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Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 166, 13 July 1907, Page 4

The following is Captain Edwin's weather forecast for twenty-four hours from 9 a.m. this day:—"From between north and west and south-west, strong winds to gale; glass rise; indications for rain and cold." The total births in the foiir principal boroughs of the colony in June amounted to 538, against 586 in May, a decrease of 4S. The deaths in June were 230, a decrease of 16 on the number in May. Of the total deaths males contributed 122 and females 10S. Seventy-six of the deaths were of children under five years of age, being 33.04 per cent of the whole number. Forty-eight of these were under one year of age. There were 49 deaths of persons of 65 years and upwards. In the borough of Auckland 99 births and 45 deaths were registered; in Auckland and suburbs 69 births and 6S deaths. A Dunedin telegram reports a sharp rise in the price of cocksfoot seed, caused by short crops, both in Europe and America. Ten days ago 171b. seed was quoted at sid. per lb. To-day hold'ere are asking &Jr., and prospects point to still higher rates. A meeting of implement importers and manufacturers was held in Christchurch yesterday, when it was decided not to exhibit at any of the agricultural shows in the colony during the coming year, in consequence, so it is understood, of the expense involved.

The Otago Educational Institute at a meeting held yesterday adopted the following resolution:—"That teachers be paid a fixed minimum salary, based on efficiency, to be determined by ability, literary attainments, and length of service, and that the fixed minimum be supplemented by increments, based on the amount of labour and responsibility of the position."

An inquest .was held;by the city coroner (Mr T. Gresham) at the Fails Hotel, Henderson, yesterday, on the body of Robert Tyrer Penk, a gumdigger, who was found dead in his whare on Thursday. Thomas Penk, brother of deceased, stated that his brother was about 49 years of age. His whare was about seven miles distant from that of deceased, and they last saw each other on Thursday, 4th July. On Thursday last he was informed that his brother had not been seen for several days, and accordingly went to his whare. The door ■was not locked. He found the body of his brother inside, and life was then extinct. The body was in a sitting position, with, the arms resting on a kerosene tin. There were no signs of a struggle having taken place. Constable O'Grady, stationed at Avondale, testified to deceased's drinking , habits, and stated that the man bought a bottle of methylated spirits on Friday week. Dr. J. Moir deposed that he had made a post mortem examination, and had found that the right lung of deceased showed traces of a severe attack of pleuro-pneumonia of recent date, and the heart was also diseased. The cause of death, he considered, was pleuro-pneumonia. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with, the medical evidence.

Mr. A. H. Clark, printer, met with a painful accident pesterday morning (says our Waihi correspondent). He was using a guillotine for cutting paper, and was bearing down on the lever attached to. the knife, when a screw gave way at the base, and the heavy handle falling away, jammed his hand against the steel plate, Two of his fingers were very badly bruised and lacerated. We are informed by the Inspector of Telegraphs that telephone offices have recently been opened at Walton, near Morrinsville and Waihaha, situated between Kawakawa and Russell. Telegrams will now be accepted for both these places. A meeting of creditors in the estate of Alfred James Nichols was convened at 2.30 o'clock in the Official Assignee's Office, but as there are none resident in Auckland, the meeting was adjourned until the 19th inst., at Kaurimu.

The annual ball of the Auckland Hockey Association -was held in the Royal Albert Hali last night. The function was a brilliant success. The floor was perfect, the music, supplied by Burkes band, was delightful, and every factor was present to add £o the enjoyment of those present. The function was vested with additional interest by reason of the presence of the members of the Otago representative hockey team. His Worship the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. A. W. Myers), formally welcomed the visitors ir a happy speech, in which he congratulated £he team on securing a victory on th» first match of their tour. The visit of amateurs from one province to another, who played the game for its own sake, did much to foster a national spirit. He extended a special welcome to Mr. J. A. Park (President of the Otago Hockey.Association), a keen hockey enthusiast and an exMayor of Dunedin. The decorations of the hall were on a magnificent scale, reflecting the very greatest credit upon the artistic taste and sterling work of the committee. The supper table decorations were also delightfully arranged. About 160 couples took the floor, and dancing was kept up until the small hours of thi3 morning.

The progressive euchre party in aid of the Women's Protection Society bids fair to be an even greater success than last year, judging by the -way the tickets are selling. As an incentive towards raising funds in connection with the Birkdale Methodist Church, a concert, arranged by the Auckland Central Mission, will take place on Wednesday evening nest in the Zion Hill Hall at Eirkenhead. The Auckland Shakespeare Society will give their second reading of the season in the YJVI.OA. Hall next Wednesday evening, when "Henry 1V.," part 2, will be Jread. The Native Land Board, which commenced its labours at Raglan on Wednesday afternoon, has for its primary object the deciding of the relative interests of the different owners in the Moerangi Block of 45,000 acres. Although the eccentricity of man has placed thia fine tract of country entirely in the Kawhia County (the "Chronicle" says), naturally and geographically a large portion of it belongs to the Raglan district, which partly accounts for Raglan being chosen as a place of meeting, as well as for the great interest that is being taken in the proceedings here. It is understood that the allocation as between the different hapus was settled prior to the present sitting, and that a committee has ■ already been formed for the object of managing and agportioning individual interests without going to the usual ruinous expense of the tedious Land Court procedure. The natives interested have practically agreed' to cut off 10,000 acres ,to be placed at the Government's disposal; a portion of the balance they are prepared to lease, retaining the remainder with, the object of fanning on co-operative principles, the capital for which would be obtained from the portion of the block sold to the Government.

During the whole of; next: week tl. art loving section- of the community J» have an opportunity of viewing a « exhibition of pictures by Mr Moore-Jones at his studio in HobsonBuildings, Shortland-street. The J tures are well worth a visit' 'Th strikingly imaginative powers of tit artist are strongly brought out in mv l of the canvasses. One in particular ■■ 'Dread Drought," attracts instant-atten-tion. Drought is personified -fav' V maniac fiend coming with carrion birdf and bearing a broken scythe and sickV leaving death and destruction in nf, wake. "The Awakening of Adam" V another fine study, portraying the derment and spiritual awakening •£ < Adam, when from his first sleep the sun's rise. "Consider the LuieP shows a tired daughter of toil receiyiw : a revelation of comfort lifti™ ■ ' her mind to the spiritual away from t h« material. A good number of studies are also shown, but perhans th. ■ artists' strong personality is best hioxisW, out in imaginative work. -3!; !., In Thursday night's "Star," in our-ris-; port of the S.M. Court's proceedings j<. was stated that, in the case of F Wfl son Smith v. Paul Bock, claim £f"ti' counter claim £32 19/, was struck bu/ defendant not appearing. It should ha« been mentioned that later the same day the case was reinstated, and adjourned to next Thursday, on the application of the defendant, who put in an appearance at 10.30 a.m., having been misled by an-' error as to the time of hearing. -