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Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 283, 26 November 1908, Page 4

The following is Capt. Edwin's weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a-m. this day:—"From between north-east and north and west, strong winds to gale. Rain probable. Glass fall." Sir Joseph Ward says that if Mr. Mas'sey's statement that pamphlets were distributed, reflecting upon the memory of Sir Harry Atkinson, was intended to apply to him, he gives it the most unqualified contradiction, as he had not in any speech reflected upon the memory of Sir Harry Atkinson, or any other public man who ha<l passed away. Neither had he authorised or circulated a pamphlet containing any reflection, directly or indirectly, of that sort. The deceased statesman had his high admiration and personal respect, and though opposed to .Sir Harry Atkinson in politics, ho recognised he was a man of courage, capacity, and a first-class lighting leader. A fire occurred in Karangahake between 9 aud 10 on Tuesday night, destro3'ing the hairdressing saloon and tobacconist shop occupied by Mr Hastings. The fire started in the window, -sprradi-ng rapidly. The brigade turned out. but was too late to save, anytning. The stock was insured for £80, but this will not cover the loss. The building was owned by Mr H. C. Wick, of Auckland, the insurance being unknown. The Christchurch tramway traffic returns for the four weeks from October 12 to November 8 inclusive show that 862.404 passengers were carried, as against 582.757 for a similar period last year. When sundry small receipts are added, the total receipts for the period amount to £7420 12/4. The operating expenditure for the same period is £4195 15/3, being a net profit from operations of £3214 17/1. From this amount must be deducted interest, sinking fund, and depreciation, which amounts to £207.$ 17/2, leaving a profit of £550 15/11. The deficiency for the current financial year to date is £2336. The Executive Committee of the Auckland Rugby Union met last night, all the members being present. The past season's accounts were dealt with, and it is probable that a donation will be made to each of the clubs of £30 towards their building funds. The New Zealand Union's profit from the two British matches played in Auckland amounted to £1000. An accident occurred at the South Canterbury Jockey Club's races yesterday. During the progress of the President's Welter Handicap Zioness fell at the turn, bringing down Oryoi and Thunderer. The latter was killed, and Douglas, the rider of Zioness, had his right shoulder broken. The wonderful spring growth in and near Auckland unfailingly excites the wonder of even casual observers. Garden flowers in the mild, moist spring of Auckland are invariably far more forward than the flowers in any other paTt of the Dominion. Vruit, too, comes on remarkably in Auckland, and the blossoms have often come and fallen again before the blossoms in less-favoured climes have yet appeared. But the most noticeable illustration, of the excellence of the Auckland climate is in the exceptional forwardness of the vegetables. The rains of the last few days have given plant growth tremendous impetus, and the already early products of the soil have advanced marvellously. This season, so far as can be seen, should be a particularly good one for all branches of agriculture, particularly flower and vegetable gardening.

There is no part of Auckland which has shown so much improvement of late as Newmarket. This suburb, formerly marked as being dutsy, muddy and almost devoid of good buildings, has made rapid strides. A new post office, of neat and substantial design, is nearly completed, a number of new buildings have been erected and others are in course of erection. On one of the principal corners of the business portion of the suburb a very fine row of brick shops has been placed in substitution of their wooden pvdecessors. Almost half t'ue side of the street opposite the railway station has been renewed; the alterations are so extensive that it seems that the whole of the old premises have been replaced b,v new buildings. Further building improvements are being made on this side of the street, where quite a number of new brick shops are being erected.

To-morrow evening a concert of more than ordinary excellence will take place in the Parnell Oddfellows' Hall in connection with the local district school, among the contributors to the varied programme being several of Auckland's most gifted a-inateur and professional singers and musicians. The programme, which appears in another column, will speak for itself, and «Hould ensure an overflo*- 5 ' ' audience

So far the three yeara' (approximately) undertaking of building for Auckland a new town hall has not reached a stage of progress which excites much interest. A board, fence many chains in length, encloses the site of the edifice to be, and in and about the ground signs of material arriving are evident. In a short time, however, there will be considerably more to be seen, and, from the time the upward moving structure is visible above the fence, its daily progress will be keenly watched.

When Auckland wants another sports ground, which will assuredly be the case in the near future, one will be found awaiting use in an unexpected and yet delightful spot. Part of the way up Onetree Hill there is a large oval of considerable depth. The base is large enough to accommodate a game of football and perhaps a cricket match, and the view of anything proceeding in the basin would be unequalled. The sides of this natural amphitheatre slope up in a manner which makes it easy to seat thousands upon thousands of people, and give to every one of them a splendid view of the match or whatever it might be.

For the last two days the sports and show area in Alexandra Park, at Epsom, has closely resembled in one respect a hastil-grown gold-mining settlement. The great pleasure ground of Auckland has been liberally, rigged with canvas in preparation for the annual show of the Agricultural Association, which is to be opened to-morrow. Numerous batches of men have been engaged on the ground for several days, some putting up the cattle pens, others making various other necessary preparations, and quite a number doing the work preparatory to the showing of some of the big exhibits. By this evening the ground, which is almost all the year round kept clear for football and racing, will he scarcely recognisable as "Potter's."

The receipt of a 'circular letter from the Labour Department, enclosing requisite forms under the Shops and Offices Act, 1908, for use in the event of not less than one-tenth of the electors in a district desiring the fixing of the statutory weekly half-holiday by a poll of the electors, raised some discussion at the Trades Council last night. After the pros and cons of the question had been discussed, the following resolution was carried unanimously: "That the Auckland Trades and Labour Council takes the necessary steps to have a poll taken on the Saturday half-holiday question." In declaring the matter carried, the chairman announced that it meant they ■would all have to work in the direction of taking round the requisition and obtaining not less than a-tenth of the electors of the district to sign. No doubt they would have the hearty co-operation of shop assistants. If successful, the section of the Act would be put into operation next year.

Mr. James Thorp, a native of Wanganui, who has been in South Africa for the pant eight years, returned to Wellington a, few days ago. Mr. Thorp fought as ,a New Zealand soldier throughout .the war, and subsequently obtained a position as a surveyor and engineer under the civil administration on the Central South African railways, but has, with many hundreds of other Civil servants, 'been "retrenched," and intends to proceed to China, where he believes there are many inducements for engineers. Speaking to a •Times" reporter yesterday, Mr. Thorp emphasised the opinion expressed by so many returned Xew Zealanders- that the Boer and Hollander element in the South African colonies had practically obtained by politicajl means what it had gamely endeavoured" to get by force of arnio. Racial hatred between Briton and Boer had never been overcome, and never would 'be. The Boers openly and freely discussed the possibility of again obtaining the possession of territory. A curious phase which Mr. Thorp regards as something of a safety valve is the keen desire of Boer women to marry British men. The Boer regards his wife as a chattel; the Britisher treats his spouse as a companion.' The fusing of the races by marriage is, ac has been so often pointed out by experts, the only method by which race hatred can be made less virulent. In the meantime, the exRepublics »re little more British than they were in the days of Jvruger. whose name and fame are revered to-day as they were in the trou'bloue times of 1900.

In view of the official opening of the municipal abattoirs at Otahuhu on Monday next, it is interesting to note that the old abattoirs at the Western Springs were opeaed exactly 31 years ago. the date of the ceremony being November 26, 1877. An invitation to the ceremony preserved by Mr. B. Salmon serves to mark the difference between the methods of the earlier life of the city and those of to-day. On the opening day 31 years ago the rights of grazing, and the use of the pens, were sold to the butchers, who WCTe then permitted to use them, in reason, as they chose. Now the municipality retains complete control of the csysteir from the time the stock enter the rsrd until the meat is trucked out. The hvitations to the opening in 1877 were signed by Mr. Henry Brett, who was (hen Mayor of Auckland, and Mr. Ed. VBoolfield, then town clerk.

Mt ;VV. if. Kircaldy, general manager of the Provident Life Assurance Co. of New Zealand, is leaving London by the RMS. .Mooltan on the 18th December. He rails at Auckland en route to Duaedin, and hopes to attend the annual meeting of the Auckland staff and to present prizes won by them as champion centre for the past two years.

Attention is drawn to the Auckland Cooperative Terminating Building Society's advertisement in. this issue, that the demand for shares in a new group is stil unsatisfied, hence, names are being takjn at the society's office for the 18th grotp, vrhich will be opened if sufficient shaies are bespoken.