LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Northern Advocate, 3 October 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Mr J. I. Wilson is seriously ill, and hopes of his recovery are very faint.

The hockey match—Northern v. Southern boarders—will be played on Mander Park next Thursday afternoon.

The Fire Brigade ball held in the Drill Hall last night was an unqualified success. The hall was comfortably filled, and the floor was in exceedingly fine condition. The music was supplied by the 15th Regimental Band.

To-morrow afternoon the Auckland touring representative Association football team play a Whangarei team in Beehre's paddock at the end of Rust Lane. It is understood that the visiting team is a strong one and will have very little difficulty in putting up a good score against the local men, who have not had the practice and experience of the visitors.

The first full-dress rehearsal of the comic opera "Doris," to be staged by the Choral Union next week, was field in the Town Hall last evening. The work went with a swing from start to finish, and with the remedying of one or two slight defects promises to eclipse previous productions by the Choral Union. A number of * instrtimentalists are coming up from Auckland on Tuesday to assist in the orchestra.

♦""Passengers from Whangarei by the Manaia on Tuesday last were subjected to a deal of inconvenience on arrival at Auckland. They were ordered into the saloon and;, kept there for twenty minutes awaiting the arrival of a health officer. At the end of that time the officer did not put in an appearance and .some of the male paftr sengers demanded to be released. Their demand was immediately complied with. Inquiries elicited the fact that there is no power bestowed on the officers of a steamer to detain passengers unless authorised by special (proclamation. Passengers arriving in Auckland state that during the past few days the health officers's examination, when one does occur, is a farce, since he simply stands at the gangway and, without removing his gloves, feels the pulse. It is hard to imagine a more absurd proceeding. As Whangarei county is now practically declared "clean" the travelling public resents the inconvenience of "inspection." "•"Cattle-dMving thrcjugbj the main streets of the town is fraught with possibilities of interest to pedestrians. Yesterday evening, for instance, a mob was proceedinig up Bank Street when a particularly intolerant beast detached itself from the herd when near the Presbyterian Church, and charged a well-known hockey enthusiast and a young lady who were standing on the footpath. The man was holding the lady's bicycle, and finding himself attacked used the machine as a shield while the lady hastily retreated to the church gate. The infuriated animal charged at the bicycle twice, and succeeded in buckling one of the wheels into a quite unrecognisable shape. In the process the beast toppled over, and the "hero" of the drama carrying off what remained of the bicycle, scrambled into safety behind the church fence. A few minutes later a member of the permanent defence force attracted the animal's attention, and he too made good time into the church grounds. It is not recorded whether there were any further mishaps higher up the street. One of these days we are going to hear of something really serious happening in connection with this stock-driving business, and then something will probably be done to bring it under control.

Messrs Williams and Woods have just completed the sale of a large block comprising 1000 acres, owned by Mr Palmer, Whananaki. Who is William Wallen'? The most reliable watchmaker and jeweller. Successor to E. A. Simmons, Cameron Street, Whangarei Charges moder ate. —Advt.

•*»At this time of the year cattle of all descriptions generally find ready sale at good prices, but this has not been the case at recent sales. There is* a big discrepancy just now between vendors' and buyers' ideas of value, and what is described as a "decided slump" in cattle has been recorded. The general opinion of people interested in cattle dealing is that while vendors are rushing their cattle to market buyers are frightened to speculate fearing another dry season. There is ample pasture at present, but unless we have considerably more rain the position will, to growers of cattle, be one of some perplexity.

Cricket has not in the past been a very profitable game in Whangarei, but there seems to be a reasonable chance of this pastime being placed on a better footing this season. The Whangarei Club has largely increased membership this year, and members are looking forward keenly to the contests under the auspices of the Crickef Association. This body meets about ten days hence to arrange the season's matches. Onerahi will have a team, and members of the Langham House Club are seriously considering joining the Association. This latter combination has a strong team, and practice has already been commenced.

** Considerable fun was caused at the Junction Yards cattle sale yesterday evening when Messrs Wilson and Wilson offered a calf fcr sale for the benefit of the Fyfe family. The circumstances of this case of extreme hardship were explained by Mr Ball, the auctioneer. The calf itself' caused a lot of amusement, and "buyers" were keen that the animal should not be knocked down to them. The beast was offered as ,"a pure bred Jersey, from the very "best of milking strai.n." (Laughter). It was a bony, half-starved looking animal with hair on it as long as a goafs. The first buyer was Mr R. Foote, at 11s. He immediately put the animal up again, and Mr D. Finlayson got it for 10s. Again and again was the animal put up and re-sold, until finally Mr D. Millington had it knocked down to "him for 6s. As the result of the sale Messrs Wilson and Wilson have handed to the "Advocate" ' the sum of £4 2s. This is not the total proceeds of the sale, as several "purchasers" have yet to pay in the amount of their bids.