BREVITIES.

Northland Age, 27 September 1904, Page 2

BREVITIES.

A discovery ofEpsomite or pure F.ps<im salt has been made near the head of the Buller Kiver. The next sitting of the Mangoi ni County Council will be held on Fridf y, September 30th. Mr. Lye is in charge of the Mangoi ui Post Office, as relieving officer duri ig Mr. Hunt’s vacation. Mr. Gilfilan, of the head Post Offit e, Auckland, journeyed to Auckland per s.s. Wellington last week.

Tlie’Ateamer Awania is expected' to arrive this -week, for the purpose of towing a raft of 1 200 logs to Auckland. The funeral of the late Mr. Prosser, sen., took plaoe on Sunday aftemooh last, and was very largely attended.

The Ahipara Native Land Council has been postponed until the 29th instant, pending the arrival of Judge Edger.

Mr. Wilfred Houston has reoovered from his recent illness, and has now resumed his duties at the Mangonui Post Office.

Mr. Ltd Bskslieh, of Lake Ohia, who lately tiled his schedule in bankruptcy , has we understand effected a compromise with his creditors.

Messrs. Matheson and Boldock are making good progress with the new Post Office buildings, and expect to finish well within contract time. The next entertainment in aid of the Hospital Fund will take the form of u| nigger minstrel show, organised by our versatile Cable friends, assisted by local talent.

Messrs. Hunt and Wake, the delegates] appointed by the Mangonui County Council, attended the meeting of the Whangaroa County Council yesterday afternoon, onkospitiyl business.

Mr. Hunt, chief of the local post office, is at present on his annual leave. He intends spending his vocation on a trip through the North, so far as Parengarenga and Cape Maria lighthouse.

Tho N.Z. A Ait-General cables that the hemp market is firm with an improved demand. The price of New Zealand hemp, good fair Wellington, grade on spot to-day is £29 10s. October to December shipments £29.

The export of gold from the colony last month was 4G,773 ounces valued at £178,624 as compared with 30,074 ounces valued at £110,572 in the corpespondiug month last year. The export of silver last month was 89,444 ounces valued at £8,873.

As a result of Messrs. Wallen and Co.’s win of £6,000 in Tottersall’s sweep on the Metropolitan Handicap, sweep syndicates, with a view to annexing all Tattersall's principal consultations pending, are the order of the day throughout the County.

Two. whale-boat crews from Taimaro are at. present cruising between Merita Bay and Houhora, intent on capturing a right whale which has been in that vicinity for several weeks. Several nouhora boats are out also with the same object.

Even in the uncongenial atmosphere of a gaol the flower of humor may blossom. In a Wellington prison one Sunday lately, the officiating Minister asked his congregation to select a hymn from Sankey’s collection. The spokesman unhesitatingly announced his choice: "iFree from the lew, O huppv condition.'’ 1

Wo regret having to record the death of Mr. Prosser, sen., of Fairburn. who passed away on September 24th at the residence of Mr. John McKay, his son-in-law. He had been ailing for some time, and his death was not unexpected. Mr. Prosser was a very old resident, having landed in the North 45 years ago.

Arrangements have been made for the Vancouver mail steamers to call at Fanning Island, The first despatch of mails will be by the Moara from Sydney on 31st, October, and subsequently despatches everv eight weeks. There may also be occasional opportunities for depatch of mails by the Pacific Board cable steamer Iris from Auckland.

The “ saysMangonui is a township in the sunny North, beautiful, but dull and feverish in more ways than one, as the following from the pen of a local resident amply testifiesMangonui township, which for some months post has been very much engrossed with the duties, winning ways, agd pleasant society of four Auckland nurses, who were engaged in attending the fever cases, now becomes excruciatingly dull again. ’Tin an ill wind that hiaws na good; we don't want the fever, but girls, oh, give us back the girls, and never mind if they want £3 or £3 per week as nurses.

It was mentioned in our last issue that the Sedan Hotel bridge was to,be re-built under the Roads and Bridges Deportment. Tins it seems is not the case. The Government haß voted a paltry £2O towards its re-erection, which is about a fourth of the estimated cost. Mr, G. Wilkinson, the County Chairman, worked hard towards having the work taken over by the Roads Department, but was unsuccessful owing to Mr. Wright’s (Government Engineer) opposition. In the meantime a work of urgent necessity is hung up, nnd the milk suppliers who use that bridge very greatly inconvenienced thereby. i Thus the “ Mudgcei Guardian ” (New 1 South Wales) in to ourselves:—“We have reSsved a copy of the first number of a ptta-r named the “ Mangonui Codfcty TimA’hpublishiud in Mangonui, N.Z., by C. .Awake. JWgMrg by the good displayOf advertfise-