LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Northern Advocate, 25 November 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The children and staff of the Maromaku public school, Bay of islands, have subscribed £1 lis 2d to the Belgian Reiief Fund. The ■Tainfnll of the past few days has been very patchy, ft' was not uncommon to see heavy rain coming clown in some places, while adjoining districts escaped the downpour. Reports from the Mangakahia distinct say .that a good deal of rain fell out there. Mr E. C. Purdie, Liberal candidate for Marsden, addressed a good meeting at Parua Bay on Saturday night. Mr A. Cotterill was in the chair. Mr Purdie spoke at Whangarei Heads on Monday evening, when be received a vote of thanks and confidence. Last night Mr Purdie spoke at Kamo, and was accorded a good reception. As a result of an appeal rr.rde seme time ago. fourteen cases of clothing were consigned to the Belgian Relief Committee in Auckland by th n Kanieri'this morning. There are severa] more cases to be consigned. The parcels are sent free of charge, both as regards conveying and delivery, the latter being in the hands of the New Zealand Express Company. "Fight for a, Fortune" is the .star drama of to-night's programme at the Lyceum. This shows Miss Denison, the female detective, in her special star .role. "The Inscription is a grand Lubin drama a thousand feet long. "Bathing Beauty" is a Keystone comedy. "Pollidor and the See.saw," "How Burke and Buck Made Good," "In Northern Italy," and Gaumont Graphic complete the programme. On Monday next Mr. de Tourret will present the Royal Picture Pierrots.

Th e Druids' weekly euchre and s iMiice social will be held a-.; usual to- I ,i. .. ~. , i ill iii ~.[.;;• ilgbt. '■ .■.Liable i prizes have been donated for the I ladies' and gonilcinen _ sections re- i spectively by Mr .'I. Woolley and Mr : liluod. The Weather Bureau reports: — The indications are for variable and moderate breezes, but. northerly moderate to strong prevailing, and freshening. Expect dull weather, with much mitt and fog in parts. Rain probable. Barometer falling. Sea ' moderate. Tides good. The work in connection with the new reservoir <and pipe line has not been commenced yet. The position L that the Borough Council have insisted thai the contractors, Mess|rs Bray and Lupis, shall make satisfactory arrangements for a bond of £1000, as; provided for in the specification.-. It appears that the contractors nave ! nominated two gentlemen as bonds- ; men to a guarantee that the wo>-k will be completed, but the local body ii;_- as yet reec'ived no intimation from the bondsmen that they are flrepared to ?-"-'-;:_ the responsibility. The collection of funds for the Belgian appeal was attended by several humorous incidents, and particularly so for the Mayor and one of the local bank managers, who took the leading part in seeking donations. They were evidently unknown to at least one shopkeeper who was approached. "There's been a lot round* collecting lately," he remarked dv-< biously, as he eyed the visitors. They, on their part, hastened to reveal their identity, accompanied by a sugges- J tion, made somewhat modestly, that they could be safely entrusted wjth any donations. Then the prospective donor thawed, and he remarked that lie was in the habit of giving to any appeal, "just to keep sweet," as he put it. This intimation raised a smile of anticipation, and was followed by the shopkeeper giving for the the, cause —one shilling.