LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Northern Advocate, 3 January 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A little impromptu contribution to the amusement of people at the regnltn yesterday was provided by a Hawaibn lady who, in a becoming bathing dri-ss, played a sweet-toned ukelele and sang a number of pretty Hawaiian songs. Twelve teams played in a fours tournament at the Whangarei Bowling Club's greens yesterday but the tournament has not yet been completed. Todt.y the older green was fully occupied, another tournament match being in progross. The combined Tobacconists and Butchers' cricket team to play the T ixidrivers' team next Thursday afternoon in "Weaver's Paddock for a supper .is as follows. —G. Larking, G. Patterson, W.- Abbott, H. Patterson, A. Peters, -J. Inglis, E. Timewell, C. Abbott, R. Tiuiewcll, Price, and H. Hutton. To-day the Whangarei Boy Scouts struck camp at Maunu, and they return to their homes this evening a pleasant and instructive week under canvas. On Sunday a number of parents and friejids visited the camp and were entertained by the young hosts in good style.

There was a large gathering at tlv"Whangarei town wharf on Sunday evening when the Whangarei Municipal Silver Band played a programme therefor the. especial benefit of the crews of visiting launches and sailing boats, rrnd cf those who had gone to the waterfront to see the flotilla of boats moored there awaiting the regatta. An important change will be made from to-morrow in the clearing of: the pt sting boxes in Whangarei. At p; :s----ent they are cleared twice a day, and it is intended to add a third clearing commencing at 3.45 p.m. This will be especially convenient on the days when the mails for the South leave Whang-a-re: in the evening. The extra clearing of the boxes has been asked for on several occasions, and it is gratifying to know that Whangarei's new postrnastor, Mr C. A. Mathieson, has been abb to arrange it.

On Saturday evening tlie Whangarei Municipal Silver Band turned out and p!ayed several tunes before visiting th? areas within the borough which they h::d failed to reach when carolling on Christmas Eve. The Pipe Band also paraded the main streets and helped to mark the occasion of the close of anoth er year. At midnight the Whangarei Band reassembled in Cameron Street, where a fairly large gathering joined hands and formed a big ring, singing "Auld Lang Syne" as the dairy factory whistle "heralded the passing of the year 1921.

It happened in a town certainly not many miles from Blenheim (says an exchange). The scene was a picture show, and the matinee was over. The manager, after the theatre was emptied, saw to the closing up of the projecting machine. put the films safely away, and did the hundred.and one things that were necessary prior to closing the theatre. Still the pianist played on. After doing all these things the manager walked up to the orchestra well to ask the musician if he wished to be locked in. Still the pianist played on. On reaching the well the pianist was discovered fast asleep in his chair, with his fingers "idly wandering over the noisy keys." Wonderingly, the manager went outside and invited friends to witness the extraordinary thing that was happening. He was looked upon as a chronicler of fiction, but they were convinced when they gazed upon the "man in possession." They listened for a brief while, and then it was decided to awaken the sleeping musician, when suddenly the music, of the "Merry Widow" waltz changed to the strains of "God Save the King," and the pianist awoke to the understanding that he was playing to an empty house.

If all that is said and thought about the Oakleigh-Waipu road were put into print some people would be shocked, especially if such words happened to originate from a motorist whose car was a:;le deep in yellow clay at a late lioyr at night. This road has been in existence for the last 50 years and someone it to blame for its present condition. Who?

In addition to securing efficient service you are supporting a returned soldier in Dobson, Piano Tuning and Repair Specialist. 184