LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10132, 15 May 1896, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

A dinner party was given at Government House last evening, the following being the guests: — Mr. and Mrs. Douglas McLean, Rev. and Mrs. Curzon-Siggers, Mr. and Mrs. Morrin, Mr. and Mrs, O'Rorke, Mr. and Mrs. Markham, Miss Mowbray, and Mr. John Webster, At evening reception will be given at Government House On Wednesday evening, from 9to 11.30. His Excellency the Governor, the Countess of Glasgow, and suite, hats notified their intention of being present at the People's National Concert on Monday evening next- at the City Hall. Captain Preston, A.D.C., and Professor Scbmitt leave this morning for the latter's country house at Walroa South for a few days' shooting-

It is officially notified in our advertising columns that His Excellency the Governor will hold a levee at Government House on Monday, the 23th instant, in honour of tba anniversary of the birthday of Her Majesty the Queen, The regulations in connection with the levee will b«. found appended to the notification.

Mr. W. Crowther, M.K.R., addressed a meeting of his constituents in the City Electorate last .evening, at the City Hall. The weather was bad, but there was, despiM this, a fairly good attendance. After speaking for over two hours, Mr. Crowther was accorded a vote Of thanks and expressions of high appreciation for past services.

In our telegrams in yesterday's paper it was stated that the census of Coronwndel County amounted to 5053. By the censui of 1891 the population of CoromandelCountj was 2846, so that the increase amounts ts 2207.. Coromandel has therefore nearly doubled its population. The population ol Pinko County last census was '2517 J thil census it is 2050, so that there is a decrease in that county of 467.

'On Thursday ereping, the, 7th instant, a dinner was given in the Northern Club to Mr. . James Russell/ our .respeqtod fellowtownsman, on his approaching' departure on a trip to the mother country. There was »large attendance of members. Dr. Haines, president, presided, , After the oloth was drawn, arid the usual loyal toast duly honoured, the toast of " The Guest of the Evening" was proposed by the chairman in eulogistic terms, who referred to Mr. Russell's lengthy connection with the club, in which be had filled the highest office. Dr. Haines also alluded to Mr. Russell's connection with the city of Auckland, and the high .esteem in which he was held by his fellow-citizans and try 1 those who had enjoyed his acquaintance and friendship. The toast was drunk with enthusiasm. Mr. Russell responded in appropriate terms, thanking the chairman and those present for their kindly manifestations of goodwill towards him. A very pleasant evening was spent. Mr. Russell leaves by the outgoing San Francisco mail steamer Alameda, to-morrow afternoon, on this his first visit to the old country. Ho expects to be back in Auckland about the end of the year. Mr. Russell's numerous friends in Auckland will wish him bon voyage, and a safe return to the land of his adoption.

To-morrow Mr. James Stewart, C.3., will leave by the San Francisco mail steamer Alameda, en route for London, at the request of Messrs. Parrixh, who are aetintr for the syndicate which has underwritten the Auckland Electric Tramways. Mr. Stewart is taking home all the plans and sections of the present and proposed lines for the purpose of adapting the electrical equipment to the grades and general working of the lines. He takes also a plan of the County of Eden, and the recent census return has enabled him to put on the map the latest information as to the full amount of population in the various boroughs and road districts affected by the proposed lines. The whole of the documents relating to the city of Auckland are complete, and are being forwarded by the lame mail. Those relating to the other local authorities will follow in due course.

There was no inquest on the young woman Cntherine Fisher, aged 24, whose death at the Hospital was reported in yesterday's issue. Though she was received into the Hospital on the 25th January last, owing to having received injuries through her clothes catching fire, she did uot die owing to the burns, but of consumption; consequently an inquest was unnecessary. At the time of the accident deceased was domestis servant to Mrs. Cleave, of I'onsonby, and her clothes accidentally caught fire while she was washing in tho back yard. She ran into the street for help, and was seen by Mr. Mathieson, fruiterer, who put out the flames. Her injuries consisted of burns about the legs and part of the body, and she was removed to the Hospital for treatment.

An old man named Jabez Edward Thomas, a carrier, who resided in Haydn-street, died somewhat suddenly yesterday forenoon. He was in Howe-street when he was suddenly taken ill, and Dr. Bayntun was called to 'his aid. Constable Fiunerty was telephoned Ifor, and he went and assisted Dr. Bayntun [to have Thomas removed to his residence,

IHaydn-atreet, and just as the unfortunate man was being taken into the house he expired. Dr. Bayntun had been attending Thomas for years, and will give a certificate that be died from heart disease. Inquests were held at the Lunatic Asylum festerday afternoon on the bodies of two Inmates named respectively David Thomas, Wed IS, and James Qualtroui»h, aged 59. 'he inquiries were conducted by the jroner, Dr. Philson, and Sergeant Black presented the police. In the first case a :rdict of " Death from tuberculosis peri- ' nitis," was found, and in the second, ' Death from apoplexy."

(There have been presented to the Library tie following works: —By Mr. C. W. B\bbage, of Wauganui, grandson of the awfior, copy of work, " Babbage's CalculatinkF.ngines a most interesting volume. By Mr. Edwin S. Brookes, T&kapau, Wha\ehine, lour volumes, viz., Letters and Jamais of Lord Fairfax, 1647, Oliver Cromwell's Bible, Pearl edition, 1653, and two Mao;i Testaments, 1842 1852.

The Asiets Realisation Board have offered to to the Onehunga Borough Council the block of land at Hillsborough, containing 50 acres, for the sum of £1250, for the purpose of a cemetery. This offer is in answer to a letter received from the Onehucga Town Clerk, asking if the Board would acctpt the sum of £1000 for the block. The Council will discuss the proposal at its ordinary meeting next Monday night.

The Police Court business yesterday morning was all disposed of in ten minutes, and consisted of the punishing of several drunkards. H. J. Williamson and James Balliday were fined 10s with the option of 48 hours' imprisonment; John Johnson was fined 40s with the option of seven days; John Knight was sent to Mount Eden for 14 days; and one first offender was dealt with in the usual manner. Mr. H. Wilding and Captain H. Worsp, J.P.'s, presided.

Our Thanes correspondent writes Another old identity has passed away this (Thursday) morning, in the person of Mrs. Ann Gillan, cl Puriri. Mrs. Gillan came to this colony in tho ship Jane Gifford, in 1841, and slortly afterwards married, at the Bay of iLshnds, the late Mr. Lachlan McLiver, by whom she had a numerous family. Some years after the decease of Mr. McLiver she became the wife of the late Mr. Alexander Gillan, who predeceased her a few years ago. She was in town on Saturday last, but on her return home was seized with a paralytic stroke, from which 6he never rallied, passing away at an early hour this morning, in the presence of several of her sons, aged 78 years. Her remains are to be taken to Auckland on Saturday, for interment by the side of her first husband.

A report has been received from Constable Donovan respecting a Maori named Rata Hire, said to be 100 years of age, being missing between the Waikanae and Coromande!. On Saturday night the postboy from Cabbage Bay reported to Constable Eonovan that the nativo had been lost in the bush for about four days. Next day the constable proceeded to Cabbage Bay and called at the house of a settler named John Evans, who informed him that Nata left for the YVaikanae settlement 011 the sth inst. He had called at the house of Mr. Clements and received some food. Nata expressed his intentiou of going along the main range through the bush to Coromandel. The natives from the camp followed on Wednesday, and searched for the missing native all day. The Evans party were out (several times in search during the week, but gob no traces of the unfortunate man. Constable Donovan saw both the natives and Europeans, and they were agreed that the man must be dead, and had perished in the bush.

There were six persons in the lock-up last evening on charges of drunkenness; a youth named Jones tor larceny of oranges from Donald and Edenborough; Kenneth Williams Black on a charge of larceny of n watch the property of Thomas Felrill, and also on the s!sth February of having forged a cheque for £14 153 Cd, on the Bank of New Zealand, at Paeroa, purporting to be signed by J. L. Tole, with intent to defraud. A~inan w'QJ. brought in from Newmarket charged with being of unsound mind.

The dissolution of the Caledonian Society as a body bus apparently not affected the enthusiasm of many of the old members,, to whom the fortnightly re-unions proved en dear, this fact being abundantly evidenced last evening when a largely attended social was held at the Foresters' Hall, Newton, for the purpose of bringing together thofe who had been connected with 1 the recent society. Mr. Grover occupied the chair, and after the proceedings had been opened with a "skirl o'the pipes," an enjoyable concert programme was submitted, to which the following contributed Mrs. Leers, the Misses Edmonds and Glover (2), and Messr?. P. Smith, Ryan, Tait, and others. At the conclusion of the entertainment the floor . was cleared for dancing, and a large number of lovers of the terpsichorean art tripped the light fantastic toe for a couple of hours. It is understood that re-unions of this nature will be held until the society is re-organised. The People's National Concert will take place on Monday-evening next at the City flail. Mr. Robin Hay, a tenor, will make his first appearance in Auckland at this concert, and the full list, of artists appears ill our advertising columns. " It is intimated that seats for the dross circle may be reserved at Wiidwan and Lyell's for a small, charge. The vlce-rei>al party have Signified their intention of being present) ab the per- ■ forroance. *-V' " I

i Mr.' Mlldway's Agricultural Produce (Marks) Bill earns on for second reading in the House of Commons on Wednesday last. Ib proposes that every carcase or piece of imported meat exposed for,sale shall have attached to it. a label bearing the words "Foreign meat" or "Colonial meat;" that every dealer in such meat shall display in a coi.Spicuous place in 1 his pre* raises the; words, Dealer in foreign and, colonial meat ;' 1 that the sale of foreign or colonial meat as British or Irish shall be. an offence against the law; that every dealer in imported meat shall be registered ;< that every local authority shall keep a list of registered dealers in such meat, which is to' be open to inspection by the public; that the provision as to marking meat shall be also applicable to imported cheese, and thab to sell it as British or Irish shall be treated as an infringement of the law; that local authorities shall carry out the proposed law by means of inspectors and other officers, and shall prosecute pffenders; and that the penalty for an infringement of the proposed law shall be a fine not exceeding £5 for a first offence or £20 for a subsequent offence. The Bill is reasonable except for the proposal requiring every piece of imported meat or clieesA to be labelled. This would be an intolerable interference with traders. So long as every trader in these commodities is required to be registered, and to display a notice of his being a dealer in imported meat or cheese, the public need not bo decoived, as they can, if they please, go to shop? in which no imported meat is sold. In the case of cheese every provisiondealer sells the foreign commodity, and it is not easy to suggost any means of preventing fraudulent misrepresentation except the punishment of offenders by heavy fines when they are detected. The fines proposed in the Bill are absurdly small, The Bill was read a second time, a large majority voting in favour of it, though not endorsing all its details. The Government supported the second reading, with the suggestion that it should be sent to a seleot committees but this was opposed, and the debate was adjourned indefinitely, so that, unless the Government afford a special opportunity for progress with the measure, it will have no chance of being passed this year.—[London Correspondent, March 21.]

A special meeting of the Board of Governors of Prince Albert College was held at the College yesterday, to consider the applications for the position of second master. There were twenty-one candidates, and of these fourteen were University graduates. After the fullest consideration of their qualifications and testimonials, it was unanimously resolved to appoint Mr. B. H. Low, 8.A., of Canterbury College, as the second master of Prince Albert College. Mr. Low has had ten years' experienre as a teacher, and has an exceptionally " good record in the High Schools of the Canterbury district, not only for his scholastic attainments, but also as a good disciplinarian, and a distinguished athlete. In his examination, Mr. Low rook first in mathematics and second with honours in physics. The Governors of the Prinoe Albert College are to be congratulated on having made such an excellent appointment.

Returns of the sale of stock by live weight, under the Markets and Fairs (weighing of cattle) Act of 1891 are now available for threo years in relation to nineteen markets in Great Britain from which returns are required by the statute, as follows CATTLE. 1*95. 1891. 1893. Entering markets .. 1,188,119 1,20:1,533 1,219,203 Weighed alive .. 100, 96,344 02,492 SHEEP. Entering markets .. 4,330, 4,377 4,864,732 Weighed alive .. 34,836 39,210 38,177

FIGS. Knterlng markets .. 233,181 139,1?? 191,378 Weighed alive .. 2,803 2,193 1,451 These figures show a steady increase in the use of the weighbridges, but still tho proportion of cattle weighed is under 8J per cent., and the proportion actually sold by live weight is less still,- as an unknown number were weighed and yet sold in the old way. The proportions of sheep »nd pigs weighed alive are quite insignificant. In fourteen scheduled markets in England only 27,560 cattle out of 911,652 entering the markets were weighed alive ; while, in five scheduled Scotch markets, 72,473 oat of 274,497 were pat on the weighbridge. Thus, the Scotch proportion is over '26 per cent., while the English is only a little over 3 per cent.—[LondonCorrespondent, March 21.] . < , A grand concert entertainment was given last evening in the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle, in aid of the repair fund, entitled, An Evening with our Famous Sacred Song and Hymn Composers," with choicest selections from their masterpieces, illustrated with beautiful pictorial effects. Notwithstanding the inclement weather, the body of the Tabernacle was filled, and part of the gallery, The entertainment proved a great success. The following was the programme, the audience manifesting their- pleasure by repeated applause at) the several items:—Opening oborus, 'Jesus, Lover of my Soul;' song, 'The Holy City,' Miss Alice Rimmer; song, 'The Village Blacksmith,' Mr. Archdale Tayler; solo, 'He was Despised,' Miss Butler; song, 'The Toilers,' Mr. Higgott; song, 1 Angels ever Bright and Fair,' Mrs. C. B. Stone; scenic gems of Bible lands, descriptive guide Mr. J. T. Garlick ; song, 'Ora Pro Nobis,' Mr. P. R. Dix; song, 'He Wipes the Tear from Every Eye,' Miss Wheeler ; descriptive song, ' Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep,' Mr. Archdale Tayler; recital, 1 Beautiful Snow,' Miss Grindrod ; song, ' Nazareth,' Mr. Higpotfc; song, 'Jerusalem,' Miss A. Brown, with organobligatoj song, 'TheSilentKeys.'Mr. P. K. Dix ; soncr, 'Calvary,' Miss Wheeler; song, 'He shall Feed His Flock,' Miss Alice Rimmer; song, ' The Better Land,' Miss Butler; song, 'Rock of Ages,' Miss Grindrod. The musical director was Mr. W. Blakey; Mr. Cooper was limelight •rtist; Miss L. Brame pianist; and Mr. H. Wells organist. A sacred song service was given in the rooms of the Y.M.C.A. last evening by the evangelistic choir, Mr. John Bell conducting, There was a fair attendance, but the wet night militated against a large attendance. ' Throw Out the Life Lino,'' Rook of Ages' quartotto, ' A Soldier of the Cross' were rendered. Mr. Mercer sang ' Some Time We 11 Understand,' and Mr. Bell ' Will Your Anchor Hold ?' The Misses Giles rendered a duet. The choir sang a number of hymns, concluding with 'He Will Not Cast You Out,' Messrs. Douglas and Brukenrig gave short addresses.

The Lawton Novelty Company submitted the programme of the previous evening at the Opera House last night, and though the audience was not as large as usual, due no doubt to the inclement weather, those presenb made amends for this defeot in point of appreciation. The first part opened with the minstrel business, the funnyisms of the corner men and the several appropriate contributions boing well received, while the second part, which consisted of a series of ballads, serio-comic sketches, eko., and concluded with an amusing farce, called forth hearty and prolonged applause, encores being freely demanded. To-day the company leave for the Thames, where they will play a short season, but will return to Auckland for the Queen's Birthday holiday season, after which they purpose going South.

There was a fair attendance at the Agricultural Hall last night to witness the repetition of the change of programme presented for the first time by the Combined Circuses, under, the management of Mr. Boßco Wilson. Every item found favour with the patrons present, who frequently demonstrated their approval in a 'marked manner,' the most ndtable features being the globe act by La Petite Ethel, and the unique tricks of the brainod ponies and the dog "Tinker," introduced by Mr. Bernard. The programme will be repeated this evening. Another instructive theme has been chosen by Mr, John Fuller as the subject of his tenth limelight concert, which takes place on Tuesday evening next at the City Hall. "Street' Life and Slum Life in London" is this title Of the entertainment, and the many quaint people that are daily seen in London street life will be shown on the screen. An-.excellent musical programme has been Divided, in Which the following artists will take part: Misses E. L. Featonp Msrion Sampson, Lydm Fuller, Messrs. Archdale Taylor, Howard Chambers, Albert, Lucas, and Mr. John Fuller. Mr. Walter' Fuller will as usual accompany the singers, whilst the descriptive lecture will be delivered by Mr. Ben Fuller. _ \,