DISTRICT NEWS.

Northern Advocate, 5 December 1916, Page 1

DISTRICT NEWS.

(By Our Own Correspondents). OXERAHI* A meeting of the Onerahi branch of the Red Cross Society was held in the Town Hall on Thursday last, when a further parcel of clothing comforts for the soldiers was made ready for despatch by Saturday's steamer. Miss Niccoll, who has been absent, lately, on a fortnight's sick leave, is expected to return on Tuesday. In the meantime her duties as assistant teacher tit the School have been filled by Miss McLeotl, relieving teacher from Whaagarei Heads. Among departing visitors who left by Thursday's trip of the "Manaia" was Mrs Bradshaw, senr, who had been on a six weeks' visit to her sou Mr G. Bradshaw and his family. Air B. Ormiston was also a pasenger for the South, after a month's holiday spent with his brother, Mr E. N. Ormiston. , The social given in the Town Hall, on Friday night last, under the auspices of the Onerahi Patriotic Association, was, on the whole, poorly attended. Nevertheless a very bright little dance was kept up till midnight and thoroughly enjoyed. Mr H. Skellern acted as M C. and the music supplied was in the capable hands of Miss Reid, of Whangarei, Mrs Neville has received letters from her nephew, Bombardier T. Hirons, who, after a spell of "invaliding" in Onerahi, returned to the front with the loth Reinforcements. After telling of the monotony of a long nine-week's voyage aboard a slow obi transport and giving a vivid description of the passage through the danger zone with "guards posted all over the ship, night and day, on the lookout for submarines, and orders for every man to carry his lifebelt on his person," the writer speaks of the thrill with which he saw again the white cliffs of old England and, once more, set foot on her soil. Nevertheless, ho intends to come back to New Zealand if he gets through. Bombardier Hirons was stationed at Sling Camp, Salisbury Plain, with C Battery, N.Z F.A., where he describes the weather as "anything but cheerful —same old September drizzle as ever.'' He desired to be remembered to all old Onerahi friends.