COUNTRY NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 10, 11 January 1918, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS.

OTOBOHANGA

Private Piko Tnkemata, of the Xew Belaud Pioneer Maori Contingent, , recently returned home -with an English "Wife.

The Auckland Acclimatisation Society recently forwarded twenty yoimg pttias«Bte lor liberation .in this district, and th* Mtte nave been let' loose at Qtewa, where they I are thriving, i Sergeant <3. F. 'Miller, of the First Au<*land Divisional Signal Company, who -was recently awarded both the Distinguished . Conduct Medal and the Military Medal, ,1» a brother of Air. Ghas. Miller, of Otarohanga. . A 'welcome borne to a number of returnee ■< Invalided soldiers was given hy th« Woman's Patriotic Doague, In the Town ■■ (Hall, on Thursday night, when there vu a large attendance of the public, and c., pleasant evening was spent. The -Service of Intercession, held last Sunday, drew a very large congregation in the Town Hall, and after prayers, offered. by the Revs. Wilson and Te Tnhl and Mr. - ■Poolmaji. the Bey. J. Bichards, of' Te. K-uitt," delivered an eloquent addree «a the eubjeet of the day, urging the deletion . of oar national sine of drunkenneee, gambling, and immorality, and a united stand Is face of the enemy

At the last Town Board meeting It vm.. decided to establish a reading-room in the Council' Chamßere, and to take action' to enforce the-Noxious Weeds Act. i. -• -. \ ' A -welcome to Private B. Porter waehett kt Otewa last Ttopaday, when the hall •vras prettily decorated, and a pleasant eni>per mas served. . Dancing was carried <m i Tmtll the small hours. Private Porter left for Rotorna Soldiers* OToepital next day.

WAXHX. : .. - "• -■}, t The following returned soldiers have been welcomed home •by the Mayor and members of the Patriotic . Sapper F. W. Brown, Privates H. Homer and K. Holmes." A special meeting of the Fire Board Finance Committee Is to be held on Monday next, to select a new nre brigade from the men who are applying for membership. ".-'. Another effort to start work, on the Walhl-Athenree Section of the East Coast" railway was made by the Mayor (Mr. Donaldson) on Tuesday, by wiring to the Public Works Minister as follows:—"East Coast railway. Men enrolled for work are now anxious to start. Will you kindly give instructions in accordance with pro- < mise to proceed with the work, at the i earliest possible date?" The Minister re-j plied: "My present difficulty Iβ In finding an engineer to supervise the work. - Three of my staff havet gone into camp since \ October. Hope to make eatlsfactbry ar-, rangements in the course of the week.* •' The correspondence has been sent on to tne Auckland Railway League, In the hope ef • assisting the Minister in securing an englneer.

As a result of Improved borough financ* the Council has been enabled to re-employ all except five of the borough labourers discharged prior to the. holidays. ■