The most novel sale ever held in Lewiston is the Dutch auction sale now going on at the Novelty Cloak Store. It is amusing to see the bidding - all pleasant and good-natured no matter how much each customer wants the goods.

• Scott Hunnewell's 16-year-old boy drove their team to Auburn Thursday and hitched it on Main Street near Drummond. Shortly after, a New Auburn boy who wanted a ride came along, unhitched the horse and drove away. He saw one of his friends on the sidewalk and asked him to have a ride also. The questionable borrowing of the team was reported to the police who soon tracked the boys to Washington Street, where they were overtaken. They were on their way to Rumford Junction. No complaint was made against the boys.

More employees are being called back to their jobs by the Bates Manufacturing Co. Questioned last night about current textile production, Bates Public Relations Director H.L. Gosselin commented: "We are recalling some people to work."

Gosselin said he did not have exact figures available. Bates only a few weeks ago announced that a large group of workers had been recalled. Gosselin reported those recalled currently are Bates Division employees.

• The W.E. Cloutier & Co., Lewiston, was low bidder on approximately 60 tons of bituminous coal for the Auburn city farm. The bids were opened yesterday afternoon in the office of City Manager Woodbury E. Brackett and Cloutier was awarded the contract.

U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, Gov. Joseph E. Brennan and Maine Attorney General James Tierney will be the special guests at an informal public lawn party to be held Sunday from 4 to 5 p.m. at the residence of George and Carol Boyce of 1841 Hotel Road, Auburn. The occasion, which also marks the Boyces' anniversary, was designed to give area people a chance to meet the public officials in person under informal circumstances. Light refreshments will be served and everyone is invited.