LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10111, 21 April 1896, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Yesterday the Countess of Glasgow, Ladies Augusta, Dorothy, and Alice, attended by Captain Preston and Captain Feilden, A.D.C.'s, were present at the meeting of the Pakurang* hounds.

It is regarded in Wellington as probable that the Premier will leave there next week in fulfilment of his long-promised visit to Auckland.

Captain Russell, M.H.R., addressed a meeting of electors at Cambridge last night, and returns to Auckland to-day in time to take passage by the s.s. Tasmania for the East Coast. It is understood that lie will address the Gisborne electors on his way bomowards.

The Government are paying heed to the representations made as to the Auckland police being undermanned. Fivo men have been sent up, and as many more will shortly join, so that the force on night duty will be considerably strengthened. The minimum height for recruits is sft 9in, so that ib is intended to get good stalwart men, indeed, one of the latest accessions is said to bo the "champion heavy woight." A new police station is to be established at YVaitekauri, a house having been leased for the purpose. As showing the panic which has set in through the recently perpotrated and undetected burglaries, fully sixty tradesmen and merchants have given orders for the patent burglar alarm to be fixed up in their premises.

The ordinary meeting of the Auckland University Colioge Council was held yesterday afternoon, His Lordship Bishop Cowie presiding. A letter was read from Mr. Breckon, of Karamu, ro the Council's instructions, thai) certain grass seed be purchased and sown on certain reclaimed bush ground in his occupation, asking that the provision be re-considered. It was decided to adhere to the Council's previous resolution. The report of the plumber appointed to examine the water supply at the University showed that 5 per cent, too much was being registered by the meter, alio that certain overflows existed, and recommended the expenditure of about £25 in repairs of alleged defects. It appears that whereas the previous return showed that 5000 gallons of water had been used, the report of consumption under discussion gave an increaso to 17,000 gallons, The matter was referrod to .the architects for consideration. Miss Esther Ward wrote, asking if the University Council examined exempted students in the province of Westland. Aftersomediscussion, during the course of which Mr. Udy pointed out that the applicant should apply to the Canterbury University authorities, and contended that tho Auckland Council was overstepping its duties in dealing with matters too far from home in the face of the Southern University being so close to Westland, it was decided to refer the whole matter to a committee to consider and report upon ab the next meeting of the Council, more particularly with regard to the question of principle involved. The secretary of the Blind Institute wrote, thanking the registrar for having conducted the recent examinations at that institution. With regard to the insurance of the College buildings against fire, it was decided that the property committee make a valuation with a view to allowing for certain deterioations in value sinco last valuation, some years back. An application from the assistant in chemistry for an increase of wages was granted. The registrar was instructed to thank the donors for certain books for use in the University. Accounts, amounting to £355 3s 8.1, were pissed for payment, and a number of minor matters deal with. The Council then adjourned until Monday, 18th May.

To-night Mr. F. Lawry will address the Pirnell olectors in the Newmarket Hall, when the Mayor of Newmarket will proside.

The opening up of the newly-discovered coal seams in Waitangi is now being prosecuted with vigour. Already boring tools have been sent to the lease to test the seams, and yesterday other requisite appliances were procured. The coal is stated to bo of an excellent quality.

At a meeting of the University College Council held yesterday a communication was received from the Professorial Board to the effect that their attention had been called to the fact that tho College regulations concerning exomptei students were not wholly in accordance with Chapter VI., Section 1, of the University Statutes, and that no cognisance was taken in the regulations of the fact that) professional students qualifying for the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Science are exempted by the Statute from pasting the annual examination, in order to keep terms. The Board therefore recommended the Council to add tho following clause to said regulations"Students who are qualifying themselves for the degree of Bachelor of Medicine, or for any of the professional branches of the degree of Bachelor of Science shall be required to pass the annual examination of tho College in order to keep the terms of the year." This was agreed to.

The intcrprovincial football club match Waimate (Taranaki) v. Parnell will take place on Saturday next at Potter's Paddock, play commencing at threo o'clock sharp.

Our Northern Wairoa correspondent writes:—" Mr. and Miss Artniger, 'of To Kopuru, had a wet experience one evening last weak, and ran Rome danger of being drowned had it not been for the timely assistance of Captain McKonzie, of the schooner Huia, They were coining ashore from the barque Royal Tar, Mr. ArmiKer holding his sister by the hand, when someone spoke to them from the veseol, and Mr. Armiger, turning round, missod his footing and fell into the water, drugging his sister with him. The tide was running very strong, and they would scarcely have been able, hampered by their clothes, to have reached the shore, but Captain George Me Kenzie speedily threw off his coat and waistcoat and jumped into the wator. He came up close to them, and culling to the vessel for a rope he placed it round first one and then the other, and all wore safely hauled on to the deck. Mr. McKenzie lost hie waistcoat and some money in his descent to the water.

An accident happened to a boy named Casey, at Onehunga, on Sunday afternoon. While riding down Queen-street the boy was accidentally thrown from hisborse, with the result that his right arm was broken,

A quantity of kauri timber, estimated at over seventeen million feet, situate on the Waitawheta river, within the Te Aroha and Katikati eurvoy districts, will be offered for sale by public auction at the' District Lands and Survey office, Auckland, on tho 15th proximo, on the conditions specified elsewhere. Amongst the recent transfers of Salvation Army officers Adjutant and Mre. Sharp have arrived from Melbourne to take charge of the Auckland corps. They will be welcorned to-night) at the Albert-street Barracks.

Yesterday the Hanging Committee of t gf Auckland Society of Arts were busily engaged in getting the pictures into position on the walls of the Choral Hall. Of the Southern artists who exhibit are—Mr. J. D. Perrett, and Miss Stoddart of Christchurch. Of the Auckland artists Messrs. Pay ton, F. Wright, C. Blomfield, T. L. Drutnmond, Gregory, T. Ball, Trenwith, Yearbury, Misses Vaile, Home (2), Joel, etc. There aro nearly 170 pictures, of which over a hundred are oils, and the remainder water-colours, which are especially strong this year. Air. L. J. Steele, through untoward circumstancos, has been unable to have some of his pictures finished, and Mr. Bollard is only represented by one exhibit. Miss Stuart, the Well-known photographic colourisb, whose productions were recently graciously accepted by Her Majesty the Queen, is unable to exhibit this year owing to indisposition. This lady has been a nteady exhibitor from the foundation of (he

Society. Miss Joel, of Dunedin, who has been studying in Melbourne, sends two studies of the nude, while Mr. E. W. Christmas, tho South Australian artist, who is at present on an art tour in Otago, is reprosontod by a South Australian landscape. There are somepictures exhibited of two deceased artists, members of the Society, who have passed away recently— Mossra. Rolit, Atkinson and S. R. Koeaing. The paintings in the exhibition present a good general avorago. There are two or three seascapes, and the exhibits of still life and decorative work are tolerably numerous. Although there is no Photographic Exhibition in connection with the Society this year in tho western annexe, the whole apartment is taken up by the " black and white " section, and the loan collection. It is anticipated that tho hanging committee will finish their labours to-night. The exhibition will be formally opened tomorrow evening by His Excellency the Governor, at a oonversazione of members and their friends. Miss Harding's orchestra, with commendable public spirit, will provide the musical programme.

The members of the Newton Schools Committee hold their regular meeting in the Newton West school last evening. Present: Mr. H. Thompson (chairman), Mr. J. M. White (treasurer), Messrs. F. C. Taylor, J. 1). Gow, J. Rossor, and T. W. Freeman. Fourteen nomination papers were received from candidates for election to the now committee, tho following gentlemen being nominated : — Messrs Arthur Burfoot, Walter Bertrand, Georgo Alexander Coles, Thomas William Freeman, John Drummond Gow, William James Macdermott, Thomas McMaster, Jamos MoLeod, Thomas Fasting Newcombe, John Rosser, Henry Thompson, James Collingwood Taylor, James Morley White, and George William Wilcock. The report to be presented to tho annual meeting of householders was road by the secretary, and adopted, It stated: On the whole, all matters connected with 'the schools during the committee's term of otlloe have been of a satisfactory character. Tho number of pupils on the school rolls are:—Newton East, 720; average attendance, 605. Newton West, 503 ; average attendance, 527. Total number on the rolls of both schools, 1313, with an average attendance of 1132. Two pupils of the Newton East School passed the Junior Civil Service examination in January, 1896. Three certificates of the award of Junior District Scholarships were obtained by pupils ot the Newton East School, and one by ft pupil of the Nowton West School, Two other pupils connected with the Newton East School, who passed a good examination, were offorod free tuition in the Auckland Grammar School. Inspectors John S. Goodwin and Richard Crowe examined the Nowton East School in standards, on the 12th August last, and the Newton West School, on the 26th of the same month. The examination reports are of a very satisfactory nature. The income for the year, including a credit balance of £3 10s 5d at tho beginning of the year was £239 12s 61; expenditure, £233 8s 6d, showing a balance to the committee's credit in the Bank of New Zealand (Newton),on the 31st of March last of £4 4«, against which there was, on that date, a liability unpaid account of £51758 J.

The funeral of the late Mr. E. Watkins, French master of the Auckland College and Grammar School, took place yesterday afternoon, leaving the residence for St. Paul's Church at 3 p.m. Meanwhilo the pupils had been marshalled in tho church under their masters, well-nigh filling tho whole body of the building. The first part of the burial service in the church was taken by Canon Nelson, who read the opening sentences. The P<nlm was led in reading by the Rev. J. K. Davis, and the losson by Canon Nelson, who also gave a brief address to tho pupils on the lifo and labours of the deceased master. As the coffin covered with wreath", was boing removed from the church to the hearse, the organic played "ThoDead March"in "Saul," Tho chief mourners were the deceased's family and brother (Mr. Kenneth Watkins). Among those present were Archdeacon Clarke, Messrs. Coney (Thames), Williams (Mount Eden), Tibbs (headmaster of the Grammar School), and tho whole of the teaching staff. The burial service at tho grave at St. Mark's Cemotery was conducted by the Rev. J. K. Davis.

A meeting of creditors in the estate of T. L. Crawford, fhxmillor, Tuakau, was held yesterday at tho Official Assignee's office. Present: Mr. M. A. Clark (A. Clark and Sons), W. S. Cochrane (Anglican Church Trust), and Dunwoodio. Mr. Lawson, Official Assignee, presided. Tho business was to consider the disposal of tho effects, horses, cattle, boats, machinery, etc. Tenders for a considerable quantity of the assets were accepted. It was agreed that tho safe bo forwarded to Auckland, and the machinery and otlior assets to Onohunga, Mr. Dunwoodie to supervise the taking down and forwarding of the machinery.

An ordinary mooting of the Liberal Association was held last night in the Wesley Hall, Pitt-street. Mr. W. Leys presided, and there was a fair attendance of tho members, including several ladies. A letter from the Christ-church liberal Association was read re tho old-age pension scheme, and after several raembors had spoken on tho subject, it was agreed, on the motion of the Rev. Dr. Shirley Baker, that the matter should be referred to the Council to report on at some future meeting. A notice of motion given by Mr. Beehan, which read, "That this Association will, at its mooting in June next, proceed to select a labour candidate, and that tho necessary advertisemen be inserted in the papers in accordance with law 20," was withdrawn by the mover after some discussion, and he gave notice of his intention to move a fresh motion at the next meeting, on similar lines.

Last evening the Rev. Scott Wesb, of St. David's, delivered his interesting Scotch lecture, " Beside the Bonnie Briar Bush," at St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church, l'onoonby.

There was again, yoeterday evening, at die Agricultural Hall, a large audience to witness the oxcolleiit performance given by Klaer's circus. Tlie building, arranged with an eye to comfort, far better than in a mere tont, and well soatci, was well Tilled. Anil the programme, carried out with unusual iiiiiali, and without a hitch, was of a degree of excellence :»h agreeable as ib was rare in comparison with other entertainments of a like sort.

A very interesting programme has been prepared for the sixth of Mr. John Fuller's liinolighb concerts, which takes place this evening in tho City Hall, " A trip through Egypt and up tho Nile" is the " tour" arranged for tho evening, each spot of interest being shown with grand spectacular offocts. Mies Ella Farroll, who mado such a decided puccess on her last appearance, is down for two itoms and a duet with Miss E. L, Featon, " Hark to the Mandolin." Mr. Archdalo Tayler and Miss E. L. Featon will each render two popular numbers, whilst Mr, John Fuller will sing "The Pilgrim of Love," "Good-night, beloved," and by request, " Sunshine above," tho great) tenor eone from the oucceasful burlesque, "The Gaiety Girl." Mr. Albert Lucas, the favourite elocutionist, will recite Geo, R. Sims' soul-stirring poom, "A Tale of Two Women."

An ontortaininont will be given in aid of the Brunnorton relief fund, by the members of tho 1.0.0.8 , ., A.C., on Friday evening, in the City Hull. An excellent) programme of instrumental and vocal eeloctions has been prepared, consisting of overtures, duetts, violin and banjo solos, parb BOD£S, songs and recitations. The Eden and Myrtle Glee Clubs contribute parb songs. There will be a grand military march, led by Dram-Major Roland (lato Inrercargiil Gusids)by the Newton Band.