BREVITIES.

Northland Age, Volume 2, Issue 46, 19 June 1906, Page 4

BREVITIES.

The members of a newly formed chess club at Kawakawa have been vigorously playing off a handicap club tournament during the winter.

The old palisading in front of the new Mangonui hotel is detractive to the appearance of the building, and would be much better out of the way.

The Licensing Commissioners, writes our Kawakawa correspondent, have been visitingthe township, attending theanmud meeting. Nothing has been reported as yet.

Under instructions from the authorities, all the Native schools in the district will be closed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next, as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Premier.

The newly formed Bay of Islands Rugby Union has started its first round of matches. There are six clubs competing, viz., Kawakawa, Pakaraka, Towai, Ohaoawai, Kaikohe, and Ngawha.

The following passengers by last week’s Clansman were booked at the agent’s office, MangonuiMiss Clark; Messrs. Colebrook, R. F. Richardson, Taupaki, Constable Carmody, and Master Stanley Kelsall. 3

Mr. George Foster, of Prowanni, has been seriously indisposed, having been confined to his bed for seven days, but we are pleased to learn that under Dr. Forbes’ prompt and able attention he is now convalescent.

The Licensing Committee have ordered the erection of a six-feet corrugated iron fence on thejjOhaeawai Hotel property, from the hotel to the old billiard saloon on the Ohueawai-Okailiau Road, in order to make the hotel yard more private.

On Thursday next, 21st instant, the day of the funeral of the late Premier, the Wellington Post and Telegraph Offices will close from 1.30 p.m. till 5 p.m. All other offices in the colony will close for one hour, viz., from 2.30 till 3.30 p.m.

An inquiry is to be held into the administration of the Northern Wairoa Hospital before Mr. Dyer, S.M., and Commissioners selected by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board and the Hospital Trustees. The time and place of the inquiry are to be fixed by Mr. Dyer.

The newly compiled valuation rolls for the Bay of Islands County- have been received at the County Office, and Mr. W. Thompson, the valuer, is to be congratulated upon the work. Two facts speak for themselves, viz: (1) At the Valuation Court there was not a single objector to the valuation of land r and (2) the rateable value has been increased from £292,469 to £405,497 in the two years since the former valuation. There will be a nice little difference in revenue from rates for the Bay County.

Mr. Hands, of the Cable Station staff, is at present enjoying a fortnight’s holiday.

Mr. Vernon Reed, of Kawakawa, is expected to arrive in Mangonui by to-day’s Clansman.

Mr. and Mrs. William Stewart, of Kawakawn, are taking their annual holiday of two or three weeks in Auckland.

Messrs. Reed and Marshall’s Rax mill has bees'doing good work at Mataraua, near Kaikohe, the place it was moved to from Kaitaia.

The news of Mr. Seddon’s death was received with profound sympathy in Kawakawa. All the shops were at once closed, and business ceased for the day in the township.

We are compelled to hold over until next issue a number of interesting items, including “Mangonui’s Hotels,” “New Zealand Notes,” and a letter from a Taipa resident.

A strong agitation is rising in the Bay of Islands and Hokianga Counties to urge the completion of the railway from Kawakawa to Kailiohe. This railway is at present made for a distance of six miles, and another 10 would complete it and open a rich district.

Passengers by the Clansman last week, on her voyage from Auckland to Mangonui, had the unique experience of seeing a large waterspout. The phenomenon was observed astern when the vessel was near the mouth of the “ Cavallis.”

Thos. MoCready, saddler and harness maker, Mangonui, has in stock a large assortment of horse rugs, of the best quality, style and finish. The rug you buy at McCready’s fits your horse and wears satisfactorily. Call and inspect his stock.* l(ojs v

On Saturday afternoon last Mangonui and Cable Station footballers played a match at Cooper’s Beach, when the latter won by 17 points to nil. For Cable tries were secured by R. Jackson (1), W. Rankin (3) one of which was converted by E. Griffiths, and “Toby” (1).

Constable Drummond, late of Auckland, accompanied by his wife and family, arrived by last week’s Clansman, and forthwith entered into his new duties as officer i; charge of Mangonui police district, in lieu of Constable Henry, who was recently transferred to Paeroa. Constable Carmody, who had been in charge f the station for a few days, returned to Whangaroa on Thursday.

A lengthy report was filedj with the Licensing Court and read before the Committee, written by Constable Sefton, relative to the want of sufficient accommodation at the new hotel at Kaitaia. It was explained that the new four front rooms and the n w dining room of the old house would be removed and reerected adjoining the new house. This met with the approval of the Committee, and the- removal to the new house was granted conditionally upon the removal of the above rooms by the December meeting.

The Magistrate heard two cases at the Kawakawa Court on Thursday week, when Arthur T. Close, of Pakaraka, was charged with trespass upon the property of Herbert Davis and with assault upon Henry Edmonds. The whole affair arose out of the leasing of a t wenty guinea bull by Close to Davis for £l2 for a “season,” which Davis claimed meant a dairyman’s season of at least 9 months and Close contended was for 2 or 3 months. Eventually the cases were dismissed, but no costs were allowed the defendant.

During the past few years a number of new varieties of potatoes have appeared on the market, but it has remained for Mr. C. H. Carter, of Wade, Auckland, to introduce the Star of New Zealand, which is the result of careful propagation, tested and cultivated during the past five years, and which can now confidently bo claimed to be one of the most perfect varieties ever shown. Briefly put, its claims for this exalted position are that it is disease resisting, and easily dug, as its tubers are olustpred together, an early and prolific cropper constitutionally strong, good cooker, and has shallow eyes. It is confidently expected that it will obtain the coveted prize of the British Royal Horticultural Society, and arrangements have been made for cabling the result to Messrs. Arthur Yates and Co., of Auckland, who have bouglit.all available seed for the coming season at a price running into four figures.

At the recent meeting of the N. A. Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the Chairman (Mr. J. D. McKenzie) read some interesting figures, showing the contributions and expenditure of each of the seven counties, under the jurisdiction of the Board, for the quinquennial period 1900-04. These are as follow, the firstgroup of figures, in each case, representing the amount of contributions, and the second group the amount of expenditure :•— Mangonui £761 and £IO6O ; Bay of Islands £624, £630 8/6; Whangaroa £175 16/3, £147 10/9; Hokianga £523 10/7, £539 3/-; Hobson £IOOO6 19/4, £1045 15/8 (including contributions to Northern Wairoa Hospital); Otamatea £756 12/-, £213 10/11; Whangarei (County and .Borough) £1931 8/1 and £1194 9/1.—“ Advocate.”

The current issue of “The Farmers’ Weekly and Land Agents’ Record,” the new agricultural paper published by Messrs. Cleave and Co., of Auckland, contains an especially interesting article on “Farmers and Politics,” embodying anappeal made by a farmer to farmeis at the recent Provincial Conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. The writer, Mr. Joseph Flanagan, of Drury, is well known for the intelligent interest he has always taken m public affairs, and he «eertaiuly speaks with no uncertain note in urging farmers generally to take a greater interest in political affairs. Articles dealing with the proposed extension of the Local Government Franchise, the Game Laws, and with a variety of questions concerning tillage, grazing and production, with veterinary, dairy, poultry aud horticultural notes, an exciting automobile story, and a variety of other matter, go to make up a very interesting number.

Storekeepers in the North surely cannot complain of being neglected by commercial travellers, the soft goods warehouses especially being well represented. We note with satisfaction that Messrs. Ross and Glendining, Ltd., proprietors of the well - known Roslyn Woollen Mills, are securing a good share of the trade in this important part of the colony. Mr. Finlay, the firm’s traveller, always lias a good word for our business men. This of course is c/ily natural, as Northern storekeepers have shown such a decided prefer ence for Roslyn goods. Our settlers also are to be congratulated on having the facilities for purchasing these goods brought within their reach. They are thus able to do themselves a good turn, as well as help the district along, byj buying the best colonially manufactured woollen goods from their local storekeeper.

The following is a copy of a wire sont by the Bay of Islands County Chairman, Mr. Horace Williams, to the Acting Premier, the Hon. Hall-Jones, relative to the death of Mr. Seddon: —“ On behalf of the inhabitants of the Bay of Islands County I have to inform you that the sad news of the death of the Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon has been received with much regret and deep sorrow, being deeply sensible of our late Premier’s noble past and the great loss our Colony will sustain by his removal. Will you kindly convey to Mrs. Seddon and family our united heartfelt sympathy in their sore bereavement.”

On Wednesday night last the licensee of the Mangonui Hotel ontertained a number of guests at a banquet, in celebration of the opening of the new building. The gathering was a representative one, and a pleasant time was spent. Among the toastß of the evening were “ The owner, Mr. W. J. Bray,” responded to by that gentleman, “The licensee, Mr. Cbas. Reinhardt,” “The builder, Mr. Coldham, and staff,” and “The Law,” responded to by Mr. Quartley. The speeches were appropriate, and, if hearty good wishes mean anything at all, the future welfare and prosperity of the popular licensee is assured. Next issue we intend giving a full description of the new hotel, which should prove interesting to the general public.