LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 June 1928, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A veteran of the Crimean and Maori Wars, Mr Thomas Skelly, die<l on Sunday night at the Wanganui Hospital, aged 96 years. For a number of years lie had been on a small holding at Ngamatapouri, in the Waitotara district. He had a great recollection of the events of his active career. He vvas 16 years of age when he enlisted prior to going to the Crimean War.

The second korero of the season was lie Id by the Hawera Savage Clnb last night, " and provided an exceptionally enjoyable entertainment for a large assembly of “braves of the hapu.” Savage E. A. Pacey was installed rangitira for the evening, and lie wielded the mace of office with good effect throughout a four-hour programme which sped along right merrily.

M i.ss Trixie Carter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Garter, of the Hunter Hoad, Matapu, was thrown from her pony on Tuesday on the way from school, and was found on the roadside, suffering from bad bruises oil the head and face and lacerations on the knees. She was taken home, where she is progressing satisfactorily.

No decision as ‘to the regular assembly place of the recently formed Hawera Chess and Draughts Club was reached at the* meeting held last evening. consideration being adjourned to a meeting to be held in the Savoy next Tuesday evening, Routine business is to commence at 7.39. and trials of chess and draughts wilL be arranged to follow if desired.

'The Black and White Cup meeting of the Patea-Hawera Coursing Club will be held on the club’s grounds at YVhenuakura on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 19 and 20. There will be two events for decision, the Black and White Cux> and an open stake for 16 dogs. The ground is in first-class condition. plenty of hares will Ix 3 available. and good sport should be witnessed . Messrs. Cards ton and Baxter, who have been engaged by the Hawera Amateur Operatic Society to produce its forthcoming musical extravaganza., were paid a high compliment at last night's korero of the Savage Club upon their mastery of Maori. The two entertainers sang several modern Maori songs to the accompaniment of a steel guitar, and their items were greeted with enthusiasm by the large “savage’’ audience. The Rangitira, Mr. M. Rotohiko Jones, said that the singers’ pronunciation was perfect and their rhythm beautiful—he had heard the same songs done less well by Maoris themselves.

Tiie death occurred on Tuesday morning at Trentham, of Captain A. J. Cheater, one of the most noted infantry instructors New Zealand has known. The late Captain Cheater, who was in ibis sixtieth year, was born at Brentwood, Essex. He enlisted with the Manchester Regiment at .the age of IS, and spent ten years in India. On his. return to England he was lent to the New Zealand Government as instructor of infantry, and reached. Hobart on the passage out on the day that war was declared by Britain upon the South African Republics.' He at once volunteered for service in the war, but was ordered on to New Zealand to act as instructor at Auckland to the troops proceeding to South Africa. The question of Crown leasehold sections in the Wiai.toino. country, which had been abandoned, andi from which no rates were now being collected, was discussed at the monthly meeting of the Woitomo County Council, held at Te Kuiti. Or. Rose said that two years ago he prophesied that the time would come when the remaining settlers in some parts of the district would be driven off their land through having to bear the burden of making up deficiency caused through the Government not paying rates on abandoned and unoccupied Grown lands in their district. This was now actually happening. Or. Lee thought the country would be quite justified in asking the Government- to meet the liability. If something was not done the State would be deprived of good settlers. It was resolved that a deputation, consisting of the chairman and Or. Jones, should proceed to Wellington and. wait on the 'Prime Minister and Minister of Finance with a view to obtaining relief.