LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 575, 15 October 1920, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The meeting of the Pukekohe Cricket Club to have been "held last evening lapsed owing to the poor attendance.

Dancing enthusiasts are reminded that the hockey ball takes place on October ~b. 'tickets are now procurable from members of the Uockcv Club.

Those interested in the formation of an athletic club in rukckohe are '(■ minded of the meeting to be held in the Borough Council Chambers on Tuesday evening next.

I'he necessity for the erection yf a Courthouse at I'ukekohe was em phasteed again yesterday when tlie Puke kawa murder case e;une up for hearing. Upon viewing the Masonic Hall, Mr. K. A. Singer, who appeared for the accused, immeiliateiy raised ob jection to the inadequacy of the building. A Tier some delay permission was obtained for the Use of the Premier llaM ;md the Court adjourned thereto.

"We aie likely to have a jevei'c • "miMcreial slump about the end of 111 i > year," writes a correspondent from England, "mainly owing to rx- ' ••ssi\e wages, winch have killed nearly all the foreign trade. As this will have its reflection in New Zea land, you can keep a lookout for it. I understand that several big motor firms, though they have two years' orders on hand, are on the verge of bankruptcy. The whole position is

Undoubtedly the largest pig ever slaughtered in the Pukekohe district was recently killed and beautifully dressed by Mr. Corbett of Pukekohe West. The swine, bred and owned by Mr. Jas. Taylor, of Pukekohe West, was a Berkshire sow about 14 months old, and when dressed and cold turned the scales at 5061b. For several days it was to be seen in Messrs. Beatty and Marshall's shop in King Street, and during the time the carcase remained in the shop it was seen by a large number of local farmers, who expressed the opinion that it was the largest pig they had ever seen in this district. Most of the companies of entertainers that have visited Pukekohe have proven themselves of a very inferior order, being of the kind that a person would need to be paid to sit and listen to instead of himself doing the paying. But there was a welcome reversal of the ordinary fare on Tuesday night, when "The Diggers" kept a packed house thoroughly enjoyed for some two hours. Stan. Lawson's female impersonations were excellent, as were also practically all of the concerted and solo items. If the same "Diggers" return some day they can be assured of another successful house.

Palmers ton North is having enviable luck in the matter of raisingloan money. A notification from a lending company to the effect that it was prepared to lend the Borough Council £20,000 was received at its last meeting. "This is towards the electric lighting loan," said the Mayor, "and since that was arranged I have secured another £20,000. Possibly I may pick up another £IO,OOO in a few days. We can already see £IIO,OOO by way of loan."

In a letter from the United Kingdom to a Hamilton friend the writer states that, owing to successive increases in wages having* made business unprofitable several manufacturing firms have closed down. Also, others are likely to follow suit for the same reason. It seems likely that there will be a general slump in prices, which are bound to effect New Zealand to some extent sooner or later. There is a limit to the purchasing power of the public, and therefore a limit to the wages that can be paid. Certainly, while 1 there is so much industrial trouble men possessing money are not going to sink it in enterprises that may eventually be strangled by excessive, wages' bills. An accident that may have been attended with more serious results occurred in King Street in front oi Mr. J. Wade's bootshop on Tuesday at about 3.30 p.m. It appears that a gig occupied by three young ladies was crossing the street, when two females on horseback were riding up the street at a speed considered to be excessive by those who saw them. A motor-car was standing in front oi the shop. As the horses approached the vehicles one of them commenced to bore out, and eventually cannoned with the gig, witl* the result that the occupants were thrown out. One of the young ladies was somewhat stunned," and was conveyed to Mr. Brosnahan's chemist's shop, where she received attention. The shafts of the gig were broken, and the horse bolted down the street with the shafts trailing behind. It careered at a dangerous speed and when near the Farmers' Union Trading Company's premises got on to the foot path and commenced kicking'. It ran under the verandah of the shop, anci spectators expected the plate-glass windpws to be shattered, but fortunately the animal's escapade was ceased by Mr. Harold Bilkey, who caught the panic-stricken horse before further damage was done. One of the females on horseback was thrown and sustained a crushed finger. We understand that the occupant of the gig who was injured was Miss Hardy, and that she is now making good progress towards recovery.