MISCELLANEOUS.

Northern Advocate, 8 December 1888, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

Visitors staying at Morrion's Commercial Hotel, Whangarei, week ending Dec. 7: — Messrs Cooke, Spencer, Mclntyre, Tilley, Grimshaw, Holmau, Scon, Molesworth, Barton, Dargaville, Snelling, French, I. McCaffery, Ward, Western, Quirk, BrooMeld, Pox, Eobinson (2), Hunter, Goffe, 6*ook, Cox, Madames Barton and French, Miss Cook. Visitors staying at Pieree's Settler's Hotel Whangarei, for week ending, Dec. 7th : — Messrs J. Davis, Auckland ; C. Davis Bellevue ; Smith, P. Brown, Taylor, Cox, Blour, Reid, Aubrey, Wehster, McDonald, McLeod, Sargent, Campbell, Mr and Mrs Gambie and family, Mr Johnson. By an inadvertence in making up the paper the heading "Is Marriage a Failure," should have been placed over the letter of " An Old Married Fellow," and not over that of Mr Brookers. The transposition last week was purely a printer's error. The Melbourne land boon, as we foretold is ov>.r, and the fizzle ended, but much earlier than we expected. It is to be hoped that the lessons taught will have a salutary effect, and that ailly speculators will not take a laud agent's estimate of the value of land. Larricaniam seems a costly affair in Christchurch. In the course of proceedings against boys destroying the' insultora with shanghais, Mr Middeus, District Inspector, stated that 78 were smashed in 14 days. The average annual exponditnre for insulators and the cost of replacing them, would, exceed £2000 It will be seen by referring to our advertising columns, that Mr A. Pearson returns thanks to his patrons, and-' advertises his Christmas goods, of which hej^as a very large and Varied stock, and whiebte will offer at the lowest possible price. He is also a cash buyer of produce, gum, and fungus.

According to aunonncement, Mr Brookfield, surgeon dentist, assistant to Mr Chutfield, of Auckland, has arrived, and can be consulted ,* «.„ »i,oV, onnosite the Bank and next to the ».. r -_ "-■"«v*fie]d Melbourne Drapery Company, an x...... ii a gentleman of considerable experience, and If e hafe no doubt will give satisfaction to those who may entrust themselves to his care. engaged id ijie fe-p'roductioti of fixe Gantataf'.XJnder the Palms " will bear in $ghd the" : rehearsal announced for Friday, the }4tfr. The public- expect. a great treat at this concert, aiid vr-e hope those engaged will not disappoint them. . We are glad to see that the- Kamo" Choral Society intend giving a concert on the 17th Inst. -'"We wish we could soe as much vitality in V 1 ? Wliangarei Philharmonic Society. An officer of the Survey Department who has recently been travelling in the North, Btates that he never at any time during the last ten years saw so many people travelling in the country districts looking for bona fide settlement. In the Albertland settlements, he states, more improvements have been effected Within the last four years than in the previous £0 years;;: In -passing through the Albertland settlements tOj .Wiha.ngarei; he was pleased to sefe so many small holding, hi which" tne settlers were doing well. Outside Whangarei, on the Otaika Road, land, which it would have been madness to give 30s an acre for, was now selling at £2 to £3. . Hitherto the phraseology was that it was cruel to give a man 40 acres to starve on in the North, but he had seen thriving settlers' homes where the holdings were from only two to four acres of land, and on the "cold clay land/ so often derided, but Which with industrious working Was now turning out good crops. In his opinion the North was just beginning to have its innings, and it was arising from the fact that the settlers were living arid labouring under totally different conditions to those under which many of the Settlers to the south of of Auckland were doing The northern nen were working for themselves, and not the banks and loan companies, and that made all the difference, and the holdings were all moderate, and held for bona fide ' settlement. The liberal and practical feature of the land legislation of the present Minister of lands has given a great impetus to settlement, alid his knowledge as a surveyor in the Lands Department in the early days of , New Zealand has enabled him to understand the difnaulties of pioneer settlers, and to devise a practical remedy for overcoming them. It will be gratifying to him on coming here to find so many people settling on the land, and bo large an area of Crown lands coming into cultivation.— N.Z. Herald. On Saturday, the Bth inst., that popular and versitile actress, Miss Georgie Smithson, who secured for herself the admiration of the public during her last visit, will again appear for & short season. Shf brings again with her Mr Dunbar, as well as Mr l)e Bree } Mr Rollins, Mr Lawton, the Liliputian Minstrels, and Miss Clara Spencer. The success of her former visit here id a guarantee that programmes of the most attractive character will be provided, and that large houses will be secured. A strange story is reported from the east fend of London. Two dock labourers being each dissatisfied with his own wife and enamoured of the wife of the other, entered into an arrangement to effect an exchange. The wives, being by no means averse, a rough " article ot agreement " was drawn up, and the transference effected without more ado. Both couples are living happily. On the 29th ult. the good people of Whangarei Heads gave a complimentary and farewell dance to Mr G. Cooke, the popular agent for the Jubilee S.S. Coy. There were about 20 couples present, and dancing was kept up onhl daylight, under the efficient M.C. ship of Mr A. McGregor. For 14 months Mr Cooke has represented the above company at that port, during which time he has earned for himself the goodwill of the residents. Distressing news still come] to hand from Australia. Latest reports from the central Cumberland district, N.S.W., shows that serious damage has been done to fruit crops by the drought. There will be a loss of 60 per ceut of apples and grapes. The rains have ceased and they will not do much good unless more falls. At Armidale, despite the recent rain, the wheat crop is a complete failure. Flour !• is risun £4 per ton, a:id hay h selling at £7. Bread, potatoes and dairy produce, have advanced -V) per cent. The weather reports from the different paiti of the continent show m .tYtf ' WTwYirWi- the weather is tine, though threatening in some parts of the colony. £outh Australia the weather is fine, and hot, without auy rain. In Queensland rain is pretty general all over colony. On Saturday and^Sunday light showers were • falling. The rain in the latter colony has had the effect of greatly improving the agricultural andpastoral prospects. In N.S.W. the weather isfine, with the exception c£ the districts Bailina, and Lismore, where light rains are falling. At the wool sales at London, on Saturday Dec. Ist there was increased animation in bidding, and the improvement in prices since hist auction ranged from sto 10 per cent. French and German buyers operated freely. It is expected that the advance in some kinds will be more pronounced as the sales progress. Up to the present the chief advance has been in merinos. American buyers puchased large quantities. The catalogue to date included 35,800 bales, of 35,000 have been sold. The present rise in agricultural produce is making fanning matters brisker, and also hardening the price of farming property. It is computed by experts that in oats alone this year through the untoward state of things in Australia, New Zealand should benefit by a turnover of a million sterling, and in general agricultural produce by two millions. The programme by the enterprising settlers of Hukerenui, for their first annual produce exhibition is amo3t attractive one, and exhibits a laudable and enterpi3iug spirit which many other young communities should emulate. Not only will there be the usual exhitions of produce and stock, but the most complete arrangements are made tor the perfect enjoyment of residents and visit ors^; athletic sports, racing, swings, fireworks, dancing, and a band will all combine to make this sylvan gathering a novelty be remembered.^ It promises to be an astonishing success, and we say to all who can, goAt Mr Tucker's coach building establishment ..- we notice great activity. A most serviceable waggonettee built to the order of Mr William Hawkcn, is just turned out, and its style and strength justifies our remarks on the exhibits of the coach builders at the late show, that there is no need to go out of the town to be supplied with conveyances of every class. We understand that this firm has many such orders still on hand, to be completed before the end of the year. We are glad to be able to inform our readers that the necessary appliances for the establishment of the' Creamary at Kaurihohore are already got together, and that the establishment will shortly be in full operation. In order to facilitate matters, a meeting of milk suppliers is called by the representative of the New Zealand Dairy Company to be held in the Kaurihohore Hall on Wednesday next, at 7.30 p.m., when Mr Spragg will >ie present. The recent rise in the price of butter may make some think that they can do better than sell their miik for 2| per gallon. We believe, however, that the offer of 2J is not a hard and fast rule, and that the price will vary not only according to the quality but also according the market value of butter. In fact, only on such a basis could such an establishment be conducted We ieel justified in saying this much, as such a departure from the agreed price has already taken place in respect to milk suppliers in the Wiikato. It will be well for settlers to attend the meeting on Wednesday.