LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10035, 23 January 1896, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Herald Monthly Summary, for transmission by the next outward San Francisco mail, will be published morrow (Friday), Those desirous of forwarding the Summary to their friends in Europe, America, etc., will have ample time to do so, as the newspaper mail closes on Saturday next, at halfpast eleven a.m., up to which hour orders for mailing the Summary will also be received at the Publishing Office, Queenstreet. This mail will be due in London on Wednesday, February '26.

Tho second sale of tho season, under the pices of the Auckland Woolbrokers' Association, was held at the Wool Exchange, Queen-street, yesterday. The catalogues ot the four firms represented comprised in all 3002 bales, which is 1193 bales less than was submittted at the opening sale of the season, held on llecember 12. There were a large number of buyers present, but competition was not as keen as in the i previous instance, and a slight falling away of pricos was noticeable in the better class of clips presented, Bi<l being the best price paid, though inferior wools showed a slight increase jn the figures realised in December, On the whole the quality of the wool was good, though slightly inferior to the lots disposed of at the previous sale, while it also suffered somewhat in " get up." Prices Dinged as follow Crossbred, C.JI to , 'i longwool, 6Jd to 8d ; lambs', (j.Jd to SJI; Vices, 4d to 6J. A full report of the sale appears in another column of this issue.

Tourists may shortly expect to have good fishing up at Rotorua. Yesrerday Mr. Menzies, manager of the Northern Club, received by train from Mr. B. McDonald, of Rotorua, a fine specimen of what is believed to be the American brown trout, caught in one of the streams flowing into Lake Rotorua. It scaled, cleaned, 15Mb, and when taken out of the water must have weighed 171b to 17Jlb. Mr. Alfred Warbrick has sent a trout weighing 161b, caught in the Ngongotaha stream, to Mr. Cheeseman, Curator of the Auckland Museum, in order to ascertain its variety.

A picture of some historical interest, so far as the subject goes, has just been finished by Captain Clayton. It is the hoisting of the British flag at Green's Point, Akaroa, in IS4O. H.M. brig Britowart, Captain Stanley, is seen in the offing, and the Union Jack flying from the flagstaff on the point. The French warship L'Aube, Japtain Lavaud, is standing in, under sail. In the background of the picture is a series :f ranges forming the high lands of Akaroa, while in tho right foreground at the base of the ranges is seen a Maori village. The picture, with its whole surroundings, has an historical interest, as reviving old reminiscences, and we arc not surprised, therefore, that there are two purchasers in the field for it, one of them in the South.

A meeting of the Trades and Labour Council was held last night in the Foresters' Hall, Newton, for tho purpose of conferring with journeymen painter? as to the advisability of forming a union for the trade. There was a good attendance of the Council, and about nine painters. Mr. J. Fawcus presided. The feeling of the meeting was in favour of the object, but it was stated that there was a difficulty in getting the men together. It was ultimately resolved to call another meeting by sending round circulars to individual tradesmen, as it was suggested that that would bo the most effective way to secure a good attendance.

There was little difference yesterday in the observance of the half holiday, although the' half-holiday has been fixed by the conferonco of delegate? recently. It appears that the Wednesday has not yet been gazetted, or at least the Gazette has not arrived, and it is a "go as you-please" arrangement at present. In the Karangabape Road, the centre of the Wednesday agitation, and suburbs, the half-holday was generally observed. Next week there is a public holiday, which obviates the observance of Wednesday for that week, and it is expected that the Gazette notices will be up beiore the end of the month. A number of firma notify by advertisement elsewhere their intention of keeping open on Wednesdays until six o'clock, and of closing on Saturday afternoons from one o'clock during the present year,

Tbe sheep brought by the Rangatiri were impoited by Mr. F. W. Harnett, o: Walton, who selected them from the flock of a celebrated breeder at Home on his last visit to England. They consist of three Shropshire rains and a similar nnmber of ewes.

It was at the premises of Mr. Parkinson grocer, Queen-street, that the attempted burglary took place early on Monday morning, and not at Mr. Parkinson's, confectioner, though both tradesmen have repeatedly suffered in this way. The burglar alarm rang so violently that it could be heard as far as Cook-st,reot, and in a short space of time quite b crowd bad turned up, but the men who had set it a«oing had levanted. Apparently it was intended to carry out another tobacco robbery, as the premises of Air. Hosking, hairdresser and tobacconist, Upper Pitt street, have been burglarised and £12 of tobacco and cigarettes stolen.

The chairman (Mr. M. Niccol) of the meeting held recently for the purpoao of forming a branch of "the Navy League has received the following telegram from the Premier" I beg to acknowledge receipt sf your telegram conveying resolution pa.-sed at meeting by New Zealand colonists approving the action of the authorities in 'in! mother country in respect to Venezuela an 'l Transvaal, and have with pleasure advised that the resolution bo forwarded through the proper channel to the Secretary u ' State."

Yesterday Dr. Wilkins received his official appointment from the Defence Minii-tor (Hon. R. Keddon) as surgeon to ™ Permanent Militia, -and he has already entered upon his medical duties.

Of tlm four constables at present stationed St Te Whaiti, in tho Urewera Country, two have received instructions to return to Auckland.

In consequence of tbe position of Herr Rudolf Schmalfeld, who is suffering; from ft relaxed throat, the concert intended to be given on Friday next by the Court; Singers will be postponed to ft future date. Herr ochmalfeld, acting on the advice of.. a radical attendant has decided to toko a lew days rest at Rototua,

I Wo have received from the American Tobacco Company of New Zealand (Limited) a series of lithographed illustrations, worked in four odours, which amusingly depicts the state of affairs which will ensue with the advent of the '' Nety Woman," Apparently among hor charaoterlstices will be a proclivity for smoking Indian Chief cigarettes.

The united mission sorvices of the Rev. C. H. Yatman were oontinued yostorday. At half-past twelve, in the National Association Rooms, Mr. Yatman delivered an address to business men on "The Doctrine of Retribution," as illustrated by incidents in business life. He said he had given them the balm, and he now wished to give them the knife. In his experience he had found tho knife sometimes better than the balm. There was in the moral government of the univorso a law of retribution as well as of compensation. At half-past three ho addressed a mooting of womon at the Y.M.C.A. (the hall being full), on " Woman and Her Work." It was the opening address of a series on that topic. He gave useful advice to young women, to wives, mothors, and maidens, and those who walked life's pathway alone. In the evening lie addressed the largest audienoo he has yet had on a week-day in the City Hall, namely, about 1200, on " The Story of the Crucifixion." The address was listoned to by the large audience with great attention, and the impression created by the discourse was so profound that they left the hall in perfect silence. Miss Rimmer sang some sacred solos. To-day Mr. Yatman will give the usual address to business men in the afternoon, his second address to women in the Y.M.C.A., and in the evening, at) the City Hall, his subject will be " Hell." On Sunday afternoon, in the City Hall, Mr. Yatman will give an address to a mass meeting of men on "The Forty Wrestlers." , "Egypt: The Land of the Pharaohs," was tho subject of a lecture in the Wesley Hall last night by Mr. A. B. Matson. Mr. Matson treated his subject in a very popular manner, giving sketches of the Egypt of by-gone days and of the present timo, its agriculture, sights, etc., and above all the wonderful Nile. A lecture will be given this evening on "Palestine: The Divine Wonderland"."

A most carefully-selected programme has been compiled for presentation at the Opora House oil Monday evening next by the Steinhauer-Bahnson Concert Company, in which Madame Bahnson again appears in some of those gems known to be her particular favourites. Miss Regina Magel, the charming contralto who created such a distinctly favourable impression upon the audience at last Monday's concert, promises three items, and Mr. Leigh Harris (tenor), sings throe songs. Mons do Williraoff, Mr, S. Jackson, and Miss Harding contribute as before the instrumental selections. The programme appears under the head of amusements in this issue.

In reply to " Anxious," we are informed that the dangerous overcrowding of public halls has not escaped the attention of the local authority. The matter has been brought under notice of the Government), the Council having no constables for such duties.