BREVITIES.

Northland Age, Volume 2, Issue 16, 5 December 1905, Page 2

BREVITIES.

Attention.—A meeting of the regatta committee will be held on Saturday next, December 9th, at the Courthouse, for the purpose of deciding ways and means.

Election Returnb.—We liavo made arrangements so that to-morrow night will be displayed on the windows of the " Times ” Office the returns for the Bay of IslandsN election, showing tho votes polled for the several candidates at tho various booths,

Let Loose the Dog.—Electors are warned against the clumsy blandishments of a Kawakawa resident, a warm friend of Messrs. Francis McKenzie and Houston, who might he taken for Mr. Houston’s brother, and who has a bad bile and a pocketful of slanders against the Independent candidate. A criminal libel action will be a leisurely recreation for Mr. Wake against this purity brigade man after the election. Birds of a feather flock together. Mr. Houston’s strongest supporters and closest associates are the leading offenders against decency in this character-picking business. Behold how white they be in themselves! How would some published particulars read P

Amusing. —An amusing incident, and vouched for as being true, reaches the writer from Waipapakauri. “ Old Joe,” who every election time has “ an axe to grind,” has, it seems, cn.i now for grinding in connection with hoi'l business, of which more anon, and has been holding political meetings on behalf of R.M.H. It seemß that at the conclusion of Die meeting a man of the neighbourhood, who lives on the banks of the Awanui and is not unconnected with a small storekeeping business, took the “ crowd” across to the bar at the conclusion of the meeting for the purpose of shouting for, as he expressed it, all tho Houstonites, 1:0 drink for any Wnkeitos. Several of Wake’s supporters were present, and retired while the Houstonites lubricated. Then an aident supporter of Wake’s took the floor, saying “Now then, Ned, fill ’em up for all hands, Wakeites and Houstonites alike; nothing parochial about Wake or his following.” The old adage, “ Like master, like man,” is exemplified by the foregoing incident.

Caper-Cutting Extraordinary. The extraordinary antics of an unfledged solicitor, resident not one hundred miles from Mangonui, is being followed with interest by a number of people in the neighbourhood, and is causing comment. It seems the fledgling is not above taking up a case open to litigation and acting for both parties concerned, whereby hangs a tale. The bantling advises Mr. B. (acting in his interests) that he has an excellent case against Mrs. C., after annexing the 6/8, and as much more as is possible. He then in turn acts for Mrs. C. pocketing her fee also. A number of similar cases could be quoted, but suffioefch that his latest freak is to act for both parties interested in a case not unconnected iritl} son*? hotel business. The writer has alao retired further complaints of several surreptitious visits by stealth in the dead of night to a prominen t citizen’s backyard, for what reason gossip sayeth not. However, if the report, of these midnight meanderings is correct, the police should certainly be placed on his track so that the aspiring legal light could be legally dealt with.

Buoiceridgeßantered—The position of Farmers’ Union Organiser Buckeridge in the present elections can be compared without offence to that of a muzzled dog. Mr. Buckeridge makes no secret of his sympathy with the Liberal Party, and of his restiveness in being required by his official position to hold aloof from party politics when a party fight is going on. As the servant of the Farmers’ Union, however, he feels bound to consider politics only where they impinge directly upon farmers’ in teres! s. Lately, Theophilus Wake, the free lance candidate for Bay of Islands, launched a political squib which broadly suggested that Mr. Buckeridge ought to choose between the Government and his Union. The pamphlet has cut G.H.B. to tho quick, and he trounces it in trenchant language in the columns of the Kawakawa “Luminary.” His point is that his connection with tho Farmers’ Union in no way pledges him to Opposition sympathies. But, after all, the distinction must he rather a fine one. —“New Zealand Observer.”

Buckeridge’s Leaflet. —Wc have received a letter from Mr. T. W. P. Smith, chairman of tho Kaitaia Branch, of the Farmers’ Union, portions of which we take tho liberty of publishing:—“l send a leaflet or circular out of a roll of the same kind sent me for distribution to the members of the Farmers’ Union by Mr. Buckeridge, I presume, as he has also sent a similar roll to the secretary, who I have advised to treat them as I have done mine—consign to tho w.p.b. This is obviously another attempt to identify the Farmers’ Union with Mr. Johnson, which I consider is a piece of gross impertinence and cheek on his part. He must be very hard up when ho wants an independent body like the Farmers’ Union to bolster him up in his personal squabbles. Ho has come to the wrong shop here for that, and I hope he will be treated in a similar manner by other branches. If not, they don’t know what the duty of the Farmers’ Union is. Not having a selected candidate wo have no right as a body to interfere with any candidate.”

A Questionable Appointment.— During the passage through the House last session of the present Electoral Bill the Government came in for some severe condemnation in reference to appointing Returning Officers, and particular mention was made of one officer in Taranaki who was proved to have a very shady character, and was also a prohibited person and a strong Government partizan. The Bay of Islands electors need not go far from home to see the same thing done under their very noses. What stronger Houston partizan is to be found than the man Nawton, who has been appointed Deputy Returning Officer for Mangonui, and he ftlg4 is a prohibited person ? Have we unbiassed persons in the electorate fife to take these and similar jiositions or is this kind of thing to bo perpetuated ? To qualify you must bo of the right colour, or mixed up in some way with the sitting member. Some other of the appointments would net bear a close scrutiny.

Held Oyer.—We are compelled to hold over until next issue a full report of last Mangonui County Council meeting.

Query.—Why is it L. D. Nathan and Co. are so actively engaged against the Independent Opposition candidate here, and why do they love the other two? Answers welcomed to day of election. The only answer to hand is: Brewers and monopolists don’t like strong men they can’t twist. Party is more in their line*

Good Reception.—An excellent reception was given the Independent candidate at Okaihau, Ohaeawai, Ramarama. Feeling is growing in the southern part of the electorate that a vigorous representative is now needed, consequently Mr. Wake’s meetings, recently held in Johnson’B district, have won him large support.

Law,—We have it on undeniable authority that a fully-qualified barrister and solicitor from the South will commence practice in the North next January> making Mangonni his headquarters. As neither the Mangonui nor Hokianga Counties have a resident qualified solicitor residing therein, this will fill a long-felt want.

Midwifery.—ln response to queries we reprint the following from the Auckland “Weekly News”:—“A woman is entitled to be put on the register of midwives if she has practised for at least three years prior to the first of January of this year and bears a good character, but the application must be made before January 1, 1906, and the applicant should give as references the names of two medical men who have known her to he in bona fide practice as a midwife for three years. To the ‘ Registrar of Nurses Government Buildings, Wellington.’ ”

Church Services.—On Sunday last the Rev. J. A. Lamond conducted services at Fairbum, Oruru and Mangonui, on each occasion to good congregations. Mr. Lamond has been called away to Auckland and will leave during the present week, so that the services advertised for next Sunday according to the plan have been cancelled. Those interested please note. We understand that Mr. Lamond will farewell his congregations on his next visit to the North, which will be a source of regret to the many friends made by Mr. and Mrs. Lamond during their sojourn amongst us. Tangye Engines.—For chaff cutting, sawing firewood, cutting turnips, pump, ing water, turning grindstone, everything. On wet .days no horses to get inor feed or driver cuts the chaff, amytheeqwihc is always ready. On lon evenings the engine does the worp, feedint oiuy a pleasure ; takes up no Zoom; uefer gets out of the paddockJ ]*> slioctT|lQ harness; always wortl itsicost. ever sold one except to Vet a largftr one as tho work incimsed. Vrct the Mst; see Gillibrand, and loiow otl about *the best engine for your Vise ; cab’t do/better. Please read this aVain on\ wet'day when the horses are ir\the paddock, or perhaps got away. Bkerything made easy by calling on or writing—J. T. GILLIBRAND, Mangonui. A Costly Law Experience. —On July loth, 1905, an action was brought against Henry King by W. IT. Taua for £l3 17/1, and against this King entered a counter claim for £34 odd. Taua got judgment for £ll 3/6 and costs amounting to £2 13/-, and the counter claim was struck out for non-compliance with rules, with costs which amounted to £1 8/-. On September 4th King again took action against Taua for £2B 8/6, but as ho did not give full particulars of statement of claim it was adjourned with costs £9 7/-. On November loth King entered particulars and the amount sued for was £ll, for which £1 5/- judgment was given against Taua and costs £2 7/-. Taua ou his counter claim got judgment for £lO and costs £6 16/6. Consequently his little law experience will cost King £SO where in the first place he could have settled up for £l3 17/1.