NEWS ITEMS FROM WRANGAREI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12240, 8 April 1903, Page 7

NEWS ITEMS FROM WRANGAREI.

[l'lior OTJII OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Quite a large number of natives passed through the borough on Monday morning, including the native bands. They were oil their way up North to a wedding between two persons of high native rank. A number of them had come from the Kaipara, and many of them were driving in their buggies. The limestone used in mending the borough roads in the spring is standing well. The dust, however, is rather hard on tho eyes. Houses are going up in all the side-streets in the borough. Tho showers of light rain which fell here on Friday have done a lot of good to the grass and gardens. Things look very fresh and green for this time of the year. Large quantities of timber are coming down tho lino by every train. The fine weather for the past two months has enabled the contractors to get timber out of some very soft places, and they are working night and day to accomplish this before the weather breaks, as when once it does there will be little hope of doing anything until next year. _ Mr. Frank Keyte is selling his Crown livery stable plant by public auction. There will be a good chance for an energetic manto obtain a good business in this rising township. The Whangarei Borough Council and other local bodies are notifying defaulters that they will be sued for unpaid rates. Messrs. Harrison and Sons have purchased the business for so long earned on by Mr. J. Broomfield at- Hukerenui. This pushing and enterprising firm has now branch stores where gum, timber, and general produce are purchased from the settlers. They also have a number of creameries in the country districts.

•At the last meeting of the Whangarei branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute Mr. Kysh said that he had seen Mr. Puidie, who promised to give a lecture on school work, but owing to the holidays it had been postponed. Mr. Higginson then gave an account of tho work done at the Napier meeting of the institute, at which he had acted as delegate, and bore witness to the harmony and good feeling that prevailed among the assembled teachers. In connection with the teachers' superannuation scheme, some of the best-known teachers had objected to tho draft Bill circulated by the Government on the grounds that it compared unfavourably with the schemes adopted by the police and railway servants. Tho higher rate of contributions, etc., was rendered neeci..;ary by the fact that both the abovenamed bodies had' several thousand pounds to hand over as a nucleus for tho fund. The number of women also necessitated higher payments. Mr. Kysh proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Higginson for his information and for his labour.-, in connection with the conference. This was seconded by Mr. Giffney and carried. The meeting' concluded with a vote of thanks to Mr. Connell (chairman) and to the local School Committee for the use of the room.