The Evening Star : WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News and The Echo. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1881.

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3553, 28 December 1881, Page 2

The Evening Star : WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News and The Echo.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1881.

For tho caoia that lacks aisiiloncct For the wrong that needs rubtinc For tho future in tho disuaco, And the good that wo can do, '

Among onr telegraphic news to-day is am interesting account of the victory of the Auckland • built yacht Taniwha in the Champion Yacht Race at Melbourne. The Secret came in second. Both vessels were built by Mr T, Niccol at the North Shore. The Taniwhu, it will be remembered, was constructed specially for the purpose of competing in the Intercolonial Yacht Race held during the Exhibition season at Mel* bourne, when Mr W. J. Clark's .magnificent yacht Janet came in winner, and the Secret took second prize. The Janet was defeated in the present race.

In consequence of the crowded state of the Old Mon's Refuge, it has been found necessary to transfer a number of the inmates to ono ot tho wards of the old Hospital.

A nnmber of the volumes presented by His Worship the Mayor to the Free Library arc on exhibition at Messrs Upton and Co.'s. They are all copies of standard works, and are substantially bound.

The following tenders have been accepted for supplies to the Industrial Homo for the ensuing six months:—Milk, P. U'Dowd, 3d per quart; meat, T. Walker, 2d per lb; bread, Chas. Kingston!, 2gd per 21b loaf; Taupiri coal, Joseph Craig, 21s per ton; firewood, titree, 11s, and puriri, 10s per ton; groceries, Holland and Fortzer, sup;ar, I C, 4d per lb; rice, 24s per 1121bs; barley, 21s per 1121 bfc; washing soda, 9s 6d per 1121bs; straw, Is 6d per 1121bs; treacle, 3d per lb; flour (best), 103 6d per lOOlbs; oatmeal, 12s per lOOlbs; coffee, Is per lb.

The annual Christmas treat provided by the Government, for the inmates of the Old Men's and Old Women's Refuse, and the Hospital, took place on Monday. There were a number of visitors present, We are informed that the proceeds of Herr Schmitt's matinee musicale, will be devoted to giving tho inmates of these institutions a New Year's Day dinner.

The " Athenaeum " of October 25th. calls attention to the fact that its last number was the two thousand six hundred and tenth issued by Mr John Francis, he laving become the publisher of that journal on October 4th, 1831. The fact1 is, it believes, unprecedented in journalism; no other London publisher, at any rate, has been connected with the same paper for a period oE fifty years.

To the Editor: Sir,—Re "Lost, aj diver bracelet." Life is made up of noble deeds. The fulfilment of promises amongst men stands high. Last Friday's STAB conlains an advertisement: " Lost, a silver bracelet (open work), finder returning same to Mr Ripley, Standard Insurance Office, Queenstreet, shall be rewarded." Early on Saturday morning, a young lady from Kyber Pass Road returned to Mr Ripley the lost bracelet, and was rewarded with " Thank you. Good morning." Some men "do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame," Comment is needless. — Yonrs, etc., AH iENGMSHMAN.

A lad, whose name we were unable to ascertain, hud a miraculous escape fiom death at' tUo racecourse atatiou on Monday evening. Tm>> laafc train was just pulling up at the statiottj* the boy, eager, no doubt, to secure a t!iW|t, made a spring from the, platform to ono'ofathe cattlo truoks. Ho missed his hold, however, and I'ell siddways. bdtwdon the platform and l;ho train. Ho tried to' relieve himself aeve/al times, but doming in contact %lth the raovinp; carriages, he had the presefc<»e of mind to 116 atill till the train stoppiid. Thonprh much bruised the boy extricai!?a himself from Met dangerous position and took his Beat; io the track with the greatest j.possibls sanyjroitf,

A third fire has taken place at Whangs-poua-a house having been destroyed. It fa uncertain whether it was occupied on the previous nii»ht. It is intended to hold an inquiry. Captain and Mrs Ashby have booked in England their passages tor this colony, and so too has Mr Johnstone, the manager oi the South British Insurance Co. Henry Butterwortb, the little fellow who was iDJured by falling from a cliff while gathering Christmas flowers on Saturday morning, is doing well at the hospital. He will he convalescent in a day or two. A Coromandel man has Challenged any two man in Auckland for a match at Handball for £20 aside. The match will be played on Saturday next 3 p.m. In reference to the mes«age announcing the strandine of the ship Waipa at Dunkirk, the New Zealand Shipping Company have received a cable message, dated a day later than Keuter's, and announcing the arrival of the vessel, but no mention is made of any casualty having happened to her. A meeting of the newly-formed Bicycle Club is to take place to-morrow night, a the V.M.C.A. Rooms, for the purpose 9 adopting the rnles. y rf The following tenders have been r<H« at by Mr Skinner, architect, for a f ?£342 ; Kingsland :— Messrs Leigh J>ge, £269. Wilkinson, £275; Reed, £2Jfe havo been Mr P. Doran'e Varlety/^uo Northern doing a fair busmcySays, having had Wairoa during tha*™ and Dargaville. good houses at TyHeleMv.lle was marred The performa* ™*««* oas e 21lt "£*•" by the bow***o Troupe will repeat their and by *«» tho Tnwn flall -there on ncrfp^rening ncxt> pr£V ious to their return K->wn- They arc announced to give a ,(fiormoncc at the Albert Hall on Saturday Evening next—New Year's Eve

A special meeting ot tha French Literary Association will bo held this evening for the purpose of deciding whether or not the place of meeting shall be chanced, an opportunity having presented itself for tin; socuring of more commodious quarters, i'ilos of L'lndependentce Beige, Lc Eappel, L'lllustration, and Lc Ecvuc cles Deux Mondcs havo just come to hnnd, and are at the disposal of members,

Tho Mayor has given notice that be will move at the ordinary meeting ot tha City Council to-morrow evening, " That the last clause of resolution re "Water Supply to Parnell' dated 12th May, 18S0, be rescinded viz., the Council cannot undertake the laying of mains outside the city, and further that in future all applications for, and proposals to lay down mains, outside the City be considered on their merits,1'

The usual Christmas seiricos ware held on Sunday at the various Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches. They were all prettily decoratod with avorcrcena and floral devices. At St. Paul's, the sermon was preached by the Bishop, and the offertories for the day amounted to £17 16s sd. Father Walter Macdonald said the early masses at St. Patrick's Cathedral; and tho mass at 11 o'clock, "Missa Cantata," was celebrated by Father O'Sullivnn. The rev. incumbents preached the sermons at the various other churches. The services at St. Mark's, Bomnera, on Christmas Cay wero remarkably well attended—the church being comfortable filled in the evening. Mr Gooch sang " Nazareth " in the mornmet and "Sine, O Heavens" was the anthem in the evening. The offertories . were very large, and the carols before tho benediction formed a pleasant feature in tho services. The same services will be repeated on Sunday next. The decorations were good, and they showed much care and taste,

A serious accident happened at tho race* course on Monday, whereby a lad, the son of Mr Shortt, hairdresser, narrowly escaped death. Mr Shortt having borrowed a horso f rom a friend,placed the lad on the saddle, and proceeded to lead the animal about Suddenly, the horse becoming restive, threw the boy off, bnt with one of his feet still in the stirrup leather. After a short Btruggle the horse flung Mr Shortt down and bolted, dragging the boy Borne fifty yard* The boy's foot then became disongoged, and ho was picked up by his father. Dr Goldsbro' was soon in attendance, and pronounced the boy to be sufieriat; from slight concussion of tho brain, as well as some severe bruises about the head.

Some interesting studies with reference to the health and growth of children have been made by Dr. lloulton, of the Samaritan Hospital, London. Instead of taking the average of a large number of children measured onco, he adopted the plan of measuring a number of children of normal growth, brought up under average circuit]stances, many times, thus ascertaining their rate of increase. By this means the annual rate of growth was fonnd to vary between .two and three inches for each child per year. Dr. Boulton believes that when a child varies more than a quarter of an Inch annually, or when the increase of height docs not correspond.with the weight within a margin of safety—put at seven pounds - then it is safe to conclude the child's diet is not good, or possibly some disease is lurking in the system, The curious fact appears that lost of weight always precedes the development of consumption.

The examination of the Newton Grammar School was conducted by written examination papers, and extended over upwards of a week, Ihe following ministers set papers and acted aa examiners :—Rev. Messrs Carrick, Latin; Mnnro, Enclid, Algebra, and English grammar; James Bruce, geography; Somuierville, arithmetic. The Key Mr Macoicol set the paper on English History, and the Key Mr Mason valued it. Honour list: Latin (not numerically valued)— Edward Field and Henry White. Euclid (40 possible marks)— Edward Field. Algebra (60 possible marks)— Edward Field, 57 marks; Frederick Battley, 53 ruark», English History—Henry White, 120 marks; Frederick Battloy, 113 marks. Arithmetic (100 possible narks)— Edward Field, 70 marks; Henry White, 66 marks. Geography (130 possible marks)— Frederick Battley, 118 marks; Henry White, 117 marks. Grammar (120 possible marks)— Edwatd Field, 117 marks; Frederick Baitley, 104 marks; Henry White, 104 marks. Drawing—George Braund. Good conduct and progress—A. and E. Kmidson. Progress in geography—T. E. Heath.

A very interesting ceremony, consisting of the presentation ot a Fast Master's Jewel, took place on Thursday at the regular monthly meeting of Lodge Rodney, £. C, held at tho Lodge-room, Warkworth Hotel. There was a good attendance of brethren and visitors. After the regular business of tho lodge, tho proceedings in open lodge terminated in the presentation of a Fast Master's Jewel to Brother M. W. Munro, who for the past two years has occupied the chair of W.M. in the Rodney Lodge. The ribbon is of the colour of the E.C., bearing three bars, and the jewel itself locket shaped. The obverse side bears the square and compass on a blue ground, and on the inverse side, beautifully engraved, is the following inscription : — " Presented to Brother M. W. Munro, P. M., by the officers and brethren of Lodge Rodney, 1,711, E.C. Dated Auckland, New Zealand, 1881." Brother S. T. Georgo made the presentation in a few well-chosen words. Brother Mnnro, in responding, said that he was unable to express his thanks for the kind manner in which the presentation had been made, and felt that he had only ttied to do his duty to the utmost of his power and ability. He wonld never forget the reception of that jewel. On Monday an accident of an alarming nature ocenrred at Waiwera, of which the following is a sketch:—Excursionists to this pleasant retreat know the difficulty of landing in small boats from steamers. Several boats had reached the beach in safety, Captain Somerville exercising care that boats should not take beyond a given number; but unfortunately in one instance, a burly, fool-hardy fellow, who refused to give his name, leaped on to the boat fully laden, at the moment of starting, regardless of the captain's orders. The result was a thorough immersion of everyone in the boat, excepting the idiotic being who caused the upset. He leaped on to the side of the steamer, and escaped a ducking, which he deserved by his thoughtless folly. Tho boat was immediately brought down by his weight, filled with water, and sank. The cries and screams of the young ladies wore most heart-rending,as they were struggling up to their necks in water. The captain and the lad acting in the capacity of assistant steward,rendered immediate assistance.and several brave fellows rescued the ladies and others more dead than alive,allbcing drenched to the skin; in fact, every one did his best to assist—all, indeed, save the man who had caused the accident. Thomas Cook, the Waiwera boatman, was exceedingly busy in helping the ladies ashore. He took several of them to the hotel, where they were accommodated with exchanges of clothing. It is but justice to Captain Somervillo to state that he was in no way responsible for the catastrophe, and that the passengers did all they conld in furnishing the half-drown«d persons with dry clothing, jackets, shawls, etc., to make them comfortable. Several of the ladies completely exhausted, and will long rofiin vivid recollections of their Boxing Day'excujsioa to Waiwera,

Tho senior Bible classes of St. James s Sunday school held a moat enjoyable picnic at Northcote on Monday. A large number of members, teachers, and friends were present, and a pleasant day was passed. In the evening an adjournment was made to Mr Denby's attractive strawberry gardens, whero the time passed rapidly until tho arrival of tho 9.30 steamer, by which they returned to town. On Monday and Tuesday eveningß the Catholic Bazaar was kept open from seven to ten, the takings on those days being respectively £44 and £33. On Saturdjj' £105 was realised. The promoters in^it to keep it open on Saturday next, i.tcoed is expected the gross takings )jjdy been £700. Upwards of £500 has/* taken, ~<itlng the second Further information yjrftii took place on fire at Whangapoua*tes that three men Saturday niorninc4iut on Friday neght. were sleeping Mcd to continual annoyAfter being,nian called Black Harry, who ance frornrtd wanted to got in for the was dp* of the men got up and admitted nigWto an adjoining empty hut, and he I b;Sown to sleep firat asking for a candle Vhich was refused. The other man, Mr G. Clarko, returned to his own hut and went to bed, but in a»short time after the men were again aroused by an alarm of fire, and found the hut in which the negro was sleeping all on fire. The door was open, and they concluded he had escaped, and set to work to knock down the burning building, but when it was down they found the body of the poor fellow burned alnost to a cinder.

A grand evening concert took place at Driving Creek, near Coromandel. on Monday lost. The large school-room wns crowded to excess by the residents from far and near. Nino 'busses left the town for the sceno of action. One man avers that lie took £9 during the night for fares along. Captain Andrews occupied tho chair, The pupils of Mr Kockclitfe performed a comodietta entitled " The (Juarrcl of the Flowers." Messrs C. Brown, Uockclitl'c, and H. C. Brook contributed soiirs aud rlocb. The ladies who bore the honours wore Mcsdamcs Milne, Barrett, Randall, etc. Miss Boyd pliycd some of the accompaniments with her customary ability. The National Anthem was snng by tho full strength of the company.

Bcttany's gifts wore awarded |to thn following numbers:—int «ift, a r-idu of baoon, No. US; 2nd gift, a ham, No. 231; 3rd gift, a oheeao. No. 8; 4th gift, r. mutton ham, No. Mi; sth gift, a turkey, No. 178: Cth i-cUr, 3lln of ten. No. 298. Holders of tho abovo numbers pleaso call on Saturday noxt, New Year's Kve, and receive the abovo gif ta.-[AnvT.l