LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9491, 21 April 1894, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Lti>Y Glasgow will be a passenger by the M.s. Alameda to day for England, via the Sum Francisco route, the visit to the mother country being a flying one only. During her stay among us Lady Glasgow has made herself deservedly popular by her kind!)' ways and interest in various public institutions and social movements. All Colonists will wish her bon voyage and welcome her back to our shores again. The Auckland Choral Society will perform Mendelssohn's "Elijah" on Tuesday evenin?, in the Choral Hall. The soloists are Hisses Bleazard, Reeve, Thorpe, Mrs. Carter, Messrs. A. H. Gee, A. L. Edwards, and Master Kent. His Excellency the Governor and suite will be present on the cocasion. The Hon W. F. Reeves arrived in Parguville on Sunday last, and received a deputation from the Gumdiggers' Executive Committee. The deputation introduced various questions—relief works, the alien question, truck system on gumfields, and the land settlement question. They also informed the Minister that a Gumdiggers' Union had been formed for the protection of the gumdiggers' interests. Mr. Reeves replied at length on the various points, promising to aid them as far as it could be reasonably done. He would wire to the Premier on the matter, and would also put their suggestions as to the settlement of the land in writing, and would consult with the Minister of Lands (Hon. J. McKenzie) on the subject. Yesterday evening there was a very large attendance at the City Hall to hear the Kev. L. M. Isitb reply to Dr. Bakewell. He maintained that experience taught that people were better for not taking alcohol. Wednesday, the Ist of August is to be observed as a public holiday in the Government offices in the colony for the celebration of arbour day. The Finance Committee of the Harbour Board met yesterday evening at the offices jf the Board, Mr., A. Porter presiding. The business was of a routine character, and the current accounts as submitted were passed for payment. Amongst other matters considered was a letter to the Admiralty as to the equipment of Calliope Dock. The licensing of porters on the wharves was also considered, and a recommendation was framed for the consideration »f the Board. Mr. W. Burrs.l, engineer, has recently ■ died in Melbourne. This gentleman was well-known in Auckland, and was for a lone; time connected with the Thames goldfields, in its early days. There is little to add to the account of the tire in Beresford-street published in yesterday's issue save the additional insurances ascertained. Mr. Fanning, in whose residence the fire originated, had his furniture insured for £200 in the North Queensland. but he had not transferred his policy on removing from Grafton Road to Beresford-street. The owner of the house was Mr. Jones, of Newton Road. Mr. Ox ley had his furniture insured in the Imperial for £70, and the owner, Mr. Ley don, the building insured in the Victoria for £300. The hoine occupied by Mr. Kellet was owned by the Auckland Building Society, and was insured in the South British for £150. Mr. Tucker's residence, insured in the Norwich Union, is damaged to the extent of about £50. At the Police Court yesterday morning, Mr. R. S Bush, S.M., presided. Oscar William Erlandsen, charged with having been found drunk in Queen-street on the 19th, waa fined 10*. or, in default, 48 hours' imprisonment. Thomas Atkinson Heaps pleaded guilty to having stolen a pair of boots, valued at as 6d, the property of ■John William Dimock. The Bench sentenced the accused to one month's imprisonment with hard labour. William •McDonald appeared, on remand, to answer a charge of having obtained by certain false pretences three pairs of boots and one flannel, valued at, 36s Gd, from Thomas tolly, of the Horseshoe Bush. On the application of Serjeant Gamble, a further remand to the 27 th inst. was obtained, William John McGovven was charged with having, on the ISth of April, feloniously stoitn one mackintosh coat, valued at £2, the property of William Deßenzie Turner, the accused was remanded to the 24th mat., bail being allowed, himself in £20 and two sureties of £10 each. Two men, named Nicholas Casey and Patrick Heath, were charged with having, on the 9th of Jut- unlawfully used behaviour in a pub.ic place, to wit, the public road, Lucas reeK ' whereby a breach of the peace was occasioned. .Sergeant Gamble asked permission to withdraw the charge against atrick Heath, as he understood he had s u K"t in self-defence. His Worship connted to the withdrawal. The defendant Twin was hned Is, and costs 17s. I awu Robinson was fined ss, and costs 21s, . or mv ing committed a breach of the Harour Hoar By-laws by driving ab other wt' 1 f a walking pace on tho Queen-street 'an. The Court was occupied for the sweater f ,arr ' 0 f the day in hearing a charge ljTn" ISt Michael Keenan for using insulting guage to Thomas Bowden. Both men re cubdrivers. Over twenty witnesses ere examined- The evidence was of such a conflicting nature that His Worship disused the case.

bpfn' ert i WCre not ma,) new cases for relief llrv e committee of the Charitable Aid r . lir( this week. Two or three were arsons in f rom the gumfields. The Board 'iimn| Ura^ ea an/ caaes °f this character, and anr ? y " lve * temporary help, and starts the thpv nta back to the gumfields again, as 'heyure not needed in the city. On A / n iq»e specimen of ceramic art was Tftn/'n> ye f erdit y Messrs. Boylan and a fi, 0 , ' 10w * s ' ,08 > Queen-street. It is Mpnh- UX . statuette of Marguerite and SSi. t ? pheleß - tolled by Mr. Chaa. J. Bur*]* l 0 A . l,:s * rs - Doulton and Co., tpnt . m ' -kHgland, whose agent is ab pretravefl a AuCk iL an(J \ The artist has P° r * full of we lnu^en ' n a thoughtful mood, on her ? rac l and humility, and apparently book in i"" V i° m cl> ' judging rom the ie Menht h , a " d - The back of the figure triumph i s p 5 ® 8 > whose grinning leer of arra ngement nf llra - y I ,ortraed B y an fully denial ° ™ lrrors both figures are the fL ln the window, and while on beautiful Been the modest and be awn behind"" thegtianin Emptor can

Recently communications were send to South Australia, with a view of getting w-I to n « n conCernin ? th working of Way College, Adelaide, which makes a feature of manual training and industrial education. The inquiries were made in view of , the proposed establishment of a mon«i°fl co ® ge °, claaßeß » &c -» for young men of the artisan classes in Auckland. Way College bears the reputation of being the beat institution of its kind in South Australia, if nob in Australia, in this respect. Its principal, Dr. W. G. Torr, is an enthusiast in his work. Ho was for 14 years in the Education Department of • Außtria \ art of the time in the practising school in connection with the Tiaming College, Adelaide. In order to fit himself as head of Way College, he wont to England, in 1880, studying at Oxford, where his success was remarkable, gaining honours, and also being admitted a barrister •at - law in London. S. ♦I p « he bsb , ho ° lß in Great Britain, on the Continent, and in Canada, before returning to Adelaide, where in 1892 he took charge of Way College. Information has been received from Adelaide by last Sydney steamer respecting the working of the institution, and it is now in the hands of Jjir Maurice O'Rorke, who has convened for nexb week a meeting of the committtee appointed by the University Council to further consider the local proposals. The information obtained was procured through the good offices of Mr. W. J. Sowden, of the South Australian Register, who, having visited Auckland a year ago, on being communicated with put himself at once in correspondence with Dr. Torr, with the result that the latter gentleman has courteously forwarded all the information athis disposal. The Rev. W. J. Williams (principal of the Three Kings College), a member of the Auckland University College Council, leaves for Adelaide on Tuesday in order to attend the Australasian Methodist Conference, which will be held in that city. He will have the opportunity of seeing Dr. Torr, of personally examining the working of Way College, and his report to the University on his return to Auckland will be looked forward to with interest by those interested in establishing in Auckland a technical college ior the manual training ! of our youth. °

; The secretary of the New Zealand Alliance supplies a series of statistics which go to show that in the recent licensing elections throughout tho colony close on 50 per cent, of the electors recorded their votes on the local option question. The returns for about 50 out of 60 electoral and licensing districts are now to hand, »nd the remainder relate to small country districts of minor account. In these 50 districts a total of 98,158 votes were recorded on the question of the continuance, reduction, or prohibition of licenses to sell liquor. The actual voting figures for these districts (very nearly the whole of the colony) are as follow:—For the continuance of publicans' licenses, 37,156 votes recorded ; for the reduction of publicans' licenses, 14,588 votes; for the abolition of all licenses, 46,414 votes. In the above figures informal votes are nob included. The total effective prohibition vote at the elections, it is claimed, was nob far short of 50,000, out of an adult population of 250,000 eligible voters. _ The Premier of New South Wales is continually in receipt of anonymous letters threatening his "life. One sent to him recently was ornamented with a skull and crossbones, and Sir George was politely, but firmly, requested to prepare for death. It may be interesting to these anonymous lunatics to state (says the Sydney Telegraph) that the Premier possesses a number of small bub carefully-selected revolvers, and that he never goes out without having one or more of these weapons secreted on his person. Inspector Hickson has returned from the Kaipara district, where he had gone on a visit on departmental matters. Our Birkenhead correspondent writes • " Two weddings took place on April 18, which are of considerable interesb here. I refer to those of Mr. A. Messenger, eldest son of Mr. Messenger, fruiterer, to Miss K. Stillwell, daughter of Mr. Stillwell, baker, late of this district, which was celebrated in Auckland. The other was that of his brother, Mr. W. Messenger, who was married to Miss Annie Thompson, daughter of Mr. W. Thompson, of Park Hill, Birkenhead. The ceremony was conducted in St. John's Anglican Church, Northcote, by the Rev. Mr. Davies. In the evening the friends and relations of the young couple, to the number of about 150, assembled by invitation in the Gladstone Hall, where a very pleasant time was spent. I understand Mr. A. Messenger and his wife leave for their home in Sydney in a few days, while Mr. \V. Messenger and wife take up thoir residence in Auckland. A man named Alexander Gillies was arrested at Hamilton on a charge of failing to comply with a maintenance order made against him at Napier. Accused was remanded to Napier, and brought down by train yesterday in charge of Constable Sheehan. The Streets Committee of the City Council have considered the 65 applications sent in for the position of Inspector of Vehicles and Traffic, and reduced the number to six, namely, Messrs. Warren, Lendrum, Turner, Maxwell, Keith, and Woolfield. These six applicants are to appear before the City Council on Thursday. Messrs. H. G. Wade, C. Bailey, R" Carruth, T. Wyllie, H. Gill, J. Bell, and J' Watson have been nominated as members of the Papatoitoi School Committee. The Auckland and Ponsonby Lodges of Druids have arranged to hold a concert in the Cioy Hall on May 4th, in aid of their benevolent fund. The committee are working energetically to make the function an unqualified success. The procession which precedes the concert promises to be the most unique display ever witnessed in Auckland. The Fire Brigade , will give their valuable services in the pageant, and the Volunteers and City Council have consented to patronise the concert by their attendance. The Library Committee of the Young Men's Christian Association have decided to re-arrange the whole library, and reorganise the system of management. In order to simplify the tedious labour that this will involve, it has been decided to close tho library for one week from next Tuesday. Subscribers are requested to promptly return all book* on issue, so that no time may be lost in the work of rearrangement. The drill of the Auckland Navals was held last night. The main body, the gunners, were assembled at Fort Cautley, under the command of Captain Little, and the torpedo men were in charge of a noncommissioned officer from the defence force. At a meeting of the Auckland Fruitgrowers' Union yesterday it was arranged that a Conference of delegates from the various Fruitgrowers' Association in the province, should be held in Auckland early in June. We understand that a Conference of delegates from the different Agricultural Societies will also meet about the same date. A Woodsido correspondent writes: —On the evening of Thursday a large meeting was held in the Woodside School for the purpose of starting a Mutual Improvement Association. It was decided to meet fortnightly during the winter months, and the following officers were elected, viz,, Mr. Benge, president; Mr, Bowie, vice-pfesi-dent; and Mr, Lupton, secretary and treasurer. Messrs. T. Clow, and M. Galloway and Misses A. Brown, C. Burnside, and E. McLarnon were appointed members of committee. It is to be hoped the young people will enter heartily into the project, and make it a success. At the conclusion of the prayer meeting on Tuesday evening last, in the Presbyterian Church, near Otahuhu, tho Rev. D. J, Steele, on behalf of the congregation, presented Miss Lizzie Wyllie, with a silver gg stand, <hot-water kettle, cruet, and butter cooler, The rev. gentleman in making the presentation remarked that Mies Wyllie, for a number of years, had devoted her musical talents to playing the harmonium in the church ab the various service*, gratuitously, assisted in tho Sabbath school and Band of Hope, and on this occasion of her approaching it gave him very great pleasure in presenting her with these gifts. Mr. J. Watson thanked the congregation on. Miss Wyllie's behalf. Bernard's Circus opens to-nigh on the Harbour Board Reserve, adjoining the railway-station, with trained horses and performing dogs and monkeys. There are also Japanese tumblers and jugglers*

. The Bible readings for ladies in connection with the Young Women's Christian Association wore resumed yesterday in the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association. There was a fair attendance, and the Rev. Scott West gave the introductory Bible-reading of the winter course.

The Chrysanthemum Show at the Choral Hall was well attended yesterday, and the splendid display of blooms was much admired. In tho afternoon the lady members of the society dispensed afternoon tea. Amongst, those present were Lady Glasgow and party from the Government House. Her Ladyship was received by the secretary (Mr. Templer) and Mr. Tibbs. There was again a large attendance in the evening. The \oung Ladies' Orchestra were present in strong force, and rendered three selections. The committee of management should be well satisfied with the result of tho two first days, the attendance of the public having been very large. The bouquets and table decorations were the two distinct features of the show. The two groups of foliage plants, one exhibited by Messrs. D. Hay and Son, and the other by Mr. Thomas Cranwcl), also proved very attractive, and commended considerable attention. Messrs. D. Hay and Son entered a protest agiinst tho decision of tho judges in awarding first prize to Mr. Cranwoll. The group shown by Messrs. D. Hay and Son is decidedly superior In richness and variety, Mr. Cranwell'B group was accorded first prize, on account of the judges preferring his from an artistic point of view. The protest was considered and sustainod on technical grounds, the judges reversing their decision. The exhibits of Mr. Whiteley, the champion of the year, were much admired, as also were those of the Cambridge growers. The show will be open from ten a.m. this morning, all through tho day, and will close this evening, when the usual auction sale will tako place. The Grammar School Orchestra and Hunter's Band will rendor selections at short intervals. The season has been so fine the blooms st.ill present their full attractions, and tho bouquets are in excellent condition.

Recently, in connection with a chrysanthemum show, the Manchester Examiner delivered itself as under in regard to big flowers —By the over growth of chrysanthemums ib is seen thab competitive horticulture does not always conduce to beauty. In many flowers of fragrance sham art forgets Nature's most evident beauty, and cultivates colour ; but in chrysanthemums horticulture is being applied to produce flowers of pantomimicsize. " Pot-hunting" threatens to spoil tho magnificent autumn flower. Fault is laid at the doors of the committee who get up shows for fixing standards of size, and of judges who favour specimens of Brobdignagian proportions. A reaction is at work amongst gardeners against the inartistic flowers as big as a dinner-plate—a monstrosity of no use for bouquets or ornamental purposesin favour of the pretty single flower. The first concert of tho season of the Auckland Orchestral Union will be given on Thursday evening noxt, in tho City Hall. The programme is of a more than usually interesting character. The orchestral items will include Beethoven's grand overture to " Konig Stephan," one of Svendsen's Norwegian Rhapsodies, Mascagni's intermezzo in his " Cavalleria Rusticana," Mackenzie's beautiful " Rhapsodic Ecossaise," and a complete novelty in the shape of a selection from the quite recently produced operetta, " Utopia, Limited," Gilbert and Sullivan's latest triumph. The Liedertafel will render some very fine part songs, by Mendelssohn, Hatton, and other composers of eminence. There will be a pianoforte solo by a young lady (her first appearance), also vocal and instrumental duets, etc., of the highest class. The practice of pieces to be sung ab the Queen's Birthday gathering of Bands of Hope will bo continued next Tuesday evening, in the Tabernacle school room, when all willing to assist are requested to attend, as the list is now nearly complete. An excellent practice was held last Tuesday, and the pieces selected promise to excel any previous concert. Another evening for visitors, the 65th since tho inauguration of the movement, was given by Air. W. H. Webbe and his pupils with outside assistance at his residence, Kyber Pass, last night. There was a crowded attendance, and a brilliant programme was gone through. In the interval Mr. Webbe commented on the marked success of two ladies in several items. The following was the programme : —Piano quartet, "Polish Dance No. 1," Misses Thompson, Maclaurin, Spooner, and O'Neil; trio—violin, 'cello, piano, Messrs. Zimmermann, Davis, and Webbe ; song, " The Requital," Mr. John Fuller; piano solo (ci) " Idilio," (';) " Andante and Rondo Capriccio," Miss M. Spooner ; violin solo, " Elegie," Herr Zimmermann ; duo for two pianos, " Belisario," Miss Spooner and Mr. Webbe; 'cello solo, "Home," Mr. W. Davis ; bass solo, "O Salutaris," Mr. Thomson ; duo for piano and organ, " Fierrebras," Miss Gibbons-Read and Mr. Webbe; piano quartet, "Magic Flute," Misses Maxwell, Davidson, Carr, and Lambourne ; vocal duet, "To the Woods," Mrs. and Miss Maxwell ; piano solo, "Andante ISo. 12 Sonata," "Presto No. 6," Miss Gibbons-Read ; violin solo, "Polonaise," Herr Zimmermann ; duo tor two pianos, " Tarantella," Misses Maclaurin and Thomson ; song, " Only Once More," Mr. John Fuller; piano solo, (re) "Spring Song," (b) " Faust," Miss Maclaurin ; duo for piano and organ, (re) " Lucrezia Borgia," (6) "II Trovatore," Misses O'Neil and Spooner; sight reading and improvising.