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Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 308, 29 December 1902, Page 4

It is understood that important changes will take place shortly at the head ollice of the Bank of New Zealand, Wellington.

A shocking accident occurred in Argyle street, Ponsonby, on Saturday night, or early on Sunday morning. A valuable horse belonging to Mr Deeble, butcher, straying in the street, knocked down the barrier protecting the drainage works proceeding there, and slipped into the trench. The poor brute must have made a desperate struggle for life, -the sides of the trench near the road surface being soaked with blood. The trench was barely wide enough to allow the body in, but the frantic efforts of the animal to extricate itself, together with the great weight of the carcase, ultimately forced it to the bottom, a depth of' eight or ten feet, where the horse was found dead on Sunday morniiicr. In an article on the effect of the great drought on animal life in tbe New South Wales back districts, the Sydney "Telegraph says: "Kangaroos and wallabies are now almost extinct on the plains. Hardly one has been seen for months past. Yet they were very plentiful up till last year. It is not so long ago since in a big drive organised on a large north-western station, they rounded up as many as 20,000 kangaroos—a great si<?ht. A sportsman could reckon on eight or ten in an afternoon almost any-wnt-re; and men who "kangarooed" for a living have been known to accumulate as many as two thousand scalps in the space of a few weeks. But it will probably be a long time before the marsupial assudies the proportions of a pest in the west 'again. The drought has also been very severe on the emu. the most majestic thing in the way of bird life that our bush can show. There are very few emus left, What remain are nearly all to b*e found round the Lower Lachlan and the Murrumbidgee. If you suddenly come across one in the north-west, he it generally too weak to get out of your way."

The funeral of the late Mr Richard Henry. Lawf ord took place yesterday at the Waikumete cemetery, and was very largely attended. The firm of Messrs Smith and Caughey, the employers of the late Mr Lawf ord, were represented and a number of the employees were present. The firm and the deceased's fellow-employees sent floral wreaths, and the National Independent Order of Oddfellows, of which he was a member, also sent a wreath. Mr Poole., of the Helping Hand. Mission, read the burial service, assisted by the Rev. W. Griffiths. The beautiful wreaths laid on the coffin numbered about fifty.

Bamboo and bead blinds; v 530 just cpened up, from 4/6 each,— Tonson Garlic 1 -' Co.—Ad.

On. Saturday nig-ht an ' old man. named William Beilley, of about 60 years of age, fell over the side of the Hobson-street Wharf into tbe water. Tbe splash was beard, and the man was picked up, when be was found by Constable Cahill to be suffering from the shock of bis immersion. He was removed to the District Hospital, where be is progressing towards recovery.

The following is the state of tbe Auckland prison for the week ended Saturday last: On remand, 5: awaiting trial, 10; sentenced to penal servitude (life), 3; hard labour, 175; imprisonment, 1; default of bail, 2; received .during week, 17; discharged, 17; total in prison—males IS7, females 9.

Tbe lady superintendent of the Hospital desires to thank the following friends for Christmas presents for patients: Children of High School, Cambridge (per Miss Bunciman, for dolis, toys-and books; Mrs L. Benjamin and Miss Benjamin, for books, cards, toys and sweets; Mrs A. Taylor and Miss M. Taylor, for books and sweets; Miss Bita Ashton, for books and toys; Floral Fete, per Mrs L. Benjamin, for dressed dolls; "Santa Claus," for one large screen; D. L. Murdoch, Esq., for toys, books and pictures; Mrs St. Paul, for kind friends, Christmas stocking of toys and sweets for each child; Mrs L. Myers, "The Mount," for toys and sweets; Miss Gladys Buddie, for doll's house; Mrs W T. Tucker, for jelly, custard, pudding, and summer -rink powder.

Mr Pete Hughes received a cable from Mr ,T. C. Williamson on 'Xmas morning wishing tbe whole of tbe members of his Musical .Comedy Company, now playing in the "Runaway Girl' at His Majesty's Theatre', a Happy Christmas, and to ask them all to drink bis health. In accordance with Mr Williamson's wishes, .Mr Hug-l.es invited the members of the company, and tbe directors of the new theatre, to a eha.i-ipagne supper in one of the club rooms of the new Arcade, after the performance on Saturday night. Mr Hughes proposed the health of Mr J. C. Williamson in felicitous terx»s, and wished he and Mrs Williamson a Happy Christmas and a Bright Now Year, and also asked the company pre_:nt t? drink success to all his enterprises in the coming- year. Tbe toast- was received with the utmost enthusiasm and with musical hoiours. Mr Myers, one of the direr-tors of the theatre, also spoke in happy terms, ..rid thanked Mr Williamson for sending to open tbe new theatre such a -b: diant company. Mr P. R. Dix, who was also called upon, said he was delighted lhat Mr Williamson had opened the new theatre, aud wished him success in nil his undertakings during the new rear.

At the Police Court this morning one first offending "drunk" was convicted and discharged, aud three others were each fined 5/. witb 24 hours in default. Edward McCaghey, alias ■Montague, was fined 10/ or 48 hours in default for being found drunk in Khyber Pass road while in charge of a horse ancl cart. Peter McLaren was fined 20/ or 7 days in default for being found drunk in Ensom-road while in charge of a horse and cab. George Williams, charged with a.ssaultlu<r William Robinson, did not appear, and a. warrant was issued for his arrest.

Serious complaints have been made by the War Office authorities in reference to the shortage in weight of jam supplied by a Victoria firm for troops in South Africa. It is asserted flint out of 100.0001b. weight of jam arranged for in a contract there was a shortna-o of 50001b. The' War Office authorities naturally claim that this shortage should be made s - ood in money" value. It is stated tbat the deficiency would amount to £160. The Victorian Minister for Agriculture bas written to the company responsible, asking for an explanation. At tbe same time he lias already-pointed out tbat his department is only responsible in connection with any deficiency in tbe stipulated quantity. He intends to impress upon the firm the extreme desirability of making good the shortage, as at the present time everything possible is being done tq increase Australian trade in jam, aud it would be unfortunate for the firm •itself to be struck out of future contracts.

At the luncheon given by the Union Steamship Company on their new steamer Moeraki at Sydney last week Mr F. W. Jackson, the Sydney representative of tbe company, responding to the toast of "Success to tbe Union Company," said the strides'by which the Union Company was progressing were well known. It might, astonish the public to learn what difficulties had to be surmounted in conducting.a great shipping- firm. In buildingsteamers tbey bad to provide not mei'ely for to-day but for many years in advance. He would quote a few figures to show what an immense amount, of money was distributed in Connection witb tbe company which he bad the honour to represent. In Sydney alone for the last twelve months tbe expenditure bad amounted to £250,000—(cheers)—and tbat had to go on despite the heavy falling off caused by the Federal tariff and the drought. Comparing this year wit-h last year there bad been a decrease, of 40,000 tons in freights. Of tbe £250,000 to which be referred about £100,000 bad been spent in coal and £2-1,000 bad gone to pay wharf labourers. (Cheers.) Seamen's wages paid in Sydney totalled £23.000; repairs. £10,000: stores, £3.1.000; sundries (including advertising aud management). £12,000: while the money paid for goods transhipped in-Sydney (including freight, lighterage and carting) amounted to £22,000. All of tbat money was laid out in this State. Tbe company's total consumption of coal for last year was 250,000 tons, while in overhauling alone £100,000 bad been expended, nine-tenths of that sum representing wages. The staff of the company on shore was \ipwards of ?,00. and afloat 2000. Some idea of the company's growth might be gathered from the fact that in 1577 the fleet comprised eleven steamers, with a tonnage of 5500. To-day there were fifty-seven vessels, with _ capacity of 92,600 tons. (Cheers.) The Moeraki was the company's hundredth steamer. (Applause.)

i There was a very crowded attendance at. the Choral Society's per--1 forma-.ce of "The Messiah" yesterday Another excellent rendering of the work was secured, and the audience listened with rapt attention, and bestowed frequent'anplause on the oxeeutlonists. The society now vacate for the holidays.

Amended cable rates via the Pacific line are as follows: Prince Edward Island, 2/7.pcv word; Newfoundland, 2/9; Atlin and Yukum, 3/2.

The Town.Clerk of Sydney, Mr. T. H. Nesbitt, in a rejjgrt on the use of oil on the streets, states that the experiments in Sydney, the primitive and laborious method of application notwithstanding, have so far proved successful. Tbe value of oil in effectively laying dust, he says, is beyond question, and has fully justified the. action of the Lord Mayor in proceeding with tbe matter. Dr. A. H. Porter, of Waihi, is in Auckland on his way to London and Edinburgh, to visit some of tbe English and Continental hospitals. Dr.j Porter lias decided to leave Waihi, and on his'return to _>'ew Zealand will begin practice in Auckland. Tonson Garlick Co.'s show window of Eastern g-oods is a sight not to be seen every day in our city.—Ad.