WHANGAREI.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 303, 23 December 1898, Page 6

WHANGAREI.

December 19. ' On Saturday night a heavy thunderstorm was experienced here. About 4 o'clock on Sunday morning- the school teacher's house at Maunu was struck, though the damage is not extensive, rtie'architraves of one of the windows wag torn off, and from thence the cun'fint apparently travelled down the inside wall, tearing the paner into shreds, and then ran aVmg the floor and eventually s-.trucsc ( a tree outside, tearing the bark off. and finally went to the •jMii.h'. Fortunately, the teacher was sleeping •« another room. Continued wet wrather has cavsei widespread disaster as "egaras the cut hay, which in most cases -s utterly ruined. In the case of the standing crop ready for the machine, very l.'ttle better news is_to li&nd. as in mo?t cases this la beaten down to such an extent that it is? doubtful if k can be cut at all. However,; fruit generally has not fared badly, arid we are promised abundant returns in all varieties excepting plums and pears. The Whangarei Mining and Industrial' Exhibition preparations are now in full swing, and will be ready for the opening day, the 22nd instant. I understand tha' entries are good, and most of the space available has been applied for, and it is anticipated that success will reward thg efforts of the promoters. .. Messrs Hunter and Wilson at their annual wool sale held on the 17th submitted over 150 bales, dump and bags. I am informed the sale proved very satisfactory," prices on the average being above Auckland ones, varying from Sid to 5Jd per lb, TAUPAKI. A concert was held at the Taupaki Hall on Friday, the 16th inst.,.which proved tot". be very successful. Mr Shaw's comic, items were wrell received and loudly encored, as were also,several good" items by; Mr Bert Clifford. Miss Kate Caldieut sang with great expression several songs/ The performance concluded with thefarc6_: 'Razor Bill.' Mr Clifford as "Razor Bill* was responsible for the bulk of the laughter, while Mr Shaw took the part of "th#manager admirably.