AUCKLAND ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1062, 27 February 1911, Page 3

AUCKLAND ITEMS.

UNUSUAL CHARGES OF HORSESTEALING. QUAINT MAORI CEREMONY. (By rclcjrapb.-Spcclal Correspondent.) Auckland, February 20. The Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister for Education, writing to Mr. I>eter Ellis on the subject of a Greater Auckland, says: "I quite agree that something should bo dono in a comprehensive way to provide for the creation of a Greater Auckland. It is somewhat difficult for mo to find the necessary timo to work up a matter of tin's kind, but I liavo not lost sight of it, and hopo to mo something dono before the next meeting of Parliament." ALLEGED TORSE-STEALING. At the Auckland Police Court threo young men, Herbert Parker, W. Stowart, and Arthur Smith, were charged with Iho theft of borees at Otorohanga. Mr. R. A. Moody appeared,for Stewart, Mr. Pilkington for Smith, and Mr. J, R. Lundon for Parker. Acting-Chief Dotectic MacMahon explained that for'a long time horse-stealing had been going on in tho Otorohanga district on almost a wholesale-scale. ' In December a horsevan was ordered, and the three accused trucked seven horses by rail to Remcura, consigning them in the name of A. Bell. They were sold at Buckland's saleyards. When arrested, Parker said ho had caught tho horses on Anderson's run. Smith'and Stewart admitted helping to catch tho horses,-and the latter said derson had told him they wcro' Maori horses, and that they could take them away. ■ ,■ \ Considerable evidence was given bj- the owners of the horses, who stated nobody had any authority to removo them.. The three accused pleaded "Not guilty," and woro committed for trial, bail being allowed in two sureties of .£SO, and ; a porsonaUbond of .£IOO. Further charges were preferred.-against Parker of tho theft of five horAs. valued at .CICO. The. accused. pleaded "Not guilty," and was committed for,trial, the same bail as in the previous case being allowed. SOLDIERS' GRAVES. The Graves Committee of 1 tho Victoria League is now actively undertaking the erection of a memorial to the soldiers who fell in the •• Maori wars. The memorial is to take the form of a, hand-' somo memorial ob?lisk -of Coromandel granite, bearing suitable.'commemorative I inscriptions. Tho plinth .sorving as the foundation of tho column is to be of concrete. This monument will bo erected in a prominent situation. The Government is responding generously to tho call of tho Graves Committee for funds, and it is now expected that prosperous Aucklanders who, owo their security and their wealth to these- brave sailors.and soldiers, will givo liberal donations. TELEPHONE COMPLAINTS. Complaints regarding tho working of tho Auckland Telephono Exchange aro so numerous that a Departmental inquiry would appear to bo necessary (says tho "Herald" this morning). To go no further back than a few days, an examplo of inexcusable delay in responding to a call is reported by a subscriber who had to wait seven minutes before his ring was answered. This is by no means an isolated caso, as instance's of four or fivei minutes' delay in obtaining connection with tho Exchange aro frequent. 'Whether the inadequate scrvico complained of is due to' inattention or" undcrstalPng, tho public have a right to ask that prompt remedial measures shall bo taken. The majority of tho complaints referred to concern the night service. ;

A.MAOBI LAMENT. Several representative Natives of tho $gakihawa tribe, assembled at tho manso tat "Mauunui yesterday''to express' regret and sympathy nt tho death of"Dr. Agatha Monfries. Pc\s' To. Whetu, To Huin Kotulcu, on behalf of tho party,, stated that with sad hearts they hud-come to convey thorn sympathy concerning tho death of tho late l)r„ Monfries, and.that they had brought with them the mats, including an "aute," that they desired to place unon tho coffin. After salutations had boon exchanged, including tho Hongi, the parly ' was received by tho Eevs. J. .J. Monfries, J. E. \Vard, and W. Woolloss,. whereupon Hakiaka Tawhiao chanted a lamept. Then Mirama Kahu -Karewao Te Okcrua Kotuku Mohi and Amakurn handed tho mats and the "aute" to Pcko To Huia Kotuku, who gavo them to tho Hov. J. E. Ward, and assisted him to drano tne coffin. Tho Maoris placed a most" beautiful wreath upon tho coffin. Tho Itev. J. J. .Monfries thanked them very kindly for their tokens of lovo and esteem, nts would tako the "auto" as far as the grave. It would bo as they had stated, nn omblem of lovo and grief to-the deceased. Ho would then return it to them so that it might bo used for others who. would follow on the nath of pain and grief. It was explained* by Hakcaha that Mrs. Monfries was greatly beloved by the Maori people. Civilisation had brought two things of great. value to thorn, Christianity and medical aid. In treating Mrs. Monfries as a Native, they thought to honour her as a chief, although this had not been done hero before, they would understand tho kindly thoughts which lay behind tho action. Ho expressed his great sympathy with all sick people, who would miss the kindly ministrations of the late doctor, who had never refused to attend any of the Maoris. Manuauto also gavo an oration. Tho Eev. E. J. Ward returned thanks to tbo Natives, and the gathering, which was of a unique character, dispersed.