The Northern Advocate. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1910. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Northern Advocate, 21 September 1910, Page 4

The Northern Advocate. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1910. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

"Dorothy."

At the Magistrate's Court this morn ing a woman, a first offender, was coir victed on a charge of drunkenness a Hikurangi and discharged.

It *is the intention of the Territorial non-commissioned officers in Whangarei to hold a ball on Monday, October 3rd. This will be the first ball so' promoted here, and will probably secure wide patronage. The Municipal Band, which has fairly won ats way into popular favor, and is now an organisation of which the "district is very proud, has been -rsked to provide the accompanying music. The meritorious playing of the r>anrl is calculated to create demands on its services wherever good music is desired.

Approximately 100 people occupied the two launches and the barge which were requisitioned for the moonlight excursion last night. A landing was effected at the Onei ahi deep-wate • wharf, where a stay of about threequarters of an hour was made. Tae town wharf was reached at the end of the return journey at 11 o'clock, after an outing greatly enjoyed by the participants in every particular. Cheerful instrumental harmony was dispensed by the Municipal Band, varied by vocal choruses, on ihe outward and inward passages and at the Onerahi terminal point.

Among the many pictutesque coastal places of the North, few can vie with Russell as a tounst resort and a holiday-maker's retreat. Given the conjunction of home comforts, nothing is lacking to perfect pleasure; and this last-named essential Mr A. E. Bis.-;st has provided by opening "The Bungalow" as a first-class Picnics, fishing, and other vacation pleasure can be arranged on the lowest possible terms, and a commodious, secure sea boat is always at the free command of visitors. Mr Bisset, who was for several year-3 a member of the Whangarei County Council, is w Q ll and reputably known here, and these who know him well feel quite sure of the bona fides of his guarantee of complete satisfaction. Whangarei w'll soon be in more rapid touch with Russell, and it is certain that visitors from this town will take full advantage of Mr Bisset's enterprise.

Messrs Marshall and Sons have rjsolved to discontinue the clothing and boot departments of their business, this having become advisable owing to the increase in the grocery and ironmongery branches, to which the firm has always given prominence. To igive greater attention to these, and to fully meet the requirements of their extended connection in these directions, those portions of the premises hitherto devoted to clothing and boots will be appropriated, and the whole of the stocks they now contain will be offered to the public at prices calculated to result in their disposal at the earliest possible date. The sale will be one of the largesCof its kind ever held in the town, and the stock, as might be expected in so well-ap-pointed an establishment, is in firstclass condition, including this season's goods. The sale is a genuine one; the goods must go, and go as quickly as possible.

The popular social series promoted by the Rowing Club will be continued to-night, and the splendid arrangements made warrant the customary large attendance.

Mr O'Gorman will give a most entertaining and instructive lecture on Charles Dickens in the Presbyterian Hall to-night. Admission will be free, and all are invited to be present.

To-day's weather report is as follows: —Moderate westerly winds* veering to south, with moderate to strong winds; expect squally and changeable weather; probably very cold night; glass rise slowly; sea a;id tides moderate.

A. wire from Hikurangi informed the secretary of the local Rugby Union that Hikurangi would be quite willing to meet the Whangarei reps, next Saturday at Hikurapigi. This will oe the last match of the season, and there is great speculation as to which side will win, so that a large number of people are expected to go out to witness it.

Following is the programme of musical compositions whicn will be played by the Municipal Band to-morrow (Thursday) night in the grounds adjoining the Cottage Home:—March, "Black Dyke"; waliz, "Elsinore": march (sacredi "Angelic Voices;" intermezzo, "Iola;" lancers, "Merry Moments"; schottische, "Gipsy"; hymn tune, "Sandon"; marcn, "Royal Fus liers"; "God Save the King."

To-day week the Rugby Union ball will take place in the Drill Hall, and a meeting of the committee has been called for to-morrow evening in the Oddfellow's Hall in order that final arrangements may be made to make the function a success. This will be practically the last of the more important balls of the season, and everyone who has been invited should make an effort to be there.

Three 'buses conveyed a large number of Whangarei and Kamo pleasursseekers out to Kauri last evening to a social. A most pleasant evening was spent, everything lending itself to the enjoyment of those present. Mr Foisyth, as usual, ably fulfilled the dutios of M.C., while the musfc was well supplied by Misses Kerr and "Wright, jitnr. So enjoyable did the popular social that it was after three o'clock morning before the Whanga.ei visitors returned, and this in itself speaks enough for the success of the function.

On Monday, the 26th September, 1910 (Dominion Day), holiday hoars will be observed by the Whangctrei Post and Telegraph office. The billowing arrangements will be carried out: —The telegraph branch will De open from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The telephone exchange will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. All mails timetabled for despatch on that day will close at 7 a.m. There will be no delivery by lettercarriers, but on Saturday, the 24th a second full delivery will be made during the afternoon, and correspondence (including registered) will also be delivered over the counter between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Mr J. R. Griffin, sen., aged 77 years, an old and esteemed settler of the Ruatangata East district, passed peacefully away at his homestead last Sunday evening, heart failure being the cause of his demise. The deceased left his native county of Somerset, England, about 50 years ago for Australia, where he remained for a few years. During his sojourn there he had tee misfortune to lose the sight of an eye through a cut from a whip lash. Mr Griffin came to New Zealand from Australia and took up land at Ruatangata East, where he had continuously resided for the past 46 years. In 1870 Mr Griffin married a Miss Evans, of Ruatangata. The widow, two daughters, and four sons mourn his departure, and to them the sincere sympathy of the whole region is extended. During the year 1887, Mr Griffin suffered a very grievous injury in the loss of eight of his other eye while drawing staples with a file. The interment took place on Tuesday, when a very representative gathering of settlers paid their last tribute of respect to t!';e deceased. The Rev. J. H. Hawkes had charge of the graveside obsequies. |

The adroitness with which a witness in a case at the Magistrate's Court parried the questions put to him by counsel yesterday, afforded a good deal of entertainment. He was called by plaintiff's solicitor, and his examination had not proceeded very far before it became quite clear that he was a Hostile witness, and as such Mr Steadman was allowed to treat him Like Sam Weller in the famous case of Bardell versus Pickwick, he had a way, no matter what the question, of getting in a little bit of information which was not wanted by his examiner, who at length told him that he was trying to make the case look as well as he could for defendant, and- as bad as he could for plaintiff. "Well," replied the astonished witness, "aarl what are you trying to do " Something like a smile came over even the stern features of Mr J3teadman, but recovering from his momentary confusion, he continued his severe and searching examination. The witness protested more than once against tiie manner of his examination, and accused Mr Steadman of bullying him, and at another stage of trying to extract untruths from him. Once he refus-d to answer a question, but was overruled by the magistrate. During nearly the whole time he was in the box he had difficulty in suppressing his indignation, but his , self-possessijn never quite deserted him, and his evidence, on any material point, did not suffer by cross-examination.