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Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5, 6 January 1908, Page 4

The following is Captain Edwin's weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day:—"North to east and southeast, moderate to strong winds; rain probable, glass rise slowly." The official bankruptcy returns for Dunedin district for the year ended December 31 show the number tff bankruptcies as 24. The scheduled liabilities totalled £9421 19/9, and the scheduled assets £1799 17/1, showing a deficiency for the year of £7622 2/8. For 1906 the figures were:—Bankruptcies, 25; liabilities, £10,720 5/3; assets, £2733 10/4, leaving a deficiency of £79SG 14/10, or over £350 more than this year. The opening services in connection with the new church at Birkdale were continued yesterday afternoon, when there was a crowded congregation. The Rev. W. Gray-Dixon, St. David's, Auckland, conducted the service, and preached an eloquent sermon. In the evening, at 7, the Rev. G. Y. Probey, Presbyterian minister of the district, preached to a large congregation. A pleasing feature of the services was the hearty co-operatioa of all denominations in the district. There has been quite a large number of visitors to the Kauri gully reserve, recently acquired by the Government, which is situated a nice driving distance from Northcote and Birkenhcad. The very fine pictures appearing in last week's "Graphic" (our correspondent writes) were responsible for the large number of visitors to this delightful spot during the holidays. Those "who are interested in the "reserve intend bringing the matter of fencing it in under the notice of the Government, so that there may bo more sxitiervision exercised over it. The chief postmaster at Auckland has received a complaint from an Auckland firm that it is not generally known that letters posted on the express train, to which are attached postal cars, should bear an additional Id stamp. We are requested to make it clear that letters posted on all trains must bear an extra penny stamp. A child, tliree years old, named Kirkpatnek, was burned to death at Palnierston North through playing with matches. She had been put in a room to sleep, and it is supposed that she got up and obtained some matches out of some clothes in the room. She was suffocated and badly burned, only living for about an hour after th-j accident.

The declared value of imports from places beyond the Dominion, cleared through tie Gisborne Customs office during the past year is set down at £ 123,865. The value of exports during the. same period was declared at £ 993,367, an increase of £119,009 upon the value of the produce exported the previous year. AS one of Cunningham and Co.'s waggons was proceeding down Queen-street, Onehunga, on Saturday afternoon, one of the hinu wheels came off. As the waggon was carrying about four tons, there was some delay before the load was transferred to other conveyances, but ultimately it was got away, fortunately no one was injured. The lonely paths and dense thickets of the Auckland Domain make an excellent ambush for undesirables, and render the place a somewhat dangerous route for ladies Without escort. In the Police Court this morning Sergeant Hendry mentioned that last nignt, a woman who was passing through the Domain, was held up and assaulted by two men. Fortunately help arrived and the men made off. This morning s search was made by the police, and two men were discovered sleeping beneath a tree. They were both taken into custody, and this morning after detailing their means of livelihood, were discharged, the descriptions of the lady's assailants of last night corresponding with neither. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. A. M. Myers) lias received from Admiral Fawkes the following communication: "H.M.S. Powerful, Lyttelton, 31st December, 1907. Dear Mr. Myers,—l received just before leaving Auckland your letter conveying to Lady Fawkes and myself the kind wishes of the citizens of Auckland and yourself personally, which we so much appreciate. It has been a great pleasure to us to visit three times your beautiful harbour and to know, and to be alrie to tell the people of England on our return, the warmth of your affection for them, and your desire to maintain to the utmost of your ability the unity of the Empire. It is especially gratifying to hear that those for whom you, as Mayor of Auckland, can speak have confidence in the Admiralty, and a desire that New Zealand should work cordially with them in the measures they deem best for the Maritime Defence of the Empire. We shall never forget the kindness we have ever received from the people of New Zealand, and it is our earnest desire that this coming and each successive year may bring happiness and prosperity to the city of Auckland and its surrounding country.—Yours sincerely, (Signed) W. H. Fawkes." In chatting with a locs.l contractor, a Manawatu "Standard" reporter elicited some interesting formation with regard to the high price of draught horses which obtains at the present time, notwithstanding the fact that a great number of horses have been coming into the market from the Main Trunk line as the various contractors have finished their work. Four and five-year-old heavy draughts, good honest workers, fetch £50 and upwards, while two and three-year-old heavy draughts, unbroken, were sold the other day for £60. A prizewinner at the recent show, about six years old, was bought by a local firm for £65. Light draughts realise from £30 to £45, all of which tends to prove that at the present time horse-breeding should be a profitable industry, especially in the class of horses' referred to. Oats and chaff are selling at nearly double the price charged three years ago. The new Anglo-Freneli agreement for the control of fche affairs of the New Hebrides group provides for the establishment of a port of entry for the islands. The port of Vila, in the island of Efate, will, therefore, be the sole port of entry for the New Hebrides, and all vessels entering the groups from foreign ports will report first at Vila. In the case ot vessels which may, through stress of ■weather or other circumstances be com j pelled to disregard the provisions of the Act, the onus of proof that such disregard was caused by circumstances over which the master had no oentrol, will rest on such master, otherwise he will be considered as having been guilty of a breach of this regulation. In .ill matters affecting vessels putting in at the port of Vila, the two Resident Commissioners will be considered as representing the marine authorities of their respective nations. The masters of all vessels navigating the group will keep a log, which will be regularly posted, and such log will be open to the inspection of the authorities of the nation to which such vessel belongs whenever such vessel shall put in at any locality in the group where such authorities may be established. Persons guilty of breaches of this regulation will, on conviction, be liable to a fine of from £2 to £20, or to imprisonment of from 24 hours to 30 clays. Provided that in the case of a repetition of the offence the punishment of imprisonment will always be inflicted. Many anxious inquiries were made during the latter end of November (says the London "Daily Mail") at 10 Southstreet, Park-lane, the quiet unpreten-tious-looking house in which lives Miss Florence Nightingale, the heroine of the Crimean war, whose name is still a household word the world over. She is in her 87th year, and has lately evinced a weakness which has greatly concerned her medical attendants. However, in response to an inquiry it was stated that the mother of trained nurses." as she has been affectionately termed, was much better. Many presents of fruit and flowers arrive for her from admirers and tnends. Being a confirmed invalid, this wonderful old lady—whose heroic deeds as a nurse during the Crimean war stirred the hearts of the world and led n fll! , COlUltl7 to vol ° her a sum of £oo,ooo—lives the life of a recluse For many days at a time she is forced to keep her bed; but occasionally, seated in an invalid chair, she receives a small circle of friends, and from a rear window of her house looks out upon the procession of carriages which pass up and down ? y m P v k - Failin ° has been her affliction for some time past, but her mental powers are still wonderfully clear and she continues to take an interest in nursing questions, and particularly in the Nightingale Home for Trained Nurses, which she founded with the aid of the money voted to her after her wonderful work in the Crimea. The Franco-British Exhibition authorities have appointed an expert, Mr Marks, who is now visiting Australia, to represent them and give winegrowers information relative to the use of Australian wines at the Exhibition. The weariness or age may be overcome with Steams' Wine, the best Lome for old people, for it whets the appetite and aids digestion, thus aidin™ the body where most needed. Advt, ° The N.Z. Clothing Factory's sales are always popular because bpna-fide. Serge knickers and blouses, all 2/G. (Ad.) New Zealand Clothing Factory's Sale —Every article reduced. White shirts' 6/11 to 3/9; soft shirts, 4/6 to "VI l ' (Ad.) - /IJ -~ N.Z. Clothing Factory's stocktaking sale.—Don't miss the bargains. Saddle tweco. trousers, 10/8, now 7/11.—(Ad.)