LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9496, 27 April 1894, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

A VERY large and influential deputation waited upon the City Council yesterday evening to request that; the Government tie urged to set apart and place under the care of the Council, about 3500 acres of native bush in the Waitakerei ranees for perpetual preservation. It was cordially agreed to Ho as requested. Last year considerable discussion took place over the scanb notice Auckland and its harbour received in the New Zealand Year Book. Yesterday afternoon a suncommittee meeting was held at the.office Mr. W. J. Napier, to arrange-what infor matioa should-this year be forwarded to Wellington. ■ , •.-"";

Wmaib brought by the mail steamer • „Ta vesterday wera of the following JEPISK. March 24; New York, ** i,'«i • San Francisco, April 5 ; Monoaa 12; Apia, April 19. ' ' th Queen street Wharf yiwterday nil was considerable stir and excitement, • to the fact of the mail steamer °r"nosa the direct steamer Tongariro, i the Union S.S. Company's steamer Sjihora being all busily engaged in shipSand discharging cargo. In the afterP * the Toncariro cast off from the wharf, "Tleft for the South to complete her dis- ■ ««. of cargo from London, beintr closely ffiKd a the Waihora for Southern ?S Hobart, and Melbourne. The MartJZl' was the next to get away, resuming U voyage to Sydney shortly after four Mock Besides the work going on at these vessels, the Union S.S. Company's earner Dingadee was loading up for the £t Coast, Napier, and Wellington, and everal of the Northern S.S. Company's fleet tor various ports. Yesterday afternoon Mr. Adam Porter (chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board), n company with Captain Sir Henry Ogle, Bart of H.M.s. Rapid, paid a visit to Onehunsra- Sir Henry made the journey in order to see for himself the state of the rave of the seamen of the Koyal Navy, buried in the Anglican Cemetery. It may be stated that the chaplain of H.M.s. Orpheus is also buried there. Most of t he bodies of the men who perished in the wreck of tho Orpheus were buried at the Manukau Heads where found. A number of the bodies drifted 40 miles northward to the Kaipara Heads, where the Rev. Mr. Gittos, Wesleyan native missionary, had them decently buried in the sandhills by the Maoris, and the burial service read over their graves. Among the bodies found was that of Lieut. Jekyll, whose body was identified by tho medals he wo.-e, and which Mr. Gittos removed and forwarded to the British Admiralty for transmission to the deceased officer's sorrow parents. During Sir Henry Ogle's visit to Onehunga yesterday Mr. Porter introduced him to Her Worship the Mayor of Ouehunpa (Mrs. Yates). Another of the large class of cargo iteamers which are now engaged in the trade between the colonies and London arrived in harbour from Sydney last evenin'.', the vessel being the Buteshire, of Messrs. Turnbull, Martin and Co.'s line. This is the maiden voyage of tho vessel, and is intended to trade in connection with her owner's New Zealand and Australian service, established for the carriage of dead meat, fruit, and dairy produce to tho London market. The Buteshire is fitted up with the Linda improved ammonia system of refrigeration. The holds are capable of 100,000 sheep, besides dairy produce and fruit. On her voyage from London to Melbourne and Syduey the Buteshire brought nearly 4000 tons of general cargo for those two ports. After discharging cargo at the latter port she took on board 10,000 carcases of mutton and a quantity of wool, tallow, etc., and proceeded to Brisbane and Rockhimpton, where large shipments of frozen beef were taken on board, and 'he vessel called at Sydney to take in bunker coal for the homeward voyage. At "his port a consignment of frozen < mutton will be shipped from the Auckland Freezing Works, and she will then proceed to Lyttelton, Fort Chalmers, and Wellington, where largo shipments of wool, tallow, grain, etc., are awaiting her. The steamer is commanded by Captain B. Coull, a gentleman who is well-known throughout the colony as master of the steamer Morayshire, of the same line.

At yssterday's meeting of the City Council, a letter was received from Mr. Reid, offering his collection of pictures, now on loan at the Art Gallery, for £10,000. Id was decided to reply that the Council bad no money available for the purpose, but that Mr. Reid could leave the pictures fhere they were if he chose. Mr. Turner Fas elected inspector of vehicles, six candiiates having appeared before the Council. It will be seen from our obituary column thai/ a very old and respected settler at Wairoa South, namely, Mr. James Crawford (father of Captain D. Crawford, of the Wairoa Rifles), passed away yesterday morning, at the advanced age of 87. He arrived in Auckland with his wife and family in the ship Martabau, on Bch October, 1856. From that date till his death ho has resided at Wairoa South. Deceased was a native of the island of Arraa, Buteshire." Some excitement was occasioned in Onehunga yesterday afternoon, when in accordance with resolution of a majority of the Onehunga Borough Council, the drain leading from the private residence of Dr. Erson, was dug up in the presence of Her Worship the Mayor, Mrs, Yates. This drain which, we learn, conveys the surface water from the roof of Dr. Erson's residence into a culvert leading into the sea, was authorized by resolution of the Onehunga Borough Council three years ago, when Dr. Erson's residence was erected* We understand that Dr. Erson contemplates using legal proceedings in the matter against the Council. The adjourned meeting of Graduates Association was held on Monday evening last. Mr. F. E. Baume, L!.. 8., was elected president, and on taking his seat was congratulated by Sir G. M. O'Rorke and the Kev. Canon Nelson. Mr. George Lippiatt was elected vice-president, and Mr. J. Boyle, M.A., hon. secretary. The business re graduates member was postponed. There were in the lock-up last evening two persons on charges of drunkenness, and Win. Gibson, arrested by Constable Lynd on a charge of drunkenness, and larceny of 35, the properly of Mrs. Annie Ziegler, of the Fitzroy Hotel, Wakefield - street; Wra. James Mclntyre, en route for Mount Eden Gaol, having been sentenced to one month's hard labour for larceny at Kamo; and a boy named Chas. Bolgei, committed from the Thames to the Industrial School, Nelson. Yesterday evening about half-past eight o'clock a man named Thomas Scarrott, found, a new portmanteau opposite Che Britomart Hotel, in the middle of Customstreet. It was subsequently handed over to Constable Stanyer, of the Water Police. -t is supposed to have fallen off a passing 'bus or cab, but no application ha 3 been made at the police station for it. At the weekly meeting of the Pitt-street Mutual Improvement Society held last evening in the schoolroom, the Rev. S. F. Prior gave a most interesting lecture on " A Trip to Brisbane." Mr. Arabury presided, there being a hirge attendance. During the evening songs were contributed by Misses UaTis and Weaver. Our Mangere correspondent writes :— , It was understood here that the three retiring members of the Road Board, Messrs. J. Robertson, R. Wallace, and W. Westney, jun., were going to stand again, and as two other gentlemen had consented* to be nominated, the ratepayers expected they were to be treated to the mild excitement of a contested election. Owing to some miscalculation two nominations arrived five minutes too late, so that the Returning Officer had no other alternative than to declare the three candidates nominated duly elected. The gentlemen elected were Messrs, W. Westney, jun., K. H. Mckenzie, and J. E. Taylor.

The friends of Mr. Britton Fairbura, of Wengrove, Otahuhu, will regret to learn of "la death which took place yesterday, at the early age of 21. He had been suffering 'Of the last three weeks from an attack of typhoid fever, and was progressing favourab>y until a few days ago when a relapse Set in. The funeral will leave his mother's residence at three o'clock tomorrow for the Church of England Cemetery. Quatte a gloom ha* been cast over Otahuhw by the gad event, the young mats being universally rejected. The pictures presented to the Auckland Art Gallery by Messrs. L. D. Nathan and Arthur Nathan are now placed in position w the Gallery. There is still waw space or a few further good paintings if any Public-spirited citizen feels incline*! to dolate them. Shortly after twelve o'clock yesterday a MjMom cab, owned by Mr. A. !Bowden, owed up Queen-street. The animal had snaken the winkers off his head, but he tZu a Kod tours and was finally v5 u S h t opposite Smith and Cauglwry's, near lilfn " y ' Btreefc - There had beou no col«ion nor was there any injury to the cab, harness, or horse. There was a clean sheet at. the Police g*»« yesterday morning. Mr. B. S. Bush, is» r L' *lasI as in afcfc endance, bubihis services were not required.

The.monthly meeting of the Birkenhead Borough Council was held last night. Present: Mr. C. E. Button (Mayor), Messrs. White, Hawkins, Bartley, Riddel, Kay, and Witheford. After the usual routine of business was completed,, and the rates struck as previously agreed, Mr. Hammond, engineer, presented the Council with plana and specification of works to be done in connection with the filling in required at the back of the retaining wall. It was suggested that the main road should be widened above Smith's store, and a new footpath formed. Toward this work Messrs. Johnson, Knight, and Button had offered to contribute £15, conditionally on £20 being made up, which it is believed can easily be obtained. Mr. Hammond's donation of the plans were received with thanks. A committee was appointed to arrange with the engineer to carry out the work, tenders to be ' returnable in ten days. On the motion of the Mayor a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Witheford for the services he had rendered the district.

Tho 44th anniversary of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Alten Road, was celebrated last evening by a soiree in the Choral Hall. There was a good attendance. The tea tables, which ware bountifully provided, were presided over as follows :— No. 1, Mesdaraes Mueller and Haalett; 2, Mesdames Carrick and Ross ; 3, Mesdames Winks and A. Bell; 4, Mrs. James Whitson and Miss Anderson; 5, Mesdames Innes and Montgomery ; 6, Mesdames John Raid and Young; 7, Mesdames J. Gerides and Dailen ; 8, choir table, Mrs. Burrows and Miss Keillar; 9, bachelor's table (Mr. Ellison), presided over by Miss George. At the after meeting the Rev. A. Carrick (pastor) presided. Interesting speeches were delivered by the chairman, the Rev. James Hill (formerly one of the ministers of St Andrew's), who gave some reminiscences of its early history, and the Rev. R. H. Ferguson, of Onehunga. The Bevs. Robert Sommerville and A. M. McQ&llum were also present. On the motion of Mr. A. Bell a hearty vote of thanks wms accorded to Mr. G. M. Main, of the Herald staff, for having at the request of some of the leading Presbyterians undertaken to write the history of " Old St. Andrew's: The ' Mother Church' of Auckland Prosbyterianism." The speaker said he knew something of the labour which had been entailed to ensure historical accuracy, nob tho least of the work being correspondence, extending over two years, with old surviving members throughout the colony, Australia, Scotland, and England. Mr. Main briefly acknowledged tho compliment. As belonging to old St. Andrew's Sunday-school, 43 years ago, it was to him a labour of love to rescue from oblivion and pub on record permanently the historical facrcs connected with the " Mother Church " of Auckland Presbyterianism before the small band of its surviving members had passed away. One of the features of the evening was the musical arrangements, which were under the conductorship of Mr. W. Culpan ; the programme being : — Partsong, Pretty Village Maiden," choir; " Ora Pro Nobis" was tastefully sung by Mrs. Burrows; a clarionette solo was cleverly executed by Miss Edith Harding (effectively accompanied by Miss Harding on the pianoforte); '"Nazareth" (Gounod), Mr. A. H. Gee, wbo in response to an encore repeated the last verse, and to another encore in rendering Sullivan's " Thou Art Passing Hence Brother," he sang, grandly, " Scots Wha Hae." Mrs. Cooper gave a selected song, and " Scarlet Poppies." in her usual artistic style. Mr. John Reid moved a vote of thanks to all who had assisted to make the reunion a success, and to the chairman. The Benediction by the .*Rev. T. F. Robertson brought a most successful anniversary gathering to a close.

A man named J. Plowman, employed as a lumper on the Onehunga wharf, had a narrow escape of meeting with a serious accident yesterday morning. By some mischance he got oo the line of rails where the engine was doing some shunting, and an empty truck coushed his foot, bub luckily no bones were bsroken. A Timaru Press Association telegram received yesterday states that an information was laid that afternoon by the manager of one of the banks against George Edwin Best, grain buyer and sampler, for, ib is alleged, obtaining £30 by false pretences. Best is believed to have left the colony by the last San Francisco boat. - A harveab -goarfrtral -rraa - held ab All Saints' Church last evening. There was a large congregation, and the service throughout was choral in. character, Mr. Beale presiding at the organ. Canon Calder, incumbent, delivered an appropriate discourse. The decorations were most artistic—mottoes, fruits, etc. Round the chancel appeared the text in red letters on a white background " Seed-time and harvest shall not cease," backed by sheaves of grain. There were bouquets of grapes and sheaves of wheat on-the altar, and the brackets on the chancel walls bore large sheaves of wheat with groupings of fruit. Along the altar rails were miniature sheaves and flowers. The ends of the choir seats were decorated with groupings of fruit and grain, and the new prayer desk was outlined in grain and heavy bunches of fruit on crimson panels. The lecS.ern bore the legend " Thanks and Praise" in Indian corn on a crimson ground. As a work of art the decoration of the pulpit claims the first place. It was decorated with panels of criinsom plush, autumnal grasses, lemons, medlars, chilis, and miniature sheaves on each panel. The chancel, transept, and nave windows were bordered with ferns, and filled with grain and fruit. The several mottoes were executed in crimson letters on a white ground, surmounted with sheaves, fruit, etc. A grouping of fruit and grain was artistically arranged along the font, near to which stood the harvest trophy of grain, flour, bread, and vegetables, the legend or motto being, " His mercy enduneth fcr ever, and forget not all his benefits." The choir rendered the anthems, "Praise Ye the Lord," and "O, Lovely Peace," the latter as an offertory piece.

There was a fairly good attendance at the Foresters' Hall last night to hear the address upon the " Now Australia Settlement" by Mr. P. McNaught. The Hon. W. Jennings, M.L.C., presided. Mr. Mc!Naught confined himself to the explanation of the scheme and to the results the promoters hoped to achieve. He did nob touch upon the "split in the camp" in his lecture; but this was subsequently gone into in answer to a number of questions. The subject was broached by a lady among the audience, and was taken up by others. One gentleman stated that he had received a letter from one of the seceders, who declared he had been induced to go to Paraguay by misrepresentations. He left Sydney under the impression that there were only two or three natives on the land set apart for the settlemen, and afterwards found there were some 1600 In occupation. He seceded because he would not be one to drive out the previous owners, who were a law-abiding people. Mr. McNaught said that the promoters did nob know of these occupants until the party arrived. They, however, had the deeds of the land and could have turned the natives right off, but instead of doing this the New Australians gave them one corner of the block. In spite of all that had been said about the disruption, which was in the main the outcome of in* temperance,' additional settlers from the colonies were making for Paraguay. A large number of other questions were asked and answered, and the meeting concluded with the usual votes of thanks. At Bernard's circus last night there was a very fair attendance to witness the performance. A good programme was excellently gone through. To-night the performance will be repeated, and tomorrow there is to be a matinee in the afternoon for school children.