LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 250, 13 February 1917, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Railway Department advertise in this issue excursion fares and train arrangements for the Hamilton races next Friday and Saturday.

The alleged case ot sly grogselling at Bombay will receive attention trom Mr F. V. Frazer, S. M., at the Pukekohe Magistrate's Court next Thursday. Mesrss J. S. Bowden, W. P. Hopkins and David Kuulston, all of Pukekohe, were passed by the Auckland Medical Board on Friday the first-named for active service and the two latter for home s.rvce.

'lbe dats for the rectipt of tenders tor work on Capt. Kyder's road, at Toakau. to be executed for the Tuakau Town Board, has been exended to Monday next. Particulars of the contracts offered will be found in an advt. in this issue.

The removal ot the water-mains in King Street, Pukekohe, proceeded yesterday apace and the least possible inconvenience was given to consumers thereby, the advertised hours of suspension of service being lessened in duration. The n<;xt s:ction of work to be qftered upon will be on that portion cf King street from Hal! street to Edinburgh street and arrangements in connection theewith will be announced in our issue of Friday.

We would agaio remind interested parties that ihe sale ot 33 buildir.g sections, situated on the old showground at Pukekohe, is on behalf of the Franklin A. and P. Society to be carried out to-morrow (Wednesday), commencing at 2 p.m., on the propety, by Messrs Alfred Uuckiand and Sons. Ihe sections arc to be submitted to auction without rtsjive, the Society having found the continued ownership ot the ground too great a strain on its financial resources in view ot its new teriitory.

It is not known whether the

present Mayor of Pukekohe, Mr H. G. R. Mason, will offer himself for re-election, but in any ca=e probable aspirants for the post are Mr C. K Lawrie, the ex-Mnyor, who was defeated two years ago, and Mr James Costello, who was a member of the old Town Board and is a resident of many years standing. Uncertainty also at present prevails as to the number of Councillors in office who will again solicit the votes of the burgesses. Indications, formulated on expressed utterances, are, however, that very few will consent to nomination.

That the Dominion Gift Fund meetd with sincere appreciation by the gallant boys who are upholding the cause of the Empire at the front is once again testified to by a letter received by Mrs Stevenson, of Seddon street, Pukekohe, from a member of the N.Z. Divisional Signaling Company in France Mrs Stevenson's name was attached to a card that accompanied a parcel sent througli the Auckland Patriotic and purchased from one of her regular donations, and the recipient, in expressing his thanks for the present, says: "-You have no idea how we enjoy these gifts."

Residents of the borough of Pukekohe are reminded that with the mayoral and municipal elections falling due this year, Wednesday April 25th being the date of polling fixed by law, applications for enrolment on the Borough Electoral Roll should be made to the Town Clerk on or before Thursday next, the 15th inst. All residents who are of the full age of twenty-one years and are British subjects either by birth or naturalisation and have resided in New Zealand for twelve months and in the borough for the past three months are eligible for enrolment. This gives a vote to practically every man and woman at the election, but this privilege can be claimed only by those who take the necessary steps to be enrolled on the district electors' list, or to see that by any any chance their names have not be?n omitted.

Some rather ludicrous incidents as far as onlookers were concerned, although unfortunate and unappreciated experiences for " the victims," were witnessed in the lower portion of King street, Pukekohe, last Friday evening, as the outcome of the relaying of the water mains. In one instanco an open trench by the side of the road that had become filled with water, and which was desig nated by a wag as the "waterjump," was unobserved by a youth who thought he would take a shortcut across the road through the obstacles. Essaying a leap from the footpath he landed well into the watery pit and emerged a sorrylooking object. Falls in other parts of the "danger zone" were not infrequent and one lady in particular received rather a severe shaking and not a few bruises by tripping over a water-pipe.

At the Pukekohe Police Court on Friday a returned soldier, lately employed by the Pukekohe Borough Council on the road-works, was charged with having on Saturday, January 27th stolen a cheque value £4 10s, the property of Mr Sam. Mills. The accused's arrest was the result of some smart detective work performed by Constable Miller. On Mr Mills reporting to the police that the cheque, which was an open one, had been ftolen from his motor garage it was stopped at the bank. In due cours3 it came into the hands of the police, having been paid into a bank in Auckland by an hotel proprietor of Newton. Then Constable Miller commenced enquiries and ascertaining that the man who had cashed the cheque at the hotel was known to be a returned soldier he secuied a description of his features and keeping a look-out for his quarry at the Soldiers' Club in Auckland he made hia capture on Thursday. An the Court on Friday the accused wus remanded to appear before Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court next Thursday.

Private Victor Clark, a late employee of the Pukekohe Butter Factory, writing from France to a local resideut, s'ates that his experiences have been varied and plentiful. Referring to the Somme advance he states he saw " red, red war." "It was hell (said the writer) with the lid off." He added that the wonderful organisation of modern warfare was beyond description. Referring to the advance of the New Zealanders on the loth Septemberthree miles in one day—he characterised it as " warm work," and mentioned that during the following month he had the hottest and hardest time of his life. They had to walk over three miles to their task through shell tire of the most murderous description and carried coils of barbed wire or other material. Still, he escaped without a scratch. In his concluding remarks Private Clarke speaks of unbounded faith in his hopes of seeing the war through.

Although at oue time, owing to farming difficulties consequent on the war and shortage of labour, a preceptible shrinkage in stuck entries was feared for the Franklin A. and F. Society's 32nd annual show, to be held on the Fukekohe Showground on Friday and Saturday ot next week, nominations of exhibits have come so well forward that the gross total is distinctly encouraging. Indeed there is lit'le doubt but that the show of 1917 will in point of merit surpass that of any previous effort of the Society. Fine weather now alone is required to bring about eminent success. With the horse events always to tbe popular mind the leading feature of a show it is most satisfactory to be able to record that this year's entry of 324 constitutes a record, Of this number Hacks and Hunters total no lees than 241, Blood Stock 15, and l.igtit Harness Horses 68, as compared with 21J, 12 and 70 respectively list year. Competition in Class 33, for Champion Hunter, for which £3O is allotted for first prize, £6 (or second, £4 or third and £2 for fourth, particularly will be exceedingly keen, as the contestants, numbering 10, include many animals of note.

For Chronic Chest Complaints, Woodb' Great Fepperuiint Cure.

The Missea Kamsay are now holding their annual summer sale at tbm millinery and drapery establishment, in King street, „ Pakekohe, particular bargains being offered in costumes, dresses and bats.

A complimentary social, under the ausDices of the Pukekohe Soldiers' Farewell Committer, will be tendered to Privates Guy Willis and John Maloney, of the 23rd Ksinforcements, on Thursday next, at 8 p.m., in tha Carnival Tea Kaomi. The public are invited to atteod.— Advt.

A clearing sale of live and dead stock is to be carried out on Mr H. 8. Rushford's farm at Pukekawa by Messrs Alfred Bucklani and Sons on Wednesday of nert week. For the coivenience of those desirous of attending the sale a launch will leave Mercer at 10 a.m Particulars will be found in an advt. in this issue.

The petition in favour of a poll of electors being taken to determine the date on wbich the statutory weekly half-bolidav shall be observed in Pukekohe ia to be presented at the meeting of the Pukekohe tionugh Council on Wednesday of next week, with a view of enabling the electors to say, bv vote, whether shops shuuld be closed as at present on Saturday or on Wednesday or any other day of the week. Ihe result of the poll will maan that instead of the Borough Council making a selection every year of the holiday tha choicj of the electors will remain ia force until altered bv any subsequent poll, which according to ths Shops and Offices' Act can only be taken on the occasion of tbe biennial Council election.

At the Auckland Supreme Court yesterday James Kidling csn.e up (or sentence on a charge ot having broken and entered into the residence of Mrs Elizabeth Leech at Pukekoh*. Mr H. B. Oatler appeared for accused, and stated that tbe rain was probably under the influßoce of drink at Xhe time of the crime, and that be merely caught hoi i of ttia woman in the house to prevent her from using th2 knif», whic'a she had picked up in her fruht. Prisoner bad beeo admitted to the Costly Training Borne as a boy, and had borne a good character ever since. Evidence in corroboration of this was given by Mr C. J. Tucks. Pnsoner was admitted to probation for two years, a prohibition order to be taken out against bio for that period.

At a meeting of tbe Pukekohe District High School Committee held last evening it was reported that the prospects of an increased attendicce ot scholars for the Secondary Department were most encouraging and tbat a very successful sassion was assured, an additional teacher having been appointed. In regard to tbe project for tbe establishment of a Technical High School it was decided to request the Education Board to allow tbeir architect to prepare a plan of a suitable building and then with promises being obtained for at least 40 students (tbe minimum number required for the purpose) to attend tbe school to make application to tbe Educattjn Department on tbe subject. Authority was given for the construction in tte school grounds of a tennis court for the Secondary Department scholars, and for tbe erection of swings and a see-saw tur the younger children.

In connection with a notice appearing in our advertising columns announcing that the old-established blacksmith's business adjoining tbe Pukekobe Post Office has been leased by Mr D. A. Blake to Mr John Hack, old days in Pukekoheare recalled. Tbe late Mr William Blake (Mr D. A. Blake's latber) many vears ago—when Drury was tbe terminus of tbe railway—commenced business as a blacksmith at Drury, and his brother, Mr John Blake, who is still a resident of Drory, acted as bis assistant. There a busy trade was carried on in shoeing horses engaged in thb conveyance of goods right through to Mercer. Then with the extension of tbe railway a branch of tbe Drury business was opened atPukekohe on the site on which tbe Premier Hall now stands, but weekly visits of Mr John Blake from Drury sufficed for requirements at first. Gradually, however, with the surroinding country being opened up Pukekohe became the centre of a thriving farmiug district, and with Mr William Blake, senr., having died in the meantime his eldest son, William, took over tbe Pukekobe branch and some 37 years ago erected premises on the rite as cow used. A few years later Mr William Blake died, and ! after a short interval, during which a manager was placed in charge. Mr D. A. Blake took control of the business with bis uncle, the late Mr George Bhke, who came out from Scotland at the time, as his partner. Some years later tbe partnership was dissolved and with Mr D. A. Blake retaining possession of tbe propet ty, tbe late Mr George Blake acquired another business, which bad just been started by the late Mr Luke Wilson and which is now carried on under tbe title of Blake Bros, by the late Mr George Blake's two sons, Messrs William and lieorge Blake. In Mr Blake's retirement Pukekohe loses the senior of its present-day commercial men, he having been longer in business in the town than anyone now still trading Mr BlaKe, in thanking the public of Pukekohe and district for tbe support extended to him for tbe past 32 years, appeals ty advt. for a continuanca of patronage to Mr Rack, who has been in his employ for tbe last two years.