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Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 185, 5 August 1913, Page 4

The follcH'iug is Mr. D. c. rales- weather forecast lor 24 hours from 9 a.m. ; this day:—"The indications arc for variable and strong brcezce, westerly, moderate to strong, prevailing, and squally at time.-*. Weather probably cold and changeable, and the night will probably be very cold. The barometer has a rising tendency. Tides good. Sea moderate." A New Zealand farmer, who visited a β-tock sale in the Old Country quite recently, gives some interesting information relative to tip prices of stock at Heme, as compared vrith those ruling in New Zealand. T}i e fat sheep were mostly ail Shro pah-ires, and sold at 45/ to 53/ each; fat lambe, 33/ to 45/ each; fat pigs, similar weight to ours, Yorkshires, 84/ to 103/ each; choppers, 4001b. to 6001b.. at €6 13/ to £10; fat bullocks and tiufcre, similar cattle to those usually offered in New Zealand, £19 to £23 15/. He considered the prices just about doable those ruling in this country. In the course of a general talk on matters musical, a,X «. meeting of the Auckland Society of .Musicians last night, liir. Miuigha.li Barnett referred to the organ recitals that were being given under "the auspices of the City Council. Judging by anonymous and other letters appearing in the local Press, he said, it seemed that some people were greatly concerned a-bout the attendances at the local recitaU. Compared with the attendances at similar entertainments in other parts of the world, he considered that an excellent start had been made in Auckland. A celebrated conductor had estimated that in London the regular concert-goers numbered between 10,000 and 15.000, or roughly, lin 500 of the population. A similar percen-tage in Auckland would give about 200. Recently a series of recitals was inaugurated in a Home town with a population much larger than in Auckland, and the editor of a local paper -wrote in congratulatory terms because the attendance each week was not less than 100 people. Passengers in the night expresses, when crossing the Waimarino Plains, are usually asleep in their carriages, but the engine driver sees some strange sights, especially an •winter. One night last week, while the express was crossing the plains, the moon rose behind the lofty truncated cone of Ngaurahoe. All of a sudden the engine-driver heard a prolonged roar, which woke people in titeir beds right down as -far as Owhango, and a pear-shaped colnmn of smoke and steam shot up from the crater to a height nearly equalling that of the mountain itself. This was followed by a shower of lava and ashes. It took quite a long time for lie cloud to drift away, bnt it finally vanished in a thin dark streak.

The executive of Thames OH. Boys' As'aociation has convened a meeting of all old Thamesites and friends of Captain i Alex. Farquhar, to be held at the ; Druids' Hall, North Street, Newton, to consider the best means of making some recognition of .the woTthy skipper's long and faithful service from a public point of view.

At a meeting of the music committee of the Auckland Exhibition yesterday afternoon the president (Mr. George Elliot) reported that the Premier had received a cable from the military author rites at Home, asking if the services of a band were required. A reply had -been cabled, engaging the Koyal Artillery band, and they were now waiting for a cable confirming the arrangement. The committee spent some time discussing the accommodation to be provided for the band, and eventuallr the matter was left in the hands of Mr. Elliot and the secretary for further inquiry. Herr Wielaert brought forward a proposal for the engagement of an orchestra to provide music after the English band had gone and the band contests were over. Tihis was referred to a sub-committee for consideration. The secretary of the Christchurch Liedertafel wrote, suggesting the terms on which his society might visit Auckland, and give a series of three concerts at 'the Exhibition. It was agreed unanimously to close with the offer, provided the executive were not financially responsible in ease of loss. A number of applications for engagement were received from orchestral players, but it was decided to decline all of them on the ground that no instrumentalists were being engaged for the present.

By yesterday's mail a petition was forwarded to Mr. A. M. Myers, M.P, for presentation to Parliament, asking that "the system which Mr. T. Gresham as coroner has administered to the public satisfaction for 35 years shall be reverted to." Over 3,000 signatures are appended to the petition, the first three signatories being Mr. T. Cotter. K.C., Mr. J. B. Reed. K.C., and Dr. H. D. Bamford, president of the Auckland Law Society.

Notwithstanding that the KingOJountry is practically a "no-license" area (writes a. correspondent), a tremendous amount of opeu and illicit drinking of spirituous liquor takes place. This has been proved by the number of convictions for sly-grog during the year, and also by the regrettable cases of death by alcoholic poisoning at the Taumarunui end. Provided the regulations are complied with, more liquor than can be safely consumed by an individual can be received from Te Awamutu or Taihape: The cause of a great deal of the excessive drinking is that a syndicate '"imports" a case of whisky or keg of beer, and on its arrival "sees it out," thus drinking more than if supplies were regulated.

The Homan Catholic school for girls in Vermont Street, Ponsonby, was the scene of an outbreak of fire at about seven o'clock last evening. Although the building is of brick and practically fireproof, the lire obtained a hold in the wooden ceiling of the basement, and some difficulty was experienced by the city brigade in extinguishing it. The damage, however, does not exceed £50, and is covered by insurances in the New Zealand Insurance Company of £1,500 on the building, and £200 on the contents. The cause of the lire is inexplicable.

Tbe Prime Minister, in the early hours of last Saturday morning, in the House of Representatives, when dealing with the question of Maori members addressing the House in their native language, referred to one of the Irish members, I who, when he addressed the House of Commons in the Irish tongue, was promptly ruled out of order by the Speaker. The Irish member in question, since deceased, represented one of the Munster constituencies. He was not only an accomplished Jrish speaker and scholar, but also spoke many other languages. He had a very peculiar stylo of delivery, and at times, even to those well accustomed to him, he was quite unintelligible. On the occasion referred to by Mr. Massey, when the Speaker stopped him he at once paused, and then 1 resumed his speech. At its conclusion he said. "Now. Mr. Speaker, permit mc to inform you I have just recited in its. entirety, for the edification of yourself and the House. 'Who Fears to Speak of '98' in Irish." The whole House, including the Speaker, rocked with laughter. As the members trouped out of the Chamber, an English member linked arms with one of the Irish members, and said to him: ''I am informed that the member of your party who lias just spoken is not only thoroughly conversant with the Irish language, but that he is also quite familiar with various other languages. Is that so!" "It is perfectly corroct." replied the Trish member, whereupon the English member, in serious tones, said, "What a d pity it is that he speaks the whole of them at one time."

The Bank of New Zealand safe, which went through the Te Karaka Hotel fire. : near Gisborne shows clearly that the : heat to which it was subjected was very intense. The safe, which had stood the test splendidly, was opened, and on exI amination it was found that the docu--1 mentary contents, although badly | scorched, were etill readable. The paint •on the interior was completely burnt off, I while the brass mountings, the brass suri rounding the keyholes, and the brass handle had been melted, and had cooii pletely disappeared.

Bridgman and 'Bridgman's cash sale. Blankets, rugs, knitted underwear, boys' and men's suits greatly reduced.—(Ad.)