LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10278, 2 November 1896, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

«>- . Tw Victorian Racing Club's Spring Meeting was opened at Flomington on Saturday last, when tho 38th Derby was brought off. The race resulted in a victory for the favourite Newhavan, who is tho property of Messrs. Jones and Cooper. The winner was bred by Mr. W. R. Wilson, of Victoria, and when sold as a yearling he was secured for the moderate sum of 120 guineas. He was subsequently sold to his present owners for 2000 guineas. A full account of the racing will he found in another column. A great deal of interest is being taken in .cricketing circles, and, in fact, by the public generally, in the approaching match between the Australian Eloven, who reach btreby the R.M.s. Mariposa on Thursday next, and an Auckland Eighteen. The much will be commenced on Friday, and continued on Saturday and Monday, and while it is not expected that our players will be able to hold their own with the visitors, a goo} gamo is to be anticipated from a spectator's point of view. Special arrango-men-,8 will bo made tor country visitors, both by rail and tram. A fsw days ago we were shown the first of Mr. J, C. Firth's Patent Automatic Coal distributors, for use when loading vessels with cwl, so as to prevent spontaneous combustion of the same. This one, as made at the boiler-makers, Custom-street, i* in the form of a pyramid, each of the four sides moamring about 12 feet along the bottom.,, The distributor is intended to be raised or lowered by chains as the loading proceeds, aid instead of having the coal smashed up in a apac-3 of about six feet square, as a', present, there will be a space of at least 1} feet square kept altogether clear of coal dust, besides doing away with a considerably amount of disagreeable work for trimmers. Mr. Firth's Pumice Insulation has greatly added to the safety of our ocean-going stumers, and in ail probability his coal distributors will add greatly to the safety of coal-laden vessels, as their liability at present to spontaneous combustion is such that anotlur pound has been added to the premium for lire risks. Wo understand that the distributor just made will shortly be tried at. Newcastle, New Soutt Wales. In tho oarly part of 1800 Gordon Moves, son of Mr. and Mrs. Moyes, of Rarnarama, near Drury, left this colony and proceeded to the Transvaal Goldfield?, where for a while he was employed as engineer at tin Albert mine, Pretoria, but left there in September, ISOO, to proceed to Mashonaland, prospecting. Sinco then nothing had been hoard ot him until lately, when newi was received throug* the Salvation Army that he and his party wero all massacred by the natives. The sad news falls heavily on tho aged conple, who not long ago had a son blinded and otherwise severely injured by a dynamite explosion at Reefton. Gordon was a bright, intelligent young man, and a general favourite.—[Own Correspondent.] A meeting of the Auckland Trades and Labour Council was held in the Foresters' Hall, Newton, on Saturday evening, Mr. J. Fawcuß (president) in the chair. A long discussion took place re the condition and wages paid to the City Council workmen, employees in the local sawmills, and others. It was reported that the City Council labourers were paid 6s per day, and the yardmen in the mills 5s per day, out of which a number of them had to support a family. The general opinion was that in consequence of the rise in rents and the increase of pay in other callings the wages of these men ought to be increased, as the wages above quoted were inadequate to support a man with a wife and family in anything like decent comfort. One member stated that his rent had been increased 3s in as many months, which meant Cil per day off his wages. The Council gave it as their opinion that in consequence of the altered conditions that wages ought to be increased. Mr. H. Percival, who is a candidate for the Board of Eduoation, writes to ask what is the exact position of tho seat of the Rev, Canon Bates at the Board of Education. Mr. Percival says:— ' More than six months ago the rev. canon obtained aix months leave of absence; recently he applied for three months additional leave, and the Board refused to grant it. The six months leave having elapsed, and the member not being in attendance, the seat, one would imagine, is ipso facto vacant.' Tho period for which leave of absence was granted has expired, and the Board has declined to grant an extension. But the law is, we believe, that a member must be absent ihrco months without leave before his seat) can be declared vacant by the Board. Last evening, as two barmaids were returning along Queen-street between seven an'deight o'clock from adrive in thecountry, the horse in their dogcart (one of Martin's, of Parnell) took fright at something, and bolted, The trap came into collision with one of Mr. Keenan's hansom cabs, the shaft going through one of the side windows, and otherwise damaging it. One of the girls gob pitched out in tho collision, and wai taken to the premises of Mr. Ratjen, chemist, where her injuries wero attended to, and subsequently at the hotel, where Dr. Lindsay was called in. The horse in tlje dogcart, after the collision, continued careering up the street, the girl loft in the trap calling out to the people to clear out of the way, and sticking to the reins pluckily. It was subsequently pulled up at the foot of Gray-street. .The girl is said tp have been uninjured fiirthor than gotting i good shaking. ! In our obituary column will be found recorded the death of Mr. Win. Frederick Barber, son of Major-General Barber, and grandson of tho late General Taylor, of Tamaki, at the age of 54. Deceased was descended from a military family. He was born 'at Madras, India, in 1842; educated at Circus Place School, Edinburgh, where he passed his examinations, and then went to Belvade Collego to be trained for the I army, but through 'an injury to his foot lie had to abandon this intention. He then came to New Zealand in the ship William Miles, in 1862, with his uncle, Mr. Allan Kerr Taylor, settling down on a farm at Tamaki, where ho married the second daughter of the lato Mr. Thomas White. He was an old veteran of the old United Cricket Club. He was confined to his bed for seven months- with a painful illness, and 'passed away on Saturday, leaving a widow and three sons and two daughters. We understand that Onehunga desires to be represented at the annual Floral Fete, to beheld at Ellerslie on Novomber 28, and ladios and others willing to assist are invited to attend a meeting at the Vicarage, Onehunga, at three p.m.. on Wednesday next, to make the.nocessary'arrangoments.

•;;.:Wibh.reference to the fire, at Epsom &i the stables Kof ! Mr., B. Hesketfi, solicitor, j recorded in Saturday's issue, some further . particulars are forthcoming. stables were wholly destroyed, and the wash-house . attheendwnsalso half-burned the -coachhouse Was saved, after j great difficulty, by the aid of a bucket gang. ■ Most of the smaller articles were removed from the stable, but' a chaff cutter and other , large ; things could not be got out,; and "wore destroyed. The damage caused by the fire is estimated at £500, and the insurances are £200 on the stables and £100 on the wash-house, both in the National In-. eurance Company. % .At thq Polico Court on Saturday morning Mr.H. W. Northcioft, S.M., presided. Under the Destitute Persons Act, Mr. Keetley appearing on behalf one Mrs. M. Baker, applied for a maintenance order against a son named William Baker. His Worship considered the circumstances would nob warrant him making an order and struck the case out. In the case of P. Ingram v. 11. S. Ingram, claim lor maintenance, an adjournment was grantod for one week on the application of Mr. McGregor, who appeared for the defendant, Mr. ftjtuion appeared for the complainant. An ordeimadoagainßtDanielGreenof4sperweok towards the support of his father, which was varied on the previous Saturday to 3s, was gain altered to the original amount, tn tin application of Mr. Brassey, who appeared for the father. Other cases were sojourned or struck out. , The fifth annual dog show under the auspices of the Auckland Kennel Club continued open throughout Saturday, dosing in the evening at ten o'clock. An unusually large number of visitors attended, and altogether the show has proved far the most successful ever hold. Mr. G. R. Hutchinson's champion fox. terrier Harwood Terror attracted a great amount of ad miration, and was voted on all hands one ol the fiLat types ever seen in the colony, whilst! Mr. Thomas Turney's champion collie fislwyn Laddio is al?o a splendid specimen. The photographs exhibited in the competition claimed considerable attention'and the success of the innovation will noldoubt warrant its continuance ab future shows. On Friday night morningearly the premises of Mr. F. J. Bennett, draper, Queen-street, were ' burglariously entered from the City Hall lane at the rear, an entrance} having been forced by a crowbar or some such instrument. The goods stolen were umbrellas, shawls, ties, etc., of the total valine of £15 17s'9d. Chief Detective Grace subsequently arrested a man named Bourke ofl a charge of breaking and entering, It is understood some other charges will he preferred. The FJust-Lawton Company brought their piesojit season to a close at the Opera House, on Saturday evening, when a spccially-sjratiged programme was gone through before a moderate audience. The company Isaves town today, and will make a tour of trie country districts. The first a series of limelight concerts for school cjiildren took place on Saturday afternoon at tho City Hall under most auspicious circumstances. Messrs. Mackie an.i Co. mult feel gratified at the sucoess which their Initial concert met with, there being a vary large and representative attendance Jot both teachers and scholars from the public schools. The lecture 'The West Coast 1 Sounds and Lakes of Otago,' given by Mrl C. T. Edwards, of the Mercer school, was! very interesting, and was listened to with rapt attention by all those present. At the conclusion Mr. Bailey, of the Ponfonby school, stepped on to the platform and moved a vote of thanks to the proa oters, and hoped the series would be cod inued. Many teachers also congratulate: the firm on the great success ri the concer. The views were of a very high order, in ieed, and most of them were made by direi negatives and coloured by Messrs. Mac'de and Co. Of the items interspersed, that of the Amazon March, with limelight effects, performed by 24 little girls of he Beresford-street School, under Miss Mc [lhone, was the best, and too much praise :annob be given to Miss Mcllhone for he careful training of the children. Sen liars from Nelson-street, Chapel street, and Mercer Sobools also contributed in no small measure to the success of thee jr.cert. Misses Brarae and Mackie gave i Piano and violin duet, which was much appreciated, and Mr. R. Vernon caused much rjtrriinent in his rendering of humorous son;! A collection of comic views, statuarjdehromatropes, and groups of school children brought the concert) to a close. Misses Brame and Ward acted as accompanists, whilst Mr. C. E. Mackie officiated at the lantern. The second of the series will be 'A/Tour of thn North Island nf New Zealand.' tin another column Messrs. Ma::kie and Co. publicly thank the teachers and scholars hi. their cooperation and assistance. j A sale of work 'and fanoy fair in connection with St. Paul's Church, will be held in the Parish Hall, Eden Crescant, on Wednesday next and three followiug days. Active preparations have been made during the past few months for this exhibition, and it promises to be one of the most interesting ever held in this city. In addition to the attractions usually seen at such gatherings, there will be several of an unusual character, which cannot fail to attract the attention of the public. Amongst the latter are the Samoan and New Zealand I ourts, Trilby show, stamp exhibitions, gontlemen's hat trimming competition, pin cushion show, and cake guessing competition. An efficient orchestra will be in attendance each evening. On Wednesday evening the Auckland College and Grammar School orchestra, under the conductorship of Mr, J. G. Trevithick, will render several selections. Several of our vocalists have kindly volunteered their services, and an extra attraction will be the fancy dances so cleverly performed by Mrs. Sowerby's pupils under that lady's direction. Tho charge for admission has been fixed so low that it places admission within the reach of all, and it is safe to predict a crowded house each evening. The fair will be opened on Wednesday evening by the Most Rev.. thel'timate. i This evening at the City Hall our citizens will have the opportunity of again hearing Miss Lent (Mrs. Edward?) in an excellent concert programme j Some of the leading musical artists of the city are announced to take part. Since she was hat in Auckland Miss Leaf has been on the operatic and concerts! in Europe, America, Africa, and elsewhere, and | has been very fnvouably criticised by the press for her singing and acting. No doubt at her concert to night many of Auckland's lovers of music will have the opportunity of listening to her fine voice. The programme consists of orchestral elections! by Miss Harding's orchestra, a septette,, and a violin solo by HerrZimuiKrinann, The heneficiare is down for four numbeis, alid Mus White, Mr. Casier and Mr. Wilfred Manning will also contribute songs. ! It wi 1 bt seen by our advertising columns that Messrs. Delohery, Craydon, and Holland's Elite Company return to this city, and will commence a short season in the City Hall, on Saturday next. The phenomenal success achieved by this clever combination on the occasion of their first visit to us in July last, must bo fresh in the minds of the public. All the old favourites will appear again in entirely new business and fre-'h noveltie.v One of the features of the first programme will be a new jockey song and dance by the Misses Mayfield, and Messrs. Craydon and Holland. Popular prices will be charged. To-morrow evening the Amateur Opera Club will produce the charming opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, 'The Gondoliers,' or 'The King of Barataria.' 'This will be the first occasion in New Zealand, that this favourite opera has been performed by amateurs, and our local club is to be congratulated on thus being first in tho field. It was thought by many that the club had attempted too great a task when deciding to stage 'The Gondoliers,' but recent rehearsals reveahhe fact that not only have "II apparent difficulties been successfully overcome, but this ' performance will undoubtedly prove to be the finest effort yet made by the club. A. great many features have been introduced into tho opera, which will bo now to Aucklandors, and thus giving an interpretation "more in accordance J*|th the performances at the Savoy ■theatre, London, where' The Gondoliers' was first produced. Professor Schmitt has had the powerful chorus of sixty picked performers in hand for ovor four months, and there is little doubt.that tho sparkling music of this favourite opera will receive a faithful rendering at the Opera House tomorrow end following evenings.