The Te Puke Times TUESDAY, AUGUST 12 A RECREATION RESERVE FOR THE MOUNT,

Te Puke Times, Volume II, Issue II, 12 August 1913, Page 2

The Te Puke Times TUESDAY, AUGUST 12 A RECREATION RESERVE FOR THE MOUNT,

A petition is lying at this office for the signatures of any who care to sign, for presentation to the Hon. Minister for Lands, praying that the Government take steps to acquire a block of land at the Mount for recreation purposes. The land referred to consists of twenty acres known as "The Plantation," and now the property of -Messrs Hardley Bros., of Auckland. The petition points out that the block is eminently suitable for laying out bowling greens, tennis courts, etc., and would tend to popularise a seaside'resort that is already well-known to numbers of holiday makers from Auckland, Rotorua, and other parts., The project will, we think, enlist the sympathy, of all. Even now, numbers of local residents manage to spend a few days at the Mount, returning from their trip thoroughly invigorated by the sea-breezes, and it is only fair to assume that each year will see an increase in the number of visitors. Privately-owned land, to] which temporary residents have hitherto had access, are now being rapidly fenced and built upon, and the result will be that very shortly visitors will be restricted to the streets and foreshore. Under the circumstances, it will be recognised what a boon a recreation ground would prove, and there should be no difficulty whatever in securing a large number of signatures to a petition for so laudable an object.

It is estimated that the measures already taken to check the the spread of smallpox in New Zealand has already cost the Dominion £25,000. Owing' to the small-pox epidemic the police at Tauranga have been authorised to debar Maoris from entering the town. Messrs W. Dimock and Co., the well-known ham and baconcurers, advertise the merits of their noted " Swan " brand. Messrs Robt. King and Co., have a number of odd ends, remnants, single garments, etc., in their drapery department ■ that they are disposing of at very low prices. Mr R. M. Bradford, Secretary of the Te Puke A. and P. Society, notifies that prize-money won at the recent Winter Show can be obtained on Saturday next, 16th inst., at Mr J. Turney's An exceedingly handsome silver cup has been presented by a number of graziers to the local A. and P. Association, to be awarded at.the next Autumn Show for the most points in beef cattle. The flagon, which is beautifully chased, and surmounted by a miniature beast in silver, will be on view in Mr Hoytc's window in the course of a few days,

There is'every probability"that tha Black Diamond Minstrels will give an entertainment in Te Puke at an early date. The Te_ Puke Coach-building Co's., business, which has been conducted recently by Messrs Peters and_ Purser, has changed hands, having been taken over by Messrs Washer and Wright. Mr Washer is very well-known to local residents, and is an experienced tradesman, having been connected with such firms as Cousins and Cousins, and Gilmore and Williams, of Auckland, and Pomeroy and Co., of the Waikato. The new firm should meet with a fair share of public support Mr Henry Kerr, proprietor of the old-established blacksmithing and coachbuilding business, announces that he is still to the fore, and that customers can rely as usual, on the best of workmanship, combined with moderate prices. Mr Kerr makes a specialty of shoeing, whilst he will build a vehicle to any design. Farm implements are also carefully repaired. _ The advantages that are enjoyed in the Marlborough Sounds as an early producing district have been well evidenced this season. . At Endeavor liilet strawberries -have' already been gathered, and peas are forward enough to be used for the table, while .potatoes , are at an advanced stage. Practically no frosts have been experienced near the seashore of that locality right through the winter: at all events, the potatoes have been growing without check in this respect. Some sixty natives at Pukehina were vaccinated last week by Dr Couzens, by order of the Health Department. The Maoris found that to travel to Maketu, a distance of seventeen miles, with their wives and families, in order to meet Dr Young, of Te Puke, would entail considerable expense and inconvenience, and they therefore invoked the,services of Mr Donald Grant in the matter. Mr Grant premptly placed the position before the Government, with the result that Dr Couzens was authorised to proceed to Pukehina and perform the necessary operations. A pathetic and remarkable incident, says the Gisborne Times, occurred at an auction sale of bankrupt _ stock. Some hand-, worked Irish,linen table centres were being submitted and 1 found a ready sale. From-the auctioneer's point of view, the articles carried no further interest than that of converting .them into money. A few minutes elapsed when an unusual incident occurred, and the progress of the sale was stopped. A lad of eighteen or nineteen years approached the auctioneer, and the subsequent conversation that ensued revealed a pitiful romance. ■ The lad left Ireland some nine years ago, and the only relative he had was was a twin sister, who at that time worked in a linen mill. Since his arrival in New Zealand many changes had occurred in the old land, and he lost trace of his only relation until to-day. It appears that the linen tablecentre which was'purchased had a note attached which read, "Should this meet the eye of Tim —, or anyone knowing his whereabouts, please communicate with Needless to say, he carried the best, wishes of the auctioneer with him t as well as a beautiful sample of linen work as a present for his long-lost sister. Nothing succeeds like success. Mr J. Turney, our enterprising saddler, recognises the truth of this adage, the growth of the business which he has built up by unremitting industry and attention having forced him to remove into the larger premises recently vacated, by ...Mr Walter Barrow. Here he has displayed one of the finest stocks ot' saddlery and harness to be seen on the Coast. English saddles and bridles of every description, direct from the Home manufacturers, whips and crops in great variety, single and double harness, plough collars and hanies, steel chains, in fact, every possible requisite is obtainable at Mr Turney's premises. Travellers, also, have been well catered for, there being a splendid assortment of suit cases, travelling bags, portmanteaux, leggings, etc.. to select from. A novelty is a line Of ladies' belts, for which there should be a keen demand. Mr Turney's workroom isommodious and well-lighted and contains two of the very latest saddlers' sewing machines. In fa'it. the up-to-date appsaranceot" the establishmsnt denotes that it has_ at its head an energetic, pushing tradesmin, who runs his business' on business lines,

A Native named Friday Pens called at this office this morning:, ■ and complained-that the earmark on one of his calves, running, on • , • the Maori reserve at the Rock^.., ■ Cutting had been tampered with. He desired that publicity should be given to the matter as a deterrent. _ During the recent election at Grey, feeling ran very., high. One baker lost. twenty-eight customers, and another (gained fourteen customers. Many people- are changing their grocers and butchers, alias a result of the election; The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company advertise an entry of 500 cattle for their next' . fortnightly sale in the Te Puke ~ yards,, including 160 four and five . year steers, from Gisborne, >50 3yr steers, 501 to 2yr steers, 120 yearlings, 50 springing heifers?. A six-roomed house, ow/ied by Mr H.H..Clemson, and occupied by, Mr A. E. Gumbley, at Taur- V anga, was totally destroyed by fire on Thursday morning. 'The , occupants escaped in their nightattire, and saved nothing. The *' building was insured in the Guardian Office for £200, and contents in the Sun Office for £300. / The death is announced of Mr ; W. T. Gordon, former private secretary to the late Right .Hon. R. J. Seddon, and to Sir James Carroll. The late Mr Gordon was a comparatively young man, but suffered a severe breakdown - in his health after the 191(j session, the longest session on record in the history of the New Zealand Parliament, From this illness Mr Gordon never ' > ly recovered, though news of his ' death will come as a shock, to a wide circle of friends. , " Making an Aeroplane " was —v. the principal picture shown 'at' the local picture entertainment this week.. The film embodied the construction and • fitting 'of every part, and, although: the 1 details seemed to be rather vague to the average layman, the film, nevertheless, gave one an idea of ! the progress that is, being l ; made in the manufacture and perfectly . of. air-craft. "Shooting , Rapids in Japan"portrayed daring feats of the Japanese, , the film also depicting the rugged grandeur of the country. ■ A full-dress rehearsal of the fairy legend ; The Sleeping Beauty," acted by.the scholars of St. John's Sunday.School,';and . under the.super.vision of J. Hobbs, was held in McDowell's Hall on Friday night last: < The characters are exceedingly •' well 1 , portrayed and it was evidenced that great care had been'taken "v to drill the children, "in *tKe different parts. , Tin staging- is - l also well carried out, and a' balcony erected for, the fairies-at - the rear of the hall and overhung with curtains, lends much 5 to the effect of the performance. A pretty fairy dance,' executed by inimitable fairies m a display of different colored lights, is also introduced into the play; The • characters are taken by the girls who established themselves' fav- 5 orites with Te Puke audiences of last year, and as this year's entertainment will be more elaborately staged and provides more scope for the display of the histronic abilities of the actresses people attending can be assured- 1 of a good and bright evening's entertainment.