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Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 212, 6 September 1911, Page 4

The following is Mr. D. C. Bates' weather forecast for' 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day:—"Moderate to strong easterly winds, freshening, and occasional squalls to-night. Unsettled and cloudy weather expected at times; glass fall slowly."

Some yearß ago a Dunedin firm of auctioneers sold an ox hide which realised the high figure of £3 9/8 and which was supposed to be a record for New Zealand. This was disputed by a North Island paper, which claimed that a slightly better price had once been obtained for a hide from that particular district. At last Friday's 'sales in Dunedin, however this return was exceeded, the auctioneers obtaining 9 3-Bd. per lb. for a hide which netted the owner £3 10/7. Pome other very high prices were obtained.

In all probability the Mount Eden Gaol inquiry will be concluded at today's sitting. The case has beeu before the Board (Messrs. C. C. Kettle an! E. C. Cutten) since August 12, and there has been a sitting practically every day since then. Counsel appearing at the inquiry are Messrs. Selwyn Mays and W. E. Hackett for the Justice Department, and Mr. A. G. Quartley for the accused warder. A very large number of witnesses have been examined on both sides concernng alleged happenings in the gaol.

The following statements concerning the allegations of drunkenness made in connection with tjie recent "capping" .carnival at Otago University were published by the "Otago Daily Times" on Saturday last: —A meeting of the executive of the University Students' Association was held last night to consider evidence taken by a sub-committee in support of charges made against the conduct of students at the recent capping carnival. -After full consideration and discussion, of the evidence the following motions, which have been communicated to us by the secretary of the association (Mr. O. A. Spedding) were passed:—(l) That the charge (of drunkenness) contained in section (a) of Mr. Mazengarb's letter has been substantiated, but that the language ol the letter describing the student's appearance as corpse-like is somewhat exaggerated; (Z) that there was damage done to the theatre scenery, but it is not proved that the damage was done by a student; (3) that the charges (of drunkenness in dressing-rooms) set forth in section (c) of the letter have been substantiated; (4) that the language in which the letters were couched was exaggerated and melodramatic, and that the statement to the effect that the remissness at the last three capping carnivals added together would not equal one-third of the unseemly behaviour of. a few students at the recent carnival is? in the opinion of the executive, entirely contrary to facts. Measures calculated to prevent the occurrence of misbehaviour at future capping carnivals will, the secretary states, be discussed at the next meeting of the executive.

A new country is not to be compared .with the Old one as regards pleasant walks, says a contemporary. For one reason, at Home are hedges covered with hazel, wild roses, honeysuckle, violets, and primroses as lines of demarcation between farms and paddocks; while here utility, time and cost have evolved the post and rail or wire fence to do the same work. Still, in Rotorua, a unique sight can be offered to visitors and residents, for many have never seen it. Strolling along the banks of the Utuhina, for an afternoon walk, past SherrifTs farm, and inspecting the stream as one goes, hundreds and thousands of trout will be seen at the bottom. There they are, ranged by companies, and battalions, like soldiers on review. The heads are all up-stream, and the tails are gently waving to keep them in their positions in the ranks. They have come from the lake to spawn in shallow water where there is a sandy or shingly bottom. It is a beautiful and wonderful sight, especially to those from the Old Country accustomed to half and three-quarter-pounders; for here can be seen many trout that would tip the scale at ten pounds. At this time of the year the fish are somewhat lethargic and not difficult to catch by hand, affording an opportunrtl to those in authority to weed out the thin, diseased and useless. A visit to the Utwhina wil prove delightful. The only wish that must be left ■ungratified is the desire to drop p " Marsh Brown " or a " Blue Doctor " over one of the leaders of the piscatorial army.

Auckland theatre-goers have up to the present displayed little enthusiasm in connection with the "first-nighters" scheme initiated by the Auckland representatives of J. C. Williamson, Ltd. Any one joining the First-nighters' Association agrees to pay for and take the seats selected at ballot for each first performance of every piece produced in Auckland by the Williamson firm for the next twelve* months. At the first ballot held yesterday thirteen ladies and gentlemen were present, the total number of seats booked h"ing thirty. Members can always have the same seats, and may arrive at the theatre at their convenience.

Men are at present engaged in pruning the fine row of trees in Grey-streets VVTien the work is concluded the place will present the appearance of a vessel scudding under bare poles in a squall, as the heads of the trees have been entirely, removed.

The steamer Tainui, which arrived at Wellington yesterday, brought 413 passengers, of whom 356 were in the third class. Assisted emigrants numbered 171, comprising 116 adults and 55 children, A total of 52 adults and 42 children were nominated by relatives in New Zealand, 64 adults and 13 children were approved by the High Commissioner, and 35 domestics came out in charge of the matron. Miss Martin. The passengers included five farmers, 35 farm labourers, and two shepherds. Fourteen wives are rejoining their husbands in the Dominion. All the domestics have situations to go to. The capital of the immigrants ranged from £2 to £225. The Costley Home Committee met at the Home yesterday afternoon. A number of the old folk who had misbehaved themselves while on leave, and had been refused readmission, came before the Board very penitent, and pleaded to be taken back. The committee decided to give them all another chance. Tiie laundry report stated that £B4 worth ol' work had been done last week. It was stated that 6d. per dozen had been charged for nurses' aprons. Members expressed the opinion that the charge was too little. It was decided to erect a private telephone between the doctor's house and the Home. The jury empanelled in connection with the charge of perjury preferred against Charles Boakes, the hearing of which occupied the attention of the Auckland Supreme Court for three dayß, deliberated on their verdict from 11 a.m. till 3.30 p.m., and then brought in a verdict, of "Guilty" on three out of four specified instances of false swearing in the S.M. Court. Sentence was deferred.

An unusual type of patient has been successfully treated at the Auckland publv- hospital, and has shown exceeding gratitude to the medical staff and the nurses ever since his recovery. Some weeks ago a wee stranger entered the outdoor patients' room, evidently suffering severely. Despite the fact that the visitor was only a tiny dog he was carried away to the surgeons and examination revealed a bro'-en leg. The injured limb was put into splints and. under kind and careful treatment, the dog has quite recovered. Its gratitude is such that it now refuses to be discharged as cured, and is likely to take up a permanent residence as one of the pets of the hospital staff. Active progress is now being made with the new five-storeyed block of shops and offices which are being erected for Messrs W. and G. Elliott in Queen-st. The present three-storeyed building which occupies the site is being practically demolished, and the new structure will be a very handsome addition ii.deed to this portion of the main city thoroughfare. On the ground floor there ■will be four shops, and the four storeys above will be devoted to suites of offices. The building will be practically fireproof, the floors being of ferro-concret* and fche walls of pumice blocks. At the rear there will be another big building of four storeys to replace the three-storeyed building at present there. The front of the new premises will be "of very handsome design, in steel, concrete and brick. The contract has been let to Mr. W. B. Hutchison for £13,000; the electric lift, electric installation, and othel additions win no doubt bring the cost up to nearly £15,000. The architect is Mt E. Mahoney. It is expected that the building will be completed by January next.

The builders are now actively engaged in carrying out the necessary alterations in connection with the new theatre which is to be opened in Queen-street, opposite Smeeton's stores, at an early date. A handsome vestibule, 12ft by 100 ft. beautifully mirrored and illuminated with fancy electric globes, will lead from the Queen-street entrance to the theatre, which is 100 ft long and 32ft wide. The ceiling is to be in white fibrous plaster, tinted with gold, and the walls will be divided into panels, and scene-painted in handsome designs. There will be a gallery, private boxes, and stalls, accommodation being provided for nearly 1000 people. Up-to-date tip-up theatre seats will be installed throughout, while the boxes will be splendidly upholstered. The theatre, which is to be opened by Messrs. MacMahon and Lodder in connection with an all-day picture show, will be ready for occupation in about seven weeks' time.

In connection with the incident re- i ported in last night's "Star," in which a I territorial came in for severe catechism because information relative to the hair- , cuttiiig incident had been divulged to the ' Press, a correspondent signing himself "Ex-British Territorial" has written to j point out an inaccuracy in regard to a ■ detail mentioned in the report of the pro-! ceedings. A soldier not under arrest, he , states, always wears his cap when in the I presence of his officers, and, if a prisoner, I he is called on to remove his headgear, i "The order to replace his cap shows that the officeT and non-commissioned officer present realised that the sapper was evidently faulty in his knowledge of military procedure," adds the correspondent, "and wished to save him from a self-imposed indignity." Rotonia has been laughing audibly and irreverently oveT the wording of a notice that has been placed by t'he Public Works Department on some of the electric wire posts on the road to Okere. Some time ago a Maori youth, wlio seemed to have a misguided taste for experimenting, threw a long piece of wire . over the electric wires that run to Rotorua from the power station at the Okere Falls. The town was at once plunged in darkness for two or three hours until the mischief had been located. The duslcy and youthful experimenter was carpeted in the Court and fined for his scientific enthusiasm and the Department put up this notice:—"Any person climbing the electric light poles or damaging the insulators are liable to a fatal shock and a penalty of £10." j

The following resolution was carried at last night's meeting of the Avondale School Committee: —" This committee sincerely regrets the resignation of the Hon. Geo. Fowlds as Minister for Bduca- i tion, and desires to place on record its appreciation of the services he has rendered in the cause of education during his term of office." | Carey Marsden, aged '<, fell into the' I'arra River, near Melbourne, and was drowned. A man went to the edge of the water, and held out a stick to the (boy, but could not reach him. He then went away, saying it was no good The Bible solution of social questions will be discussed in a lecture to be de- i livered in the Oddfellows' Hall, Parnell,' to-morrow night. A large and representative gathering of natives is 'being held at To Kuiti tiiia week, and the Native Minie-ter will be present to explain the ; mel question and proposals for the betterment of the rac*.