LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11535, 21 November 1900, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The mails brought by the Alameda last evening were of the following dates London, October 20 ; New York, October 27 ; San Francisco, October 31 ; Honolulu, November 7 ; Apia, November 14. AngloColonial Notes, Personal Items, Latest Mining News, and other interesting news from our London correspondent, will be found in another part of this issue.

The American mail steamer Alameda arrived from San Francisco, Honolulu, and Apia last evening with the English and American mails, which were landed up to contract time. The steamer on this voyage had an exceptional large number of passengers for New Zealand and Australia, 36 saloon, and a number of steerage passengers landing at this port, whilst 29 saloon ..nd about 30 steerage passengers are bound to Sydney. Leaving San Francisco both *he saloon and steerage were completely filled with passengers, there being no fewer than 68 in the saloon for Honolulu. The steamer had also a full general cargo, her consignments for New Zealand amounting to 500 tons, and for Sydney 1300 tons. Included in the cargo for Auckland are large consignments of apples and onions. At Apia a large amount of copra was shipped for Sydney. The Alameda proceeds an to Sydney at eight o'clock this morning.

Leaving San Francisco at midnight on October 31, the mail steamer Alameda encountered a very dense fog, and she was detained in the harbour for nearly seven hours, it not being clear enough for the steamer to proceed on her voyage until an early hour in the morning. The steamer made very good time on the passage to Honolulu, where she remained for about 13 hours, and met with strong head winds on the run to Apia. Notwithstanding these detentions, the Alameda reached Auckland and landed her mails at contract time.

The new mail steamer Sierra underwent a very satisfi ctory trial trip at Philadelphia early in October last, an average speed of about 18 knot<i per hour ueing attained. The new steamer left Philadelphia on October 11 for San Francisco, and is timed to leave for Honolulu, Samoa, and Auckland on December 12.

The Union Company's steamer Ovalau which left for the Cook and Society Islands last evening, took one of the largest cargoes which has left Auckland for the Islands, and included a large shipment of kerosene for Tahiti. Other lines in the steamer's cargo consisted of timber, meats, produce, and transhipments from Australia.

The Northern Company's new steamer Ngapuhi made a very fast run yesterday from New Plymouth to Onehunga. She left New Plymouth at half-past ten o'clock on Monday night, and arrived at Onehunga at five minutes past nine a.m. yesterday, the trip occupying 10 hours and thirty-five minutes. This is the fastest trip ever made between the two ports

j i His Worship the Mayor (Mr. D. GoMia} I will inspect the Domain to-morrow (Taw*. ! day), accompanied by fe» committee of the , Scenery Conservation Society, with a view I to making improvements of various kinds, | As the finances of the Domain are healthier j than formerly, more money will now bt | available for "improvements. Among other ' alterations it is proposed to remove the raring I gates from the Parnell-HospitJil Main Bead, j and place them at- right angles to their | present position, thus separating the zrarl ing portion of the Domain, into two padi docks.

j The chairman of the Harbour Board 'Mr. ' J. FT. Witheford) has had several conference j with Colonel Gudgeon, British Resident at ■; Rarotonga, with regard to the arrangement* ; as to steamship communication, and the j sale of fruit on its arrival in Auckland. I Colonel Gudgeon said the native* would rot ship fruit to Auckland in the future unlets there was some chance <of receiving an adequate return for their labours. He mentioned that in one instance 500 cases of fruit were shipped to Auckland, and at the suae time another 1503 from the same island •*■(:*> taken by a private firm. Th? 1500 cases were passed, and the 1500 ca«es sent hv the natives were condemned, with the result that they received no return. It took last Jone and July shipments to pay for the losses sustained by the natives in" April and Mar. Mr. Witheford explained that he had d:»". covered the fruit was passed and handled more rapidly at Wellington than in Aucfe. land. The Agricultural Department si Wellington had sent an extra man to prevent delay. Mr. Witheford is of opinion entire charge in the management in Auckland is necessary. The Government are arranging for an inspector of fruit i'« dwell on the island, which would gave the cost of freight on fruit that- would have bee» condemned if forwarded. Mr. Witheford hi* communicated with the Union Companv t -> see if it is not possible to so arrange chip. ments that there shall not- be a glut frotj other islands or Sydney at the same tin as fruit is coming from Rarotonga.

There has just been produced at the Herald printing works a handsome and useful Christmas souvenir, in the shape of the New Zealand Birthday Record and Calendar for 1901, designed' by Miss Olive Tilly, under the supervision of Miss Dora E. Moor. This artistic wall calendar take; the place of a birthday-book, possessing an advantage over the latter in that as each page is turned there are the birthdavs for that month of our friends. The designs ara of Maori earrings and New Zealand seenerv, the floral decorations being symbolical 'of each month, with suitable motto? in Maori. The whole plan of the calendar is highly artistic, and the designs are thoroughly characteristic of this country. Miss 0. Tilly is to be complimented on" her production. It should prove a most suitable present tc send to friends not only in New Zealand but particularly abroad! The calendar is now in the hands of booksellers and agents.

It was reported to the police authorities yesterday that a young woman named Ada Cole, residing in the Mount Eden district, had attempted to cut her throat. Dr. Grant was called in and she was removed to the '" Hohipere" private hospital, where she at present remains. Her wounds are, it is said, not likely to be dangerous.

A man named John Williams, employed at the Sugar Works, and residing at Nigerstreet, Newton, fell through a trap-door last night, a distance of 14ft, and got bruised about the chest- and side of the head. He was brought over by ferry steamer to Auckland, and taken in the ambulance to the hospital, being accompanied by the working manager and Mr. Harris.

There were two men arrested yesterday, namely, George Murphy and Geo. Craus, on a charge of assaulting Mr. Richard Carr and Mrs. Carr, at the Epsom Hotel, and further with assaulting Edward Gist; also John Joseph Dores, from New Plymouth, arrested on a charge of breaking and entering premises of Chas. Robt. Lovett, Auckland.

Yesterday Stapelton Cotton Caulton, of St. Heliers Bay, formerly a hotelket-per, now out of employment, filed a petition n bankruptcy, with liabilities amounting to £834 3s 4d to 45 unsecured creditors, and £100 to one secured creditor. The asset,' amount to £275 (of which £250 represent: surplus from securities in hands of secur.v creditor) leaving a deficiency of £559 3s 4d.

Competitors in the weight-guessing competition at the Agricultural Show will learn with interest that the dead weights of the various animals are as follows: —Bullock, 9371b; cow, 7011b; three sheep, 1831b.

The well-known boatbuilder, Mr. Robert Reid, met with a painful acident at his van" in Custonvstreet an Tuesday afternoon. While lowering a boat into the water with a winch, he took one hand off the handle to remove the brake. The winze took charge, and the handle struck Mr. Reid a severe blown on the nose and right hand. He is now recovering from the effects of the shock.

The s.s. Waiotahi will leave Auckland on Wednesday, 28th inst., at three p.m., for Tauranga, taking passengers for the Tauranga Agricultural Show. Return saloon fare, £1, tickets available to return by the s.s. Waitangi on Thursday, the 29th, or the s.s. Clansman on Saturday, December 1.

The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Auckland has revived in New Zealand an ancient office of the Church, namely, that of rural dean, which existed in England before the Norman Conquest. Two deans have been appointed to aid the archdeacons respectively of Auckland and Taranaki, namely, the Rev. 0. R. Hewlett, of Papakura, and the Rev. F. G. Evans, of New Plymouth.

Particulars of a dispute between the Auckland Benchmen's Union and the Auckland Master Tanners' Aassociation, have been filed with the clerk of awards, Mr. R. Goring Thomas, who has fixed Tuesday, December 4, as the date upon which the Conciliation Board shall meet at the Supreme Court buildings to consider the matter. The Wellington Chamber of Commerce has elected Messrs. N. Reid and A. W. Brandon to represent it at the coming conference in Christchurch, when the whole question of the mail service and the introduction of the decimal system will be discussed. Our Waihi correspondent slates that Paul Williams, who met with an accident on Thursday night last, when about to go on night shift, was able to resume work yesterday. The police authorities were informed at a late hour last night that a woman named Mrs. Barr Brown, living on the gumfields, HobsonviUe, had died suddenly. The matter has been reported to the" coroner (Dr. McArthur). The claim for compensation arising out of the destruction of clothing and property and removal from her home made by Mrs. Kelly, of Upper Queen-street, against the City Council has been settled, and a cheque for £90 has been handed over to the claimant. There are several other claims yet unsettled. Rata, the Ngapuhi chief, of Whangarei, who lately died at Whatitiri, was buried at the Maunu native burial ground. There was a large number of natives present from all parts of the North. Rata always assisted the Europeans in the old days when they were in the minority at Whangarei. At St. Joseph's Church, Otahuhu, yesterday morning, a solemn Requiem Mass wai celebrated for the repose of the soul of the late Very Rev. Father M. D. O'Hara. His Lordship the Bishop, the Right Rev. Dr. Lenihan, presided. The Right Rev. Monsignor O'Reilly was celebrant of the mass, Father Darby acted as deacon, and Father J. O'Hara as sub-deacon. Father Gillan was master of ceremonies. In the choir were the Very Rev. Dr. Puxton, 0.5.8., Fathers Patterson, S.P., the Very Rev. Dr. Egan, 0.5.8., O'Carroll, Corcoran, and Brodie. At the conclusion of the mass the clergy, followed by the congregation, proceeded to the cemetery. The Bishop then blessed the beautiful monument erected over the grave of the venerated Father O'Hara. An adjournment was made to the Star Hotel, Otahuhu, where luncheon was laid out,.