LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11553, 17 January 1901, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Mb, McGowan, Minister for Mines, was at the Ministers' Rooms, Government Buildings, yesterday receiving deputations. The result of ft deputation from the Thames Drainage Board is reported elsewhere. There were no other matters of public interest • brought before the Ministei. Mr. McGowan will visit the Colonial Ammunition Company's, factory at Mount Eden this afternoon.

The Herald Summary, for transmission by the next outward San Francisco mail, will be' published to-morrow morning. Those desirous of forwarding the Summary to their friends in Europe, America, etc., will have ample time to do so, as the newspaper mail closes on Monday next, at 930 a.m., up to which hour papers for mailing may be obtained of runners at the post office. This mail will be due in London on February 16.

During the month of December, 993 head if large and small stock were slaughtered it the various slaughterhouses within the Thames district. Two head of cattle, suffering from tuberculosis, were condemned during the same period.

The Mayor (Mr. D. Goldie), with Messrs. Masefield and Patterson (Karangahapo Ward), visited the site of the new bandstand in the Albert Park, yesterdav, and agreed to recommend the construction of four tarred paths leading up to the stand f-om different points. It was also agreed to suggest that'about a foot of the ground round the stand be reserved for flowers, that 20ft bevond bo tarred and sanded, and that the seats now being collected by the Mayor be placed in the shade of the trees beyond this. The Mayor has now promises of 13 seats. The following have recently intimated their intention of giving seats :—Mr. Wm. Coleman, Mr. Wm. Henry, Mr. L. A. Levy, Mr. P. Hansen, and Mrs. Daldy.

The Fire Brigades Committee of the City Council met yesterday, when a discussion took place with reference 'to the big Pre of Sunday morning last, and also with refer ence to the appliances of the tire brigade. It was thought that a start towards improvement might be made by procuring ladders to enable the brigade to reach -r'v»h buildings, and a sub-committee was appointed to "confer with Mr. Gladding, supsr.'ntendent of the brigade, with a view to the order being sent off by the outward 'Frisco mail on Monday next. It was also deeded to hold an inquiry into the whole matter on Monday next.

- A statutory meeting of shareholders of the New Zealand Glass Company, 71, QueenBtreet, will be held to-day at three p.m., as per advertisement. Preliminary operations in such, works are necessarily tedious. In the matter of this concern the securing of machinery and plant occupies a considerable amount of time. Advices from Mr. Mount, the manager, are of a very encouraging nature, as recent improvements in the machines will give important advantages to the company. By the San Francisco mail, leaving there on the 24th inst., Mr. Mount returns with the plant, and in a few months later an industry of importance will be started, in our midst. The site secured for the works is located at Mechanics' Bay, an area of nearly two acres, which is considered an ideal one, as sand and coal can be landed from vessels at the works, which are close to the city.

The question of whether alcoholic refreshments should be provided for the members of the Sixth Contingent at the farewell ceremony, or whether in deierenco to the views recently expressed by Lord Roberts, alcoholic refreshment should be entirely excluded, will be further discussed at a meeting of the Refreshment Committee, in the Ctiy Council Chambers this afternoon.

A letter appears in the Ohinemuri Gazette, signed John McNamara, in which the writer complains of being blocked from employment on the Government co-operative works. He says that Mr. Seddon stated in Paeroa that in; the co-operative railway works preference would be given to elderly men, but this is not done. Preference, he says, is given to relatives and friends of those in authority.

In the course of an interview on the proposed electric trams for Wellington, Mr. Ferguson, secretary of the Wellington Harbour Board, said the best system which could be established in Wellington would be the overhead trolley system. It might not be, he added, the most inexpensive, bub it would certainly be the most effective that could be adopted, all things considered, in a city like Wellington. Mr. Ferguson suggested the extension of the tram system to the suburbs, in order to develop Wellington properties.

, .At three o'clock to-day Mr. J. M. Shera, vice-president of the Auckland Savings Bank, will lay the foundation-stone of a new build- ■ ing at Devonport, which is to be the offices of a branch of the Savings Bank.' The building is most conveniently situated, and we have no doubt -will prove of great service to Deyonport, as enabling working people resident there to deposit their savings at times convenient to themselves. At a meeting of the members of the Central Mission, held in the hall, Albert-street, last night, it was decided that the large tent used in connection with the mission should be erected at the encampment in the Domain, permission having been obtained from Lieutenant-Colonel Banks to do so. The tent will be available for lectures on surgical aid. A supply of writing material, daily papers, and magazines will be laid out for the free use of the members of the contingent. Games will also be supplied, and a series of entertainment? and religious services will be held while the camp continues. The Rev. H. J. Walker, evangelist of the mission, will be in charge. Mr. Walker's suitability for the work is emphasised by , the fact that he was for many years a soldier in the British army, and fought with the " Fighting Fiftieth" during the Maori war. Subscriptions and promises of assistance are invited by the treasurer, Mr. Thos. Miller, Victoria-street, and Mr. J. J. Mackay, Victoria Arcade. An inquest was held at the hospital-yes-terday, before Mr. Gresharn, coroner, concerning the death of John McDonald, who died in the hospital on Tuesday evening soon after being taken there by the police. Constable McCarthy stated that when deceased was brought to the police station he apS eared to be in a helplessly drunken state. fe was a labourer, and gave his age as 63. Witness understood deceased to say that ne resided at Waihi. Chas. White deposed to seeing deceased leaning against. a window in Custom-street, .and then falling backward, striking his head on the pavement. Dr. Bett stated that death was due to fracture of the base of the skull. A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical evidence. _ Mr. E. A. Mackechnie, of Grafton Road, is very seriously ill. He bad been ailing for a couple of months, bub his illness took a dangerous turn on Monday. The Auckland Yacht Club have had to further postpone the date of their annual Picnic until February 9, the North Shore Sailing Club having arranged to hold their annual function on February 2.

. A very narrow escape from drowning occurred off St. Mary's Hay last evening, whereby a young man named Gordon Kelly «1 but lost his life. Five young men, named ; ■•■ s %e, R. Webster, F. Crippen, 0. Bradley, and G. Kelly, had been out for a sail in the yacht Bona, and were coming ashore in » small dingey intending to land at St. .: Mary's Bay. When about 50yds from the , yacht the dingey capsized, throwing the occupants into the water. Kelly and another could not swim, and the former was *°, in trouble, and sank. A crew*of the West End Rowing Club, who were out , Practising, observed the accident, and promptly went to the assistance of the men in the water. Kelly, who was in a very ~\ exhausted state, was taken on board of the ~ on ». and restoratives apnlied. Drs. ' • w> die and Bedford were telephoned for, . * n came down to the West End shed, ™nere Kelly had beon taken in the meanwine. After some time Kelly regained consciousness, and was taken to his home, wfcere, under the attentions of Dr. Goldie, ae rapidly recovered. * •

The- Huddart-Parker steamer Zealandia left Sydney for Auckland last evening. Amongst the passengers by the steamer is Mr. Jackson Palmer, M.H.R., who has been attending the Commonwealth celebrations.

The first annual picnic of the Yorkshire Society of Auckland took place yesterday. The p.s. Terranora took about 300 people to Cowes Bay, Waiheke, leaving Auckland at a-quarter past nine a.m., and returning at seven p.m. Instrumental music and part-songs enlivened the journey, and sports were held in the afternoon. ' The weather was everything that could be desired, and nothing marred the pleasure of the day.

The Auckland Fruit and Produce Auctioneers' Association intimate that on and after Monday next, all fruit will be sold by the case or package. .

A lad named Deny, living in Jermynstreet, was admitted to the hospital yesterday, suffering from a severe cut on tJie arm. Vi appeared that the boy had put his arm through a glass door. The arm was rather badly cut, but after treatment at the hospital the patient's sufferings were much relieved, and he is now doing well.

The first of the series of this season's young bird races, that is, for birds bred since the end of August last, was flown on Tuesday from Frankton Junction (60 miles airline), find resulted in Messrs. Ellis and Swann's A.F.C. 468 being first, velocity 972 yards per minute.

Mrs. Stott, of the China Inland Mission, gave a very interesting address on mission Work in China at the Central Mission last night.

The plan of reserved seats for the season of the Crane-Power Dramatic Company, which visits us under the direction of Mr. J. C. Williamson, opens to-day at Messrs. Wildman and Lyell's, Victoria Arcade. The opening performance will take place on Monday evening next, at the Opera House, when will be given for the first time in Auckland, " The King's Musketeer," the famous dramatisation of the great romance of Dumas, '"The Three Musketeers." It will also reintroduce Miss Edith Crane, so well known as the original "Trilby," who, as Miladi, will interpret the role of which she is the original exponent, Mr. Tyrone Power, as Cardinal Richelieu, will make his first appearance here. This artist came to thecolonies with an excellent English and American reputation, which, judging from reports, he has fully earned by his work in Australia. Mr. Cecil Ward will appear as the swaggering Gascon D'Artagnan. The company "is an exceedingly strong one, artistically and numerically, numbering 48 people. As usual with all Mr. Williamson's plays, it will be gorgeously mounted, and as its action is laid at the Court of Franco in the resplendent times of Louis XIII., there should ha great opportunities for display. As the season is limited to 12 nights, only three performances of " The Kings Musketeer" can be given.

Messrs. Cooper and Macdermott having just completed a most successful tour of five months in the Southern cities, have returned to Auckland, and will give an exhibition of their latest patriotic programme in the Opera House next Saturday, in honour of the departure of the Sixth Contingent. Since last here in August, the company has secured considerably improved machinery, and the programme is said to be an excellent one, and has been received by crowded audiences in the largest theatres throughout the colony.