The Northern Advocate FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1912. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Northern Advocate, 16 February 1912, Page 4

The Northern Advocate FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1912. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An area of 117 acres in block 12 of the Purua Survey District has been set apart for scenic purposes, as from the 28th instant.

-The estimated population of New Zealand at December 31st, 1911, was 1,087,848, made up by 1,025,406 Europeans, 49,844 Maoris, and 12,598 Cook Islanders. At the special meeting of the Borough Council this morning it was decided to accept Messrs Alcock Bros.' offer to take £25 instead of £30 for the metal screens, which Mr Foote had reported upon to the Council. Mr A. E. Skynner, who has succeeded Mr H. O. Rylands as sanitary inspector in the Bay of Islands and Marsden-Kaipara Hospital districts, arrived yesterday and will take up his duties shortly. Mr Semple, organising secretary of the Federation of Labor, will leave r-ext week for Australia to arrange an understanding with the coal miners and waterside workers of the Commonwealth. —Press Association. The "Gazette" contains a proclamation removing the embargo placed last month on money orders and postal correspondence for the International Investment Company, William Noton (Auckland), and Robert Noton (Wellington). The annual tiaining camp of the 11th (North Auckland) Regiment will be held at Maunu, from the 24th to the 30th April (both days inclusive). Officers, N.C.O.'s, and men will receive the regulation scale of pay for nine ciays. John Mclnnis and George Major, described by Sergeant Moore as "birds of passage," pleaded guilty to charges of drunkennes this morning at the Magistrate's Court, and were each fined 5/- or 24 hours hy the presiding J.P., Mr R. Thompson.

*~ Mr H. K. May has accepted the secretaryship of the Whangarei Dog, Poultry and Pigeon Fanciers' Association, and he intends to put new life and energy into the body. All interested in birds and dogs should attend the general meeting to <-c held on Monday evening, when an interesting object lesson will be given. The Association proposes to hold an exhibition in May.

In substitution of Regulation 76 of the State Forests Act, a new regulation now in force states that all kauri Timber shall V>e sold by public auction or by public tender, after due notification, estimation, and appraisement; provided that special licenses for single trees, or clumps of trees not exceeding 100.000 superficial feet for ;:iiy one license, may be grantee by the Commissioner, with the approval of the Minister, on payment of such fees as they may fix.

A prominent member of the Masterton A. and P. Society thinks he has found a cure for industrial troubles in New Zealand. Speaking at the last meeting of the Society he exclaimed: "Why not remove the polltax and flood the country with Chinese? That is apparently the only way to get over these Labor troubles and strikes." Perhaps a better way to stop strikes and to ensure content amongst the workers is to give the e'.ni loyee «i chare. in the profits. This yec-r "Lever brothers, the English soap manufacturers, distributed about £20,000 v.mongst their co-operatives. The head of the firm said "he belie\ed that "•j'pit roiribin-itiorm nf pipi?i-flv« niV 3 powerful union.; of men woul.l play nn ; i-!cr<"i- : ns:ly large part in the future i industry."

w-Following upon the success of the Whangarei Regattas for the past two years, a Regatta Club has bean formed at Russell and it has been decided to hold a regatta on the Harbor on April 9th, 1912.

Mr Benner will take over the charge of the local Post-office on the 22nd inst. Mr Robertshaw who will then receive a month's leave, will not depart for Tauranga, where his duties will begin on March 22nd, until about the 14th prox.

A pretty wedding took place at St. Benedict's Churck, Auckland, on .Monday, the 12th inst., when Mr W. H. Eeehre, eldest son of Mr W. Beehre, of Whangarei, and Miss Adelaide Ryan, neice of Mr W. White, J.P., of Grey L.ynn, were joined in bonds of holy matriir—v-.

All the commissioned officers attached to the 15th (North Auckland) Regiment are kept exceptionally busy in preparing for the encampment of the Regiment at Kensington next week. All non-commissioned officers will go under canvas on Sunday, and the men will follow on Thursday next.

At a well attended meeting of ratepayers at Ngunguru last evening "t v/as unanimously resolved that it was advisable to take further steps in connection with the raising of a special Loan for roadlng purposes in the Kiripaka Riding. Cr. Foote, and the County Clerk and Engineer attended the meeting.

For the four-weekly period to January 6th of this year, 20.047 passengers travelled on the Whangarei-Kawakawa section, as compared with 14,417 who made use of the train service on the section in vogue during the corresponding period of 1911—an increase of 5630. The comparative amounts of revenue were £3155 9s 3d and £2830 19s 9d, an increase of £324 9s 6d. The percentage of expenditure to revenue, which naturally ran to a somewhat high figures during the firsL few months of the extended running from Towai to Kawakawa, is now coming down again as the passenger and goods traffic grows. For a tfvelvemonthly term to the date named the average expenditure per mile of railway was £473 ?.v 10d and the average revenue £625 6s lid, giving a ( percentage of disbursements to receipts

f 75.67. The Kaihu section still bears the palm for costliness in the Dominion, the percentage of expenditure to revenue being 124.52. Westport is the lowest, with a percentage of 45.48.