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Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 213, 8 September 1899, Page 4

The R.M.s. Alameda, with the London mails of August 26, left San Francisco on September 7, a few hours late.

The estimated railway revenue for the colony in the four-Aveekly period ended August 19 shoAVs an increase of £10,000, sis compared with the corresponding period last,, year. The revenue, since April 1, 1599, shows an estimated increase of £54,000, compared with the same period last year.

The following additional rule for "Magistrates' Courts under the Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Act, 1874, is gazetted:—"ln any ease in which a magistrate is satisfied by affidavit or otherwise that a judgment creditor is unable through want of means to pay the prescribed fees, he may direct that all or any portion of such fees need not, be prepaid, but such fees may, nevertheless, be included as part of the costs of any order made against the debtor."

With reference to the statement made by Mr Garratt on Wednesday evening that some of the City Council's aged stonebreakers had been discharged, Cr. Jamieson asked the Mayor last evening ,at the Council meeting, how many stonebreakers had been so discharged, and by whose authority. The Mayor, in reply, said that the"statement Avas incorrect; not a single one had, so far as he knew, been discharged. He had heard that some of the stonebreakers Avere receiving old age pensions, and enquiries were instituted, as it Avas felt that if such were the case the pensioners should give Avay to others who were not eligible for pensions. But it was found that only one of the stonebreakers Avas in'receipt of a pension, and it Avas not true that any of the old people had been discharged.

The Avondale Literary and Debating Society met on Wednesday evening, and had a debate on "Is the Old Age Pension as now administered the best means of providing for the Aged Poor?" The Rev. McLean opened in the affirmative, Mr J. A. McKinney replying in the negative. Messrs H. BurroAV, J. B. McKinney, J. Tait, and A. J. Thorn also spoke to the question. The debate proved a very interesting one. On the question going to the vote the affirmative Avas declared carried.

The Qnehunga School Committee met last night. The folloAving Avere present: Canon Haselden (Chairman), Messrs RoAve, Hall, BroAvn, Kelsall, Vaiise and James.' The headmaster reported 535 children on the roll and an average attendance of 440. A quantity of scientific apparatus, including an electric battery, and a< miniature telegraph, had been procitred for school use. The Education Board intimated that they AA-ere prepared to pay £11 toAA-ards the cost of erecting a neAv fence.

Complaints are rife regarding- sheep and cattle stealing at Waitakerei. On Sunda3 r Mr T, Shelley had a fine ewe stolen which' was a particularly mean act, as a little lamb AA'as left motherless. Last shearing season Mr Shelley Avas 30 short.

A flashlight photograph of the Auckland City Council Avas taken last evening for the "NeAV Zealand Graphic."

The Romany Club gave a concert and the operetta "The Spanish Gypsies" at the Foresters' Hall, Karangahape Road, last eA-ening. There Avas a g-ood attendance, and among those present Avas the Rev. Air Lush, Vicar of Epiphany Church. The proceeds are to be devoted to the organ fund. In the first part Afr White played a cornet solo, and Alesdames Carter and H. Taylor rendered a duet,

"Nocturne"; Air H. Al. Keesing recited in fine style "Eve of the Battle of Waterloo"; Aliss Smith sang "The City by the Sea"; Air West played a clarionet solo, "Balladi," and Air White sang "Bid Ale to Love." The operetta "The Spanish Gypsies" comprised; the second part, all the, characters being Avell represented. A feature was a gipsy dance, gone through by Aliss Carrie Knight's pupils, viz., Alisses Knight (2) and Fell (2). The dancing of the juveniles reflected credit on Aliss Knight's ability as a. teacher of the terpsichorean art. Aliss Alidgley played the accompaniments, and a jgood band Avas present, which included Messrs White and West. i A.little boy of about five years of j age Avaudered from his home in Freej man's Bay yesterday .afternoon, and | though his mother was searching for | him nearly all night no trace of the j child could be found. The mother's I anxiety was not relieved until this j morning, Avhen a gentleman brought j the missing boy to the Police Station |at Arch Hill. The public should bear lin mind that the easiest, Ava}- of. restoring a lost child to its parents is by taking it to the nearest police station. By doing so as quickly as possible much anxiety and distress of I mind might be avoided. Mr John Fortune, Ayho had been a I settler on the Pakiiranga district for I close on forty years, died on the. Ist j inst. The funeral took place on the 3rd-inst., and. was one of the largest ever held in the district. Alonsignor McDonald conducted the burial ser- : vice. Deceased Avas a member of the Pakuranga School Committee for about twelve years and always evinced great interest in matters pertaining to | the welfare of. the district. He leaves 1 a Avidovv and grown up family of four j sons and tAvo daughters. A contract for two neAv warehouses at the corner of Darby and Elliott Streets has been let to Messrs Ferguson and Malcolm. The buildings will have a frontage of 100 ft. to Darby-street and 45ft. to Elliott-st., j and Avill be of brick, containing four I floors, including a half-basement. The facade will be of buff bricks, j Avith cement dressings. The base- , ment will be lift, high, ground floor ' 16ft., first floor 14ft., and' second 12ft. ! There will be a principal front enI trance to each warehouse, and a separate one for goods, with a hydraulic lift. The facade will be divided into bays, Avhich will be further divided ; pilasters, and surmounted by ornaI mentals cornices and pediments. The j Avarehouses are being erected for Mr j Herbert Thompson, Avarehousman, ! and one Avill be occupied by himself, j Avhile the other Avill be let. The j.eost will amount to something over i £5000, and the work of building Avill Ibe supervised by Afr Arthur P. WilI son, AA'ho prepared the plans and I specifications.

The Arch Hill Road Board give notice it is their intention to raise a loan for draining the Arch Hill Road District under "Local Bodies Loans Act, 1886." It is proposed to provide a drainage scheme for the district, and the sum proposed to be borrowed is .£I3OO. It is proposed to pledge as security for such loan a special annually recurring rate of 3d in the pound on the annual rateable value of all rateable property in the district. The annual meeting of the University College Christian Unjon Avas held at the University on Tuesday evening last to consider the reports of the president, treasurer and secretary and to elect, officers for the ensuing year. The president in his report alluded to prooress made in Bible study and to the°value of the practical Avork at the Parnell night school. The treasurer followed with a satisfactory report, showing the membership of the Union to be tAventy-six. There had been donations by'friends of the Union to the extent'of £7 10s, so he Avas enabled to bring forward a. credit balance of £2 S.s sd. After the secretary's report officers were appointed, and a discussion followed on business matters. It Avas decided to send at least five delegates to the Nelson Summer School, and the executive Avas instructed to raise the necessary funds. The meeting concluded with three cheers for Mr Fox. the outgoing president.

In the programme for Ihe concert at the V.M.C.A Rooms this evening the name Miss Ha.yser Avas -printed instead of Miss Frances Harper.