LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11347, 16 April 1900, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Late war ' cables state that the Wepener garrison were under Boer fire from Tuesday to Thursday, but Colonel Dalgetty made a gallant resistance. The attacking force was 100 strong, but tho British, although surrounded, had the best of the fighting, thenartillery fire being terrific. Wepener, at the time of last reports, are still surrounded, but troops . were advancing to their assistance. Lord Roberts reports that the enemy's movements south of Bloemfontein have been checked, and another cable o-es : sago announces that Major-General Chermside has occupied Reddersburg, where three companies of . Royal Irish Rifles and two companies of the 9th Mounted Infantry were recently captured by the Boers. ? Remounts and supplies are rapidly reaching Lord Roberts, and it would appear that his march northward will not bo much longer delayed. Tho health of the troops at Bloemfontein is reported good. The ■ Paris Exhibition lifts been opened by President Lonbet. . Ihe ceremony is described as a brilliant one. President Loubet referred in his opening address to the increasing concord of the nations. He was cheered by Russians, British, and Americans. It is reported that Russia is manufacturing thousands of quickfiring guns.

The Amercian mail steamer Alameda arrived from Sydney yesterday, but owing to tho quarantine regulations was not permitted to berth at the wharf. The steamer proceeded direct to the quarantine. anchorage oft' Motuihi, where she landed her mails, and then came into harbour, anchoring off Calliope Dock. She brought no passengers for Auckland, but has a good number going through, and a number join the steamer at this port. The Alameda leaves for Apia, Honolulu, and San Francisco, at noon today, : and a ferry steamer will leave the ferry tee 'at ten o'clock this morning, to convey passengers and heavy baggage off. Another steamer leaves at a-quarter to twelve o'clock, with the balance of the passengers and light baggage. No visitors will be allowed to accompany either steamer going off to the Alameda.

It will learned with regret that Mr. J. R. D. Baker, traffic manager of the Devonport Steam Ferry Company, has been compelled to resign his position owing to illhealth. Mr. Baker has been traffic manager of the company for the past 25 years, and has. by his ever pleasant and courteous manner to everyone, made himself very popular. It has been decided by a number of the residents of Devonport and Takapuna, not to allow the departure of one with whom they have ben so pleasantly associated for so many years, to pass without some sort of recognition, and a meeting is to be held in the Council Chambers to-morrow evening, to consider the best form of testimonial to make to Mr. Baker on his retirement from the company's service. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. C. Mack}'), will preside..

On Saturday night a fracas arose in Cus-tom-street East, in which a man named Dawes got a severe gash on the head, apparently with a bottle. The wound was several inches in length, and Dawes was taken to the hospital for surgical treatment. A man named Downey was arrested in connection with the affair. Dawes was stated, on inquiring at the hospital last night, to be progressing favourably.

An alarm of fire was given on Saturday afternoon at Ponsonby, the fire being in Newstreet. It proved to be only, some rubbish scattered on an allotment situate at the bottom of the street, near the sea. . There was a house on either siue, which was in jeopardy, as one was unoccupied, and in the other the inmates were away. ••. Mr. Tole, Crown Prosecutor,' who lives in the neighbourhood, was the first to discover the incipient fire, and he telephoned for the Firo Brigade. Failing to get the Ponsonby Fire Brigade station, he telephoned to the head-quarters in Albert-street, and a hosereel detachment went out, and the fire was suppressed. Constable Brown was present. Last, evening another alarm was given, about seven o'clock, and the Ponsonby contingent and the Auckland Fire Brigade went to the locality indicated, namely Norfolkstreet. The incipient fire proved to be of the same character lot of rubbish on fire on an allotment, about half-way down Nor-folk-street. The fire was put out by .a lead or two of hose from the street hydrant. Constables Luke McDonnell, of Ponsonby polico station, and Brown, rendered assistance. The City Council have recently been distributing circulars to the householders in the Ponsonby district, urging the residents to burn all rubbish. It is supposed that the youngsters have " caught on" to the idea, and are setting lire to' all the rubbish "tips" that come under their purview.

A consultation was held in Sydney a, few days ago between the Premier, Major-Gene-ral French, and a representative of the firm of Nobel and Co., ammunition manufacturers, with regard to the proposed establishment of a factory near Sydney. In connection with the matter, the Premier has stated: "Negotiations in connection with the matter have been going on for some time,'and I think that an arrangement has now been made which will be satisfactory to all parties. A cable, containing certain proposals, has been received from the company, and I am despatching a message in reply. The arrangement proposed is that the company and its experts shall erect the factory and supply the machinery, and that it shall be carried on by them for five years, upon the receipt by them of a percentage on the output. The whole concern, however, will be Government property from the commencement. The factory will be' erected within a reasonable distance of Sydney, and the Government will allot about 200 acres of land for the site."

At the last weekly meeting of the Auckland Shorthand Writers' Association, Mr. W. Berry,, president, gave a prize for the best shorthand notes and transcript of a reading given by him. A great deal of interest was shown in the contest. The prize was won by Miss Dora Ponsford. The work done was highly creditable (to those who competed. The work of the competitors was adjudicated upon by Mr. W. Berry, jun., of the Hansard staff.

Detective J. P. Miller arrived at Wellington on the 11th inst., in the s.s. Talune. with the accused Edwin Holloway, charged with theft of moneys belonging to the New Zealand Government. The detective and accused were quarantined at Soames'lsland, and were liberated on Saturday. They arrived in Auckland by the Rotoiti this morning. It is stated that the accused has given the detective no trouble whatever.

The Journal of Commerce, of Liverpool (England), of March 1, contains a leading article which urges that " a serious attempt ought to be made by the various shipowning bodies in the country to prevent the Queen's assent being given to the New South Wales Navigation Bill." The paper quoted states that " the measure owes its existence to the persistent and determined action of the labour party of the colony, which is seeking to bring more and more power within the meshes of tho State, with the ultimate desire of so regulating labour questions that practically- there shall bo no freedom for the individual whether as regards wages or conditions of service," After criticising the provisions of the measure, ' the writer of the article concludes thus;— have carefully read through the proposed enactment, and can only see in it a most flagrant attempt to adept special legislation, differing essentially, from that in force ■in this country, and were it only on the ground of the manifest inconvenience of such a proceeding, the measure should be opposed tooth and nail by all who are anxious to see the law uniform and respected."

Tho weather was showery on Saturday and yesterday,' but the quantity of rain that fell did not appear to be much. Last evening the weather again took up, and there was every prospect of fine weather for today's holiday.

Mr. 0. K. Jeffs, of Onehunga, received information by the last English mail of the death of his father, which took place in London, on February 21 last. The deceased gentleman was in his 106 th year, he having been born on June 1, 1794..

A little boy named Clive Milton Vivian Stanton, son of Mr. W. Stanton, of Hob-son-street, got a sunstroke on the 7th inst., through sleeping without a hat on a neighbour's grass lawn. Meningitis set in, and the little fellow died early yesterday morning. ,

> . The Easter Fair, in aid of the funds of the ' Auckland Ladies' Benevolent Society, will : ; be opened this - evening in the Drill-shed,' under the distinguished patronage of His Exs cellency the Governor, the Countess of Ran, furly, and His Worship the Mayor. His Excellency will declare the fair open at eight' - o'clock. . ' The fair will extend 1 over three', days, there being' a change of programme each evening. It is hoped that the publio will aid the ladies by liberally patronising the fair, as the society; is in much need offunds to meet the cases requiring relief during the coming winter. The programme is ■ of a most attractive character; there is series of tableaux, the opening one being " Britannia and Her Colonies." Then there" is ' the * ladies' khaki drill, directed by Professor 1 Carrollo, when Miss Maud Howard will sing, "Soldiers of the Queen." AJapanese maze i will be executed by' Miss Mcllhone's pupils* Several patriotic and comic songs and recit*, tions will be given. Among other attractions is the Easter egg. and the candy; for. tune-telling, and refreshment stalls. ' ; •.

The last of the season's series of homing pigeon races in connection with' the Auckland Flying Club was flown 011 Friday last ; from Te Kuiti— miles airline— 40 young birds of the present 'season's breeding' and representing 10 lofts competed. Off-' ing to a strong head wind and heavy showers along the course of flight, the flying .powers; of the birds were well tested. . The winners were Master E. J. Thomas' ,"109 Ist, velocity I,oß7yds per minute; E. J, Thomas' sen. "93, 2nd. velocity 1075 yds per minute; I. Hopkins' " 17," 3rd, velocity, 1026vds per minute. Ib is interesting to-, note"that since October last the club's birds have flown in 19 races from various stages between Mercer and Wellington, aggregating 2109 miles, and that the average velwi city of the winners compares most favour-1 ably with that of any similar club in the; colony. . \ , -

There' were in- the lock-up last evening fivo persons on.charges of drunkenness;• Alice Mitchell, on a charge of assaulting Emma Bonham; Sydney Dawson, on ' j charge of theft of a pair of boots; James' Downey, on a charge of assaulting Richard Charles Dawes; and George Darlington, on charges of obscene language and assaulting, a volunteer. Also, Albert Woods, on a charge of attempt to commit a rape, on March 30, at Cambridge, Waikato.

Our Clevcdon correspondent writes:-, Mr. G. F. Thorp has recently- sold his fa rut here, comprising 220 acres, for £1500, Mr. Lane is the purchaser. .

Two patients at the Avondale Asylum havq died. The usual official inquests will bo held to-day.

There are four cases* from Panmure oj . typhoid fever in the Auckland Hospital,