DISTRICT NEWS.

Northern Advocate, 19 August 1919, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

(Own correspondent.)

ONERAHI

Private S. Going is still at Sling C-.m;\ attached to the Army Motoring i/eparcment. rie writes to his mother, Mrs H. A. Going, in the best of health and spirits, hut has heard nothing yet as to repatriation. He thinks, however, there are signs that his turn will be coming soon. Flight-Instructor R. Going, writIng from Kohimarama Aviation Camp, reports himself "All well," and in first-rate fettle and spirits. Private J. A. Pagan writes from the N.Z.A. Training Depot, at Launceston, Cornwall. He is putting in the time during recovery from his gassing very pleasantly, learning motor-engineering, five days a week, and putting in the week-ends at his father's house at Otterham, o r with other friends in the country. AN OCTOPUS ADVENTURE. Apparently the harbour has been visited lately by a school of young octopi. Several of these sea-spid-octopi several of these sea spiders have been seen in various localities. The brutes run to a strtech of tentacle of from 3ft to 6ft, and, though small, are by no means to be despised, as adversaries, in the water. While sailing model boats on the shore, a lad of about 12, named W. Pullman, had an experience with one the other day. He was standing, bare-legged, in about 2 feet of water, when his companion caught sight of jiii octopus, crawing rapidly in his direction over the sand at the bottom with spread tentacles. It was about a yard distant, and evidently meant business. The lad managed to evade it, and subsequently, with i.ie assistance of his companion, H. Mclnerny, succeeded in harpooning it and dragged it ashore. It had an arm-stretch of quite 6ft, and had it gripped the boy, there can be little doubt it would hav e carried its victim to deep water. A BOAT DANGER. A half-sunken kauri log forms a dangerous snag in the vicinity of the town jetty. The thing, which measures some 16ft, has evidently drifted up channel. Striking in the mud, the heavier end has become embedder and anchored, leaving the butt sticking up and just awash at halftide. The obstruction lies about 100 yards to starboard of the pierhead and being right in the fairway, constitutes /a considerable 'menace. A loaded launch, butting into it endon in the dark, might probably spell disaster. REVIVAL OF SPORTS. A meeting of those interested was convened last week by Mr E. N. Ormiston, chairman of the Town Board, to inaugurate a forward policy in the matter of the revival of sports, set aside during the sterner business of the war. It was decided, as a means to that end, to carry on the popular entertainments conducted during the last four years, as a war activity, the proceeds from the fortnigbtly functions to be applied to putting the Domain ground again in order for games and athletics. The first work to be put in hand to be j the formation of a cricket pitch. Thej following gentlemen were elected to form a. committee to be known as the Onerahi Sports Committee: — Messrs E. N. Ormiston. president; Thompson, W. Mason, jnr., E. Rowlands, and H. Skellern, secretary. The first of the series of entertainments unde r the auspices of the Sports Committee, on Friday, in the Town Hall, was a great success. It was by way of a social and dance, and quite 100 guests must have been present when the music struck up. Visitors from Whangarei and elsewhere were in evidence, and the fun was kept going with unflagging zeal. Supper was provided at 11 p.m.. and afterwards the dance proceeded merrily till well on into th c small hours. The committee is to be congratulated on having furnished its patrons an evening of thorough enjoyment. Miss Bessell presided at the piano. MEMORIAL TABLET. The memorial tablet, erected in St Stephens to the memory of Onerahi's gallant dead, ,was unveiled during Divine service on Sunday, by the Rev G. C. Cruickshank, vicar of Whangarei. The vicar preached movingly to the text of the tablet, "Greater love hath no man." These men, whom we had all known, had paid the sacrifice. The call came and they answered, willingly, unhesitatingly. They had fared forth, each according to the talent God had given him, to do his part in making the world better and happier. They had died to do it, and had gone to their reHe exhorted his hearers toward the example. To each one of us comes the opportunity of sacrifice, of making life happier and better for those around us. Let all strive so to live, that by cheerfulness, conduct of life, helpfulness and faith, the world might be a better and happier place for our presence." The service concluded with the singing of Kipling's Recessional.

The Memorial, which was draped ■with the Union Jack and crowned with a victory wreath of laurel, takes the form of a polished shield of brass surmounted by a Maltese cross of the same metal, is affixed to th e east wall of the chancel. It is inscribed in black lettering, "To the memory of the men who have died for our Empire." "B. B. McKenzie H. A. Going, C. F. Dixon, H. A .Dixon, W. T. Sprafct, C. Heard, G Windram, H. J. Edwards, J. Lupton, P. W. Pullman." "Lord God of Hosts Be With Us Yet. Lest We Forget." The s.s. Akaroa passed down harbour on Sunday with a tow of several hundred kauri logs, for the Auckland mills.