DISTRICT MEWS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 204, 29 August 1916, Page 3

DISTRICT MEWS

i RAMA. V FARMERS' UNION MEETING. ThV monthly meeting of the Kama Kama-Runciman branch of the Farmers' Union was held in the Rama Kama Hall on Saturday evening, the 19th inst. Mr W. J. D. Sharp occupied the chair, and owing to the rough night the attendance was email. The propossl to secure a site and to erect a Farmers' Union Hall thereon was left over till next meeting. Correspondence from the Head Office re bookkeeping, condemned stock, etc, waa also deferred for consideration. The secretary, Mr W. T. Baker, who has had considerable experience •in business in the Old Country, furnished a report, by request of members, un the new Trading Company, saying that it was an investment which all tanners should take up, aa there was every indication of it being a huge success. Messrs 0. Harrison and C. Bruce were enrolled as members ot tbe branch.

TENNIS CLUB. Tbe annual meeting of tbe Rama Rama Tennis Club was held un August 16th. The secretary rpad the report and balance sheet, showing a credit balance. The followig officers were elected for tbe ensuing season:—President, Mr Oldham; secretary and treasurer, Miis F. Oldham; committee, Messrs J. McCabe, J. Oooahoe, W. J. Sharp, J. West, J. Garbolmo and B. Girdwood, Mesfrmea Oldham, and Sharp, and Misses V. Donahoe, Q. Stewart, M. Kern and L. King. The date of the opening was left over to be decided at the next meeting. Mr J.' Donahoe was appointed selector. Tb president spoke in eulogistic terms of tbe late secretary, Mr C. Kern, and wished both him and Mr G. Pulman, who have left with the 20th Draft, a safe return trom the front. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Dairy Association suppliers was held in tbe Hall on the 3ird inst., Mr McKay being in the chair. Mr Pacey, Managing Director, addressed the meeting at some length, and was listened to with interest.

TUAKAU After spending a pleasant fortnight's holiday in Christchurch and Wellington, Mr A. H. Tapper returned borne on Thursday last. The, Town Board have received ' irum the Recruiting Board a circular relative to the Military Service and i majp showing all the allocations ot the various districts. The fancy dress football match, arranged to assist patriotic funds, eventuated on Saturday, but unfortunately not with any degree of success, for with the married men failing to put in an appearance and only seven of the single representatives being in their allotted places when the whistle sounded, an impromptu game had to suffice, "fancy dress" beiiiK opposed by those in plain attire. The proceeding! were witnessed by a fair number of spectators, who were greatly amused at the antics ot those in fancy costume. An easy win was secured by the "plain" teßm, which ran up 17 points to their opponents' nil. Mr Charles Smeed had charge of the whisrte. Whether by oversight or not the collection tailed to mature, so the funds are in the ■ame position as they were previous to the match. The following characters were represented, viz. : Clowns, Messrs C. Deed and E. Kevell; nigger, W. Lee; eld lady, W. Collins; jockey, b. Roberts: Topsy, W. Dyer; milker, A. White. The trawler Albany, which is to be engaged in 'trawling operations in the vicinity of the Waikato Heads, had an eventful trip previous to "calling iu" to Parenga. She was laying to under cover of one of the islands up north when she lost her piopellor by getting too close to the rocks. She also had to slip one anchor, which she failed to pick up again. Arrangements in connection with the unveiling of the statue erected to the honour of the European soldiers who fought and died in the engagements between Pakeba and Maori, in the vicinity of Tuakau, during the Maori War, were perfected at a public meeting held in the Public Ball last nigh and presided over by Mr Dynei Fulton. There was only a fail attendance, the whole meeting

being appointed a committee to deal with the project Various suggestions were forthcoming and it was decided to entertsin the representatives of Parliament and local bodies and veteianß to luncheon. Mr Fulton was appointed to preside at the function, and it was further resolved that he and Mr W. Graham and the secretary, Mr W. Gubb, should wait on the lady members of the Patriotic League with a view of enlisting their assistance in preparing the luncheon, etc. Mr James Henderson was appionted to ascertain from the Hon. G. W. Russell the probable date of his visit. An offer msd? by Mr Finch to assist by conveying people to the ground gratis was accepted with thanks and the matter of empowering a committee to attend to the same was deferred for further consideration. On the ■ecrctary reporting that there was a liability of 456 incurred on the provision of a basement ot the monument it was agreed that anj moneys remaining fiver from the B<ile of 5s tickets for the function should be utilised towards defray jng the amount outstanding. ib< meeting concluded with a vote o tn;»nk; to thi chairman. The busi nc«i people ar> *o be ssked fe onscvc a ha!! 11 'W on the day u

the Minister' visit. At'other Incal "boy" to return liomc irviilided 19 Trooper H. Acklon, who was engaged on Mr L. I McGuire'a farm when he erlisted. Trooper Acklon. landed at nallipoli on August I2tb, 1915, with the .'srd Auckland Mounted? of the 4th Keinforcements and participated for some weeks in the hsn' lighting that ensued before he was conveyed from the trenches, as the result ol conclusion—u bomb tploding adjacent to where he and his comrades were stationed. He wai lent to Lemnoa lilaoct and

Malta, and after being passed as lit again returned to the trenchea, but only tor a short period, as be was rendered "hors-de-comhat" by a bullet from a Turkish sniper's rifl?. His wound was treated at Malta and Cairo, and then he was ordered back to tbe Dominion and for 18 weeks was a patient in tbe Dunediu Public Honpital. Although he has thoroughly recovered from the leg wound,'the effects of the concussion are stlil on/him, and he is unlikely to resume futther active service. Trooper Acklon was an eye-witness from tbe deck ot his troopship of the (inking ot tbe transport Koyal Edward.

MERCER. A four-roomed dwelling on the banks ot tbe Waikato river, adjacent to Mercer, owned by Mr M. Biggins and occupied by Mr J. Scott, was totally destroyed by fire on Tuesday afternoon lsßt. Tbe building was insured in the New Zealsnd Insurance Company's office for £4O. and there was a policy on the furniture in the same office for £IOO. Mr Scott was attending a sale at Pokeno at the time of the outbreak, but Mrs Scott was in the house. She was, however, unable to save any of the belongings, with the exception of several rugß, {through the rapidity with which the building became enveloped in flames. The fire originated through blazing soot falling down the chimney on to tbe carpet, and was fanned as the result ot the front door being blown open by a gust ot wind. The barque Daniel, at present in Auckland Harbour, is being loaded with 280,000 feet of white pine timber tor shipment Irnm the United Timber Company to Sydney. During last week Messrs M. Boose and W. Wade, who have enlisted in the 20th and 17th Keinfnrcements, respectively, were presented with wristlet watches. Both presentations were made by Mr G. Morgon, the latter at a dance held un Saturpay evening last. Particulars as to making claims for enrolment on the Electors' 801 l for the Mercer Town District, in view of the forthcoming Town Board election, will be found in our advertising columns. As a farewell to Mr Harry Coleman, who has enlisted in the 20th Reinforcements and leaves for Trentham Camp to-night, a largely attended dance was *held in the Public Hall on Friday evening last. The proceedings, which were under the auspices of the Mercer Patriotic Society, passed off most successfully, not finishing until the' early hours of the following morning. Mrs H. Buih and Miss H. Gallery provided the music, while Mr R. Kellyofficiated aa M.C. Mr Harry Coleman is to be made the recipient of a present from the Society when he returns to the district on final leave. Mr T. Wiight, who holds the position of Town Clerk, offered himself to the authorities for active service last week but was put back to again present himself in October. For the purpose of providing Christmas presents for Mercer " boys " who are at or are on their way to the front—about 100 in all — a scheme has been inaugurated whereby the adult population of the district are invited to subscribe 2s 6d each or more for the cause. It has been estimated that a sum in the vicinity of £25 should accrue as a result.

PAPAKURA. The Papakura National Reserve las disbanded, as it was recognised that the Rifle Club served much the jame purpose. Before the Reserve lad been given the order to dismiss at an assembly held recently, the president, Mr D. W. Jones, acting on behalt of the Reserve, presented Captain H. Walters, who kindly acted as instructor, with a pocket book and fountain pen. In doing bo Mr Jones referred to the progress members had made under Captain Walters' instruction. It is understood that Messrs Henry Lloyd, Horace Markwick, Robert Morton Gillespie and Dave Wilson intend to offer themselves as candidates at the forthcoming Town Board election, whilst of the present Board Mr Mears is the only one member that i« not likely to offer himself for re-election. Corporal Bultitude, who enlisted in the Artillery Section of the ]oth Reinforcements, but was detained, in Featherston Camp as an instructor, has again been promoted, this time from Corporal to Sergeant. The Supplementary Electors' Roll for the Papakura Town District will finally close on Septemker 6th, and claims for enrolment therein to secure the right of voting at the forthcoming Town Board election must be made on or before that date. Mr L. J. Mills, who has commenced business as a land and estate agent in the buildings adjoining the Globe Hotel, reports a steady demand for Papakura house property. During last week he disposed of a farm of 114 acees at £26 per acre. Mr Arthur Mills, who entered camp with the Infantry Section of the l!)th Reinforcements, is back in the district, haviDg been medically rejected for service.

PUKEKAWA. COUNTY COUNCIL VACANCY. Voting for the representation of the Pukekawa riding; on the Raglan County Council, the seat having been rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr E. P. Tapper, took place on Friday last, the polling booths being at the County office at Ngaruawahia and at the Pukekawa Post Office. The candidates were Messrs S. Eyre and G. H. Morrison. The final declaration of the poll has not yet bepn made, but it is understood that Mr Eyre has been elected.

POKENO. Mr James Keitli, of the Valley, has signified liis intention of presenting a valuable silver cup to be competed for in a shooting competition by members of the Fanners' Union Rille Club.