Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 34, 9 February 1903, Page 4

The following is Captain Kennedy's weather forecast for twenty-four hoursfrom nine a.m. this day.—'•Strongwinds from between south-east and east and north-east. The glass will fall after sixteen hours from now.'' While taking a full complement of passeuaers to St. Helier's Bay on Saturday afternoon, the Devonport Ferry Company's steamer Nautilus broke down. She had cleared the wharves, when i>. pump rod broke, making it impossible to run the engines. The whistle was blown for assistance, and one of the ferry steamers at once towed the disabled vessel back to the quay. Another steamer wras waiting to make the journey, and owing to the smart manner in which the temporary arrangements were made there was very little delay. An inquest was held at Kiripaka on the body of William Sproats, a miner, aged 58, when the following verdift was returned: —"That the deceased came by his death by drowning himself while in a state of temporary insanity." The Thames Jockey Club's grandstand at Parawai, and an eight-roomed cottage, . the property of the club. were destroyed by lire early on Saturday evening. The fire broke out in a cottage .at the end nearest, the grandstand, and quickly spread to the latter. Before assistance arrived both buildings were in. flames, and no water being available their fate was sealed. The origin of the fire is a mystery. The cottage was not occupied. It was insured for £200 aud the grandstand for £100, in the Victoria oliice. The club's loss over insurance however, is estimated above £400. The fire is attributed to boys smoking on the grandstand. Mr Lloyd, proprietor of the Kamo Hotel, was accidentally shot on Friday night by a person rabbit shooting in the moonlight. The wounds, which are in the body, are not dangerous.

This morning the barque Gladys arrived from Gisborne in tow of the 5.6. Omapere. The barque went ashore at Gisborne a little over a week ago, and was subsequently floated off. However, the vessel commenced making a little water and it was decided to come to Auckland for repairs. The Gladys will be docked here for examination and repairs.

For those who want to see "New Zealand's best wheelman pitted against "Major" Taylor, Walker and company, the report that George Sutherland contemplates going to Australia >r the purpose of having a "shot" at the Sydney thousand-pounder and other valuable prizes (wires our Wellington correspondent) is certain to be received with delight by all sporting folk. In calculating hfs chances on present form many of has admirers do not hesitate to assert that he has a chance of lowering the colours of America's lightning pedaller and the Australian cracks. Messrs. Rigby Hunter and Johnson, of the Australian Institute of Mining Engineers, visited Waihi on Friday evening, and were entertained at a private dinner by the. Waihi School of Mines Council at Mr. Meyers' hotel: The party visited the Waihi Company's mine and battery on Saturday. " _ youth named Thomas Griffiths, 19 years of age, while running in the hallmile handicap at the sugar workers Scnic at Pine Island was "spiked" by another runner, his foot being torn openfor several inches. The wound received medical attention on arrival in town, nine stitches being put in.

Mr J H. Witheford, M.H.R., recently wired to the Premier requesting him to take steps to provide endowments ol land for the city of Auckland and for the borough of Birkenhead, which he represented, as present revenues were all required for ordinary purposes, and the demand under the Public Health Act, which woidd be a growing amount yearly, would become too great a strain upon the ratepayers. He suggested that lands in the Thames Valley be set aside as an endowment for the city. Mr Witheford has received the following repiv, which was read at the meeting of local bodies in the Waitemata electorate yesterday re the infectious diseases hospital:—"There are no appropriations made by Parliament out of which money can be taken to provide endowment for Birkenhead or any other borough in the colony. Land can only be purchased under the Land for Settlement Act, either for farms or workmen's homes, and only then when the Land Purchase Board recommend. Without the recommendation of the Land Purchase Board the Government is powerless to act. The same, applies in respect to granting Piako land as endowment for Auckland.—(Signed) R. J. Seddon."

Mr Ewington, official visitor, acknowledges with thanks the following donations towards tho Lunatic Asylum picnic-. —David Craig. £1 If; Mr Justice Cooper, £1; A. Harvey, 5/; Mr, Walsh, 5/; K. Cameron, of; Friend, 4/; Warnock Bros., 5/; A. J. Entrican and Co., 2/6; Thos. Cotter, 5/; Earl and Campbell, of; Jackson and Russell, 5/; W. Patei^on, 2/6; D. B. McDonald, 2/6; Nelson Pierce. 2/6; A. B. Donald, 10/ _ J. H. Upton. 5/; Burton and Hammond, 5/; A. Hanna, 2/6; J. J. Craig, £1; Clerks Gas Company, 10/; J. Watts, 5/; John Lawson, 5/; ,J. MeKail GeddGS, ->/.

An alarming accident occurred at Devonport on Saturday afternoon. The Waiwera mail coach was standing outside the post oliice -when the winkers fell off the leading horse, startling the animal so much that it galloped down the street with the vehicle. One of the verandah posts at the post office was carried away, and when the horse had galloped about fifty yards it crashed into Messrs Parsons and Sons' shop, completely destroying the window and framework and inflicting severe injuries upon itself. So badly was the horse cut about that Mr Halstead, veterinary surgeon, had to be summoned from town to stop the bleeding.

Mr John McCabe. of Eamarama, was struck in the eye by a piece of wood while engaged in cutting firewood on Thursday evening. The eye. was so seriously in jured that it is feared the sufferer, who was attended by Dr. Dalziel, will lose his eye. Mr McCabe lost his other eye by an almost similar accident fifteen years ago.

The performances of the Hauraki Band in the Albert Park yesterday afternoon were listened to with delight by large numbers of people. In the morning the members of this band joined the Auckland corps in the church parade at St. Paul's.

The committee of the Grocers' Association have fixed the prices of butter and eggs this week at the same rates as ruled Inst week, viz., eggs, 1/ per dozen, wholesale: Dairy Association butter, lid per lb; factory 'butter, lid; separator. Sd; dairy, 7d; .second-class dairy, 6d.

The eighteenth annual show of the Franklin Agricultural' and Pastoral Society will be held at Pukekohe on Tuesday and Wednesday. March 3 and 4. The schedule of competitions is a large and comprehensive one, and a number of special prizes have been given. The show has always been a popular one in the past, and this year there is every indication that it will be as successful as ever. Intending exhibitors are reminded that entries close on Saturday, February 14. The schedule of prizes is now available.

A German paper has published a long article on "Swimming in England," written in quite a nympathetic vein, but tending to prove that the English (and no doubt one can say Britons) are reprehensibly backward in swimming. Some of the things that the author finds fault with are these: —Far too few people in Britain can swim; soldiers are not compelled to learn; people are frightened to enter the sea in weather the least boisterous: they are too frightened of the cold; they hug the shore in swimming for fear of "cramp" (which is largely a fiction of the imagination and due in most real cases to an overloaded stomach); they play too much about diving boards and the like instead of taking long swims; there is too much pot-hunting in baths, when time would be much better spent in lifu-savijng practice. The British are good runners, jumpers, boxers, rowers, mountaineers, explorers, rifle shots ■ why such bad swimmers as a race?

The following is the state of the prison at Auckland for the week ending Saturday last:—On remand, 4; awaiting trial, 15; penal servitude life, 3; hard labour, IGS; imprisonment, 1; default of bail, 2; received during the week, 14; discharged, 13; total in prison, 178 males, 12 females.

Amongst recent callers at the Govern.' ment Tourist Office were a number of Indian Civil Servants. They state tHat were the colony better known in In^j a large numbers of Civil Servants would be induced to come over here.

Miss Constance Barnicoate, represent* ing the "Review of Reviews," and othes English papers, is touring this colony, and has already written up several articles for the papers she represents. Miss Barnicoate is paying a special visit to the gumfields north of Auckland.

Mr Latta, manager of the Great Northern Railway Company, London accompanied by Mrs Latta, is at present in Auckland. Mr and Mrs Latta will visit Rotorua, travelling thence overland to Wanganui, and also making a tour of the South Island.

The s.s. Mararoa, which arrived from Sydney yesterday, made a smart passage anchoring in the harbour at ten a.m. It was not until half-past one p.m., however, that the steamer berthed at the wharf, she having been delayed by medical and Customs inspection. The Mararoa brought a large number of passen. gers in both classes, including 26 Austrians, who will probably proceed to the gumfields. Fine weather prevailed on the run across. On Friday night a concert was held in the social hall, and the sum of £4 was collected in aid of ths New Zealand Shipwrecked Mariners' Society relief fund.

It is expected there will be a laro-e number of visitors at Rotorua during carnival week. Members from various local clubs have called at the Tourist Office within the past few daye making inquiries as to the aquatic races, and it is anticipated that in these races there will be many entries. The Government has arranged to take rowing boats from the city to Rotoura free of charge, provided the crews travel by the sama train. The local representative wishes to acknowledge the following contributions towards the carnival fund:— Messrs. T. and S. Morrio, trophies, £5 bf; Bycroft and Co., £2 If; James Stewart, £5; Wilson, Horton and Co., £3 3/ and half-year's subscription to Auckland "Weekly News"; Wellington Woollen Mills, £2 2/; Briscoe and^Co., £22/; Brown Barrett and Co., £1 1/; E. Porter and Co., £1 1/; P. Havman and Co., £1 1/; W. H. Herries, £1 If; John Allen, warehouseman, £1; A. J, Entrican and Co., 10/6.

At the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, last Saturday evening, an entertainment was organised by Miss Carrie Knight for the patients and sisters In charge. Musical items were contributed by Misses Conway, Carrie Knight, Maud Donovan, Madoline Knight, and Messrs, Mantell and Noton. Fantastic dancing by Misses D. Knight and B. Barry; recitations by Messsrs. H. Herbert and R, Keenan. Miss L. Knight played the accompaniments. A most enjoyable evening was spent, and at the close Miss Knight and her friends' were heartily thanked for their kind and thoughtful services.

A conference of local bodies in the Manukau county, called at Papakura for last week, was adjourned until Feb. 27, at the rooms of the Auckland Agricultural Association, when several important matters will be discussed, including the abattoirs site, charitable aid finance, and valuation expenses. Representatives from other counties are invited to attend the adjourned meeting-

Miss iA E. Davidson lectured last evening to a good audience in the Theosophical Society's rooms on "Karma and Reincarnation." Miss Davidson said that three doctrines had been declared by one in authority, by one of those great souls in whose care was the evolution of humanity, to be the most needed of all teachings by the Western people of to-day. She then applied them to the many problems of our daily life, contending that they reduced the whole tangled puzzle of existence to the most perfect order and harmony. Discussion followed. Before the lecture Miss Campbell gave an effective rendering of Piccolomini's "Eternal Rest" as a vocal solo.

The attention of sharehoiefcrs in the NTcw Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, is drawn to an advertisement in another part of tills issue.

The Wellington Fire Brigade won every event in which they competed at the Auckland meeting on Saturday, a large _ amount of cash and seventeen trophies. The brigade broke a record. The two men competing received an enthusiastic reception on their return.

The annual picnic of the Parnell District Public School was held at Home Bay, Motutapu, on Saturday last. There was a very large attendance of pupils, parents and their friends present, and the outing was the most successful yet held by the school. Mr. J. Petford (chairman) and members of the committee, with the headmaster, Mr. J. L. Scott, and his assistants did all in their power to provide amusement for the children, and deserve praise for their successful efforts. A programme of sports was carried out, the 100 yds school championship being won by Fred. Westbury, and the girls' championship by Jessie Scott. The old boys' race created a great amount of interest, and after an exciting race was won by F. Killip, with P. A Ellison second, and H. G. Chevis and W. Noonan dead heat for third place.