LOCAL and GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10970, 26 January 1899, Page 5

LOCAL and GENERAL NEWS.

jg] S week's number of tie Auckland News contains a most interestjug and up-to-date series of pictures, dealjag with the war in Samoa. The principal Ejects dealt with are as follow :-Tanu Jlalietoa, the newly-elected king of Samoa ; j[ B t a afa, with his daughter and chiefs ; Jlalietoa and his chiefs; Muliagu, the warrior who fired the first shot on Malietoa's side; .Malietoa's men in trenches just before the commencement of hostilities ; officer and guard of H.M.S. Porpoise protecting Mr. and Mrs. Masse, at the British Consulate ; bluejackets taking a spell on the verandah of the Loudon Mission building the morning after the fight ; Mr. and Mrs. Chambers and party taking refuge on H.M.s. Porpoise ; Mataafa's men on a looting expedition, etc. The pictorial supplement has been enlarged to eight papes, and the illustrations are more than usually attractive and interesting. The News is now on sale.

At the meeting of the Education Board yesterday. Dr. Laishley submitted his account for law expenses in connection with Jliss Haselden's appeal case, the amount charged being £47 18s 6d. Messrs. Stout, Pindlav, and Co., also sent an account for £35 6s 6d. the total amount, with £12 10s, cost of printing 60 copies of the case, being £95 15s. Mr. Udy took exception to the natter, which, he said, was brought about by Mr. R. D. Stewart, who, lie contended, should be chargeable. On the motion of Mr. Fauell. it was resolved that the accounts be forwarded to the Finance Committee for their report.

We have received specimen fruit of the new Japanese plum, " Early Yellow," from Messrs. 1). Hay and Son. and have no hesitation in pronouncing it to be the best flavoured and most handsome of all the yel-loir-fleshed Japanese plums. The fruit is handsome in appearance, being large, round, and symmetrical in form. The skin is a beautifully clear yellow, llesh firm, juicy, and also of a rich, yellow colour; it adheres to the stone, has a very agreeable flavour, and has none of the bitterness present in me of the Japanese plums. Its early season of ripening and superior flavour gives this variety special value for markets. The fruit may be gathered before being fully ripe, adding additional value for commercial purposes. The tree has i beautiful upright habit, spreading with age, and is a vigorous grower, making shoots over 10ft in a single season. It is a prolific bearer, having the fruits equally distributed throughout the tree. In this respect it has an advantage over the Burbank, which invariably overcrowds, necessitating much labour in thinning. This valuable variety was received direct from Luther Burbank, who, by mistake, sent It under the name of October Purple. All who have been fortunate enough to receive trees will congratulate themselves. The police authorities are. exerting themselves to apprehend the men who have deserted from the warships. Yesterday, Mounted Constable Miller captured a man stated to be named McNab, and alleged to be a deserter from the Royalist, at. Horseshoe Hush. He had been working in the neighbourhood gumdigging. He will be 'charged this morning with desertion, and in (he event of the charge being proved the Government pay a reward of £5 to the police, and the ship pays £3, which makes the capture of naval deserters from the warthips a profitable occupation.

The Art C.allery is being very well attended, notably by visitors from outside the city. The great majority of the Australian visitors make a. point of inspecting the pictats, as well as the Free Library.

The health' of the city is stated to be, on tie whole, satisfactory. There is the usual imount of typhoid for this season of the year. Sometimes a case arises, and is sent to the hospital, which can scarcely be accredited to the city. For instance, a passenger arrived from an Fast Coast port by steamer, who was ailing before arrival, and whose illness developed into typhoid fever after coming ashore and taking up his residence here. Within the last few days there have been three cases in Rose Road, Surrey Hills, two in Ponsonby, one in Lomesheet, end one in Cook-street (city).

The workmen at the Government House have about completed all the improvements there until the papers ordered from Home, in replacement of those destroyed by lire on one of the direct steamers, come to hand. They are expected to arrive with the new carpetings, ordered by cable some weeks ago.

It is said that the greater number of the cabmen who had their licenses refused remml (some 20 in all) have left for other provinces in search of employment.

Major Kommervillo is making arrangements at Wangaiiui for the forthcoming meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association.

'A story in connection with an old age pension claim is told in a Southern paper, "lien marrying, the man bad deceived his *i(e as to his age, making himself 10 years younger. Wishing to get the pension, as he was 65 years of age, he found he could tot alter his marriage certificate, so he has to let the cat out of the bag, and also lost the pension. It is a case of a man's sin finding him out.

A young man named William John Kemp, *ho was highly respected in Ohinemuri. &d at Karangahake yesterday of typhoid *ver. Deceased is to be interred at Te Aroha to-morrow. Great sympathy is expressed for the bereaved parents.

A letter from the joint secretaries of the Sir George Grey Statue Committee was read yesterday, at the meeting of the Education ~°ard. inviting the co-operation of the Iwd to secure the attendance of school children at the procession and public demonstration in honour of the memory of the hte Sir (leorge Grey. After a considerable 'mount of discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Luke, that the project meet *'tli the heart) sympathy of the Board. Toe Devon port Naval Volunteer Torpedo Captain Parker commanding, who a > present in camp for their annual instruction, paraded in good numbers last even"f and went through the usual knotting j™ splicing and torpedo drill, under the lection of Sergeant-Major l'acev had a ' horn the Permanent Torpedo Corps. At the Wyndham State experimental Mm, there are 228 different experimental being made. The varieties of potatoes "mbet 113, and 52 different tests of "lures are being made on a patch of DerJit potatoes—with and without lime th several brands of artificial manure, ttyig 2cwt to lOcwt per acre. There are ® different manure tests on a patch of PP" top Scotch turnips, and also a num- • of manure experiments with mangolds, ®®>ts, cabbage, swedes, and kohl rabi. , the following reply has been received P® the New South Wales Tennis Associa--3i in reply to an invitation from the JJterbnry Tennis Association to send a j?® to ChrisU.hureh during the coming th:—"Regret cannot arrange team." Jpeaking at a meeting of the School Comth» t ß ' ?' son > in support of the abolition of jftandard pass system, the Rev. J. H. Macsaid he had often seen children in j. and lamentations over the visit of inHe added, " I believe there are 'satids °' children in this country who m abject terror of the inspectors." tilt nD ' 0U as een formed among the emHut rt the '"miture trade. It is stated fa • f' 8 flo dispute with the masters, 'djustm ht S ° nie 6 erences requiring

f ti» v !? Wct Grand Lodge of Druids of • ' s ' anti district will hold its I'tehni, i"!, Auckland next month. A ;L i the female Order of Druids has Wfnri? ,' 1 ! wdlin ? tun ' of which Lady toivn s r Mrs. Seadoo ™d othei welled hm ? ro meTn bers, and an Auckj||, "P®®# »in course ol formation.

Further applications for old ace tensions were investigated yesterday at the Maeis £tifio? mXbyJlr EW Biabant - « M Certificates were granted in the cases of P Watson, 73; Ann Watson, 72- MattIhll %""• 6 K, John B 67; Ann Ball, 67; and Mary Kew, and others were CTGof" 1 Mr PI prod . uction of further proof. Mi. Culpa,!, assisted by Constable (ol is, appeared for the Government. Mr Brabant mentioned that it was well that anworn™ should know , that Where a married slunM nfT j 'II! a Pf hcatlon ' he husband should attend the Court to give evidence because the income of the husband had to be ""quired into before the wife ' pension could be granted Before adjourning in the e\emng, Mr. Culpan informed His Worship that very likely he would not attend any future investigations, as he was obliged to resign, owing to the great press of work in his own department. Mr. John Kint tlio registrar of electors, would take his p ace. He had to thank the presiding Magistrate for the care and close attention Inch he gave to the several claims brought under review Mr. King was present during the whole of yesterday's proceedings. I 10 Court site again on Fridav, at halfpast two p.m.

In Wellington, as in Auckland, there ha a lately been a great revival of interest in municipal matters. Referring to this subject the New Zealand Times says:—"Time was when 16 rule in Wellington's municipal affaire was for the vacant seats on the City Council, whether casual or annual, to be filled without a contest. It is pleasing to find that this rule is to be honoured in the breach in the case of the by-election for rhorndon Ward tiov, pending. As the absence of ambition to serve the burgesses is a sign of municipal deadness, so the reverse condition of things is a healthy symptom. A contest for the Thorndon Ward at the present time will give the electors an opportunity of expressing their opinions regarding the Mayoral policy of city extension and enlargement of municipal functions in the way of street widening, tramway services, and so Messrs. R. M. Tolliurst, Johnston, and l'anner are the candidates now in the field.

The Conciliation Board met yesterday morning to hear reports from both sides as to the acceptance or otherwise of the Board's recommendations in the plumbers and gasfitters' dispute. Mr. J as. Regan wrote, 011 behalf of the Plumbers and Gasfitters' Union, accepting the Hoard's recommendations, and Mr. F. Fowler and Mr. 11. i'udeliope attended on behalf of the employers, and staled that 22 had expressed their willingness to sign, while it was believed that all would fall into line. Mr. Tudehope, on behalf of the employers, expressed satisfaction at the amicable way in which the whole matter had been conducted by the Board. Some of them, lie said, might liavo differences ot opinion about Conciliation Boards, but they had no difference of opinion about the gentlemen who sat on the Auckland Conciliation Board. He hoped the Board would part with every one thev had to deal with in the future, with as kindly feelings as they had )>arted with the plumbers. Mr. Fowler said he was an opponent of the Conciliation Boards, but in this case it had been conciliation right through, and he believed it would ultimately lie for the good of those interested in the trade. He was a bitter opponent of this conciliation business, but his opinion in this special case was a good deal different, from what it was at the beginning of the case. The chairman (Rev. A. H. Collins) said it was a. gratification to the members of the Board that the case had come to such a happy conclusion, and that the impression made 011 the minds of those who appeared for the master plumbers was of so satisfactory ft kind. It was excecdinly gratifying to have the statement of Mr. Fowler that he came before the Board prejudiced against it, and that lie had had his prejudice, at least in part, removed. For his own part he believed that would happen in every ease if the opponents of the Conciliation Boards only had the opportunity of coming in contact. with them. Mr. Fawcus added that the Board had never had such a pure case of conciliation through their hands.

An extension is being made, to (lie Croat Northern Brewery, Kliybei Pass, which will run into £1000. Messrs. Pliilcox and Son are the contractors, and Mr. Arnold the architect.

The public schools reopen on Monday, February 6, greatly to the satisfaction oi the parents, who have had a difficulty in keeping the children off the streets and out of the peril.! of enforced idleness during the long vacation.

The Auckland Ladies' Benevolent Society's Carnival Committee met on Tuesday afternoon, at Mis. iSowerby's Hall. There was a large attendance of ladies and gentlemen interested in the society. It was resolved to hold a two days' carnival in the Exhibition Buildings, to conclude with a fancy dross and powder and patch hall. The buildings were promised to the ladies of the Benevolent Society in consequence of the society foregoing their annual floral fete at the opening (if the Exhibition. An adjourned meeting will be held on Friday afternoon at Mrs. Sowerby's Hall.

On Tuesday, Mr. John Hand, of the Star and Carter Hotel. Cornmandcl, chartered the s.s. Falcon for a fishing excursion, and with a numbei of friends had a lively lime. The boat anchored off Watchman Island, some miles north of Cape Cnlville. and in a few hours caught over a ton of fish of various kinds. Some Hue liapuka were secured, the weights of which ranged from 301b to 851b each.

Sitting in a Chrstchurch district the other day, Mi. Bishop. S.M., was greatly surprised at being informed by an old age pension claimant, aged 65, that his mother, ~ed over 90. was also a claimant. Mr. Bishop remarked tint this would surely be a unique case if both were granted.

The Dunedin Tablet, speaking of the Roman Catholic Provincial Synod, says : — " Catholic Provincial Synods have the dignity and wisdom of attending to their own affairs. They are wholly practical and administrative. Subject ever to the filial judgment of the Holy See, their deliberations touch all the widely varied interests involved in the conservation and spread of the faith within the limits of their jurisdiction ; the administration of the Sacraments; the ton-ing-up of Christian life: the relations of the clergy to their ecclesiastical superiors, to each other, to themselves, and lo the flocks entrusted to their care ; missions to the heathen; ecclesiastical property; education: and the application of the broad principles of Catholic discipline t< the special circumstances of that portion of the Univer Church which lie 3 within the circle of their charge."

The ball-yearly meeting of the Auckland branch of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society fm the' installation of officers took place last evening in the Catholic Institute, Wellington-street. The vice-president, Mi. R. A. Wright, occupied the chair. Ml. Nerheny. P.D.I 1 ., charged the members seeking office, and invested them with a regalia of their offices, They were as follows : — President. Mi. D. O',Sullivan; vice-presi-dent, Mr. R. A. Wright; general and minute secretary, Mr. W. Kane; treasurer, Mr. I). Flvnn; warden, Mr. J. J. Calahan ; guardian, Mr. O'Kielty; sick visitor, Mr. W. H. Foley.

On January 5 a large school of whales was sighted at Waikokopu (Hawke's Ray), and several natives went out to attack them on two successive days. After having a boat upset and some of their number dragged into the water they succeeded in capturing three whales. Two others sank, and these they expected to raise in a few days. The natives hoped to make about five tons of oil, worth £30 per ton, out of the three whales captured.

Interviewed at Cliristchurch on the subject of the complaints by tourists of exorbitant charges at Mount Cook, the Minister . for Lands said the Government had lost about £1000 in the last four years, over the I running of the Hermitage, to say nothing : of £6687 spent on roads and on the pre- I mises. The charges for accommodation had . been reduced from 16s to 10s a day. Yet in Spite of the large contributions by the tax- , payers to help them, the tourists are (lis- j satisfied, and the Minister doubted Whether | the House would vote arty more money for; Mount Cook. He considered that the tourists expected far too much ir such an out-of-the-way place, and valued too cheaply what they did get. Although reached from the east, Mount Cook it only about 25 miles from the West Coast, hence the conveyance of stores, etc., is very expensive. i

At the quarterly meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce on January 19, the president' said it was much to be regretted that, considering so large a profit was made by the Postal Department of the colony, and bearing in mind that it existed only for the convenience ol the people, no steps had been taken to reduce the present inland rates of postage. It might be that satisfactory reasons oxisted for declining to adopt the penny postage rate to oversea countries which had signified their willingness to reciprocate, ■t he time had, however, surely arrived when they might expect-, in view of the profit made by the Department, favourable consideration of the question of reducing the present internal rates. The anomaly, for such it was, remained, that while communications might be made by Id post-cards and lid letter-cards, which entailed the same transport as letters, yet sealed envelopes must continue to pay twopenny rates without regard to distance. Surely penny postage within the colony might now be accorded. To the present Government they were indebted foi sixpenny ordinary telegrams, but an extension of the hall-penny pei word rate, which it was thought by many would follow in a reasonable time, had not yet- been announced. That the extension was justified and should be made was, he thought, apparent to everyone, and lie hoped it would not be long delayed.

A correspondent wrote lately to the Otago Daily Times, asking to be informed how cockles (or pipis) should be cooked " without brnging them to the consistency of shoeleather." The following directions are furnished bj< another correspondent: —" Let the cockles be as fresh as possible may be kftown by their shells being tightly closed —rinse them quickly in plenty of cold water to clean the shells, put them into a deep basin and let it stand for a few minutes in a warm place, or put them in a saucepan on the side of the firo; this is to open the shells. When open, pick out the cockles on to a dish, strain the liquor from tlio cookies through muslin to free it from sand, and mix it with a teaspoonfu! or two of vinegar, a piece of butter the size of a walnut, seasoning of pepper and salt. Thicken somo milk, mix this with the liquor from the cockles, and cook t ill the raw taste of the flour is removed. talc 3 the saucepan off tlio lire, and when the mixture lias quite ceased boiling, put in the cockles and keep hot for a few minutes till the cockles are warmed through. They must on no account boil, or they will become like bits of india-rubber. There should be just enough sauce to cover the cockles."

It appears that a section of the young ladies of Dannevirke decided upon a monster picnic for New Year's Day. There was no difficulty whatever in getting a sufficient number. At a final meeting a resolution was moved by a budding new wot: an, " That married women be not allowed to attend the picnic." In moving the resolution, the speaker was charmingly frank. She said the girls for the first day of the New Year should have the boys all to themselves, and married women always spo.lt. a si.< w. She for one was determined that onlv single people should attend. A long and angry discussion followed, but eventually the motion was carried. Several young ladies therefore refused to grace the gathering. However, the picnic was held, and it was a pre&t success. The Christclmrch Press is publishing several articles on Auckland by a recent visitor. We quote some passages:-! walked to the splendid swimming baths in Albeitstreet for a morning dip. It has often been said that the finest part of the day m New Zealand is the early morning. It is certainly so in Auckland. The beat is not oppressive. and there is a freshness in the ailthat is absent later in the day. lhe baths are a credit to Auckland. They are large ami roomy. The water, clear and fresh, varies in depth from 2ft to Bft lhe sides and bottom of the bath are tiled, and the dressing boxes, etc.. are all that can be desired! The batlikceper is courteous, though firm in seeing that the numerous regulations are obeyed. I went over the Xkv; Zkahnii KJIAI.II office. Ibe Hkiui.l) keeps its price at 2d, arid yet it has a d'lilv circulation close on 10,000, and ~n Saturdays about 14.000. It is splendidly got up, and its offices are large and roomy, and every attention is paid both to light and ventilation. There are about 250 employees altogether, and 1 I believe the wages are about. £500 a week. What struck me most was the number of voting, well-, drcs'ed. cleanly looking, and intelligent cmphyees working in what may be termed the' artistic department of the paper, lhe nukly edition is illustrated, and, in addition to its publication, a considerable amount of printing in colours and of illustrated work is done. The Heiiai.h is not a mere newspaper office. It is that, and a printing, binding, etc., office, as well. The American pedestrian Schilling, who arrived in New Zealand about two weeks ago, is engaged on a 36.000 miles walking tour for a wager of 5000 dollars (£1000). The quarantine arrangements of New South Wales led to a longer stay ill Australia than ho anticipated. When he arrived in that colony with his dog—which, under the terms of the wager, he must take back with him to America—the animal was put in quarantine for six months. This meant doing a part of the journey without his canine companion. The mail has been travelling for a year and three months, and he expects to finish his jaunt well within the time allotted to him—four years. He started off with no cash in his pocket, and has undertaken to make 5000 dollars, clear of expenses, by the end of his tour. Schilling is now working his way northward. With regard to the appointment to the chair of chemistry and physics at Victoria College, the Dunedin Star says "We must confess to feelings of regret and keen disappointment that the Council saw fit to overlook the claims of Dr. Don, rector of the liovs' High School at Onmaru. Of the 7,1 rardidnlcs for this particular position, we make bold to say that no one was better fitted than Dr. Don. His enormous capacity for work, bis brilliant career as a student, his great, work in original research, and his remarkable and conspicuous ability and proved success as a teacher of primary, secondary, and university subjects, mark him out as a man in every way suited for the position of Professor of Chemistry in Victoria College. Why, then, was he passed over? The plain truth compels us to answer: Simply because he is a colonial." The Star, reviewing the. career of Dr. Don, mentions that while performing the arduous duties of a primary school teacher, he obtained his M.A. degree with first-class honours. (Inn fool: his degree of P.Sc., then undertook a piece of original research oil " The Origin of Gold," and was awarded the D.Sc. degree, while his thesis was so highly (bought of in literary and scientific circles abroad that it was immediately translated into several foreign languages.

The Agricultural Hall was crowded last night. The waxworks, although in their eighth continue to have splendid houses day and night. A singing competition for ladios was gone through. There were three competitors, the winner proving to be Miss King, bei contribution being "Cast As.'de," which she sang very prettily. On the lady being presented with a handsome silver watch, the audienco would not be denied another song, which she gave. Hie winner of the second price, a useful workbox, was Miss Jones, who sang very nicely, "Re member Me No More." These competitions prove to be very popular. There was fl' r a splendid programme gone through by Mr. John Fuller's Vaudeville Concert Company, which concluded with " On the Fire," an amusing farce. To-hiorrow night there Will be a baby show, prizes for the prettiest and heaviest babies; on Saturday afternoon there will be a gift matinee. Every child entering will be presented with a toy, there will also be competitions for young people.

The committee of the M.U. Premier Picnic have decided to place a tug-of-war on their programme, at the sports to be held at Home Bay, Motutapu, on Saturday, February 11. _