LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11534, 20 November 1900, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

An English mail which left London on October 12, arrived by the s.s. Talune on Sunday night, and was distributed yesterdav. Anglo-Colonial Notes, Personal Items, Latest Mining News, and other interest! news from our London correspondent, will be found in another port of this issue. The colonial mails which left Auckland on October 29, per R.M.s. Mariposa, were delivered in San Francisco on the 16th inst., due date. The colonial mails which left Sydney by the Canadian mail steamer Aorangi on October 10 were delivered in London on Saturday last, three days late. The Union Company's steamer Talune, which arrived from Sydney on Sunday night was inspected by the health officer yesterday morning, and afterwards berthed at the Queen-street Wharf. The steamer brought an unusually large number of passengers, she having 108 in the saloon, and 65 in the steerage, the majority being for Auckland. The Union Company's steamer Mararoa left for Sydney last evening, taking a number of passengers from this port in addition to those who accompanied the steamer from the South. Included in the cargo from this port were over 1700 sacks of maize, 100 bales flax, 180 cases frozen fish, a quantity of dairy produce, and transhipments of copra and vanilla from the Islands. We understand that Mr. Massey, M.H.R., received on. Friday last a cheque for £40, being bis portion of the iniquitous vote passed by the members of the House of Representatives, and that yesterday he paid it into the credit of the publio account at the Bank of New Zealand. At the next meeting of the City Council Mr. Atkin will move : " That the system of watering streets by hydrant is inadvisable, and should be discontinued, it being detrimental to the streets, and that—(a) Inquiry be made from America re particulars and cost of four-wheeled street sprinklers ; (n) that the Auckland Electric Tramway Company be asked if they would provide an electric sprinkler for the early morning! watering of streets, and the cost of watering the same.''

Yesterday Mr. J. H. 'Witheford, M.H.R., received a telegram from the Minister for Public Works, stating that he will arrive in Auckland to-morrow. He will stay a few days in the city, and then pay a. visit to the works on the North Island Main Trunk railway and the Helen&ville Northwards line, in order -to make himself personally acquainted with what requires to be done.

The Mayor (Mr. D. Goldie) is at present investigating, ft rather peculiar matter with reference to the awards in connection with the competitions at the recent exhibition of the Auckland Art Society. It appears that the work was sent down to Chnstchurch, and the awards.made. there, the names of the competitors not being known to the judges. In the competition for work in monochrome the award was sent to Auckland that " Zealandia" and "Studio" were bracketed equal, and it appears that from some cause, as yet unexplained, a bronze medal was awarded to " Zealandia" while " Studio" neither got a medal nor any credit for being bracketed by the judges equal with " Zealandia." The matter is to be brought before the committee of the Art Society. The method of doing business adopted by some second-hand dealers has frequently been commented upon by His Honor Mr. Justice Conolly, who has upon more than one occasion warned the purchasers that the ridiculously low prices at which they bought property, afterwards proved to be stolen, laid them open to more than suspicion. Yesterday an old woman named Mary Brown pleaded guilty to having stolen a"r opossum rug, which she disused of to a second-hand dealer named Mrs. Berry. foi 3s. The rug was a handsome one. and Detective Bailey said the owner told him it cost £3 10s. " In answer to the Judge. Mrs. Berry said the prisoner informed her tint she had picked it up in the street. His Honor told the woman she was very fortunate in not being placed in the dock alongside the prisoner. When a person would sell a. rug like that for 3s she must have known that it had been stolen. The Hon. J. A. Tole, Crown Prosecutor, remarked, at a later stage, that he thought it would be a good thing if second-hand dealers wer* licensed by law like pawnbrokers. A regrettable incident of supposed childish mischief occurred at the museum on Sunday afternoon, which should lead to extra precautions being taken by the authorities in the direction of preventing the possibility of the same kind of thing taking place in future. It appears that during the temporary absence of the caretaker in one of the other rooms, three little girls, the eldest of whom could not have been more than eleven years, were alone in the sculpture room, and by some means knocked over, and smashed beyond all hope of repair, a statue representing Apollino. How or why the children in question should have come to effect this damage must remain a mystery, for, though the caretaker's attention was drawn to the mishap in time for him to follow the three little girls as far as the bottom of Pitt-street, they disappeared at that point. The position of the sculpture room where the broken statue was placed is such as to make it impossible for any one person to keep constant watch and ward over it. Considering that the statue of Apollinn thus destroyed can only be replaced at considerable cost (probably not for less than £20), and that other damage of an equally expensive nature might be done, would it not be well to place the museum in charge of more than one person, on such occasions as Sunday afternoons, when upwards of 200 people are wont to visit i* during the available hours of the day?

The Northern Company's steamer Ngapuhi is keeping up her reputation for fast steaming on the passage between Onebunga and New Plymouth. On Saturday last the steamer covered the distance between the two ports in a little over eleven hours, notwithstanding that she had to contend against a strong head wind and sea all the way. With her excellent passenger accommodation and good speed, the Ngapuhi should become one of the most popular boats on the coast.

There was no inquest held in regard to the death of the Rev. E. Best, the coroner being satisfied from the information received that the case was one of heart disease. There will be a short mortuary service held at Pitt-street Wesleyan Methodist Church this afternoon at half-past two o'clock, previous to the funeral cortege proceeding to Purewa. The ladies of St. John's Wesleyan Church, Ponsonby, desired to put off the sale of work, as a mark of respect to the deceased clergyman's memory, but Mrs. Best desired them to go on with the sale. Therefore, the sale will be held to-morrow (Wednesday) and Thursday, as advertised.

A patent has been applied for, through Mr. Basley, solicitor, and patent agent, byMr. Ford, engineer, for an invention to provide for the safe and effectual launching of boatp from a vessel at sea, or when wrecked upon a lee shore. It is a well-known fact that in a great number of instances efforts to save the lives of passengers or crew in such a position are frustrated by the boats being dashed to pieces against the sides of the vessel. The invention under notice provides for the launching of the boats in quite a novel manner, not parallel with the ship, as at present, but with head to the sea. This is accomplished by means of patent telescopic davits, which are made to fall from the foot 01 step of the davits, working on trunnions, one man being lowered in the boat. On its reaching the water he releases one end of the boat, causing it to swing round and ride, facing the gale. Attached to the davits will be a canvas shute to lower passengers into the boat, the crew, who have to pull the boat, going first, and taking their position at the oars. The passengers will then be lowered until the boat has her full complement, when the man at the bow, at a given signal, disconnects tHi? boat from the davit, the davit springing up clear of the boat by the action of mechanism aboard the ship, and the boat pulling to sea. It is the intention of the inventor to offer this clever device to a local syndicate. e A number of old nautical men and retired master mariners have expressed thorough confidence in its practical working, and "admit its necessity, as all previous inventions to provide for the launching of boats at sea have failed to secure the certainty of a. boat floating free from the side of the.vessel.

Our Waiuku correspondent writes:—The funeral of the late Mr. Alfred James Holmes took place at one p.m. on November 16, being largely attended, fully 100 persons following on horseback. Deceased was the second son of the late Mr. John Holmes, and came to this district with the family considerably over 30 years ago, and, with the exception of a few years mining at the Thames in the, early days of the goldfields. he has resided here ever since. He was of a retiring disposition, and was much respected for his kind and sympathetic nature. The chief mourners were four sons, and Messrs. Walter and Samuel Holmes, brothers of deceased. He died at the comparatively early age of 54 .years, leaving a widow and a family of five sons and seven daughters to mourn their loss, for whom much sympathy is felt. The burial took place in the Waiuku Cemetery, the service being conducted by the Rev. W. H. Webster. A painful accident occurred to a young man named Harry White yesterday (writes oui Paeroa correspondent). He was engaged loading a waggon at the Junction, when h's right hand got caught in the winch. The first three fingers were very severely crushed, though the subsequent pain was considerably alleviated by the services of Dr. Buckby. The township of Whatawhata has (writes our correspondent) been busy of late, owing to a large influx of Maoris, to take part in a Ungi over the remains of a native woman. Tfese tangis are frequent occurrences in this district, as the bodies of natives are broughj from all parts for interment in the oil Maori burial ground, near the Waipa bridge Some objection has been expressed, on sani tary grounds, aj; this practice, by resident in the township. A subscriber to the Baden-Powell testi> monial wants to know who got the ordei for the casket? , Who were the expert* to whom the designs were submitted? Did those experts sec the specifications accompanying the competitive designs?

A yotmjf mm was arrested at Karangahake on Saturday night, on a warrant issued at Te Aroha, the charge being that he liad passed a spurious coin to Mrs. Smardan, of the Palace Hotel. Immediately upon the matter becoming known, the manager of the Crown Mines battery, who has worked with accused for a number of years, and holding the opinion that some mistake had occurred, interested himself on accused's behalf. Ihe result was that instead of accused having to remain in the lockup all day Sunday, Mr. Moresby, clerk of the court, and Mr. Hamilton J-'P-. kindly consented to do duty at ten o'clock on Saturday night, by having a sitting of the Court. The accused was charged with the offence, and remanded to Te Aroha, bail being allowed, himself in £100, and two sureties of £50 each. The recognisances were immediately forthcomicg, and accused was liberated.

A movement is on foot at Ngaruawahia (writes our correspondent) in conjunction with the farmers residing about Rangiriri and the lower Waikato, and Raglan, in the direction of having horse sales held there periodically. The Town Board is to be approached with a view to securing their assistance in the shape of establishing convenient saleyards. They have plenty of land suitable for the purpose. It is of a sandy nature, and not liable to cut up in wet weather. Those who are moving in the matter contend that it is unnecessary for the settlers in the districts named above, to bring their horses to the far end of the district when Ngaruawahia would be more convenient to the Auckland buyers. They point out that Ngaruawahia has two large hotels and several boardinghouses for the accommodation of those attending the sales. Mr. Hunter has been interviewed, and has signified his willingness to hold sales provided suitable accommodation can be secured.

The man Buckley, reported to the police authorities as missing, has been traced to, and found at, the Upper Thames.

There seems to be no abatement in the work of house-Building in all parts in the suburbs. Some large jobs in the city, in the way of warehouses, are said to be coming out shortly in the offices of the architects.

There is on view at the premises of Mr. Eagleton, about 120 different badges of the British army, collected on various battlefields in South Africa. It is very unique and well worthy of inspection.

Yesterday Thomas Alfred Dudley, plumber, Te Aroha, filed a petition to be adjudged a bankrupt.

The Australasian, commenting on recent proceedings of the New Zealand Parliament, says: —Voting money to themselves for the session was not the only impropriety the members of the New Zealand House of Representatives indulged in. To render the money available they had to amend, by a side wind, the law giving the Auditor-Gene-ral supervision over the public expenditure. It is not enough to put a vote on the Estimatesit must come under the provisions of some pre-existing Act: it has to be expended in accordance with usage that has legislative sanction. Mr. Seddon, the Premier, has, it seem*, been in frequent conflict with the Auditor-General over challengeable items in the Appropriation Act, items loosely stuck in to be loosely expended by an unscrupulous Minister. In connection with the demand of member;, for an extra honorarium, Mr. Seddon saw his opportunity. He told his supporters that they could not lawfully be paid any addition to the remuneration already fixed by law unless they passed a measure declaring money to be available for expenditure from the mere fact of its being voted on the Estimates. In effect he said, " Unless you put me in a position to defy the Auditor-Gene-ral anv time I want to, you cannot get your honorarium." An unholy bargain was struck, and a Revenue Bill (which made no mention of payment of members) passed, containing a clause as follows: —"In any case where any payment of an item is provided for in the Estimates, as passed by the House of Representatives, and is included in the total of a vote in the Appropriation Act, such payment of the said item may lawfully be made, anything in any Act to the contrary notwithstanding, and the said payment shall be deemed to be irrespective of any appropriation or limit contained in such last-mentioned Act; provided that in no case shall the amount so paid exceed the total sum of the item voted. This clause agreed to, the honorarium voted by members to themselves at once became available.