LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 453, 28 February 1919, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

As advertised in this issue a dance in honour of returned soldiers is to be held in the Premier Hall, Pukekohe, next Thursday evening.

The N.Z Loan and M.A. Coy. are to hold a stock sale at Papakura on Tuesday and a sheep fair at Tuakau on Thursday. Particulars of entries are advertised.

Tenders, to close on Monday next, are invited by .the Papakura Town Board per advertisement in this issue for the formation of a portion of Cook Street, Papakura.

Particulars of the arrangements for the sessions of the Pukekohe Technical and Continuation Classes to start on Monday, March 10th will be found in our advertising columns.

Regular shipments of benzine and other goods are being made into the Waikato Heads for distribution up river, and the Waikato Shipping Company's steamer Freetrader is making regular trips to Cambridge, returning with coal and sundries.

The N Z Farmers' Co-op. Bacon and Meat Packing Company will be buying pigs next week as follows : At Pnkekawa and Onewhero on Monday, at Tuakau on Tuesday, at Papakura and Runciman on Wednesday, and at Patumahoe on Saturday. Messrs. Alfred Buckland and Sons, sales for next week include a sheep fair at Tuakau on Monday and a stock sale at Waiuku on Saturday. Tomorrow on the Pukekohe showgrounds they will also submit to auction some of the stock exhibited. For particulars see advertisements.

Mr J. W. Maclaren, of Patumahoe, who unsuccessfully opposed the Hon. Sir Fredrick Lang for the representation of the Manukau electorate at the last general election, informed a ''Times" representative to day that he intends to again contest the seat at the forthcoming election.

Picture patrons are reminded of the screening on Tuesday next at the Premier Hall, Pukekohe, of Hall Caine's masterpiece " The Deemster" with Derwent Hall Caine the author's son in the leading role Usual prices only will be charger! for this picture. (Advt).

An advertisement in this issue notifies the public generally and particulary the farming community that they can see the Cleveland Caterpillar Tractor at work on the Pukekohe Showgrounds to-day and to-morrow. A great deal has been heard about this modern farm implement and it is well worthy of inspection. The agents are Dexter and Crozier, Ltd, of Auckland.

Additional signatures of members of the Pukekohe branch of the Women's Patriotic League, accompanied by appropriate quotations of goodwill, have recently been entered in the autograph album presented to Mrs J. M. Baxter on the occasion of her recent removal from Pukekohe to Hamilton. The album also contains an illuminated address and ornamental designs that do credit to the artist, Mr F. Elder Simpson. What promises to be a most exciting struggle for supremacy will eventuate in a marquee on the Pukekohe showground to morrow (People's Day) at 2.30 p.m. when the New Zealand champion wrestler, Joe Gardiner will meet Bnowy Hill, Auckland's champion, in a catch-as-catch can wrestling bout for £lO aside and to a finish- The contest is arousing great interest in Auckland where the pair had a drawn bout some time back at the King's Theatre.

As a result of the prohibition of exports to Australia, potato growers in the Waikato continue to be adversly affected. Local values are to day from £5 10s to £6 per ton, which haidly shows a profit, seeing that the cost of production works out ou the average at quite £4O per acre, and merchants' stocks are so plentiful that even at the figures named very few demands arc forthcoming Thanks principally to the activity of Mr J. Henry of Patumahoe (who, on behalf of the growers of this district, promptly forwarded a protest to the Government against the action taken, and alsT supplied information to show that the quantity of potatoes forthcoming were much more than was required for consumption in New Zealand), the Board of Trade has promised to make further investiga tions into the matter. It is to be hoped, however, that the usual delav characteristic of Departmental methods will be avoided as the present situation is a distinct hardship to producers.

Amongst the troops that returned frm Egypt to New Zealand last week was Lee. Cpl. Alex Glass, of Oliinewai, whose father, ihe late Mr Archibald Glass, was well-known in the Waiuku district. Within two days of the outbreak of war Lee. Cpl. Glass enlisted although his patriotism meant sacrificing to a large extent his interests in a 900 acre farm at Oliinewai, which in his absence had to be carried on single handed by his brother He departed as a member of tie Auckland Mounted Infantry with the Maiu Expeditionary Force aud went to Egypt He t'Kik purtiu the Gallipoli campaign, I hen lie returned to Egyp\ and sub-s-KjuiMitly fought in Palestine. He wis wounded at Gallipoli and aleo later on suffered from malaria, being in hospital f>r some few weeks on each occasion, but with these exceptant lie was continually on duty for four yoars until about a fortnight befith hostilities ceased, when he again developed malaria. Invalided back to the Dominion, the voyage restored his health. Lee. Cpl. Glass is a fine, stamp «.f a soldier, being exactly fi feet in height with sta'uro in proportion, He arrived back at Oliinewai yesterday and was warmly welcomed by the r* aidants the;e, who recognising his sterling <juali lies are delighted to have him or.co Ht»ain in their midst |

In conversation with a " Times ' representative to-day Mr P. Henry of Ohinewai, was load in complaint that the Overseas Committee, who controlled shipments, were allowing the shipping Companies to exploit the colonies particularly in his line of business, namely flaxmilling. He explained that whereas shipping charges from England had now been reduced to pre-war rates, namely ranging from £1 15s to £5 per ton for merchandise, no such alteration had been made for exports from New Zealand. Pre-war freightage to London was £3 15s per ton but the existing rate was £2O per ton for hemp and £32 for tow. The consequence was that the export of fibre was not a profitable proposition and there was accordingly no market for the output. As a result, Mr Henry said, the majority of the flaxmills in the Lower Waikato, as well as in other parts of the country, had had to close down throwing quite 2000 men out of work and quite another 2000 men would be placed in a similar position when, as was imminent, the remainder of the mills ceased operations. Mr Henry added that moreover many millers were placed in the invidious position of holding large stocks of hemp of which they could not dispose and financial emharassment was the natural sequel since large expenditure had been incurred in production. The existing condition of things, he stated, was most disastrous to flaxmilling and he thought that the Government should take action as to shipping charges.