LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11314, 8 March 1900, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

An English mail, which left London on February 2, and the Auckland portion of the mails by the Canadian mail steamer Miowera, will arrive from Sydney by the Mararoa on Sunday next. We understand that Dr. Giles was asked to act on the Royal Commission which is to report on the river beds of Otago and Southland, and oil the claims for compensation arising out of their being proclaimed channels for mining debris. He was obliged tc decline by reason of bis eyesight. Another operation will be necessary, which will be performed by Dr. Challinor Purchas, probably about the end of this month. At sittings of the Old Age Pensions Court yesterday theii Worships Mr. W. H. Brabant and Mi. I'. Hutchison, S.M. s, had 125 renewal and new claims before them, lhc Court granted pensions in 106 cases, rejected three, adjourned 15, and one was withdrawn. This is about a record for one day. The principal electoral roll for the Manukau district will be available for sale and reference to-day. The Paraell main registei will be printed on Saturday, whilst the City of Auckland register is expected to be available on Saturday morning. On inquiry we have ascertained that all new claims foi Eden, I'arnell, Manukau, and Auckland for the different supplementary rolls cannot be included in those rolls unless in the hands of the registrar at noon on Saturday. The newest vagary of our electoral roll system was brought to our notice yesterday. An elector, a resident on the Surrey Hills, who did not voto at the last election, was surprised that he should not receive an intimation to that effect, especially when ho heard that so many who had voted were receiving notices. He called at the office of the registrar, stated that he had not voted at last election, and asked why ho had not been notified, and how it was that his name was still on the roll. But it turned out that • the roll, when examined, showed that he hbd voted, oi rathet that some one had voted in - his name. This adds a new complication to .the situation. ' .

Mrs. Brabant, wife of Mr. H. S. Brabant, . died at her residence, Devonport, on Tuesday. ' The deceased lady was 50 years of ' age. . She was a native '.of Raglan, where she lived for many years, but for two years past has resided at Devonport. The funeral ■ took place yesterday afternoon at O'Neill's . Point, when a number of friends attended I to pay the last token of respect, , One of the attractions in passing through the French Pass is a large grey fish of the porpoise species, about 17ft in length, which accompanies each steamer for about a mile when passing along this route. ' When the Wainui came through the Pass last Monday morning the passengers, who were keeping a look-out for the porpoise, we re rewarded for their trouble, and the fish was a source of great attraction as it swam alongside the bows of the steamer. There are many people who believe that the porpoise is a myth, but this idea is erroneous. It is now a customary thing for passengers by steamer going through the Pass to watch for the porpoise. A telegram from Brisbane says The amount of insurance on the lives of Troopers Macleod and Victor Jones, of the First Queensland Contingent, who were killed at Sunnyside, has now been paid by the Mutual Life Association of Australia. fa connection with this matter, the association has waived its right to demand proof of death before payment, and lias voluntarily paid the Government the insurance money in each case on the undertaking of the Premier to refund it after three months if proof of death is not forthcoming. Ex-Constable Hugh Bracken, who played a prominent part in the capture of the Kelly gang of bushrangers at Gleniowan, committed suicide at his residence at Wallan (says the Melbourne Argus). His body was found in his private room, with a gunshot wound through' his head. Sinco Bracken's retirement from the force he has been a police pensioner, receiving, in'addition to his retiring allowance, an annual gratuity for his services at the capture of the Kellys. For many yean past he has been living a quiet life at Wallan, and occasionally ran horses at local race meetings. A magisterial inquiry was held, when a verdict of death from a gunshot wound, iielf-inflicted, was returned. Waipu has been proclaimed a river district, under the River Boards Act, 1884, and Mr. S. McLeod, of Waipu, is gaietted as the returning officer to conduct the first election of the Board, which is fixed for March 27, at the Library Hall, Waipu. The first meeting of the Board is fixed for April 3, at halfpast seven p.m. in the Library Hall. Our Waerenga correspondent, writes : — This season has been an extraordinary one for the number and extent of the fires which have been raging around the settlement. So far there has been no very great damage to fences, and none at all to buildings, but large areas of fern and swamp have been burned, a good deal of the native bush on the hills has been killed, and even the flat bush, where no one thought a fire could run, has not escaped. Even yet, in spite of the late rain, great care has to bo exerc. sed in lighting fires, as everything is very dry. The quarterly examination ol officers was held yesterday at the Drill Ball. There were four candidates, Captain Aubin and Lieutenant Berry, No. 2 Waikato Mounted Rifles, and Captain Hutton, No. 1 New Zealand Native Rifles, and Lieutenant Knight, No. 2 Victoria Rifles. Major Pirie and Captain Grant, as members of tue Examining Board, were present during the day, and at the practical examination in the evening, Colonel Banks, Majoi White, and Captain Grant conducted the examination. The Onehunga Woollen Company's mill (which was visited by His Excellency the Governor yesterday) is at reseat employing about 100 hands, who are working night and day shifts—the/ former with the electric light. The company have three months' orders ahead. They could do a trade with the other colonies and with the United States, but prefer to continue manufacturing to the order of the local wholesale firms, and those of the South. This industry has afforded employment to a number of the youth of both sexes, in the township of Onehunga, who would otherwise have had to leave their homes for work further afield. From the very beginning the company have had no labour troubles.