LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10507, 29 July 1897, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

fx action brought in the Supreme Court In Her Majesty's Commissioner of Trade ,[l Customs (K. J. Seddon) against Giffron Hiiiiihli, a Syrian importer carrying on bisiness in Upper Queen-street, to recover tie turn of i960 for alleged evasions of the (uiDms duties at the port of Auckland, obi to a rather abrupt termination yesterdiy morning. When the Court openod ctuirel applied for a short adjournment in ordei if possible, to shorten the matter, ind .ii returning to Court the defendant's lolicior intimated to His Honor that it had beeatlecirlerl that defendant should confess judgnent for the sum of £450, without cost* Mr. Campbell said be felt that in uveal instances incorrect invoices had beet presented to the Customs officers, but be irmly bulived it was done ignorantly on bit client's part. The jury was therefore diiiharged, and judgment was entered for theamount mentioned, by consent. Originaly plaintiff's claim was for £6480, but tain of the items wore abandoned, which led the sum at £960.

Our Paeroa correspondent states that Mr. Banter, a builder, was engaged in building i bridge near the race Darling, at Waiteksuri, when he lost the top of his thumb in i peculiar manner. He was ripping a piece of quartering on a stump, when the wood .slipped and the saw severed hie tbimb at a point half-way down the nail. He reserve at the site of old St. Paul's •is planted some time ago with ornaDentil trees and shrubs by the city authorities, as a step towards beautifying it, and throwing it open to the public. Its present condition is not particularly jttWCtlvt, as all the. trees planted at the foot of the Princes-street -embankment, although- protected by ties-guards, appear to have died.

The Council of the Auckland Institute have elicted Professor Brown, of the Auckland University, to be a member of the Council. A report has been received from Mr. Clieeseman, secretary, as to the conditioii of affairs at the Little Barrier, the Government reserve for the protection of native birds. Mr. Cheeseman reports that everything is going on satisfactorily at the Maid.

It appears that potty larcenists are operating in Newmarket. The other evening the clothes-lines in the yard of Mr. J. (initbach, railway station-master at Newmrket, were stripped of from £2 to £3 worth of underclothing, socks, etc. Some years ago petroleum deposits wore fcutid in the Waiotapu Valley by Mr. Scott, but they were not systematically devolo|K(t. At the last meeting of the Crown Land* Board a mineral lease of 403 acres of land, making with what they have i total of 6-10 acres in the Waiotapu Valley, vis granted to Messrs. Basley and Bruce for the purpose of boring for petroleum. Ihey have to work the ground immediately, ltd are also required by the Board to man their previously-leased ground. This ihould lead to the lands embraced in these mineral leases being thoroughly prospected and developed.

A few days ago a Maori named Marahuriga", aged 28, was found drowned in a creek at the karaka gumtields, near Drury. Oil the day he was drowned he went out fishing in an adjacent creek, and not returning home in the evening a search was made by his relatives, and his dead body was found in the water. He had beau subject to epileptic tits all his iife, and it is believed he was seized with one while fishing, and thus drowned. Mr. McLennau, J.P., held an inquest, when a verdict of "accidentally drowned" was returned. Deceased belonged to Waikato, and had arrived on the Karaka field nearly a year "go with his parents to dig gum.

On Saturday last the infant daughter, 11 months old, of Mr. and Airs. Lockie, Komokotiu, neat 1 Ngaruawahin, met with her death by a singular misadventure. She had a small piece of wood in her band, and it is believed broke off a piece and swallowed it. The pieco of wood stuck in the wibdpips and choked her. The parents 'ml a neighbour did everything possible to relieve the child, but in vain, and she died in live minutes. Mr. T. H. White, coroner, held an inquest. The jury, after hearing the evidence adduced, returned a verdict °'" accidental death."

At Dunedin, yesterday, the case of Louisa Rollfoson v. Edward Farrell, late Inspector ,'or the Benevolent-, Institution trustees, claim £15 for money lent, «as heard before Mr. Carew, who found for the defendant. The case had occupied the Court for several "Hinge, The defence was attempted black-

Since the "sandbagging" outrage in Ponionby, a number of citizens whose duties require them to be out late at night, ''»ve taken steps to arm themselves with weapons of one sort or another. Yesterday J number o( " neddies" were made to order ' or purposes of self-protection. Mr. Justice Conolly held a sitting in Banco yesterday morning at the conclusion of the Customs evasions cases, and two matters Were called on, but as the notice given of the sitting had been somewhat short, certain of the counsel were unpropared. His Honor decided to hold another Banco sitting be■ore leaving for Gisborne, and will do so •'tor the Bankruptcy sitting next Monday, Men both matters will bo called on. 'li?? 8 coachbuilding trade appears to be ■Ask at present. Messrs. Cousin and : 'kin, coaohbuilders, have just built two , J'* 'busesone the Diamond Jubilee, to • thi order of Mr. Tanner, of Onehunga, for . ™e Auckland-Onehunga line ; the other a ; -~P' B seat Jubilee, to order of Mr. T. ; j?* w ford, tor the Newton anil Archbill "m. ,These vehicles have all the latest g.'ttodern improvements. Six other 'buses 51 •re in process of building for linee in Auckland or suburbs.

'?y : • fb* Ponsonby School Committee bate || "aimited Mr. Bagnall for the vacancy on we Board of Education caused by the jg§ ""tt •! tbeUte Mi. Woodward. - >• ' :

Among, the exhibits recently obtained for the Auckland Museum is a fac simile of the famous Kosetta stone. This stone was discovered a few miles to the north of Kosetta, a town of the Nile delta in Egypt), and gave the first clue to the interpretation J l hieroglyphics. A skeleton of an ostrich has alio been got for comparison and contrast with the skeleton of the mou.

Cambridge settlers, Messrs. fed. Allen and E. Butler, have been visiting Auckland and canvassing it on behalf of Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association. Their visit has proved satisfactory to them, and the number and value of the special prizes promised are in excess of previous seasons.

Further particulars regarding the attack upon the Orange procession at Melbourne on July 19, show that it was after the church service had terminated that serious trouble took place, and if it had not been for very decisive steps taken by Inspector Irvine, and a dozen mouqfced police under him, bloodshed would certainly have occurred. It was commenced by three young men, with yellow handkerchiefs sticking out oi their pockets, being surrounded by several hundred roughs, and the crowd soon grew to thousands. The mounted police immediately Charged into the centre, and after some trouble got the young men into a cab. The roughs, thus outwitted, turned their attention to two young ladies, who had a few yellow feathers on their hats. "Tear t|iem out; down with them," shouted several, aud a few burly ruffians made a dash at the young ladies, who, womanlike, screamed and fainted. Their escorts carried them to a fence, while the police rushed their horses at the' roughs - and soon made a clearing. When the women were driven away, Inspector Irvine seized a young man who had been foremost in the attack on them, and he was handed over to the foot police. Several attempts were made to rescue him, and sticks and stones

were thrown at the police, several of whom were struck. When the prisoner was got into a cab and driven away, another man was seized and handcuffed, and Again the croud hooted and rushed the police. The mounted men were again pelted with sticks and stones, but they remained cool, and the prisoner was got away in a cab, The crowds remained on Sydney Road till near dusk, but nothing further transpired, and they dispersed quietly. The Wesleyan Church, Brunswick, was crowded by members of the L.O.L. The Union Jack was carried into the church, and placed near the pulpit. The Rev. J, Caton delivered a powerful address against Popery, and urged them to take care that their Protestant freedom was not endangered by carelessness and indifference at the forthcoming elections. He concluded amidst

protracted applause. | The recently-formed College Rifles, composed of old boys from the secondary schools, paraded at the drill-shed last night about 40 strong, and were put through infantry movements by their captain (Mr. Major), and also by Captain Grant. Judging from the ready manner in which the boys take to their work, and their smart appearance on parade, they should, under Mr. Major's painstaking efforts, develop into a useful company.

Mr. T. W. Rhodes has been appointed valuator under the Government Valuation Land Tax Aoti for the County of Coromandol.

Our Whangaroi Heads correspondent writes:— funeral of the late Captain Kenneth McGregor took place'on the 24th July. The Kev. 0. Jones, of this parish, conducted a most affecting ceremony at the house of the deceased, the second part of which was concluded in the graveyard, Feeling reference was made to the many good qualities of the departed as a man, a parent, a neighbour, and a Christian. At one o'clock the funeral cortege moved away from deceased'* late residence, followed by the largest crowd ever seen at a funeral here. These were still further augmented at the graveyard, where representatives from the shipping in harbour and from eurroundiug districts were awaiting the arrival of the corpse. The chief mourners were : Messrs. A. and 1). K. McGregor (sons), Donald McGregor (brother), and D. White (son-in-law of the deceased). Deceased did not quite reach the allotted span, he being only 68 years old at the time of his death. Captain MoGregor arrived here ill the " fifties," and- for some time was connected with Captain Alexander McGregor, steamship manager in Auckland. During the Taranaki war they were together in the Kiwi, carrying provisions to the soldiers there; and on one occasion they were lying off the shore for 14 days, wet through, unable to put to sea, and yet afraid to land. Thoy afterwards traded in other vessels on the coast. Subsequently docea-el became associated with Mr. 1). McKonzie, merchant, Auckland; and Captain K. McGregor made repeated voyages for grain to Lyttolfcon as master and part owner of such vessels as the Saucy Lnss, Kate McGregor, etc.; • Rlao many cargoes of wheat to the Whantrarei flourmills. Later he retired froin the sea, but was still interested in shipping and ships. He was in some way connected with the vessels Wenona and Kathleen Hilda, and other well-known Auckland traders. At the time of death he still held interests in shipping ventures of various kinds. Ilia death has cast quite a gloom over the districts round about, and his place will be hard to fill. The Opera House is being repaired and renovated, at a coat) of. nearly £1000. The stage portion is being re-roofed. A lantern roof is replacing the old roofing, and it will be 20 feet higher than tho old one, thus enabling the scenery on the stupe to bo much more effectively handled. The whole of the interior, ceiling, and iron, fagade of the horseshoe dress circle is being repainted in various tints. It is intended to reupholster the dress circle and stall seats in crimson rep; but, singular to the necessary quantity could nob be 00" tained in Auckland, the colony, or Australia, and it has had to be ■ cabled for from Home. It is anticipated that the various alterations at the Opera House will not only promote the comfort of patrons and render this well-known place of amusement more attractive, but will lead.to the ventilation both of the stage and body of the building being greatly improved. The Pakuranga hounds met at Mount Albert yesterday, and suceeded in finding a hare on Mrs. Allan Taylor's estate, A splendid run lasting about an hour resulted, the hare being eventually killed 111 the vicinity of the Asylum. Another hare was found, and a run of three-quarters of an hour took place, but it did not result in a kill The day was good for Bcenting, aim the hounds ran in first-class style, the outing proving a thoroughly enjoyable one. Mrs. Taylor kindly entertained all those who took part. A concert was given, laid evening, in Wesley Hall, by the Pitt-street Wesleyan orchestra, tendered in aid of. the church trust fund. The platform was tastefully decorated with fern and flags. There was a crowded attendance. The concert was L'iven under the efficient conductorship of Mr W. F. Forbes, Miss Millie Peak being leader of the orchestra. The opening torn was the overture, " Marionettes, by the orchestra, after which Mr. O. E.Kissling sang the fine song, "Anchored, in good style. Another orchestral .-election olio wed symphony in («," The Surprise (Haydn), which was excellently cer ! dere ( M.ss Stone was' down for two numbers, Call Me Back " and " When the Tide Comes In, i„ the latter song receiving an encore. Orchestral selections were lob taken "V and the lowed by Sullivan's fine long. Will he Come'" bv Miss Davies. The yoong 'sr*. by" Mr". A.' 8S.ll!' jWJ ciated. Mr. Wright sang ' The Valley T the Sea" with much taste, wM*; Reid's trombone solo whs an effect!inter, pretation of Brah.m's " D«th;of J.el«on. Zeihrer's sparkling wait?,, . Ci, '!"'? ro^ah t nival" and the National Anthem brought a very successful concert to a cl °™- . . piano forte accompaniments were playe y Misses M. Peak and E.McMaeler and Messrs. Peak and Forbes. .. . ,