LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10125, 7 May 1896, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

His Excellency thx Governor attended the meeting of the Church Congress last evening in the Choral Hall, and presided over its deliberations. Captain Preston, A.D.C., returned yesterday from his duckshooting expedition to Dargaville, Northern Wairoa. He greatly enjoyed his trip to the iistrict.

The disputed chairmanship of the Board of Education was again brought up at a meeting of that body held yesterday, when a heated discussion ensued, which interrupted tho ordinary business of the Board and resulted in only a portion of the order paper being dealt with When the mem bers entered the boatd-room, Mr. Udy took the chair, and "ailed upon the secretary to read the minutes of the previous meeting, but on Mr. Rice attempting to comply with the request Mr. Harris rose to his feet, and moved that, Mr. Muir be elected to preside over the meeting. On the motion being put to the meeting, Mr. Wright secondod, and Messrs. Lambe and Muir supported it, the remaining members taking no part. Mr. Muir then requested Mr. Udy to vacate the chair, but on that gentleman refusing to do so, he took up his position alongside Mr. Udy, and both asserted their authority as chairman of the Board when the business was brought on. Opinions were freely vented anent the chairmanship, the discussion occupying the major portion of the day, the ultimate outcome being that it was unanimously decided to adjourn the meeting for a week, as no satisfactory decision could be arrived at. Sir Robert Stout's opinion on the position was read, but Messrs. Muir, Lambe, Wright, and Harris refused to recognise or act upon it.

There was a very heavy downpour of rain about midday yesterday, which will be beneficial in many ways, and more especi ally in cleaning out the watercourses, whore a good deal of stagnant drainage has been lying. It is stated that the epidemic of typhoid is dying out, the present cases becoming convaleecent, while no new cases are being reported.

With regard torccent changes in the Kauri Timber Company, we are informed that the official representative of the company in New Zealand is the local secrotary, Mr. A. P. Friend, who has the financial and general business under his supervision, holding power of attorney in conjunction with the members of the local Board of Directors. Mr. R. Blair has been appointed inspector to the company, the mills and timber operations being in his special care. An election for two members ot the Mangere 'Road Board took place yesterday 1the Mangere Public Hull. Mr. Edwin Hal. acted as returning officer. The following iB the result of the poll:—M. M. KMbride, 86; W. L. Kenwood, 55; S. Gooßeraan, 43; J. Robertson, 25.

The election of two members to fill the vacancies in the Moint Albert Road Board caused by the retirement (in rotation) of Messrs. Geo. Fowlds and W. B. Martin was held yesterday in the public school* room, Morningsido, the voting being as under John Bouskill, 168; W. H. Martin, 166; George Fowlds, 164; Wesley Spragg, 156. The two first-mentioned candidates were therefore declared duly clected. The extraordinary election, caused by tbo retirement of Mr. Charles Kayes, resulted in Mr. Edward Sewell being elected unopposed to fill the vacancy, Mr. John Bouskill, the other candidate nominated, withdrawing in that gentleman's favour.

The balance-sheet of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society for the year ending 9th March last, appears in another column. The balance in the Bank of New Zealand on March 9 was £46 13s Id, and there was also on fixed deposit £'7,00, Of the revenue proper of the year, amounting to £433 12s 6d, £376 was -rived from game licenses.

At the Chamber yesterday, several members put in an appoaranoe at the committee meeting, but after some discussion it was agreed to adjourn until today, at 2.15 p.m., when the Kauri Timber Company's question will come up.

The Devonport Navals, under Captain Parker, paraded for inspection last evening at the Drill-shed, for inspection by Colonel Goring. There was a good muster. Lieutenant Thomas put) the men through some company movements, aftor which they were drilled by Sergeant-Major Carpenter. On the previous evening the Auckland Navals, under Captain Little, and Lieutenants Clements and Oakes, were inspected. There was a good muster. Each of the officer* in turn took the company over, and put it through a number of movements, after which Sergeant-Major Carpenter took it over, and put the men through a series of exercises. Brigade orders were read, approving of the transfer of Lieutenant Oakes from the City Rifles to the Auckland Navals,

A meeting of the young men of St. John's Wesleyan Church was held iti the schoolroom on Tuesday evoning. There was a large attendance, Mr. J. Horsley presiding. It was unanimously decided to form a gymnasium club in connection with the Church. The following officers were then elected for the ensuing year Patron, Mr. C. E. Button, M.H.R.; hon. president, Rev. H. Bull ; president, Mr. W. Thorne; vice-presidents, Messrs. A. S. Russell, W. Bartley, J. Horsley, R. Hobbs, W. Winstone, Dr. Moir; secretary, Mr. S. H. Scott j treasurer, Mr. G. Horsley; committee, Messrs. R. A. Scott, F. Ewen, C. Swales; instructor, Mr. G. Anderson.

Yesterday, Mr. John R. Mott, M.A., general secretary of the World Students' Christian Federation, arrived from the South, and was met and welcomed at Onehunga by the Rev. T. F. Robertson and Mr. W. Brakenrig, gensral secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association. He will deliver a lecture to-day in the chemical lecture room of the Auckland University ateleven a.m., on the subjeot, "A Message from the Students of Europe and America to the Students of Australasia." Bishop Cowie, Primate of New Zealand, specially interested in the intellectual as well as spiritual welfare of our University youth, will fitly president this meeting. As many friends of higher education as can be accommodated in the limited space of the class-room have bean invited. Mr. Mott comes with a splendid record of eighb years' service among the students of the Universities and colleges of all lands.

The annual meeting of the Mount Wellington Road Board took place on Monday last, whon the aocounts for the pasu year ended March 81, 1896, as audited, were read by the clerk and passed unanimously as follow :— Balance brought forward April 1, 1595, £336 19s 7d; receipts during the year, £768 10s lid: total, £1105 10s 61; expenditure, £844 4s lOd, leavipg a credit balance of £261 5s Sd. Much dissatisfaction was expressed at the large demand of £98 lis 4d made and paid for hospital and charitable aid.

The public meeting and sacred concert announced to be held on Friday evening next in the interests of the resoue ana benevolent work of the Helping Hand Mission is to take place in the Choral Hall and not St. James' Hall. Mr. Ngata, B. A., is to recite by special request " Scenes from the Past." The Re*. A. Mitchell, a pupil of Sir Frederick Cowan, and a gold medallist of the Melbourne Exhibition, will sing for the first timo before an Auckland audience. Miss Riranier and other popular singers will also take part. Sitter Francis, Miss Lilian Edger, M.A., of the Rescue Society, Hon. Wm. Jennings, and others will speak. His Worship the Mayor will preside.

Lawton's Novelty Company pub on a change of programme at the Opera House last night, and the performance was witnessed by a very fair attendance of the public. Messrs. Norris and Williams, trick roller-skaters, went through highly divert ing antics. The Misses Grey were loudly applauded for their song and dance, " Two Little Hearts Made One," and Mr. H. Fitzmaurice's baritone songs were very well received. "Jack,"'the fighting kangaroo, boxed three rounds with his trainer, Professor H. Williams, and the contest proved laughable in the extreme. The cleverest item was the trapeze performance of " Ouda, the Flying Meteor," who did some very daring feals. "Sam Kee's Laundry," ridiculously tunny sketch, was very good, and the several other artists helped to make up a first-class bill.

A packed house greeted the first performance of the Klaer, Bornard, St. Leon circus combination in the Agricultural Hall yesterday evening. "La Petite Ethele," a remarkably proficient child on the high trapeze, whose age is only nine, taok the audience by storm. At the end of her act the little artist dropped from the trapeze suspended from the reef into a net some few feet off the floor, and was loudly Applauded. Amongst the other additions were a well-trained troupe of dogs and monkeys, and a stud of horses introduced by Mr. Bernard. The programme was full of interest from the overture to the last act, and will be repeated this evening.

| Ib will be seen by advertisement elsewhere that there will shortly commence in tho City Hall a season of people's grand national and patriotic concert entertain ments. The development of the British Army and Navy will be illustrated with pictorial and dioramic effects, the views being by American and English artjsts. Realistic scenes will be given of the great battles of the British Army and of the victories of the Navy. The national *nd patriotic songs will be rei.dered by leading vocalists, interspersed with stirring naval and military recitals, and illustrated with limelight effects. A series of coloured photographs of rural scenes in Great Britain and Ireland, showing the homos of the men who have made the Empire, will also be exhibited, as well as portraits of all great naval and military warriors. This evening a grand complimentary benefit will be tendered at the Foresters' Hall to Sir. Fred Sherbourne, previous to his departure for Sydney. The three-act musical comedy "My Swoetheart" will be performed, introducing new songs, dances, etc.

The first concert of the seventh season of tho Orchestral Union is announced in another column to take place to-night. In the programme the principal item is Mozart's Symphony in E flat, which will be given in its entirety ; and it may be safely said that no grander orchestral work has been produced in Auckland, Tho violin solo, by Mone. de Willimoff, is by a composer of note raroly heard in these parts, and the name of the performer will be a guarantee of its excellent/ performance. Three vocal solos, with orchestral accompaniment: will also be given, and altogether the Union is to be congratulated on the first-class programme presented to its subscribers. The orchestra itself has been considerably augmented this season, now comprising 45 performers.