POKENO.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 226, 14 November 1916, Page 4

POKENO.

At Maungatawhiri Valley range on Saturday of last week the Maungatawhiri Valley and Maramarua branches of the Pokeno Rifle Club met in competition under unfavourable conditions, a relentless, driving rain accompanied with wind marring expectations of a " fine" day's shoot. Good sportsmanship prevailed, however, and from the competitors' standpoint the shooting, under the conditions, was very satisfactory, as Maramarua just snatched victory by two points. Of the several matches between the two branches Maramarua has now a majority of wins to its credit.

MAIN TRUNK EXPRESS DELAYED.

GOODS TRAIN BLOCKS TRAFFIC.

As the result of a portion of a goods train meeting with a mishap at Pokeno this (Tuesday) morning the Main Trunk express bound from Wellington to Auckland was conj siderably late in reaching its destination.

The train responsible for the express being held up was what is known as the " paper " train bound south, which usually crosses the express at Pukekohe. With the latter, however, running about half-an-hour later than the scheduled time, the former proceeded on from Pukekohe to cross the express at Poken", reiching tint station at .5.-15 a.m., the point* being set for it to pass into the siding. By some means, however, the heavy guard's van, weighing some 12 to 15 tons with its internal load, which was at the rear of the train, jumped the points or to be more exact its front wheels passed on to the siding-line and the rear wheels kept to the main-line metals, causing the van to slew round The train was running very slowly and as it was promptly pulled up the van was saved from being overturned. However, the result was that traffic on the main line was blocked. The express almost simultaneously put in an appearance but was stopped at the " home " signal at the southern end of the station A relief gang was telephoned for from Mercer but it was past eight o'clock before the line was sufficiently cleared to enable the express to continue on its journey. As the dining-car had, as usual, been detached at Ohakune the numerous passengers on the express had the unpleasant experience of remaining without breakfast until Auckland was reached.

As was the case with the express, the ordinary morning train from Mercer, due to leave Pukekohe for Auckland at 7.20 a 111., was also delayed and did not reach Pukekohe until 8.57 am. A large crowd of local representatives had assembled on the Pukekohe platform to give a send-off to several " boys," who were proceeding to Auckland to join the 23rd Reinforcement Draft, and as in many cases business duties claimed attention before the tram did arrive the gathering gradually lessened. To enable the recruits to " fall in " at the appointed hour in Auckland a suggestion was made that the express should be pulled up at Pukekohe but in the absence of official authority from Auckland that procedure could not be adopted.