LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10319, 19 December 1896, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Herald Monthly Summary, for transmission by the next outward San Francisoo mail, will be published op Thursday next. Tlioso desirous of forwarding the Summary to their friends in Europe, America, etc,, will have ample time to do so, as the newspaper mail closes on Saturday next, at halfpast eleven a.m., up to which honr orders for mailing the Summary will also bp received &t tho Publishing Office, Queanstreet, This mail will be due in London on Wednesday, January 27. The Herald to-day consists of 16 pages, including an eight.page supplement, on the fifth page of which will bo found our usual Saturday's budget of sporting and athletic notes and news. An English mail, of London date November 6, will arrive from the South by the Gairloch this afternoon. On making enquiry yesterday at the Hospital concerning the condition of Mr. Win. Percival, secretary of the Auckland Racing Club, who was thrown from his trap 011 Wednesday, the Hospital authorities stated that ho was progressing favourably. Mr. Tlios. Morrin, chairman of tho Racing Club visited him yesterday. Thero is no intention now of appointing a deputy, as Mr, Percival, it is anticipated, will be able to resume his duties at no distant date.

An inquest >vas held by Dr. T. M. Philson, Coroner, at the Avondalo Asylum yesterday afternoon, upon the body of a late inmate named Joseph Hawkins, who died in the institution. The jury found that death was caused by degeneration of the brain. The police authorities have found an owner tor the gold watch which fell into their possession. Mr. Ralph, of Ponsonby, missed it from his residence 011 Thursday, and yesterday morning his report reached the station. The door had been lelt opon for a few minutos, and during that short interval the watch had been appropriated. The police have also traced out the ownership of the quantity of valuable cutlery which has fallen into their possession. It turns out to be the property of Mrs. Roberton, mother of Dr. Roberton. Her residence, Symonds-ntreet, is shut up, Mrs. Roberton having gone on a visit to Sydney, and the articles, valued at over £20, had been abstracted from the house. Householders should look sharply after their residences during the holidays, as a number of robberies are being committed. . When Misii B. W. *McKerrow, M.A., resigned her position as first assistant lady teacher of Prince Albert College, steps were taken by the Board of Governors to fill up the vacancy. This was done by appointing Miss E. M. Rainforth, M.A., to the position of fifst assistant, and then advertising for a lady to occupy the plac6 of second assistant). There were twolve applicants for the position, and tho majority possessed testimonial of high merit, with University degrees. After a full and exhaustive enquiry, a ballot was taken, and as a result Miss Mabel Sulmond, 8.A., was appointed to the position. This young lady is a daughter of Profesior Salmond, of the Otago University. Her educational career includes nine year? at the Girls' High School; Dunodin, and a regular attendance ati the O'ago University, in connection with which herß.A, was taken, She has had experience as a teacher at the school of Mies DeSalamos, Dunodin, and bears very high testimonials from that lady and from the University Professors, who apeak in glowing terms of her character ana work. The Board of Governors deeply regret the retirement of Miss MoKerrow from the teaching profession, for during her connection with the Prince Albert College she has given ample proof of being fully qualified for the position she held, We rogreb to learn that the annual appeal to the public in order to provide a Christmas tree for the Avondale Asylum patients has not been well responded to, an(l unless further gifts are forthcoming there ie ft probability that the affair will not be carried out. lb is to hoped that thi? reminder will aid those who have inter, efated themselves in, these unfortunate people. .. },

i Tho Sunday train service to Otahuhu will be discontinued after Sunday, the 27th instant. The live etooJc trains to and from the VVaikato will run aa notified in our advertising • ?columnsj on - U specified dates through the holidays ' ■

.. . _ ■ -A"-' : — . The usual lamentable fatalities tl ough |alfjijij* have cfjmmqncef? with the b thing season'. An inquest was held on W dijß.s.-, . day at Belensville respecting the de ;j> of Jeremiah Olive, a boy of nine years'< age, who was d.FPJVHOi} ivhil.e bathing 01 the previ.oujs day #1) the jpqijs Qf ;$e s (naru Creek. Ho'got out of his depth, and , boy turned Pa I fry apd another, aged }3 a d 11 respectively,' tried to rescue hiifc, yij. successfully, gajgiiel pljve, his l?»tl*r, a boy of 14, hearing the outcry, irsn <jo«»i the bank and jumped in with cloth« on, but the unlort.up.ijte yopger ), d. aft r grasping his rescuer, jet go and pi lc. T|r» body was recovered in an' hour. the ju y returned a verdict of accidental dpvnin;, and added a rider that the local a Jthorittes should take steps to fornj a saftf bathipg place for children and others at Hjlensvif?. They expressed tneir high opinfcn'of (he bravery of .the boys who had attt apt9s' tg, rP?6*i.9' deceased, especially ' tit brotier PaflWl ' [ The touring: representative of I>q lUyul Lyceum Burlesque, and I'anton me doinpany, Mr. Harry Thaino, bus rri\'ed in Auckland, and t)ip yper(» I{< isa qling. otherwise engaged, has arranged ;or a short season nt the City Hall, the optiing nishk .being ne?t §'tttur.jay-Bo*f»g N >ht". The company includes quir,o a larfi number (40) of folcptpd flftiijtes, and tin repertoire is an exceedingly varied one. Tip "Palace of Nafjoi]*" iyjli be quite a pur feature tq Now landers, and th. V Royal MgrifllWltes'- a|'9 in themselves ■ almost a complete entertainment. During the season thero will be a revival of real (d English pantomime. With all the at using &q----anifflents, f?iry ,tr§iis/qrma( on scenes, etp., thp properties for iyhich ar ive by the Monowai next week. T'lSre '3 on view a|t ilims. imith and Conghey's buildings (u|Ktaire, Queenstreet, as wjll be seel) by advertis mentelsewhere, a fine collection of oil painttngs, illustrative of the thermal histrjc'of rakei, from the brusli af Mr. Cameron Johnson, an artist who his btep in 'New Zealand ajippt*' > ysars. Hi studied at South Kensinj,'!"- -. v.d tl|en lamequfcto Victoria, etudyin, at the Kati mal Gallery under Professor FJingsbyj, ant afterwards returned home and spending £ ;me time in Paris ip cppnectipii with hjs rt ptiidies. He has completed a large lumber of sketches of Middle Island *nd [Vest Coast scenery, and came from VVeilii ;ton over(find, Lulling some sketches of Upper aijganui river scenery en route and has recently epgagod as stated alj'i ve in depicting the wonders of the Waiara ;ei district, lhe series (all oils) includp he famous Champagne cauldron and t irrace, the P??!"?? 8 Moutl), the Twin Ge sers, Great m i n' B B ' a, ' a l |e ' Geysers, Prince of Wales Feathers Geyser, Fairief Pool, Terekereku or Hell Geyser. So i.e new discoveries' hw recently been i;;ide in the Pironrori Valley (which lias l|een opened up with tracks), namely, the C (tome Lake, the Heavenly Twins, the De' iPs Kitchep Or the Sorrows of Satan. Amoic tl(e viewi is one of Waiurakei Stre4m, w lith recoivea the surplus hot water of the geysers. There are fine pointings of the Hiijc'a Pajls and of the Arateatea Rapids, the fetter hemp taken from three different poults, and will be new to the Auckland public} They are boldly and vigorously painted, ihnseof the Champagne Pool and Great; ! Wiiarakei reminding one of Mr. Kahler's pairings ol the same scenes. ■ | The ipissjon condncted jn t|ie i?arioua Methodist Churches in this city by tie Rev. D. O'Donnell, the Australian eviligeliafc, was brought to u close at Newpiawet this week. Ho leaves for Invercargill jit a few days to commence a mission there, md subsequently visits the various Southih cities under the auspices of theWeslej[ii ConHe |s announced to gjie a farewell address to young converts aba others at a praise meeting to be held 011 (Ihristmas Nigbt at the V.M.C.A. ! There was a good attendance at the Opera House last evening to wfrnesi the performance of the drama "Called to Aims," by the Alfred Woods Dramatic Company. The various role? were well sustained, and the piece was well reoeivpd, and frequently applauded. This evening will bel thb last opportunity of witnessing t|)p perfi)rniuicei of this popular company, which leav® for the South 011 Monday next. ' | The events of next week will be thiTrebelli festival concerts, and they will ijoubtless bo as great a success as tho firstlthree TrebeJli concerts. The first of the'series will bo tho public performance it the Opera House of the Choral Society j brilliant rendering of the " Messiah, I with Mile. Trebelli, Madame Du Hieu, Mr. Ferriday, and Mr. John Prouse, as noists. Professor Schmitt will wield the bate n, and this performance will be quite up to the excellent standard of the private one of la?t Tuesday. Thq next ovent will be the matineoatthe Choral Hall 011 Wee iiosday afternoon. Thus an opportunity it 1 itforded to hear the famous singer, to those, who for one reason or another, are uriiblo to attend the evening concerts. Trie programme will include the sighing song, added in deference to many wishes. The climax will be reached on Friday (Christmas) night, when a sacred fjoncert on a most magnificent scale will b {given. The Diva will introduce a song 0/ which we have beard much, viz,, nothing leas than the "Alleluia," from [ Massenet's famous work, "Le Old." This "Alleluia" is in that classic work sung by the Infante of Spain (Crown Prince), as he makes'his exit from tho church on Christmas icairning, distributing alms to poor. Tw« shall again refer to the programme, j A most enjoyable picnic was giver; yesterday to the children attending the. Ponsonby Central and Richmond Roac public schools. The place chosen for the outing was Lake Taknpuna, to whioh placn about a thousand children, teachers,, parents, and friends Were conveyed' in the p.B, Eagle, The steamer made two trips,'one leaving at nine a.m. and theojiher at two p.m. An excel lent programme of sports was gone through, aud tho children wera kept amused in other ways during thai whole day. Refreshments wero provided and heartily appreciated. The Nekvton band, 1 under Bandmaster Tl'ussell, was present, and( the musical programme added wry materially to the general onjoyment. Several mem» bers of the committee were in attendance, and took great interest in the proceeding-?. The arrangements wero in every way- first-class, and there was 110 accident of any kind, the children being landed in perfect oeder at both ends, under the superintendence' l of the headmaster and his staff of teacher!?. On the way home hearty cheers were gi l fen foi the householders, to whose exertions the picnio was due, and also for the fliers. Owing to the complete success of the! initial outing tho school picnic will probably become an annual affair. On Christmas Day Mr. Chas, Cooler will give a Christmas choral festival a fid carnival mid myoramic exhibition, wit® limelight scenic effects, f The annual sports of the Auckland. Caledonian Society will take place 011 New Year's Day in the Domain Cricket (grounds A splendid programmo of national Athletic sports has been arranged. Mr. T. Roberts will attempt to lower tho world's :fmateur record for the quarter-mile hurdles, f The Northern Steamship Coinpai ly notify elsewhere their excursion trips fro m Auckland Harbour on Boxing Day. I jso their excursion trips from the Manuka u side to I Raglan and. Kawhia. ! Thero were a number of vicitoi s yesterday at Mr. E. W. Ohristmas's Art Exhibition, opposite the Control Hotel, (VictoriaStreet East. The paintings are 1 of Now Zealand and Australian scenery. He is also showing a number of paintings I by Mr. H. W. Kirkwood, the well known West Coast painter. Admission is free to the t xhibition, which will be open tp-day and Mi mday. On Monday, at 2.39 p.m., Mr. iL. Lewis, auctioneer, will dispose of the wl hole of the paintings (50 in number) witho at reserve, at the premises where they are I exhibited. Further particulars appear in the advertisement. The intercolonial pricket mate ill Queensland v. Auckland, will be play «d on the Domain Cricket Ground on Tutjsday and Wednesday next.

A useful Christmas present, a dr ess o:! the Champion Black Silk, absolutely g pa raiiteed not to wear shiuey, cut, or slit, 5s fill i, ijs 6d, 78 9tl and Ss6d per yard, Smith andlOauyhey are sole agents for Auckland Province tof these celebrated silks. >■ Those who wish to save money in tliei r tea bill, should read John .Eurle and Co.'tj a< Ivortlsement til another page. ' : The largest stock and the most exte psive assortment in Auckland of gents' me pcery and ready-made clothing is being show m by Smith and Gaughey,—(Advt.) ( Sunshades and umbrellas, a wide sole ctioa at all prices.—D.S.C.—(Advt.) j