WHANGAREI.

New Zealand Herald, Issue XVI, 3 December 1879, Page 3

WHANGAREI.

Rough and inclement weather has been our portion for the laat week, aud umbrellas have been in greater demand than niuslin dresses. A great many of the Kamo coal carts have been knocked off, and it is rumourei that this will coniiuue so, as the company intend bringing down a "road engine" in order to convey the coal down to the wharf. Walking along the streets, the membeis of the town bjard may be observed measuring and consulting ; and, on making inquiry, I find that they intend forming a footpath on the east side from Caglars' corner to the post-office. This will be a great benefit. During the pan winter I do not know what we should have done had we not had a footpath formed on one side of the street. The board consider that it would only be throwing money away were they to expend it on the main road. Moreover, it is part of the duty of the Couuty Counci to attend to that. As yet we have not hid any of the county money expended in our district, neither have we the slightest expectation of getting any, aud it is whispered that steps are to be taken, and that shortly, to inquiro iuto the matter. A meeting is to Le called with the view of taking steps to have this township formed into a municipality. The country settlei s are now busy bringing their wool in to the auction mart, and Mr. Thompson is expecting to have as successful a sale as on previous occasions. At present business is not very brisk, and cash is proportionately scarce. Farmers are beginning to fear for the safety of their hay crops. It is to be hoped that we may have a spell of fine weather, so as to enable them to get it safely stacked. For this last two or three years, few, if any, of our jargonelle pear trees have yielded any crops, aud fruit-growers are now cutting them down and grafting an earlier pear on them. Our peach trees, also, are beginning to show signs of decay. Apples are expected to be very plentiful this season, but stone fruit will not be so. Our wharf is now piled up with coal, as we have not had any coasters in for the last Vreek or so to clear it off. Our steam communicatiou is just now aii that could be desired ; that is, so far as we are concerned. We have four servicer weekly, and it is only to be regretted that we have not more exports in order to render the trade more profitable to the steamship owners.—[Own Correspondent.]