LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Northern Advocate, 20 April 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The latest report from the hospital states that the boy W. Slatter, his hand torn off in the machinery' at the Whangarei Butchering Company's No. 2 shop yesterday afternoon, is progressing favourably. '■' . f

/ Alluding to the letters • which have appeared on the; subject of a musical festival for the "North, a Whangarei resident points out that already talent of tihe highest class has been "discovered" in the Whangarei district. He points to Miss Rosina Buckman, the- ,r< protege" of Madame Melba, and at the present time a prominent operatic singer in England. , Her voice was. often heard in local concerts, when she,was resident in Hikurangi, and later, in, Whangarei.. . The enthusiasm which was evinced in the rehearsals for the production of o "The Toreador" by members of the Choral Union has been revived to ah astonishing degree. It will be well remembered that the outbreak of the war threatened to put an end to the proposal, but the favourable course of events had led to the possibility of the play being staged. Tho attendance last night at the first mass rehearsal since the war was more than encouraging. At least 50 members took part, and it was soon shown that little, if anything, had been forgotten. The rehearsal proved so satisfactory that it was declared that ,'The Toreador" should *be on the boards within two months. In addition to the original members, th e Union has the advantage of new talent. The ladies last night were reinforced by two "recruits" who possess distinctly good contralto voices, and the gentlemen were also able to number an increase in their ranks. Two rehearsals are to be held weekly, and a free 'bus will run from the Whau Whau Valley Road to facilitate regular attendance. Much, of course, requires to be done, but the intention Is r to work consistently and well so that an early production and success can be assured, v „ ... I

In a paragraph yesterday it was in

advertontly stated that the Aponga entertainment, in aid of the Belgian fund, was to be held to-night. Of course this great function takes place on Thursday night, 22nd inst.iY

In a discusidn on the enthusiasm of the people of Whangarei iii local movements, a speaker a-t last'night's meeting of the Beautifying Society said the difficulty was not to work up enthusiasm in Whangarei, but to keep it down. Alluding to a suggested appeal for gifts of seats i'or the YPriangle and Mander Park, put forward at last nights general committee meeting of the Beautifying Society, Mr A. M. McLeod , remarked that the candidates for municipal honours might be approached. •

Reinhold Rehfuess was charged at Whangarei to-day before Messrs D. W. Jack and H. C. Hemphill, J.P.s, with being an idle and disorderly person, having no visible means of support. It was stated 1 by ' Sergt. Moore that accused possessed a section at Tikipunga, but he had not' paid any rates J:hereon for the past two years. He had not worked on the section and had, allowed it to become overgrown with Ayeeds. Instead of .working, he had spent his time loafing round Whangarei, and he had a habit of borrowing'dinghies. He also had slept out. (Accused acknowledged that he,' had borrowed dinghies, but he had returned them. It was not true that {lie. had slept out. He had tried to-obtain work without'success. TheY Bench convicted accused and* ordered him to come up for sentence if■ called* upon, stating that he was trea.te'd leniently on condition that j.work or left the town..'

, A serious buggy accident occurred last night about 7.30 in Otaika street. Mr C. Hardwiek was driving home in a two-horsed vehicle accompanied by his uncle and aunt, Mr and Mrs Leslie who were visiting him, and Miss Fenton. They had not .gone far along Otaika street from the railway crossing when the horses shied, apparently at a light in Mr L. G. Murray's office. The pole broke, causing the horses to be practically out of control, and they pursued a zigzag course until finally, at the wooden bridge over the Wfciarohia stream they bi-pke loose. The buggy crashed into the railing on the near side, and; Mr Leslie who was sitting with Mr Hardwiek in the front was pitched into the rocky bed of the creek about 15 feet below. -Mr Hardwiek was thrown on to the railings and his head was badly cut. The two ladies in the back seat were more fortunate, escaping with slight brusies and shock. Mr Cossill, who happened to be near, and. young men from the Langham House) lifted Mr Leslie from the creek, and Miss Farrer of the railway tea-rooms procured a stretcher. Dr. Ward was summoned in the meantime/ by Mr Murray and arrived in about five minutes. After treatment, Mr Leslie was oonveyed to the hospital, and his wife was carried homo on a stretcher in a state of coDhpse from shock. The old gentleman *was found to have a number of ribs broken, one eye was badly/cut and * knee severely lacerated. The horses were *jittlo hurt and the front of the buggy -fvas splintered. ' . z