LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11562, 28 January 1901, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Owing to the enormous demand for copies of the last issue of the 'Auckland-Weekly News it has been necessary to print a third edition. As only a limited number are now ; available for sale early application should;", be .-made in order to avoid disappointment.

The American mail . steamer Alameda leaves Sydney for Auckland, on February 2, and is due at Auckland on the morning of the 6th, and proceeds on to Pago Pago, Honolulu, and San Francisco, the same evening. Mails by the steamer close at three o'clock p.m. on February 6.

His Worship the Mayor has placed the letter, written by General Baden-Powell, thanking the Auckland Testimonial Committee for thoir proffered gift, in a case in the Auckland Art Gallery. The complete collection of Transvaal coins, recently -secured for the city, ami purchased by the Mayor, is also to be placed in the gallery in a short time.

The Union Company's steamer Ma'raroa arrived from Sydney ; yesterday afternoon, after a somewhat boisterous, passage, strong head winds and seas prevailing all the way across the Tasman Sea. The steamer brought 107 saloon and 66 steerage passengers for Auckland, and has also a number for the South, the majority of whom are returning from attending the Commonwealth celebrations. The Ma'raroa leaves for East Coast and Southern ports at two IA-JgiJi tu-myiTow id'teinoon.

The repairs to the French barque Max,: which put into Auckland some months ago, in a partially dismasted condition, -whilst on the voyage from New Caledonia' to Glasgow- with V cargo of nickel ore,are- expected to be completed about the middle; of next month. The steel masts with which the vessel ..Was originally fitted have been taken out and replaced,by kauri spars,'.'.which; are splendid pieces of timber, and are some, of the best specimen's of their kind which have been seen in. Auckland for many years past. The outlay for re-sparring and re-rigging the vessel- has run into many thousands ,of pounds, and the whole work is being carried out by Mr. George Niecol in a manner satisfactory to all concerned. ; A robbery took place on Saturday night at Messrs." Watts Brothers' grocery store in Queen-street, Onehunga. Both proprietors live in Onehunga, but neither of them reside at their place of business. ■ Yesterday morning Mr. W. Watts had occasion to visit the store, when he found all entrance had been effected during the night, and 10s, together ;with a ';■: quantity ; of" cigarettes,' stolen. -The : robbery was reported to the police, who now have the matter in hand. A robbery of two boxes of tobacco, valued at about £10, took place from the Northern Company's sheds at the' Shortland Wharf, Thames, some time on Friday night. .The tobacco''was' placed in the shed during Fridav, but when it was sought. for on, Saturday for shipment to Mr. Tizard's flax mill at Kiripaka Bay, it was missing. The matter has been placed in the hands of the police, but so far there is no clue to the perpetrators of the deed. ; TEe record bag of the season at Okoroire was taken from the Waihou on January 24, when a gentleman made a catch of five fine fish, totalling in weight 241b, the largest turning the scale at 61b 12oz, This is the largest fish caught this season, and was indeed a "beauty-" The above plainly shows that the streams here hold trout both in size and numbers equal to any waters in New Zealand, and • deserve to be better fished than they are. Such fish as the above take much skill to capture, ■". and the angler requires many „of the excellences •which go to make the perfect fisherman. The fish have been taking the fly more readily: during the past week,: and the sport promises well for the next two months. The committee of the Northern Club have written to His' Worship the Mayor (Mi". D. Goldie) informing him that they are prepared to billet Colonel Wyndham (officer commanding • the Imperial troops) and 20 of the officers, as their guests during the stay of the troops in Auckland, and to admit all the officers as honorary members of the club. Several of the citizens have also expressed their willingness to receive a number of the troops as guests. With respect to the billeting of the troops, the action of the Wellington municipal authorities in placing the. expense on the Government, on the ground that the troops are the guests of the Government, has put a totally different aspect upon the whole question. The meeting of citizens will probably take place on Thursday next. A servant girl named Johnson had an unpleasant experience with a snake one day last week at Bombala, New { South Wales. The girl was walking along the verandah when suddenly something dropped on her head, curling round her neck. She thought it was a strap, and was unconcerned for a moment, when to her horror she discovered it was an enormous tiger snake. ; The girl's screams brought the mistress of the house, who, with great, coolness, managed to get the snake to the ground, and at once killed it. The girl, though greatly frightened, was not injured in any way. '

During the hearing of the industrial dispute in the iron trade at Dunedin, Mr. J. Sparrow . said . mechanical engineering did not pay in Dunedin. Nearly all the engineering firms that were in existence there in 1888 had gone bankrupt, and although there was so much work doing now the trade did not pay. He himself had not made £300 out of seven dredges, which he had built. It was also mentioned by other employers present that a good deal of work was going out of the colony, that dredges for New Zealand were being made ■•■; in America, and that a syndicate was being formed in Wellington for the purpose of getting dredges made in Germany.

What may happen to a man in the bush in Australia is shown by the following incident:—Mr. Edward Small had 'terrible experience at Myrtle Creek last Friday morning. He went out with his brother for horses, which they had purchased. On the return the horses broke away. :■ The brothers separated. . Edward's horse fell and threw him, and dragged him several yards, when one of his legs was broken. After his horse got away, he tried to crawl with a stick, but the sHVk broke, and he hint the leg again. He got to a wire: fence, and dragged, himself nearly seven miles along by the wire to a waterhole, which was found dry. He gotto another, with the .same result, but found water at a third, some miles further on. He was found by his brother on Sunday afternoon. He had had no rest cubing to attacks by ants, and no food during the whole time. The latest accounts state that he is progressing satisfactorily, notwithstanding the long exposure.; While going along the fence he fell on the , barbed wire and cut his cheek open.

During the past few weeks a large number of accidents have occurred in Sydney through persons '-,■ getting on and off the trams while in motion. This practice is increasing, and each' week the traffic police have a good deal of their time occupied in conveying injured persons to the hospital.

On the 20th inst. the members of the Rockdale Church and congregation, Sydney, tendered a hearty welcome to ■ their new pastor, Rev. Joseph Parker, late of Beres-ford-street Congregational Church. A large and representative audience filled the church. Alderman W. G. Judd, one of the deacons of the church, presided. During the evening an appreciative letter was read from Mr. George Powlds, M.H.R., New Zealand, of the work done by Mr. Parker during his pastorate in Auckland, and expressing regret that domestic reasons led to his resignation of his charge j.n that city. In replying to the cordial welcome extended by the church and visiting friends, Mr. Parker referred to the kindly relations-which had existed between the church and the late pastor (Rev. W. H. Bradley), and said he hoped that affection,would continue, while he himself would do. all he could in his own way of work to merit a share of their esteem and affection also. ■■ He said he would unfold his programme of-work as time went on, and that instead I of reciting his creed, as was customary on such occasions, he would content himself with saying that the very centre of his preaching would bo the wondrous love of God revealed in Christ, and the Scriptural and scientific fact that 'Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." '-

The weather prevailing of late has been most remarkable for the time of the year. After blowing from the eastward for over a week, the wind went into the westward, and then into the southward. . On Saturday the weather was as cold as at any time during the winter, whilst yesterday was warm with fine sunshine, until the evening, when it sets in cold again, accompanied by rain during the night. The weather has been very bad in the Tasman Sea, the Mararoa, which arrived from Sydney yesterday afternoon, having encountered strong southerly winds and heavy head seas from the time of leaving Port* Jackson Heads until making the North Cape.

On Saturday evening, at the club-room, Ponsonby Club Hotel, a very large attendance of friends and members of the Ponsonby District Football Club, assembled to bid good-bye to Corporal Dave Gallaher, on the occasion of his being about to proceed to South Africa as a member of the Sixth Contingent. ; Mr. S. D. Hanna presided, and in a very happy and appropriate speech, proposed the health of the departing guest. He then handed to Corporal Gallaher a gold sovereign purse filled sovereigns. v Messrs. B. Masefield, J. Redman, and F. " MoHey also spoke. Corporal Gallaher, in a very feeling speech, briefly.Responded, thanking all present for their gift, and said he would over strive, to do what was right, and Cv)»« chief} jjjjosejifts a soldier,,

The dredging Doom on me we«. Cfl&jfc'i, ; > f ;, proving of some advantage to Auckland at '-' ; the present, time, owing to the demand fot ?i |kauri timber, to be used in the construction' ■' '• 1 I of : . dredgers. 'Tie schooner Clyde sailed' ' ' 1 I for Greymontb' oil Saturday'afternoon, with' ; '""-t I I a'large quantity of timber for dtedV. 1 ! building, which is the second cargo shipped * " ' ! to the West Coast port within the past few ! months, and ibis probable that other shipmerits will follow. At present MesfifrSi '{* | Eraser ami Sons . and Meters. Senear ' Brothers, have in hand two large dredger i >'' I for the. South, which "ill be sent away next' I month by the 1 brigafitine Sir Henry. •■ % ||||| The Auckland Master Plumbers hVld»"- j their annual picnic on Saturday last, $' - Home Bay,. Motutapu. The threatening aspect of the weather prevented many from- - attending by the- early boat.- During y-.. ■' 1 morning the weather cleared, and a laraf- I [number availed themselves of the opt,?'. I trinity of a second boat. The afternoon.-: 1 was devoted to sports for all ages, and both j sexes. A • lengthy ' programme, including j soiae extraordinary, events, such as biscuit and banana races, proved of great interest '. Messrs 'Leckie and Anltett acted as starters"' etc.yand Messrs; Swales and Winzanbaw, [as judges,, in the larger events, while Messrs, Hitchcock and Blakey had their hands bA\ i with thft juvenile items, submitted to their : j care. The whole function prove to be ,'„ most enjoyable .event, and reflected great ' credit, on +he committee and all; those coi^ cerned in fts management. > '■'.■ ' ' - t • '"'■.' ' ' : -^Woh'rf: A narrow, escape from drowning occurred' ■' in the harbtim on Saturday afternoon, and j had it not been for the plucky conduct of Messrs. J. ■-.•>,Endean, jun., and Percy Bailey, a young fellow named Clausen would have been drovned. ; Gliusen and two other young fellows ivere out sailing in a boat to- V the westward of the Hubson-strcc-t Wharf,;, the wind blowing very strongly and a heavy; sea running at .the tine. The boat vss by some means <apsized, and the occupants? thrown into tie water. Two of. them struck' out for the water, but Clauaea , I scrambled on *> the top of the capsized - boat. His wtight, however, caused the : boat to sink, md he made an attempt to j swim ashore, bit it was not long before hi I was in trouble, and sank.. Mr. Endeun, ] whe was ; on tie wharf at the time, only ] stopped to threw off his coat and vest, arid j sprang into th water to the assistance of. I the drowning San. ' In the meantime Mr. Bailey had undessed himself, and also went | after Clausen, loth men reaching him about . j the same momeit, just as he had sunk for the I third time. After a hard struggle they j managed to gib him ashore in a very ex* | hausted state, t being some time before he ; ■.-■: was sufficientlyrecovered to be taken to his home. The <onduct of Messrs. Endean ' and Bailey is leservihg of every commendation, \ ' i ". It was reported to Constable Harvey, of • . j the Ponsonby police station, on Saturday; morning, that i child named Thomas Murray, aged abort six months, and boarded : out under the infant Life Protection Act, with Mrs. Kate Hammond, of ervois Road, had died late oi the previous night. The ■ child (whose mither resides at Waite'muii) had been suffering from diarrhoea and a sore throat, and wis attended by Dr. Goldie.An inquest was held on Saturday afternoon, before Mr. T. Gi-esham, coroner, and a ver- '; diet of death fron natural causes returned. ; .: At a meeting ;t Dr. Maitland's residence,; ■ I Kemuera, on Frioay evening, it was decided | to form a polo club to be called the Reamer* Polo Club. Lieutenant-Colonel Dbwell, V.C., was elected president, Mr. H. Crowther - captain, Mr. H. Cotter vice-captain,' Br. Maitland treasurer, and Mr. C. D. Walker secretary. iTheslub will be affiliated to the New Zealand Polo Association. About. 20 members' have; joined, and; practice will > : ; be held in Hunter and Nolan's paddock, Remuen;. ' -■ < A Maori lady, granddaughter of the famous chief, Wiremu Tamehana (William

Thompson), died at Hoe-e-Tamii, on the ; 22nd inst., after a long illness. The re-, mains were conveyed to Manngakawa for interment. ' "V" " •

The bankrupt estate ofStilwell and Gilman, of tlie Strand Cafe, has been purchased on behalt of a strong'syndicate, through Mr. W. R. Holmes, as from Saturday night, when possession was ; handed over. The business was taken : oyer as a going concern, and will be carried out under new management. It is the intention of ,the purchasers to - maintain the cafe ;as a.', first-class - establishment, and-they* are satisfied; that from the business done in the past that they will be successful in still further popularising it. The secretary to the; syndicate is Mr, W. R. Holmes, who was connected with the Auckland Exhibitionj" and who may be de-: f pended upon to see that the establishment will be kept up to the times.

On Saturday afternoon Trooper J. Connor, one of the members of the Sixth Con* tingent, met with a nasty accident. .: His horse reared and ' fell i back with him, Connor sustaining ■':• slight, '.- concussion of : the brain. He was able to walk to the Central Mission tent, supported by. some of his com-, rades, where the Ambulance Corps attended to him, and subsequently Dr. King. > Wis are glad to state that ; Connor was about again yesterday, though -a little shaken by his fall, and he will bo able to go on with his comrades, in the troopship. .

In consequence of the death of the Queen the annual harvest festival, in connection ■>: with the Manulcau Wesleyan Methodjst cir- . cuit, has been postponed until further no- V tice. ; • ' ... *

IMr. Moffat, orchardist, of the Wade, in* • • I forms us that he has for years sprayed his • I apples ,and pear, trees with a:. solution of ■■ a Paris green for the suppression;of codlin 1 moth/and with very.beneficial effects. This 1 year he has used a solution as hitherto, and ' " I the result has been ruinous to the trees, ' t - I the leaves having curled, up, and look as 1 shrivelled and brown as in autumn. He I estimates his loss at over £70. Mr. Moffat I 1 has been in town to see Captain Broun, the . 1 Government entomologist, about the'- mat--I ter, but he was out of town, and he there- . ■ I fore has gone back to the Wade, in the a hope of seeing him again. • His desire was /V/ I to get the Paris green : and ■'. the solution a analysed, and to know if the solution was -', I of a different strength to that hitherto used. IHo thinks ;that tlie' Government should nee' - I that the orchardists get a solution of uni*. I form strength, in order that they may be ; ''•'.:"> I spared such losses. "*■