LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Northern Advocate, 9 July 1925, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

"I thank members for the splendid attendance this evening," said Mr. R. .G. ; Hosking, president of the Whangarei Racing , Club, ait the annual meeting last night, "and I hope that whatever comes befoie you may receive a thorough thrashing and be treated in the true sporting spirit of the Whangarei Racing Club.*'' A tri-weekly rural mail delivery by ; motor car between Whangarei and i-Kara was instituted last Saturday. The car will -run on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and the innovation, which was, largely; due to the representations made by Messrs. J. and V. Miilar, is much appreciated ;by residents of. the district. . , Minutes of the previous annual general : meeting and of' a subsequent special meeting to deal with rules and fees,'as Tead at last night's meeting of the Whangarei Racing Club, disclosed that the attendance at those gatherings had been 42 and 63 respectively. In the Britannia Theatre last evening 204 members of a total roll of 341 voted on the election of the president, and a . count showed that shortly after the meeting began there were at least 228 persons in the building.

On behalf of the Maitgapai branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, Mr. J. Howie thanked the sub-provin-cial executive of that body yesterday for the help given in regard to the remit urging that dairying should be undertaken at Puwera Experimental Farm. He had seen Public Works men laying off the sites for milking-sheds that morning and he felt that the results achieved as an outcome of the remit, was good business. A return of attendances of members of the general committee of the Whaiigarei Racing Club shows that during last year niiie meetings were held. Of that number Messrs. R. G.. Hosking (president),. ,F. .Coburn, K. G. M. Kelly, and L. Weston did not miss a meeting. Mr. ,T. R, S. Richardson was present at eight,. Mr. M. Mclnnes at seven, Messrs. H. Hutchinson, M. G. Kjing, T. Linnell and L. W. Nelson at six, Mr. J. A. S. MacKay at five, and Messrs J. N. McCarroll and E. Swann, the last mentioned of whom resigned in July, at onen each. Challengers and defenders of the Harding Shield for the premier Rugby football honours in the North are getting busy. On Saturday at Maungaturoto, the Otamatea representatives will play a trial match a'gainst Kaipara preparatory to playing Northern Wairoa for the shield the following week-end. The latter district's representatives are to play a practice match against a hefty Maori team from Maropui on Saturday -' afternb'on. The Wliangarei Rugby Union's challenge is for a match against the holders of the shield on the 25th inst., and on Saturday a trial match is to be played at Kensington Park to enable Mr. F. Little to select the combination which is to endeavour to recover possession of the coveted trophy. Amongst the witty interludes at the meeting of the Whangarei Racing Club last evening, while the large attendance was waiting for the scrutineers to count the ballot papers for the election of president, was a story volunteered by Mr. A. E. Phillip ß * He recounted that a member of the committee was talking to another man and was heard to say: "The only thing we have against the president is that he rules the roost, and runs the show." The other man's reply was: "Too right! Sack your blooming committee and keep your president." The story was received with hearty applause. ! Join our Christmas Club now. —Dob- | son's Drapery. 635

The Vacuum Oil Company Pty., Ltd., has arranged with the Dominion Radio Company, Ltd., "2 Y K," of Wellington, to broadcast a series of twelve lccturcs of general interest to motorists. The lectures will be broadcasted on Thursday nights at, approximately, 9 o'clock, beginning tonight. The Northern Wairoa Rugby Union has paid to the treasurer of the North Auckland Rugby Union a cheque for £23 ss, covering the registration fee at one shilling per player for the past two seasons. If other district unions who have not yet met their in that respect by following suit, it would assist, the Union's ftinds, which are. not in an affluent state. •It "vvas fairly Commdn knowledge that there were to be two candidates for the presidency' of the Whangarei Racing Club last night, and Mr. D. Payne asked whether it would not have been possible to have posted ballot: papers to members before the meeting to saV6 time. The secretary (Mr. L. G. Hill) replied that there was nothing in the rules to provide for that course, whereupon Mr. Payne asked: "Is there anything in the rules providing for ballot papers, with the names of the two candidates already on them, being brought here tonight?" Mr. Hill replied that, as he understood that there were to be only two nominations, he had prepared the papers and taken them to the meeting to save time. Mr. P. Tierney congratulated the secretary upon having the papers ready, and his expression met with general approval.

A remit which the Whangarei subprovincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union forwarded to the last conference in Auckland embodied a strong protest against any increase in the Dominion levy. That part of the remit was duly carried and the I fact was recorded in the minutes. The other section of the remit was taken separately, and it was also confirmed. It was that all subscriptions, .throughout New Zealand be placed on a uniform basis. The president of the Whangarei executive, Mr. R. S. kenzie, drew attention to the fact yesterday that the latter resolution was ! not included in the v records, iaiid 1 he [ was asked to mention the matter at the next meeting of the provincial executive in Auckland. A remit from the branch urging more vigorous advertising by the . Me,at, .and i Dairy Produce Control Board had' also i been accepted and approved.

Although the fruit-growing industry in the Whangarei district does not retain the high degree of importance that it enjoyed a few years before the war, there are, according to Mr. E. W. Thomson, incentives which make fruitgrowing locally well worth while. The auctioneering firm of Thomson, Bariey and Co. sold 3000 cases of locallygrown fruit between January and June this year, as against 1500 in the corresponding period a year ago. The reason for the increase is ascribed "by Mr. Thomson to the net returns to growers showing an all-round increase, and in : many cases compare more than favourably "rath those . obtainable in Auckland. It has been noticeable that local. ; who \vere accustomed to shipping to the?-city are . operating to a greater degree; on the loeal' markets, showing that'! Whangareii is iconsiderad a good Ventre! for disposal of both frbit and vegetables. It. is significant that Kaipara growers now send apples to the Whangarei markets.

Cameron's famous plants now on sale, including Cinerarias, Pansies, Coronations, Calliepsis, and Antirrhinums, all at 1/6 doz; Cabbage and Lettuce Plants, (3d; Cauliflower Plants 9d bundle. The time to plant is now and the place to get them is Ro,scoe's, the Grocer, Cameron ,