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Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 112, 13 May 1902, Page 4

To those -who believe in the theory that there is connection between the planets and volcanic disturbances, Mr Stevenson, F.K.A.'S., says it is interesting to note that the eruption in Mioi-inique was coincident with the eclipse of the moon, and when the moon was nearest to the earth. The period has ibeen remarkable for terrestrial disturbances in Spain, in the South of France, and to a lesser degTee in Australia and New Zealand. The Post and Telegraph. Department forward the following-memo.: — "The Pacific cable being now out of the hands of the contractors, whereby the delay and interruption to traffic through the daily testing have been removed, a more reliable and fasttr service is now possible. It has, therefore, been decided that' from to-day (the 13th) all ordinary intercolonial cable messages not marked by the senders to be forwarded 'By Extension' are to be routed' by our officers 'via Pacific' and transmitted accordingly. This instruction, however, does not apply to press messages."

Captain Edwin supplied the following- weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day: "Heavy .gale 'from' between west arid south-west and south; glass rise; tides moderate; weather exceptionally cold. Wirth's Circus elephant Guni Sah caused a good deal of interest in Queen-street to-day by dragging the cages containing- the wild animals from the wharf to the stables. rJ?he elephant dragged three cages at a time, and when one of Craig's lorries containing circus paraphernalia got bogged she came along and lifted it on to firm round. Going down the hills she found that the cages were coming- on to her, and she turned round, using her head as a brake.

A Press Association telegram from Thames states it is reported that shares to the value of £700, stolen eighteen months ago, from the Waihi Company, were taken to various parts of the colony, even so far South as.Dunedin, in the endeavour of those in possession to have them treated. It is not believed that all the stolen shares have been recovered.

The Mayor of Grey Lynn (Mr R. T. Wai'nock) acknowledges the sum of £15 6/, subscribed by the employees of Messrs H. 0. Clark towards subscription lists !n circulation throughout the city for the relief of the widow and family of the late Thomas Virtue. • . '

The Collector has received information from the Kauri Company (Limited) that a small raft of kauri logs "broke away from the little steamer Effort in Tair.ua Harbour, crossing' the harbour to the sawmill, and, owing to the weather and wind direction, the raft was carried over the harbour ibar, and has possibly drifted out into the sea. Every endeavour will be made by the Company to recover same, but meantime Piasters of steamers and small craft are cartioned to be on^the "look out" to prevent accident. A telegram from our Tairua correspondent reports thiL all the logs except thirteen have been recovered.

A match will be played' to-morrow at Devonport between a team from H.M.s. Eingarooma and a, butchers' team. The butchers' team' will be picked from D. Shaw, Pakeha Bridges, Smith, A. Purdie, W. R. Bright, B. Morris, W. Donne, Stanley, Lillas, Gladding, Casey, Ambrossa, Masson, Cooper, Jones, Whelan "(2), E. Long.

These are democratic times in language as well as in custom- At the mecimg oi vi« iSewmariiet Borougn Councu last evening, a oounediior astonished the meeting by saymg that the Government, in the administration of the Public Health Act, should give the Council fair "doos." The spelling of this word is a matter of some doubt, but it may be explained, for the sake of the uninitiated, that the expression "fair doos" means fair play.

At a meeting held an the Choral Hall last Friday, it wais decided to form a ping-pong club to play in the Choral Hall. The following committee and officers were elected: —President, Professor Brown; Committee, Mrs Nelson, Mrs Purchas, Mrs C. Buddie, Mrs De Clive Lowe, Miss Scherff, Miss Gorrie, Dr. Purchas, Dr. Parkes, Mr W. R, Bloomfield, Mr J. Hooper; hon. secretary, Mr W. A. Ridings. The number of members has been limited, and already a large number of ladies and gentlemen have joined the club. The committee are making arrangements for the opening night next week. The name of the club has not yet been.decided upon.

An. enter tainmbent was given at the Costley Home on Friday evening-. Airs Anderson, of Newmarket, undertook to provide the programme, which was a-most enjoyable one. The following items were all exceedingly well received. Bag-pipe selections, Mr Fotheringhanr, whistling solos, Miss Bur foot; recitation by Mrs Lidiard and Mr Pickin; songs by Mrs Williams,- Mrs McColl, Mr Stokes, and little Miss Mcllwain. Highland dances by the Misses Mcllwain; piano selection by Mrs Williams, and recitation by Mrs Anderson. Refreshments were given to the inmates and the visitors during1 the evening. Mr and Mrs Skinner, the manager and matron of the Home, were most attentive and courteous. Votes of thanks to the visitors brought a most pleasant evening to a close.

MrjC. L. Wragge, Queensland Government Meteorologist, issued the following- general remarks on receipt of the first-cable message from Fiji and Norfolk/Island: This is, indeed, n red-letter day in the history of the weather bureau, and we have cause to rejoice in that at last we have received our data from Norfolk Island and Fiji. Now, with these new figures discussed in connection with our observations from La Nouvelle and those from New Zealand, we can do wonders with respect to the meteorology of, and forecasts for, the South-western Pacific. First, ws note the tropical distm'bance " Janeeta." in the neighbourhood of New Caledonia. Then we have the outline of the Antarctic storm " Theras" clearly- defined, the centre of which is 300 miles west from the Three Kings, and he will surely cause heav'1/ weather south from Norfolk Island, and on the West Coast of Maoriland. The Fiji group is under the influence of the northern edge of a highpressure system, the centre of which is. about 400 miles south-west from Tonga, and balmy easterly breeze? with fine weather, obtain over the Islands. "Janeeta" will probably pass towards the Kermadecs, and we expect to hear of- rough weather in that neighbourhood. Our new data throws great light in connection with the Australian figures on the heavy weather obtaining- on tlie southern coast of New South Wales, which is clearly due to steep gradients on the western edge of the disturbance " Theras," and indicate that the wind and sea will moderate, ere two days have expired, south from Trial Bay. The large high-pressure system near Victoria will cause frosts over the mother State, and snow or sleet around Kosciuseo. This anticyclone is followed by the Antarctic disturbance " Adger," now south from Albany. Now, we are not pessimistic;, -we always take the silver lining in every cloud, and seek for the good surely contained thereinYet we must be plain, and state that there is no sign of rain in the inland districts of the Commonwealth, l.either will there' be any yet awhile. unless1 ".Adger " makes northing, and yields some falls in Northern Viei toria, and the neighbourhood of the Murray.

The terrible catastrophe which has overwhelmed the inhabitants of Martinique gives to that most beautiful island a new, if awful, interest, and our readers will appreciate the views ! of St. Pierre, the ruined city, which appear in 'fhis week's "Graphic." The number, which is the mail one, h larger than ever, containing- sixteen ' additional pages lof letter press ! while the illustrated portion has also been1 muck increased. Amono- the pictures, mention may t>e made of the clever double-page chart-picture illustrative of the possible influence of the great shipping combine in the Pacific; the series of interesting views entitled "At Home with the Pakura-ng-a Hounds," and the equally entertaining- series of "Jack Ashore." Considerable space is devoted to pictures ofttte.electric lighting- of RotbrUa, with ■ fine scenes at Okere. The floods at Whangaroa, shovvino the damage done in a single night? take a page of pictures, and another is given to the sea-birds of. our coasts which in this stormy weather take refuge inland. The Ringarooma and her men is a fine naval series The opening of the football season recent ping pong champions, people talked about, Mr Seddon's diary an ft a host of other subjects supply interesting- pictorial and reading master. The large increase in the"paper, provides ample space for all the news of the week and a profusion' of stories, notes, articles, ladies' and children's pages. The sporting- -oa^es of the issue are brimfnf of tie latest information relating to the t""-*f The Thames Hospital Board, &i its meeting yesterday, decided to rescind* the resolution passed or. 7i\';br"7.?r'' 10 authorising the erection of a licspitVl at Wailrino, subject to cerfcsiji conditions. The Inspector or ECospTiab requested the Board to 3?iir.e its boundary with the WaiM Hospital district. and;it was agreed that the same be fixed at the boundary of the borough.

In, connection with the Mt, Eden Methodist Church a Social and Literary Club has been inaugurated. An open meeting- was held on Monday eight, at which a large number of both old and young- were present. " A lively interest is being- taken in the club, and a strong committee having been elected a successful winter season is anticipated. /

—' : ; . . r-—S!!sii"';'.!"•: , The installation of Mr John Fin Mayor of the borough of Parnell w^ jtake place at 8 p.m. to-morrow. Th five members of the Council wko in* tend resigning owing to the defeat of the recent loan proposals have a» re J to hold over their resignations \tx[\\ after the installation.

A Press Association telegram states that as the proposed- sittij of the Arbitration Court In Auckland ' on the 39th inst. does not suit the Waihi miners, Mr Justice Cooper has agreed to postpone it to a later date. < The diplomas of the University degrees to the Auckland graduates will be presented in the Choral Hall on Thursday, July 10th v at 3 o'clocV The Chancellor has asked the Prjl mate, one of the senior members ot '- the Senate, to officiate for him on the occasion,

In order to promote a more har. monious feeling amongst the mem. bers of the Druidic Order, the Pon. sonby Lodge are tendering a com' pliinentaiy social tv the membeis of the various , lodges next; Jfioaday eveniug. t

The Most Reverend Dr. Wallis, An. gliean Bishop of Wellington, was a passenger from the South by the s.s Ngaptihi this morning.

' The Hon. IT. Mosmaix is amongst the passengers by the Elingamita, sailing for Sydney this evening-. The following nominations huva been received for the officers and managing committee of the Auckland Branch of the Educational Institute for 1902-3: —President, Mr W. H. Newton: vice-presiaents, Messrs B. d, . Stewart, J. Armstrong, T. U. Wella, M.A., and G. W. Murray; treasurer,. Mr E- N. Ormiston; secretary, Mr Q,J H. Plummer; committee, Misses TJ;v Shrewsbury, M.A-, M. S. Newman, "i£j J. Metlhone, J. Priestley, E. Simpson; Messrs T. U. Wells, M.A., R. B. Het.s lot, F. J. Ohlson, H. G. Cousins,J. C« Dickinson, J. Christie, A. F. Burton, J. Armstrong, R. D. Sttwart, J. & McNaughton< J. R. Whitaker, £l Wooller, A. M. Rust, H. W. C. Phil.S lips, Julian Brook, J. G. Cox, T- ij.': May, G. W. Eapson, A. Short, D.% < Smart, H. 11. D. Wily, G. Large.rfJ 11. Brown. W. W. Hill and G- W. Murray. At the last meeting of the committee it was decided to recommend the annual meeting in June to adopt for the election of the committee the alternative method described in section C, rule 8, which provides for thi» representation o| branches on the committee. Misses Gaze and Drury.i and Messrs D. W. Jones (Papakura); and J. Campbell {K rewton West) were ejected members uf the New ZealandEducational Institute. ■ .

There is a widespread opinion (says the "Times") that the recent accidents in the Lyttelton tunnel were due Jo " the unfortunate guards being overpowered by the foul smoke from the engines w Tliile passing from carriage to carriage. medical man, when asked about the matter,1 said he had no doubt that this was the correct;': explanation, and that further aed-; dents would occur unless the engines were supplied with more suitable fuel! or the guards were forbidden to collect tickets in the tunnel.

The members of the literary and: commercial staffs of the "Auckland Star," "N.Z. Graphic," and "N.Z. Farmer" assembled yesterday afternoon for the purpose of bidding farewell to Mr. G. L. Peacocke, who, after being for about 19 years connected with the "N.Z. Farmer," nas severed his connection with that journrl. Mr. T. W. Leys, on behalf of the staff, presented Mr. Peacocke with a Glad- ' stone bag, handbag, and travelling satchel, fitted with various requisites, also a fountain pen and pipe. In making the presentation, Mr Leys referred to the kindly relations' existing between various members of the staff during the many years Mr .I'eacoeke had been connected with the "Farmer," and expressed the hope that his future would be a successful one. Mr. W. Beaumont added a few complimentary remarks on behalf-of the commercial staff. Mr. Peacocke suitably responded. , The arbitration case, Kirildri natives v. the Kauri Timber Company, being a claim for £211 10/, for allege ed dainag-e caused to their cereal crops last month through the overflowing of the liirikiri stream, over which the Kauri Timber Company holds timber floatage rights, was con* eluded yesterday. The award given by the arbitrators was to the effect that the Kauri Timber Company should pay the natives a sum of £25 in full settlement of tneir claims, and £15 15/ to the arbitrators and umpire, whilst each side was to pay their , own legal and other expenses. Mr. E. Clendon represented the natives, and y Mr. E. Miller the Kauri Timber Company. The arbitrators were Mr W. S. Styak for the natives, Mr Levi. Dodd i'or the Kauri Timber Company, and Mr J. L. Walton (umpire). The fh-st of a series of pleasant Wednesday evenings will be held in the Devonport Congregational Church., to-morrow night. The address will be given by the Rev. John Wilkins.

•A- pathetic incident was witnessedby the party out looking for the body of William Wright, who was drowned in the Molyneux River (saj rs the ■Dunedin "Star" of Wednesday last), The drowned man's hafc was found on thie', bank, and reposing on it was a Jiny kitten, which began.to make a rickety progress towards the search party on their appearance. .It is thought that the deceased had-the kitten with" him when he fell off the bridge, and that the animal, with the tenacity of its kind, hung to the man till it was* washed ashore. .right, it' is said, was a victiijn to heart disease. "

An uncommonly exciting- experience/ at sea was told "by Captain Heddle,of the barque Loch Bannock,, which arrived from Glasgow recently (says the Wellington "Post"). Early in the voyage, and just after clearing the Tail of trie Bank, a seaman, W. Albert; Petersen, aged 19, A\as carried away by a huge wave. Although tlie sea 3 were mountainous, the chief office^, put oxit in a boat to rescue the lad? with a crew of volunteers. Rain \vas fiercely pouring down, and it was quickly realised that all attempts at rescue were impossible. The boatload, of plucky men then tried to regain the ship, and with the seas crashing* on board Captain Heddle made up hi? mind that those in the boat wer« doomed to be lost. Watching hi*; chance, however, he seized the slnglj favourable moment, and just mansg^' ed to heaT-e a rope to the chief offie?*? sitting at the helm. He caught * life-saver, and affixed it to thi, thwarts of the boat, and across thli| slender bridge tne men swung, theflu* selves back again to their ship and.M. safety.