HUNTLY.

Waikato Argus, Volume XIX, Issue 2980, 13 September 1905, Page 4

HUNTLY.

M it Annina Nmi., who has boon identified with the mining township for nearly :«) years, and who has sold his farin' for eoal-miuing purposes, has severed his connection with llnutly, nuii'h to the regret of the public, whoso respect and esteem, on account of his sterling character, uprightness and geniality, ho has deservedly won. As a inonibor of the road board, a trustee of the cemetery reserve, a, inonibor of school committees, and of the brass band in the hey-day of its popularity. Mr Noil devoted a groat deal of his time and attention to the advancement of the township and its various institutions. A staunch liberal in politics, tie was one of the founders of the bluntly branch of the Liberal and Labour League. To mark thoir sense of the loss which tho township will suffer by bis departure, a number of his friends met Mr Neil in tho hotel last Thursday evening, Mr.l. I’. Hailey, ,1.1’., chairman of tho road board, presiding over a representative gathering which numbered over HO. In tho course of the evening Air Hailey in a eulogistic speech detailed the services rendered to tho public by tho guest, and spoke of the assiduous attention ho gave to all matters brought before him, and askod him to accept a very handsome marble timepiece as a memento of bis long residence in llnutly, and to regard it as a small token of the appreciation in which he is bold by the community and as a reminder of his many years’ residence in their midst. Mr L. H. Harris (sour.), Mr L. B. Harris (junr.) and Capt. K. It. Ralph spoke of Air Neil’s qualifications as a member of various boards; Air W. H. Hailey (of Alessrs Green and Colebrook) spolce of him as a private citizen and friend ; while Alessrs T. Dunn and J. Valentine represented Kimihia, where his services had always been sought and ungrudgingly rendered. Mr Neil replied in suitable and feeling terms. With song, speech and story reminiscent of tho early days, a pleasant and enjoyable evening was spent. The singing of “ Auld Lang Syne ” brought tho valedictory to a close.

Air Spragg, the export employed by Nobel’s Explosive Company, of Glasgow, visited Huntly last week, and gave demonstrations of the effects of that firm’s now explosive, oarbonite, in the Taupiri Company’s mines. The now explosive appears to occupy an intermediate position, as far as results arc concerned, between the ordinary largegrained blasting powder and gelignite, the two explosives most commonly used bore. The charge does not shatter tho coal as the others do, while the carbonite is almost, if not quite, smokeless. It is claimed that while carbonite is dearer, if judged by weight, the smaller quantity used to produce results equal to the ordinary charge of power or gelignite, will effect a saving of about forty per cent; while the economy of time, on account of it being smokeless, by enabling the minors to start work immediately after the shot has been fired, instead of waiting until the smoke has been driven out of tho bore, will conduce to still greater saving. The results were highly satisfactory, and it is stated that tho manager (Air E. S, Wright) was highly pleased with the explosive. Alessrs Green and Colebrook are the local agents for tho Glasgow firm. The manager of the former firm (Air IV. H. Hailey) informs mo that for some time there will be a great shortage of blasting powder, since his last advices from Home state that it is impossible to get freight accommodation for powder until the end of next month, and that oven then it is doubtful if full supplies will bo obtained. — (Own Correspondent).