LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9714, 9 January 1895, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The ordinary general meeting of the New Zealand Insurance Company will be held to-day, at the Company's Office, at two p.m. yesterday His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. J. Holland) received a telegram from Mr. C. Malfroy, chairman of the Rotorua Town Board, stating that 200 of the resident Maoris were going to Auckland on Wednesday (to day) and expressing a hope that the Mayor "would kindly, on behalf of Auckland residents tender them hospitality and assist in showing them the sights and industries of the city." This was the first that the Mayor had heard of haTing to show hospitality to 200 native guests. The Town Clerk, on behalf of the Mayer replied to the telegram. He expressed the hope that the natives were in charge of somebody, and complained that more timely notice should have been given. The Town Clerk put the very pertinent question " What does ' hospitality* mean? Are they provided with board ?" He concluded by saying that the Mayor would arrange to show the natives the sights of the city, and requested an immediate reply to bis questions. Subsequently the Town Clerk wired to the private secretary to the Premier stating that ha had received a notification that '.00 natives were coming from Rotorua on a visit to Auckland. He stated that he had been asked to extend hospitality to them, and to show them the sights. The former business was a large item, and he wished to know whether the Government would authorise a contribution, and stated that the notice given was very short. Last evening the private secretary to the Premier telegraphed from Wellington that he would communicate with the Premier and reply later on. No reply has been received from Mr. Malfroy, Rotorua. The Arawa contingent may be expected to arrive by train this afternoon.

The monthly meeting of the Acclimatisation Society was held yesterday, Mr. J. Burtt presiding. There were also present, Messrs. Bull, Buckland, and Whitney. The balance-sheet showed balance to credit last month, £9 Os 7d; payments made since, £39 2s lid ; balance due to Bank of Mew Zealand, £30 2s 4d ; fixed deposit, £350. Complaint having been made that natives in Kotorua were taking trout from the streams flowing into the lakes without license, the secretary had written to the Tauranga Society suggesting as a remedy that the two societies should amalgamate. ]So reply had been received and the matter was deferred, Mr. Chee3eman'B action in the meantime being approved. Mr. Bull spoke highly of the Upper Waipu as a trout stream, and it was agreed to place rambow trout in it as soon as possible. Mr. Bull drew attention to an advertisement by the Minister of Mines notifying an application to proclaim the Thames River and its tributaries to be water courses into which tailings, mining debris, and waste water may be discharged. He pointed out that this would be most destructive, and would poison all the streams, and he considered the proclamation should be confined to places where mining was in absolute progress. The secretary was instructed to communicate with the Minister of Mines, pointing out that most mining debris was of a poisonous nature, and that the society, on behalf of the public, protest against such a general proclamation as a public injury, and that in their opinion the proclamation should be confined to districts in which mining operations were in progress. A report was received from the curator, and certain recommendations were referred to the secretary, Mr. Cheeseman, who is about to visit the hatching ponds shortly.

The Civil Service senior and junior examinations and teachers' examinations are being held in the Welelsley-street East School, under the supervision of Inspector Crowe, and will be continued till this day week. There are 19 for the senior and 116 for the junior examinations ; for class D 63, and class E 101 candidates.

Our Warkworth correspondent writes :— "On January 2 an inquest was held on the body of Mr. Thomas Snell, which had been washed ashore on the previous day at Snell's beach. In the absence of Mr. Angove, coroner for the district, Mr. H. W. Pulham, J.P , held the enquiry. The witnesses examined were Mr. Josiah Harris, the owner of the yacht, who was with deceased when the accident occurred, and Mr. W. Snell, brother of deceased. Mr. Harris gave details of the accident and the attempt of both to swim ashore, which was about two miles from where the boat foundered, The boat was considered quite seaworthy. A verdict of accidental drowning was returned."

The committee of the Wairarapa Relief Fund announce in our advertising columns that the public subscription lists have been closed, and request that moneys not yet forwarded may be paid immediately. The Mayor has received £2 14s 6d, balance of sums collected at the County Clerk'a Office, Opotiki. ■" ' ''■' ' '

i On Monday last, a four-roomed dwelling, ab Tuakau, belonging to Mr. Jas. Smith, rtras burned down about one o'clock in the norning. The fire was first observed by diss M. Smith, a daughter of the owner, >ut it bad made such progress before being liscovered that only about £10 worth of urniture was gob out. The origin of the ire is unknown, bub is believed bo be accidental. Some sulphur had been pub on the re in the kitchen the previous night, with , view of expelling mosquitoes, and it is onjectured that in this way the fire may iave originated. The house and furniture v-ere insured for £170. Mr. Jas. Smith, he proprietor, had purchased a farm some hree miles distant, and was residing there, eaving hie son and two daughters, all *rown up, in occupation of the dwelling ivhich has been destroyed. A an early hour yesterday morning the stable of Mr. W. B. Ley land, of the firm if Leyland and O'Brien, sawmill proprietors, Customs - street West, was burned Sown. There were in the stable a horse and a retriover dog, both of which were 'unfortunately burned to death. The cause of the fire is a mystery. Mr. Leyland was in the stable at eight o'clock bhe previous night, when he left everything apparently safe. About one o'clock yesterday morning Mrs. Leyland, who was up attending to a sick child, looked out of the window bub did nob notice anything particular. However, a few minutes later she heard the horse plunging about in the stable, and on again looking out to ascertain the cause discovered that the stable was on fire. Mr. Leyland was at once aroused, and on getting to the stable found that the horse had burst the door open, and was lying with its head just outside. It died shortly afterwards, and the body of the dog was also found among the debris when the fire was over. There was no insurance on the building. The loss is about £46. On Monday we re published from tho Otago Daily Times the names of 25 relatives and political supporters whom the Hon. J. McKenzie has rewarded by appointments in the Civil Service. The Christchurch Press added 19 more, making 44 in all, and remarks : — One point strikes us very forcibly in looking down this list, and that is that if the Hon. J. McKenzie remains in office much longer the rural district of Shag Valley will become depopulated. All the inhabitants will be tranl* ferred to snug 'kid glove' appointments, and the valley will become a howling waste. And what a remarkable district it must be to have produced such an array of administrative talent! Still more remarkable is the fact that all this talent was perfectly dormant and unknown until the Hon. J. McKenzie dug it out."

With reference to the proposed colonial interchange of pictures from the various art galleries, the Town Clerk has received an unofficial reply from Mr. George E. Ray ton, of the National Art Gallery of New South Wales. Mr. Ray ton states that he forwards a copy of their inter change catalogue (edition de luxe), with Melbourne and Adelaide. He goes on to say that the excellent public spirit) guiding this interchange, has sent forth some of the very finest works in the three colonies on this first mission of " Art Federation" in Australasia, and the Council of the National Art Gallery of New South Wales had adopted the new departure in the interests of art and its refining influences, with the highest satisfaction, and with the broadest ultimate views. Mr. Rayton suggests, unofficially, that as some weeks must intervene before his Council can meet to consider the proposals of the Auckland Municipal authorities, that it could usefully anticipate and facilitate their action if they would take the initiative, and at once furnish him with a list of the pictures they would be prepared to send as a first interchange. But the most comprehensive, and in every way most desirable, plan would be " their admittance into the scheme now governing the interchange between our three colonies." Should this be desired by the Auckland municipal authorities, the three colonies would be simultaneously approached by them, expressing their wish to join in the scheme, and their willingness at once to forward, say, six of the best pictures each —Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, and to receive a like number from each Art Gallery. Such a course, Mr. Rayton thinks, would greatly hasten methods to a satisfactory conclusion.

A meeting of the Auckland Women's Liberal League was held in the Wesley Hall last evening before a fair attendance of members. In the absence of the president, Mrs. Kerr, the chair was taken by Mrs. Colling 3. Some routine business was transacted, after which a discussion on local government was entered upon, in connection with the resolutions recently passed by the Gisborno Women's Political League, which were endorsed. Some new members were proposed, after which the meeting terminated.

A correspondent asks if a free association of employers and workmen could not be formed on the lines of that existing in Hawke's Bay, where a notification is published in the papers of the class of men (with trades) desiring employment. No fees are charged for registration or upon situation being obtained, and employers also can notify their wants to the secretary, whose offices are in the Chamber of Commerce.

The Ponsonby Naval Artillery have at length elected their permanent officers. When Captain Miller resigned the command of the company it devolved on Lieutenant Graham, who, although continuing to hold only the rank of lieutenant, has for the past 18 months fulfilled the duties of lieutenant-commander. At a meeting of the company, held for the purpose of electing permanent officers, Lieutenant Graham was unanimously elected lieutenant-com-mander of the company ; Lieutenant Watson becomes senior lieutenant, and Chief Petty - Officer J. C. Spinley has been elected junior lieutenant.

The undermentioned gifts have been received by the municipal authorities for the Free Public Library :—Grain's Universal Directory of the Manufacturers and Merchants of 1894-5, and BryerB 1 Guide, with Colonial and Continental appendix. These are presented by the publishers. "Life of Brigham Young, or Utah and her Founders," by E. Tullidge; presented by Mr. 'Chas. Hardey, of Dairy Flat. Second volume of " History of New South Wales, 1789-1794," by Alex. Britton ; presented by Mr. C. Potter, Government Printer, Sydney.