LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10429, 29 April 1897, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

fas week'? number of the Auckland Vtmnx News has been enlarged to 56 pages, and will be found to contain a most interesting budget of news and general reading matter. The News has for many years past enjoyed the enviable position of ■Jnaening a larger circulation than any other weekly paper in the colony, and no expense is spared by the proprietors in taking the paper as attractive as posaible to all classes of town and country readers. Br reason of its laree and ever-increasing circulation the Auckland Weekly News Iμ come to be regarded in the light of bine the most valuable advertising medium a the colony. The first edition is publilned on Thursday mornings. Toe Returning Officer, Mr. John King, bae addressed a "memo." to the Town Olerk, in which he says:—"The unwarnotable delay which has taken place In placing me in funds to dieoharge all the •Mounts connectod with the lato licensing election leaves me no alternative but to retarn all the unpaid ones to be dealt with in whatever manner you may consider beat. I bave been kept waiting on and off at the Drill-ehed since the 27th of last month

•biding the convenience of the local body, Ud as such treatment has resulted in a considerable loss to me, and as a slight fecompense I have certified and paid myWf out of the progress cheque, received ™t Saturday, the sum of five guineae for wing deprived from attending to ray business and earning a living for my family. I "30 forward an account for petty expenses Mounting to 6s, together with two additional accounts, one for my clerk for £2 Wβ, and the other, £2, for rent of office at Mil-shed, and which you will bo good wongh to pay. I have advised the unpaid Olaitnants to apply to you for payment of tteir accounts. In all my official dealings with you 1 have endeavoured to be dignified "Id made no comment on the want of con■deration shown to me." The Town Clerk •m written to the Government asking that •o Inquiry be held into the matter. ■ It would be a wise provision if, on the •ttival of the mail and intercolonial Jwatnera the Harbour Board would continue the course adopted on the arrival of the Mariposa from San Francisco last week, ty barricading off the gangway to the •tttmere and thus preventing persone wing business with the voseel being imPWed. As a rule, on the arrival of any of ™* large passenger steamer a crowd cdnPegatee, and the officials and others are j Patented from getting through their busibeM a> (Juickly as they might. In no other Pptt in Australasia is so much latitude pveii iti this respect. No sooner is it *»ow« that a steamer is coming up to the ■nm than the wharf is crowded with a lot Tkli ei S htseore < dab8 > expresses, and ,- Bitracarts, and at times traffic! is com- • tfeMly blocked.

' i, A , most distressing accident, havinif a >«»l termination (writes our Raglan CorJ«Poh(lent), occurred to the little daughter H « Mr. and Mre. Campbell, of this place, on j % *Pnl 24. The nighulrees of the little child ft:. . btfare in some way (probably through '■ft. pyihß With a match), and although Mre. wmpbell at once rushed to the scene, and iittii (treat presence of mind extinguished .... we flames with a carpet or sack, the child's BM and legs were found to be covered I • »•«! burns and blisters. Mr. T. B. Hill g»JM eoon in attendance, and did all that MM P.OMible for the little sufferer. But 8|g lnte t e Buffering Bhe passed away on I i^euwtobeagooddealotdissatis. ; toT withthe railway arrangements and Jißanagement m the case of the WhangareiU™T? action. An attempt is said to VsS ? * ° f flk « two trains per day do the. ■ .• . instead ° three « as formerly. Train! '^r ll^.'" both endi gf

At a meeting of the College and Grammar School Board intimation was received of the appointment of Mr. Morrell as English and classical master, and it was decided to thank the Agent-General for the trouble he had taken in the selection. Mr. R. A. McCulloujrh accepted the position of junior master, Mr. Dunn having resigned. The elections to the Board of Professor Brown by Auckland Provincial members of the Legislative Council, and of Mr. S. Luke by the Education Board were notified. Id was Stated by the headmaster that over forty pirle had signified their wUh to join cookery classes. The matter was left with the chairman (Sir G. AI. O'Rorke), Professor Bruwn, and Mr. Tubbs, with power to act.

There was a large attendance last night at the Art Exhibition in the Choral Hall. There must have been fully 300 present As a finale, it being the close of the Exhibition, a promenade conoorb was improvised, and the following programme was eono through with great acceptance;Piano solo, Mian Hey wood; song, "By the Waters," Mr. A. Mewburn; qusrtetto (vocal); eonj: , "At Sight of Then," Miss Uowiher; piano solo, Miss Goldsbro , - song, " Love in the Ruin," Mr. G. M. Reid \ aon K , "Now, Wus I Wrong?" Mies Crowtherj quartette (vocal); song, "Every Inoh n Soldier," Mr. W. Georgepianoforte solo, Mr. Alf. Bartley. The National Anthem closed the proceedings. It is notified elsewhere that exhibitors must remove their oxhibits from the hall as speedily as possible.

At the Prohibition Convention recontly held in the South, the Rov. E. Walker, of the New Zealand Alliance, quoted from a recent issue of the Government Gazette the following ns the final official totals for the colony of the recent local option polls :-For continuance of existing licenses, 139,580; for reduction of licenses, 94.555; for no licenses, 98,312. The total number of persons who voted was 259,898. In the following 10 electorates, where existing lioenses are to continue, a minority only of those who polled voted for that Issue-namely: Auckland City, Marsden, Wainpu, Taranaki, Hawora, Patoa, Pahiutua, \Yellinutonsuburbs, Bruce,and Clutlia. In (he following four of these a majority of those who polled voted for no licenses— namely: Marwlen (majority 92), Hawera (majority 175), Bruce (in'njoiity 1) and Clutha (majority 251). In Miatua moro votes wore recoided for prohibition than for oither of the other issues, and 32 more would have given prohibition a majority vote of all who polled. Eight of the above ten districts aro in the North Island, namely, all but Bruce and Clutha.

Wβ understand that several chequos have been put into circulation in the name of a leading firm In this city which have been discovered to be forgeries. The matter has been placed in the hands of the authorities. It would be well for tradesmen to be on their guard, and to see thab cheques they may recoive are genuine.

Newa has been received from Whakatane statine than on April '20 a party of eight went to White Island in the little steamer Fingal. They started at 620 a.m., ami had a very pleasant passage, but found that there was rather too much swell on the beach to risk landing. However, as the wind wrß dying down they decided to wait, and, aftor dodging about for a little over t wo hours, the party ultimately managed to got ashore safely. It was found, however, that they could not get neat the main blow-hole, but they eaw »nd heard an immense body ol steam rushing out. One party had been on the island about two years before, and he said that great changes had taken place. A small hill or mound, over which he had climbed to the blow-hole, ha? entirely disappeared, and the lake has increased in size, being now olose up to the blowhole. Both going and returning the visitors saw immense nutnboro of porpoises', add also some whales. Whakatane wharf was reached juet fourteen hours aftor leaving it, the party having had a very pleasant day's outing.

Tlw orßoeri of the Poeb end Telegraph Department having the right to chnoso one member from each division to reprosent them on tho Board of Appeal, which was constituted by tho Hon. Mr. Ward for the purpose of dealing with applications respecting tho salary or status of appellants, have elected this year Mr. IV. lilcNicklo, telegraphist of Dunedin, and Air. J, U. Stevens, postmaster at Fioldinjr. Mr. Mctflckle* is a ttell-knnwn offloer, and if the editor of '• The Katipo," a monthly journal, devoted to the interests of the members of the staff throughout the colony. Mr. McNickle has passed the matriculation, junior and senior civil service examinations, and also took up a mathematical course at the Otago University. Mr. J. H. Stevens, who is a brother of the member for Manawatu, is a practical post officer, and also an expert operator. Mr. Stevons is very popular nmong the post officor? throughout the colony.

Yopterriay morning Frank Ryder Davios, previously charged with having circulated a counterfeit coin, appeared on another Charge of ii similar nature, at tho Police Court, before Messrs. Lennox and Pollard, justices. Hβ was charged with having uttered a sixpence washed with gold, representing it to be a half sovereign, to George Sinalley. Ar in tho Case of the previous charges, he was romanded till next Tuesday on the application of the police, who are in hopes of making further discoveries. Bail was allowed in two sureties of £50 each.

The Maori Parliament was formally opened at Papawai, near Grey town, on April 14, whon there wa9 a representative gathering of chiefs. A parliamentary building has been erected of a semi-Maori design. A large entrance door leads into a spacious sleeping compartment, which was used for the opening ceremony. Here the walls wero draped with oil paintings of defiinnt and present chiefs, and other interesting mementoes. At the rear of this large hall, which extends over an area of 90 feet by 30 feet, are two double doors giving entrance to a lingo dinihg-hnll. There were ten largo tables laden with various edibles on the opening day. from here n large staircase leads up into a spacious hall 90 feet by 30 feec, which is so be the debat ing compartment. A corridor and balcony overlook the public apartment. The building is well finished with dadoing all rotmd, and reflects much credit on the natives. In the grounds large hiarquees have been erected, and butcher's and baker's shops. The Papawai nativos desire tho session prolonged until the pakeha Parliament meets In September.

It is notified elsewhere that a ehort season of the Gladys Leigh Comedy Company commences at the Opera House on Wednesday evening next, prior to an Australian tour. The company includes Miss Leigh, an accomplished Australian actress, and formerly of Williamson arid Garner's and other Well-known companies; also Mr. L. Leonard, an English actor of considerable experience and ability. A dramatic fancy, " Dream Faces," and a modern farcical oomedy, "The Coming Woman," will be staged each evening, with a powerful cast, and as both pieces are new to Auckland audiences the season will no doubt prove very attractive.

The circus was well attended laeb night. The usual programme was gone through and met with undiminished favour. A matinee will be held on Saturday afternoon for the convenience of school children.