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Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1892, Page 5

On Sunday nexb the p.s. Victoria ia advertised to run an excursion to Riverhead, calling ab Ponsonby Wharf both ways. The steamer will leave the ferry tee at 11 a.m., returning at 3.30. Cassella Bros', string band will be on board. On Monday night the Eagle will run a moonlight excursion to Northcote with Hunter's Artillery Band on board. Brooking's Hall has been engaged, where dancing may be indulged in bo bhe music supplied by the band.

Ib is the intention of a number of the Rev. Mr Berry's friends to hire the City Hall on some night as soon as the weather cools and families are back from the seaside, for a monster gathering, to which the reverend gentleman will lecture upon his recent American travels. The proceeds wii! be given to the lecturer towards th e expenses of his recent trip to Washington.

At a meeting of the Auckland Branch of the H.A.C.B. Society last evening the members decided to celebrate the coming festival of St. Patrick's Day in a fitting mariner. A large and efficient commibtee have been appointed for bhat purpose, and the result should be successful. It is intended to have a procession to and sports in the Domain, and a grand national concert in the evening.

" Bungs " complains of the deposit of aP kinds of filth and disgusting dead animal matter adjoining his house in Angleseastreot, Ponsonby, to the danger of the public health in the vicinity.

The large pillars at the Tabernacle, in Upper Queen-street, have been draped with crape as a mark of respect to the late Rev. Chas. Hi Spurgeon, fabher of bhe pastor of the Tabernacle.

The Thames "Star" last evening con" demned as impracbicable Mr Thos. Russell's scheme for working bhe Thames deep levels, and urged thab the present companies should voluntarily surrender all the ground below the 640 ft level, and offer the same free to any English capitalists who will undertake its development.

Tho annual meeting of the Thames School of Mines was held on Tuesday nighb. The balance-sheet showed that the school is out of debb. General sabisfaction was expressed ab the appointment of Mr Purdie, of Otago, as assistant director.

A test race, for the selection of a representative to proceed South in the interests of the Auckland Swimming Club, will take place at the Albert-street Baths at 5 p.m. to-morrow, and the contest is expected to be keen. There are five competitors for this honour, Messrs Nicholson, Duthie, Scott, Hedeer, and Dacre, and the distance is fixed at a quarter of a mile, equal to 12 lengths and 8 yards. The winner of this competition will accompany Mr H. J. Bailey, who has been chosen by the Club to compete in the championship events ab Ashburton and Christchurch on the 27th February, and also on the sth and 7th March.

As we surmised on Tuesday lasb, the Australian cricketers did play anobher plucky uphill same, with the result thafc the English Eleven again met defeat at their hands. Of course, the English enthusiast can make the excuse that the colonials had the besb of bhe luck by the Englishmen having to bat in bheir _ second innings on a sticky wicket, which left them ab the mercy of Turner and _G. Giffen, the Australian bowlers. Againsb this, however, must bo borne in mind bhab in the Australians' pecond innings Mosesone of the best bats the colonies have ever produced—was unable to bat, and also that the Englishmen are more accustomed bo a web crickeb bhan bhe Australians. Tlio news of thoir second defeat this season at the hands of combined Australia will cause greab surprise in England, whero they 'have for the lasb two years been under the impression thab bhe colonials were on bhe decline in the good old game, and they also consider Lord Sheffield s team would, wifch tho inclusion of Shrewsbury, make the strongest combination that England could produce. Although Australia has lost tho services of such men as Ferris, Murdoch, Bonnor, Spofforth, Massie, Horan, and McDonnell, still their juniors aro quickly filling the vacancies, and by tho results of the lasb two test matches, prove that we can always find colonials in every branch of out-door sport, cricket, football, boxing, rowing and running, Bnperior bo those of our mother country.

When disease was rife at Waipiro, on the East Coast, the Governmenb promised if the residenbs guaranteed £200 towards a doctor' 3 salary they would give £100. The necessary guarantee was raised, bub up to the presenb no medical man has been obtained willing to go to the district.

Mr H. Rees George writes to us contradicting a statement made in yesterday's issue of the Star in our report of tho Auckland Regatta Committeo's meebing, stating that nc "passago of arms" with the Chairman. Our reporter, however, reaffirms the accuracy of his report. Other members of the Committee have called upon us, and state thab tho report did not convey a correct impression of what took place. They say Mr George simply resigned his seat on the Committee because, though this was tho first meeting Mr Cozens attended, he was voted to the chair, while others who had worked hard for the success of the Regatta were passed over.

Ib is intimated that the meeting called by tho Trades and Labour Council for this evening at tho Liberal Association Rooms, is postponed.

The " Wairarapa Daily" says a man named Blackler was recently admitted to the Masterton Hoepibal, suffering from violenb fits of vomiting and purging. The eyes were swollen, and he complained of excruciating abdominal pains, and had unquenchable bhirsb. Dr. Hosking ab once concluded he had been poisoned by arsenic, and treabed him accordingly, wibh the result bhat he is now fully recovered. He was working with a number of other men on a station ab Castle Point, and as the wharo in which they were living was overrun with fleas, an effort was made to destroy the vermin by spreading the floor with sheep dip. The floor was afterwards swept by Blackler, and it is thought he must have inhaled the arsenic. The whole of the men \t ho were in the room when the floor was swept were attacked more or less by fits of vomiting, and presented other symptoms of poisoning. Blackler waa the only one who became seriously ill.

The Auckland College and Grammar School is to be credited with the following success in the University Junior Scholarship and matriculation examinations, the results of which have jusb been published : — XV. J. Barclay was 2nd of the 10 who obtained scholarships. Miss E. J. Kimlin was Ist, R. S. Latta 4th, L. Kingsford 9th, P. Drummond 23rd, Miss A. Whitelaw 27th, among the 27 who passed the scholarship examination " with credib," getting nob less than 75 per cent, of the marks of tbe 10th scholar. Among the 36 who merely passed on thesame examination, Miss M. S. Bower was 3rd ; Miss R. M. D. iMdntyre, 6th; T. K. Keesing, 20th ; C. W. Field, 21st; W. A. Speight, 25th. The following, whose names are given in alphabetical order, the order of merit nob being published, passed theordinary matriculation examination :—R. S. H. Biss, Misses M. H. Burfoot, A. J. Clayton, E. Ponsford and L. F. Walker. W. J. Barclay and L. Kingsford also passed the preliminary examination for medical students.

The first merchant ship which has occupied the Calliope Dock for a long time past was floated into the big basin last evening, the vessel being the New Zoaland Shipping Company's refrigerating ship Turakina. The Turakina remain? in the Dock for three or four days for survey, cleaning, and painting, preparatory to leaving for Gisborne to load frozen meat and wool for London, having jusb completed the discharge of a cargo from London at thi3 port. Ib is an infrequent occurrence for one of the sailing ships engaged in the London-New Zoaland trade to dock in this colony, but the Turakina boing a frozen meat ship, requires to dock for every trip Home, and Captain Hamnion decided to put his vessel into good sailing order here, as she was nob docked in London prior to coming out on bhis voyage. The Turakina holds the record amongst the frozen meat sailers for fasb passages to London from thia colony.

Davys' Bright Lights variety enteitainment was repeated at the Opsra House last evening, before a moderate audience. The programma was a varied one. Tho Company will remain hero to tho end of tho week, and announce a change of programme for to-morrow. They intend giving a short season at tho Thames.

The borough of Devonport oxhibited more than its ordinary animation to-day in the display of interest taken in the election of a member of the Borough Council to fill tho seat vacated by tho death of the late Mr Joseph Glenny. The candidates are Messrs G. L. Peacocke and F. J. Hammond. The poll is being taken at the Borough Council Offices, where Mr J. Dinsdale is discharging the duty of Returning Officer. Mora than ordinary interesb is taken in the election in consequence of the water supply question having been reopened. There does nob seem to be much difference of opinion as to bhe desirableness of securing for the borough a reliable water supply, but there may be some difference of opinion as to how the project shall be carried out. The poll will close at 6 o'clock this evening.