LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 24 December 1913, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

See our Christmas supplement for interesting reading matter.

The Union Bank advertise narticu-

lars of special and general bank holidays to be shortly observed.

The Te Pua and Parkhurst schools will hold their combined school picnic at the Domain on .New Year's Day, permission being granted by the Board on Saturday.

Applications for the New Zealand War Medal will close at Wellington od the 31st March, 1914, after which no claims will be recognised. See the advertisement in this issue.

Entries for Kaukapakapa sports close on Saturday next, December 27th. A. McLeod, Parakai, or the Secretary, C. Jonep, will tako entries for the various events.

At Saturday's meeting of the Domain Board a letter of thanks was received from the School Committee for the use of the Dociain grounds for the school picn; c, also for the free use of tho laths.

In the case of T. Carroll v. the Rodney County Council judgment was given for plaintiff byMrE. Page, S.M. and evidence is to be heard as to the amount of damage sustained by plain tiff.

Numerous small fiud9 of ambergris have been * made on the West Coast some six miles from the borough o| Dargaville. The Maoris utilise long long slender spears when travelling the beach ou horse back, and cleverly "spit" every article which bears any resemblance to ambergris.

At last meeting of the Kaipara Chamber of Commerce (Mr A. E. Harding presiding) it was resolved to again approach the Minister of Matine, asking for the erection of a wharf at the Helensvillo Hot Springs, pointing out that £150 would construct a wharf ample for the requirements.

Professor Eenach, of Vienna, has made the astoniplving announcement that he has succeeded in changing the sox of animals by transferring certain glands from the male to the female, and vice versa. He produced animals which he said had been changed in sex. He believes that similar operations would be possible with human beings.

The unstason jble weather of late has been ratbfir bad for orchards, but has not done much damage locally. Pruit grown, in locel orchards can now be purchased, and ample supplies of strawberries, peaches, apples and apri cots are obtainable The orchards owned by Mr J. Campbell and Mr Iljorth have now a uiagnilicont appearance.

A company has been formed to work the metal deposits at Pukekararao, near Aiaungatuioto, where there is an unlimited supply of what is described as the finest class of stone in-the North. These devlopmeuts have again raised some talk oi an endeavour to divert the railway route east through Maungaturoto Gorge and thence on to Mangapui via AVaipuand Eualcaki.

An Austrian of about 03 3-ears of ivo was arrested by Constable l;iisooU at tho South station on Friday oviMiing on a charge of vagrancy. When he api'i.-arod bfl'oro lilr il. A. l.nKoiho. J.P. on Saturday morning, the Con stable said it appeared that accused had been following a vagrant's life for some time and had heen making his place of residence the Ivumeu south ilag station. Tho accused was sentenced to two months in gaol, "not as a punishment", said His Worship, ''but in order to give accused time to pull himself together."

The question of a Sunday train from Helenbville to Auckland, to carry milk to the ciiy and Tor tho convenience of the Unveiling public was again brought up at last meeting of Dargaville Chamber of Commerce aud the secretary was instructed to writo to tho Minister pointing1 out th;it a Sunday train was nt present being run half-way 1.0 Helensville, and if it were continued ou to the above point that, with a slight aitpvation in the steamer time-tabio. it could be made a, profitable run for the Department, and be a convenience to travellers. This would do away with the necessity of staying overnight in Helensville.

The member for Avon, Mr G. W. Russell, made a statement the other day regarding his connection with labour in politics. " With regard to a statement made by Mr P. Hickey," remarked Mr Eussell, v th>it within six years the Labour Party would be

the dominant feature in the politics of the Dominion, and that Mr Or. ."W. Husselj will be the leader of the party, let me s>iy that no r-uggnstiou has ever been made In' me, or to me, in that connection, and consequently the suggestion that, for purposes ot my own, I am attempting to elbow my respected leader out of the way is ab solutoly beneath contempt."

In the «h-ioting competition for Nor h I/lar.d schools the Hoieusville boys were placed third. The result wes Rototua average 72, Timara7l, Heleusvillw 69. La^tycar the winning team had a score of 61.5, so thatHelensviiuAs big .improvement on that total is very creditable although two other schools scored higher..- Jolly' hard luck! Mr Harvey is certainly entitled to praise for the excellent pot-i----t!on the .Attachment has gained.