LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10629, 18 December 1897, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Herald Monthly Summary, for trans- , '",': mission by the next outward San Francisco; ';*,' mail, will be published on Thursday next. ' ' j Those desirous of forwarding the Summary to their friends in Europe, America, etc., •..'. will have ample time to do so, as the news. . I paper mail closes on Friday next, ab eight ■ .. - o'clock p.m., up to which hour papers for ' ■*'"■- mailing may be obtained of runners ab the V } post office. This mail will be due in Lon- Ml don on Wednesday, January 26. M The improvements ab Government House ■ '! ,#* have nob yet been commenced further than. V M those connected with the fencing and the . ,' carriage way entrances, although ibis under-' . } stood that the provision for the work will ::•■: be made in tho Supplementary Estimates. 'j While His Excellency the Governor (Lord ']■• Ranfurly), in accordance with his declared. '? intentions, will nob occupy Government:.,, i House with his family until the necessary, improvements are made, we are pleased to j '■. learn that private enquiries have been made * ■> as to whether a suitable residence could be ' ' found for the temporary use of Hie' \ Excellency. Lord Ranfurly has already announced his intention of going on a coaching tour in the Middle Island as soon \ as Parliament has prorogued, which williv&f. occupy the early parb of the year at,' < the very least. In the event of a suitable residence being found for occupation for a .- couple of months, it is just possible that His Excellency may be here early in Feb-, ,V.| ruary. "--mim

A land sale was held yesterday at the , - Lands Office. Mr. G. Mueller offering' - several lots for public competition. • In; v Otamatea County, Tokatoka Survey Dis- ': - trict, Block 10, section 5, consisting of 2a.' . ' > Or. 10p., was sold to Mr. C. McGuiness.at ~ / the upset price of £6 4a ; section 30, Black \ 11, was sold to Mr, J. C. Baecombe for £24, • this lot having an area of 7a. 3r, 12p, ; H Other lots were passed in. Leases of town »f|| land at Rotorua went, for 3a. lr. Bp., to Mr. Jsf S. T. Brent, at the upset annual rental of Sj|f £10 ; and 4a. to the same at £19, the upset '"rb annual rent being £4. .": '• i ;f|l| A bush fire has been going on in the Waitakerei ranges for a week past. It' *£j, probably owes its origin to the carelessness ' -■ of somebody. In the present dry and hot -, weather people cannot be too careful. The -'> r { reckless way in which live matches are , thrown down or tires lit in tho bush is 'fv something amazing. Unless the custodians tmm jf our public parks and of the Domain and'i|f|| Rangitoto reserve are unusually vigilant, there will probably be some damage through ;he vandalism and thoughtlessness of pic- ■. ' lickera during tho Christmas and •New|#|||§ fear holidays. ?lff§ Wa learn that the Collector of Customs las received information from Wellington,''-'V', hat oil-engined vessels will nob be com-'?' 5 ' wiled to carry a certificated engineer for * IMS nonth from now. ■' S^ There has been an increase of visitors to ■";' he Auckland Museum since the statuary ias been removed to the new annexe, and he statues kalsomined. Mr. Cheeseman, he curator, has had explanatory notices, - "■.. with regard to each statue, printed in a ' leat frame, and affiled to each statue, vhich adds greatly to the comfort of the:,t||ll 'isitor. It is intended to tint the walls a"„ I--, uitable colour so as to get an effective' mckgrouiid for the statuary. It seems to •,'-. io impossible to keep the damp out of the . • outhern wall of the Maori annexe, and in - •"' ill probability it will have to have the ixterior exeouted'in cement. The interior '\ *• oofing of the Maori annexe is also showing n patches, the effects on the corrugated ron of moisture or heat. '' I 'ksm Yesterday afternoon the bouse occupied ' .; : >y Mr. Kyle, of Tepapa, near Onohunga, ', vas discovered to be on fire. Mrs. Kyle, in observing the outbreak, proceeded to . imrriedly remove the furniture, when tfr uckily Mr. Jas. Rout, who lives adjacent, : wm lame on the scene. That gentleman ~J|| iromptly got his garden-hose at work and mbdued the fire -without a great deal of ";). lauiage being done. (Jrent credit is due to - - Mr. Rout for his action, 'as he was the ■, neans of saving the premises from total fgk lestruction. '$m The influenza epidemic has spread to One- ' vj| lunga, and so bad liab the complaint become ' ■;':-:■ hat it has been found necessary to close • , >, he public school for the Ohriatmaa holidays ' ;';V ome days earlier than was intended. The leadmaster and several teachers have lecome victims to the complaint, and as »'■'■..- arge number of scholars were also absent M rom a like cause the committee determined o take the course stated. ' §||

The Collector of Customs has received; .•;;'' information that the Hinemoa will leave' •",-, Auckland for the Little Barrier Wand and • ; theKermadec Islands about the 9th January. ' , . In reference to the escape of the prisoner Knox from the North Shore, it is stated J : that an inquiry is being held by the autho< rities. No trace of the escapee has been ■•'": discovered, though the number of those , ':- who aver they have seen him are legion. |t8 Last evening, at the Drill Hall, a squad of the Devonport Naval Artillery, under . ££, Captain Parker, were put through a series of infantry movements by three of the comilH|t|| pany's petty-officers, who are undergoing "- examination. Adjutant Grant was the ex- , : | aminiug officer. • ~.-. 'OfM Tourists will be glad to learn that tbt ' : s|;' Waikomiti-YVcab Coast Road has been it -0 much improved that it is quite possible %|||§ a picnic party, if an oarly start is made, ;■ with a light break and four horses, to get ,, ■;.;' through to the West Coast and back in the t ','; one day. The sharp curves on the Break- _v; neck and Red Hill sido cuttings have beenwidened, and the road graded to the top of Wm the bill at Piha. Parties attempting this 1 journey should select a fine day, or they|£l|| will be disappointed, ns the road is not metalled. . The drive through the native bush and kauri forest, together with the |||| grand scenery on tho coast, will no doubt | be much appreciated during the summer jj>jfi| months, The great want of this place /<J||| suitable accommodation for tourists and -?. travellers to stay for a few days. A great ;*p| number of persons who wished to take their *j||| families to enjoy the beautiful scenery and bracing sea breeze, were disappointed, the %£& few available huts having been secured by |S the knowing ones months ago As the||g road becomes improved and the place better jfH| known no doubt the pressing want of ; accommodation will be supplied— plain |||| simple diet, with a shake-down, would meet i - . | the requirements. 'ioij& At Paeroa, on Thursday, a man named 3>Wm Olliver met, with an exceedingly nasty . accident (writes our Paeroa correspondent) ||i|. while being driven round the Bank of $Wgm Zealand corner on Rickett's mail coach, &ma young man named Delaney being in 'charge of the ribbons during the temporary absence |J| of the proper driver. The corner was turned too smartly, and Olliver, who 0M& seated upon one of the high seats outside, mm was thrown right off the coach on to the macadamised road. ' fie was stunned, besides receiving a nasty cut on the back of the ' head; and as'! his condition appeared &jm rather serious, he was taken to the surgery Wm of Dr. Buckby,' where he was attended to :£|| fie' subsequently proceeded" to bis home »Ul| Hikutaia. . - , (I .'^Sm

mi has been finally decided by the manage" of tho Now Zealand Klondyke Gold Syndicate to Bend Mr. John I.' Philips to Klondyke with Mr. Lawford. Mr. Philips has arranged to band over all fees for professional • services rendered by him during his 12 months' engagement to the syndicate, so that it is probable the cosb of his expenses will be more than covered by the Buryoy and other fees earned by him. Preparations are being made by Messrs, Philips and Lawford to leave Auckland at the end of January,

There were a couple of persons in the lock-up last evening, both on charges of drunkenness.

Pohlen, who is on remand for the murder of Corcoran, of Harapipi, will be taken to Te Awamutu on the 22nd instant, and brought before the Court oil the following day.

The young man John Lincoln, who has been suffering from temporary mental aberration, and was arrested on Thursday morning at Northcote, has been handed over to the care of his parents, who have undertaken to havo him privately looked alter. It is supposed that he sustained a sunstroke, as there aro no surrounding circumstances to account for bis condition. The Rev. J. C, Darby, eon of Mr. P. Darby, of Ponsonby, will be ordained priest at St. Patrick's Cathedral to-morrow] For several years the reverend gentleman has pursued his studies at Hunter's Hill, and Manly College, Sydney, where he passed through the various grades of minor and major orders. Having completed his theological studies he has been called home by his Bishop to enter upon the final stage of ordination, and to-morrow, in the presence of his relatives and friends, he will make his promise of obedience to his ecclesiastical superior and enter upon his now sphere of duty. The Right Rev, Dr. Lenihan, Bishop of Auckland, will sing Pontifical High Mass at 11 a.m. _ In the evening the newlyordained priest will intone vespers. The Provincial of the Passjonists, Very Rev, Father Vincent Uroean, will be the preacher at mass and vespers.

Miss Eileen O'Moore's concert on Wednesday next, at the Opera House, is creating: great interest in musical circles, all lovers of musicsharing alike the desire to hear this distinguished young lady's phenomenal mastery over her loved instrument. Miss O'Moore will be supported by a company specially selected to appear with her throughout New Zealand, including Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Coke, who arrive on Monday from London, via Sydney. The box plan was opened yosterday, and present indications prove there will not be an available seat pn the evening of the concert, Wednesday noxt.

Christmas fare at the Opera House promises to be especially tempting this yoar, for Mr. Bland Holt has arranged for the production, on Boxing night, of one of the choicest, of his spectacular plays. This is entitled, "For England," and is by the author of the famous "Span of Life," "In Sight of St. Paul's," etc. Judging by the reports of the Southern press, this play incorporates some of the most surprising feats of scenic and incidental sensation ever submitted to an Australian audience. It is brimful of action, mechanical and human. The box plan will be on view at Messrs. Wildman and Lyell's from Monday morning next.