Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 158, 6 July 1899, Page 4

The Auckland Police Station in O'Rorke street is expected to be ready for occupation in the spring' of the year. Good progress is being made "with the building. Provision is made for a library and billiard-table, and the men themselves have been contributing- so much per month for some time past for the purchase of the latter. The library and billiard-table will tend to bring the men together and make them better known to each other. The whole of the oiMce staff and the detectives' department will be removed to the new station; also the Inspector's and Sergeant's office. The single members of the force will each have a cubicle, or room, to himself, provision being made in the station for the accommodation of 40 men. The house facing Wellesley street for the accommodation of two married sergeants and their families will soon be completed.

Further particulars to hand of the fire fit the residence of Mrs Mary Parsons, at Koma'ta, early on the morning of the Ist July, .show the house was a six roomed one, valued at £120, and the furniture at £80. Mr and Mrs Parsons saw everything- safe at 10.30 p.m., when they retired to bed. The probable cause of the fire is said to have been due to embers from an oven falling on the'floor. Both Mr and Mrs Parsons were nearly suffocated with smoke, and they had a narrow escape. The house was insured in the Royal office for £G5, and the furniture'in the same office for £55.

An old woman named Mary Jane Alexander, aged about 80 years, wa3 brought before the Police Court this morning. It appears the old woman had been an inmate of the Costley Home for many years, but she went away and refused to go back. The old woman had been wandering about Queen-street at all hours of the night and morning with bare feet, and early this morning Constable Brown took pity on her and brought her to the Police Station and handed her over fo the matron (Mrs O'Brien). The presiding Justices; Messrs P.A.Philips and F. G-. Clayton, ordered that the old woman be sent back to the Costley Home.

The first animal meeting1 of the Auckland Volunteer Bearer Company was held last evening at the Drill Hall, Surgeon-Captain Parkes presiding. The annual report showed that the company had attained a fairly efficient position, and was in a sound working condition,. It would be nocessary to recruit the company up to its full strength of 25 men. This -would be found small enough for satisfactory handling-, but as the military authorities had seen fit to thus fix ths strength it behoved the company to make Hie most of it. The present strength was 20, and it devolved upon the present members to bring along suitable men to complete the number, a task that should not prove difficult. All were aware of the usefulness of, the knowledge gained .in the work, and this alone should make it a much easier task to fill up the vacancies in the Bearer Corps than in any other company in the garrison. Successful capitation had enabled the company to pay off" the total liability for uniforms', and to leave it free of debt, while it is hoped that shortly the company would be able to redeem itself from the liability to a number of the members for amounts advanced by them towards the cost of uniforms (£l7 15/), against which there was a credit balance of £9 12/10. Mr A. G. Pilkingtbn was unanimously elected secretary.

.Twelve new constables, who had completed their probationary course satisfactorily, we/c sworn in nt Wellington .on 'Saturday last. They are all'men of good physique, and will be stationed as follows:—D. J. Cummings, J. Tanner, and A. Muggevidge, Wellington; F. Woods, A. Satherley, and W. Buttimore, Wanganui; G. Macartney, Karangahape road. Auckland; E." J. Porteous, Greymouth; H. C. D. Wade, Christchurch; D. Hy]and, H. W. Williams, and P. O'Connor, Dnnedin.. Though the new system of probation and examination before granting" admission to the fofce is decidedly preferable to the ' old method. Commissioner Tunbridge states that a higher standard of education would be desirable if it could be obtained. A very large number of. applicants come forward, but few of them possess the qualifications making them competent to attend to some of the duties 'they might be called upon to perform, such as Cleric of the Court, etc. Some difficulty is experienced in finding suitable men for these positions.

A very pleasant gathering was held in the Criterion Hotel last evening, when a presentation of a handsome marble clock and a complete set of table requisites was made to Mr Geo. .Frost; one of our most popular railway guards, and well known in amateur athletic and football circles, and who has lately joined the happy ranks of the benedicts. Mr Pearse was' in the chair, and Mr Stevenson made the presentation, which Mr Frost suitably acknowledged. The usual toasts were duly honoured, and songs and recitations were rendered by Messrs Stevenson, Mooney, Simpson, Mason, Dewes, Madigan, Caffrey, Hodgson, Miller, T. and G. Frost, Hill and Mumford. Mr Johnson ably accompanied at the piano.

Yesterday the members of the T'aknranga Hunt Club met at Otahuhu. A couple of good runs were indulged in. Mr and Mrs Pilling- and Miss Walker, three members of the Waikato Hunt Club, were among the followers.

A well attended meeting of the Shop Assistants' Union was held last evening in the Wesley Hall. Mr A. Eosser presided. The Union consists of drapers, grocers, ironmongers, bootmakers and hairdressers, and steps have been taken to register it in Wellington. The Union intend agitating for six o'clock closing- in the city and suburbs from Monday to Friday inclusive, and 10 p.m. on Saturday. Rules were adopted last evening, and Messrs E. E. Partington, A. W. Tyre, S. Macaulay, and J. S. Dickson, lion. sec. were appointed delegates to deal with a number of matters, including an amendment in the Factories Act, in regard to hours of working.

A concert was given 1n the Foresters' Hall last evening in aid of the Brass Band of the Newton Gospel Mission. • There wa;; a good attendance, and items were contributed by Miss A. Eimmer, Miss Taylor, Mr Hamilton Hodges, Mr Hooton and others.

The Liberal and Labour Federation of New Zealand, formed to organise and solidify the Liberal party throughout the colony, propose to form n district branch in Auckland. With this object in view a meeting will be held in the Wesley Hall to-morrow (Friday) night, at 8 o'clock. A large attendance is expected. Mr Arthur Edwards is organising secretary.

The members of the Onehunga Fire Brigade held their annual social lasfc night. Dr. Erson (Mayor) presided, and in a felicitous speech congratulated the members on their splendid victories at the Coromandel sports. At the sports mentioned the Onehunga Fire Brigade won the "Baby's" .Rescue, Hose and Reel Competition, and the. Fireman's llace. For the first two named, they were awarded splendid silver medals, which were presented last night by the Chairman to Captain; Sutherland, Foreman Skinner, and Messrs A. McLeod, C. Leathart and M. Dempsey. After the toast of "The Queen," proposed by the Chairman, Captain Sutherland proposed the toast of "The Mayor and Borough Council," and it was responded to by Dr. Erson and Messrs Stoupe and Laking. Various other toasts were also given, and a very pleasant dance followed.

■ Mr W. B. Cadzow and Company will 'give a concert in the Public Hall, Devonport, on Friday eveningl under !the patronage of the Mayor of the, ; borough, Capt. W. Coyle, E.E., and j officers of the district. A grand military programme and myrioramic dis- ' play, with a choice selection of musi« cal items, should make up a highly, attractive programme. One of the pictures will represent the blowing up of the p.s. Enterprizc in Rangitoto channel.

In this issue tenders are invited for the purchase of Mrs Silk's Leviathan Temperance Hotel, Dunedin (as aa going concern), owing to her death.' The hotel is situated directly opposite the Dunedin railway station, and The business is known to- be one of the largest and most remunerative in Otago. Particulars will be found elsewhere.

At a meeting oi" the Mount Eoskill School Committee on Tuesday evening a letter from the Chairman of the City Committee was read, and led to a sharp criticism of the syllabus and the method of conducting the examination in standards. It was unanimously agreed to "That in the opinion of this committee the syllabus is excessive and ill-devised; and since the examination in standards, as conducted hitherto, has been pernicious in its effects, that the teachers conduct such examinations in future." The secretary was directed to submit a copy of this to Mr Squirrell and another to the Hon. the Minister.

Mr E. Hobbs by advertisfi-nenti ; announces that lie will accede to the requisition inviting him to contest one of t,he City seats, and that he will take an earlf opportunity of addressing' the electors.

Messrs Gabriel Lewis and Co. sell at ■• Avon-street, Parnell, to-morrow (Friday 1), at 11, Mr J. Crozier's household furniture. The sixth anniversary of the formation of St. Benedict's Club was cele- ■;■ brated by a social at St. Bend let's Hall; last evening. There was a very large attendance, there being . fully V2Q couples present, and the function proved most enjoyable. The arrangements were well carried out by tlie, committee. Marriage's Band provided: she music, and the catering was in the | hands of Mr Philips. There was a ;! 1 large attendance of guests and specta- ' tors. Mr J. Knott, J..Corbett, P. Donelly and E. Lanigan, the M.C.'s, effi- : cie'ntly discharged their duties. The Parnell Musical Society have,: had to postpone their first practice of the "Ancient Mariner" until Friday, 14th inst., owing to the non-ar-■ rival of books. The popular lecture "Jack and Jill," by the liev. J. G. Patterson, of Gisb'orne, will be delivered to-night in St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Pcnsonby.