LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Northern Advocate, 26 November 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The police ask for owners of two purses, containing money .which have been found in the streets. The Registrar of electors (Mr F.. Bird) is at present visiting the coun r try districts arranging for polling booths in connection with the approaching election. Owing to the need of rain the strawberry crops are light throughout the district, and as far as the public s.re concerned there is no possibility of this fruit being sold at cheap prices during. th e season. '< The catering at the Druids' euchre and dance social to-night has been undertaken wholly by the ladies, who ar e bent on giving patrons an exceptionally good time as far as the refreshment department is concerned. The Weather Bureau reports: — Indications are for westerly winds, moderate to strong and freshening, squally at times. The weather appears likely to be cloudy and unsettled. Rain is probable. Barometer falling. Sea, moderate swell; tides good. charge of lunacy was preferred at the court to-day .against a man who was brought down the line by Constable Douglas, of Kawukawa. Drs. Smith and Good expressed the opinion that the mail's state did not warrant his committal to a mental hospital, and he was consequently released. A splendid programme was screened at the Lyceum last night. The star item "Fight for a Fortune" is an exciting detective sensation and many daring feats are accomplished. Roars of laughter accompanied the Keystone comedy "Bathing Beauty." Lubin's grand drama "The Inscription" is th e prettiest drama ever acted, by that company. There has been a splendid response in Whangarei to the Belgian Fund, an amount of over £800 being already collected. In round figures the Whangarei and district people have contributed something like £2500 to the various funds contingent on the war, a response which compares more than favourably with some of the -larger centres in the Dominion. The s.s. Tokomaru (Captain Green), which has been loading at the Heads freezing works during this week, sailed at 8 o'clock this morning with 6500 quarters of beef aboard. Prior to her departure she was visited by the captain of the s.s. lonic (now lying at Queen's wharf, Auckland), who afterwards came upto Whangarei per Mr Jagger's launch and took note of the harbour facilities. Some time ago the Whangarei County Council endeavoured to secure a loan of £1500 for the Houto district, but without success. . The matter was again referred to at the meeting of the County Council yesterday, when it was decided to again appeal to the Advances Department. If a loan cannot be arranged from that source, an endeavour will be made io borrow the money privately. The current picture list >at the Queen's Theatre, as initially screened last night, proved as usual in this popular hall of entertainment to be full of good things, and those present were emphatic in their approbation. Comedy, has a specially strong representation, and those in search of a healthy laugh can hardly fail to be fully satisfied. Drama is again conspicuous, and the topical and educational phases arc on the customary plane of merit. Th e programme will be repeated to-night and to-morrow night, and the public will find that they are well repaid by a visit. ■A very fine launch, has beeii turned out at Mr P. G. Mclntosh's yards to the order of.Mr O. R, Neumann ci Rjsseil. The launch, which has been named the Aroha, has .■ been dtoigned for carrying excursionists au.i has accommodaition for 53 passengers. She is 30ft. long, 10ft Gins beam, and, equipped Willi a 16 h.p. Standard' engine, will develop about seven knots. The Aroha is the largest craft of her kind yet built in Wh'angrarei, and is a ■credit to local industry. Mir Melntosh has anoitlier M2ft !-n.ur.ah with an Sft tiiivs bean under construction for All-'. H. Vipond, of the Wade. She is designed for the trade between that place and Auckland.

A further section oi" the North Auckland Trunk line, from Otamatea to Bickerstaffe, was to have been handfcd over to the Railway Department this month by the Public Works Department, but owing to the nature ci the ground through which the line passes the work of construction has been considerably retarded, and it will probably be January before the "pilwi.y Department will take con-n-01. There have been quite a number of slips in the tunnel and in the o.uLingsi along the line, which have ncc.-£3itatecl a great number of extra lengths of culverts being put in, besides a greaf amount of extra material being placed along the banks. Th 0 ground, when the excavations are made, produces a splendid face, but it Quickly cracks and slips, and vhi3 accounts for the delay. The station buildings at Bickerstaffe are now i.n-<iourse of construction. >4niie rapid advancement of Whangarciyii reflected in the prices asked for 4| land in the vicinity of the town. During- the past week a Palinerston North resident visited several pi*operties within a five-mile radius of the Post Office, and found, somewhat to his surprise, that local values of land were quite in keeping with a rising centre. Both the Karao and. Maunu districts appealed to him, but in each case prospective vendors asked £100 an acre for their places, a price at which similar properties have changed hands. In a few remarks the visitor made an interesting comparison, and, according to his statement, land adjoining the borough of Palmerston North would be readily Tvjrchased. at £70 an acre; in fact, at that price lie had disposed of his property there. The visitor referred to the booklet which had. been, circulated by th e executive of the North Auckland Court and which he considered would do a lot to make Southern, people realise the progress, possibilities, prosperity, and potentialities of th e Whangarei district.