LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 228, 21 November 1916, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

For the purpose of expediting recruiting Lieut. W. J. Petchell has been appointed attesting officer for the Pukekohe district and Lieut. Taylor for Pokeno and Mercer. The latter will be in attendance at Mercer every Monday evening. A point of interest, not generally known, is that the town of Pukekohe has the highest altitude, with the exception of Remuera, of any place on the Main Trunk line between Auckland and Puketutu, immediately south of Te Euiti.

Everything promises well for the concert to be given this evening, in the Premier Hall, by the scholars of the Pukekohe Anglican Church Sunday School. The programme to be presented is thoroughly attractive and a good house should reward the efforts of the yonng performers. Yesterday was the 53rd anniversary of the battle of Rangiriri, which took place on November 20th, 1863. It was a formidable position, being defended by a most elaborate system of rifle pits and parapets. The attackers, who were directed by General Cameron, numbered 850 officers and men, and appeared before the position at 3 p.m., and the natives hoisted the white flag shortly after daylight the following morning, when 183 surrendered. The British buried 36 dead, but it was believed that a large number were shot or drowned in the swamps. The British losses were 130 killed and wounded.

Clutha county councillors were all on the " water-waggon " recently (states an exchange), or at all events, they were proof against the blandishments of a ratepayer who bad come to the council to ventilate a grievance, and ended by offering a shout for all hands. Accordingly he produced a bottle of whisky and placed it in front of the chairman, exhorting him to " drink hearty," but the chairman politely declined. Nothing daunted, the ratepayer went the round of the table with his whisky bottle, but all refused the proffered " refresher." Then he tried the Press table, meeting with like refusals. At this the hospitable one seemed depressed, and he sat down heavily, muttering : " Not a— — one," at the same time taking a long swig at the bottle himself. Thus refreshed, he made another attempt to get councillors to " stop one," but without avail, whereupon he took his departure, humming " Tipperary."

Rubber Stamps of all descriptions may be ordered at the Office of the "Pukekohe Times." Call *nd selert mm our illustrated catalogue. Woods' (Jreal Peppermint Cure., For Coughs and Colda, never fails.

Private Greeting Ca>-<l< for X-nas, to be printed with your and address, are stocked in great variety at the "Pukekohe Tim-w" office. Call and see the choice designs.

Three intending recruits presented themselves at the Pukekohe Defence Office on Friday last but Mr fl. P. Standing was the onlv one accepted, the other two candidates failing to pass the tuedicaj test.

The Agricultural Department advertise in this issue that an officer will attend at Paparimu to-morrow (Wednesfay), at Hunua on Thursday, at Karaka on Friday, and at Waiau on Saturday for the purpose of inoculating calves against blackleg. A memorial service arranged by members of the Loyal Pukekohe Lodge and Excelsior Lodge of Oddfellows in memory of the late Bros. G. Scott. F. Gilroy, G. Gundry and A. L Hughes, who were killed in action, was held in the Pukekohe Anglican Church on Sunday morning last, the Rev. J. P. Cj.vie delivering an impressive seronn. Both Lodges were well represented.

Lance-Corpl. A J. Hutchings, of Puni, who is attached ti the Quartermaster's staff of the 19th Reinforcements, returned to camp last night on the conclusion of his final leave. Lanca-Corpl. Hutchings was only discharged from the Auckland hospital last Tuesday, to which institution he was conveyed soon after his arrival from camp suffering a relapse to an attack of measles he had just before leaving Featherston.

Mr W. H. flawke, of Pukekohe, who had enlisted for the 21th Reinforcement Draft, has been transferred by the military authorities to the 25th Beinforcements, which will be called up early m January. Mr Henry Dell, jun., also of Pukekoh", has volunteered for the same contingent and was yesterday duly sworn in. Mr Adam Madill, of Bombay, also joined yesterday for membership of the 26th Beinforcements.

A recent resident of Pukekohe, who previously was living at Olbrohanga, named Thomas Atkinson Heaps, was indicted at the Auckland Supreme Court last Friday with the theft of a cow from a Maori at Otorohanga. The case for the prosecution was that the accused sold the cow to the Maori, receiving cash for it, but the animal being temporarily left in accused's possession was again disposed of by the accused. The jury returned a verdict of guilty and Heaps was sentenced to imprisonment for one year with hard labour.

The Auckland Education Board has made arrangements with the Morrinsville Farmers' Union for Mr J. W. Hadheld, Instructor in Agriculture, to supervise the carrying out of experimental work on several farms in the Morrinsville district The Farmers' Union has promised a donation of £5, and five fanners are contributing 30s each towards the cost of supervision. The experimental work will include swedes (variety test of one acre), soft turnips (test of one acre), general manurial trial of two acres, and a quantity manurial trial of one acre Arrangements have been made by which the Department of Agriculture will supply the seeds and manures free of charge and will also pay the farmers undertaking the experiments 30s an acre to cover cost of cultivation of plots. The Education Board will be pleased to arrange for similar experimental work in other parts of the Auckland Province.

The anticipation that the section of the new Waiuku line between Paerata Junction and Patumahoe would be available for traffic before Christmas is not destined to be realised and at the present rate of progress the New Tear will be fairly well advanced before the line is brought into use. A" daily supply of 24 truck loads of scoria for ballasting purposes is being maintained by the Rai'way Department, such work having commenced just about a fortnight ago. With the supply forthcoming it is only possible to cover one mile per month and as the track from Paerata to Mauku Creek is six miles in extent it means that under the most favourable circumstances six months will elapse before ballasting is completed. Then again no material will be forthcoming for the period between December 17th and January 7th so that will entail a further delay. Additional work to be taken in hand before trains are running includes the erection of platforms and the formation of the new approach road at Paera f a and of the various road crossings. A gang of 18 men is at present being employed on operations.

On the initiative of the local Chamber of Commerce a representative meeting of business men of Fukekohe was held last night, Mr H. Dell, President of the Chamber, being in the chair, for the purpose of giving consideration to the matter of shopping facilities at Christmas and New Year time and also to the fixing of holidays for the ensuing year. It was agreed that in the week preceding Christmas the statutory weekly holiday should be observed on Wednesday, December 20th, as from noon, and that business premises should remain open on Friday, December 22nd, until 9 p.m. and on Saturday, December 23rd, until 10 p.m. It was also arranged that the usual . Saturday afternoon closing should be observed in the week preceding New Year's Day, the customary late night shopping on Friday, December 29th, to be adhered to. As regards holidays it was resolved to request shopkeepers to close as follows, viz.: On Christmas Day and Boxing Day (December 25th and 26th), January Ist and 2nd, January 29th (Anniversary Day), Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday, June .3rd (King's Birthday) and Labour Day (4th Monday in October). Foi Broucliial I'oughe, take Woods Great Peppermint Cure.

The time for the receipt of tenders far quarrying and spawling 2000 yards of metal for the Tuakau Town Board has been extended until noon on Monday next. For particulars see advt

A young man—an only son married against the wishes of his parents. A short time afterwards, in telling a friend how to break the news to them, he said: " Start off by telling them that I am dead, and then gently work up to the climax."

The Rev. S. and Mm Nixon left by the express this morning for Wellington. Mr and Mrs Nixon are both delegates to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church which meets in Wellington to-night The meetings of the Assembly last about a fortnight In common with other County authorities, the anuual meetings cf both the Franklin and Raglan County Councils take place tomorrow The ordinary County business will also be taken in addition to the appointment of chairman in each case.

The NZ. Farmers' Co op. Bacon and Meat Packing Co, Ltd, advertise that they will ba buying pigs at Buckland tomorrow (Wednesday) and at Fokeno on Thursday. ' For next week their dates are at Onewhero on Monday, at Tuakau on Tuesday, at Papakura and Runciman on Wednesday, and at Te Kanwhata on Thursday.

Warrant Officer Hatt of Pukekohe, yesterday received advice from the military authorities that his brother, Private R Hatt, who had been serving with the Canadian Forces, was dangerously ill in Netley Hospital, England, suffering from gunshot wounds in his right shoulder. Warrant Officer Hatt's only other brother is a member of one of the English regiments and is engaged with the troops in France.

The will of Mr William Wallace Snyder, of Mount Vernon, New York State, and Harrison and East Orange, New Jersey, has revealed the astonishing fact that for twenty years he was the husband of three " wives," all residing within a few miles of one another. Suspicion first arose when the newspapers in the three towns published death notices, all of which differed as regards the name of the wife and the number of the family.

A series of meetings has been arranged in support of the recentlyformed New Zealand Farmers' Co-op. Bacon and Meat Packing Co, Ltd., when the objects of the Company will be explained and the advantages to farmers of co-operation in the bacon trade will be advocated. The speakers will include Messrs J. Barugh (a Director of the Company) and S. C. Barron (General Manager). The dates and places of meetings are as follows: Monday, November 27th, at Bombay at 1.30 p.m, and at Kama Bama at 7.30 p m ; Tuesday, November 28th, at Patumahoe at 1.30 p.m , and at Tuakau at 7.30, p.m.; Wednesday, November 29th, Waiuku at 1 p.m., and at Buckland at 8 p.m. ; and Thursday, November 30th, at Pukekohe (Premier Hair, at 2 p.m.