LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10252, 2 October 1896, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

It is statod that full* £50,000 is already being expended, or ;ontemplated to beexnonded, this summer in building operations. Two of our letting, architects alone have orders totalling £12,000 each. In addition to the extension of Messrs. Sargood, Son, and Ewsiib premises, another firm proposes building five-storey premises. There are two brick [shops going up in Hobsonstreot, fourii |iarangahapo Road, and two just finished there; one shop and a villa residence fiiiihed in Symorisstreet; four houses finished in Londonstreet, Ponsonby, and fine about to bo com-

mencod; two in Hidkett-street, and One about to bo built in! Curran-street, ijmd another in Shelly Boaii Road. A terrace of residences, in liAk, is to be erected in Jervois Road, PonHnby, near the Baptist Church. A vi'H residence, costing £1000, is nearing completion in Jorrayn" street, and anotliej is going on at Remuera to coat £3000. A brick villa rosidonco isj hbout to bo commenced in Vincent-Jstset. A good deal of building is going Win tho Mount Eden district. The buildinytrades have not been so brisk for ten yearsjpast. It is stated by some of the architect and contractors that the rises in labour jnd building materials of all kinds before l.jilding operations are fairly under weigh is likely to kill the goose before the golden eg is laid. A goodly number of the residences proposed to be erected are simply ban? ordered on speculation, and if the crib of building will nob give a fair rateef hit rest to the landowner the orders will be stopped, and a decided check put upon this orra of investment to the injury of the c rpenters and joiners, bricklayers, etc. Sc no of the contractors make no sacret of their intention of getting artizans from the Soiihor Australia if they are unduly pressed hv demands from the workmen. j The Auckland Ch|mber of Commerce received yesterday ejening the following telegram from the lion. Mr. Carroll :- •Confidently expected that Fair Rent Bill will not pass. TheEiHit Hours Bill has been thrown out.' Toithia the President of the Chamber of Comnjerce (Mr. B. Kent) has replied as under:-' Glad to receive the telegram relative to lair Rent and Eight Hours Bills. Pray gib the Masters and Apprentices Bill eiter re-modelled to admit apprentices, onijto two journeymen, with special consideration for small shopkeepers requiring only a useful boy, or every trade throughout the colony will be in an upros.r. Mattel exceedingly important.'

We would remind those of our readers interested in rifle shooting, of the meeting th be held this evenin at the Metropolitan Hotel. It U proposed, to revive the Auckland Rifle Association, which for several years has only been able to maintain a struggling existerce. This coarse was decided upon at a meeting of those interested in the forthcoming rifle meeting of tl'.a New Zealand Association. At thad meeting Mr. Devore expressed the opinion tlw; the subject of the coming colonial meeting should be taken in hand by the Auckland Association, and for this purpose and v for volunteering generally, it was necessary that the Auckland Associa tion should be placed on a sound footing. These views were fully endorsed by Colonel Goring, His Worship the Mayor, and all present at the meeting. The resuscitation of the Association may therefore be looked upon as assured.

The following endorgation appears on all licenses now issued for public halls and planes ot public amusement, and should put & flop to the reprehensible practice of overcrowding places of public amusement: —'This license is issued conditionally that the holder is responsible for seating or admitting * larger number of persons than is authorised by this license ; or, for any breach' of the by-law in respect of licensed buildings.' ' Before Mr. U. Udy, at the Police Court yesterday morning, Julian Destel and Emil Henriciweie each fined 20s, with the alternative of seven days' imprisonment, for fighting in Wellesley-street on September 30. Heury Wcolner, charged with „ nil-'' stolen the sum of £42, the property of one Thomas Phillips, was remanded for seven days, bail being allowed. The boy Joseph Patrick Costello, charged with having assaulted an old man on the Ep«om Road, was brought up before Mr. North:foft. His Worship admonished the boy, lad adjourned the case to see bow the locked would conduct himself.

Another fine hotel is to be erected in the city, which will b8 an addition to the many commodious and substantial buildings of a like character. It will be erected of brick en the site of the old Market Hotel, foot of Grey-street, which is to be pulled clown. It will bo of brick, three storeys high, exclusive of basement. The kitchen and offices will be on the basement floor. On the ground floor will be the bar-rooms, Hitting rooui3, and billiard rooms. The flwt floor is to be subdivided into diningroom (with lift from basement), sittingrooms, bedrooms, bathroom, etc., while the second floor will be subdivided into bedrooms. There will, in all, be four sitting rooms, and 77 bedrooms. The building will possess all the conveniences of a modern hotol. The fronts to Grey and (Jock-streets will be executed in cement, snd the roof slated.

All the leading thoroughfares of the city, on which the traffic is heavy, are beinggradually re metalled. The metal is blinded with street scrapings, and the steam road roller i 3 being kept busily engaged at night in consolidating the newly metalled sections. The circuit quarterly meeting of tho Pitt street We?leyan Quarter Board was held in the church parlour on Wednesday evening. The balance-sheet showed a deficit of £24 for the quarter. Membership returns were: 483 full, 51 on trial, 73 catechumens—an increase of 18 full and 12 on trial. Sunday-school returns: 1214 scholars, 116 teachers being an increase for the year of 133 scholars, 10 teachers. The chairman reported a congregational meeting held in Pitt and Vincent street Church, at which it was unanimous!!/ decided to close on last Sunday in present year, the members and scholars joining the Wesleyan Methodist Churches most convenient. The report was adopted. Partially owing to this arrangement,' ib was unanimously decided to reduce the ministerial staff to two married ministers and a probationer. The meeting was informed that on account of failing health the rev. 11. Bull had decided to apply for a period of supernumerary relationship. A hearty vote of sympathy was unanimously accorded. Several members spoke in eulogistic terms, mingled with regret, at the necessity for such a course. Invitations to labour in the circuit were triven as follow :-Superintendent, Rev. W. J.. Williams ; second, Rev. A. Peters; third, Rev. ,T. R Richards. Messrs. A Hanson and Wheeler were appointed r substitute stewards for District Synod:'- v lt»waß intimated that the ten days' mission to be conducted by the Rev. David O'Ddnnell would commence at the latter end of Novembor.

Yesterday being Natation Day (October ]>— opening of the swimming' season—a number of swimmers dined together at the luncheon rooms of Mr. Thomas McEwiii, Queen-street, and enjoyed a social evening. In Sydney the New South Wales Amateur Swimming Association intended to celebrate the opening of the 1896 97 Season with a banquet at the Cafe Francis, George street, and to exchange mutual congratulations by telegraph or cable with kindred associations, It was anticipated that a representative gathering of . delegates, club officials,- and supporters of swimming would honour with their presence the festivities in Sydney on the occasion referred to. . -. ,'':. •/■

Yesterday, tenders closed at the office of Mr. Arthur P. ; Wilson, Victoria TArcade,'" architect, for the : erection of■. the new extension of' the, warehouses of , Messrs. ; Sargood,, Son, and Ewen, Victoria-street. 5 There were eight tenders, the highest, being £4140, ami the lowest (that 'of. : Messrs.. W. Philcox and Son, contractors) was accepted at £338-1." The contractors expect to make a start ia the early part of next week, -p-."' ''•■" ;a^? V : Vj-'.v;'" : ?--) : :r'''iyy:7\:^sX-'.

;»■ Our Wlihrehirte correspondent wrltea j Oti September; 20 Mrs. *■ Brown; of the•: nativo settlement of Oruawharo/wa's buried at the Rengareuga Cemetery. ft.The native band marched, playing selected airs, and at 'the grave" they played, ''God be with you,' the strains reaching across the river, and were, listened bo ?by,; many. She was much respected,' the;. natives holding the. langi {or a week. ■ , -. , ■ n , The quarterly meeting of the Maiiukau Circib was hold in tho.Oriehuhga' Wesloy'aii Church, on Wednesday > afternoon,';.'when representatives .wore"in".;attendance from Otahuhu, Flat Bush, Woodside, Onehunga, : and Mangerei The Rev. S. Lawry * pastor, I occupied the chair.' The senior. Circuit Steward, Mr., Smith toad the quarterly report, which stated tlio number of members on the roll to be 188, '..eight, on trial. He also repotted 23 removals from the circuit during the yoar. , The income for bho quarter was £83 8» 9d, and the expenditure £75 17-t ;9d, i leaving a credit balance of £7 lis. Collections wore granted for Sunday-school anniversaries', during the ensuing quarter to Otohuliiii Woodside, and Flat Bush, . and also to /the' Mangere Trust Account. : The . necessary arrangements were made for conducting'.[Home ' Mission' Servitiea throughout the circuit on October 18 ' The chairman reported'that Rev. Mr. O'Doiinell, from Australia, would conduct a mission in fcho circuit, commencing on the Bth of Novenlber next. i Mr. ; G. H. Douglass having been appointed to take charge of the Young Men's Bible Clajs,. at Onehunga, Mr. F, Norris : was appointed in his stea I as Sunday-school visitor in the circuit. . At the local preachers . meeting, goneral regret was expressed at the removal of Mr. J. Roberts from the circuit, ho having rendered. good ' service 'as a local preacher and Sunday-school teacher. At the conclusion of the ordinary business Mr. Smith said he hud great pleasure in moving that the Rev. S. Lawry be invited to remain as pastor of .the circuit for a second year. Mr. Lawry thanked the' brethren for their hearty invitation, and expressed his pleasure in accepting, the same. The company then adjourned to the residence of Mr. C. U. Fleming,' where they were entertained at tea. , ..-.,.'.

On Friday evening last a most successful concert was given in the Public Hall; Papakura, in aid of the Church of England organ and church improvement fund; The rain which fell steadily all day gave promise of a wretchedly poor attendance, bub such was the excellence of the programme, contributed almost entirely by friends from Auckland, that by half-past seven the hall wascrowded to thedoors. Mr. N. T. Ngata's recitation of his own composition, 'A Scene from the Past," met with a great ovation. Mrs. E. Clifton Beale sang ' Best of All,' and 'Close to the Threshhold,' with violin obligato; Miss Marie Quinn, 'The Holy City,' and 'Jessie's Dream,' illustrated with views; Mr.' W. Johnson, ' Handsome Sister Sue,' and 'I'm not so Young as I used to Be' ; Mr. W. Edwards, 1 The Carnival,' and ' Whisper and I shall Hear;' selections on the bagpipos in Highlaud dress, by Messrs. Thompson arid McLeod; reading by the Rev. T. Norrie; Mr. G. Lankham, 'Scotland Yet,', and 'The Pibroch of Donald Dhu-;«Mr. F. C. Odium/ 'I didd't know till Afterwards.' The programme closed with a lantorn display by Mr. Barter, who had previously given a clever exhibition of his skill as a conjurer. Mrs. Todd and Miss Lynch acted as accompanists. Great praise is duo to the ladio* of the committee, tor their part of the work.

Last evening Mr. F. E. Baume delivered an Interesting and instructive lecture, before the Pitt-street Literary Society, entitled, 'An Evening with Rudyard Kipling.' There was. an excellent attendance. The Rev. W. J. Williams (president) presided, Mr. Baume proved an able and sympathetic expositor of Kudyard Kipling's poems, descriptive of Indian military and civil life at Simla, tho career and aspirations of Tommy Atkins, and of the soldier's life both at home and in India. By contrast some of the more serious poetical pieces were also recited, both the grave and gay selections being given with flue elocutionary effect, which elicited prolonged applause. They were wholly memnrisod. The lecturer thought that Kipling had, in some of his works, secured a high and abiding place in English literature, although some of his fugitive pieces were unworthy of his higb reputation and evidently' made to sell.' His earlier' efforts would be the most ondurtug. Among the selections recited were: 'Paget, M.P.;' 'The Post that Fitted ;' ' Uriah :' ' Songs of the Women ;' 'The Code of Morals 'The '-rave of a Hundred Heads ;' "Tommy Atkins;' 'Fuzzy Wuzzy,' 'The Young British Soldier,"On the Road to Mandalay,' 'A Shilling a Day,' ' The Gentleman Ranker,' ' The Screw Guns,' and ' The Galley Slave,' etc. Some eulogistic criticism ensued..' A hearty vote of thanks ' was accorded to Mr. Baume for bis interesting lecture, which was carried by acclamation. Mr. Bauma was complimented on his fine effort of memory in the various recitals, and the president said the result would be that members would nay greater attention to the perusal of Rudyard Kipling's works.

The fortnightly meeting of the Otahuhu Mutual Improvement Association was held on Monday evening, Mr. W. P. Hunter in the chair. Mrs. C. B. VVhitmore, Messrs. Selby and ,W. P. Bush were elected new members. In accordance with the pro gramme, the main business of the evening wis the delivery of three original essays by young men. The first paper was read by Mr. Alfred Sturgea, jun., on ' Insect Vests in Orchards'; tie second by Mr. George Crow, on 'Dogs and their Ways' ; and the third by Mr. George Toms, on 'A Grain of Wheat.' As maiden, efforts of composition, the papers were excellent There was a large attendance of members, the majority of whom not only freely, yet kindly, criticised, the papers,, but added other valuable information derived from experience. The evening was a pleasant and instructive one* • ■•.•• .-.■•■

Owing to the inclement weather, the opening of the green of the Auckland Bowling Club has been postponed till Saturday, the 10th inst. At a meeting of the committee of the Ponsonby Bowling Club, it was decided to open their greens on Saturday, the 17th inst.

On Monday evening, the ; 28th, the present session of the Mangers Mutual Society, was closed with a social. ,In the absence of the president, Mr. R. H. MoKenzfe, vice president, occupied tho chair. The following '13 the programme rendered : Musical selection, Miss Wyman violin, Master Wyman piano, and .Mr. G. W. Wyman cornet comic song, Mr; R. Henwood, encored ; song,,'. Dearie,' Miss Annie Rennie; reading, from .'Old New Zealand,' Mr. Holden; duet, 'In the Dusk of the Twilight,' Miss Amy and Marion Taylor (encored); musical selection, Misses A. Taylor cello, E. Taylor violin, P. Harrison piano, and Mr. J. E. Taylor Knglish concertina (encored); recitation, 'The Schoolmaster's Apples,' Miss Harrison ; violin solo, '} Miss Lizzie Robertson; reading from, Pickwick Mr. Holden; song, Miss Annie" Taylor; vocal duet, 'Friendship,' Miss and- Mr. J. E. Taylor; reading, 'Husbands,' Mr. Taylor. The hall was then; cleared, and dancing was kept up till about midnight.— [Own Correspondent.] !.-■'-''%.

The Evangelistic Choir of the Y.M.C.A.' gave a sacred Bong service in f he Lecture Hall last evening. •■ There was a fair attendance. Mr. Bali conducted. 'Tell it out among the Heathen,' 'Harbour Bell, 'Lead Me, Saviour,'' Jesus, lover of my Soul.'and other hymns,- wore' well rendered.-/ The moating ■ was ~ concluded by. all joining in 'Saviour, breathe an evening blessing.!. ;.; v Great; interest is being centred in the approaching visit of the eminent English actor-vocalist Mr, Charles Godfrey,' who makes his first appearance at the. Opera House on Wednesday night next, supported by his Vaudeville Burlesque ; Company. Mr. Godfrey has been freely recognised ~ by the Southern press as the greatest artist, in his line, that has yet visited lVew Zealand, whilst the combination; generally has been pronounced the finest that has yet toured under Mr." Ij. J. Lohr's management. A programme, modelled strictly upon lines so successfully introduced by Mr. Godfrey, in London, and recently' in Sydney' and Melbourne, will be presented which includes the production of,the world-famed dramatic scena ' On Guard,' 'arid-also an amusing burlesque upon V; Du Maurier'g 'Trilby,' in which Mr. Godfrey gives his audience a- highly diverting and clever performance of ? Svengalii' The box plan for the brief five - nights' season will be opened on Monday morning next.. -' '" The only occupant of the jlook-up;l/ib(i evening was a man named Thompson, for .a breach of the Police Offences Act.■,■•-■ ■

There was a moderate attendance at the Opera House last evening, when the Trilby. Comedy Company repeated the; amusing /comedies, ,*Milky White' arid 'Living Models.' The characters throughout were well sustained, and the performances mob .with' marked i attention ? and appreciation ( tho- participants being ;frequently applauded. Miss Hsttie How'arde and Mr. Morton Prior formed the central figures lii //Milky; White,'while this; lady and fMr: Fort contributed largely to the ; success 'Living Models.' The management announce a change of programme for this evening, when the amusing coiriedietta ( ' The Widow's Mistakes,' will be staged for the 1 first time in Auckland; also one act of 'Milky White'and the laughable skeboh .'Living Models.' Interpolated songs, will also be given. ,' :.!-•'.•,

At the Wesley Ball, last evening, a Wei meeting of carpenters and jolliers Was held to discuss the reply of the Builders' Association bo the trade rules recently submitted for its consideration. In most instances the Association agreed to tho proposed rules. .With regard to rule 2, providing that employers should pay the ('men's travelling-expenses, if working, beyond a three-mile radius of the Groy-stteeb firobell, arid rule 6. providing for Is per day o«tra in the caso of a man engaged on country work', ib was agreed that a deputation; consisting. of Mes?rs. Todd, Punch, R. Tudehope, dosser, T. Tudehope, and Peak should wait on the Builders 1 Association, and see if some arrangement could nob be come to,

..It appears that throughout the New York State last spring strawberry plants were given out by the Department of Agricultural Education, with instructions, as a sort of university . extension work; Each Child received six plants, and was expected to reporb upon their culture later on, wibh essays upon them, George T. Powell, who is director of this department and gives out the plants, Writes that there is much in Wrest among the children, especially thos of the farmers.

To-night) a concert at popular prices will be Riven in the City Hall. The proceeds will go in aid of defraying the expenses of the. Association football representatives, who have lately returned from Dunedin. His Worship the Mayor and _ Colonel Goring have both signified their intention of being present, and judging from the pro gramme, which will bo found in another column, the funds of the Association Should bo greatly augmented. The programme to be submitted is one of unusual merit, and amongst the contributors will be found such popular favourites as Mrs. Coates, Messrs. Schatz, Jackson, and Innes. A septette is promised by the Auckland Banjo and Guitar Club, under the leadership of Mr. A. E. Ringwood, and Moils'. E. J. tie Willimoff will execute two violin solos. Pupils from the Berosford-streot School will introduce an Amazon march, the mili tary evolutions in connection with which are of a most intricate nature. The Childron have been specially trained by Miss Mollhono. Messrs. G. M. Roid, Trenwith, Brown, and Allon will sin;; tho plantation songs, ' Dats Berry Queer ' and 'Good Night,' with banjo and guitar accompaniment, tho music for which ha 3 been arranged by Mr. A. E. Ringwood.