Local.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, 20 November 1914, Page 2

Local.

The public school was closed on Wednesday in order to enable the pupils to visit the Hamilton Show. In .spite of the weather a goodly number of Huntly people visited Hamilton Show on Wednesday. For various reasons the Sports which were to have been held on Saturday, sth. Deer., have been postponed till further notice. The service on Sunday evening in St. Paul’s Church (Anglican), will commemorate the death of Field-Marshal Lord Roberts. Mr J. El’ l >t will sell by auction to-m •;■ row (Saturday) at the King’s Hall, a miscellaneous lot of articles. As a mark of respect to the memory of Lord Roberts, the dags at the Post Office and the King’s Hall fluttered at half mast on Monday last. Excursionists desirous of visiting the Auckland Agricultural Show are referred to the Railways’ advertisement appearing in another column: The recent high, westerly winds are responsible for the deluge of that fine impalpable dust that penetrates every house, shop and office in tho neighbourhood of the cutting in ihe main street. y A “ Hard Up” social, organised in aid of the Belgians, will bo held in the Miners’ Hall *on Wednesday night. The object is a most deserving one, while the novelty of the idea should make the function a most ■'successful one.

Mr. Chas. Maxwell is to be heartily congratulated upon his success at the Hamilton Show this week. In the competition open to bakers Mr. Maxwell’s bread carried off the highest honours. The rain which fell on Sunday was welcomed, and did a certain amount of good, though a good, though a good steady downpour lasting for two days would have given the pastures and crops the start they badly need, and would h ve clothed the somewhat parched and arid pastures in their fresh, spring garments. Local dogs lately entered in various competitions have been most successful. With Idstono Lady Asthore, Mr W. H. Thomas gained at the Nelson Dog Show two first prizes, two specials, and the Idstone Cup ; at Palmerston. North, with Buster, Mr J. Brooks gained a first prize and the Challenge Cup, and also came first in the Field Spaniel Class ; and at the Auckland Show Buster carried off a first, a special and a silver cup. In these days of drought it behoves all to be doubly careful in their use of lights, for the careless dropping of all unextinguished match, or the carriage of a spark from a tobacco pipe may cause great trouble, anxiety and expense. One of these accidental conflagrations took place at the Maeri bridge on the Huntly-Awaroa road at the end of last week, whereby much damage was done to a nice clump of fern, to the grass so badly wanted for “feed” purposes, and to the fences which cost money to erect. Another blaze took place lately among the fern and titree east of the slack heap at Ralph’s mine, and burned so vigorously that some anxiety was engendered. Fortunately, the wind from the west blew the flames to-wards the west, so that the houses in Raynor’s road escaped undamaged. Had the wind* blown from the north west considerable damage to property might have resulted. The moral, which is evident, shows the great necessity of care when an eagerly expected downpour refuses to refresh the arid, thirsting ground.