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Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 34, 8 February 1906, Page 4

The following is Captain Edwin's weather forecast from 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day: "Heavy gale from between north-east and east and south, glas3 fall soon, rain probably heavy, rivers flooded after 16 hours from now."

In the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon, Mr Justice Edwards had occasion to use the power given him under an amendment of the Criminal Code Act, when he ordered the Court to be cleared during the hearing of an indecent assault charge, directing the newspaper reporters not to publish anything which .would denote the name of the girl alleged to have been outraged. Before the passing of the last amendment to the criminal code, a judge desiring to clear the Court could only request "all respectable persons" to leave, but it frequently happened that persons who cared not for exclusion from that category disregarded the request. Now, the power possessed by th« Bench is as follows:— "Where on any trial before any Court of justice the Court is of opinion that the interests of public morality require that all or any persons should be excluded from the Court, it may exclude such persons therefrom accordingly. Provided that such power shall not be exercised for the purpose of excluding the prosecutor or the accused, or his counsel or solicitor, or any accredited newspaper reporter;" The Act also provides that the Court has control over the "nature of any report published in connection with the case.

The Auckland Hstvale are warned to parade at the Drill Hall to-morrow evening for the purpose of electing officers and discussing .matters regarding, going into camp. Aβ intending recruits ghoold ftttead, '

The Boyal Hew Zealand Yacht Squadron's motor boat race, postponed from January 20, eventuated last evening. The entries and handicaps werec—Union, scratch; Matareka, 23m 15s; BlpebeU, 44m 15s. The course was the same as last Saturday. Bluebell was sent away at oh 3m, Matareka_ at 5h 26m 15s, and Union at sh. 47m 15s. Union passed the Matareka oft Jndge's Bay, 4>ut failed to overtake the Bluebell, which finished first at 6h 40m. ■ Union finished second at Ch 41m 6s, and i Matareka third at 6h 44m.

The Te Tatanhape waterfall, which it will be remembered was caused recently by the overflow from Lake Tarawera, has now ceased to exist. Mr Seton-Karr. the well-known English explorer, paid a visit to the place where the stream formerly fell over the cliff, and was surprised to find that the fall had disappeared, and that the bed of the stream at the top of the cliff was dry. They followed the former course, and half a mile above the cliff found

ia-t the stream entered a cavern, and ran underground until reaching the cliff which it formerly tumbled over, and there it emerged. * The stream is about seven times as great where it emerges a3 where it enters the cavern, a fact difficult to account for. Mr Seton-Karr and his. guides descended the cliff on the site i: hf the fall, having to cut their way for part of the distance, although, they were fortunate in discovering a way down which was practicable for the greater part of the distance. At the bottom Mr SetonKarr found that the river welled up in enormous springs swarming with large eels. Thence it -continued its former course to the sea.

Five tenders have been received in Wellington by the engineer, Mr. J. E. Fulton, for the proposed high level bridge over the Waikato River at Cambridge. At the last meeting of the Cambridge Borough Council, the Mayor said the style of bridge had been altered from a cantilever bridge to one of an arch design. The estimated cost was £11,375, but on account of the alteration in the plans, it will be necessary re again approach the various local contributing bodies. The Mayor moved, "That the plans as now submitted be substituted for those of the. cantilever bridge, previously agreed to, and that the Mayor be take the necessary steps to obtain the sanction of the various local contributing bodies." This was seconded by Mr. OToole and carried. In a letter to the Council, Mr. Fulton explained that the increase in his estimate was accounted for by the advanos in the price of steel. He also advised that the Council should let a contract for the steel work and aether for the bridge erection. The Mayor said that the tenders would £rrive in Cambridge fivr days after the Government had approved of the plans.

There was a rumour about town yesterday (says .our Wellington correspondent) that the special business of the council of the Fire Underwriters' Association of New Zealand was consideration of what united action, if any, should be taken by the council regarding State' competition in J;he domain of fire insurance. When'the semi-official authority was asked whether this rumour had "anything in it," the only response was a smile that might mean anything or nothing. It is whispered that the committee contemplate making t some jmpve in this directiba-'before long.

The Town GJerk notifies that tenders will be received, up 4iU 4k-pah. on -Thursday, the 15th .insfc., for the erection of; a concrete and iron band stand in the Victoria Park-

The steamer Ayrshire, which arrived from England to-day, has the distinction of being ths largest vessel that has steamed up the ships' canal' to Manehes-" ter- The Ayrshire called at the inland port shortly before leaving for the colonies on her present voyage, and thousands of people assembled on the docks to view her. Some idea of the difficulties experienced in taking so large a vessel as the Ayrshire up the ship canal can be gathered from the fact that each of the. 4 locks through which she had to pass is 65 feet broad, whilst the vessel's beam, is 59ft 6ins. which gave the pliot only sft 6in,in which to "play." The canal is 36 miles long, and it took 13 hours to go from Eastham, the river entrance, to Manchester.

The following pupils of the Onehunga district high school were successful in the recent examination. From the secondary department: Arthur Parfitt, Daniel V. Moore, William Jones, .Jessie Cartwright, and Arthur N. West passed the junior Civil Service examination. Parfitt, Moore, and Jones passed with credit. Prom the primary department: C. Hastings, Senior, and Dennis Kirk gained junior district scholarships, and Frank Sutherland and William Slade qualified for free places in the National scholarship. Senior coming second in his division. The North Island Challenge Shield won by the Onehunga School Cadet Corps in December of last year is to be presented by his Excellency the Governor, Lord Plunket, on the morning of Tuesday, 20th inst The presentation is to be made at Government House, and a brigade parade of cadets will be called in honour of the occasion.

The steamer Pelican with the expedition headed by Mr Gow on board left for the Three Kings this morning for the purpose of searching for the specie lost in the wreck of the s.s. Elrngamite. The party also included Mr J. Eeigel, of Wellington, Captain E. Toswill, representing the underwriters, and Mr Percy Leigh ( the diver. Mr Gow expects that the party will be absent for ten days, and he is confident of success. A quantity of dynamite was shipped on board the Pelican in the event of it being necessary to make an opening through the hull of the sunken vessel into the strong room. The bullion believed still to be on board the Elingamite is valued at about £17,300.

Authority has been given by th« Premier of Victoria for the expenditure of £3000 on the establishment of the first three agricultural high schools, which will form part of the new policy of agricultural education. It his not been decided where these schools are to be first opened, and this will depend largely on the residents of the various districts. To secure one of these schools a district has to provide half the cost of the building and equipment, estimated at £750; provide 20 acres'for the school farm, and guarantee 50 students at an annual fee of eight guineas.

A largely attended meeting of the Parnell Liberal Federation held in the Parnell Football Hall (Mr W. Johns, president, in the chair) appointed a committee of ten members to carry out a smoke concert to be given to Mr F. Lawry, ILELR., and the Minister of the Crovra on the opening of the Parnelj post office some time in March. A small committee was also formed to make arrangements for Mr F. Lawry to address the youth of Parnell at an early date. Setecal new members •were jproposed and elected to the Federation,

The fceadaaster of toe Grammar School desiies ua : tofi*y tiiat all applicants for admieaion. to the school must attend vi. 10 o'clock nest Monday, morning. This applies to ell winners of scholarships and to those entitled to free places under any qualification whatever, as well as to those who enter as paying popxLs.

The marvel of New Zealand's tremendous output of agricultural produce is rendered striking 'by the fact that the last census shows the number of farmers folding ;land under any tenure to be only 28,337, of - runliolders 3220, and of dairy farmers 4702. As the other landowners, including horticulturists, vignerons, poultry farmers, etc., do not contribute more than a fraction to the export trade, and very little in comparison to the local markets, it will be seen that the bulk of the £21,000,000 representing New Zealand's annual output of agricultural products is raised on the holdings of only a little more than 36,000 men.

Last season the Auckland Acclimatisation Society granted 5000 trout fry for distribution in the streams in the Upper Tairna district. As the fry could not be packed to Tairua they were liberated in the Kaueranga Creek, Thames. Mr T. F. Cheeseman wrote to the Thames County Council stating that the trout are increasing in number, but that some of the trout enter the water race which supplies the town of Thames and perish there when the water is cut off. He asked that the mouth of the race be protected by a little fine wire netting , , as it seemed a pity for good trout to be destroyed in the manner indicated to the loss of everyone concerned. Residents at Tairua are anxious to have their streams stocked, and at the meeting of the council last night Mr John Patton wrote stating that if the trout were sent from Roorua %n a Monday to catch the Northern Com-r pany's Apanni, he would make arrange-' ments With the captain to look after them whilst en route, and receive them at Tairua and distribute them.

The Ghristchurch Poultry Club three months ago decided that the International exhibition at Christehurch would furnish an opportunity for holding a poultry show on a scale not previously attempted in the colony, and directed its secretary to ascertain from the executive committee whether it intended to undertake anything of the kind. The secretary was informed tnat. the matter was referred -to the agricultural and pastoral committee, "to con-, sider and report." The club waited until .the end of last, month and then veptuffed to remind the secretary of the exhibition that it had heard nothing of the intentions of the executive committee, and to ask if ijb would receive a deputation to discuss the matter. This brought a reply from the secretary in i which, entirely ignoring the request for ; an interview, stated that the agricultural and pastoral committee 'had not considered the mattsr at all, and suggested that the club should submit proposals of its own, "to be. considered by. the interested committee before .being brought before the executive." 'This ieeemed to the poultry club like adding (insult to injury. If the club -had taken, ne show in hand itself it would have had arrangements well advanced before now. The idea .was to circulate a prize sche-: dule early in the year, so that fianeiers could breed special j stock "for i the show. The Club now washed its hands of the matter.

,A "speed-mad miner" named Walter Scott, of Death .Valley, Southern .California, recently (enriched the coffers of the Santa Fe. railroad to the extent of £1100 in. .return for their enterprise in landing him in Chicago from Los .Angeles in less than 46 hours, the time stipulated by the miner in -bargaining for the run. The distance was 2265 miles, and the time occupied was 44 hours and 54 minutes, giving an average speed of over 50 miles an extraordinary performance, m i\*iew of the fact that the, train had to : rise to an elevation of 7208 ft. from the Pacific Ocean, and descend into Chicago, which is but 593 ft. above the level of the sea. At several stages of the run 85 to ,90' miles, an hour were made, and for a stretch of 239 miles the time, was 239' minutes, exactly a-.mile a minute, hut more wonderful still, an average epeed : of 54 miles an hour was -maintained f qr _ a distance of "1360 miles. From the email hamlet of Cameron, to,the still smaller one of Surrey was 2.8 miles, and this was made in Imin. 35sec, being at ihe ratp of 106 miles an heur. The world's recp_rd before had been held by the Pennsylvania railroad, which covered 2.5 miles at the rate of 102 miles an hour. .

At the Waihi Police Court this morning Susan Williams, a young girl, was charged with the theft of pieces of lace •and ribbon, a pinafore, and a handkerchief, valued at 5/6, the property of Thos. Godkin, fruiterer, of Waihi. The goods taken had been restored to the' owner, the girl's former employer. Thei presiding magistrate, addressing accused, : said she was liable to three months' imprisonment, but the Bench did not intend to punish her if she behaved herself during the next 12 months; otherwise she could be punished on the present charge without any fresh information beinV preferred against her.

An enquiry into the circumstances surrrounding the death of Arthur Crawshaw, who was found dead in the kitchen by his wife at Oio, King Country, on Sunday morning last, February. 4th, was held at Taumarnnui on Mon-, day evening, before Mr. Alexander .Bell, J.P. After hearing the evidence of several witnesses, Dr. Gaims, the jury, of which Mr. Gabriel Elliott was foreman, returned the following verdict: "Deceased, Arthur Crawshaw, met with his death at Oio on February 4th by a giinshot wound self-inflicted, with a pc? rifle, whilst temporarily insane." The deceased was in the employ of the Public Works Department, and-was respected by his many friends, to whom his death was a great shock. Crawshaw was at one time in the employ of the Auckland Tramway Co. as conductor. He leaves a wife, but no children.

A Maori named Kaihu left his home near Ngunguru about 10 days ago, and has not since been seen. Search parties have failed to discover any trace of the missing man.

The British Biograph pictures will be exhibited this evening in the Ponsonby Hall.

This evening at the Baptist Tabernacle Schoolroom Mr Bradley and his wife will deliver their farewell address on the scenes of their labour on the Egyptian mission fields. The lecture will be illustrated by fresh limelight views.

genetal eecretary «f 4he/C«v saya he ia *\x^W\ aay Deer jar. The manufaetnj.,,." unable to cope with the aggpS will take them some time to iw? present orders. The jars, ajfofg capacity of one gallon ana'hSSl'Sn are ornamental pieces of rlm™*;?^ some of the hotdkeepgre jw'-JS S ! their customers with them eriS?" other member of the as S[ >cja.tjK& tnat if the temperance party iZ? poeitive evidence that there increase rather than a decrease in fi day drinking they had only to W the share list in the daily eabw,™ they would find that brewerfeS* now higher than they had>» in fact, they were now brinpne ».H price in the market, and Sere sellers. . f^ 8 -

The telephone service in Sydney ___ late assumed such large -ditoaMgJSJ additions to the plant a « d *. 9 Z*nt have been urgently .needed*or -_om_r past. A new switchboard is of.the__w pattern, and lias a capacity lines. It automatically operator in the exchange when a _p_*S! has rung off, so that it obviates tj_yi!_ cessity of the man in the excbaß«£j_ trading every now and then tW3j£ "Waiting, sir?" The new switeS has worked excellently, and the op«t_Z find it much easier to workthamthHlJ ones. It is only a matter of: time •»_« the substitution of the latest for the olrl fashioned switchboards will create »*», volution in the telephonic service'.f.k. Commonwealth. Two families came to .Sydney hrM. Ortona last week in the , o f4ej_r able to make homes under ditions- Mr. Jones, a .Welsh -iarJMr ,and his two sons, bring put eoM.de._blJ | capital, and when they ;have acquittd some experience of colonial fai-mito ae . thods purpose investing if the coMfciL are favourable. Mr. Jones' holds ,a c*_. : mission from a number of lr&,.cojiu-tj--! ' men to report upon the 'prospects -of farming in the State, the terras \jafa which land can be acquired;___£-'-t_i treatment extended to .inimigraii. _*■_ mers by the Govcrnn_ent. There »i_ thousands with capital, Mr. Jofteg •£.' waiting for his report, and-should' i.jbj favourable there will be an Influx | 0 { moneyed Welsh husbandmen.. 'B-ij; j* r Jones insists that the .Goveriunsnt' have to make the conditions.easier or they will miss their opportunity. •_s, payment of interest, which is n ot «. quired of settlers in the other States, « objectionable to the intending Britiek agricultural immigrant. Mr. A. &. Cjjt-> • who comes from Dorsetshire,'ha| up a block on Myall Creek, and : poses getting into harness withbijf.-. lay. The families were .w_lcom_d_>y ; t|*i officials of the Immigration 'League".s Australia upon the arrival'of !t|_«-i!J£l. boat in Athol Bight. . . " T " The Australian Mail Sub3i4)e«- *-Qnimission have finished taking Sydney, and are now in Brisbane.: JtJ<j_» of the Sydney witnesses expressed. •»■ proval of the proposal -which c_uga,ij(rSi the Federal Labour party to ;estih}i|ji.i State-owned line of mail steamers,ihew. by saving the -mail subsidy paid to the Orient. Company. :TJ-f .fftj-jr-man of the Commission, ;ily Jo_»_ Thomas, M.P., made a poipt *©fi)witinwitness closely able aspect of this question. .'';;WJhjii- J J_r Harper, traffic super South Wales railways, '.^^/ffaiqi . |<S»-"-den.ee, the chairman , ; bility of ' ial freight -rates on, goods destined .jbb "__«. shipped in the proposed';": steamers, -but the witness itrwigly..repudiated tho. suggestion. _Fhej!qain Atgoments advanced against the propovd were the difficulty.,of successfully tfW peting against private : ;<^ppaiii.ei,.flifehave made a Jife study of fconomw-I management, and. t]ie probability $'o** tile treatment ;at the hands i.of l-h» •.-jf -pmg-conference .in JJondon. ■".'.' "" '.'" Increased «rli*H» keep the New ; South Wa;le3;rliilwiy» , f<ll up to date, the ised the Railway Ctommiss.-MWJIo 1 P ; pend f 100-000 in building -new ; rdllipg stock. Contracts for ! the iloeal oinirtrjc*' tion of passenger corriag-3'i-_rfl-f^ i _<|B will be called for, and it ;i_s", eaopec**!! *t|«t the work will he Wt tehrjttl April.and September.