LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9560, 11 July 1894, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

A special meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board was to have teen held yesterday, to. consider the repo\b\of the City Engineer and the Foreman of Work? to the Board on Auckland drainage, kid to confer with the Legal Committee c the City Council, as to the best meafe of otherwise disposing of the silt and offensive sewage at present being deposited in Auckland Harbour. There were preent: Messrs. Niocol, Farrell, Napier, andjMcCabe (members of the Board), and Messrs. Atkin, Garratt, and Baume (membes of the City Council). After waiting forltho legal half hour for a quorum without Access, the Conference was adjourned fo\ a fortnight, at the same time and plate. Mr. Atkin protesting that he objected \a being made a convenience of. , .\ I

There is little to add to the account) oi the fire at Kemuera, recorded in yesterday's issue. No further light has been thrown on the origin of the fire, though Constable Lamb, of the-Newmarket police station, was early on the scene, and made every inquiry. The Chrisp family, whose house was damaged, were away on a visit at the time at the residence of some friends. Mr. Robinson, in whose house the tire originated, came down the burning staircase, and in so doing got his arm scorched. Mrs. McNeill, the widow who was burned out, lost nearly everything, saving only her sewing machine, and a subscription is Being got up for her. . The folly and danger of passengers attempting to alight from a train whilst in motion was shown on Monday evening in the case of a Mrs. Condon at Te Fapapa. The lady stepped out and partly fell between the tram and station platform, bub luckily for herself fell in such a manner as to prevent her rolling under the wheels. As it was she got severely bruised before being rescued from her dangerous position.

A meeting of the advisory committee of the Free Public Library takes place to-day, with a view to determine on ordering another shipment of 500 volumes for the library in both branches— and reference. There are in the former branch now nearly 800 subscribers, who like the Athenians are always craving for something new in the way of literature. ■!■■ At yesterday's Police Court, before Mr. North croft, S.M., a first offender was dismissed with a caution for being drunk on the Queen-street Wharf ; Catherine Riley was fined 5s and co*ts or 24 hours' for a similar offence, and was sentenced to seven days' hard labour for. having stolen a pan of ladies' slippers, value 4s 6d, the property of James • McKerras, jun. An information laid against Charles McCarthy for leaving a cart unattended in Elliott-street was dismissed. A summons against Edward Hunt j for driving 14 horses not in harness, etc., intended for sale, through the streets was also dismissed, a caution being administered.

Our basket makers complain that the small farmers ; will nob go in for willow (osier) planting, even with the offer to find plants for them, and to take the osiers at s fixed price ; per ton. The result is that thousands of pounds have to be sent to the Southern parts of r the colony^and to Tasmania, etc., for the requisite supplies. It seems also incredible the useful oaioi variety of willow was hardly cultivated in England before the beginning of this century. The wars with France laid; the English to grow the raw material for themselves. In America' the small farmer* are turning their attention to willow farming, with remunerative results. ;.,-:. ! N',./•'<'■:•;,•■, : .-.i v V' ,; ■V^^'-v'W*A'i:'p'i-**'-£i v i' 1 " ; '•■"■-'" *' .; ' ''•■'•':■ '■,;, ; :'■•.:•;.'■.■.;■._/.'.::•«" V ■

Mr. J. C. Firth has jusb issued a fourth edition of a booklet on the subjecb of charcoal insulation, in which he deals with the subjecb of fires at sea, many of which have been caused, according to the evidence brought forward by him, by the charcoal which is now generally employed as insulating material. Mr. Firth also points out that) all the conditions requisite to secure the keeping of butter in the best condition can be attained by the use of Linde's dry air refrigerator and Firth's prepared pumice insulator. Any required temperature can by these means be produced at small cost. These inventions can also, he points out, be applied to the uses of the flour miller, who may keep his flour and grain stores at a temperature at which no insect life can exist. He also shows how the command of temperature can facilitate the work of maltsters and brewers. Mr. Firth publishes certificates from Air. G. Goldie, sanitary inspector, and Mr. T. F. Cheeaeman. curator of the Auckland Museum, who report favourably on the pumice sanitary powder.

The police brought into the police station last night a nice looking little girl, about eight years of age, named Isabella Collett, who has been Jiving at Newmarket, i on a charge of being a neglected child. A bed was made up for her in the guard-room, i and she was made as comfortable as pos-; ■ible. It appears that her mother is dead, »nd her father away in Wellington. The police are instituting enquiries into her case.

The following is the texb of the address presented to the Bishop of Melanesia on his, aarival at Norfolk Island :—"To the Lord Bishop of Melanesia. We, the members oi the Church of England in Norfolk Island desire to tender to your Lordship a heart] welcome to our midst. We heard wit] great pleasure of your Lordship's appoint ment to the Bishopric of Melanesia, aw now your consecration has taken place, w tmsb by God's help that you may fe enabled for many years to fulfil the arduog duties of your large diocese, and that Gil may grant you sufficient health an strength for the work to which He lis called you. We hope that your adv#t among us will be beneficial and frau<hb with good ; on our part we assure yjur Lordship of our great sympathy in yjur work, and our readiness at all times to assist you to the utmost of our power, ep." The Bishop replied as follows : —" I think you, Mr. Chief Magistrate, for your kiruly address, and I also thank the many dad faces I see around me who have come to fid me welcome to ray new home. I hive already heard a good deal of the commuflty from Bishop John Selwyn and Adnjral Chad?, and my earnest wish is that we (till become and ever remain good friends Ind work together for the honour and glor/ of God." /

At the Police Court yesterday, tefore Mr, Northcroft, S.M., Toka Awakjno, a native of L'oromandel, was charged with having on or about the 3rd July feloniously stolen from the Auckland boat harbour, one open boat, masts, oars, etc, value £12, the property of John Foss, butcher, of Albertstreet. Mr, G. Brown acted as interpreter. Evidence was given as to the loss of the boat, and the appearance of the accused with it at his home. He was committed for trial.

Widespread regret is experienced not only in the country districts, but in Auckland, at the unexpected death of Captain Bruce, the officer commanding the Te Awaruutu Mounted Infantry, and one of the most respected farmers in the Waikato and Waipa districts. Captain Manning, in command of the Waiuku Cavalry, has arranged to take his troop up to Te Awamutu this morning to pay the last tribute of respect to their deceased brother in arms. They will ride to Pukekohe, where they will join the Waikato train, which leaves Auckland at thirty-five minutes past nine a.m , and it is expected that there will be a full muster. The Te Awamutu Cavalry, or rather Mounted Infantry, will be present in a body, and the Hamilton Light Infantry will no doubt be well represented. The funeral will of course be a military one.

Yesterday at the Police Court, before Mr. Northcroft, S.M., John Henry Smith appeared to answer a charge of having on the 21st April last forged a receipt for £24 purporting to be signed by Jas. Reid, and also of having,. on the 25th May, knowing the document to.be forged, caused Geo. Patterson and Geo. Gribbin to deal with it. Mr. O'Meagher appeared to defend. The case was adjourned until the 17th inst.

During yesterday Messrs. Dunwoodie and Washer, members, and Mr. Hall, secretary, of the Provincial Agricultural Association, were engaged finishing the canvass of the city merchants and tradespeople for subicriptions and prizes for the forthcoming Agricultural and Pastoral Show in Potter's Paddock. The canvassers inform us that they have been well received throughout; that not a single refusal has been received, and in some instances the prizes or subscriptions have been better than last year. Now that the committee have the necessary special prizes, etc., in hand they expect to be able to issue the schedule within a fortnight

Writing on July 4, our Norfolk Island correspondent says : —The whaling season commenced a week ago last Monday (25th June), the earliest time the boats have been afloat, by several days, since the inception jf the industry. There are now four companies engaged in the occupation, manning nine boats. Early on the morning of the day mentioned the boats were launohod, seven from town and two from Cas:ade, the ceremony causing some little excitement to the large number of people present, wives »nd relatives, mostly, who had assembled to wish the men God speed. The same day (25tht Howard Christian, of No. 4 Company, landed a three-ton whale at Cascade, and three days later Fairfax, of No. 1 Company, got a four-ton bull. Yesterday No. 4 scored again, Champion, of that Company, landing another good whale at Cascade. The No. 4 Company, though, have been unfortunate in one way. On the night of the 27th, late, while trying out, a pot caught fire, and instantly the whole place was in a blaze. They had not even time to save the whaling tools they were using, and it was with extreme difficulty and hard work that the men managed to save the sleeping house close by. The damage, however, is made good, and the place is in working order again.

Our Pokeno correspondent writes ;—A young woman named Miss Margaret Gordon, daughter of Captain Gordon, of Pokeno Valley, was thrown from a horse on Saturday afternoon, receiving a slight concussion of the brain. The young lady was riding past the Pokeno school when the horse was startled by some object in the hedge at the side of the road, with the result that she was thrown on her head on the metalled road. Miss Gordon was immediately carried into the teacher's (Mr. Waygood's) house, where she remained unconscious for four or five hours. On regaining consciousness the sufferer was romoved to her home where she is progressing favourably.

A subscription of £5 was collected at Ngunguru by Mr. C. Muller and Mr. Whittingham for Mrs. Hoare, the widow of the late Captain Hoare, who was accidentally suffocated on the cutter Tamaki Packet. Elsewhere Mrs. Hoare expresses her thanks for tho gift, and also gratefully acknowledges the kindness of the crews of the vessels in Ngunguru and residents who defrayed the cost of her husband's funeral. The large pen-and-ink sketch of Mr. Henry Wrigg, late chief draughtsman of *he Public Works Department, to which we referred the other Clay, has during its exhibition at Upton and Co.'s, booksellers, Queen-street, been inspected by huodreds of citizens. A very general desire has been expressed that some steps should be taken to secure its retention in Auckland, or for the Art Gallery, instead of its going home, as seems likely to be the case.

This evening Judge Fentor» will deliver his lecture on The Songs of the Jacobite Period," in the lecture hall of the Young Men's Christian Association, which he givts under the auspices of the Auckland Burns Club, as a sequel to his former lecture on "Scotch Minstrelsy." Over a dozen Jacobite songs will be given as musical illustrations, descriptive of the period and the circumstances surrounding Prince Charlie's sojourn in Scotland. All of these are of the true Scottish type, depicting in turn the triumphant entry of the Prince, and then his downfall and exile. The soloists are Mrs. Alex. Murchie, Mrs. Anderson, Misses Fitzpatrick and Moncur, Messrs. George Reid, W. L. Armstrong, and George Carter. Mr. H. Connell will officiate as accom.paaisfc.

i )he 3lsb anniversary of the Hope of . Akland Tent, No. 1, LO.R., was cele- , toted by a social in the Foresters' Hall, , Barton, last evening. There was a large i at representative attendance, Mr. J. O. L Or, U.S., presiding. The chairman in , oning referred to the flourishing condition i dhe Tent, the membership of which was , or 180. • The sick and funeral funds abunted to £3500. The registrar's re- ! pMor 1893 gave the ratio of assets to , liulities as 19s 4d in the pound, showing U Society to be in a financially sound ©dition. An excellent music »1 pro- , g.mme, consisting of songs, recitations, ai instrumental numbers, was then gone tough, most of the items being enthusstically encored. The following confuted toward the success of the evening : -Song, "Whisper, and I Shall Hoar," lids Birdie Butler, as an encore tin Butler sang, " After the Ball ;" fa itation, " Billy Dumps," Mrs. F. A. F. ■ujner'„; song, The Village Blacksmith," IB W. R. Seale; cornet solo, " Only a pi am," Master Percy West, and as an tan ore, " Let me like a Soldier fall ;" song, M J. Ewan ; humorous song, I'm Not," M. J. Boulter, as an encore Mr. Boulter /sag" I.went with Him;" recitation, Miss ■ Wsbley (encored); song, Mrs. F. A. F. Birnetb (encored); violin solo, " Trova- * tee," Mr. A. Myers; humorous song, '/He's in the Asylum now," Mr. J. Boulter fincored); selections on dulcimer, Mr. W. Over ; song, " Star of Bethlehem," Miss Birdie Butler ; duet (cornet and clarionet), "In the Dusk of the Twilight," Mr. J. West and Master Percy West ; recitation, " The Silver Wedding," Mr. H. R. Cook ; song, The Arab's Farewell to his Steed," Mr. A. Rowe ; song, Mr. W. R. Seale. Refreshments were then handed round, and after they were disposed of, games were got up for the young people, which brought to a close a very pleasant evening. Miss Ramsay presided at the piano during the evening, and played the accompaniments in an efficient manner.

There was a large attendance at the Salvation Army Barracks Inst evening to hear Max Rinkle give his experiences of his past life, and of his at last casting in his lot with the Salvation Army. He began his sketch with his early boyhood in South Australia, his running away from home, and afterwards his circus career as clown. Through two Hallelujah lasses at Wanganui he had been led to lead a changed life, and to eschew drink, gambling, and "other evil courses. Ho and his wife had determined to devote their services to benefit their fellow-men and women, by working in the ranks of the Army. From the day he made the decision to do so he had never regretted it. He concluded by earnestly exhorting young men to avoid the ensnaring vices of intemperance, gambling, etc. Lieutenant Harlow said that during Max Rinkle's visit to Auckland ho had given his services gratuitously as a painter to decorating the walls of the Barracks, and such loving service had saved the Army the expense.

The Montague-Turner Opera Company, handicapped as they are by the illness of Mr. Turner, and the compulsory absence of Miss Montague, again presented a most acceptable rendition of the opera "Girofl6 Girofia" last night, the roles being taken with exceptional vivacity, and the comedy spirit sustained throughout. In consequence of the death of Mr. Turner, there will be no further performances by the company at present.

Our readers will be glad to hear that shortly they will have an opportunity of hearing the world-famed violinist, Madame Camilla Urso, and the celebrated prima donna Madame De Vere-Sapio. The concerts given by them in the South have been great successes. Mr. Hugo Fischer, their representative, arrived here yesterday, and is now making arrangements for a short series of concerts, to commence at the end of the month. Signor Rotnualdo Sapio, the famous composer and conductor, and Herr Bonno Scherek, the eminent pianist, are also members of the company.

Last evening the members of Court Nil Desperandum, No. 6495. A.0.F., paid an official visit to the brethren of Court Victoria, No. 6699. On entering the Courtroom, they were tendered a hearty welcome, and at the conclusion of the business, which included the presentation of a P.CR. ribbon and certificate to Brother Keefe, P.C. R., by Brother Meider, P.D.C.R., the Court adjourned for harmony. Songs were contributed by the following brethren : Brothers Wigg, Nordon, Johnston, Ingham, Watson, Lindsay, Mills, and others.

The usual meeting of the Athenaeum Literary Society was held last night, there being a large attendance. After Messrs. Leyland, Jarrett, and Kitson were chosen to represent the Society in the forthcoming Debate Tournament, Mr. Edmund Bell opened a conversational debate on "The Living Wage and the Equality of Sacrifice," combating the theory that capital received more than its fair share of profit. A very lively discussion ensued, in which Messrs. Cheat, Lundon, Hill, Johnston, Burton, Leyland, and Eugster took part, the tenor of the opinions expressed being rather antagonistic to the views expounded by the opener. An effective reply by the opener brought to a close a very interesting •' talk."

A meeting of the Otara Mutual Improvement Association, which was postponed on June 18, was held in the Otara Hall on Monday, July 9. The president (Mr. W. T. Murray) occupied the chair. The business of the evening was Parliamentary candidates' speeches by Messrs. Foster, Porter, Gill, and Crago, the two former being supporters of the present Government, and the two latter supporters of the Opposition. After the candidates had delivered their speeches, they were criticised by the members of the Association. The chairman then called upon the candidates to reply. On taking the vote ot the meeting, it was found that the majority of votes had been given in favour, of the candidates who supported the present Government. The chairman having announced that on Monday, July 16, Mr. Theo. Cooper, of Auckland, would give a lecture on " Ancient Egypt," illustrated with limelight views, the meeting then closed. —[A Correspondent],

The Springkell estate, situated on the borders of Dumfriesshire and Cumberland, has just been sold to Messrs. A. J. and A. Graham, Glasgow, on behalf of a client. This is one of the moat important sales of landed estate that has taken place for some time, as it includes in a ring fence an area of no less than 12,000 acres, mainly of highlycultivated land, and includes the mansionhouscof Springkell, for many generations tho home of the Maxwell family. The property embraces the scene of the romantic tragedy of "Fair Helen of Kirkconnell." The property was bought in at the recent auction for £200,000.

At the recent Lincoln Fair 10,574 sheep were sold. In the aggregate they realised £28,147, or an average of about 53s 3d per head. The Lincoln Gazette publishes particulars ot fairs for the last eighteen years. Here are the results for ten years :— Average Year. No. of sheep. Realised per beacll £ s (I s (I 1885.. .. 10.0.17 .. 24,230 110 .. 48 3 1856.. .. 9,717 .. 20,361 6 ~ 55 (i 1887.. .. 0,007 .. 24,574 10 0 .. 40 8} 1888.. .. 11.033 .. 23,122 113 .. 60 11} 1889.. .. 11,467 .. 31,992 0 0 .. 50 10 1890.. .. 10,170 .. 31,580 15 0 ~ 62 11 1891.. .. 9,009 .. 23,750 16 6 .. 49 5 1892.. .. 8,709 .. 22,303 I*o .. 30 11 1893.. .. 9,243 .. 21,073 9 6 .. 45 7 •1894.. .. 10,574 .. 28,147 18 6 .. 63 3