LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 11543, 30 November 1900, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

His Honor Mr. Justice Coxolly held a Bitting in chambers yesterday, and granted probate of a number ox wills.

The expansion of the Ohinemuri district, and the rapidly increasing population, has been the cause of a very heavy daily import 0 goods from Auckland, and so much is the capacity of the junction wharves at Piieroa taxed, that (according to our Paeroa coiiespondent) the matter was referred to at the Ohinemuri County Council meeting on Wednesday nigh. 1 - by the county engineer. The latter stated that it was necessary that some steps should be taken to stop the present practice of overloading the wharves. The loads placed on them at present were m very many cases unsafe, and if continued would'be almost certain to result in an accident. It was stated by the chairman that the Waihi Company were about t? erect a wharf, and this would relieve the Northern Company's wharves of some heavy cargoes. The engineer's suggestion was therefore allowed to pass without further comment, but the need of such a report serves tc show that Ohinemuri is becoming a big market for produce and other goods.

An inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Eliza Jane Codlia, a married woman, late of Onehunga, who di"d in the hospital, wa3 held at the Queen's Hotel, Symonds-street, yesterday, by Dr. A. McArthur, coroner. Dr. Laishley appeared to watch proceedings on behalf of Mrs. Davidson, sister of deceased, and Chief Detective Grace appeared for the police. After hearing the evidence the jury found that deceased died of septic poisoning, and added a rider (in which the coroner concurred) to the effect that Mrs. Davidson lad done all she could for her sister while the latter was in her (Mrs. Davidson's) house.

The funeral of Miss Lottie Thorp, who was drowned on Tuesday, whilst making an effort to save her sister, took place at Paero?. yesterday, and was very largely attended The procession was one of the largest seen there for many a long day. The children attending the Paeroa public school, of which deceased had been a scholar, preceded the to the cemetery, where the burial service was read by the Rev. Mr. McFarlane, of Te Aroha. The coffin was literally covered with floral wreaths, one of the number being sent by the class to which deceased belonged, and one by the teachers of the school.

As the ferry steamer Britannia was returning from Devonport on Wednesday evening, with a crowd of people, who had been attending the Takapuna races, a man named Michael Foley took off his boots and coat, and deliberately jumped into the harbour, narrowly escaping being struck by the paddle-wheel. The steamer was at once stopped, and a boat lowered, and the man rescued, apparently little the worse for his ducking, he being a good swimmer. As the man became very violent, and was found to be unde. the influence of liquor, Sergeant Forbes had him conveyed to the lockup, and. charged with drunkenness. He pleaded guilty to the charge at the Police Court yesterday morning, and was fined ss.

At the Magistrate's Court, Coromandel, yesterday, Edward and Sailor Brown sued Te Maiwhuia Rawiri for the return ot a cow and its calf, and damages for detention. Mr. Cruickshank appeared for plaintiffs, and Mr. C. R. Walker for defendant. It was stated that there were about half-a-dozen witnesses on each side willing to swear to the ownership of the disputed animals. All the witnesses are natives. Mr. Walker claimed that a true translation of the statement of claim had not been served. Mr. Bush, who is a well-known Maori linguist, after perusal of the claim, held tuat it was not good Maori. Tlncase, therefore, was adjourned till after Christmas for a proper translation, with costs tc defendant, amounting to £3 9s 9d, virtually the value of the beasts in dispute. Mr. Walker, a' the termination of the case, gravely advised the Maoris to kill the beasts, and luvo a feast during the coming festive season, and thus bury the hatchet.

Our Hastings correspondent writes: The Waimarama crossing has always had the reputation of being » dangerous ford, and ■when there is a slight fresh in the Takitaki River, it requires skill, pluck, and a staunch horse to negotiate the crossing. Last week there was a narrow escape of drowning at this ford, when a valuable buggy horse was drowned, the occupants of the trap being natives, who owed their escape to being expert swimmers, and got ashore. The buggy was recovered.

The abattoirs erected at Mackaytown by the Ohinemuri County Council are apparently doing good service, all animals slaughtered there being examined by the county, inspector (M.. Beatty). Our Paeroa correspondent states that during the past month 496 animals were slaughtered, six being condemned as unfit for human consumption. This was referred to at the County Council meeting by the chairman (Mr. H. P. Barry), 7 1 0 said that the condemnation of these beasts showed how necessary it was for such an institution as the abattoirs. Other dis"f'tk should ' so go in for abattoirs, for ~ the best of cattle were now coming into tfie Uhinemuri district, it was only reasonable to assume that questionable cattle were now being sent to other places where inspection by a public officer did not exist.

The Auckland det-achmen' of the New Zealand continent of Mounted Rifles for Sydney, under Lieutenant Markham, left for Wellington yesterday, by the s.s. Ngapuhi.

The Door of Hope institution has bought the old Union-street Wesleyan Church from the Wesleyan body, and it will be utilised in connection with the operations of the Door of Hope.

At' the Weekly meeting of the committee of the Hospital and Charitable . Aid Board yesterday, there were but few applications for relief, and these of no public interest. It was stated that three of the old age pensioners whose money and leave had been stopped, as fi. consequence of returning to the Costley Home in a stat- of drunkenness, had left the Home rather than submit to have their shilling a week or their leave stopped. ,

At the Thames Police Court yesterday, an elderly man named Win. Baker was committed for trial at the Supreme Court on a charge of stealing one ton and a-half of pig iron, valued at. £6, the property of Charles Schoa. The same accused was sentenced to three months' imprisonment in Mount Eden gaol on a second charge of stealing 3cwt 851b of pig-iron, valued at £1 5s 6d, the property of* Chas. Johnston. Messrs. Theo. Wood and Robert Scott were the presiding justices.

The Thames new bowling green is to be opened to-day, and a number of Auckland bowlers from the various clubs leave by the Wakatere to assist in the function, and to show by their presence their goodwill towards the Thames bowlers. The green is a six-rink one, and has a nice pavilion. It is hoped to see inter-club matches between the Auckland men and those of the Thames.

There was on exhibition at Messrs. R. and W. Hellaby's, Shortland-street, yesterday, a first-prize cow, bred on the Kereone Estate, Waikato • also two fat bullocks, raised by Mr. John Fisher, of Fukerimu, weighing 10701b and 10601b respectively. A bullock, reared by Mr. James Taylor, of Hautapu, was also on view, weighing 14081b.

A number of' the city establishments are commencing the renovations for Christmastide, and the artisans will be.kept busy in consequence up to that period, principally the painters and. carpenters.

The Wesleyan District Synod commences its sittings on Tuesday morning, so far as the ministerial session is concerned. The ordinary business, in which the laymen take part, commences on Wednesday.

A meeting of the Match Committee of the Auckland Bowling Association was held yesterday afternoon, Mr. W. Gorrie presiding. Correspondence was read from various clubs respecting the pennant flag competitions. It was decided, owing to the refusal of three clubs to play, to refer the matter back to the association, to see what fresh arrangement could be made.

Tlio first meeting of creditors in the estate of Alexander Gorrie, clerk, formerly in the employ of the City Council, was yesterday adjourned until Thursday, -the 6th prox. The debtor will be examined at the official assignee's office in the interim. The deficiency in the estate is £278 3s 4d.

The American Exporter calls attention to the foreign orders for American cars and locomotives, which have been lately given, amongst them one for 63 cars from New Zealand. It says:— order from the New Zealand Railways is a departure from the usual course followed by that country, for it has hitherto bought all its cars, not made at home, in England." It also says: —" The most important locomotive order of the month was also from the New Zealand State Railways for 22 heavy freight locomotives, and was placed with a firm in Philadelphia."

There is on view in the window of a Queen-street seedsman c remarkably fine collection of early potatoes, grown by Mr. McTndoe. of Otahuhu. In point of quality they would,compare well with many collections of show potatoes in agricultural exhibitions. There are no less thar 20 varieties, and each one seems perfect in its way plump, clean skinned, and well shaped. The collection is particularly interesting, owing to the fact that Auckland farmers are building up a trade in early potatoes with the South Island, and they suggest a wider market even than the South Island, for wherever potatoes are eaten, such as those displayed would command a high price.

The prizes annually awarded to the pupils of the Auckland College and Grammar School, by the Old Boys' Association, were this year given for the best reading in the junior and senior departments of the school. There were 54 entries for the two prizes, and the contest excited considerable interest among the pupils. The headmaster (Mr. J. W. Tib'os) conducted the preliminary examination, and reduced the competitors to 10. At the final examination Mr. Morrell, M.A., and Mr. Mahon, 8.A., were the judges, Messrs. C. J. Parr and E. Earlo Vaile being present to represent the Old Boys' Association. Eventually the judges awarded the prizes to N. H. Prior as the best reader in the senior school, and to J. Calder and J. Steele (who were bracketed equal) as the most proficient in the junior school.

A meeting of the local Patriotic Fund Committee was held in this Municipal Buildings yesterday afternoon. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. D. Goldie) presided, and there were also present: Rabbi Goldstein, the Rev. George Mac Murray, and Messrs. J. Edson, A. Kidd, J. Burns, J. W. Shackelford, and J. McK. Geddes. The meaning was convened for the purpose of considering the following telegram, which had been rereceived from the Under-Secretary of ..Defence:—"Am directed by the Premier to inform you that advice has been received from Mr. Pilcher that funds at his disposal for providing comforts for our fellow colonists taking part in upholding the cause of the Empire in South Africa are now exhausted. The Premier feels, sure that the desire tc help those serving the Empire, as evinced*by the contributions made tc the various patriotic funds, will enable your committee to considei the mattei in sucu a way as will assist Mr. Pilcher to continue the work he has so ably carried out : n the past, and that the generous assistance of your committee may be relied on to that end.—Arthur P. Douglas, Under-Secre-tary of Defence."

Some discussion ensued as to the nature of the comforts required, and whether the money was to be expended on invalided men or otherwise. Finally, on the motion of the Mayor, it. was decided to send £50 through the Government to Mr. Pilcher, bui' that no further sum should be sent until full inquiries had been made and satisfactory answers obtained.

A man named Green was arrested last night on a charge of theft, by Constable Finnerty, of the Freeman's Bay police station. Heavy gun firing will take place from Fort Cautley early on Saturday next.