LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 55, 31 December 1912, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

KeacUra and clients are reminded that the "Times" office will be closed to-rr.orrew New Year's Dav.

The Mayor, Mr C. K. Lawrie has bey:i away fur s.iri'j diys on a holiday at L'e Kapa.

A letter f;cm Mr J. Henry, on the merging of Road Boards, will appear on Frictav,

Ilis frtnnus will regret to learn that Mr W. McNally. "f L'ukekoho, is at pr'-sent 1 sid ii[> through catching a chill after an attack of influenza.

To--:ight th All Star Pictures are again rhowing in the fvksoiic Hall, ->vti !i the pjiiicipal attraction will be the "Adventure? of Dick To.pin." To-morrow night, N-.w Year's Nigh:, there will be a special prorgamme, when a number o? vers ; tine dramas will be submitted.

Till) Pukekolie Lawn Tenuis Club have arranged matches with Bombay fur .TanuaVy lltli and Papatoetoe January 18tli, both games to ho played at l'ukekoho. It is probable that Otalmhu will visit Pukekolie during Febiuary.

Tbe holidays passed off very quietly in Pukekohe-crhker, tennis, and bowling tiling the chief pastimes er:joyed. Pukekoha holds po sports icjiiv.il3, but d.ublie.-s o.: N w Year's iig contingents from this ani surrounding disiticts will journey to Patumabo. to ;he important sports gathering to b. held under the auspices cf !h: Mauku Athletic I lub.

D. ll and Son, land agents, continue to move off properties. Eecentlv tliey have sold Io.S acres within l.\ miles of Eunciman, from Mr \V. G. Signal to Mr Woods, of Auckland, at i'2o per acre. A few months ago this property changed hands at £ 16. Tliis firm also sold 25 acres from I. lloneyford, at Hamar.ima, to Mr J. McDjnuld, of AVaipipi, for £'joo.

A Boxing Day accidei.t happened on the Pukekohe-Mauku road which resulted in u. tmaahed gig, a ten ral £ h jck, but : o broken bones. Mrs T. Adam 3 and he. two daughters were close to Halt's corner when they met Mr C. Hoskin® coming from the opposite .iiection. The pull■ tiff to let the other vehicle pas 3 sas too snarp and the gi*4 upset nve- an embankment, the occupants being all thrown upon th-? road. ?he horse got away from the destroyed but was rtcovemi unhurt. Mrs Adams a:.d her daughters fortunately escaped without any injury beyond the inevitable shaKing.

A short time ago we hud a paragraph a! out the great destruction thai was occurring amongst blackberries, rests, plum trees, etc. We were kindly supplied from Puni with some specimens of the destroyirg bejtie, aii we forwarded them to Mr A. H. Cockayne, Governmer. t Biologist, asking what they wcrp. In i'i ply, Mr Cockayne writes" lhe beetles eatirg the leaves of the olackberry h the Auckland district is the native broi.ze beetle (encolu.-pis brunrea). 'lhe insect occurs in countless numbers during December snd is a source nf great damage to the foi of lluwer and fruit tree.. Its effects on blackberry are only transitory, and the plants i\new their vigour as soon as the attack is past.'-

While driving into Pukekohe on Saturday morning Mr \V. I'leydel 1 , and three cflildt-n. and Mr \\ . Howard, of Patmnaho", narrowly ( .Ncapou a serious accident. It appears tlie horse fell anil both shafts of the sulky broke causing the occupants to lie thiuwu on to the road. Mr I'leyilell had difficulty in getting the children out of harm's way for the horse, becoming tangled 111 the harness, commenced kicking and was hard to control. Fortunately no one was badly hurt, but the trap was very much damaged. Owing to the delay some of the party missed the first train and were obliged t) go by the 10 a.m. which made a " fast " trip, reaching Auckland at .'3 p.m.