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Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 14, 16 January 1903, Page 4

Mr. William Adams, an old resident of this city, died at his home in Upper Vincent street last night after a short illness. Mr. Adams was born at Paisley, in Scotland, and came to Melbourne in 1848. After a short stay and a trip home to Paisley. Mr Adam's came to Auckland by the ship Shalimar. arriving in 1862. He made two visits to the Old Country, but with these exceptions had lived in Auckland ever sbice his arrival. His family consists of two sons, Messrs. .Tas. and Alfred Adams, and two -daughters, Mesdaanes W. H. Prime and W. J. Potter.

A painful accident occurred on the Queen-street wharf yesterday afternoon. A man named W. Grogan, who had only been in the forenoon, was assisting in loading pipes and iron material on the scow JTautaru, when some iron which was suspended in a sling swung round and struck one of his legs a little above the. ankle, breaking the bone. Or. Sharman attended to his injuries. The injured man was taken up the wharf in the Ashford litter which had been placed on the wharf by the St. John Ambulance Association, and subsequently to the hospital for treatment.

Messrs Thompson and Hill's newlybuilt fruit preserving works in Nel-son-street is among the several recent signs of Auckland's progress. They have been established same few years now, and have built rrp a considerable fruit-canning and jam-preserving business. The premises are erected with every modern convenience, and they are ably coping with a mnchneeded enterprise in this province. A walk through thedr l>usy factory would surpi-ise any but those not actually in business touch withi the firm, - »

The latest news from the wreck of the Gairloch shows that the hull of the vessel is danteged beyond repair. At high water the sea washes in and out of the steamer. With the exception of the timber, the whole of the cargo has been destroyed by the water. The damaged cargo has been abandoned by the underwriters. On Wednesday last there was a phenomenally high tide, the seas breaking over the vessel. At low tide the same day she was left high and dry on the rocks, and the experts, who accompanied Mr. Charles Eanson, manager of the Northern Company, after inspecting the hull, expressed the opinion that it would be impossible to refloat the steamer. In the meantime the company are dismantling the vessel of all valuable gear and articles, such as furniture and deck fittings. The directors meet shortly, when it will be decided what course is to be adopted in respect to the vessel.

The Wellington "Post" states that the voyage of the Wellington yacht Waitangi from Lytteltou the other day was marked by a somewhat exciting experience. The little craft left Lyttclton at midnight on Tuesday. The wind was then nor'-west, and a long board was made out to sea. Further tackinsr brought the yacht up to a point between Cheviot and Kaikoura. on Wednesday night. The wind then dropped, but a heavy sea drove the yacht rapidly towards the shore, and the anchor was dropped in about 90 feet of water. Fortunately it held her. An hour or two after she had brought to a heavy north-east breeze sprang up, and the Waitangi put to sea under a trysail. After going about fifteen miles or so from land a course was shaped for Wellington, but as dirty weather was approaching from the north she ran into Port Underwood, and remained there until Friday morning, when she stood across to Wellington, and brought up at her moorings on Friday night.

At the Birkenhead Borough Council meeting last night Mr Witheford said that as their representative on the Harbour Board it would interest them to learn that in regard to the erroneous report published that he had neglected to attend the legal and finance meeting of the Harbour Board to which the question of salaries was referred, he had at great personal inconvenience travelled ten miles, and attended the duly convened meeting on Friday, Deceni'ber I.9th, to which the question was referred fon consideration, but no other member of the Board was in attendance except the chairman, and he did not (through no fault of the secretary) receive notice of the adjourned meeting until it was held and over. Several members present expressed approval of Mr Witheford's action in the matter.

This morning the steamer Energy left Hokianga to search the north and north-west coast for salvage from the steamer Ventnor, which sank some miles off Hokianga tivo months ago.

The Americans are about to make a bold attempt to capture a larger portion of the Australian trade. The White Star liner Oregon, 3235 tons register, which is being fitted up as a vast sample warehouse, was to leave Seattle in November, and after visiting China. Japan, South Africa, and other countries, will reach Australia about the end of Februarj\ Each firm displaying samples pays £400 for a certain space on the lower deck, and it is anticipated that most of the American leading industries will be represented. Advance agents have been appointed at the various ports of call, and arrangements made for booking orders and supplying samples to likely customers. The vessel will anchor in each port visited, communication with the shore being maintained by means of steam launches. It is believed that the nrofits of the expedition will ensure a handsome dividend to its promoters.

Tnten.se interest in the success of the .Delhi durbar was manifested throughout India, says an exchange, and incidents and rumours in connection with the preparations arose almost daily. The following story from Calcutta is a very good sample: "A somewhat amusing rumour in connection with the Delhi durbar has found its way into the Calcutta bazaars. It owes its origin to the deeo interest which Curzon has taken in archaeolog-ical investigation. Lord Curzon's purpose is stated to have been the discovery of the throne of Solomon, which, by some mysterious means, is said to have 'been carried to India after the great King's death. The rumour now is that the throne has been found, and that Lord Curzon intends to seat himself on it on the day of the proclamation. The name of" Solomon is revered in India by both Hindus and Mahometans, who have not the remotest idea of who he was or where he reigned, but are agreed in believing that he possessed miraculous influence over good and evil spirits. Virtue also attaches to Ms throne. The discovery of the throne at the present time is believed to have the greatest significance."

? The members of the Auckland Chess Club held an annual re-union in their rooms at Waters' Cafe last evening, and were joined by numerous prayers of outside clubs. "The president (Mr Alfred Hosking) occupied the chair. The company drank the toasts of "The King."'"The Governor" (president of the New Zealand Chess Association). "The Champions." "Our Representatives" and "The Visitors." In the course of a brief speech Mr Justice Cooper congratulated the club on securing the championship through Mr J. C. Grierson. Refreshments were served, and some excellent entertainment was afforded by the following singers:—Messrs W. Manning. Thomas Allen, Garland, Fish, and Boulton. Recitations were given by Messrs Gordon and W. B. Eyre. Mr C. H. Philpott played the accompaniments.

Karangahape road is slowly but surely rising to the dignity of an important street. The last evidence is the fact that a drinking fountain has been erected in front of the Rising Sun Hotel.

Passengers for Whangarei will note the s.s. Wellington will leave for Whangarei and Marsden Point at 9.30 p.m. this evening from Quay-street Jetty No. 2, instead of s.s. Clansman previously advertised.

The P_ev. William Cuff, of the Shoreditch Tabernacle, London, is under promise to preach and lecture on Sunday and Monday next for the local Baptists. He has a great reputation in the Homeland as a successful jDastor, a powerful preacher, and as a gifted lecturer. For thirty years Mr Cuff has laboured in the East of London. The church in which he ministers seats about 3000 people, and few are the vacant places at any time the pastor is at home. There are eight missions gathered round the central building, and these are worked by an army of voluntary helpers, led by Mr Cuff. The rev. gentleman is advertised to deliver his lecture on "Slums and Slaves of London nextMonday evening, at the Tabernacle. This subject is one of deepest interest, and in the hands of so capable a lecturer as Mr Cuff should prove a great attraction.

The Onehunga Ironworks were offered for sale yesterday, but all the lots were withdrawn except the iron and timber. The iron realised an average of about £17 10/ per ton. The timber, which was of a heavy description, was sold for £17 10/ the lot to Mr. Davis.

We learn that Messrs Samuel Vaile and Sons, representing the owner of the large block of land fronting Jervois-road, in a corner of which the temporary tramway stables were erected, have granted a three months' option at a price which is not disclosed. The holder of the option has under consideration the best means of utilising the land, which comprises about """forty acres, it is probable, therefore, that this area will be cut up into allotments at no distant date.

The Parnell Methodist Christian Endeavour Society last evening passed unanimously the following resolution, "That this C.E. Society views with alarm the attempt to secularise the Sabbath by running electric trams on that day, and pledges itself to do its utmost to frustrate the attempt."

Workmen are at present engaged putting in foundations for an additional boiler at the pumping station, Ponsonby reservoir. The water from Nlhotupu gravitates to Ponsonby reservoir, and from there is pumped to Khyber Pass reservoir to supply the higher levels of the city and suburbs.

Mr. A. R. Barclay (says the Dunedin "Star") had a good tale to tell at the Chess Club's "smoke" on Saturday night, which, though not altogether new, will bear reproduction. He said there was a place in "the House" known as Bellamy's—possibly his hearers might have heard of it. One evening during the 1901 session a small party, containing a recentlyselected Minister, went out to dinner, and afterwards adjourned to Bellamy's. There jubilation reigned supreme, and the Minister —then a common garden variety of member — entertained the guests with a highlyartistic and elaborate "can-can." While he was in the height of his ecstasy the door opened, and in stalked—the Premier and his chief henchman. The. dancer struck an attitude with the shillelagh he had in his hand—he had been singing the only song he has ever been known to sing, and though he's "quid Scot" the song was Irish. The Premier gasped. "Oh, it's here you are, is it?" he exclaimed. "Why. man, we've been looking for you for an hour. Didn't you know you were to be sworn in as a Minister at S o'clock?" . The dancer gasped. It was then 9 o'clock, and he had clean forgotten the apjiointment.

A strange fish caught in a trawl off the Wairau bar was identified by Sir James Hector as "Macrurus Anstralis"—a singular form of the family to which the cod and ling belong. Tt is peculiar (telegraphs our Wellington correspondent) for- . its blunt conical snout, overhanging the month (like a shark's), its long, slender tail, and its rough scales armed with spines. Tt is a deep-water fish, swimming at depths of from 120 to 2000 fathoms. The first one taken was after the great storm of November, 1870, and all specimens since foimd had been mostly cast up after stormy weather, along with other allied genera of similar habitats which are of world-wide distribution. This particular species was first found on the South Australian coast. Unfortunately the specimen sent is rather far gone for preservation, except, perhaps, as a skeleton. All previous specimens have been "cast up," and not caught alive.

.Some days ago it was reported in the caible news that a man who was ekeing out a precarious living in Sydney had been left a million of mon-

ey. The name of the now wealthy nan is William Newton, and his occupation was that of a wood-carter. Newton, who came from a good family, used to tell his friends that he was entitled 1 to -a lot of money in Chancery, and intended to prosecule his claim with the aid of Mr Win. Brooke, a son of the. proprietor of the "Forbes Times." His identity •has now been established, and he comes in for a fortune of £1,000.000. The claimant has received the news as a matter of course. Want of means precluded him from establishing his claim earlier. Some years ago a reward of £100 was offered for information as to the claimant's whereabouts, and this reward of Si 1000 was offered -for information direct. Mr Newton expects to return with his sister and relatives in February to the oldi home in England.

A meeting of creditors in the eslate of IT. 0. P>arnes, tailor, Kara-nq-ahape-road. was held at the Official Assignee's office yesterday. The liabilities" are £197 5/6, and the assets £39 5/6, leaving a deficiency of £157 15/6. It was resolved, "That the estate be given to Mrs H. C. Barnes (the bankrupt's wife), upon her paying the costs of the bankruptcy." A further meeting will be held on Monday for the purpose oi considering the confirmation of the resolution adopted yesterday.

The premises of the D.S.C. will be closed from to-diay until 10 o'clock on Monday, in order to prepare for their great yearly sale. The policy of this firm is to clear out all their (season's (stock reg-ardless of cost. The inducements generally offered by the D.S-C. always attract large crowds of purchasers eager to take advantage of the cheap sale.—(Ad.)