LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10032, 20 January 1896, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The European telegraph lino failed again on Saturday, and no messages were got through duriug the whole day. This arose, it is stated, from stormy weathor in Central Australia, where the interruptions generally tako place, and nob on the submarine sections. However, communication was restored between Adelaide and Porb Darwin yesterday (Sunday) morning, and thus we are able to give the latest European news. At a meeting of the Finance Committee of the Harbour Board held at the end of last week, the annual accounts wero passed. An amount of £2000 expended during the past year in dredging improvements of the harbour, was ordered to be placed to a new account in tho ledger to bo called the Harbour Improving Dredging Account. It was decided nob to recognise a claim presented by Mr. D. Gouk for oxtra work said to have been done ab the Calliopo Dock. Tho question of Freeman's Bay reclamation was considered, and Mr. M. Niocol oxplained that nothing could be done until the City Council had come to a decision as to whether they would purchase or not. It was stated by Mr. Holland (tho Mayor), that a proposition on the matter would be submitted to the Council at its next meeting. Mr. J. L. Scott, the Government candidate for tho vacant Christ-church seat, in laying his views before tho electors, declared that, although a teetotaller himself, | he was opposed to prohibition in any shape until a decisive majority demanded it, and not even then unless provision were made to supply tho reasonable wants of the minority. He upheld the Government in the recent banking legislation, and thought the outcome would ultimately bo tho establishment of a State bank. He eulogised the land laws, and dwelt upon the success ab Cheviot, which now supported hundreds of people whore only units subsisted formerly. He was in favour of old-age pensions, and thought the subject was not hedged about with so many difficulties as had been made to appear, and that the wealthy should be made to provide a vory substantial part of the necessary funds. He would urge the exclusion of Asiatics, and would promote legislation in the direction of importing nothing that could be manufactured in the country. He objected strongly to relief works for the unemployed, and thought one of the first aims of Government should be to see the whole of'the > populace employed eight hours a day at full wages, and would even not object to further borrowing, if necessary, to secure that end, provided permanent and reproductive works were undertaken. The annual meeting of the Harbour Board will be held to-day, at noon. Business: To consider the accounts of the Board for the East year in terms of section 55 of the arbours Act, 1878. This meeting is convened in accordance with the abovenamed Act, bub the meeting muib necessarily be adjourned, as the auditor has not finished the audit, and the accounts will require, after tho audit is completed, to be forwarded to Wellington for certificate of the AuditorGeneral. An ordinary meeting of the Board will be held on Tuesday, at 2.30 p.m. Business Ordinary. The disappearance of Mr. John Thorburn, of Parnell, has been reported to Constable Hutchinson, of the Parnell Police Station. According to the statement of Mrs. Thorburn her husband left home on Monday last saying that he was going to town, and never returned. It is feared that he has met with some mishap. He is 70 years of age, sft Bin high, dressed in dark clothes, with black hard felt hat, had full beard turning grey. Walks lame and carries a stick to assisb him in walking. Mr. P. ,S. Cassidy, a Now York journalist, who is paying New Zealand a visit, has been interviewed by tho Lyttelton Times. That per says:—Mr. Cassidy admires very mush the progressive ideas embodied in some, of our legislation, but in certain other respects he finds us rather slow. For example, he stayed one Sunday in Auckland, and found that ho could not purchase a postage stamp, he could not buy a newspaper to road, and he could not get a ride on a street car. This Sabbatarian-bound condition of affairs was not whab he had expected to find in Now Zealand, which ha 3 tho reputation in America of being the most progressive country on earth. Mr. McMillan, the now organist and choirmaster lately appointed to St. Mark's, Rotnuera, arrived by the Anglian last week to take up his duties. Mr. McMillan was organist and choirmaster ab the Church of St. John the Baptist, Manchester, for a period of five years, and comes to this colony with excellent recommendations and references. In the absence of tho vicar, the Rev. W. Beatty, Mr. McMillan was introduced to the choir by Mr. Edwin Hesketh on Friday last at the weekly practice. Mr. Hesketh (than whom no one can speak with more authority on musical matters in St. Mark's Church) reminded the choir that no organist however skilful can do anything in church music without tho hearty co-oporation and sympathy of the choir. Ho also expressed the regret naturally folt that Miss Hoywood had resigned the post of organist owing to her numerous other musical engagements. She has given her boat services for two years, and a hearty vote of thanks was given to hor, as also to Mr. Leslie Hunt, who for nine months has ably filled the office of choirmaster, and to whom the marked improvement in the choral part of the services is manifestly due. Mr. McMillan and Mr. Hunt both addressed tho choir. Tho latter expressed the pleasure his connection with St. Mark's choir had given him, and his desire to be of any service possible in the future. He also returned thanks on behalf of Miss Heywood, and the latter took an opportunity of individually thanking the choir at tho conclusion of the proceedings. A strong westerly gale was blowing in theManukau Harbour yesterday, accompanied by a very high tide. Several of the boats lying in the harbour drifted considerably, occasioning their owners some anxiety. Some little damage was also done to the s.B. Falcon. News was received on Saturday that the 2J-rater yacht Thelma, built recently by Messrs. C. and H. Bailey, after winning the Dunedin Club race, had won at the i Ravenawood Regatta, by over 7 minutes. The new yacht with a bulb keel, builb at Ounedin especially to meet the Tltelma has now boon beaten four times by her, There wero in the lock-up last evening, one person on a charge of drunkenness; Hugh Morland, for being drunk and disorderly; Bortram Turner (arrested by Acting-Detective Quirk) for obtaining by false pretences £410s from Henry Blessol, hotelkeoper; 'William Dowley (arrested by Acting-Detective Bailey), for larceny of overcoat, value £1, also of oilskin suit from cutter Gisborue; Frank Corcoran (arrested by same derive), for larceny of a pair of boots, . . MU ! • , . .

Our Wairarapa correspondent writes i— Accidents have been rife of late, some of which Glided fatally. Two boys, sons of Mr. Walter Harris, of the Opoki, wore drowned while bathing in the Ruamahanga River. A young man named Dixon was killed by the overturning of a waggon loaded with wool, and a man named Hugo was taken to the Masterton Hospital suffering from concussion of the brain, who has since died. Broken legs and arms and other damages hare been quite common lately. Tho body of Mr. A. Bray (one of thor»e drowned at the wreok of the Wairarapa), which was interred in St. Peter's Churchyard, Onehunga, is to be taken up and sent over to Sydney for interment. It may bo remembered that the deceased was supposod to bo a son of Mr. J, Bray.Onenunga, the result being that) the body was taken there. Tho Now Zealand Times, of January 17 sayß:-"Some choice Jersey cattle, consisting of a bull, five cows and four calves, which arrived by tho lonic two months ago to the order of Mr. F. A. White, of Auckland, were released from Somes' Island yesterday, after the usual GO days' quarantine, and will bo ehippod North by the Manapouri. Whon the lonic was at Hobarb a gentleman there, who saw and admired the cattle, offered £30 for one of the calves." That wo aro a sport-loving community goes without saying, and fine weather or foul, anything in the way of a race mooting or athletic carnival may depend upon the hearty support and patronage of the Auckland public. When, however, the outing includes a pleasant water excursion to such a popular resort as tho Lake Beach, the public avail themselves of the opportunity offered, and such proved the case on Saturday last, when tho Takapuna Hack Racing Club hold their first fixture, which was most liberally patronised, Tho mooting was promoted by residents of the Lake district; and tho eight events on tho card were confined to horses the property of those rosiding at tho Lake, Dovonport, and adjacent districts. Mr. E. Alison, junior,' the club's secretary, and the several other gentlomen connected with the management, are deserving of great credit for the completeness of the arrangements, Patrons wore conveyed to and from the beach in one of the Devonport Ferry Company's boats, which had been specially chartered for the occasion, and in addition to the feo of one shilling charged for the trip, a silver collection was made to defray expenses. A brass band had been specially engaged, and played a numbor of popular airs during the afternoon. The racing was of an interesting and closely-contested nature, all present voting tho gathering a most enjoyable one. The following are the results.—Handicap Hurdloa: Transit) 1, Kosedtile 2, Tawera 3. Handicap Maiden Race: Tim 1, Heiress 2. Handicap Saddle Trot: Violet 1, Daisy 2, Vega 3. Takapuna Hack Cup: Rosedalo I, Tio 2, Tawera 3. Pony Cup Handicap: Pinfiro 1, lfeira 2, Frailty 3. Flying Stakes Handicap: Heiress I, Tawera 2. Tho races were run on tho beach, and no time was taken. In the Handicap Maiden event Venus was first past the post, but a protest lodged by tho ownor of the second horse Tim, on tho grounds that the winnor was not the property of a bom fide resident, was sustained, and the race awarded to the second horse. At the Police Court on Saturday morning the Bench was occupied by Mr. H. W. Northcroft, Stipendary Magistrate. For drunkenness one first offendor was fined 5s with tho option of 48 hours ; and Walter Harper, charged with having beon drunk and disordorly atHowick, was remanded until this morning as he had not to all appearances quite recovered from his potation when brought into the dock. On being asked by His Worship whore ho lived, the man replied," New Zealand j' 1 and several other of his answers wore equally olear. Under the Destitute Persons Act William E. Davie* was ordered to pay 5s per week in support of his two children, ana Thomas Greenwood was ordered to pay a similar sura towards tho maintenance of his wife and also of his child. Thomas, Charles, George, and William Bishop wore each ordered to pay 5s towards their mother's maintenance. In the case of James Anderson, in arrears with an order made for his wife's support, to the sum of £2 2s Cd, and who was also i charged with failing to maintain his child, a fresh order was made that defendant should pay the arrears forthwith, and contribute 53 a week towards tho child's maintenance. James Scanlon, £11 8s behind with the payment of an order of the Court, was ordered to pay forthwith, or in default, sorve one month's imprisonment. We have received a copy of Mr. Graves Aickin's Statistical Memoranda and Calendar for 1896. In addition to the trade information concerning special products of his pharmacy, Queen-streot, It contains Interesting statistics concerning the area, population, vital statistics, finance, production, and value of principal exports of the colony. Some information is also given concerning the climate, railways open for traffic, telegraph lines open, ana religions of tho people. Tho information given will be found vory useful for reference. Th# statistical memoranda and calendar has been very neatly printed at the Herald Office. Tho orange crop of Southern California for the past season brought to the growers the handsome amount of £371,400. John Chinaman has been bitten by the 'cycle craze. Thero is already one son of the Flowery Land in the city pretty export on the machine, and on Saturday afternoon another might have been soen careering, or endeavouring to career, down Symondsstreet, under the tuition of a "Eulopean." We shall probably in the future have John soliciting ordors and delivering "spling callot," not In the characteristic manner we are used to, bub on wheels, to tho tune of a Chinese version of "Daisy Bell." During the holidays it appears that the wharf at Pine Inland was damaged by one of the stoamors. A Contract has been accepted for its repair, and ib is stated everything will be in readiness for picnic parties by Anniversary Day, tho 29th inst. Tho Tivoli Musical Comotly Company's weekly entertainment, held in the City Hall on Saturday night, was witnessed by one of the largost audionces tho Company has yet attracted. How You'vo Grown" and "A. Funny Story," two farces, which comprised part of the programme, were highly entertaining and full of hilarious fun. "Au Revoir," sung by Miss Fanny Shophord, a now addition to the Tivoll's ranks, was much applauded, and tho singer had to repeat tho ihst verse. " A Year Ago To-night," by the sumo young lady, was equally good. Mr. Pete Miller gave a musical burlosque, which was another name for drawing tunes from jam tins, cow bolls, and other like articles, and be scored a big success. Mr. J. Cullen sang several local dittios anont topics of the day, and received unlimited encores. Messrs. Fred Royd and Harry Baxter wore both successful in acting and singing alike. - Tho programme to be presented by the Court Singers ab their second concert on Wednesday next at the Opera House, will consist largely of Items entirely new to the colony, and will uppeal to all that have any musical taste. The vocal items aro almost identical with those sung by these artists to most of the crowned heads of Europe, with tho additional charm of most of them being sung in English. The charming prima donna, Frau Margarethe von Vahsol, who creutod such »favourable impression on Friday last, will sing no less than five songs and tako part in throe duets. Among tho former will bo the grand aria from the new and popular opera "Hans Hieling" by Marschnor, an opera that was being played at sixty different places in one night; "The Waltz Song" by Bohm, and «Ibo take part in tho great duet from Mascagni's opera " Cavalllera Ru9tloana." Ib will bo seen by advertisement elsewhere that) Mr. A. B. Maalon, from Melbourne, will deliver a series of leoturee on his tour round the world, three of which (illustrated) will be delivered in Wesley Hall, on Egypt, Jorasa'om, and Palestine respectively. A leoture will be given in tho Public Hall, Onohunga, on Friday evening next, (interspersed with musical selections), by Mr. P. A. Crawford, entitled, "Glimpses of Scottish Life and Prohibition. Whab Is It?" '