LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Northern Advocate, 27 April 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Country news' from . Ruatangata and ■ Maungakaramea' , came to hand this afternoon too late to be included in to-day's isue.

Owing to exceptionally heavy pressure on torday's news space the main report of last night's Borough Council meeting is compulsorily withheld until to-morrow's issue.

When defending in a maintenance case heard before Mr E. W. Burton, S.M., at Whangarei to-day, Mr J. F. S.'. Briggs persistently cross-examin-ed a female witness. Finally, - the Magistrate observed meaningly that Mr Briggs was apparently fishing for evidence which might be useful in a pending Supreme .Court case. Mr Briggs continued amidst laughter.

The coolness of a debtor who should have appeared befor e Mr B. W. Burton, S.M., at < Whangarei, today caused some indignation not unmixed with amusement. Not only did'the debtor fail to-appear, but he retained £ 1 lOs conduct mdney which had been paid to him. The Magistrate refused to grant any suspension of the order issued against the defendant. ' • .

This ■morning the Mayoress of Whangarei received a communication. from • the .secretary of the ladies' committee of the Auckland Patriotic ' League stating that the .Countess of Liverpool was appealing for two pairs of new socks to send to each member of the expeditionary , forces which have left New Zealand. The , Auckland provincial district's proportion is 6000 pairs.

Where it is desired, a monetary con

tribution will be welcomed instead of it lie articles, and ;>s is the sum. stated as covering the purchase of two pairs of socks of very good quality. It is hoped that there will be an immediate and adequate response in this district. His Worship the Mayor will be pleased to act as receiving and forwarding agent of contributions in cash or kind left at his place of business in Bank Street. > • - Some fifty members of tlie Marsden District Defence Rifle Club assembled on the railway station platform shortly befor e noon to-day to farewell Staff-Sergeant-Major Lockley, who has been transferred from Whangarei to Trentliani. In token of the appreciation felt by the members for the assistance which the Sergt-Major has always given them, the offering of a travelling rug was j made by Major Clark-Walker, who stated that th e Sergt.-Major had not hesitated to go out of Ills ordinary ■ way in order to properly instruct members, thus enabling them to carry out their class tiring so successfully. Sergt.-Major Lockley replied to the effect that he had always found pleasure in helping the members, whom he praised for the close attention they, had paid to the instruction imparted and their ready grasp of what was resuirod. He had no doubt that, by assiduous practice, they would be able to hold their own with any other c.orps in the Dominion. ~ ' - - r z '";,■,.•..• ■>,