LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11537, 23 November 1900, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

A SENTENCE of four years' imprisonment with hard labour was passed by His Honor Mr. Justice Conolly upon William Rogers, who on Wednesday was convicted of attempting to murder a neighbour at Mangonui. The Judge remarked that had the jury not recommended prisoner to mercy, on the ground of age, he would have felt it his duty to impose the highest sentence provided by law, which was such that it would have prevented the possibility ot prisoner committing another such crime.

Preparations are being made at Onehunga by Dr. W. R. Close-Erson (Mayor) and leading citizens to accord a fitting reception to Troopers Kirkbride, Montgomerie, and Hubbard, members of the First New Zealand Contingent, on their return from the war in South Africa. It is proposed to give them a public reception in the Town Hall. As Montgomerie and Kirkbride are members of the Onehunga Rifle Corps, and all three were brought up in Mangere, they are sure to receive a right royal reception, both at Onehunga and Mangere.

What appeared to be a case of attempted suicide occurred yesterday at the Paeroa public school, a little, girl named Elsie Thorpe, daughter of Mr. A. J. Thorpe, having swallowed a quantity of match heads. After doing so a burning sensation appeared in the child's throat and stomach, and to alleviate the pain by taking a liquid, she gwaiiowed a bottle of ink. Several other children who were in the playground, at once informed the teachers, and Dr. Smith, who was instantly summoned, quickly put in an appearance. " Emetics were at once applied with satisfactory results, and yesterday afternoon the child, who is between eight and nine vears old. seemed to be very much better and completely out of danger. The reason for the child "taking the match heads cannot be accounted for.

At the recent meeting of the Canterbury Charitable Aid Board Mr. C. J. Harper, of Ashburton, asked what the Board's position was with regard to the provision in the Old Age Pensions Act Amendment Act, declaring that it shall not be lawful for any Charitable Aid Board to refuse admission to the homes under their charge of any old age pensioners on the ground that he is such. " According to the Avoiding of the section,'' the chairman replied, "there is no penalty, except the threats of the Premier."

There has been a good deal of discussion lately in respect to the manner in which the trees in Jervois Road have been treated. The subject has been several times before the Scenery Conservation Soceity. The Rev. T. F. Robertson in a letter to Mr. A. J. Allom says:—"The trees look better than last year, but from careful observation this afternoon very few of them seem worthy of preservation. They looked simply splendid the second year after planting, and if, as I was informed by a skilful gardener, they had been topped and pruned they would have been by this time things of beauty, offering a plea.sing shade, without interfering in any way with the telegraphic wires. Now they are unsightly things, of all shapes and sizes. . . . Our civic rulers spent money in planting ornamental trees for the beautifying of the locality, and spent further money in abusing and deforming the same, when just becoming beautiful." Mr. Hurndall, who is well known in Ponsonby as a practical man, and an authority on orchard work, writes:—"ln reply to your request for an expression of opinion as to the present method of treating ornamental trees in Jervois Road, I beg to say that in my opinion the method adopted is about as faulty as it could well be. AH branches not required should have been taken off close up to the main stem, the bark would then have grown over, leaving a smooth surface, instead of as has been done, leaving spurs two or three inches long, and causing the trees tc look most unsightly, and as they were cut back at the wrong time of year, before the sap had done rising, a second growth of spindly wood took place, causing still further disfigurement. So the unfortunate trees, instead of being an object of beautv, became a perfect eyesore. Why these trees were not gone over again during the winter just past, and all surplus wood and weak second growth removed, I cannot conceive. I may say that having had some 20 years' experience of orchard work I know something whereof 1 write."

Last evening, at the company camp _at North Shore, Lieutenant-Commander Patterson, of the Ponsonby Naval Artillery volunteers, entertained a few friends at a dinner, when a very pleasant couple of hours were spent. Commander Patterson occupied the chair, and Lieutenant Spinley, senior subaltern, was in the vice-chair, the guests present being Captains McKenzie, R.A., Coylo, R.E., Reed, Lieutenant Boscawen, R.N., Hon. A.D.C. to His Excellency the Governor, and Messrs. A. S. Bankart, W. Woodward, R. G. Reid, and L. Benjamin. The only toast of the evening was that of " Her Majesty the Queen, Proposed by Commander Patterson and 1 Honoured standing. -

Just as Dr. Bond, of the Thames, was preparing to start on his professional round yesterday morning, he discovered that the bridle on his horse needed some slight attention, and he instructed his groom to attend to the matter. The latter at once proceeded to do so, but whilst so engaged the horse, which was attached to a gig, bolted along Sealcy-street, and in crossing Pollenstreet the gig collided with a passing dray. This had the effect of overturning the gig and throwing the horse into the culvert near the Imperial Hotel, from which position it was quickly rescued. The gig was damaged to a considerable extent, one shaft being smashed, several spokes in one of the wheels broken, and the axle bent. The horse escaped with one or two cuts and bruises, r

Yesterday Constable McCarthy, of Onehunga, found a large quantity of tabacco of various kinds, and cigarettes, hidden in a gorse bush near the Pah farm in the Mount Roskill district. As a robbery of tobacco, etc., occurred a few days ago at Mr. Roy Hall's store, near the Mangere bridge, that gentleman was communicated with, and on visiting the police station at Onehunga he identified the find as his property. No arrests have vet been made in connection with the robbery. The tobacco is considerably damaged by exposure, and much of it is practically unfit for use.

The branch manager of the Westport Coal Company at Auckland (Mr. W. Ronson) has completed arrangements foi supplying the United States transport Abarcnda with 4000 tons of Westport coal during her stay in Auckland next month, the coal being intended for the United States Naval Depot, at Pago Pago, Samoa. This is a very large order to fulfil at one time, and the Westport Coal Company are to be congratulated upon securing such" a contract. Some time since, at the Request of the United States Navy Department, the company forwarded to Washington a number of specimens of their coal for analysis, and it may be safely assumed from the fact of such a large order as the above having been given, that the United States naval authorities are fully satisfied with the results of the tests applied, to the specimens forwarded.

An inquest was opened yesterday at the Auckland Hospital, before Dr. McArthur (coroner) to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the death of a' married woman named Eliza Jane Codlin, lately residing at Onehunga, who was admitted to the hospital on the 14th hist., and died there on Wednesday. After evidence of identification had been given, the inquest was adjourned till Thursday next at two p.m.

Muck interest centred round the oil engines exhibited at the Auckland Agricultural Show last week. The Wolverine, shown by Messrs. E. Revnolds and Co., Victoriastreet, especially " attracted attention, its compactness, steady running, and easy management commending itself at once to the onlookers. Several launches are to be fitted with this make of engine.

The additions and alterations to the Grand Hotel are about completed, and will cost about £3000. The new diningroom is 36ft by 35ft. The upper floor is carried on a girder of local manufacture, which weighs three tons, with a brick wall built on '.op, and can-ring a. span of 35ft. thus obviating the us 3of columns in the diningroom. There is a mock beam to form four panels. the diningroom is elaborately decorated, and has four heavy cornices, and large centres for lights. The dado and the ceiling is of asbestos. The room will seat about 150 persons, and is lit by nine windows. There is a balcony commanding a view of the city, where the band will be stationed during dinner. The billiardroom is 34ft by 22ft. The upper storey, to which there is a new staircase, is subdivided into 14 bedrooms. They are large and lofty, the corner one commanding a view of" harbour and city, being 18ft by 13ft, and lit with three windows. The basement is subdivided into kitchen, pantries, sculleries, and servants' apartments. There is a lift from the kitchen to the diningroom floor. Hot water has been laid on throughout. Mr. Johnson, the licensee, has imported from America eight dozen chairs for the hotel, which are of new and chaste' design, and are of old oak. ' Mr. Leckie, of Parnell, has done the sub-contract of plumbing, and Mr. D. Simpson, of Karangahake Road, the decorating work. Mr. Grandison is the contractor, and Mr. J. Currie the architect, under whose supervision the work has been carried out.

At the Te Aroha Police Court yesterday, before Messrs. Pavitt and Gavin, J.P.'s, a young man, arrested at Karangahake, was charged with uttering a counterfeit sovereign at the Palace Hotel on the 14th inst. Sergeant Brerman, of Paeroa, conducted the case for the police,, and Mr. J. A. Miller, of Thames, appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. Evidence was given by Mesdames Smardon, senior and junior, and Constable Wild, to the effect that defendant had tendered the sovereign in payment for drinks, and had received 18s 6d in change. The sovereign was white in appearance, but defendant accounted for that by saying that he had some quicksilver in his pocket at the same time. Next morning, on showing the coin to a young man. he cut a soft piece out with his knife.' They sent for the constable, who, on examining the coin, broke it in two with his teeth, and, on the assumption that the coin was counterfeit, he instituted proceedings. Questioned by Mr. Miller, the constable said he would not swear the coin was spurious. He believed it to be a gold coin, which had come into contact with mercury. Mr. Miller submitted that there was no case to answer, as the police had entirely failed to prove that the coin was counterfeit, and also that it had been uttered knowingly. The Bench dismissed the case, and, in doing so, remarked that the accused ought to be more careful in future so as not to lay himself open to a similar suspicion. Seeing that he was a batterv manager, with a knowledge of metallurgy-, they thought it very peculiar that he should have in his pocket mercury and gold coins at the same time, and advised him, in his own interest, to discontinue the practice.

A number of young ladies of Waipawa have decided to present Major-General Baden-Powell with a token of their esteem of his gallant defence of Mafeking. A representation of a wolf's head in solid gold has been made to order for the young ladies, and this charm or watch-chain pendant bears the word " Impeesa," a Kaffir word signifying "The Wolf" or beast that does not sleep, but sneaks about at night. It is intended as a token of appreciation, to convey to Lieutenant-General Baden-Powell some idea of the impression his courage and endurance during the siege of Mafeking produced upon the young ladies interested.

The fifth race in connection with the Thames Flying Club was flown from Stratford (170 miles airline) on Monday, the 19th inst. Ten members sent 40 birds. The weather was very stormy. The birds were liberated by Mr. A. McNicol, stationmaster, at six minutes past nine a.m. The following are the results: —Mr. F. H. Wilson's red check cock Rufus, 875.5 yds per minute, first; Mr. C. Walton's red check cock Kickapo. 872 yds pei minute, second; Mr. J. L. Walton's blue check cock Rotorua, 871.5 yds per minute, third; Mi. W. Curtis' blue "cock Victory, 870 yds per minute, fourth.

At a special meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board held in the board-room, High-street, Inst evening, tenders were opened for the. alterations to the Nurses' Home at the hospital, as follows :—John Davis, £113 ; H. B. Mclntyre, £128 ; and J. Farrell, £123. Mr. Davis' tender being the lowest was accepted.

The liabilities in the estate of Thomas A. Dudley, plumber, of Te Aroha, who recently filed a petition in bankruptcy, are swoih at £88 7s sd, to 14 unsecured creditors, his assets amounting to £47, leaving a deficiency of £41 7s sd. The first meeting of creditors will be held at Te Aroha on December 3.

Out of a list of some 30 cases sent for trial at the Supreme Court, there remain eight to be heard. The sittings should finish about. Wednesday next.

There will be a short mortuary service this afternoon at the Pitt-street Desleyan Church in connection with the funeral of the late Mr. Daniel Caley, of New North Road.. •