Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 79, 5 April 1899, Page 4

His Excellency the Governor, Lord Eanfurly, paid a visit to the Auckland Bowling Club green this afternoon. He leaves on ■ Saturday next in H.M.s. M^ldura for a trip to Cook Island and other places..

The Government Dairy Commissioner has arranged for a conference of members of his staff stationed throughout the colony, for the purpose of arriving at an absplutely uniform system of grading dairy produce, and instructing the people" hi the- manufacture of butter and cheese. The conference is to be held in Wellington next. Tuesday.

The comic costume match at Mayfield (Birkenhead) ou the Ist April,, was made the occasion of a genei'ai holiday among1 the local folk. The costumes were varied, and represented the following characters: —The New Woman (Mr Adam Geddes), the Shah of Persia (Mr Warn), Clowns (Mi: Hayman and T&r Downing), a Maori Chief (Mr Cunningham), Chef d'hote (Master Harry Langsford)., Man-o'-warsm'an (Mr J. Crooks), Highlander (Mr J. Wilson), Massa Sambo (Mr J. Clarke), Little Annie Booney (Master S. Crookes), Maori Warrior (Mr. C. Wilson), Austrian gumdigger .(Mr S. Thompson). Jester (Master J.,Grade), Alabama Coori (Master W. Willcoeks), Kangitsinjhi (Mr E. Edmonds), Samoan M.P.G. (Mr W. Dawson, junr.). Miscellaneous, Messrs Greaves (2), W, Geddes, J, Marshall, and W. Edmon.rl.is,

A deputation of members of the Working Committee of the New Zealand Literary and Historical Association, headed by Mr Upton, waited on His Excellency Lord Ranfurly yesterday morning, by appointment. Owing to* the Secretary being out of town yesterday he received Captain Alexander's letter too late to communicate with other members of the Committee, or more would have been present. His Excellency, who has taken great interest in the movement since its projection, after ascertaining the progress made, expressed his readiness to accept the position of Patron. He stated that he would be able to give an evening for the opening ceremony on Monday, May 22, and regretted that owing to the many delays in getting Government House ready, for him he could not be sure of being in Auckland earlier. . That date was accordingly fixed. Lord Ranfurly then informed the deputation that in accordance with a promise made on the occasion of a former deputation from the Association waiting on him, he had written to a literary friend, Sir Martin Conway, with the idea of interesting him in the Association, judging that Sir Martin's intimate knowledge of the best English publishers of short stories might be of great value to the Association. He stated, that he feared that particular letter, arriving while Sir Mai-tin was absent from England, had miscarried., as although he had heard from him since his. return from his travels it was only in reply to a later letter, and contained no allusion to the Association. However, he would write again on the subject, in case his former letter had miscarried. Some interesting conversation followed on literary matters in the colony and the publication of a New Zealand magazine, during which His Excellency gave the deputation the benefit of some valuable suggestions, for which .they expressed themselves duly grateful.

One of the most interesting numbers of the 'Graphic' that has been published for some time is that which makes its appearance to-day. Its prominent feature .is the Easter encampment and the exciting events in connection with it. There are many excellent views of the camp at Epsom, showing the different companies and scenes in and around the tents. As a special supplement .to the issue are given away two splendid, pkites of the volunteers for Samoa and their officers. The 'Graphic' special artist supplies a large picture of the bombardment of Samoa, and there are other illustrations in connection with the war. The special account of the Governor's tour through- the province is continued with a large number of illustrations of the places he visited, and his reception there. Other illustrations are the Hop Gardens of Nelson, the Manaia Mountain House, the Dawson Falls, and the'recent railway accident. A new story by Mrs Efiie Rowlands of absorbing interest is commenced in this number.

One of those fatalities which so often mar a public holiday occurred at noon on Good Friday, at Newtown, Wellington. A little boy pf 12, who resided with his parents in Mans-field-street, close to Newtown Park gates, was playing, by himself at a pond opposite his father's residence. It appeared that he had made, a raft pf some logs and. pltinks, and was in the habit of ■' using his jacket as a sail. Yesterday at dinner time a neighbour's child, . named' Eobert Sloan, saw him on his raft, holding up his jacket to catch the wind". Suddenly he was seen to overbalance himself, struggle for a moment, then fall into the water. An alarm was. raised, and a man named John Delan^y, who' resides.close at hand, with other neighbours, hurried to the spot. Constable Griffiths, stationed at South Wellington, was also soon on the scene. After dragging the pond for about fifteen minutes, the body, was got out, and every effort made to resiore animation, but without success. —'KZ.- Times.'

Mr Andrew Bell, a.retired Auckland merchant, who has been on a visit to Otago and Southland, passed through Wellington" yesterday on his way home (says the 'New Zealand Times' of Monday last.) Mr Bell, who takes an interest, in -farming, speaks enthusiastically of the fine condition of-Mr James Holmes' farm, at Waimahaka. South]and, .where over 2000 sheep and 300 head of cattle are grazed on"; 1100 acres of land, which is kept highly productive by scientific farming. Mr Bell also speaks highly of the wonderfully improved-state of the land on the Tokomariro Plain, Otago, since lime has been made available as a fertiliser. The value of the land has been increased from £3 to

£6 per acre, and farmers in neighbouring districts are clamouring for lime, which they cannot obtain.

A special meeting, of the Young People's Christian Temperance Union was held last evening in a class-room of the Pitt street Wesleyan Church It was decided to hold a social evening (provided satisfactory arrangevments could be made) in the Central Mission Hall, on Tuesday, April 25th. A committee was appointed to make all arrangements and report to the Union next Tuesday, and the meeting closed with the singing of the Temperance Doxology. The Social Committee then met.

The Waitemata County Council next Friday will be asked to receive a petition from Mayfield settlers concerning the obtaining of a site for their proposed public hall, and another petition from residents near Hellyer's Creek, asking for assistance in the opening of an alleged public road near I Mr Dawson's which has been enclosed for. some yeai"s past.

Mr L. Mence, photographer, of Wan{/iuiui, in conjunction with Mr A. I). . vYillis^ stationer, of. that town, has patented a camera whereby several photographs can be 7 taken on a single 1 plate with one lens at different, times. ) \t Wellington, on Saturday last Mr Aieriee exhibited a. prin^ cabinet size, i>,ii which there were six portraits, photographed at different times on the me plate. As many as .twenty-four photographs could be taken on one [•late by means of .Mence's Magic

I ani era, as it is called.. The value of I".he'invention, says Mr Mence, is that M-fc does away with the trouble experienced in developing and"** printing Jims, and also, greatly reduces the ost of material. The cameras will bortly be put on the market.Intending competitors at the ChryKinthemum Show, to be held in the Choral Hall on the 13th, 14th, and loth 1 list., are i*eminded" that entries must be'sent,in to' the hon. secretary (Mr ' 5. W. Wright, Queen street) not later ihroi 5 p.m. to-morrow (Thursday). Messrs Wildman and Lyell, .yictoria Arcade, will also receive entries dxiring ;o-morrow,

Telegraphic communication witU Australia' was interrupted to-day ' owing to the cyclone on the New, South Wales coast interfering with the j telegraph lines.

The Auckland Board of Education to-day accepted the tender of George Eraser, of Karangahake, £126 15/, for additions to the school building at- Karangahake.

The Northern Steamship Companyhas now entered into possession of its new offices and store in Qua^y-street, and the old offices in the Palmerston Buildings have been vacated. The new offices are commodious, and well fitted up. They are at the head of the jetties used by the Company, having been built there with the object of centralising the affairs of the Company. A new jetty is now under construction for the Company, and its smaller steamers will berth there, while the larger ones, now berthing at Queen-street, will lie beside the No. 3 jetty, at present used by the small steamers. By having the offices so close to the wharves, business is expedited, and time saved, while the manager is able to exercise more direct supervision over the employees. The new offices, which are of brick, faced with cement, have been faithfully built by the contractor, Mr J. T. Julian.

The annual gift auction, sale. of work, and harvest festival in connection with the Congregational Church at Raglan was commenced on April Ist by a tea in the public hall, at which there was a large attendance from all parts of the district. After the tea the .Rev. G. Carr delivered a very interesting lecture on the life of the late W. E. Gladstone. After the lecture' Mr A. R. Langley disposed of a varied collection of articles, both useful and ornamental, also a quantity of produce. Several musical items were rendered during the evening. The services on Easter Sunday; were conducted by Rev. G. Carr and, Mr Trigg. The church was tastefully decorated with flowers, evergreens, produce, etc., and hymns specially suited for the occasion were* sung at all the services.

This afternoon at St. Paul's Angli-< can Church, Mr John Thomson, of the Auckland Crown Lands Office, was married to Miss Victoria M. Stokes, of Fiji. The Misses E. and J. Robinson were bridesmaids, and there was a large attendance of friends. Mr Thomson is a popular resident of Parnell, and is the captkin of the St. George's Rowing Club.

At the Auckland Presbytery last night, the plans of the Devonport Presbyterian manse were approved of. The building was very much admired, and deservedly so. It is to-be a fine twoi'storey villa on Mount Cambria, Vauxhall road, commanding wide and beautiful views of land and sea.'. The Rev. R. F. Macnicol, M.A., in proposing the adoption of the plans, etc., congratulated the Devonport congregation on their generous and publicspirited action, and Rev. R. Ferguson, the minister, on this manifest appreciation of his ministry. The Rev. H. Kelly, M.A., seconded the motion, and hoped Mr and Mrs Ferguson would spend many happy days in 'A manse, a manse, for a' that.' The accepted tender is that of Messrs Thompson and Gray for £839; and the architects are Messrs R. Keals find Sons. .;:

Mayfield (Birkenhead) Sunday School Anniversary proceedings were continued on Sunday with a full choral service at the schoolroom. The singing.was taken by a choir of seventyvoices, assisted by harmonium and an orchestra of eight pei'formers. Mr MacNicol conducted. The KevJC.E. Beecroft took the service, and preached to a crowded congregation.

A meeting of shop assistants, convened, by the Auckland Trades and Labour Council, will take pi ace in the Tailoresses' Hall at 7.30 this evening. The object of the meeting is to get the shop assistants to form a union.

The new premises of the D.S.C. firenow opened for business. The building is still in the hands of the contractor, but so near completion tlJat the company feel justified in resum* ing business at once. They have opened up nearly 1000 cases of newgoods, comprising the latest novelties, which will be displayed in their spacious jsJiQW-rooms and warehouse.—(Ad)

A concert will be given to-morrow evening at the Salvation Army Hall, ■jSTewton, commencingl at 8 o'clock. :