WHANGAREI.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue III, 18 July 1903, Page 196

WHANGAREI.

Dear Bee, July 14. We have been having the most perfect weather here. Old identities say, it is like the old days, when the winters were so very enjoyable. Cold, crisp nights, followed by a fine sunny day, with a dear warm atmosphere; the moon, too, at the full, veiled by its fleecy mask of cirrus clouds, has made night glorious. Nearly everyone has taken advantage of the fine weather to return calls. 1 have noticed: Mrs K. Reyburn, wearing a black costume, pretty blaek bonnet with touches of red; Mrs Dalston was also in black, large black hat, and long fur necklet and muff; Mrs Gillon, navy serge, elaborately trimmed with cream insertion and crossway folds, black hat; Mrs Mackie, fawn coat and skirt, black hat relieved with pink and cream shaded roses; Mrs Hobart, black voile trimmed with jet and touches of blue, pretty blue and black toque; Mrs Higginson, navy cloth tailor-made, blaek toque with spray of red roses under the brim; Mrs Hanlon, black dress, cream vest, black hat with black and white wings; Mrs Edward Boult, black skirt, darkcoloured Chesterfield, black hat; Mrs J. C. Johnson, pretty black dress strapped with silk, hat en suite; Mrs Harold Millington, navy costume and hat to match, very chic; Mrs J. I. Wilson, jun., blaek dress, pretty pale grey Chesterfield, large picture hat trimmed with long black feathers and pink daisies under brim.

There are rumours of another bank being opened here, and the ladies are curious to know whether it will mean more pin money for them. How very educative the pictures in the “Graphic” are. When we saw what a fine Court-house and post-office the town of Hawera has, readers wanted to know why Whangarei, which is one of the oldest towns in New Zealand, and has now the largest population of- any town in the province, excepting, perhaps, Waihi, has been so neglected by the Government in regard to public buildings. The pictures in the “Graphic” are most interesting in this respect. *

We have, by the bye, one very fine new public building, the County and Borough Council’s Offices, but these were built mostly with local money—a Mr Gordon Cumming, who on the advice of his friend, Mr T I’. Moody, left his little estate for the benefit of the borough and a public library. The new council hall is quite an imposing chamber, and I am somewhat afraid that the new environments have infected the city headmen with swelled head. They have passed a by-law that no horses must be fastened to any verandah post in the town, and the inspector of nuisances was sent around witli a crowbar and tools to take down all rings and hooks, etc. Fancy, and this in a town where quite one-half the people ride. A lady must now take her horse to a stable if she only wants to go to the chemist, shop for some urgently needed medicines. What would such a council do with your Auckland Juggernaut, the lightning express electric cars, of Queen-street? Our fleet of oil launches will receive some additions for the coming summer season. Picnicking down our fine harbour is very popular, and quite a number of launches find plenty to do in the summer. The oyster beds, the long reaches, and the great over-spreading pohutukawas, are each and all favourite attractions with the holiday folk, and the youngsters collect shells, catch shrimps, puddle in the sand, and generally enjoy aud thoroughly dirty themselves. . A dance held in Kamo in aid of the cricket club was a very great success. The erstwhile mining town does not have many functions of the. kind, but when one is held it is a “light out” affair, and. all enjoy themselves. The night was an ideal one for dancing, and the floor was in splendid condition. We arc all looking forward to the visit of the now quite famous Bishop Neligan, who is expected shortly’. From what we have heard of him, and from what we have seen of him through the pictorial press, we are already impressed with his personality. NGAIA.