ARARIMU.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 258, 13 March 1917, Page 1

ARARIMU.

Just 50 years have passed since tho earliest settlers first eet foot in this district, the first batch arriving in January 1867. They took up the land which they have held ever sine?, at the first land sale a few months afterwards and at once set to work making homes for themselves. The whole district was quickly settled by others of the same class and the energy and industry they all displayed is evidenced by the prosperous appearance of the settlement to-day. A graded and metalled road in place of the blazed track, a creamery, school and post and telephone office, two churches and other accessories to civilization all bear testimony to the onward march of progress. The season just drawing to a close has been one of the wettest ever experienced and has made the labours of the dairy farmer even more arduous than usual. Still on the whole it has been a good one from the financial standpoint and the total returns at the finish should prove highly satisfactory. One of our oldest residents, Mr McCabe, who recently met with a serious accident at Pukekohe. still lies at the Auckland hospital in a precarious condition. Much sympathy is expressed for him throughout the district.

On Thursday, March Ist, a successful little function in the form of a social evening was tendered to Mr Tyson Edmondson prior to his going into camp at Trentham. The young recruit was presented by Mr Markham, on behalf of the residents, with a case of pipes and tobacco pouch and was also asked to convey to his brother, John, already in camp (he having enlisted from Tauranga) a fcilver cigarette case as a memento from their many friends in Ararimu. Mr T. Edmondson suitably acknowledged the presents and thanked his friends for the pleasant evening. Word has come through from the Defence Department that two of our boys at the front, Private G. Keaney andßiilenian J. G. Markham, have been laid up in hospital in France with pneumonia and kindred complaints. They are both now on the road to recovery and will doubtless be as fit as ever ere long Our local exhibitor at the Franklin Show, Mr P. Dunn, got amongst the prize winners with same choice Shorthorn heifers, two second prizes and one third falling to his lot. This may be deemed highly creditable when competing amongst such high class stock as were shown.