News Of The Day

Northern Advocate, 16 December 1938, Page 4

News Of The Day

Borough Council Ends Year. The Whangarei Borough Council, meeting as the legal and finance committee, held its last meeting for 1938 last night. The council will not assemble again until February 7, 1939.

Christmas Street Lighting. The erection of .additional street lights to serve Whangarei during the holiday period was commenced today. The lights are being placed in the main business area in Cameron Street and Bank Street. * m * m Holiday Cricket. During the school holidays a, subsidiary cricket competition has \>een arranged by the Whangarei Cricket Association. Lovatts will be included in the junior competition. The draw for January 7 was made as follows: Senior: Maimgatapere v. Portland, at Maungatapere; Old Boys v. Albion, Reclamation; Kamo v. Services, Kamo. Junior: Lovatt’s v. Colts, Kensington; Hikurangi v. Kamo, Hikurangi. • * •

Wild Pigeons in Mair Park. Whangarei residents do not have to go far to see native fauna at its best. At the site of the William Jones Motor Camp a number of native pigeons have been seen in the past week.. They do not seem to be troubled by their proximity to the town, and, by the closely settled nature of their surroundings.. If the pigeons continue to ‘visit the park in future, their presence will probably be a unique feature of the camping ground, and will go a long way to add to the attractiveness of the spot.

I « ♦ *. * Potato Hockey At Ruatangata. “Potato hockey,” a game which waS new to all present, was introduced at the Ruatangata School function held last night. Quite as exciting, as, if not more dangerous than, its counterpart on.the ice, potato hockey caused great fun for the youngsters. The “nets” were small boxes, in which an aperture, just a trifle larger than a potato, had been cut. At the word “go,” the players, each with an improvised stick, propelled the starchy ball the length of the hall, the first to shoot his potato into his box being the winner.

I Duke of Kent’s Visit. ■; No official information has been received by the New Zealand Government of the visit to the Dominion by the Duke of Kent, said thfe Prime Minister, Mr. Savage last evening. He added that any member of the Royal Family would be assured of a warm welcome. - * * * • Yachting. A race for the H. L. and N. classes of centreboard yachts from the King’s Wharf to Whangarei will start next ■ Friday at 7.20 p.m. The Pon- ( sonby Cruising Club will receive em tries and handicap the boats, entries closing next Wedesday at 5 p,.m. with Messrs John Burns and Company. The race has been promoted by the Whangarei Cruising Club.

* • • • Dangerous Bridge On Pahi Road. “Can not we do something about th& Cutter Bridge on the/ Pahi Road,” asked Cr. E. R. Jenkins, at Wednesday’s meeting of the Otamiatea County Council. “It is in a terrible state, and is really dangerous. With the summer coming on the bridge will be carrying a lot of heavy traffic. Hundreds will be using the bridge during the holiday season.” Mr Baff said he was fully aware of the state of the bridge and on his suggestion the question was left to himself and Cr. Jenkins to decide. ..« ♦ ♦ • Unique Date for Northlander. Perhaps the' most outstanding experience of Mr. C. Chapman, of Ruakaka, occurred on Saturday last. A noted grower of gladioli, his entry in the Waitemata show succeeded in taking the championship. That in itself was a happy experience, but not remarkable. The point of outstanding interest was that on the same date—and so far as can be remembered on the same day, 41 years ago, Mr. Chapman won, another championship of a very different kind. It was in the days of his prime, and he secured the Victorian Single Sculls championship on the Yarra River. Incidentally, Mr. Chapman has a fine record for sport behind him, and, in addition to rowing he participated in cycle racing.