WHANANAKI NEWS.

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1921, Page 6

WHANANAKI NEWS.

PICNIC ARRANGEMENTS. A meeting of the picnic committee •was held in the school on Saturday afternoon. The business was of usual order and all was satisfactorily arranged for a successful .gathering. WHARF REQUISITES. After ithe picnic business was disposed of Mr Hawkins referred to the matter of our wharf and the seeming injustice about to be imposed on local resiucnto. * This structure was built some 25 years ago and is, as reported, in a sad state of repair, or rather the approaches to it. The estimated cost of repair, some £20, would no doubt do what is absolutely necessary in the way of building approaches, yeit a far more necessary work is the erection of some sort of shelter shed for the stor- j ng& of goods thereon. It is not always j convtnient to meet the siteamer, and goocis are dumped on the wharf at the mercy of the elements. If the Whangarei Harbour Board contemplates «percling £20 and charging 2s per ton on 150 ii:ons per annum, it is only reasonable that some useful work should be done . In any case this amount 'but represents about £1 per year on the wharf's existence in upkeep; surely not a large amount. While we are compelled to contribute to the Whangarei harbour improvement scheme by way of rating it seems rather unfair that tve should be overcharged for our own convenience in the manner suggested. As it now stands it was suggested that a public meeting be convened to discuss the question and to decide on some coursr. of action. SPORTS GATHERING-. The sports committee met during Ithe evening and general arrangements for the forthcoming gathering were disposed c-f. An event for local lads under 10 was added to the programmfe of chopping events. The 10-inch (blocks and the prize money—firsit £1, second 10s —are donated by Mr Denton, a local sport. FARM TOPICS. Shearing is in full swing and in one or two cases completed. Mr Macken reports a fair clip on his Tawhara section, while Mr Yates is hard at it, as is Mr Lewin. Lambs are fairly forward and almost ready for market, so (that townspeople may look forward to the customary lamb and green peas for 'Christmas with some hope.

Bain is badly needed here, as pastures are fast drying up, owing to severe winds lately. GENERAL. Picnic parties have already made their appearance on our popular grounds. Every Sunday we see visitors on pleasure benit enjoying their full share of ozone while indulging in bathing, fishing, etc. Fish are reported as plentiful in the vicinity of the Elizabeth reef and in good condition. Inside the harbour quite a few flatfish and mullet are seen occasionally. We are pleased Ito note that some improvements, as suggested in my last, at Mr C. Powell's, have .been effected on our road. Let us hope this is but a beginning and that money may be found to do much more. i As was anticipated, Ithe remainder of the timber from the Taupiri was shipped to the order of Mr Collins last week. It is rumoured that Mr Browne, of Whftkapara, is shortly to commence operations on the Purukau block, where there now stand some of the finest specimens of the kauri to be seen in the North.