LOCAL AND GENERAL

Northern Advocate, 24 May 1928, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Flags were flown on all public buildings in Whangarei, today in honour of Empire Day. John Palliser, of the auctioneering firm of Messrs Palliser and Co., Wanganui, was found in a state of collapse, after taking poison, in his mart this morning. He was hurried to the hospital, but died shortly after admission.

Mr J. Charters returned from Hamilton yesterday, having purchased two pedigree Jersey bulls at Mr Saxby’s Alfalfa sale. The animals are of good type. They are Bush- 1 burn’s Butter Boy (4 years) and Forncrest Noble (8 months).

Entries for the North Island Championship Sheep Dog Trials, to be held on June ,sth, 6th, 7th, and Bth, are coming to hand well. Further nominations have been received from Eltham, Maractotara, Waimiha (King Country), Danncvirke and Havelock North. Entries will close at noon on Tuesday, May 29. Advice has been received by Mr Allen 8011, M.P., stating that the Minister of Railways, in reply to representations made to him, has come to the conclusion that the business dealt with at Hukerenui railway station does not warrant provision of a tablet porter, as requested. The guard stationed at Hukerenui attends to tlie duties of caretaker.

A Challenge in which the whole countryside will be greatly interested will bo found on Pago 3 of this issue. A novel feature of the affair is that the public generally will have the opportunity of taking part. See Page Three.

Messrs McKinnon and Martin, oi the Marble Bar, received word yesterday from Mrs M. H. Campbell, of Hiucmoa Street, Birkenhead, that a balloon, bearing the ticket "No. 50, Marble Bar, came to earth in her backyard. A gift was dispatched to her bv today’s mail.

While negotiating a sharp bend on the Moawhango Road near Taihape a car containing Mr T. C. Lowry, the well-known cricketer, and his brother, Mr Ralph Lowry, skidded and plunged over a steep hank. Mr Tom Lowry was not injured and his brother escaped with minor abrasions. The car was extensively damaged. Climbing of Mount Rolleston under winter conditions will be undertaken at the end of this week by Dr. .1. C. Bradshaw and Mr R. Twyneham, of Christchurch. The two expect to leave Christchurch oil Thursday, and go by way of the Boaley Glacier. After the ascent they will take the long glissade into the Otira Valley. Recently, at Tokaanu, an elderly Maori woman, the sole occupant of a five-roomed dwelling; had a narrow escape from a horrible fate. During the night practically the whole portion of her front lawn was blown skyward due to thermal activity. The gap was a good 10ft deep. Mud, inches thick, w r as scattered iff all directions, and the house top was smothered. The wahine was evidently a sound sleeper, as she slept peacefully through the disturbance.

A petition to the Governor-General in Council, praying for the reprieve of Allan George Norgrove, who is under sentence of death for the murder of his sister-in-law, Ernistina Mary Norgrove, is to bo circulated in Auckland. The petition is being prepared by Mr A. Moody, who was Norgrove ’s counsel. It is expected that the petition will be supported by the Howard Penal Reform League, which recently condemned the system of capital punishment.

Enthusiasm and interest are well maintained in the Whangarei Municipal Choir which is making excellent progress under its conductor, Mr Drayton Venables. The active membership is approximately CO, and with such a body of singers quite an inspiring volume of sound can be produced. Matters of general interest are discussed during the interval atr each rehearsal, and new members are made welcome. A number of very interesting items are being prepared for the first concert of this season, the date for which has been fixed. Owing to the men restricting output, which has not resulted in loss to the owners, but in dislocation of trade generally, the Harton Coal Co., South Shields, at the end of March served notices on 2500 workers employed at Whitburn Colliery. The output has fallen to such an extent in a fortnight as to cause an increase of 8s <a ton in the cost 'of production. The company’s agent stated that they had won back some of the trade lost through the general strike, but the recent restriction of output had prevented them fulfilling foreign contracts. Recently inflammatory posters, issued by the Durham miners’ minority movement, have been found at the pithead, condemning the men’s leaders in violent language, and calling on the rank and file to “down tools,” with a view to securing a stoppage throughout the coalfields.

The secretary of the Golden Terrace Dredging Company, Shotover River, Otago, reports, under date May 18, that Messrs .1. Sparron and Sons, contractors for building and erection of big electric dredge, are making rapid progress in ,the construction of same, and are well ahead of schedule time. Also, that the tenders for portions of the hydro-electric scheme have been let to an Auckland firm, Messrs Rudge, Electric Company, whose prices were more favourable than American or German and outside competitors. The directors have also linked up an additional 260 acres of rich alluvial ground adjoining the present claim which prolongs its working life an additional ten years. It will now take a quarter of a century to exhaust the areas. The directors also express very high appreciation of the splendid response which Whangarei and district have given in the matter of providing share capital, which exceeded the most sanguine expectations. Approximately £60,000 have Been found for the company out of a Total £65,000, and the final meeting to be held in the district in connection with same, will be held at Portland on Friday evening, when full reports will be delivered and every phase o'? the most striking investment in New Zealand will be dealt with., There will also be open discussion.

Meikle’s Challenge Winter Rale starts on Saturday, See Page 3, , 417

Heavy grey towels, 22 x 45in, for 2/(1 pair, at Wilson’s. Other outstanding values are: 20in white towelling, 1/24; 3Sin superior quality cream Winceyette, 1/3; 32in striped flannelette, B{,d; white nursery flannelette, 7/11 dozen; all-wool Cashmere hose, 1/11; wool and silk hose, 3/11, and winter weight vests, 1/0.

The most important sheep dog trials conducted in North Auckland are scheduled to take place in Mr D. J. Finlayson’s paddocks, Kamo, on June d, C, 7 and 8. The events are all championship contests and include long head, short head and huntaway, for which a handsome silver cup valued at £2l will be competed for. Much interest and importance is attached to these trials and entries are being forwarded rapidly, a number of Southern sheep dog enthusiasts having already nominated. For the benefit of those who contemplate ’competing at the trials attention is drawn to the fact that nominations close with the secretary, Mr C, P. Butler, Whangarei, on Tuesday, May 29. 409 Meikle’s Challenge Winter starts on Saturday, Sec Page 3. 417

At a meeting of tho WanganuiTaranaki Centre, it was decided to hold the New Zealand Cross Country championship at Wanganui, on Saturday, July 21.

A message from Gisborne states that three officers of the Railways Department are conducting an inquiry into the train mishap at Otoko, the proceedings being private. The Rev. Fiielden Taylor, against whom a serious charge is laid, is still semi-conscious in the hospital at Wellington. His condition, although it shows little improvement, is still serious.

That death was due to fatty degeneration of the heart, was the verdict returned by the coroner in the case of George Miller, aged 60, a farmhand, found dead in bed at Matawai, states a Gisborne message.

The growth of traffic on the northern railways is evidenced by the fact that the Railway Department is at present constructing a turntable at Opua. This will allow of the use of AB engines such as run on the Main Trunk line. Bridges and track have been strengthened, and as soon ns the turntable is completed the big engines will be put into commission. Engines of this type will be able to take at Maungaturoto sufficient coal and water to carry them to Opua, thus reducing the time at present occupied in the journey. Meikle’s Challenge Winter Sale starts on Saturday, See Pago 3. 417 If you do not know Dobson, the Pianoforte Tuner and Repair Specialist, your next-door neighbour «does.— Ring Phone 192.