LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10427, 27 April 1897, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

SevKBAL prominent citizens bare to preached Mr. A. H. Nathan with avi e . ascertaining whether he would consent tl be nominated as a candidate for ft Mayoralty of the city of Auckland. *' understand that he has for the jmjj ' definitely declined to atand on the groad that circumstances may arise within thewa ' few months which would necessitatis, absence from Auckland. '- . f|

Business of more than ordinary i mpott ance and interest was dealt with J jV meeting of the Auckland Hospital lmi Charitable Aid Board yesterday, the pri n ■ " cipal matter considered being the condiaJ and management of the fever wards, li appears that same time ago Dr. Mackell, addressed a letter to the chairman of tin Board, in the course of which he the employment of inexperienced janior nurses in the fever wards, and asked th cause of the frequency of typhoid amongthi nurses, and of the resignations of »,„;„, nurses. This letter eeonis to have been dfc oussed in camera at two pre»ioue meeting! and was eventually referred to Dr. Bald* , ' for a report. Dr. Baldwin in reply said J would, as far as be could considering Uμ present sate of hie staff, avoid the employ, ment of junior nurses in fever wards, and »(. tributed the frequency of typhoid atnow the nurses to the fact that the fever wardi ' are "saturated with typhoid germs.* With regard to Dr. Mackellar'n question as to Vh. resignation of senior nurses he was unable to give an answer. Dr. Baldwin , , report ot the proposal to introduce the eigbfrhoQi system in connection with the nursing «ufl was also presented, but the consideratioao? it was deferred for a month. The above and other matters are fully reported elm! where.

An inquest was held yesterday before the District Coroner (Dr. Philson), on the bod* of Arthur Swete, who was found dead in the Epsom Reserve, on Saturday morni™ Charles James Harb, a boy of 13, deposed b finding the body. Deceased was a gardener, and had been, up to the time of hit death, working at Mrs. Waller's in Epsom Mr. Driver deposed that deceased was i native of Bristol, England. Hβ was 61 yesrs old, and had been 30 years in the colony. Dr. Roberton, who made a poit. mortem examinatien stated that the hear, was found to be greatly diseased, and he though t death was the result of hean failure. The jury returned a verdict a " Found dead, with evidence that) death ifr suited from pericarditis." Last night, at nine o'clock, Mr, Gnj. tavious Coates, traveller for Messrs Hancock and Co., called at the Police Station, and reported that in coming through from Newmarket to town in the quarter-past sii o'clock tram, a sixpence gilded over t< represent a half sovereign hail been passed on him by one of the passengers, II appears that the passenger in <,ueetion tendered the coin to the tram conductor in payment of his fare, but the latter being short oi change, Mr. Coates gave his fellow passenger ten shillings in silver for tbe supposed half sovereign. Returning homi shortly afterwards, Mr. Coatee found that he had been duped, the gill coming off on bis hand. He at once reported thi facts to the police, end gave the name of the person who had tendered him the money. Detective Bailey and Acting-Detective Hollis took the matter in hand, and within an hour after receiving the intimation arrested a well ■ dressed young man named Frank Ryder Davis, opposite the United Service Hotel, Queenstreet, on the charge. Davis demurred al first, and asked the detectives what authority they had to arrest him, but evontually went quietly to the station. On being searched the sum ot 12s 8d was found in his possession, also a small bottle containing liquid gold, on the label of which were the words, " To be well shaken before used, the gold being the heaviest goes to the bottom." Two coins similar to the one brought in by Mr. Coates are now in the possession of the police. In j§ each instance they were tendered to either 'bus drivers or tram conductors in payment , ' ■ of fares.

In connection with the Record Reign celebrations it lias been pointed out that one of the old identities of Broad Bay, Otago, Mr. John Rodger, formed one of tb« guard of honour at the coronation. H« / enlisted in 1832 to serve King William IV. in the Chatham division of the Royal Marines, and was transferred to the Castor frigate (Captain Lord John Hay), for lerWci on the coast of Spain. There he saw actWj service, a strong force of marines being landed for the protection of some of the coastal towns of Northern Spain agamet the Carlisb insurgente, with whom they eoon came into collision. Returning home lie soon afterwards took pare in the feu dt jolt on the accession of Her Majesty to the Throne, and later, while with his division at Chatham, hii company was selected to take parb in lining the streets for the coronation procession to and from Westminster Abbey. Of tho appearance of hie company on that occasion the old man often epeaks with pardonable pride. At the close of the Crimean war h< was discharged, having semd about % years, and not very long after this, ii the year 1859, he came oat to Ofcago, taking up land at Broad Bay. For the last 30 ' years or more ho has been a prominent member of the Wesloyan Church at Broad Bay, and a total abstainer. He still take! an intelligent interest in colonial politic* (as local candidates for political honouri Bometimee find out to their cost), and European affairs have always an eipecisl interest for him. Considering his age, no* 82, he is wonderfully erect, hale, jmd hearty.

Before hie departure from New Zealand; Lord Glasgow stated that, to show hil appreciation of the education received bj his sons at the Wanganui Collegiate School, he would present the sum of £50, to be used for an annual prize, at the discretion of the headmaster, and he only wished ho could have given more. The interest on this sum will be used to give an annual prize for classtce. This is the only icholarship of any kind ever given to the Collegiate School from any outside source.

The settlement of Matata has for the lasl few days been quite lively, the occasion being the opening of St. Joseph's Roman Cathoho Church, which has recently been completed by the Rev. Father Holierhock, the priest in charge. All denomination! have eubaoribed liberally, and there is now only a small debt remaining. The church is a very neat little building, and will seat 100 people comfortably. It is cross shaped j the left arm is for a sacristy, and the other for the altar of the Virgin Mary. The interior has a very plowing appearance, »nd reflects great credit upon the good taste of Father Holierhock. The walls have a dado of five feet high of alternate boards of rimn and kauri. The altar is a fine piece of workmanship, and the Rev. Father has succeeded in obtaining some excellent effects in mitre work. The tower to the church Ii turret-shaped, and has four small crosses upon the top. Upon entering the church id immense shell attra -ts the visitor's attention. This contains the holy water, and was presented by the Rev Father Huckett. Just over tho steps of the altar is a hand' some lamp, presented to the church by the parents of the Rev. Father Van Dyk, aeeiatant resident priest, who sent it from Holland. The ceremony of blessing the church was performed by the Very Rev. Father Lightheart, of Hokianga, Snpariorof the Mission, assisted by the hev. Fathers Holierhock, Kamp, and Van Dyk, and was very imposing. The choral part of the service was chiefly performed by the European and halfcaste members of the church. Seventeen members of the Rotorua Band assisted at the festivities, and they deserve great credit for their excellent music. The day before the ceremony and the day after wen occasion! of great feasting among the natives. It is said that the Auckland Daffodil and Bulb Society and the Chrysanthemum So* ciety intend combining. It is intended that the Bulb Society should take over the asset* of the Chrysanthemum Society and liquidate the debts.