LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Northern Advocate, 15 September 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

present there is very little building going on in Whangarei, ; practically the one exception being j the infants' school adjacent to the I Whangarei School. Speaking at the Borough Council meeting last night Cr J, Dent said • that eight or nine years ago it was i decided to kerb Walton Street from j Cameron Street to the railway station, \ tut the work had never been done. There is now a prospect of it being curried out. Messrs Clarke and Courtney made good progress yesterday at Ilikurangi lr.ying the water supply service connections. Already there are indications of another dry summer, and the installation of a water supply for ; Ilikurangi will be received with satisfaction by householders. Mr V. Reed, M.P., has advised Mr T. R. Gager, chairman of the Hikurangi Town Board, that there will be a sum placed on the Public Works Estimates for the board towards securing further areas of land for the Hikurangi waterworks catchment area and scenic purposes. On September 30 the proceedings by Mr H. H. Metcalfe against the Whangarei Borough. Council will be continued at the Auckland Supreme Court. The case, which is already partially heard, was adjourned at a termer sitting in order that certain law points which came up might be ! agreed upon by the opposing counsel. Attention is directed to an announcement in to-day's advertising columns of a lecture by Dr Prazer i Hurst on Japan. The lecture will be illustrated by lantern slides. The occasion is under the auspices of the Wesley Guild, but is open to the general public. No charge will be made for admission. Messrs Tattley and Dunn, mine managers of Hikurangi, left by the steamer Baden Powell yesterday for Auckland, en route for Huhtly. They took with them a considerable quantity of rescue .apparatus and also three local miners (Messrs Makinson, ■Pomfrett and Tunstall), who are exI perts in the use of restoratives.

—,A proposal by Way of notice of motion, came before the Whangarei Hospital Board yesterday to the effect that the local body should appoint, iiillv trained, all round, district nurses at a salary of £50 a year, and maternity nurses at a salary of £40 a year. Consideration of the matter was deferred until the next meeting.

motor lorry is to make its appearance in Whangarei, the importers being Messrs Hardie Bros. It was pointed out at the Borough Council meeting last night that no provision had been made for licensing this class of vehicle, although motor-cars are taxed to the extent of £ 2 10s per annum. The suggestion was made that motor vehicles should be taxed oh a weight basis.

Seme of the natives ridicule the proposal that a fighting force of 20,000 Maoris should be offered to flght for the Empire, and they point to tlie incontrovertible fact that at the last census . the. Maori population—men, women, and children—was only 44,000 Evidently the 20,000 was an over estimate. The natives say that if any of the young men like to go with the expeditionary force, well and good. But as a nation their place is the defence of New Zealand. ,

Complaint is still made of the epidemic of thieving which goes .on along the waterfront. Last week a launch was looted, and since 'then thefts of ■• timber have been reported. Petty larceny in this locality appears to go. on unchecked, and will probably continue to do so until some steps are taken to put "it down. The matter Is causing a good deal of concern to the aquatic community, and th-re Is now a movement on foot to take a certain line of action to try to protect their

property.

The following passengers arrived from Auckland to-day per s.s..Manaia from Auckland :*—Messrs Nesbit, Thompson, Baxter, Ellerbeck, iievien. Austin, Barne, Masters, Drummon-J, Povett, Courtney, Lawson, Norgrove, Thompson, Smith? Leslie, Wright, Faithful, Graham (2), Alexander, Berry, Cross, King, Burghton, Going, Wilson, Patterson, Platt, Spurred, White,. Kirkpatrick, Wallace, McLsan, McCarthy, Bevins, de Tourrst, Forsyfch, Pallard, Wilson," Harington, Woodrqff; Mesdames Baxter, Ellerbech, Patterson, Hearne, Ruvei, Hoer, Patena-, Dickey and 2 children, Rickett, Sharpe, Douglas and 'I ehiHron, Donaldson and child, Quintal, Allen, RolHson; Misses fribble, Kelly (2), Stewart, Alderton,' Anderson, Faithf.il, i Kernan, Flower; 15 steerage, ' |

The passing of the Wliangarei Harbour Board Empowering Bill, which gives authority for extra borrowing up to £100,000, subject tothe ratepayers' sanction, has caused a considerable flutter of interest in the county, and keen competition is expected for the three county seats on the board. Already the following are mentioned as likely candidates: — Messrs W. (Captain) Patterson, H, A. Going, J. Bulley, W. A. Kerr, H. Cotton, C. Grant, A. Williams, and J. A. Jagger. It is doubtful whether • Mr W. A. M. Bain, one of the present county representatives on the tioard, will seek re-election. At the Hikurangi poll to-morrow Messrs A. Carter and A. MacLeod will be in contest for the Hikurangi town district representation of one member on the board.,