LOCAL AND GENERAL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 238, 29 December 1916, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

To our Advertisers and Readers In order to enable our stall to take full advantage of the New Year Holidays the usual Tuesday issue of the " Pukekohe Times " will be suspended next Tuesday, January 2nd.

Litts of country sales for the month of January of the N.Z. Loan and MA. Co. and of Messrs Alfred Buckland and Sons will be found in our advertising columns. The usual late shopping hours will be observed in Pukekohe tonight (Friday) and business premises after closing to-morrow at 1 p.m. will not re-open until Wednesday morning.

The receipt of the following donations is acknowledged by Mr J. F. Deane, hou. treasurer of the Pukekohe Patriotic Committee, viz :- - Belgian Fund-J. H. Tvzer, 10s; Pukekohe Branch Farmers' Union, £3. Servian Fund Pukekohe Branch Farmers' Union, £3

As announced in our advertising columns, an officer of the Agricultural Department will attend as follows next week to inoculate calves against blackleg, viz.: At Polfok on Wednesday, at Awhitu South on Thursday, at Awhitu Central and Awhitu Wharf on Friday, and at Orua Bay on Saturday. Good conduct on the part of tbe local public has characterised the Xraas holidays. Only in one instance have the Pukekohe police been called upon to exert authority and that was on Saturday when a Pakeha and a Maori iadulged in a brawl at the railway station. At a special J.P.'s Court held on Xmas Day their breach of the peace landed them in a tine of £2 apiece.

Messrs Sharpe Bros, having opened an up-to-date Cordial and Mineral Water Factory in King street, Pukekohe, opposite Dell's Corner, are now in a position to supply the public of Pukekohe and district with cordials and summer drinks of the highest quality. Mr A. Sears is the local manager, and orders sent to him will receive his best attention. A large assortment of fresh fruit and lollies of the best quality are also on sale on the premises.

A Weetfield resident, named William Ernest Butterwortb, was charged at the Pukekohe Magistrate's Court on 'lhursday of last week with having oo November 2nd behaved in an offensive manner in a railway train between Auckland and Utahuhu, thereby annoying a couple of Pukekohe residents (man and woman), who were travelling on tbe train. Sergeant Cowan explained that the accused, wbo Fas under the influence of drink at the time, tried to force his company onto the two passengers referred to, and was remonstrated with by the guard. The accused, wbo stated that be remembered nothing of the occurrence, was fined £2 and 7s costs.

The visit ot Father Christmas to tbe Pukekohe establishment known as tbs Boukery produced great excitement on Friday and Saturday afternoons and evenings among the children, wbo, in anticipation ot his arrival, were present in large numbers. A model chimney had been erected io the adjoining right of way tor tbe occasion and, appearing on the roof of the Bcokery, Santa Claus descended by way of the aperture in foe legendary fashion before emerging into tbe street. Mr Koadley's enterprise in thus catering for the amusement of the little ones was deservedly rewarded by the contents of his baziar being extensively purchased by patrons.

Probably never io its history has the Pukekohe railway station witnessed busier scenes than in tbe period from Thursday afternoon of last week up to and including Sunday, the slip on tbe line at Karaka being responsible for all trains during tbat time making a bait at Pukekohe. Id many instances a change of passengers was effected to a relief train which ran to and from the southern end of tbe slip, whilst in other cases the engines of trains from the south changed tbeir positions at the station and after being placed at tbe rear ot the trains pushed tbeir loads as tar as the slip so as to better enable them to accomplish the up-hill journey on their return. Heavy luggage for Auckland was also unloaded at Pukekohe and was conveved on motor lorries by road to Drury, such forms of vehicle bringing back from Drury simihr luggage for the south, together witb consignments of cream for the Pukekohe and Mercer dairy factories. Dining cars and sleepers were detached at Pukekohe and for the time being the attendants thereon, as also engine drivers, firemen and guards, became units of tbe local population. Early on Sunday evening connection witb Auckland was onca more restored, rails having being relaid on a portion ot tbe old and recently discarded track, which enabled the cutting where tbe slip had occurred to be avoided. The officials doing duty at Pukekohe station had a busy and trying time throughout, several of them being on a continuous stretch of duty of nearly 24 hours from Thursday afternoon, but one and all worked ungrudgingly and did their best to facilitate the comfort ot the travelling public in tbeir enforced delay. Mr A. F. Brown, the courteous stationmaater. together with Mr N. K. Kobeon (chief clerk) and Mr J. Francis (booking clerk), particularly deserve credit tor the masterly, in ■which they bandied thfc^^B™ 0 "-

Train arrangements for the New Year holidays are advertised in this issue.

Members of the Pukekohe Bowling Club are notified tbat an "all day" progressive pairs match has been set down for decision on Monday next (Ne* Ytai's Day). Play will start at y.yo a.m.

A public farewell in the form ot a scial evening is to be tend red, under the auspices of the Pukekif.e Military Farewell Committ e, on Thursday next in the Carnival Te? lioon.s to the loc<l members of the 2lst. 22 id and 23rd K intorceraent Draff, «hn are t.n their final leave. Parents a-d fri rda ot the "coys" are specially invited to attend.

The-e will hj: no d.lwtry of letters by I ttcr-carners in FuSekohe to-Torrow (Saturlaj) aft jrnoo", nut curr spondence will be delivered over the counter at the post office between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m Monday (New Year's Day) will be a cl >se holiday for postal work except that a mail will be despatched to Auckland at 6.45 s.m that the telegraph ofrica will be open from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and that the hours available tor telephone use will be S a.T. to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Although J'u bday will be a business holiday in the town the post office will be open as usual on that day.

A very enjoyable and successful picnic was heh on Boxing Day in the grounds adjoining Mr E. Kiose's homestead, by the Pukekohe Methodist Sunday School, a good many parents anJ friesds being present. The swings and games were enjoye J by the scholars and by the onlookers. Lunch and tea were served on the ground, and the ex c?lldnt provisions, supplied by Messrs F. Perkins and Co., were thoroughly appreciated. The children were conveyed to the ground in waggons kindly lent tor the parpos?. Hearty thanks and cheers were given to Mr and Mrs Koose for again placing their ground at the disposal of the Sunday school, and a nice day's outing terminated about 6 p.m.

Scene: Somewhere in France. A party of Anzaca with »ome prisoners returning from the front are met by an officer, who proceeded to investigate. "You bad twelve prisoners," s«id he, "and 1 can only rind eleven. Where's the other?" Corporal, after scratching his head for a few moments: "Well, you see, it was like this. We did have a d zen but we met a small squad with nore, and th°y offered us a bottl3 ot whhky for a couple ot ours. We sold 'em one, and he's coming abn* with the squad. One bottle, one prisone l , we sai<, a n d that's how it is." And the officer withdrew to think.

A striking instance of official che=se-panng was mentioned by a df [-"gate to the list meeting of the War Funds Council at Invercargill, says the "Times." A young Southlander enlisted. Bis teeth were not in very good order, and he was directed to havett r ee or tour of them out, t L e military authorities supplying bim with ac equal number of artificial molars. In camp the s' Idler contracted sciatica, and was eventually discharged from the forces and sent home. But he was not allowed to keep th* -false teeth, ae the military people demanded them. Now, although the young man can boast of no bullet marks or bayonzt scars, he displays as evidence of his service with the colours sundry paps in the otherwise unbroken ranks of bis masticating agents.

The schedule of prizes, just issued, tnr the Franklin A. and P. Society's 32nd unnual show, to be held on Friday and Saturday, February 23rd and 24th, embr?ccs 526 classes— an increase ot 13 as compared with the last fixture. The prize money for the champion hu- ter, ti be tried over fence 3 , has been increased to £42 as against £32 at the last show, the allocations being as follows:—First prize £3O, second £6, third £4, and fourth £2. For the best artillery horse £4 is allotted for first prize and £2 for second bs compared with previous prizes of £2 and £l. Entries for the show are due to close with the secretary, Mr J. M. Baxter, oa Wednesday, February 7tb, but late entries will be received up to Saturday, February 10th. Copies of the schedule are now obtainable from Mr Baxter.

"We do not like the tetm ' shirker,' " stated the mothers of the Medical Board who were examining the balloted men at Gisborne last week, when talking with a reporter. "In Palmerston North we examined a number of men who had been called up under clause 35 and sent to us, and our experience is that in no way is the term ' shirker' justified. The men who have come up have had the virtue of not even betraying resentment at being classed as shirkers. When they have anything to say it is in the direction of giving what is to them a good reason why they had not volunteered before. We have nothing to do with the conscientious objector, but at no time have we discovered any reluctance on the part of those who make this a ground of appeal to come up for medical examination. We think the cause of recruiting would be very much better served if people did not sit in judgment on men of whose circumstances they are entirely ignorant."

Whilst in Karangahape road, Newton, on Saturday morning Mrs Hockett, wife of Mr H. Bockett, manager of the Pukekohe branch of the Bank ot New Zealand, was noticed by Mr rJ. ti. Andrew, another resident of Pukekobe, who happened to be passing in his motor-car. Mr Andrew offered Mrs Bockett a seat in his car as tar as Queen street, ana stepping off the pavement Mrs Bockett, holding the nan l ot her little boy, Bertie, who was with her, proceeded to the orf-side ot the car to enter it. Whilst she was in the act of doing so a passing cyclist collided with her and both sfce and the boy were Hung some yards by the fores of the impact, the cyclist being also violently thrown to the ground. Mrs Bockett in a dazed condition was taken to a dispensary near at hand hut, as with her sun, was found to have only sustained a few bruises and in a short time she was able to procted to Devonporf. where she is spending a holiday The cyclist was less fortunate as his injuries were such Jftkpjfie was conveyed to tbe AuckS Bb#P''**''

Mr J. W. Jordan, postmatter at Waiuku, was taken feiously ill last Saturday and is still absent from duty.

Suffering from a break down in health, Mr W Coster, Pukekohe's courteous postmaster, is still an inmate of the Auckland Hospital His weak condition is the subject of no little anxiety to his family and unfortunately so far he has failed to regain strength.

The N Z. Farmers' Co-op. Bacon and Meat Packing Co., Ltd, in addition to receiving pigs, as previously announced, at Pukekohe next Tuesday, at Buckland on Wednesday, and at Pokeno on Thursday, will also receive at Papakura on Wednesday.

It is interesting to mention that the railway engine, No. 605, which came to gtief at the slip on the line near Paerata last week, figured in July, 1915, in a slipatTaringamotu, near Taumarunui, when owing to a bridge being washed away it fell into a creek.

Messrs r. Perkins and Co.'s handsome new building in King street, Pukekotie, is rearing completion, and Mr Perkins and family are already in occupation of the living room?. The business portion of the premises should be ready for use in the course of a week or two.

Seven horses in course of transit from Ciuiitchurcb to take pa:t in th; Auckland Trotting Gibs' currunt race meeting had, owing to the slip on the line, to be detrained at Fukekohe list Friday and were compelled to proceed on their journey by road.

Constable 1 home 11, a is to commence an leave next week, when out on a visit to bia Victoria, Australia. "Mark,''' whose duty is characterised by nl tempered with tact, ia held inn respect by local residents, join in wishing him an enjoy trip.

Shortage of local hay is a certainty after the havoc wrought by last week's rains on crops lying out and on untbatched stacks and rarely have farmers sustained eucn an unexpected loss. Potatoes have aUo seriously suffered, as apart from crops being washed out of the ground those that remained under the soil have la a good many instances rotted through excessive moisture.

Consequent on the disorganisation of the railway traffic tnrough the slip at Karaka the Christmas mails, which attained the usual large volume of busmsss, were considerably delayed bath in arrival at and despatch from Fuk-kohe. Under the close attention of the actingpostmaster, Mr K. Martin, all the officials woiked in a self-denying manner to meet the exigencies of the occasion, and everything was cljse up before the office closed on Saturday night. To overcome the rdilway difficulty some postal ,

hampers reached Pukekohe from Auckland via boat to Waiuku.

Ever; department of trade in Pukekche was booming at Christmas time and most of the traders report that business transacted surpassed all previous records, la one way the dislocation of railway traffic proved a blessing in disguise for Pukekobe since many residents instead of shopping in Auckland made the whole of their purchases in the town. Banking figures showed tbat never before in the history of Pukekobe bad so much money (cash or the equivlent on paper) been in circulation id one day as on Friday Ust This is, however, partly accounted tor by dairy cheques having come to band and by farmers being present tn large force for Messrs Alfred Buckland and Sons' sals on tbat day, as well as by the preceding day (Thursday) having been so wet that fihoppng was delayed.

Special holiday leave ot four days was granted to members of the 20tb Kemforcements although their final leave took place a little time ago. This concession, although it entailed for ncrtbern "boya" a start back for Trentham on Christmas night, was much appreciated, but the fact tbat all were called upon to pay their own railway fares, instead of being granted passes, was the subject of unfavourable comment. The journey of eight "Pukekobe "boys," wno came home for the occaison, cost them a little over £2 apiece, and both they and their chums thought the country migbt bave been more considerate to them, seeing tbat as volunteers thev bad responded to the natim's call.

In a shaky condition, apparently due to the after effects of too much "Chribtmasing," and with hia clothes dripping wet, a man presented himself at a farm-house near Cape Crossing, Pukekobe, early yesterday morning and asked for food, saying that he had been sleeping out in the bush. Later in the day he called at other houses in Pukekohe on a begging expedition, and then fancying himself more or less a millionaire he essayed in various quarters to secure possession of a blank cheque, his story being that he had an account at the Bank of New Zealand. However, he found no one willing to accommodate him. Finally he entered Messrs F. Perkins and Co.'s stores and after ordering certain goods to the value of £lO or £ll he wanted a cheque handed to him for him to till up and then to have it cashed. Mr Perkins' suspicions being aroused the police were communicated with and the individual was taken into custody. Brought up last night at the Pukekohe Courthouse, before Mr C. Roadley, J. P., on a charge of vagrancy under the name of Edgar Hodgson, aged 35, and described as a labourer, recently working at Aka Aka, he was remanded in custody until Thursday next. Constable Thornell explaining that for the man's own safety and for the protection of the local public it was advisable that he should be placed in confinement for a few days pending the possibility of further charges being preferred against him. Foi Bronchial Coughs, take Woods Groat Peppermint Cure.