LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10081, 17 March 1896, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

A dinner was given last evening by the membeis of the Northern Club in honour jt llis Excellency the Governor, the Karl of Glasgow, His Excellency Admiral B:i.ii;e, and the officers of the Fleet. About 71) gentlemen were present. Dr. Haines (president) presided, and the vice-chair was filled by Mr. Robert Ko'e (vice-president), His Excellency the ii ivernjr was on the right of the president, »nd Hi Excellency the Admiral on his left. T.vie were only three toasts. The toast of '■ The Queen - ' having been duly honoured, trie Presi lent proposed "The Health of ll:* Excellency the Governor," in a neat *pe»ch, lo which Lord Glasgow replied in Lri-i but tri<»cefu 1 acknowledgment. The Vi-:i-|.re-iJent, Mr. Rose, proposed "The Hcu;,i of His Excellency the Admiral " in ui'.ju.e terms. The Admiral responded iii a vigjruus speech, in which he referred te trie inner line of defonce of the colony— the ciloniil forces—and the outer line, Hit- Imperial navy. As their Excellencies retired at 11 p.m. to proceed to Government House, they were enthusiastically cheered by those present.

Hi' Worship the Mayor has invited His K*i--..eacy tne Governor and staff, His E.tc-iieiiry the Admiral and the commander' and officers of the warships, and some r.i'izens, to in outing to day to Nihotupn Kails and foresE. The brakes leave the Q'lecn street Wharf at nine a.m.

The c iloniai mails which left this port by the Alameda on February 2., reached San Fiapcifco on Thursday last, time-table date.

An inquiry into the circumstances surrounding tliM death of John Cooper Jackson, aged 49, who committed suicide by cutting his throat under circumstances related in Monday morning's Herald, was conducted before 1 Jr. Philson, coroner, and i jury of six, at the Hospital yesterday afternoon. Evidence was given by I)rs. (lirdier, Dawson, and Baldwin, and John Jackson, son of the deceased, that of Dr. Baldwin, who had held a post-mortem examination of the body, going to show that deceased had died from bronchial pneumonia, accelerated by a loss of blood an tho wound inflicted in the throat. The three other witnesses showed that deceased was not responsible for his actions, teing at times delirious, and tho jury, after retiring for live minutes, returned a verdict in accordance with tin medical testimony to the effect "that deceased had cut i.i" throat in a lit of temporary insanity w.'.iie suffering intense pain."

A re»idant in Parncll sends us a private I'' tr from a friend in Manchester, in which 'li; writer makes certain statements which v.»' iu:l grateful for. He says:-"I have cj'.ii.J a column from the Manchester City New* of January 25, which I think would Lfir repetition in the New Zealand Hiku.d. . . . Mrs. H says that

i.'ie never hears the full story about anythin.' that lakes place here until wo receivo your Hkkald. We only get short and garbled accounts of things and happenings, hut the Hkrald publishes things in full, ■ihe suspends judgment now on all matters u "'ii -he gets the Nkw Zealand Herald's account of it." The idea' of people in E'v'Und waiting for the Auckland Herald to Hive them English news is at first sight lit :- absurd. But it is a fact that few Ei;',di«h newspapers contain such copious »"'•! Carefully • compiled budgets of the world's news as may be found in the Saturday's supplement of the ISkw Zealand Herald.

A private letter recently received from South Africa states that after Dr. Jameson's expedition had failed the members of the Reform Committee imprisoned in the Pretoria guol represented £'20,000,000 of monoy. These prisoners were for the first two days treated with extremist rigour, but after that every consideration was shown them, and when released on bail the " prisoners" subscribed a sum of £'290 as a present to their gaoler.

A man named Campbell was admitted yesterday to the District Hospital who had ' -iad his hand injured by a saw.

In reply to an application to the Government for assistance to the movement for the promotion of the defence of the colony by cultivating pood shooting, Mr. Fowlds has received tho following telegram from the Premier on Saturday night:-" quito agree with you that pood shooting is essential to successful defence. This is encouraged and promoted in connection with onr volunteers—tho Rifle Association meeting, and with tho present rifle clubs. Such being tho case, it is open at the present time for those who dosiro to assist in the direction indicated in your telegram to becomo volunteers, or mombors of tho rifle clubs, and 011 their doing so they will be entitled to the assistance which is given by the Government to those organisations. I have no further suggestions to make." In answer to this. Mr. Fowlds telegraphod as follows yoaterday " Please send to mo, or instruct me where I can obtain, all information re riflo clubs, to which your telegram refers."

A considerable amount of business kept the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board tngether for seroral hours yesterday. Mr. McKenzio, chairman of tho North Auckland Charitable Aid Board, attended to inquire into the action of the Auckland Board in taking stops to recover an amount due from' North Auckland in relation to persons from their district treated in Auckland. It was explained to Mr. McKenzio that it was absolutely requisite that the Board should call in the amounts duo. He explained that his Board had levied the highest rate possiblo in ordor to wipe off the liability. The medical superintendent reported that there were now 13G inmates. Thoro had been eight deaths, two of which wero from totunus, and theso cases required special nursing. Another of the nursing staff had been attackod by typhoid fever. This made the sixth nurse absent through illness, and tho strain on tho others was very groat. They had tried to obtain nurses from outside, but had only succeeded in obtaining two, leaving four short. The lady superintendent also wrote, complaining bitterly of the strain on the nurses, housemaids, and staff generally, owing to the number laid up through illness, aud she furnished a time-table showing the duties which each had to perform, and the hours during which they were employed, extending in several instances from live o'clock in tho morning till half-past 7 in the evening. A meeting of the Board of Governors of Prince Albert College was held yesterday. The headmaster, Mr. T. Jackson, M.A., reported 21 new boys admitted for the present term. For the entrance schlarships there had been ten competitors. The following boys having gained tho highest number of marks received the award of free tuition T. A. Osborn, 490; J. B. Johnston, 431; 11. J. R- Rhodes, 421; the maximum number of marks being "50. For the grade scholarships of £10 there had been seven competitors, the highest among the seniors being—R. B. Ward, .*l4 ; and among the juniors—Philip Vicl.ertnau, 522; the maximum number being 900.

Tho final session of the twonty-th ird annual Wesleyan Conferenco was held yesterday morning. The recommendations of the Synods re the C.l). Acts were read, and that of the Canterbury Synod, with some verbal alterations, was adopted. Each Synod was in favour of immediate repeal. The Journal of the Conference was then read by the secretary, and approved as containing a oorrect record of tho pro-« ceedinjs. l'rayer was offered by the Revs. S. F. Prior and W. Morley, and the Benediction pronounced by the President. The directors of the Auckland Gas Company have had part of the office fitted up for demonstrating tho best means of using gas ranges, and they now invito ladies interested in cooking by gas to attend at the company's oflico to receive the benefit of the instruction given. The first demonstration will be given to-morrow afternoon, from half-past two to four p.m., and will bo continued daily at these hours. In addition to the daily demonstration of cooking, a lady will be in attendance daily to explain and show tho method of using gas ranges and laundry irons. The Salvation Maori party having arrived from Australia, tho welcome meeting will take place to-night at the Albert-street Barracks, a? some of the party have to leave to-morrow for Gisborne. Staff-Captain Harris will lead, and Brigadier McPheo will farewell for Australia.

A case of some interest was hoard (it) the Banco sittings of the Supreme Court yesterday. It was an application for a writ of attachment against a man named Wylio for contempt of Court for failing to appear to givo evidence in a criminal case at Napier. The man was subpoenaed in Aucklan 1, and as he appeared to have made reasonable efferta to procure from the police his fare from Auckland to Napior, Mr. Justice Conolly refuted the writ on the ground that there was no wilful evasion of attendance on the subpoena. Yesterday evening Professor Carrollo, the well-known instructor of gymnastics, opened his 14th consecutive season at the gymnasium, Young Men's Christian Association buildings, when there wero present a large number of pupils, including several new aspirants to feats of skill and strength. Mr. Justice Conolly held sittings in three separate jurisdictions yesterday, namely, bankruptcy, chambers, and banco, disposing of business in each. To-day being St. Patrick's Day and a public holiday, the Supreme Court will be closed, and the chamber business which would under ordinary circumstances bo taken, will stand over until Frid ay.

At the Parnell Borough Council last night an exhaustive report was received an to the values of the various sections of tho Punakitere endowment, and applications for some of the sections wore received. These wero referred to a sub-committee to bring up a report. A memorial to the Governor approving of the Order-in-Council authorising necessary transfer to the company who undertakes to carry out the electric tram system was submitted by Messrs. Hesketh and Richmond, for whom Mr. Clayton appeared. It was duly signed and sealed.

The secretary of the Auckland College and Grammar School has received 100 applications re tho John Williamson scholarships, some of them from very distant out districts such as Ngaruawahia and Te Awamutu. The following is the list of schools and number of applications from each:—Newton West, 12; Ponsonby (Mr. Ba.ley's), 17 ; Ponsonby (Mrs. Roonoy's), 5 ; Mount Eden, 12 ; Newton East, 10 ; To Awamntu, 5; Wellesley-street, 8; Devonport, 1; Onehunga, 7; Kemuera, 3; Epsom, 2; Grafton District, 1; Nelson-Street, 1; Avondale, 1 ; Otahuhu, 1 ; Newmarket, 2 ; Northcote, 1; Napier-street, 3; Parnell Avenue Roys' Day School, 1 ; Ngaruawahia, 4; Mount Roskill, 1; Parnell, 1; not known, 1.

The Very Rev. William Watt, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and missionary in Tanna, will deliver a lecture, illustrated by limelight views, on mission work in the New Hebrides, in St.. James's Hall, on Thursday evening. The rev. gentleman has spent half a lifetime in the group. He is thoroughly well acquainted with every phase of his subject. As soveral members have pressed their inability to attend the Harbour Board meeting this afternoon, it has been arranged that the chairman and Mr. Gunson will attoml and formerly adjourn the meeting until to morrow.

The members of the several Good Templar Lodges on board 11. M. ships now in port hold a meeting in the Protestant Hall, Newton, last Saturday evening. Brother Spooner, C.T., Orlando Lode®, H.M. s. Orlando, occupied the chair. Tho members of tho city lodges and the Juvenile Templars paid an official visit. Brother Leßoy, Grand Marshal, was also officially received. During tho evening songs wero given by several of the brethren from the naval lodges. At the close or' tho evening light; refreshments were handed round.

Yesterday Constabl« Pry arrested two men namod Henry Albert Austin and Henry Mounsoy on the arrival of tho train from Rotorua on a charge of breaking into the Rotorua Post Office, and stealing therefrom about £230 in gold, bank notes, and securities, tho property of the Now Zealand Government.

This ovening, in St. James* Hall, the Rev. G. N. Roby, for six years Presbyterian minister in the Transvaal, will deliver a lecture on life in that Territory. The proceeds will bo devoted to St, James' Church funds.

The Ferry Company will run one of their fine stoamors to St. He'.iors Bay to-day, and after landing passengers will proceed to the fishing grounds, calling at St. Heliers Bay on return.

Strong evidenco of the acutoness of the typhoid epidemic in Melbourne was given at the last meeting of the Melbourne Hospital Committee. It was reported that numbers of cases daily wero rofused owing to all tho accommodation being occupied. The Argus states that a woman suffering from typhoid, who failed to secure admission to tho hospital, was found in a collapsed condition sitting' on a doorstep waiting in hope that room would be made for her. A charitable widow whodiscovered the woman, took her homo and tended her, but aha was too far gone and died.

The Liberal Association hold a meeting lasb evening in the Wesley Hall, Mr. W. Leys in the chair. There was a fair attendance, including several ladies. A very lengthy discussion took place over a lotter attached to a circular send round to one or more brewers in the city, asking for donations towards tho funds of the Association. It appeared that in the lettor wero mentioned the words, " will guard your interests." This gave umbrage to sovoral inombors, who thought it was "scandalous " that tho Association should be allied with the liquor or any other trade interest!. Tho question was several times asked, "Who authorised tho sending of the letter attachment?" No satisfactory answer howevor appeared to be forthcoming, though it was stated that it had not been done with the sanction of the Association as a body, After 45 minutes' deliberation it was decidod, 011 the motion of Mr. G. Peacocke, that the letter should bo withdrawn. It was proposed that a social be held all an early dato, to bring the Liberals more together, and tho idoa was warmly taken up. Tho appointment of the Council for the year resulted in the election of Mesdamos Colling*, Chapman, Jordan, Partington, Gibson, and Keats, and Mossrs. Shera, Clarko, Beehan, Cunningham, Thomas, Campbell, Dixon, Poncocke, Kills, Napier, Martin, Molloy, Stevenson, and McPherson. There have boon only 121 objections made to tho city valuations as against 209 last year.

Tlio sacond performance by Klaer's unique and clover circus combination,' attracted anothor large attendance at the Agricultural Hall last evening, when the programme of Saturday was repeated, and met with much acceptance. The acrobatic feats of the " Australian Nuggets" came in for wellmorited applause, and the liliputians are to be complimented on the excellence of their performance. The balancing act of T. Kadoma, the bare-backed riding of Miss Alice, Walter St. Leon's trained horse, Miss Amy's equestrian and tumbling acts, Mr. J. Klaer's juggling, and Charles lfosran's feat of jumping on the back of a galloping horso, all met with welldeserved approbation ; whilst the funnyisms of the clowns kept the spectators in a state of continual laughter fro n the opening to the close of the show. The program will be ropeated for a last) time thin evening, and a change is announced for tomorrow.

Tho question of religion versus fishing ended somewhat disastrously for tho principals in the affair. At Noree, in New South Wales, a small boy preferred going fishing on Sunday morning instead of to mass, and Father MaclJuinnesa took upon himself, on the following Sunday, when the delinquent came to mass, to thrash him severely with a stirrup leather, At the Police Court the cleric was mulcted in a line and costs totalling £15, tha magistrate declining to allow him to arrogato the power of punishing people for not going to church.