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Auckland Star, Issue 66, 19 March 1900, Page 4

the year 1599 499 deaths and 988 births

were, registered in the city of Auckland. Including this city and the surrounding suburban boroughs, the total births for the year were 1320, and the deaths 625. The percentage of births

to 1000 of the population in this city and suburbs averaged 25.30, and the death-rate was 11.98 per thousand. In Wellington the death-rate was 11.1G per thousand; in Christchurch, 12.68; and in Dunedin, 13.47; so that Auckland's death-rate is lower than both Christchurch and Dunedin. Auckland's birth-rate was higher than that of any other city in the colony. During- the previous year the birth-rate for the colony was 25.74, while.the death-rate was 9.84. In that year the

birth-rate in Auckland city and adjoining- boroughs was 27.53, and the death-rate here was 13.13. The 1899 statistics show, therefore, that in this part of the colony both the birth and death rotes are lower than they were in IS9S, In Wellington, Christchurch 'and Dunedin the death-rate has slight I]y increased, as compared with IS9S. The birth-rate in each of the three i chief Southern cities shows a falling off from the rate of the previous year, so that ihe birth-rate is lower throughout .the colony. The City water supply still continues fairly good, as the Western Springs have not shown any decrease for the last 20 days. Up to this morning- the turning- on of the water at night during the past week in the city, only resulted in a loss of 170,000 gallons'. ■ Following- upon the Premier's pub- ] Holy stated suggestion the Cabinet, | through the Governor, has advised the Secretary of State for the Colonies !of New Zealand's approval and sup- ! port of the policy followed by Eng- , land in refusing to assent t;o tiie Inj dependence of the Boers, or to permit ;of intervention; also of the Premier's I belief that the colonies could supply i enough men to hold South Africa if ! the Imperial troops were required • elsewhere. | An application has been received by the Premier of New South Wales from Mr Quong- Tart, for Bang Yew Wei, a very prominent Chinese gentleman, to be allowed to visit the colony untrammelled by the usual restrictions appli- ' cable to newly arrived Chinese. He I was a strong- supporter of the young ; Emperor of China, but when the Dow!;ager Km'pi'e-sa assumed control, he had to flee the country and take himself and his reform principles on board > a British man-of-war, where he was protected. Since then he has been to i various localities, being always well ! treated by the British, and is now at Singapore. Kang Yew Wei. if no obstacle is placed in his way. will be accompanied by a suite of distinguished Chinese. ! The Melanesia n mission schooner Southern Cross, will leave for the Islands to-morrow (Tuesday) and a farewell communion service will be held in St. Paul's Church at 10.30 a.m., to : which all friends of the mission are i invited.

j Mr B. C. Carr draws attention to the sale of properties to be held by him at his rooms next Thursday, the ""Slid inst., at 12 o'clock.

The vital statistics for last year, compiled in the Begistrav - General's Office at Wellington, show that during

At a time like the present when there is a danger of bubonic plague reaching this colony, - special attention should be paid to sanitary matters. A medical gentleman practising in this city has drawn our attention to the gully that conveys the drainage from the Hebrew, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic cemeteries as well as the sewage- from the Karangahape Ward. This is covered until Newton Boad is passed, after which the sewage flows, slug--ishlv this time of the year when water is scarce, though the Archhill Bond district, being added to by the drainage from Eden Terrace. The whole °o£ this sewage then flows through the gardens of the Chinese :at the foot of Archhill and passes onIward to the sea in close proximity to I the collecting ponds at the western !«prin<". The doctor mentioned the fact that he has now three cases of 1 diphtheria on the gully line, tyro __n I the Karangahape ward of the city, 'an another in Commercial Boad, .Arch Hill. ! _ movement has been set on foot !by some nf the ladies of Auckland in [the direction of establishing a readiino- room or salon in the city for the ! exclusive use of ladies. Booms have been selected on the second floor ot the Victoria Arcade. These will be ■comfortably furnished and a library and reading room instituted. Light refreshments will be obtainable at all times. Ladies are invited to patronise the undertaking as it wnlbe -i. o-reat boon to them while shopping .in'town, and will serve as a place for i appointments. The new venture is to be called the "Southern Cross • ! Ladies' Salon, etc.. and a list W BOW ! open at Messrs Wildman and Lye.l s, i where ladies may send their names. I V meeting of ladies interested in foe scheme will be held in Mrs Sowerbv's Hall on Wednesday, March 21, at 3 p.m. Many of the leading ladies of Auckland have promised their support. The intimation that Mr Muir does not intend to seek re-election to the Doard of Education after his present I term of> office will be received by the ! public with general regret. Mr Muir has served on the Board for a period of nine years, and has, we are informed, the unique record that he has attended every meeting throughout that long period. Coupled with his constant attendance and his keen interest in its business, his thorough knowledge of primary education has made him a valuable member of the Board. He is I highly esteemed by the Board's teachiers. and by those* of the public who take an interest in the administration 'of public school affairs in Auckland, j for his impartiality as an administrator, and for the useful reforms he has been instrumental in bringing about. Amongst these are equalisation of the holidays, the abolition of extra returns formerly required from certain schools, and the detection and abolition of improper charges made upon the funds of the Board, as well as many other minor improvements. One weak spot iv connection with our local system of education has frequently been brought to the notice of the Board by Mr Muir. i.e., the necessity for the establishment of a training college for teachers. We cannot, in the interests of national education, but regret that his efforts in this direction have hithi erto proved fruitless. We understand |Mr Muir contemplates ere long visit-

ing the Old Country, and we trust that

on his return he may again render good service as a member of the Board to the cause of primary education in this provincial district.

The Edison kinematograph and col-

ossophone exhibition at the Opera House on Saturday night attracted a fair audience. The- pictures dealt mostly with the war, and the frequent applause showed the patriotic spirit of the audience. Some splendid living

pictures were shown, the best being a fine representation of the marcn-past of the Gordon Highlanders, a picture which gave the audience some little idea of the splendour of such a sight. Pictures of generals at the front and other war scenes were enthusiastically received, and several instrumental and vocal items were excellently rendered by the colossophone. Mi- P. Maekie introduced the pictures. Mr A. J. Macdermott most successfully manipulated the niyriorama and kinematograph, and Mr J. E. Macdermott the colossophone.

j Constable Dowry left Te Whaiti j (Uvewera Country) for his new- home at Otorohanga a few clays ago after 5 years' service in the district. A large number of natives assembled to wish Mr and Mrs Dowry good-bye and Godspeed, hoping he would get on as well in his new home as he had done here. Mr Lowry was very popular with the natives and received many valuable mats, etc.. as presents from the natives on the morning of his departure. |Mr A- M. Grant has been, appointed | district constable at Te Whaiti in suci cession to Mr Lowry. Mr Grant has been engaged in storekeeping at that place. It has usually been supposed that the mud which fell over this district . (says the Botorua "Chronicle") during | the time of The Tarawera eruption had most fertilising properties. With ; some knowledge of the properties of ivolcanic soils obtained in other countries the idea seemed reasonable that in the Tarawera slopes might be found [that mineral manure for which the Government have been offering- a bonus for the last twelve months From experiments made recently, however, that hope seems dissipated. A. small paddock was fenced off near j Tiki-apt., duly plaufed, and a miserjable result attended the efforts madej insignificant tubers only were in evidence where a. good show oE potatoes and carrots was expected. j A meeting of subscribers to the proposed Auckland Glass Works will be held at 3 o'clock on Monday, 19th inst ;at Chamber of Commerce. Boom No ■115, Victoria Arcade. Would-be subscribers are also invited to attend. The senior members' fourth vonm-v ; birds' race of the season in connection i with the Auckland Flying Club was j flown on Saturday from Frankton Junction, T3 miles airline. TwentyI four birds, representing seven loft* ; competed, the result beino- a very ; close race for all the competitors ' Ihe winners were: E. J. Swarm's 157 first, velocity 1100 yards per minute--18. Cruiekshank's IS3 second, velocity ' lOSSyds; W. Cocran's 251 third, velocity 10,87 yds. The other four competitors were close up. The junior members' second young birds' race will be flown from the same stan-e'on Saturday next. ° I Important to storekeeprs and other