LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10751, 12 May 1898, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

In consequence of a great pressure upon our columns, the Herald to-day consists of 12 pages. In the Supplement will be found the latest English and American news, as well as the letters of. our London correspondents. One of these, upon "The Shadow of War," will be found full of interest to colonial readers.

The Herald Monthly Summary, for transmission by the next outward San Francisco mail, will be published to-morrow (Friday), Those desirous of forwarding the Summary to their friends in Europe, America, etc. ■will have ample time to do so, as the newspaper mail closes on Saturday next, at 11,30 o'clock a.m., up to which hour papers for mailing may bo obtained or runners at the post office. This mail will be due in London on Wednesday, June 15.

■The American mail steamer Alameda arrived yesterday morning from San Francisco, Honolulu, and Apia, after an excellent run of 18 days 13 hours. The weather throughout the voyage was exceptionally fine, and all on board had a very 'pleasant time, the usual games and pastimes got up by the officers of the steamer being freely indulged in. The Alameda resumed her Voyage to Sydney in the evening.

The mails received by the Alameda yesterday were of the following dates:— don, April 9; New York, April 16; San Francisco, April 21; Honolulu, April 28; Apia, May 5.

The citizens of Auckland will be given an opportunity of hearing the present political position of the colony and the outlook for the future placed before them in an unusually able and interesting manner ab the Choral Hall to-night, when Mr. Scobio Mackenzie, in response to an influential requisition, will deliver an address on the important questions of the day. Mr. Mackenzie has won for himself a place in the front rank of New Zealand politicians, and also enjoys the well-earned reputation of being one of our ablest public speakers. He is a keen critic, and has a fine sense of tumour, and perhaps no one in New Zealand can excel Mr. Scobie Mackenzie in tlio art of retaining the unflagging interest of an audience, or in treating even the dreariest subject in a blight and attractive style. Moreover, his long political experience enables him to speak with authority upon all the principal questions of public interest. Mr. Scobie Mackenzie is certain to meet a very large audience at the Choral Hall tonight, as citizens of every shade of political thought will be glad to hoar the views pf one who is at once a capable politician and &U able speaker.*'' • ~

The rainfall of the last few days lias not affected the Western Springs in the slightest degree, so far as receiving anything further than the showers which have fallen on the surface of the gathering ponds. It is believed, however, that the next rains will beneficially affect the Springs, as the ground is now pretty well sodden. There is at present 10ft of water in the Ponsonby Reservoir , No. 1, and about 4ft in No. 2. The city engineer (Mr. Anderson) has visited the Southern Wairoa Falls during the week, and finds, on gauging the Falls that the outflow is from 10,000,000 to 12,000,000 gallons per day of 24 hours. The water was brownish in colour, showing that a good deal of surface water was coming into it, and that it would have to be filtered. A bottle of water has been brought to town for analysis. Tho Onehunga Springs supply he regards as out of the question, after examining them. If Onehunga intends to supply the adjacent waterless districts, Auckland would be as lbadly off as ever the first dry summer, unless all the springs at Onehunga were connected, ana made to flow into the present one from which the water is pumped. This would involve considerable expenditure, which is not provided for in the present Onehunga water loan. It is stated that the pipe track from Nihotupu would only be half the distance to the Wairoa Falls, and a smaller pipe would do for some years to come, when a second one could be laid alongside. The impression is that as an auxiliary to the Western Springs this scheme would meet the necessities of the city for many years,

On the trip of the Alameda from this port to San Francisco the passengers had a very pleasant and enjoyable passage, a ball being held on deck on the night before arrival. On reaching San Francisco, Mr. James Renliie (chief officer) was presented with a solid silver matchbox and tobacco-box, and Mr. Thomas Smith (purser) with a solid silver inkstand. Each article bears a suitable inscription, and they were accompanied by a testimonial thanking the two officers for their kindness and courtesy to the passengers during the voyage.

The Auckland City Schools Committee met on Tuesday evening, all the members being present. Mr. Squirrell thanked the committee for electing him chairman. _ After some discussion respecting an application from the headmasters to alter the week's midwinter holidays, so that it' should not immediately precede the examination and interfere with the preparatory work, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. J. McLeod, "That the midwinter and Michaelmas holidays be combined in response to the application of headmasters, such combined holidays to commence on the Monday following the completion of the examination of the last of our schools." The chairman , read the annual reports of ellesley-street, Nelsonstreet, Napier-street, and Chapel-street schools, all showing increase in attendance. On the motion of Mr. Goldie, seconded by Dr. Walker, it was resolved, " That for the future in furnishing teachers to the city schools we should be pleased if the Board .would, as far as possible, supply male teachers, as our headmasters have complained to your committee that the work is so - arduous that female : teachers cannot apparently stand the strain, and the schools are therefore very much inconvenienced by their repeated requests for leave of absence through indisposition." Several accounts were passed for payment. ; ', i;

There left by tie Alameda for Sydney, last evening, Constable Henry ; and Mrb. R. O'Brien, police matron. Their mission is to bring back Mr. and Mrs. Woodlock, late proprietors of the " Chicago" restaurant, Queenstreet, who were arrested ,on the Westralia ton Sunday last, at Sydney, on a charge of a Jjreach of the Bankruptcy Act. >: Yesterday h meeting of creditors in the estate of Mr. and Mrs. Woodlock was held at the official assignee's office. ' Mr. Lawson presided, and stated that the meeting rfas merely a formal • one,' held according: to the statute. :, The , bankrupts had been arrested in Sydney, and Urould probably be remanded to Auckland. .

pi' In accordance with instructions received from the Waterworks Committee, the executive ,of .the. committee, His Worship the Jfayor (Mr. Peter Dignan) and Mr. Alfred : Kidd visited, the South i Wftiroa Falls on Tuesday, and gauged the Falls. They found the volume of water 'going ovei the lalls &out 4in ! less in * depth' than when they »fcied them in January last, which shows a shrinkage of about 20 per cent, as the re'jolt of four months drought.

■■ It is stated that Mr. Carl Seegner has been appointed Chief ■ German Consul for .New Zealand. ; . >

A number of Maori chiefs, from Waikafco, left by the 8.8. ■ Takapuna, yesterday; en route for Wangnnui and Wairarapa,' to attend a native meeting there, in reference to the native and Government proposals for dealing with the surplus ' lands of the Maoris, Henare Kaihau, M.H.R.I ; and King Maliuta were in town yesterday. The latter is staying at the old ancestral settlement at Mangere, » r;,

His Worship the Mayor forwarded yesterday to the Mayor of Pahiatua £135 7s Gd, being the total amount collected in Auckland in aid of the sufferers by the fires. •

In a sworn statement before the official assignee, Caroline Cole stated that she had been in business at Grahamstown as a storekeeper for the past 10 years, with a branch store at Tapu, managed by her husband The debts amounted to about £505 8s 3d, and the assets £344 9s 3d.

It is stated that there is considerable excitement in che Mount Eden district orer an alleged intention of transferring the license of a publichouse at Onehunga to a building to be put up on the Mount Roskill Road. An indignation meeting is to be held for the purpose of taking action against the proposal,

At a meeting of the Streets Committee of the _ City Council yesterday, tlio city engineor submitted a report on the proposals before the Council for the removal of nightsoil as compared with the existing system. "

An inquiry touching the death of the late John Campbell, carpenter on the s.s. Hauroto, who died at the hospital on Tuesday, from injuries sustained through being struck by a hawser, which snappod during the berthing of the steamer, was held yesterday; at the hospital, before Dr. Philson, coroner, and a special jury. Evidence was given by Captain Mcßoth, master of the Hauroto, Drs. Sharnian and Baldwin, who made the post-mortem examination of the body, and by three of the seamen of tlio steamer, who were working on the forecastle when tho unfortunate mishap occurred. No fresh light was thrown on the matter, which was shown to be purely an accident, and the jury accordingly returned a verdiot of " Accidental death, no blame attachable to anyone." Constable Hinton, of tho Edon Terrace station, and Constable Fitzgerald represented the police.

The newly-sanctioned Presbyterian congregation in Parnell intend giving a call to the Eev. Hugh Kelly, M.A., of Waimate, Canterbury. Mr. Kelly, who preached in St. Andrew's and in the City Hall with much acceptance while lie was on a visit to Auckland some months ago, lias the reputation of being an energetic, earnest, and gifted preacher. He lias not yet reached the prime of life.

The Auckland Art Exhibition reopened yesterday for the last time, and was finally closed in the evening with a grand concert. The following was the programme, which proved highly acceptable to the audience, as was manifested by their repeated plaudits: —"The Village Blacksmith" and "Anchored," Mr. G. Higgotfc; "The Maid of Malabar" and " Had We but Known," Mi. G. M. Reid; "Will He Come ?" and " The Valley by the Sea," Miss Davies; "The Anchor's Weighed," Mr. M. Trenwitli; "Sleep,. My Love, Sleep" and "Two Songs," Miss Crowther; pianoforte solo, concert study (Chaminade), Mr. Cyril Towsey; tlio Waiata Quartette contributed " The Hanks of Allan Water," " All, Must We Part?" and " Good Night." It will bo seen by advertisement elsewhere that the exhibitors must remove their exhibits from the Choral Hall before noon to-day.

At the Opera House " The Strange Adventures of Miss Brown" was again staged last night, before another large and appreciative audience. The charming actress Miss Clare Manifield, who plays the important part of Angela Brightwood, was seen to very great advantage. Mr. Thornton (Miss Brown) kept the audience in one prolonged roar of laughter, and Mr. Shopherd's Major O'Qallagher was tho subject of much deserved applause. Indeed, ovory part was well,sustained. 1 ; To-night's is the lasb performance of this piece. A good orchestra played appropriate musical selections during the evening.

There was another large crowd last night ab Rowley's Waxworks, and judging from the largo numbers that visit the show oaoli afternoon and evening, the interesb in the exhibition shows no sign of waning. On Wednesday, May 18, Fitzgerald Bros.' circus will open in Auckland, on the Harbour Board ground, for a season of four nights only and two afternoon performances. All the latest novelties will be introduced, including Hagenbeck's greatest novelty from Hamburg, a full-grown tiger riding on*ii horse, and doing all sorts of •jumps from ground to horse's back, The whole takes place in a caged-in ring. Tho Grand National Steeplechase, introducing lady and gentlemen riders, over high and water jumps, will form another feature. There were in the lock-up last evening two prisoners on charges of drunkenness.