• Did you notice Whangarei pile driving firm GHK working in Parenga Street recently? They were driving foundations for the first new Dargaville waterfront building since ‘The Warehouse’ was built in Victoria Street. Extensions to premises of accountants Trappitt and Ewenson are filling the last empty section in the central business district, alongside recently remodelled Gum Diggers Corner. Piles went down seven metres before hitting solid ground. Vuletic Contractors are adding footings, foundations and precast concrete floors.

The new building will be joined to the existing building to give clients the option of taking the staircase or riding a lift to offices that will all be on the top floor.

• Sharp-eyed rugby fans may have wondered at a familiar name in Scotland’s seven-aside team playing recently in Wellington. Halfback Peter Kena Jericevich, as his name suggests, has strong connections to Dargaville and Pouto families. He is grandson of the late Jimmy Jericevich, recently of Colville Road and formerly of Pouto and nephew of Hannah and Joe Yakas of Old Golf Course Road. Peter was born in Scotland in 1988 and represented Scotland in under-17, 19 and 20 fifteen-a-side teams. He lives in Aberdeen where his father, Grant Jericevich, is employed as supervisor on North Sea oil rigs. Jimmy had hoped to see Peter play, but sadly, died just before the team arrived in New Zealand.

• Although our weather does not often hit the high temperatures that other places do, our afternoon humidity is sometimes too much to bear. So it has proved for one Normanby Street trader. Until further notice they now shut the door at 4pm. When it cools down again they will go back to their usual 5-30pm closing time.