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Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 294, 11 December 1900, Page 4

This morning the Hon. J. G. Ward went out to Whitford Park, accompanied by Mr N. Alfred Nathan, in order to visit the ostrich farm. This evening he will be present, at a social given by the employees of the Post and Telegraph. Department. Mr Ward leaves next Ifriday night on a visit to Whangarei.

Mr L. Johnstone, managing director df the N.Z. Commercial Exchange Co., returned yesterday from a month's trip through the "far north" in connection with the company's business. An old age pensioner under transfer from Hamilton to the Auckland district was before the S.M. this morning on a charge of drunkenness. The Deputy Registrar and Mr Strathern were present. Mr King informed the Bench that Charles Smith, the pensioner in question, was at present in the Costley Home, and after consulting the Board's visiting- officer, he ! would sruggest that a penalty of a month's instalment be inflicted. Mr l^rabant stated that if the pensioner left the Home or did not in every way conform to the rules, he would beyond doubt cancel the certificate. Mr Strathern promised to convey His Worship's remarks to the pensioner. Smith was then fined a month's pension.

The first concert of 1900-1 season of the Auckland Choral Society takes place on Tuesday, December 18th, when the "Messiah" will be given. The solos have been allotted to Madame Chambers (soprano), Miss Reeve (contralto), Mr H. Lloyd Brett (tenor), and Rev. A. Mitchell (bass). The following works have been selected as the programme for the year: First concert, Handel's "Messiah": second concert, Gade's "Crusaders" and "Orpheus," Act II.; third concert, orchestral; fourth concert, ColeridgeTaylor's "Hiawatha"; and fifth concert, Schumann's "Paradise and the Peri."

The usual meeting of the Ponsonby Schools Committee was held last evening, when there were present: Messrs. W. J. Rees (chairman), Eussell, laylor, I-ainey and Turner. A letter was read from Mr. J. Kirker intimating that lie was prepared to defray the cost of purchasing a flag for the .Bayfield School. It was agreed that the hearty thanks of the committee be accorded Mr. Kirker for his kind offer and for many, other instances shown of his interest in the children of the district. The committee decided to approve of the request of Mr. Wells for permission to take the children of his school to Takapuna on Thursday for a picnic. An amount of routine business was also transacted Accounts amounting to £15 12/3 were ordered to be paid, and the balance shown was £78 19/8.

A man named William Black, employed in the Colonial Sugar Refining Company's works at Chelsea, met with a very painful accident to bis left hand about nine o'clock this morning. He was engaged in making some alterations in the works, and with others had wedged up a heavy girder, which slipped and caused the accident. Black had previously lost the second and part of the third fingers of his left hand, and now he lost the rest. The girder fell on his hand and cut the. remaining fingers right off. A telephone message was sent to Lir.kenhead to detain the 9.30 ferry steamer, and Black was put in a boat and pulled down to tbe steamer, which waited till his arrival. On getting to town the injured man was taken to the Hospital, where his wounds were attended to.

An attempt at robbery with violence occurred on Sunday evening a. little after eight o'clock on the foot bridge which crosses the gully in Commercial Road, Arch Hill, connecting with Kingsland. A young man was wendin»- his way home at the time mentioned when he was suddenly attacked by a tall man, who struck him a fierce blow on the head, which caused the assailed to reel. He was then attacked by means of a sharp instrument, possibly a pocket knife, which inflicted a severe wound upon tbe wrist of the left band. The young man escaped, but not without the loss of a considerable amount of blood. The wound of the hand was dressed as soon as possible, and no serious results are anticipated.

The formation of work on the Gisborne-Karaka railway is now proceeding beyond Ormond, and Mr Stewart, the engineer in charge, is surveying the line for a tunnel at Kaiteratahi. Bridge-building and ballasting has yet to be done before the first, section can be opened.

The members of the Auckland Bowling Association met yesterday afternoon, there being present: Messrs. W.-Gorrie (chairman), J. if. Haslett (secretary), Dr. Laishley, Messrs. A. Wright, A. W. Thomson, Malcolm Niccol, Brookes, C. G. Laurie, W. Coleman, Harrison, E. Mahoney, Haselden, C. Hanson, Holden, Hardie and Harvey. Dr. Laishley was appointed auditor of the Association. The secretary said he had received transfer of all tbe papers from the late secretary of the Association. Mr. A. W. Thomson moved, "That the secretary be ex-officio a member of the Match Committee, without vote, except in the absence of the delegate of the Club he represents." The question ot the pennant competitions came up for consideration. After considerable discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Haselden, secqnded by Mr. Coleman ''That the conditions of the pennant flag contest be amended to allow of the clubs being represented by one rink,' and that changes of players be allowed." Mr. Holden (Remuera) stated he would do bis best to get bis club, which at present holds the pennant, to fall in with that arrangement. The Bay of Plenty "Times" of last Friday has the following:—Shortly before Colonel Banks banded over the parade of tbe Tauranga Mounted ?Rifles to Lieut. Taylor yesterday, an incident occurred which might have led to a scene what would have vividly r* called some of those described as happening in the- South African war, when "some unfortunate British mounted force has marched into a Boer ambush. There was a- peculiar humming 'sound in the air while tlie company was halted in sections near the middle of the ground, which rapkily increased in intensity—a fair imitation of the droning of a hail of Mauser bullets. Suddenly, over the middle of tbe column, the air was seen to be thick with a swarm of bees, one detachment of which swooped past the troopers;' heads and alighted on the prass a few yards to tbe risrht. Happily the Colonel's next order, s-iven in blissful unconscousness of the ambush which lay .at the company's feet, was a movement to the front, which removed it to a safer locality. ' Had he <riven "Sections ri<?ht,'"march, walk." things would nrobablv hnve become uncommonly lively after the first few steps.

A letter lias Veen addressed to tlie Auckland. Presbytery by Mr Robert Peace, drawing attention to a. proposal to erect a monument to the memory of the Scottish Covenantefrs. Says the writer:—"The legacy bequeathed to ns and others by the Covenanters of Scotland has been liberty of conscience in all religious and political matters to the end of time. The knowledge of this has been dead and buried, but will be resurrected by malting their deeds known and showing our gratitude and veneration for those who laid down their lives for their God and posterity; and no other mode can be better than the erecting of monuments that will become in after time a, kind of shrine and keep their memory green."

The executive of the Waikato Liberal Federation decided on the. suggestion of the president (Mr Teasdale) xo present the Postmaster-General with an illuminated address, in which the new issue of postage stamps should form a crest, in recognition of his efforts in the inauguration of penny postage. The presentation will be made on the occasion of Mr Ward's contemplated visit in January.

There in on view -in Messrs Yates . and Co.'s window, Queenstreet, the largest and finest collection of sweet peas ever seen in this province. There' are over 80 varieties shown, all grown by the firm at their Mangere seed farm. The collection embraces all " the latest novelties from England and America, and shows in a very marked degree the perfection and beauty of this favourite flower now so deservedly popular.

The natives of the Poverty Buy district are largely signing a petition praying that the Duke and Duchess ut York will visit Poverty Bay. They ''demand" that tlie visit shall take place because of their loyalty in the. day of trouble, and also point out that this being the first land in -Sew Zealand called at by Captain Cook, it is necessary that/ their Royal Highnesses should visit the historic spot.

At a private conference of Xew Zealand ironfounders and master engineers, held at Christchurch last week, it was decided to form an association.

On Monday of last week a lad named ?Naysmit_i fell from the steps of the wharf at Dargaville into the river. The strong current carried him towards the middle of the stream, and he was unable to grasp a lifebupy thrown to him. Mr F. Leonard, a carpenter, who was on the wharf at the time, divested himself of his coat and boots and dived in after the lad, reaching him just in the nick of time. With great difficulty, increased by the struggles of _N Taysmith, Mr Leonard managed to reach the shore, much exhausted by his exertions. The Mount Wellington Koad Board urge all occupiers in the district upon ■whose land California thistles may be growing to get them cut as soon as possible. We understand that Messrs W. and A. Gilbey, Limited, the well-known Avine merchants and distillers, of tlie

Pantheon, London, who have large interests in the Australian colonies, ha.ye received letters Of appointment as purveyors of wines and spirits 10 Her Majesty the Queen and wine merchants and distillers to H.K.11. tho Prince of Wales. Messrs Gilbey, who are proprietors of the Chateau Leu? denno Vineyard in the Medoo district, were recently awarded a gold medal •at the Paris Exhibition for claret produced on the above 'estate, this being the only instance in which an English, firm has gained such a distinction in the French section.