LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Northern Advocate, 4 May 1923, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The tally of traffic over the Ruatangata to Moengawahine Road in the Wairua Riding, taken by Mrs H. Heap at Ruatangata West, for April, was submitted to the Whangarei County Council this morning. It was at follows.—Motor cars 300, motor lorries 132, 2i mail coaches, 56 fourwheeled buggies, 61 gigs, 15 fourwheeled waggons, 2 drays, 231 saddlehorses, 22 loose horses,. 344 head of cattle, 936 sheep, 42 motor cycles, 44 bicycles, a two-horse roller and a road grader.

Mr J. McNicol told a rather humorous story at the smoke coscert given by the Sheep Dog Trial Club the other evening. It was as follows: Two men were going on foot to the raco3 in a country district and, being late, they decided to take a short cut through a paddock. There was in the same paddock a bull known to be very fierce. The two men began to run, but the younger, getting away in the lead, turned round and told his mate to come on or the bull would get him. The elder man, out of breath, and gasping for wind, said between the gasps, " Ido you think'l am running a stoomer?"

A little over a year ago was a gap of about a mile in the metalling of the road between Poroti and Titoki. An arrangement was made between the county chairman, Mr W. Jones, and Cr. T. N.' Blake, representatives of the Maunu and ridings respectively, whereby Ma'unu contributed £300, the Goverrlnierit £600, and Cr. Blake contributed. £300 from the Mangakahia Loa'ni 'Fund to defray the cost. It' was conditional, however, upon it being clearly understood that, ,if at sCnf -time t&e Maunu Riding called' upon * Mattgdkahia to Contribute anything 'towards' main' roads in the former riding, the £300 *" contribution made from the Mangakahia Loan Fund would be a chargd against such a lovy. As it was his last meeting roprc* sentative Of Matfgakahia Riding, Cr. Blake had the agreement recorded in the minutes of to-day's meeting of the Whangarei Council.

At to-day 's meeting of the Whangarei County. Council, Cr. 'L. Webb, representative of the Otonga Biding, said that lie believed that the Public Works Department had got out .plans for renewal of three bridges on the main road between Whakapara and Hukerenui, and he asked whether any further stage had been reached. The county engineer, .Mr J. Norris, stated that tenders on the plans had been re"but at the. time had been rejected as excessive in cost. Since then cost of material had, however, fallen. In this connection the county chairman, Mr W. Jones, pointed out to Cr. Wobb that if the ratepayers intended to go in for renewal of bridges on the the main North road they would not have £2000 available for metalling the roads. Rather than that, the money made available for metalling should all be absorbed in bridge replacement. He suggested that one bridge be gone in for meanwhile. Cr. Webb said that ho had often been asked why the Co incil had not gone in for renewing the bridges, and he wanted it understood that the reason was due to finance.

A meeting of ratepayers took place last night in the Parua Bay Hall, at which Mr L. A. Johnson, one of the three candidates for the Manaia Riding seat on the Whangarei County Council, addressed some 40 or 50 present. Mr Murdoch McGregor was in the chair, and the candidate, who had a good reception, was introduced by Mr J. E. Holmes. Mr JbhnsOn reviewed the riding finances, dealt with the questions of main reads and hospital levies, and outlined his scheme of having the riding controlled with the assistance of advisory committees m various districts. At the conclusion of the meeting a number of questions were answered, including a number put by Mr. A. Tliorburn, another candidate. Mr S. Convngham moved, seconded by Mr F. W. Telfer, who had withdrawn his nomination in favour of Mr Johnson, a vote of thanks to the candidate for his address and that the moetiiig pledge itself to do all it oould to place him at the top of the poll. The motion was carried. Mr Johnson \will address the ratepayers at Onerah this evening, at Whareora on Monday and Whangarei Heads on Tuesday night.

The Fanners' Union Trading Com- j pany's window in Bank Street has been ; a groat sourcc of attraction to-day, for it contains a host of photographs of tho performers who are to take part next week in tho production of the 1923 Reveille at the Whangarei Town Hall. The photographs, artistically coloured, reflcct great credit on the Art Studios and indicate that the Reveille ia to bo a spectacle of. unusual brilliance. The Waiata Society' 3 Male Choix visited the Wha<ngarei Hospital last night and entertained a number of the patients with, a concert that was evidently highly appreciated. Miss Natalino McCalhim, who had stayed in Whangarei in order to visit the ho3piital, sang half a dozen songs delightI fully; Mr R. G. Hosking contributed a couple of songs in his best style; Mr G-. E. Woolley played clarionet solos, and Messrs Waring, Hawke and Woods and Dr. Hall sang a couple of quartettes. All these items were warmly applauded, and the choir's part songs were also most pleasing. Mr Albert Dbbson conducted tho choir successfully and played the accompaniments for the soloists, Mr C. F. Collins being the choir's accompanist.