LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9836, 3 June 1895, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The hearing of arguments it) the appeal against the decision of the Registrar of the Supreme Courb at Giaborne, by which ho declared Per© a bankrupt, was to have been resumed in Chambers on Saturday morning. In the case Mr. Rees and Mr. Cooper appeared for this appellant, and Mr. Cotter for the petitioning creditors, McKicol and other*. Mr. Cotter was to have replied to Mr. Rees' arguments and objections, but before going into Court counsel arranged to ask to have the summons adjourned with leave to mention it on Wednesday, and His Honor consented to the postponement. v Now that the difficulty of providing an efficient water supply for the city is over for the current year, there will be ample time to devise fresh measures for conserving the supply and preventing waste next summer. At present the consumption ■of water is about 40 . gallons per diem for every man, woman, and child of the population, or about 1 10 gallons per head in excess of the consumption of any other town in Australasia. Last month shows a diminution in the consumption of aboub five million gallons for the month, through the warnings published by the municipal authorities, but it is still too high, especially as regards garden services. In Wellington, it is stated that the City Council check waste by prohibiting the use of revolving apparatus for watering gardens and greens, or the use of tripods on which hose nozzles may be placed and the water left to run at night. The hose can only be used by band. In Sydney, the charge for hose services is according to the area of the ground to be watered, the larger the section the greater the fee. There seems to be great room for improvement in the Auckland regulations when some people are said to be paying only for a domestic supply, and practically oarrying on industries at their dwellings or in their vicinity, involving the use of many thousands of gallons of water daily. Such persons should be supplied by meter, as it is alleged in certain cases they use as much water in a week as is covered by their yearly rate, leaving the oity a decided loser by the whole transaction. We may remind those interested that the criminal sittings of the Supreme Court, Northern district, will be opened at eleven o'clock this forenoon, by His Honor Mr. Justice Conolly, and it ia necessary that all jurors, witnesses, and parties concerned in the cases should be promptly in attendance at that hour. The subsequent sittings will commence at ten o'clock daily. At the Police Court on Saturday morning Mr. H. W. iSorthcroft, Stipendiary Magistrate, presided. Several offenders for drunkenness were dealt with, each accused being cautioned and discharged. On the application of Mr. Strathern, on behalf of Charitable Aid Board, a boy named Gordon Hewlett, was committed to the Auckland Industrial School, for the purpose of having him admitted to the Coetley Training Institute. Several cases under the Destitute Persons Act were investigated, and two orders made.

The municipal authorities are in receipt of a case of valuable books from Sir George Grey, which comprises :— 92 volumes French (Voltaire's works); 27 volumes German (Goethe's); 19 volumes Italian; 3 volumes Latin; 79 volumes of English authors ; also 22 volumes of a miscellaneous character ; in all a total of 242 volumes. An inquest was held on Tuesday last on board the barque Grtwmere lying alb the Kauri Company's Wharf, Aratapu, before Mr. Webb, coroner, on the body of Frank Bezer, ordinary seaman of that vessel. Captain Morrison gave evidence as to seeing deceased on the previous evening going to the post office. The steward reported next morning thatyoang Bezer was missing, and an hour or two after Mr. Basset called his attention to the body of deceased lying under the booms. Deceased shipped at Sydney, and had been on board two months, and was a son of CapUin Bezer. Louis Rasmussen, a seaman, gave corroborative evidence. It was very dark when deceased said he was going to the postoffice, and ib was very easy to make a mistake on the wharf in the dark. Deceased was then cheerful and jolly, and not likely to commit suicide. Dr. A. Mat-sack deEosed to the injuries found on the body as eing probably caused by a projecting substance met during a fall. Deceased probably had concussion of the brain, and was stunned before drowning, and he would probably have died from the effects of his wounds had he nob been drowned. At the place where deceased was found there was a fall of ten or eleven feeb, with logs and projecting timber below, and it was low water when deceased left the ship. All the three vessels at the wharf had gangway lights burning throughout the night. The jury returned a verdict that "Deceased met his death by falling over the Aratapu Mill wharf into the booms," and added a rider to the effect that lights should be placed ab the more dangerous parts of the wharf. The commission of enquiry sitting to investigate certain alleged charges made by railway employees did nob sib on Saturday, bub the enquiry will be continued to-day by Mr. Lowe (of the Railway Department) and Mr. Rose, Collector of Customs. A meeting of the Council of the Auckland Technical Schools Association sook place on Saturday evening. Mr. H. G. Wade presided, in the absence of the Mayor, who is vice-president. There were present:— Rev. J. Babes, Professor Brown, Messrs. Tibbs, T. Thompson, Herbert, «J. A. Tole, Fowler, E. Bartley, and G. Peacocke. The recommendation of the sub-committee respecting instructors was adopted. Miss Baker was appointed for freehand drawing; Miss Forbes, dressmaking and fitting; Miss Millington, domestic economy and cookery; Messrs. Fraser, engineering; Mr. Edmonds, woodcarving; Mr. Leech, plumbing ; and a teacher is being selected for carpentery and geometry. Mr. Thos. Thomson was appointed treasurer. A management committee was appointed as follows: Sir Maurice O'Rorke (president),. His Worship tho Mayor (vice-president), the Rev. J. Bates, Messrs. Tibbs, E. Bartley, Q. Fraser, Herbert, Fowler, bo make arrangements far the opening of the Technical School, to procure all appliances, and also to control and supervise the course of instruction by visiting the school in rotation. The Council have had the premises ; selected for operations, a suitable block of buildings in Rutland-street, opposite the Drill-shed, renovated, re-divided into class rooms, with office, etc. Ib is stated tho school will start with 70 pupils, and as Sir Maurice O'Rorke, the president, returns from Australia today, a start will be made in a few days as everything is now practically in readiness for making a fair start. Tho Council expressed regret that the City Council could nob see its way to give the water supply free for the first term.

There were in the lock-up last evening six persons on charges of drunkenness ; two men named Campbell and Heatesberg, for disorderly conduct in Elliott-street; and a man named Farquhar, arrested by ActingDetectives Bailey and Quirk, on a charge of robbery from the person ; Thomas Jackson, William Turner, and Edwin Crawford, three youths, arrested by Constable Lowther, on a charge of breaking and entering . the premises of Albert Noddor, and taking therefrom sundry goods. , :; ,s • At St. Benedict's Church yesterday, ib was announced that ib is proposed to erect a suitable monument over the grave of the late respected priest of the parish, the Very Rev. Father Downey, 0.5.8. A meeting of the friends and admirers of the deceased clergyman will be held at St. Benedict's Church nexb Sunday afternoon ab 3.30. Messrs. Bouskill and McNab, stonemasons of Symonds-sbreet, have generously offered to erect, at their own cost, the memorial tablet to be placed inside the church. The Rov. Father Gillan, of Ponsonby, delivered the first of a series of sermons on "The Mission of the Holy Ghosb in the Church," at St. Benedict's Church yesterday evening.''-'-: '"■[ '->' - * The attention of our readers is directed to an advertisement in another column intimating that Professor Brown is to con. tinue his efforts to promote technical education by delivering a second course of lectures on " Electricity," specially adapted to the requirements of telegraphists and others engaged in the practical application of ijlectrioity. These lectures commence to-morrow evening. ..The former course was much : appreciated and largely' attended, and there is no doubt that the. praiseworthy efforts of Professor ' Brown to meet the requirements of the community will meet with continued encouragement. '

According to a report on pas engines for street cars, made by the United States Consul-General at Frankfort (Mr. P. H. Mason) gas engines have been under trial in the suburban service at Dresden since August last. The cars have been in operaMod on a horse-car line about three miles long, and have been running on the same schedule as the horse cars. The ordinary car is equipped with a gas engine of nine horse-power, and carries 36 passengers—-14 seated inside and 12 on deck, with platform standing room for 10 more. The motor is a two-cylinder engine, which gives the car a speed of nine miles an hour. Mr. Michael Davitt, who is now in the colonies on a lecturing tour, is well known in connection with the Irish Home Rule Movement. On his arrival in Adelaide a deputation went on board at an early hour to welcome him, and he was conveyed by steamer to Port Adelaide, where he was accorded an enthusiastic reception. Mr. Davitt subsequently went up to the city, and was met by a large body of Irishmen, democrats, single-taxers, and others at the station, who preceded him in a procession through the streets, headed by a band of music. At the Town Hall the Mayor of Adelaide (Mr. Tucker) greeted Mr. Davitt. trusting that his stay in Australia would be a pleasant and happy one, and that any knowledge he might gain while there would be beneficial to him as. well as to the whole of the Queen's subjects. Addresses from various bodies were presented to Mr. Davitt and suitably acknowledged by him. Mr. Davitt will be in Auckland in about three months. " Straightgoer" writes forcibly in reference to the getting up of a suburban club's poultry show in opposition to the metropolitan show held annually under the auspices of the Auckland Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Association. He says that the action of the suburban society "is calculated to jeopardise the true interests of the poultry fancy, which the parent association for the last thirteen years has carefully guarded." The suburban club has also canvassed for prizes on those who had liberally supported the parent association. Our correspondent contends that one show affords breeders adequate means of displaying the products of their art.

A gentleman has collected some seven or eight spiders, apparently of the same variety as the katipo, except thab they have a faint white line instead of the usual red mark on the back characteristic of the katipo. The question raised is whether they are a distinct species of katipo or an accidental variety. The natives at Mercury Bay state that some of their people had been bitten by these spiders and made seriously ill. At one particular beach they are said to be numerous. While visiting Aratapu the gentleman referred to had been told by the Maoris that they also had seen a poisonous spider with faint white marks. The Obago Daily Times, in its obituary notice of Bishop Moran, says : On one of his brips from England bo Dunedin, among his fellow passengers were Monsignor Macdonald and Father Golden. In 1876, after the departure of Bishop Croke of Auckland, and before the arrival of Arohbisbop Steins, he was entrusted with the administration of the Diocese of Auckland. In January, 1882, he went the length, on a vacancy occurring in the representation of the Peninsula in the House of Representatives, of offering himself as a candidate for the seat, in order, bo quote his own words, " to protest against the gross injustice of abstracting money out the pockets of Catholics and spending it entirely upon bhe education of other people's children." There were two other candidates, the Hon. W. J. M. Larnach and Mr. J. Donnelly, and the bishop found himself at the bottom of the poll, obtaining 138 votes against 182 cast for Mr. Donnelly, and 667 recorded in favour of Mr. Larnach. An interesting telegraphic chess match was played on Saturday night between Devonporb and Napier. Owing partly (bo players on both sides being unacquainted with the notation used, the match did nob proceed as rapidly as was anticipated. As one game only was decided which was a lose to the local team, and the moves played only averaged about 18, it was decided, with the consent of the officials, to postpone the match till next Saturday. The cultivation of kumaras has until very recently been dona mainly by the Maoris, bub several enthusiastic horticulturists around the city have for the last three or four years gone in for experimenting in their growbh. They are very easily cultivated, and in any fair garden soil will yield enormous crops. There is now on view in the window of Messrs. E._ 0. Pilkington and Co. a large kumara weighing nearly Blbs, grown in Ponsonby. Ws are informed there was no special care (or indeed scarcely any attention) devoted to the crop, bub the land was well enriched with stable manure. The planb under which the tuber in question was got produced four others, the gross weight from the plant being over 12lbs. One tubers weighing five, four, and three pounds have been grown in the same garden, the latter weight being a common occurrence. Messrs. Pilkington state that they will have sets for sale in October next.

Ab the Opera House on Saturday Mr. Barrel I*B Dramatic Company repeated the double bill which had been produced on the previous night, the laughable comedy, "The Nightmare" and the "Corsican Brothers." In the former the humour and comical situation kept the audience in roars of famghter, the principal role* being filled with great ability. The drama was also effectively rendered, Mr, Darrell sustaining the role of " Fabian de Franchi," and Mr. Collet Dobson that of "Chateau Renaud," with marked dramatic effeob. To-night the last occasion on which the company is to appear in Auckland in special benefit, under the patronage of the Mayor, which has been tendered to Mr. George Darrell, will take place. The play selected for the occasion is Boucicault's great sensation drama, " The Streets of New York," and Mr. Darrell will sustain the rflle of the adventurer, " Badger," which he had made peculiarly his own, and in which he has appeared nearly 600 times in different parte of the world. Mr. Darrell richly deserves a bumper house, and should the weather prove favourable, he will, no doubt, be accorded one on this tile occasion of his farewell benefit. The popular lecturer, Mr. 0. E. Jones, lectured ab the Choral Hall last evening, to a largo and interested audience, on the subject of Church reformers, and he dealb with the subject in an exhaustive, unbiassed, and instructive manner, holding the attention of the audience rivetted from the first. Reference was made to the early reformers—Wycliffe, Huss, Ziska, Jerome of Prague and Savonarola, and the terrible martyrdoms which these and many others suffered, his graphic descriptions of some of the tortures which they were made to endure being almost painful in its reality. Referring bo tho work of these reformers, he said their value was bo a great extenb lost because there was then no printing press, but the work of subsequent reformers was greatly facilitated by the printing press, although ib had nob gained the proportions which ib now holds as the great agent) of civilisation— the art which preserves all arts. He made special reference to the character of Luther, his heroic, stubborn, indomitable bravery and daring, instanced by the greab thesis in which he protested against the sale of indulgences acid which he nailed ■■ to the church door. He then dealb with the reformers of later days, Melancthon and Wesley, and in conclusion he referred to the needs of the Church in the present day. More than a usual' amounfa of interest attaches to Mr. C. E. Jones' engagement for Tuesday night, when, as an outcome of a previous lecture on the " Mormons," he will open an assault on Mormon ism and will challenge public debate. Mr. Jones has shown himself a keen observer, and one who from long braining on press and platform and in Parliament, is equally as well able to make points argumentative as well as humorous.

A general meeting of members of the Auckland Yacht Club is bo be held tomorrow evening,, and as the business is of an important nature a full attendance of members is requested. The business manager of Pollard's LlUpubian Opera Company (Mr. Fred. W. Duval) arrived yesterday to make arrangements for the forthcoming season in Auckland. The opening , night is fixed for Saturday next, June 8, and the initial production will be the great moral and religious drama, " Uncle . Tom's Cabin." This work will, it is said, be produced on an unusual scale of completeness and magnificence. The box plan will be opened at Wildman and LyelVa on Wednesday morning. ;-vv A . » .