LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10347, 23 January 1897, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Thii mail steamer Alameda arrived^!®! Sydney yesterday afternoon after a 'vJJSI smart trip of 3 days 18 hoars 50 m\nJ2 The steamer had a largo number of Sll scngersfor this port, and the through l£ # also fairly filled. Amongst those for Anrt 1$ land were Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Vaile P*] fessor and Air*. Talbot-Tuhbs. andthe'SM J A Gould, the New South Wales Mini s &§f of Justice. Mr. Harrv Musurove r »»%'*! through passenger to San Francisco. j|M An English mail of London date Decern bcr 11, arrived from Sydney by the Ji steamer Alameda yesterday. M Colonial Notes, latest mining nm'ffiSM other items of interest from our Lo n( j 0 „- correspondent, appear in another Dart if M this issue. V\?®^SSh

M. Georges Bifid D'Aunct, Conmf ■ General of Franco at Sydney and M f G. Mirabel, director of the Frenqh-AnJ P tralian and New Caledonian Cable Cornell pany, arrived by the m. Alanieda yester' day, and were met by Mr. Ambrose AlillJ French Consul at Auckland. The gentle? ineh named are on a pleasure visit'to ,&W colony, and will first visit the L»k. Country. . $«& The passenger traffic on the Auckland' section of railways during the Christina and New Year holidays totalled 41000 an increase of over fiOOOon the correspondingperiod of last year. ' £>%' The Hon. A. J. Gould,-Minister of'jj tice for New South Wales, arrived by the Alauieda on a tour of New Zealand, and hithe same vessel Mr. Shepherd Allen r* turned from his trip to England. ;:

Yesterday Mr, Harry Musgrove, of bourne, who, it will bo remembered, n™. l ' aged the Australian Cricket Eleven in their' ssj recent tour bhroutrb bini;lan(l, America and ffl this polony, arrived in Auckland by ! R.M.s. Alatneda, on route to AmericjL " ■ whither he goes to curry out the prelimiDary l arrangements for the visit of an Australian '■■'■ baseball team, The team will m> on abort.- : i March. .-. ■ The sitting of the Native Lands Conk ■ was continued yesterday, at the Supreme - Court Buildings, before His Honor Judge ilair and the Native Assessor (Te Hqj, rama). The hearing of evidence on' part of the several natives who allege ' themselves beneficiaries in the Block No. 1 occupied tlio Court thewhols ' day, and will be ooniinued again this worm ing. The sub-division of the Orakei Block 'j has again been adjourned, this time until '•' Monday next, at the request of the nativej, to. allow of their considering the road lipei■ i laid down, which soiuo of them hold take '■. up too much ground. The Polioe authorities hava ascertained - that the man Thomas Carroll, against whom • a warrant has been issued for tlirowjii" :"■ sulphuric acid at Robert Jewell, at Paeroa, -r was seen on board the s.s. Mahinapm aj the time ahe sailed from the Maiiokjiiii: ■ Wlien tho etoamer arrived at the' Break! • water, Now Plymouth, ehe was searched •' by the police, but the search proved unfoccessful. No doubt a watch will the vessel at the other ports she may tbnoh -■■ at. Tho accused is stated to have friends at Dunedin. The young lady, one oftlif ••>! prominent figures in the Paeroa episode, '•, is said to belong to Auckland,, and he! •: relatives also reside here. At the inquest on the body of Tbos. Wm', ' Moyes, farmer, Upper Waiwe:a,.whb died snddenly the other day, the jury returned'*'" verdict of death from natural causes, ."vi Owing to a telegram received 'from.'r,' Wellington in reference to the ammunition . to be used at the forthcoming Rifle Assotf ?. tion Meeting to be held in Auckland neii ■ month, Eome volunteers are under the io- ■■■ , preesion that it i≤ being imported from-" : : Victoria for the special purpose. This ia'.a 11 mistake. The ammunition to be used is »:' portion of some supplied to the New Zea< ' land Government in 1595, by the Colonial' Ammunition Company, and was'maiiufai " tured at their Victorian branch. In neipjj this ammunition the Imperial Service ' regulations are being carried out, for these '; provide that material of the oldest dato : . shall be used first. Lasj, year, at; (h> ', Oaniarn meeting the fame ammunitioniwas \, used during the last three days, and gaw".'■; every satisfaction. Volunteers will there ;■ fore have no need to fear bad shooting neil : month.

Mr. A. G. Hobbs, late of H.M.i. Rapid,: who met with an accident some time ago, ■' is progressing favourably, and wilf3n»v expected, shortly proceed to Sydney. '' V. ; , There was a \ large attendance at the ,'j ' Foresters' Hall, Karangnhape Road, lasb,'/, evening, when a grand complimentary'/, concert was tendered in aid of the widow/ and children of tho late John Gave. Tliii '. programme presented was one of much > ( merit, and much praise U'diie to : Mr. U Walter Moore, the hon. secretary, and thl I several ladies and gentlemen who interested thomselves in promoting the entertainment in aid of this laudable causa; asalsototbpsj; who 60 kindly cnmo forward and tously rendered their services. Item? were contributed by the Miss L. Con way, MariS ; Quinn, Katie"Fitzpntrick, and S. McCor , ■■ ' mack, and Messrs, E. Burcb, A. A. Fm M tridge, T. W. Allen, J. Wallet, WalMf' - Moore, Albert Lucas, and P. White, /"*■ ■ Mr. E. Burke'e orchestra. Mr. Alfi

Bartley acted as accompanist. Si It is gratifying to find that some of par local industries are thriving, and requiring extension. Mr. G. H. Powley, shirt >M 0 facturer, of Victoria and Graham-slrecl-V is about to extend'his factory. Flans hart been prepared by Mr. .Wade, arehitoeH* and the lowest) of nine tenders, that of Slr,; : J. T. Julian, accepted for the work. Tblhighest tenders was £1050.. The present; factory is 90 by 30, and tho new ex!«u(io»( 90 by 30, all on one floor, making the ft?. Tory probably the largest am) best )ighw| in New Zealand. Dining accoaimoditioois at present provided [or 159 0i ployees. The new extension *iP provido for tho staff of hands bei<!|j; increased to 250, and other branches of {N* clothing trade will bo taken up. TbJmachinery will be driren by an extra £«*; engine, all the belting being in the bMW luent, so as to secure tho safety of M workers. Mr, Tregear, chief . insp«?or/1 and Mrs. Grace Neill, assistant :nspecbif ( . vieited Mr. Powley'e factory when in land, and took notes of the which they intended to bring nmier thr notice of the Southern factory pioprietoni. Mr. Julian, who built the original liwWfj will start operations at once. i-'-^fff The attention of country brass drawn to tho advertisement in aiiotW portion of this issue with reference to tb< brass band contest to be held at the .*• Aroha Domain on Friday, January « (Regatta Day), The contest is opsj M bands in the Thames, Ohinemuri, roandel, Waikato, Piako, Wnipa, anl Tauranga Counties, and cash prizes of .ffKi| £10, and £5 will be piv.on; while in adding to this event there willialso be a soloconUJ : . in the Public Hall, Te Aroha, for WBW..; tropliie3 will be given as prizes. A spfW;train will leavo Auckland for Te Aroha .* .,;■ eeven a.m. on. the 29th, returning at f!» ■- p.m. .' "' ' .■- '• - : There were about fourteen applicaWW , for relief , before the committee, of ■-• Charitable Aid Board this week, most «■: them : renewals. There ' are' n«|S| applications for work at the local If« Bureau just now. A' number of Strang?™ i have called, but principally for informatiw as to tho best "districts in which to sm*™;, work.

I The Hod. Mr. Cadman, Minister of Mines, 'bas in attendance at the Ministers , Rooms, •■fastopw Buildings, yesterday. A deputa- : ,-„„ from the Auckland Hospital and Pharitable Aid Board, consisting of Messrs. j Stitchbury (chairman), J. Bollard, \\ H.B'i 9 ar (secretary), waited on Mm with a view to finding ae to whether theGoTernmenC would be favourable to the !LsiD!» of the local Bill vesting the control Prehospital endowments in the Board, ° stead of in the PublicjTrustee, at the next iijon of Parliament. The matter, being Bβ for a local ' B '" ' natoa(l °' a Government ensure, Mr. Cndraan could nob give a decided answer, but informed the deputa[•m that if the Board wished to introduce ac h a Bill they would not bo interfered lib, though the Minister-in-charge would no d'onbt, like to see a copy of the Bill. «the Board think it expedient to have the Bill introduced, this, of course, leaves id BSD to them to do bo. Several matters of private nature were dealt with during (he course of the day, the Minister being detained until after 6 p.m. Mr. Cadman JjU be at the rooms during this morning. £ four-roomed house in East-street, Vewton, which has been used as a meetingnlace by tne mem ' )era 0I tne Church of Christ for some time, was yesterday morn- ■ „ a| B o3t totally destroyed by fire. Mr. nomas Coyle was passing at about a arter to twelve, and noticing smoke Isuin" from the back of the house, wont roiintf anil found the place on fire. Con■table Walker antl the Newton police were slmost Immediately on the scene, and after bursting in the door endeavoured to save flu*harmonium and furniture, but were driven back by the flames. The Newton •ndAuekland fire brigades and Captain Field irrired B oon after, and though they 'could not-Bave the house, they prevented the fire spreading to the adjacent premises. The property" was owned by Miss Matthews, and was insured in the South British Office for £50. The Church of Chrisb lost harmonium, seats, books, tables, etc., of the value of about £70, which amount was not covered by insurance. The origin of the lira is unknown. Daring the recent season strawberry boxes to the number of 31,000 were made atthe Jubilee Institute for the Blind to the order of 'he Birkenhead Fruitgrowers' Association.

The Loyal Orange Institution will hold their annual picnic and sports ab Mangere on Anniversary Day. A first-class prolamine lias been arranged. A band will be in attendance, and every provision will be made for the comfort and convenience of the public. A meeting of members of tho Auckland Cycling Club took placo last evening, in the club-room, over Ellisdon's tobacconistshop, Queen-street. Mr. H. Young (captain) presided, and there was a large attendance. The tender of Mr. Stillwell, Paruell, for the right of supplying refreshments at tho Clab's carnival, to be held in the Domain on February 6th, was accepted, and other general business dealt with. A meeting of the Sports Committed was afterwards held, it which tho secretary announced that ho had already received a largo number of entries for the various cycle and pedestrian events on the programme of the .forthcoming meeting. It) waa decided to Rive the winner of the Club Championship a handsome cup, in addition to the first prize. It was further agreed to grand permission to the Hibernian Society to place races for Club members on their programme for 17th Jlarch. As will be seen elsewhere, entries for all events close with the secretary this evening, at the Metropolitan Hotel.

The Auckland Provincial Christian Endeavour Union are making preparations for a popular picnic to Pine Jeland, on Friday next (Regatta Day). A camp meeting is to beheld in the afternoon, in which a number of clergyman and others will take part. The Helping Hand Band will be present. The railway authorities notify by advertisement in another column that the extension of the lino from Mokau to tho Poro-o-tarao tunnel, in the King Country, is now ppen for ijooda traffic only. A train will tun up every Monday. A number of timetable alterations are also notified. On Begatta Day cheap excursions will be run toPaeroa, Tβ Aroha, Rotorua, and Okoroire, Iwing Auckland at seven a.m. A spocinl train will also be run in connection with St. Matthew's Church picnic to Henderson. Ml particulars as regards times and fares inpear in ouruulrertieing columns, Tbo Northern Steamship Company have mranged for several excursions to favourite resorts on Anniversary Day. The Wakatere will run to tho Great Barrier, the Clansman to Mahurangi Heads, the Wellington to Waiwera, and the Argyle to Ruth's Island, Waiheke. Bands will be in attendance on the Wakatere, Clansman, and Wellington.

A complimentary benefit was tendered to tho veteran actor, Mr. J. A. South, at the City Hall last evoning. The audience waa not very large. A popular programme iras given. Misses Rowe, Masters, Howarde, and Messrs. Hugo, Brinkman, South, Kadourn, Crawford and othere taking part.

Our Thames correspondent writes: — After the usual band practice of the Thames Naval Artillery bund on Thursday evening a very pleasing ceremony took place, when Lieutenant Potts, on behalf of the members of the band, presented the bandmaster (Mr. 0. Smith) with a handlome silver-mounted conductor's baton, as a mark of their esteem and respect. The baton bears the following inscription :— "Presented to Bandmaster 0. G. Smith, by the members of the T.N.A.V. Band, January, 1897." Bandmaster Smith suit»bly replied, thanking the members for their kind present.

The anniversary gatherings of tho Auckland Prohibition and Temperance League are announced. There will be an open-air meeting in the Western Park on Sunday afternoon at three o'clock, and on Tuesday next the annual soiree and public meeting will be held in the Foresters' Hall, Karangatape Road. A capital programme is promised for the public meeting, one of the attractions being a solo by the Rev. A. Mitchell.

The two men, William Carlson and William Henry White, who have been in custody for some time past on a charge of fobbing Kenneth Bayne, at Te Kuiti, were brought up at the police court yesterday, before Mr. J, Callnan, J.P., and further remanded for eight days, on the application of Sergeant Kelly, who stated the wounded man was still lying in the Hamilton Hospital.

A very pleasant gathering took place on Thursday evening, at the Archhill Hotel, when Mr. Percy Allsop, who is leaving for America, was presented with an address, and afterward? entertained at a supper and (moke concert by his chums and fellow employes. Mr. Robert Teague in the chair, Proposed tho guest of the evening, which *as drunk with musical hononn. Air. Allsop feelingly replied, thanking all present for their kindness, and many exprestioni of goodwill, etc. J ustice having been done to the good thinga provided, the remainder of the eveninpr was spent in songs Md recitations, concluding with the singing of" Auld Lang Syne." The "Premier" picnic of the M.U. Oddfellows is this year to bo held at Lake Takapuna. The committee have, ae usual, '"Raged steamers to run from country dieWets. Tenders for Etalls ana brass band ate returnable on January 28.

This evening in addition to the usual entertainment by the Specialty Company the Calculating Boy and the Georgia Magnet make their final appearance in Auckland. A most attractive programme °f now Bonga and sketches is announced a "d the management state that notwithstanding the extra attractions the Usual low Kale of prices will be charged, Tbe January number of Liberty, the ■ monthly journal of the National Association, I'M just been issued. .. Last evening, at St. James , Hall, IVel-lington-street, the Theosophical Crusaders . B»ve a tea to the poor of Auckland, when & large number, both old and young, "ailed tbemsolvea of the bounty of the visitors. The refreshments, which were of 1 "substantial nature, were disposed by the I members of the Crusade, assisted by eeveral local ladies and gentlemen associated ! wi * the same sect, and those present were ; a Wply provided for, and most) kindly '«»ted. After tea had been partaken of brief addresses of an encouraging nature *ere delivered by the several members of th e Crusade. I . At the Freemasons' Hall, Princes-street, 181 evening Bio. George EWds was .... |?«WladasM.\V.S. of the Southern Cross ■• , Cha Pter of Rosa Uroix of H.B.D.M* i; '.'1 .. - ■ ' ' .