LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11200, 21 October 1899, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Herald Monthly Summary for trans- . mission by the next outward San Francisco | mail, will be published on Friday morning, Those desirous of the Summary $ to their friends in Europe, America, etc., ■ will have ample time to do so, as the newspaper mail closes on Monday week, at 9.50 ,J?, o'clock a.m.. up to which hour papers for mailing ma}' be obtained of runners at the ,|| post office This mail will be due in Lon- V-S don on Wednesday, November 29. To-day in the anniversary of. the battle i of Trafalgar, which was fought on October ~§ 21, 1805. ,§ The Auckland Diocesan Synod was con- j| cluded yesterday afternoon. As will be seen jj ■by the report a" large number of resolutions/|s | were dealt with at the final sitting, but none ~j ' of them were of special importance. A re-, pi volutionary motion was brought forward by --il; Captain M. T. Clayton, who suggested a :,i| reversion to the old system of tithes for rais- jfi ing church funds, but he withdrew his pro- ||§ position when it was pointed out that the -4 time at the disposal of the Synod was too M short for the discussion of such an important ;i I subject. A- committee was set up to giw*§| effect to an expression from the Synod that A; it was necessary to appoint a private secretary to His Lordship the Bishop, whose,,> work has so largely increased since he came ,V to the diocese. Mt Thames won six out of the nine matches played with Hamilton in the recent che»-.|§ tournament. ?|s _ The Native Land Court which has been jSs| sitting at the Thames for several weefc(',& past, will probably conclude to-day..

f ' Mr. Thomas Hutchison, S.M., presided at ; a short sitting of the Police Court yesterday. • Jour first-offenders were convicted and discharged for drunkenness. Thomas Solan, a second-offender, was fined ss, for the same offence. Edward Gubbins, on a charge of being an idle and disorderly person, was discharged. Horace Southgate, for leaving offensive mattei in a public place, was fined ss. For leaving carts unattended, John Lynch was cautioned and discharged, and Eric Parkinson fined 5s and costs. The auction held by the kindness of Mr Turner, at his mart, in aid of Dr. Barnardo's Home, realised £9, and there still remains in hand a quantity of goods as the nucleus for a further fund. The well-known gum merchant, Mr. G. W. S. Patterson, of this city, has a very fine collection of rare specimens of kauri gum, some 200 in number, which form a great attraction to visitors in passing through Auckland. They include, among the rare varieties, clouded, amber, transparent, dark, and of milk-white colour. To those who take an interest in the gum industry the specimens are of very great interest, as such collections are becoming rarer every day, owing to being bought up by foreign collectors. On the average, it is stated, that 2000 tons of gum may be handled without obtaining half-a-dozen specimens. Probably the fine collection in the hands of Mr. Patterson will find its way to the United States, as persons in that- country are negotiating for its purthase. Mr. Patterson has published a little , brochure on "The Kauri Gum Industry," which is illustrated, and gives a chatty oc- \ of one of Auckland's leading indusThe Newmarket and Devonport bowling greens open this afternoon for the reason, and a large numbet of invitations have been issued to the bowlers of sister clubs, and their lady friends. Since last season the tormer club has acquired seven more rinks, and a large portion of the ground is tarred and lei, and set apart for promenading. A meeting of the Auckland Institute is to be held on Monday evening, when Mr. T. F. Clieeseman will give a popular lecture on "Rarotonga," describing at some length the scenery, vegetation, and native inhabitants. The lecture will be illustrated by 70 limelight transparencies, prepared from photographs taken by Mr. Cheeseman during his recent visit. These should convey a very faithful idea of the many beauties of th; island. The annual spring carnival of the Auckland Cycling Club will take place on Saturday next in the Auckland Domain, and as the programme, advertised elsewhere, presents many novel and interesting features, the attendance should be very large. Every cyclist of note in New Zealand will compete, including Wall, Reynolds, Chalmers, and Jones in the cash events; whilst Messrs. 1). Reid, C. Stewart, J. O'Dowd, W. Reynolds, E. W. Wilkinson, and many other prominent amateurs are announced to compete in the amateur events. Three amusing races, viz., an officials' bicycle handicap, an officials' flat handicap, and an old buffers' bicycle race will be run off on the occasion, and these events are sure to cause considerable merriment. A very pleasing, ceremony took place at the Onelmnga public school on Friday afternoon, just before the scholars dispersed, the occasion being the presentation of a very handsome silver tea kettle to Mr. James Robb, on the eve of his marriage. Mr. Mcintosh, the headmaster of the school, in a happy speech, made the presentation, and congratulated Mr. Robb on his marriage to Miss Luke. The name, he said, was a household word among the teachers of the Auckland province. Mr. Robb suitably replied, and after three ringing cheers the children dispersed. The kettle bore the following inscription:—"Presented to Mr. James Robb, first assistant Onelmnga school by the teachers and pupils, on the occasion of his marriage, October 24,1899." An incipient fire was discovered on the premises of Mr. Isaac Hill, saddler, Highstreet, about twenty minutes past nine last night. The discovery was made by Mr. Stimpson, licensee of the Queen's Ferry Hotel, who lives in the neighbourhood, and he informed the police. Detective Kennedy obtained admission to the premises by a skylight, and found the fire arose through a quantity of rubbish burning in tho fireplace of the shop, and the flames had caught the mantelpiece. Sub-inspector Wilson, Detectives Grace, Herbert, Bailey, Maddern, Miller, and Constable Hollis were soon on the spot, and, forming a bucket brigade, soon suppressed the fire. The only damage done was to the mantelpiece. The origin of the fire is unknown. The prompt action of all parties probably averted a serious fire. There were in the lockup last evening three persons on charges of drunkenness, and Thos. Knox and John Kannay on a charge of theft of some rope from a punt, the property of the Auckland Harbour Board. Yesterday the Hon. Thos. Thompson (Minister for Justice) received a large number of telegrams, conveying messages of condolence on the occasion' of bis domestic bereavement, in the death of Mrs. lhompson. There were telegrams from the Premier and his other Ministerial colleagues, from members of both Houses of the Legislature, uiider-secretaries, and heads of public departments, and from friends in all parts of the colony, containing messages of sympathy. The deceased lady was in her 68th year at the time of her death, and leaves two daughters and one son to mourn their loss, namely. Miss Thompson, Mrs. Stone, of Masterton, and Mr. John Thompson, of Wellington. The latter left Wellington yesterday, in order to be present at his mother s funeral. The funeral cortege will leave the deceased lady's late residence, Mount Eden, to-morrow (Sunday), at half-past two o'clock (not two o'clock, as published in the evening journal) for Purewa Cemetery, where the remains of one of her sons were laid to rest. There are quite a number of the police out in search of the escaped lunatic from the Avondale Asylum, but so far they have failed to find the slightest trace of him. It " presumed he has got rid of his asylum clothe? in some way or other, and secured ordinary civilian dress. He came from Huntly, ana it is conjectured he may head thither again. There were very few applications made'his week to the committee of the Auckland Charitable Aid Board, and these were of no public interest. We understand that the Mayor (Mr. D. Goldie) has consented to stand again foi the mayoralty, provided he is satisfied that it is the general wish of the ratepayers that lie should do so No doubt the requisition in course of signature, requesting him to stand j for a second term, will satisfy him on that score. On Friday next the Auckland Liedertafel hold their 'third concert of the season in the Choral Hall. This society has earned for itself an excellent reputation in the past, and judging from the programme, the forthcoming concert promises to be equal to former efforts. The soloists are Misses Mary Day and Sissie Phillipps, and Messrs. Abel Rowe and Cbas. Kissling, and the conductor, Mi. Arthur Towsey, will contribute two organ solos. The Liedertafe. will perform seven of their pleasing part songs. Thev have also decided to repeat the' Italian Salad," with tenor solo by Mr. Mill tin Trenwith. A movement is on foot to establish an orchestral society in Ponsonby. A meeting has been held with that object in view, of professional and amateur instrumentalists. Mr. S. Adams has been unanimously elected conductor. As there is a large amount of musical talent in Pon3onby, it is anticipated that there will be no difficulty in forming a strong society. __