LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Northern Advocate, 17 January 1920, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A fisherman on Thursday landed 8 fine rainbow trout from the Waiotu stream. The average weight was 3_lbs.

Amongst the candidates who have reached the general standard of qualification (64 per cent.) for scholarship in the Junior National Scholarship examination, held in November last,- is Ena May Steele, of Whangarei, with 544 marks.

Yesterday was the sixtieth anniversary of the good ship Nimrod's arrival in Auckland, amongst the passengers on the voyage being Mrs Wakelin, of Kamo. Tne (vessel, which was owned by Messrs William and Peter Tindall, of London and Scarborough, was chartered by Messr s Willis and Gann, of Crosby Square, Bishopsgate, to carry passengers to Auckland. She left Gravesend on September 3rd, 1859, and the voyage occupied 136 days.

There was a choir social last evening at the Methodist Church, when Mr Dobson, senr., was presented with a clock, suitably engraved. He had served the choir efficiently for six years, and felt unable, from business reasons, to continue. Musical items wer c rendered by members of the choir, Mr s Taylor and the Misses Hutchings, Wrigley and Purchas. The presentation was made by the Rev. J. R. Clark, complimentary references being made concerning Mr Dobson's long and valued services. These remarks were endorsed by other speak-

A meeting of the committee of the Beautifying Society was held last night in the Town Hall supper-room, when detailed work was dealt with. A feeling of hopefulness and quietc.etermination pervaded the meeting, all feeling that for the short tim e the society had been working, a good result had been achieved. The successful beautification in the Triangle and by the railway station, was regarded less as an end, than as typical of the progress desired. Details of the meeting will be published on Mon. day.

Mr S. C. Jounneaux, at the conI ference held yesterday afternoon, with representatives of the Women's Oversea Settlement and referred to elsewhere, expressed himself strongly in favour of public recreation grounds. The subject arose in dealing with recreative facilities. He considered that the Government should lay aside recreation grounds in every town, and that it should be a first consideration. It was foolish to wait until convenient land was either inaccessible or at a prohibitive, price.

Fine weather prevailed for the Dargaville races to-day and a large number of sporting men from Whangarei went over by ear and motor 'bus. A ioeai returned soiu.er speaks highly of Switzerland and its butter. Concerning the latter, he says it is surprising when the barren nature of the country is taken into account. They must have to work hard to attain the splendid result, and their enforced grapple with adverse conditions has had a good effect upon their character and virility. Captain just returned >o vvnangarei, remarks on tne striking j contrast between the devastated areas of I- ranee and th e intact appearance of Germany. Tne French Government offer compensation to their people who go back to the old quarters, and the place i s dotted with wooden temporary dwellings, and even a corner of a ruined homestead is mad" to do service for home. It may safely be said that, a knowledge ot now to iioafc woulu " nave averted many a drowning disaster. Beginner s find it somewhat dinicui' to overcome the ungrounded tear of tin-owing back the head. The children's story to-day has reference t 0 this easily learnt and useful art, and it is hoped that the reading ot\the story will induce many to add iloating to their accomplishments. Fat sheep have been shipped from this district in considerable number.-; recently but at th e present time some scow-loads are being held back owing to lack of space in the freezing worka. One of the best lines sent to Auckland this summer was a shipment from Oakleigh, the week, of 300 prime wethers from the farm at Kuarangi, which Messrs Finlayson Eros, bought from Messrs Wintle Bros, about eighteen months ago. in the course of his report Loth Whangarei County Council yesterday the inspector (Mr Gillespie) said: "In the matter of gorse, etc., on the public roads, there is a great improvement everywhere, but the Government reserves, Crown lands, etc., are in the same condition as ever. The Department will do nothing, and we have not power to compel them. I certainly think this is a matter well worthy of your council's consideraion." Improvements can be effected in a variety of ways, among which a fresh coat of paint is not the least. The freshened aspect of the Presbyterian Church, by contrast, suggests that other buildings would be enhanced in appearance by a new coat, if not of an entirely new colour. A neglected building, having almost lost acquaintance with paint, would not only take on a new lease of life by protective paint, but all whose eye s chance to gaze on th c structure would be pleased with the improvement effected.

Speaking of the representation on the Harbour Board ) at the meeting of the Whangarei County Council yesterday, the clerk (Major Hemphill) pointed out that there appeared to be some injustice to the council. For illustration, he said the borough had a capital value of £614,859,, the county £2,355,214, and Hikurangi £62,6(55. The population was. Borough 3294, County 897G, Hikurangi 775. So far as area was concerned, the Borough had 2038 acres, and the County 894 square miles. Representation at present was: County 3 members, Borough 2, Hikurangi 1, Government 1. After a brief discussion it was decided to place the position before the Minister of Marine.

Reporting to the County Council yesterday, the traffic inspector said:

—"I would also like to draw attention to the way in which the "rule of the road" is observed in this county. I think it i s safe to say that one out of every three drivers of vehicles strain the rule; sometimes failing ti give way until the meeting vehicle is within a short distance of efich other, but mostly by refusing to give t\u half of the available road. This want of good manners and consideration is the more mrked in the conduct of the. heavier vehicles. It is a very common fault all over the. county, and ignorance of this well-defined law would not excuse the offender from the consequences of any accident resulting in a court of law."

The risks which travellers run on the Whananaki road hav e been unpleasantly emphasised lately. At one particularly dangerous spot, whera ihe roa d borders a steep declivity a mishap befel Mr Lacassie, whose horse went over the edge. Notwithstanding that he was already a cripple, and received sever c injuries in addition by the fall, Mr Lacassie managed to struggle up to the road again and crawl to a settler's house, though his recollection of th e procedure is very vague. He was eventually brought in to the Whangarei Hospital. On Tuesday last as Mr Clements, of Matapouri, was waggoning a log with a six-horse team, a pony roped to the leaders became restive just at the. crucial point, with ! the result that the front horses went over and dragged the.other animals and the loaded waggon with them. Mr Clements had just time to make a ! leap to safety before the whole turnout descended the precipitous slope and plunged into a creek (then some 6or 7 feet deep) at the bottom. By the time Mr got down to the scene the two leaders were drowned, and the second pair had managed to release themselves. It was only after a very dangerous experience in the water, with the shatters plunging and struggling violently, that Mr Clements w:-s able to set the two remaining free. Land travel and traffic appears to be no joke in the Whananaki ccastal area.