LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9919, 7 September 1895, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The mail 9t«amer Alameda arrived from Sydney yesterday afternoon, after a fast run of 3 days 19 hours. ■ Among: the passengers for this port were Mr. Warwick Weston, general manager of the New Zealand Insurance Company, who has been attending the Conference of Underwriters at Melbourne. The Hon. Audley Coot« is a passenger to Honolulu, on business connected with the proposed Pacific cable. Mr. Harry Monkhouse, of the Gaiety Company, is a through passenger, accompanied by Mrs.. Monkhouse. The Alameda resumes her voyage to Apia, Honolulu, and San Francisco at two o'clock this afternoon. It is stated that the Hon. Mr. Reeves' draft ot the amending Bill of the Shop Hours Act has been printed, and submitted privately to several persons for their opinion. In this provision is made for tha changing of the day fixed as often as it is required, but all shops must be closed on the same day, and no exemptions will be allowed— that is if the Bill pusses. The Supreme Court was occupied the whole of yesterday with the case of a man named Fell and his wife, who are charged with ill-treating and neglecting a female child, Laura Fell, 13 years of age, the daughter of the male prisoner, and the step* daughter of the female. The case lor the prosecution had not concluded when the Court adjourned at a quarter to six o'clock, and it will be resumed this morning. There are three Other witnesses for the Crown, and it is intimated that there will be at least three for the defence. The case against Susan Matheson, of robbery from the person, will not be called to-day. The drill of the Auckland Navai Artillery took place last night, but it was at the forts. At; the drill-shed detachments of recruits wore drilled by Sergeant-major Carpenter and instructors from the fort. The " A'' Battery received and took over a fine stand of 20 Martini-Henry rifles, with swordbayonets, foresight protectors, etc. The battery is now in a good position as a shooting company. They have 20 Martini rifles, in addition to those now received, giving them 40 in all. Ten of the rifles are issued each to the Auckland avals, the Ponsonby Navals, and the Devonporb Navals. The arms are well distributed, and the future contests will no doubt become more interesting. The other day we drew attention to tha retirement of Mr. Bell to the management of the local branch of the Mutual Life Association of Australasia. His successor in office, Mr. C. J. Owen, from Christchusch, arrived by the s.s. Tarawera, and has now assumed charge. Mr. Ernest Jones, of Auckland, jeweller, has, invented and patented a very simple continuous sand blast for frosting and dead-surfacing all kinds of jewellery or fancy articles. The Blenheim system of treating ironsand by metnis of magnets is nothing new, as Kelly, of Freeman's Bay foundry, did it years ago, and for many years it has been used in Canada. In reference to the bankruptcy of Mr. C. J. Taylor, formerly of Auckland, reported by cable from London, we may mention that it is many years since he was on the directory of the Loan and Mercantile Agency Company.

We have received from the Principals of St. John's College a copy of their new prospectus. This is of quite a different character from the ordinary school prospectus. It contains not only full particulars of the scope and aims of the school and its institutions, but also several beautiful illustrations of the College grounds and buildings, as well as of the " Towers "' and grounds in Remuera. The leasing of "Th( Towers,'' in order to accommodate boarden in connection with the school, is a new departure on the part of the Principals, and it speaks well for the school that they should find it neoessary to take this step " The Towers" will be under the management of Mr. Bruce, who should, with nil English experience, be in a position to make, the undertaking a. distinct success. The prospectus has been printed at the Herald new works,'and does the establishment great credit. A grand complimentary benefit will be tendered to, Miss Olive May- Stokes oo Wednesday next in the City Hull. i

The business at the PoliciCourb yesterday was transacted by Mr R. S. Bush, S.M. William Herbert, aby ten years of a<r 3 , was charged with havig, on the 2nd September, stolen four schpl bags of the value of 3a, the property of irfchur Wright). The accused was commibta to the Burnham Industrial School 0 Christchurch until he attained the up of 15 years. Eight parents were eac) charged with having committed a bread of the Education Act by neglecting to end a child to a public school. Mr. Sinai, truant officer, appeared for the proseoutcn. A fine was imposed in each case. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Union Parliament was feld last evening, Mr. J. H. Upton acting is Speaker. The ne (McGregor) Miniabryreceived a vote of confidence. !

The cast of character for the forthcoming production of "Tie Mikado" by the Amateur Opera Club appears in another column. The leading part will bo taken'by Messrs- Arehdale Taylor,ieo. Warren, A. L. .yards, Howard Chaibers, and Theo. Dueree, and Misses Reev, Warren, Fitzpatrick, and Maxwell, A meeting of the Eigh Hours' Demonstration was held last cveing. The Rev. Shirley Baker presided. I was resolved to terminate the neerotiabma with the Amateur Athletic Club am adopt a professional programme. The sports secretary brought up a programne'of 17 events, which was adopted. Itw»s resolved to ynit on the Auckland '.rotting Club in order, if possible, to indue the club to hold the trotting matches on<ome other day, ami a deputation was apcinted for the purpose. An adjourned meeting ofthe Road Roards in ilia Mauukau County wil be held in the Public Hall, Papakura, on he 19fch instant, at a quarter to twelve a.m. to consider the Local Government Bill. A boy named Maurio Mooney was brought to the Hospital ysterday, having broken his arm accidental oub near St. John's College. The first report on the standard examination ot Catholic school) in the district was presented by Inspeitor Gow to the Education Board at Timan yesterday. In tiro schools with 701 on tie rolls, 401 were presented in standards md 282 passed. His- general remarks state that the Timaru Boys' School passed a gotd examination ; Waimate fairly good; th« Timaru Girls' School, Temuka, and Kerrjtowi were not favourable on the whole. A course of three lectures on " The Geology of Gold Deposits" is to be given at the University Colleee by the Professor of Geology. The lectures will be j: a popular character, and are intended for those who do not profess to have any technical knowledge of the subject. They will have special reference to the goldlields of the Auckland provincial district, and will be llustrated with limelight diagram. The firs' lecture is to be on Thursday evening, the 19th September.

Last night Mr. E. Waters' Cofibe Palace, Lower Queen-street, was lighted by electricity, the plant for which wai supplied was supplied by Messrs. John Chambers and Son, the installation tailing place under the personal supervison of Mr. Ernest J. Fenn, A.1.E.E., The plant consists of a 6§-light Electric Construction Company dynamo, driven by i four-horse power (nominal) Tangya gas sngine. The regulation of this engine is .'aid to be so perfect that the light is absoutely steady whether one or all the lamps is turned on. During the last few years co-operation amongst Irish farmers has been quite a boon, and has made good pngress, especially in regard to the dairying industry. The history of the movemert is briefly as follows:—At the end of 1J93 twenty-five co-operative dairy societies were in existence. During that year, tt a conference held in Limerick, it was decided that these societies should federate fo* the joint sale of produce, an agency being formed under the name of the Irish Co-operative Agency. The next year (1594) a further move was made by the establishment of the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society, which proved another stimulus to agriculture. The growing popularity of co-operation in Ireland is shown by the fact that since 1891 fifty dairy societies have been formed on that principle, of which number thirty four v.ere established in the fifteen months ended March 31st, 1895. The total number is sixty-seven, with a membership of 3800 workers. The shares in tho Irish Cooperative Creameries are owned for the most part by the members. Shares are wholly taken up by farmers in proportion to the number of cows they milk, at the rate of £1 for each animal. In 1894 the number of members on cite register was 1641, who operated through the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society, and the number of cows supplying milk to the creameries 20,214. This society charges 24 p;r cent, on sales of butter which averaged nearly 10£ d per lb in 1894, as compared with Hid in 1893.

The entertainment at the City Hall on Monday night by Mr. John Fuller should draw a large house. It comprises beautiful limelight views of the " Land of the Rose, Shamrock, and Thistle." The programme of the Auckland Technical School, Rutland-street, for the second term, which commences on Monday, will be found in our advertising columns. At St. David's Literary Society on Thursday night a debate was held " Should the System of Party Government be Abolished?'' Affirmative, Mr. Hill ; negative, Mr. Johnson, the result being a large majority in the affirmative. The adjourned meeting of the Devonport Borough Council met last evening, but th» only members present were Messrs. Mays, Cameron, and Dutton. Three other members were known to be unavoidably absent. On the motion of Mr. Mays the meeting was adjourned until Tuesday next.

On the afternoon of one of the show days of the Royal at Darlineton a severe thunderstorm took place with disastrous results. Just at the time when the storm was at its height a prominent ash tree in the yard was struck by lightning, and a group of persons taking shelter under it were seen to be thrown about in great confusion. When assistance arrived it was found that two men—Mr. Wm. Watson, a timber merchant of West Hartlepool, and Mr. T. T. Mawston, Prives Close Farm, Fence Houses— had been badly hit, and were, in fact, in a dying condition. They were removed with all speed to the ambulance tent, but died shortly after admission. Three others were also so seriously injured that they had to be removed to the hospital. Latest accounts went to show that they were likely to recover. The sad occurrence cast quite a gloom over the show, and universal sympathy was expressed with the friends of the deceased gentlemen. At the Opera House last evening Professor pi?vis and Madame Davis repeated their interesting entertainment before a large audience. The clairvoyant tests by the lady, and the exhibition of Mrs. Mellon'a " Spooks," by Professor Davis were exceedingly clever performances. A change of programme is announced for this evening. The following is the state of Her Majesty's prison, Auckland, for week ending August 31: —On remand, 1 male, 1 female ; awaiting trial, 8 males, 2 females; boys, 2; penal servitude, 32 males; hard labour, 74 males, 12 females; default of bail, 1 male, 1 female; received during the week, 12 males, 0 females ; discharged, 15 males, 3 females. Total in prison, 118 males, 16 females. Yesterday afternoon Miss Reynolds, of London, gave a Bible talk in the Young Men's Christian Association. To-night at the City Hall Miss Amy Vaughan produces her weekly entertainment. An entire change of programme will be presented. During the evening several new specialties, and the latest London music hall successes will be introduced. The usual social of the Caledonian Society WW held on Thursday, and was well attended. A capital concert programme Tat provided.