Alex D. Bell, W. Duder and C. Munro; secretary, Mr J. A. Gandy ; treasurer, Mr Clnis. C. Munro; auditors, Messrs Sam A. Browne and W. Johnston, senr.