LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10752, 13 May 1898, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

This week's number 'of the Auckland Weekly News is a" specially attractive one, containing no less than 60 pages of interesting and varied reading matter. In i addition to the usual features, there is I a splendid illustrated supplement, containing | pictures of interest relating to the war, and j also a beautiful series of views, illustrating '~ the Hokianga district, the scene of the recent native disturbance. The number will be 1 found to be a most suitable one for posting . abroad by the outgoing San Francisco mail on Saturday. The second edition of the News will be published this morning. ,■; , 'The Union Company's mail steamer Moans, is due from Sydney this evening, and leaves for Apia, Honolulu, 'and San Francisco tomorrow afternoon. - The' steamei has s large number of passengers from Australia, and i a considerable number:will join her at this port, it being estimated that her. accommodation will be quite full: when: she. leaves Auckland.; Among the steerage passengers by the steamer are a, number, of miners bound ; ,to the Klondike • .

In response tea numeronsly-signed requisition,' Mr. Scobie Mackenzie, M.H.R. for Dunedin, addressed a meeting in the Choral Hall Auckland, last night. The hall was filled in every part. Hie Worahio the Mayor presided. Mr. Mackenzie received a very cordial and enthusiastic reception. He spoke for over twohours, carrying the audienco completely with him by his wit and humour and his readiness of repartee when occasionally interrupted. At the close a hearty vote of thanks -was accorded to Mr. Mackenzie for his addresß, The meeting was in every way a great success. A detailed report of the meeting will be found elsewhere.

The New Zealand Trade Review states that in banking circles there is a tendency to hardening in lending rates, but the movement is not general, and expectations of clearer money are not unanimous. In the open.market money is in good supply, and readily obtainable on sound freehold security at five to five and a-hali per cent. Tho practice of making a small charge by banks on the keeping of small, unprofitable accounts is now recognised, though not on any special or rigid basis.

It is understood here (writes our Thames correspondent) that Mr. Surmnn, of the Junction Hotel, Pollen-street, has disposed of his interest in tho same to Mr. Rodgers, late of the Waikato district. The price is said to be about £2500. X

A selection of Crown lands took placo yesterday forenoon at the Crown Lands Office, under the supervision of the Crown Lands Commissioner (Mr. G. Mueller). The selections mado were: -Section 217, Paremoremo, lease in perpetuity, to A. E. Richards; part section 25, parish of Tokatoka, lease with right of purchase, William Simnkin; lots 98, 99, 100, section 5, parish of Waipipi, Alfred Jones, lease with right of purchase; section south-east, 10, parish of Omaru, cash purchase, 15s per acre, C. E. Rogers; section 114, Ruapckapeka, Horatio Mouldy, lease with right of purchase J section 156, Waipareira, lease with right of purchase, J. Mildenhall; sections 3, 4° 5, 6, lot 12, Kaipara, lease with right of purchase, Frank L. Evans ; section 1, block 10, Otama, mining lease, 100 acres, John Conning; section 14, block 16, Whitianga, mining lease, 25 acres, Rees Nicholson. A number of applications were withdrawn, An auction of a reserve at Mount Eden railway station, and a clump of kauri timber at Oruawharo, will be auctioned this forenoon at the Crown Lands Office.

We are informed by Mr. Jackson Palmer that our telegraphed report in yesterday's paper of his remarks in the case in the Warden's Court of Hodge v. Ralph, was imperfect. Mr. Palmer, who appeared for the plaintiff, stated that the only question to come before the Court was one of jurisdiction. The case had been brought into the Warden's Court as a safeguard, as if the Warden's Court had jurisdiction, then under the Mining Act the Supreme Court had not jurisdiction, and it was better that the question should be raised in the Warden's Court than in tho Supreme Court, and as defendants now had raised the question of jurisdiction, Mi. Palmer would ask for an adjournment, as his client now had the option of proceeding in the Supreme Court if ho desired. Ml. Jackson objected to the adjournment, and said Mr. Palmer admitted the Court had no jurisdiction. Mr. Palmer, in reply, said ho contended the Warden's Court had jurisdiction, and the evidence of Captain Hodge, when produced, would prove that the Warden's Court had jurisdiction. Mr. Bush said ho did not think that the complaint showed jurisdiction, but certainlj Captain Hodge's evidence might disclose that 'the Court had jurisdiction. That complainant was certainly entitled to an adjournment upon paying the usual £2 2s, solicitor's costs. Adjourned accordingly.

A lad of 14 years, named George Bennett, was the victim of a fatal railway accident which occurred a few days ago at Newcastle, Now South Wales. The hoy, who was employed by a milkman, was, it appears, at tho station for the purpose of receiving or forwarding some milk-cans, and attempted to cross the line behind a train which had just passed. He did not;' however,'see another train coming in an opposite direction, and was caught by tho engine of it and thrown down, the wholo of tho cars passing over him. When recovered his body presented a terribly gruesomo spectacle, being mangled almost beyond recognition.

By papers from Perth, West Australia, we learn that Mr. Horatio Robson, house and land agent, formerly of Auckland, now of Fremantle, has had some unpleasant experiences. On April 18 a fire broke out on the premises occupied by him, and considerable damage was done. His books, however, were saved. He had no insurance. A few days after, Mr. Robson was standing in the street at Fremantle, when a cyclist ran his machine against his left leg. Mr. Robson was thrown violently to the roadway, and -the fall and the shaking which he received injured him considerably. An explosion of dynamite, attended by the miraculous escape of a carrier named David Smith, occurred at Upper Copmanhurst recently. The carrier nad a load of general goods, including five cases of dynamite, chemicals, etc., en route from Copmanhurst to the Mann River mines. He unloaded at Attin Hut, 20 miles from Copmanhurst. Smith had left the hut about half-an-hour, when he was startled by a terrific explosion. It is supposed the acids had fermented, and the shock caused tho five cases of dynamite to explode. The contents of the hut and the dray, which was standing outside tho hut some 40yds away, were all blown to atoms. A young man named Napoleon was going to the hut for a load of flour, and when he was within 200 yds tho explosion took place. The shock was felt several miles away. The damage is estimated at £100. The water supply to Melbourne and its suburbs during the year ended March 31, 1898, was, according to a return prepared by tho secretary of the Metropolitan Board of Works, the large quantity of 9,699,696,789 gallons, representing about once and a-half the available capacity of .the Yan Yean reservoir. The value of this supply, estimated at Is per 1000 gallons, amounts to £484,984, but the revenue derived amounted only to about £160,000. Making the most liberal allowance for the quantity of water consumed by tho municipalities for street watering, flushing drains, public baths, and extinction of'fires, the rates to be derived from the balance, if the Board were empowered to charge for it exclusively by measure, and to also charge lor supply to the Government offices, which are now exempt, would produce a revenue almost sufficient to cover the interest upon loans for the sewerage works jn course of construction.

There were not many applications for relief before the committee of the Charitable Aid Board yesterday. None of the cases presented any features of public interest.

At the fortnightly meeting of the W.C.T.U. a resolution was carried, "Thab, in the opinion of the Union, the time had arrived when a female officer, should be appointed for the distribution of charitable relief in Auckland."

The executive committee of the Parnell Orphan Home Board was re-elected yesternamely, Rev. Canon Nelson as chairman, Mr. T. 'ft. Doonin as vice-chairman, and Mr. R. Walker as hon. treasurer. The Board baa appointed Mr. W. H. Jackman as secretary, ?•.•.:••'•-• "

Ab the Foresters'. Hall to-night Mr. W, W. Collins will deliver his lecture on "The Spanish-American War," illustrated 'by means of the oxy-ether limelight. Inoidents of the Cuban rebellion, Spanish atrocities in Cuba, Cuban. patriots , and prisoners, guerilla warfare, and other points of interest will be dealt with,../..,'. ; ~ ';.

Yesterday afternoon and evening Rowley's unique waxworks exhibition and. entertainment again attracted . large! audiences to the Agricultural Hall. Visitors expressed themselves delighted, at the lifelike figures on view, and'thoroughly appredated the varied and' enjoyable * programme provided,;.- The .waxworks continue open to-day and until further notice.; The only occupant 'of the lock-up, last evening was a man on a charge of lunacy. ■',

',' A sacred concert will be held in St, Luke Hall, Itemuera, this' evening. Some .of the best talent, in 5 Auckland 'has, been procured, and an interesting and enjoyable j entertainment should bo the ''osuUV ~',■''■•>'•' >v">•'-/ A meeting of master bakers will be held in the Wesley Hall this afternoon, at two o'closk.. A fuilntt*udance is requested. ..:•'>:,-•: 1.-:'. Nuns' : veilings, ':, double-width, , Is, Is od, fashionable evening shades;'also crepow,' 18 I 6d| jn same) fiolours.-D.B.p,