BREVITIES.

Northland Age, Volume 2, Issue 49, 10 July 1906, Page 4

BREVITIES.

The Mangonui Lodge of Freemasons held a meeting in the Masonic Hall on Wednesday evening last.

New accounts opened in the Poßt Office Savingß Bank last year totalled 60,014 as against ‘13,113 aocounts closed.

The Ventura, with San Francisco mails, left Honolulu on 29th ult., and is expected to arrive in Auckland to-morrow, 11th instant.

The season’s sugar production in Queensland and New South Wales totalled 172,242 tons. The bounty payments amounted to £147,784.

Mrs. 0. Reed, of Maungatawhiri, and Miss Lowry, of ltazorback, sisters of Mrs. Huut, have beon on a few weeks’ visit to Mangonui. They left by last Clansman, en route for home.

The next meeting of the Mangonui County Council will be held on Friday, 20th July, at 2.30 p.m., in the Council Chambers.

The members of the Mangonui Lodge of M.U.X.0.0.F. held their usual meeting in the Council Chambers on Saturday evening last.

The following travellers are advised to arrive in Mangonui this week:—-Messrs. D. Heron (Wliittome, Stevenson and Co., Ltd.), E. J. Bullock (Heather, Roberton and Co.), and G. Hill (Sargood, Son and Ewen).

A perceptible improvement to the appearance of the new Mangonui Hotel has been made by the removal of a large portion of the old hedge and palisading. A fine view of the building may now be obtained.

The auxiliary schooner May Howard, which left Auckland for Hokianga on Saturday, 30th ultimo, was through stress of weather compelled to put into Mangonui port on Friday last. She resumed her voyage on Sunday afternoon.

We are in receipt of a copy of the first edition of “The Express,” a week-end journal published in Christohurob by Mr. C. A. Wake, formerly of Mangonui. The paper is well got up and contains some cleverly written articles. Should the production maintain the standard of its first issue success should be assured. We wish the proprietors—“ The Express Newspaper Co.”—every prosperity.

Quite an exciting episode (for the owner) occurred on the scow Era, while l»"-4ip a . the hoi'lep for Mr. Alb Lojuris timber mill at Mangatete. The boiler was suspended in mid-air, when one of the seamen let go a rope, which caused the derrick to swing round, breaking off the boom. The possible disappearance in the murky depths of the river, of a few hundred pounds’ Wurth of machinery was for a few minutes a rather disconcerting contemplation.

Who will say we have bad roads in the “ Far North ” after reading this ? A telegram from Wanganui, dated July sth, says“ Settlers at Raetihi are in sore straits owing to the awful condition of the road from Pipiriki to that township. The distanco is 17 miles, and freights have gone up £lO per ton and even at that figure it is difficult to procure carriage and the coaches have ceased running. The township is practically isolated, the road being a sea of mud in whioh several horses have been smothered.”

The Meteorological office reports the following rainfalls for the month of May : —Mangonui, 456 points, 12 days with lain, maximun fall 130 on the 4th ; Pakaraka, Ohaeasvai, 203, 14 days with rain, maximum 158 on 31st; Kaitaia, 510, 16 days with rain, maximum 115 on 29th; Rangiabua 554, 21 days with rain, maximum 123 on 29th; Kohukohu 662, 16 days with rain, maximum 167 on 29th. The lowest totals recorded were at Timaru (58pts.) and Timaru waterworks (54pts.), while the highest were Otira (1989pt5.) and Okuru (1896pt5.). The highest maximum full was at Takaka, 483 pts. on 16th.

Several portions of the Taipa road are reported to be in a disgraceful condition, and someone lias mentioned something about the need of “ approaches.” There are parts of Mangonui Beach Road ill a shocking state also. From the bathing house to Foster’s smithy the road is fair, very fair, but thence on, it isf slightly muddy. We speak feelingly, because six times a day wo have been compelled to wade through one 30-yard Btretch of slush, deep enough to get over our boots' tops, and when you have only one pair of bootß it’s trying. Of course, there’s no mild there unless it rains. (This latter qualifying sentence is an after thought, really, for the benefit of the authorities).

Mr. T. Finlay, traveller for Messrs. Ross and Glendining, Ltd., writes us as follows concerning " Roslyn” unshrinkable underwear:—“Personal comfort is assured when you get ‘ Roslyn ’ underwear. It is made of pure wool, soft of texture and absolutely unshrinkable. It has a delightful feeling of softness and silkiness. Once you have worn ‘ Roslyn ’ underwear you will not he satisfied with any other. You will save money, and at the same time increase your comfort. Ask your draper to-day for some line of ‘ Roslyn ’ manufacture, and after testing thoroughly let him know the result—he will appreciate your expressions of approval. For further information see front page of this week’s Auckland ‘ Weekly News.’ ”

The following figures give census details for Mangonui County:—Total population 3003, consisting of males 1730 and females 1273. This includes 68 half-castes, of whom 32 are males and 36 females. There are 6 Maori Women married to Europeans, and no Chinese. The total number of buildings is 914, of which 864 are inhabited, 43 uninhabited, and 7 in course of erection. The figures for Wliangaroa County are : —Total population 789, of which 431 are males and 358 females. This includes 20 half-castes, 9 of whom ore males and 11 females. Thera are two Maori women married to Europeans, and no Chinese, The total number of buildings is 204, of which 172 are inhabited and 32 uninhabited.

The source of infection of several recent typhoid fever cases in Sydney has been traced to the consumption of oysters gathered from polluted waters.

The scow Welcome arrived at Mangonui on Friday last and left for Herekino on Monday. The scow Era arrived on Sunday night, and is now loading a cargo of round timber.

We are this week sending out a large hatch of accounts, and trust that those concerned will favour us with prompt remittances, and help us to “keep the pot boiling.”

Dr. Frengley, the district health officer, has reported 35 cases of infectious diseases for the month of June.. Of these, four cases of enteric fever ocourred in the Bay of Islands County, and one in Hokianga County.

We regret to report the very serious indisposition of Mr. W. J. Harris, County Clerk. He is at | present confined to his bed, but we trust that under the doctor’s treatment he will he himself again ere long.

A sitting of the Stipendiary Magistrate’s Court was held at Kaitaia on Thursday last, Sth instant. The decision arrived at in the Dairy Factory case will he published in a future issue. A sitting of the Court was held at Kaeo yesterday.

Thos, McCready, 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 yhur horse and wears satisfactorily. Call and inspect his Btock.* lyftt-

With tho object of popularising naval matters among the rising generation, the German Government is arranging large excursions of schoolboys to Kiel and other German ports from various districts of the Empire. The railway fares will be home by the State.

A Waimate North correspondent writes: —“ I wonder who the chap is who waits on the road and tells customers and commercials not to go to Hargraves ? However, it’s no use trying those dodges on the public—they know by experience where the best value is.”

The Hokianga settlers have a kindly remembrance of Mr. A. E. Harding’s parliamentary career, inasmuch as they are now gloatingly considering how they will expend the £BO,OOO which will fall to their portion from the Huaki timber royalties.—“ North Auckland Times.”

A tempory fever hospital has been flitted up at Russell, for the treatment of the Rawhiti Bay Maoris who are suffering from typhoid. Dr. D. N. W. Murray, with two hospital nurses, arrived at Russell by last Clansman, beds, bedding and other necessaries being conveyed by the same steamer.

The shopkeeper Domeney, who told a sensational story about a murderous attack by three men in connection with a fire on his premises at Molong (N.S.W.), aas been committed for trial, not only on a charge of attempted persuasion of a witness, but on a further charge of setting fire to his shop with intent to defraud.

The following passengers for Auckland by last week’s Clansman were booked at the agent’s office, Mangonui:—Mesdames La Trobe and Kaio; Misses Masters, Hill and McMahon; Messrs. La Trobe, West, Kaio, H. C. Whitmore, Wilkinson, R. C. Dyer; Master Alf. Coppell, Rev. T. Paerata and Captain Iversen.

Although tho weather was very unfavourable there were seven competitors on the Kaitaia range to shoot for the Ecdes Cup on Saturday, June 30th. The Cup was won by Sergeant W. Kirtlan by one point. The scores were, low. The entrance fees of 2/6 per man are to be kept towards the purchase of a handicap medal (to be the property of tho winner).

We regret to leam that Mr. Claude Stephenson (Stevie), the popular traveller for Sargood, Son and Ewen, is still suffering from the effects) of the accident he met with while in Mangnmii about a couple of months ago. “Stevie” is working in the warehouse until Buch time as he will be strong enough to face the work of the road again.—“Hokianga Times.”

Mr. R. T. Wrathall has selected a team of footballers, which will he known os “ The Wanderers,” to try and wrest the laurels from the Cable Station team. “ The Wanderers ” are reputed to be very good players, hut will lack tho combination possessed by their opponents. The latter will give battle with “the old team,” and the match, which is to eventuate on Saturday week, 21st instant, should prove vory interesting.

A visit was paid to the Northern Flour Mills on Wednesday last by the students attending the Training College, Welles-ley-street. Mr. P. Virtue, manager, kindly permitted a complete inspection of the process of flour-making, Mr. Gallagher spending two hours showing the visitors round, and explaining the processes. Great interest was manifested by the lady students in the baking department, where scones and loaves are made daily as a test of the quality of tho flour.

A sensational discovery was recently made at Bose Bay, Sydney, by Detectives O'Sullivan and Lynch in a house occupied by a woman named Scholes. The dwelling, which is described as a kind of humpy, Btands in the scrub some little distance back from the road. When the officers entered the place they were struck by the number of infants to he seen crawling about the floor. The room was in a filthy condition, two bedß and heaps of rags and boxes being the only things in the way of furnishings. Proceeding with their investigation, they turned over a quantity of rags, and were astonished toifind three babies hidden there. There was another lying under some rags in a corner, and two more in a broken down carry-all. When the officers had made a thorough search of the room, they found that there were no fewer than eight infants, ranging in age from three months to two years of ago. The woman had very little to say, her explanation being that the children hod been left there, and she did not know where their parents were.