LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10404, 31 March 1897, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Information received in Auckland, frooi the best source, points to Parliament meeting on Tuesday afternoon. The Governmenb steamer Tutanekai will leave Onehunga ab mid-day on Sunday, for the purpose of conveying the local members to Wellington.

The proposed increase in telephone rates is exciting much adverse comment, not 19 much in connection with city connection) but it is felt that the suburban subscriber! ara already paying a full subscription, ana any increase is unwarranted. We understand that a firm refusal to pay the increaie is likely, and that much suburban social and business convenience hitherto enjoyed will be sacrificed rather than submit to an exorbitant rate. An interesting letter from Sir Robert Stout in reply to a previous one from we Rev. G. H. Mann, on "Our Publis Schools I Is the System a Failure," appears in w April number of the New Zealand Primitive Methodist. . ... The Resident Commissioner for til British section of the Solomon Islands (Mr. C. M. Woodford) left Sydney recently w the steamer Titus for the Islands. Mr. Woodford will have his official residence a Gavatu until permanent Government resi. dence at Talagi is completed In conjee tion with communication with the other, islands ipieunderstood that quarantinerww be enforced against vessels from German Mew Guinea, lew Britain, and the German Solomon. A force of native police w» arrive from Fiji during the season. . , Ib has been suggested thab Mr. J--* Head, of Whangarei, who was very«' o » up for the championahip at the l*evr* land Rifle Association shoot.np should beohosen to go to Engird in . jj" Now Zealand rifle contingent. HegiJJ. now said, has been asked if he can Strang? to visit England witu the team. , .j

The adjourned meeting of the Crown fends Board took place yesterday. There •ere present: —Mr. G. Mueller (Comjjjggioner), Major Harris, and Jlr. Renshaw. jhe business of the Board was to consider the qualifications of the applicants for the gve sections on the Opouriuo block, East Coast, which are opon for selection. There vere 92 applications and only iour persons wer e disqualified. The ballob will take plsce to-day at 11a.m. Some business of considerable importance was dealt with at the meeting of the flarbonr Board yesterday. The question of the appliances available for lifting heavy ffe jghts, such as machinery, from the holds of ships was considered, the repregenfcatives of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company asking for information as to the accommodation provided in this direction at the Auckland wharves. Mr. Niccol admitted that the present appliances were quite inadequate, and that something must be done with as little delay as possible to remedy the deficiency. Ib was decided to inform the company's representatives that the necessary appliances would be provided, and the Works and Tariff Committee were requested to consider the matter and furnish a report. The question of dealing irith cargo on the wharves and in sheds trae further deferred, and a motion by Mr. Stichbury to extend the Freeman's Bay sewer with the object of lessening the existing nuisance was referred to the Finance and Legal Committee. Several less important matters were also dealt with. When Jlr. Korthcroftwas about to leave, a testimonial was numerously signed to be presented to him. Mr. Northcroft, however, informed those acting on behalf of the signatories that the regulations of the civil service prevented him from receiving such a testimonial except by leave of Ministers. Application was made to the Government •■■Jor leave to present the testimonial, bub an answer has been received that Ministers declined to allow it to be presented.

An extraordinary meeting of shareholders in the Auckland Ga? Company was held yesterday tor the purpose of empowering the directors to obtain further capital, and so provide for the rapidly advancing business of the company. The chairman, Mr. J. H. Upton, stated that £25,000 wouM be required within the next twelve months to cope with the demands for extension, to keep up the stock of gas stoves, etc., while further development would have to be looked for in the still further future. The directors were empowered to sell shares on hand, and, concurrently call up part of the capital on unpaid chares.

Yesterday Mr. S. Clarke Johnson, local manager for the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company, left by the 8.8. Waihora for Wellington, to take up his new duties as the company's inspector for the colony. A number of his personal friends and bowlers (as he was a member of Ihe Fonsonby Bowling Club) were on the wharf to bid him adieu and wish him a bon voyage. Hi* removal from Auckland will be greatly regretted, as both in business and social circles he had gained the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. The last seven years of his fourteen years' connection with the company has been spenb in Auckland, and in 1592 ho succeeded to the managership of the local branch. During his regime he fulfilled the duties formerly distributed among Eeveral officials, and the local business greatly improved, Mr. Johnson was a valued member of the Choral Society, and was always ready to render his musical services to aid any Church or benevolent effort.

The usual monthly meeting of tho Presbyterian Elders As3sc'.ation was held last night at St. Luke's, Remuera. Mr. Thos. Knight, president, in the chair. The president called on Mr. Macpherson for his paper entitled, " Should the Office of Elder be Permanent," which was well received, and gave rise to a spirited discussion. Themajority of the speakers wore in favour of the otficeot elder remaining as at present a permanent one. The usual of thanks was accorded to the essayist.

It appears that the man Salter, who was found lying on ihe footpath in Shortlandstreet in a state of semi-unconsciousness ind suffering from lo.=s of blood, is not. pro greesing fo favourably at the hospital as could be wished. The police have not yet been able to obtain from him, owing to his precarious condition, nn intelligible account as to how he came by his injuries,

A man named Thomas Clarke had the misfortune to break his leg yesterday at Onehunga, It appears Mr. Clarke was engaged painting a house in Arthur-sfcrf gL, occupied by Mrs. Webb, when he overreached himself, causing the ladder, whicli was resting on the gable end of the house, to fall away from him, thus precipitating him to the ground and breaking his leg in two places above the ankle. After being attended by Dr. Brson, the sufferer wae removed to the District Hospital.

Ic has been the practice of the authorities to allow cyclists to transfer the registered number of their machines from ono cycle to another, in the case of the machine originally registered being sold, or disposed of, bub Mr. , H. W. Brabant, S.M., yesterday decided that on a strict reading of tho bylaw it was necessary that each and every nachine should be registered. Mr. Turner laid he had allowed the transference to ivoid friction, but would in future act upon His Worship's decision. A meeting of the Women's Liberal League was held last) night in the Wesley Hall, Mrs. Rule presiding. It was stated that tho League intended subscribing towards the expenses of its delegate to the National Council at Christohurch, and members were invited to contribute.

The preliminary steps for the formation of a New Zealand Licensed Victuallers Association have been taken in Canterbury and Otago, and dolegates from the Sou them branches will shortly visit the North Island to explain the objects of the Association to those interested. Mr. Joseph Cox has been delegated to visit Auckland province.

Further improvements, which will greatly add to the appearance of Queenstreet and adjacent thoroughfares, have been decided upon, The valuable frontage in Victoiia-itreetafe the rear of the Union Bank of Australasia is to be utilised for business purpose.", shops being erected thereon. Tho narrow Ir-.ne leading to the wing of ihe New Zealand Insurance Buildings is being prepared for asphalting f3r the comfort and convenience of those using the offices which have been laid off in the building until recently used by Messrs. Yates, seed merchants.

There were in tho lockup last evening a woman on ft charge of drunkenness; John Smith, arrested by Constable Bezar for theft of two tins of jam ; William Hoggard, arrested by Constable Finnerty on a charge of theft of an oil drum containing five gallons of lighthouse oil, value 255, the property of Samuel Fullerton. The circumstances are somewhat peculiar. Mr. Fullerton is working at the Freeman's Bay reclamation, and was taking a drum of oil and a tin of kerosene to the engine shed where the dredge is working. He pub down the drums by the side of the ro\dway in PattesOn-street in order to " lubricate" at the Freeman's Bay Hotel, and on coming oub and going over to carry on his drums of oil and kerosene ho found they had disappeared. He informed Constable Finnerty, who recovered the lighthouse oil from a second-hand dealer, who had got it at a great bargain, The kerosene has not been covered.

The gumdigger, Ruddy, who was found in a whare at Henderson, in a state of unconsciousness by the police, and brought in on Monday to the District Hospital, died yesterday ab that institution. It is .lot known yet whether an inquest will be held if otherwise.

The escaped lunatic Baird, referred to in yesterday's issue, was found near the Sailors' Home, having made bis way to town after leaving the Avondale Asylum. Professor F. D. Brown has been nominated by Sir Maurice O'Rorke and the Hon. Win. Jennings as a candidate for the office of Gofernor of the Board of Governors of the Auckland College and Grammar School.

Some sensation was caused yesterday evening at the Opera House, when Mr. Geo. Rignold, on being called before the curtain after his dive into the stage representation of the Regent's Park Canal, was seen to have blood streaming from a wound I on his forehead. The accident occurred through Mr. Rignold in hie return dive striking a piece of timber. Many enquiries were made; it is pleasurable to note that Mr. Rignold managed to escape . Mrioua injury, and with nobbing beyond ( temporary inconvenience,' 1

The anniversary Eoiree of the Ponsonby Baptist Sunday-school took place last evening. The tea was served by the lady teachers and others, in the schoolroom, and the after public meeting was held in the church, the pastor (Rev. A. H. Collins) presiding. The Chairman, after a review of the operations of the year, called upon the secretary (Mr. A. G. Jones) to read the annual report. From it we gather there are 210 scholars and 23 officers and teachers on the roll; Mr. J. Graham, superintendent. The tewing staff had lost the valued Eervices oi Miss L. Bell (tuacher of the young ladies' Bible class), who had left for Scotland. Two nf the ack-lari had joined the Church. £27 6s 2j'< »:A been raised by the scholars for tho Kr-".' , " Missions. In June, the school held an '.->dustrial exhibition, which was a great success, and as a result £17 was handed over to the school enlargement fund. At the Sundayschool Union Exhibition the school was well represented, and 19 scholars obtained certificates. At> tho second teachers' examination held by the Sunday-school Union certificates and prizes were obtained by sir of the teachers. Thanks were accorded to Mr. Collins in preparing the teachers for the examination. The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavour, under the leadership of Mr. 3. Graham, numbered 42 active, two associate, and 41 honorary members. Western Springs branch school, under the superintendence of Mr. J. S. Bigelow, had four teachers and 50 scholars. They had to rely at present on the generosity of a friend for the use of some rooms, but) they hoped soon to be able to purchase a piece of land and erect a schoolroom. The troasurer (Mr. Deorsley) read the statement of accounts, which showed receipts to be £122 10a IOJd, and the expenditure £121 10s B|d, The collections of the anniversary services were £15. Addresses were ■ given by Mr. Bigelow, Rev. J. F. Jones, who said the true solution of the Bibloinechools question was more efficient Sundayschool work, as neither the Church nor the parents could roll their obligations on to the State; Mr. H. B. Hociob, of Remuera, gave an excellent addross on the " Best Way to Teach a Sunday-school Cla«s" ; and the Rev. Mr. Wolfenden, an admirable sketch of "The Sunday-school Work in tho United States," the nursery of the Church (the Sunday-school) being there considered more important than the Church itself. Miss Fear sang very tastefully the solo " 1 will Give You Rest," as did Mr. Abel his two items "The Flight of Ages" and "Calvary." Votes of thanks were accord id to all who had assisted to make the anniversary a success. Mrs. Horace May played tho accompaniments. Tho choir were also in attendance. Among those present was the Rev. W. Sinclair, of the Helping Hand Mission.

The twenty-second anniversary of Court Fride of Onehunga Ancient) Order of Foresters was celebrated on. Monday night, when the Court was visited by members of the district executive. At the conclusion of the ordinary business, Brother J. J. Shaldrick, D.C.R., on behalf of the Court presented Brother Walter Kelsall with a treasurer's medal, In making the presentation Brother Shaldrick said that Court Pride of Onehunga was established on the 29th of March, 1875, with 12 members, Brother Walter Kelsall being appointed treasurer, which office he had held ever since, excepb for the term when he was Chief Ranger, and it was to express their appreciation of his services that the brethren presented him with a treasurer's medal. In acknowledging the gift, Brother Kelsall expressed his satisfaction with the growth of the society, which now numbers over 120 membors, with funds and property valued a 6 over £800. On the motion of Brother Tapp, P.C.R., a letter was ordered to be senb to Dr. Pcofcb, Court surgeon, who is suffering from nervous prostration, expressing the sympathy of the brethren with him in his sickness. During the vening various toasts were duly honoured, interspersed with songs and recitations.

Large flocks of seagulls, no doubb from Lake Bench, are coming on to the cultivated lands lit Northcote and Birkenliearl, and are doing much good. These birds follow the plough and harrow, and destxoy cricket* and other injurious insects by she thousand. Fruitgrowers are very careful nob to disturb these birds in thoir good work.

The half term of tho first term of the Prince Albert; College commenced on Mmi day last. There were seven additional pupils—the roll now standing at 103 boya and 82 fjirla. The Board of Governors contemplate building an extension shortly in the ehapo of a two-storeyed building between the old College buildings and tho Upper Queen-street frontage, as class rooms for the boys, so as to enablo the former building to be solely devoted to the purposes of a boarding establishment. These contemplated improvements will greatly add to the efficiency of the institution.

For some time past a number of ladies have been preparing for what is termed a "chrysanthemum fair," to bo held at the Drill Hall during Easter week. Tho fair must nob bo confused with the annual exhibition of the Chrysanthemum Society, lo is inaugurated with a view to raise funds to purchase a cottage for the Mission to the Streets and Lanes. The fair will be on a moit comprehensive scale, and all the ladies will wear appropriate costumes. A Chinese and Japanese stall will be a grooc feature, and the decorations, etc., will be on a lavish scale. A mooting of all assisting is called for to-morrow afternoon aD the National Association Rooms, Queen-street.