LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10128, 11 May 1896, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

His Excellency the Governor, the Countess of Glasgow, and the rest of the vice-regal party were at the meet Of the Pakurahga hounds on Saturday. Lady Alico t.i-i Lady Dorothy, accompanied by Captain Fellden, A.D.0., leave by the s.s. Clansman this evening for Russell on a visit to Mr. Guy Williams ab Pakoraka. The vice-regal party will be present this evening ab the concert of Mandolin Club at the City Hall, and have accepted the invitation to the ball of the St. George's Rowing Club in the Choral Hall. A dinner party will be given at Government Bouse on Thursday evening. Major Elliot is expected back from Wellington on Wednesday next.

The time for receiving applications for enrolment on the doctoral rolls of the oity and suburbs terminated on Saturday. During the last few days a large number of* applications were received, bub until such time as thoso are duly dealt with it is impossible to say how far tho numerical strength of tho rolls are weakened by having names eliminated or strengthened by the addition of new names. Of course supplementary rolls will bo prepared when required, before the general election. The quarterly meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce will be held tomorrow, ab three p.m., in the Auckland Chamher of Mines' Hall, Shortland-stroeb, when various important subjects will be considered.

When the Union Company's steamer Takapuna was coming up the Manukau harbour on Saturday night she got a little too near tho edge of the channel and grounded. The night was exceptionally dark at the time, and it was next to impossible to distinguish the buoy until the steamer was dorse up to them. As, however, the tide was only half flood at the time it was fully expected the steamer would float at high water, bub owing to it being a low tide tho attempt to flout her off proved unsuccessful. A second attempt on Sunday morning was alike futile. Tho Northern Company's steamer Gairloch wont down to the Takapuna last night, and made an attempt to tow hor off into the channel, but it also proved unsuccessful, and a further effort will bo made at high water this morning. As the place where the steamer grounded is almost within a stone's throw of the wharf tho passengers and their luggago were landed by means of Messrs. Barwoll's steam launoh withoub delay. Considerable sympathy is being shown towards Captain Brower at the mishap which has occurred, the passengors all agreeing that ib was not for the want of care or judgment on his parb that the accident took place.

lb is notified elsewhere that Mr. W. Crowther »ll address the oleotora of the city of Auckland, on Thursday evening, in the City Hall.

The funeral of the late Mr. W. R. Wills took place at the Anglican Cemetory, Otaliuhu, yesterday afternoon. There was a largo concourse of friends and sympathisers, including a number of Masonio brethren, especially of the lodge to which he belonged, and in which ho had occupied the position of tyler for many years. A number of brethren from the sister lodges were also present, and the cortoge, which was a very long one, included most of the prominent gentlemen of tho adjoining districts. The Masonic brethren in the cortege formed lines on each side of the hearse. The beautiful and impressive servico of the Church of England was conducted by Canon Gould, the Masonic brethren at the close depositing on the coffin of the deceased brother the customary spray of acacia. The wreaths sent by sympathising friends wore both numerous and beautiful, and the servico throughout was one of the most impressive over yet held in the district, testifying to tho high esteom in which Mr. Wills was held both in Otaliuhu and the surrounding districts.

At the Police Court on Saturday Mr. W. H. Shakespear, the presiding justice, sentenced Jane Grey to three months' imprisonment on a ch'argo of being an idle and disorderly character, and adjourned , three cases of breaches of the Destitute [ Persons Act.

A special meeting of the Onehunga Borough Council is to bo held to-night, at 7 o'clock, for tho purposo of revising the burgess roll, and also to consider the question of providing a new cemetery for that borough. In the revising of the roll, it is expected to receive a sevoro purging, as it is known to contain names of several people who are not legally entitled to vote, they not being property-owners.

We are informed that Mr. R. Sponcer, a well-known resident in the North, will probably be a candidate for the Bay of Islands Electoral District in the Opposition interest bo oppose the present sitting member, Mr. Hou>on, should the latter stand for reelection.

A fracas occurred in Queen-street, near Mr. Goodson's promises, on Saturday evening between Mr. G. H. Powloy, tho wellknown shirt manufacturer, of Victoriastreet West, and Mr. W. J. Goddis, one of the proprietors of the Observer. It appears that Mr. Geddis and his brother (Mr. J. M. Geddis) were walking up Queen-street;, as Mr. Powley, who was accompanied by Mrs. Powley, was coming out of Mr. Samuel's shop, where he had been with a view of making some purchases: The two parties accidentally mot, and Mr. Powley deeming himself aggrieved At some paragraph which had appeared in the Observer, took his stick and struck Mr. W. J. Geddis fonr blows about tho shoulders. While they were being administered Mr. Geddis endeavoured to protect himself, and in doing so got struck on the hands, and his nose also bled. Mr. J. M. Geddi* with his stick or umbrella warded off one blow from his brother, and instead some article on one of Mr. Goodson's outside stands got smashed, which Mr. Powley subsequently paid for. Mr. Powley was held for a nfcort time to see if a policeman could bo got, but as none turned up he was released and went away quietly, and was not molested by anyone. Subsequently a policeman arrived, but as he had not witnessed the assault he left the respective parties to their own devices. It is understood that the affuir will be further ventilated by legal proceedings.

About midnight on Saturday a fire occurred on board the barque Vicuna, lying at anchor in the Manukau harbour. Tho fire originated in the galley, and was first observed by some of the crew belonging to the Union Company's steamer Takapuna. They at once procured a boat and went and aroused Captain Corlett and his wife, who were sleeping on board the Vicuna. After this they extinguished tho flames, but not until a considerable amount of damage had been dono to the galley. Fortunatoly, tho raon succeeded in keeping tho fire confinod to tho placo where it originated, so that no further injury was done to tho ship.

Constable Walker, who for some years has had charge of the Arehhill police station has received instructions to remove to the more important Newton district, whore two other constables are stationed. Constablo Walker will have charge of the station, and Constablo MoClellau, who for many years has filled the position of court orderly at the police court, will take Constable Walker's position in Archhill.

The Lyttolton Times admits that there will bo a loss of £30,000 on the first year's operations under the Advances to Settlere Act.

Nearly forty girls have passed through Swanley Horticultural College, some of whom have taken appointments as gardeners. Others have started in business as market gardeners, and a few hold the position of head gardoner or manageress at large establishments.

Mr. H. R. Shortland claims to have received lOC rotes at the late school committee election for Romuera. These were placed in a ballot box on the afternoon of the election, bat Mr. Lennox, the ohairman ot the meeting, declined to receive them. Mr. Shortland has written to Sir R. Stout on the subject, who says thai) it seems there has been an irregularity, and that if the committee appeal to the Board of Education no doubt they will rectify it.

There was a crowdod audience-particu-larly in the popular parts-at the Opera House on Saturday evening when Alt Lawton's Variety Company again occupied the stage with a programme of a marked degree of excellence. Not an item was unsuccessful or anything but most pleasing, laughter being continuous and interest kept up from start to finish. Evidently the entertainment haa " caught on/' .

A London paper received by the lasb Mail' contains the following respecting Colonel North, of whose death we have just heard by cable:— <* Colonel North, the Nitrate Ki.g, has bought"up one of,the King of Belgium's estates, the castle and domain of Ardonne. The estate extends to 10,000 acres, and affords splendid shooting. Tho Colonel will hare the King for a neighbour there, as tho Bhooting box of Clorgnon, whioh was a favourito resort of his father, and crowns a rook within sight of Ardenne, does not form part of the transfer."

Tho South African Telegraph of tho Bth April contains an account of tho successful opening of the Rov. C. H. Yatman'a mission ab Capetown, in the Good Hope Hall, under the auspices of tho Young Mens Christian Association. The Telegraph says, " Mr. Yatman is a man of singular force of character, and his message, as ho conceives it, iB one which desorves, and will doubtlcs receive, the respeob of all thoughtful persons in this city."

It is genorally considered that the best Smyrna figs are White Genoa, Shelter, and Lap Bardajik. Tho Brown Turkey and White Adriatic aro also good varietios. In many of tho European rig producing countries artificial pollinating is not practised, but at Smyrna, whore the fig is much more fertile than elsowhore, tho system of caprification is carried out. This consists of strings of the wild fig. being hung in each of tho fruiting trees. It is belioved that tho oynip fly, which is to be found in numbers in tho wild fig, is thus let loose, and helps materially towards the impregnation and fertilisation of tho fruiting fig. These strings of wild figs are in times of scarcity brought hundrods of miles, and j high prices are paid for them. Fig-drying is becoming a large industry at Mildura. Last year fig-growers wore very successful, tho prices realised being satisfactory, and leaving a fair roburn to the grower. The dried article seems to bo in great demand amongst the confectioners, Melbourne houses advising that they can place large quantities in this manner. Miss Lilian Edger, seoretary of the New Zealand section of the Theosophical Society, lecturod on tho "Theosophical Idea of Prayer" at t»o Society's rooms, Mutual Life Buildings, last night, to a good attendance, Mr. W. H. Dniffin in tho chair. The discourse was a decidedly able one, and was listened to with great interest throughout.

In regard to the ages of trees, Gericko, the great German foroster, writes that the greatest ages to which trees in Germany are positively known to havo lived are from 500 to 570 years. For instance, the pino in Bohemia and the pine in Norway and Sweden havo lived to the latter age. Next oomos the silver fir, whioh, in the Bohemian forosto, has stood and thrived for upward of 400 years. In Bavaria the laroh has reachod the age of 275 years. Of foliage trees, the oak appears to have survived the longest. The best example is the evergreen oak at Aschoffenburg, which reached the age of 410 years. Other oaks in Germany have lived to be from 315 to 320 years old. At Aschoffenburg the red beech has lived to the age of 245 years, and ab other points to the age of 225 years. Of othor treos, tho highest known are ash, 170 years, birch 160 to 200 years, aspen 220 years, mountain maple '.225 years, elm 130 years, and red alder 145 years. lii California some growers are using iron for colouring oranges. Tho winner of the medal for the best box of oranges at tho recont Californian fair used to grow palecoloured fruit, but latterly ho has been using 51b of iron filings to each tree, with the result that the colour of his fruit is now entirely changed, and he is able to win prizes.

Klaer's Circus performances on Saturday were again a sourco of great attraction, and the new artists gained by the amalgamation with Bernard's Company appeared with every success, receiving hearty applause after each act, The trick ponies and b ained dogs and monkeys, introduced by Mr. Bernard, were very clover, the dog l.addio especially distinguishing himself by jumping over a bar held by two men standing on chairs.

lb is said that, as a rule, a ton of potatoes contains nearly three times as much starchy matter, and nearly twice as rauoh albuminoids, as a ton of Swedes.

During one day at the end of February, thirty tons of flowers left the Soilly Isloa for the English markets. Acres of flowers cut one day were in bloom again in throe days, so mild had the weather been. The weather in the Isle of Man had also been phenomenal. Fruit trees were not only in blossom, but apples actually ripening in the sun,

A farewell performance was tendered to Mr. Wally Edwards, in the City Hall, on Saturday night, when there was ft good attendance of tho public, and (he programme put on provided a first-class evening's arausouient. Mr. Edwards, who camo to Auckland with the Paragon Com pany, has raado himself very popular with frequenters of variety Bijtertainraontw, He possossos a very strong baritone voice, which was heard to advantago on Saturday night. Misses Thornton, Smith, and Levi, and Messrs. Bourke, (lulled, Moore, Diamond, Thomas,(Jorbott, Connor, Collier, Hayes, Miller, and Professor htarlighc also assisted in tho performance.

Mr. E. Moly neaux, one 'bf the highest authorities on chrysanthemums, has been taking the opinion of leading growers all ovor England as to tho best sorts to grow for exhibition purposes. Those which all the voters include in their lints as published in tho Journal of Horticulture are :—E. Molyneaux, Madame Carnot, Charles Davis, and Viviand Morel (Japanese); Lord Alcester, Empress of India, and Jeanne d'Arc (Incurved).

The concert in the City Hall, to-night, given by tho Banjo, Mandolin and Guitar Club, promises to be a great success, Already there are but very few seats left unbooked in the dress circle, evidencing the great amount of interest taken in both club and conoort. The first concert that this club gave, in November Wat, was spoken of v ery highly by tho largo number who attended. Since then, the members of the club have been hard at work practicing now music, some of it of the highest class, which will be rendered to-night, under the conductorship of Mr. A. E. Ringwood, Mr. A. A. Partridge being leader. The club was originated by the latter named gentleman, aseisted by Mr. H. Fountain, tho energetic secretary.

The full and varied programme which Mr. John Fuller has prepared for his ninth limelight concert, which takes place tomorrow evening in tho City Hall, appears in another column. The audience will " travol" through that picturesque part of the British dominions, the Channel Islands, and all tho spots of intorest in Jersey, Guornsey, Aldornoy, and Sark, will be depicted on the screon, by tho aid of Mr. C. E. Maokle's powerful biunial lantern. Tho slides used on this occasion have boon specially imported from Messrs. Watson and Sons, of London, Mr. Fuller has, as usup', proparod a splendid programme of vocal and instrumental Items. The elocutionary portion of the programmo is in the capablo hands of Mr. Albert Lucas, who will recite Edgar Allen Poo's weird dramatic poem "The Bolls." Mr. John Fuller will sing "The Blue Alsatian Mountain?," and (by request)" The Death of Nelson," with grand panstorooramio ! effects.