LOCAL AND GENERAL

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 23 June 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

' ■ We understand that a successor to j,Dr Morrison; has been arranged for, and will.arrive hereshortly.

, The ladies right through the district are putting in a lot of time knitting and sewing for the Hospital Ship and our army in the field.

Bit Sarcastic. "Owing to a drop of six shillings a head on sheep Timaru butchers (says, an exchange) have lowered the price of mutton a penny a pound." .

All the licensing applications in respect of hotels in this district, from Maungaturoto to Silverdale, were granted at the recent sitting of the Licensing Court. Fire escapes are to be provided.

Quite a number of representative men have been temporarily incapacitated by influenza. Among those we have heard of have been Mr W. Hamilton, Mr R. Morrison, Mr A. Tiplady, Mr T. Williams, Mr Gh H. Phillips.

Tradesmen in Pahiatua are "turning down" travellers for American firms, and have decided that no more American goods will be handled, owing to the action of the United States over the sinking of. the Lusitania.

When the news of the sinking of the Lusitania reached a certain bachelor establishment at Stratford, it is said, the whole of its inmates, eight in number, in a body went and registered their names for service in the Expeditionary Force.

Will orchardists throughout the district who are putting down further areas this season kindly furnish particulars, either through our Own Correspondents or direct? All such information has a stimulating effect upon others.

Journal evening should draw a large attendance of members to the next meeting of the Warkworth Literary and Debating Society. There should be considerable additions to the membership, seeing that the fee is only one shilling.

As previously intimated, this paper is happy to publish reports of meetings of all Road Boards if the clerks will kindly furnish them. Ratepayers are certainly entitled to such particulars, and we are prepared to do our part, and in no skimpy way.

Have you ever figured out how little your local paper costs you ? There is no one too poor to have it. Just calculate :—Fifty-two issues in the year ; subscription (if paid strictly in advance), 8s; about one penny and seveneighths per week! And for that it is delivered or posted to you, as the case may be.

Five eels caught in the Milford Lagoon, Temuka, South Island, weighed 971bs, the largest of them 221b3. The fish were exhibited in a cart at Temuka, on Tuesday last (says the " Leader ") and inside each cci was a " bag" of trout that would have satisfied the most hungry angler.

In every direction shooting is much in evidence (writes a correspondent of the "Advocate," Whangarei) but as usual the shooters walk over your land, without, even "by your leave." If they make a good bag they do not have the courtesy to offer one a bird. They march off another way swinging the birds about for the admiration of the general public and looking aa proud as heroes returned from a victorious campaign.

Will correspondents to the Open Column always please bear in mind that this paper pays principal attention to matters affecting the district. We do not want, and cannot undertake to publish, letters on religious beliefs, nor articles of a general character on political policy. The large outside papers and magazines can attend to all those matters. At the same time, we wish it to be understood, as we have more than once pointed out, that anything of specific local interest we are only too pleased to accommodate, providing there are no offensive personalities, or other objectionable matter.

If the Board of Education desires full attendances at meetings for election of school committees it should advertise in the local paper. A notice in two issues is required in order to attract the necessary attention. The Board, like so many Government institutions, appears to. have no proper conception of the conditions obtaining in scattered communities. Its methods are permeated by city influences, and the country (which needs most attention) is simply regarded as "an awful bore." The fact that the.suggestioDß of country schoolmasters seldom carry the weight they should with officers of the Board indicate that.

The members of the Bodney County Golf Club farewelled their President, Dr. Morrison, on Saturday evening last. Mr T. E. Roydhouse, Vice-Pre-sident, occupied thechair, and referred to the indebtedness of members in respect of " the royal and ancient game." Dr. Morrison had not only introduced it, but ho had taken pains with all to initiate them into its mysteries. He had also won their regard as a citizen. The Club desired that he should take with him as a memento of his recent association with the district a pair of field-glasses. Messrs George Civil, W. Tait, J. B. Eo»se, J. A. Clinch^ j. Bamgay,: A. Holliday, and F, Shannon, also spoke, expressing their appreciation of the game and the introducer. Dr. Morrison replied in an entertaining speech, and congratulated members on their progress and tho course.