BAD WEATHER PREDICTED.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 9993, 24 March 1898, Page 5

BAD WEATHER PREDICTED.

Captain Edwin reports strong indications of _. westerly galea in most parts of the colony between noon to-morrow and midnight of the 29th. CHURCH SERVICES INTERRUPTED BY BEES. For years the services in the Tamahere church, in th 6 Auckland district, have been interrupted by bees, four swarms having made their home in the roof of the building. On Monday the nuisance was removed and 4cwt. of honey taken. The queens were destroyed. THE BANK OF~NEW ZEALAND. A Press Association telegram from Wellington ■ says: —It is stated that Mr Alexander Macintosh, for some years past general manager of the Royal Bank of Queensland, has been selected as auditor of the Bank of New Zealand in succession to Mr J. M. Butt. By the terms of the Banking Act the appointment of auditor re3te with the Government. A.N OLD Trle" CUT DOWN. The alterations at the Parliamentary Buildings have involved the destruction of the pohutukawa tree which stood in front of the old entrance, and was the only tree allowed to .remain when the rest were cut down three or* four years ago. It was planted by Sir Edward Stafford in the early 69's, and was the largest of the few pohutukawas in Wellington. NATIVE MEETING IN THE WAIKATO. One thousand natives are now assembled at lo Wahi settlement, near Huntly, to consider Henare Kaihu's proposals regarding native lands. The principal tribes in the North Island, from the>- Bay of Islands to Wanganut and Otaki, are present. The proceedings opened yesterday with religious services by a Wesleyan native minister, a new departure by the Kmgites. The Hon. Jas. Carroll leaves Auckland to-day to attend the meeting. HOSPITAL MAINTENANCE. The estimated expenditure for maintenance of the Christchurch Hospital Board for the year 1898-9 is as under :—Christchnrch £8500. Akaroa £400, Lyttelton £100, Kaikoura £100, contingencies £500, total £9600. The Board starts the year with a credit balance of £2947 and estimated feee of £300, making a total of £3247, which is absorbed as follows :—Furnishing Marks Ward, £400 ; March accounts, 1893, £700; extra boiler power and installation of electric light, £2147. The £9600 for maintenance is provided by a levy on the local Canterbury bodies of £4800, and a subsidy from the' Government of a similar amount. POLITICS AND RELIGION. Mr G. J. Smith, M.H.R., last night laid the foundation stone of the Christchurch Chineae Mission Hall. In referring to the fact, he said he had notgone this far without having his action criticised. He was told that he was a little inconsistent in taking part in laying the foundation stone of a hall in connection with a mission to the Chinese when on the political platform ha had said he did not altogether approve of the Chinese coming to New Zealand. He confessed he had been in a tighter place and he did not see anything inconsistent in his action. Their friends who had come to New Zealand were naturalised or lived as residents, and as long as" they behaved themselves they were entitled to respect and protection. He believed it was the duty of the Christian Church to see that they were brought to an understanding of the Saviour, and any political creed that pinned a man down and prevented him from taking part in the, uplifting of the Chinese, or any other members of the human family, was a creed to which he could not subacrib*-