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Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1902, Page 4

The following returns in connection with old age pensions show that during the current financial year there has been no increase in the Auckland district. There were 1007 pensioners on the books on October 1, 1901. Durin"- October, November, and December 27 new claims were established, and there were 10 inward transfers for ail districts, thus making a total of 1044. During the same period 35 names were removed; 24 by death, 8 by outward transfers, and' 3 rejected under all heads. These reduced the total to 1009, which was the number on ■the books at January 1, 1902. The number on the pension register on April 1, 1901, was 1017, which is 8 more than the number on the register on January 1. Thus the returns show a decrease of 8 from April 1, 1901, to January 1, 1902. The mortality during the nine months was considerable, and the Court during that period granted 80 new pensions. Kecent legislation has tended to reduce the number of claimants^ and it seems probable that there will be little or no increase for some years.

By fire on Tuesday afternoon, the five-roomed dwellinghouse on Mrs Biadley's farm, some three miles from Te Aroha, was totally destroyed. No one had been near the house for more than an hour before th<4 discovery that the place was on fire, and when the men, who were workiii.fr some distance away, reached the scene it was too late to do anything. Apparently the fire had originated at the back of the chimney. The loss is estimated at something over £200. Thii only insurance policy was one of 4100 in'the Phoenix.

Messrs E. *ord and J. Leydon J.P.s, presided over a sitting ot tne Police Court this morning. Two first ottending "drunks" were discharged with the usual admonition, liancst Green, for driving a horse round a corner at other than a walking pace was fined 5/ and 7/ costs. John and Charles Cowan, charged with riding bicycles on the footpath at Birkenhead, were each fined 10/, and costs 0/. Frederick Criffen, for riding a bicycle in Symonds-street without a lio-lit, and Ronald Campbell, for a similar offence in Karangahape Koad, were also fined 10/ and costs; and a similar penalty was imposed on David Allen for permitting his horse to wander in Hepburn-street. -The ciecision in the cases of Charles lusher and William Tretheway, charged with allowing the tramcars of which they were conductors to be overcrowded, was deferred until Saturday.

According- to cable advices received yesterday the New Zealand and River Plate Land Mortgage Company, at a meeting held in London, have approved of the recommendations made by the directors in the annual report. The proposals were that a dividend at the rate of six per cent. per annum be paid for the year, the interim dividend of two and a half per cent, already paid to be deducted therefrom; that £15,000 be added to the reserve fund, and £705 carried forward. The approximate amount of net profit is £ 32,490. The Bengal Government have discovered that the introduction of barmaids to the saloons of Calcutta is lowering the prestige of the white race in the eyes of the natives, who are horrified to see white women employed in a trade which they view with abhorrence. The Governor has therefore, issued ,an edict ordering that barmaids shall be prohibited after April 1, 1903. Accordingly, the Board of Revenue have decided that the following condition shall be inserted in every hotel license issued in Bengal, whether held by Europeans or natives:I—"That,1 —"That, in the place for which this license is granted no female shall be employed in connection with the sale of imported wines or spirituous or fermented liquors in any capacity whatsoever." The election of two auditors for the New Zealand Insurance Company which took place yesterday afternoon at the annual meeting of shareholders, after we went to press, resulted as follows:—Mr H. Gilfillan, junr., 38.436 votes; Mr R. E. Isaacs, 20,732; Mr J. F. Buddie, 17,704. Messrs Gilfillan and Isaacs were therefore appointed. In the course of the Arbitration Court proceedings in the cabmen's case this morning, Mr Rosser, the representative of the Employees' Union, asked His Honor if the Court could fix a minimum age for cab drivers. His Honor replied that the Court could not assist in this respect. He personally thought that a. driver should be of such an age as to be in a position to resist the temptations put in his way. He had always found the Auckland cab drivers as a ; body an excellent, upright, sober and j courteous class. Several special features in this week's "Graphic" make the number one of much more than ordinary interest.'1! First in importance, perhaps, are the pictures of the Auckland section of the Eighth Contingent in camp and bidding farewell to Onehunga. The boys departed so quietly, and we were so busy with our holiday-making, that , these scenes will be a noveltjr to most, as they are of interest to all. Capital pictures of the N.Z. lawn tennis championship meeting, giving clever studies of the individual players in the act of playing should be wrelcome to all lovers of the game. The concluding days of the Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting gave matter for some fine photographs,- which are published in the number. "Gems of the Pacific" is the title of a series of new views of Tahiti, etc. The Domain, from new points of view 7, makes another capital subject. Considerable space is devoted to scenes on the new underground tramway about, to be opened in Wellington. Young readers of the "Graphic," and their elders too, will be pleased to see photographs of the dolls distributed free by the "Grapnic" to the poor children of Auckland and Wellington on Xmas Eve. Among1 the portraits are one of Mr -Kensington, of the Lands Office, recently appointed Under-Secretary for Lands, and the Rev. Geo. A. Carver, the new incumbent of St. Sepulchre's, Auckland. There are the usual cartoon cartoonlets, stories, notes, topics, sketches, society news, ladies' and children's pages, sport notes, etc. The number is now ready.

At the meeting of the Thames County Council last evening- a letter ■was received from the Lands and Survey Department stating that no appropriation had been made for doing anything to the Piako Swamp, and that it was unlikely, therefore, that any of it would be opened for settlement during the ' current financial year. The, information was received with expressions of regret. Cr. Bagnail said the question of settlement on the Piako Block should not be allowed to remain where it was, but that they should endeavour to force the Government to make the block available for settlement. He had been assured that the Piako land was as good as that at Netherton, and in his opinion if the land were made ready for settlement the Thames district would make rapid progress. He moved, " That the matter be brought before the Minister for Mines when he returned to the Thames, with a view to securing some definite action in the matter by the Government." Cr. Dunlop, in seconding the motion, said it would be a great boon if the land was made available for settlement. Cr. Corbett was of opinion that the Government should raise a loan to carry out the work if they had not sufficient funds. The motion was carried.

The Sisters of Mercy wish to thank the following- friends who have sent, donations to St. Mary's Orphanage (Ponsonby) for Christmas:— Messrs Lambourne & Dewar, "The Graphic," Mr W. Zeigler, Mr Brophy, Mr Darby Mr Gallaugher, Father Burton, Dr.' Lenihan, Messrs Arthur &~ Co., Mr Johnson, Mr Corley, Mr McQuillen Messrs Upton & Co.

32 doses for 2/6, 64 doses for 4/6 128 doses for 6/6. There's good value in every bottle of Eccles.' Phosphor-ton The great nerve tonic—(Ad )

4 large gathering of friends and volunteers met at the Caledonian Hall, Coromandel, last evening, for the purpose of.bidding farewell to Mr A. T. Kenrick, manager of the local branch! of the Bank of New Zealand, who is leaving! to take up the position of manager of the Bank's new branch at Waihi. The opportunity was taken to present Mr Kenrick with suitable mementoes of his, stay, in recognition of the many services rendered by him. Lieut. Inde'r, on behalf of the volunteers, presented Capt. Kenrick with a handsome travelling case, suitably inscribed, and eulogised the efforts of their captain in bringing- the Company to its present efficient state. The chairman, Mr It. McEwen (County Chairman), on behalf of the general public. Councillors,and students of the School of Mines, presented Mr Kenrick with a handsome gold watch, bearing a suitable inscription. Several gentlemen delivered speeches complimenting Mr Kenrick on. his promotion, and wishing him God-speed and every prosperity in his new sphere. Mr Kenrick replied in feeling terms, and the gathering dispersed, & ?ter the singing of (he National Anthem. The Very Rev. Dean Grogan, S.M., of Napier, was a passenger by the. Te Anau from the South this morning. The rev. gentleman leaves by tha R.M.s. Sierra on Saturday for 'Frisco, en rciiie to Ireland, where he will spend a well earned holiday. At _the regular meeting of the No. 81 branch of the H.A.C.B. Society, held last evening- in the Hibernian Hall, the following newly elected officers were installed by the retiring president, Bro. P. J. Nerheny, viz.: — President, Bro. Y. Williams; vice-pre* sident, Bro. F. Gordon; secretary, Bro. W. Kane;' treasurer, Bro. b. Flynn; warden, Bro. B. Owen; guardian, Bro. J. O'Brien; sick visitor, Bro. M. Carmody; medical attendants* Drs. Darby, Lewis and Coom; Rev. Father Patterson, chaplain, was present, and congratulated the new officers. A vote of thanks to the retiring officers was responded to by Bro. Nerhenv.

The Indian coolies of Fiji as a class are not over desirable. The latest episode illustrative of this fact oe-. curred at, Navua. Intelligence from that district is to the effect that a murderous assault was committed on Saturday morning', December 29, by a free Indian upon his wife, with a weeding1 hoe, inflicting two very severe wounds in the head, rendering her insensible, and necessitating her immediate removal to< the hospital at Tamanua, where her wounds were attended to by the hospital attendant pending the arrival of medical assistance from Suva. According to the issue of the "Fiji Times" of January 1, the assault appears to have been entirely unprovoked, and followed upon a mutual separation between the two, which took place some two or three months ago. The assault took place in the presence of several other Indians, and one Beehai, though warned not to go near the scoundrel, pluckily went to arrest him, and nearly had his head knocked in vri'Ai the hoe, which he managed to evade, and closing- with the man threw him to the ground, and after wresting1 from him the hoe narrowly escaped a stab in the stomach with a knife. The would-be murderer has been safely lodged in the lock-up at Navua. The same Indian before he was arrested broke the arms of two Indian children whose parents had afforded some pro* tection to the wounded woman when persecuted by her man with a hoe handle.

The King is putting into practice on his own account some of the ideaa he gathered as a member of the Boyal Commission on the question of housing the working classes. New lodges are being erected in various parts of Windsor Great Park for his game-' keepers, and sites for forty. cottages for the use of other employees on the estate have been marked out in a field, adjoining the Royal gardens. These latter buildings are to be typical working men's dwellings, substantially built. They are to be let, it is said, at half a crown a week, which will mean a great saving to the occupiers,, as they are now paying from 5/ to 6/ a week for cottages privately owned, and mostly uncomfortable. In order to guard against over-crowd-ing the tenants will be forbidden to take lodgers. Phosphor - ton . creates appetite, strengthens the nerves and muscles,, and makes life worth living. 2/6, 4/6, 6/6. All chemists and stores stock Phosphor-ton.—(Ad.) Suits to please all; also hats and ties in grand assortment, at Geo. Fowlcls'.—Ad. Hats for everybody; straw hats, soft and stiff, felts and caps, at Geo. Fowlds'.—Ad. Men's colonial tweed suits, 19/ll; ; men's navy vicuna suits, 27/6; men's fawn and grey worsted suits, 29/6;1 men's vicuna suits, quilted and padded shoulders, 29/6.—Court Bros. —Ad. _ Travelling bags of every description; s teel trunks and Saratogas, at Geo. Fowlds'.—Ad. Boys' suits and knickers to fit any, age; cheapest and best, at Geo/ Fowlds'.— Ad. Men's heavy grand drill shirts, 1/6, 1/11; strong flannelette shirts, l/S, 1/11; good cotton shirts, 1/9, 1/11, 2/3.—Court Bros.—Ad. Boys' blouses and holiday suits in all sizes and prices, at Geo. FowlflsY —Ad. . ! Complete satisfaction guaranteed in every description of gentlemen's underclothing-, at Geo. Fowlds'.—Ad. If you are wanting gent's silk stripe tennis shirts visit Court Bros. They are selling 2/11 shirts for 1/11, 3/6 shirts for" 2/6, and 6/6 shirts for 4/11.—Ad. Holiday suits from 18/6; men's suits and trousers in all sizes and prices, at Geo. Fowlds'.—Ad. Summer coats, alpaca and silk, fancy vests and tennis trousers, at Geo. Fowlds'.—Ad. Men's light underclothing, natural wool, gauze, and merino, at Gefc Fowlds'.—Ad. There is sure to be a spell 'of de«; cent summer weather yet, and then straw.hats will be the order of the day. Court Bros, are giving some extraordinary good value in boys', ■ youths', and gent's straws, 2/11 hat for 1/, 3/6 hat for 1/6, and 5/6 hat' for 2/11.—Ad. White shirts, tennis shirts, In grand array; sweaters and sox, wt Qe»» Fowlds'.—Ad.