LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11581, 20 February 1901, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

De Wet, who crossed the Orange River at (Zand Drift, and was badly worsted in an encounter with the British at Houtkraal, seems to have suddenly turned and made off in the direction of Strydenburg and Hopetown. He was, however, headed off between these two places. Part of his force is said to have become mutinous owing to the indiscriminate flogging indulged in, and to have resolved to act independently. It is now stated that the drift at which De Wet crossed the Orange River was the only one which had not been protected by mines. Thi* omission was made on purpose, as it was sought to entice De Wet into a district which had been denuded of horses. The ruse was successful, and the result is that the mobility of the British is now much greater than that of the enemy. In his maiden speech in the House of Commons, Mr. Winstone Churchill justified the war. Two or three cases of suspected plague are reported from Capetown - An important statement was made in the House of Commons by the Under-Secre-tary for Foreign Affairs.' Referring to the Chinese question, he said that assurances had been given by the Russian Government that neither sequestration of territory nor a Russian protectorate was intended. Viscount Canborne also added that he was not aware that any of the Allies intended sending an expedition to Taiyuen.

The Premier and the Hon. J. G. Ward had a busy day yesterday receiving private deputations. Several deputations of Maoris, including Mahuta, and Henare Kaihau, waited on the Premier with reference to the boundaries of the districts created by the new Native Lands Administration Act. Both the Otorohanga and Bay of Plenty natives are opposed to being joined in a district with the Wai.ka.to natives. The Premier, Mrs. Seddon, and Miss Seddon, and Mr. Ward, left by the Government steamer Tutanekai for "Gisborne, at half-past twelve this morning.

, The Cornwall Clipper, the newspaper published on board the s.s. Cornwall, which took the Sixth Contingent from New Zealand, was printed when the vessel reached .Sydney, as a souvenir. The contents are of a chatty, interesting nature, and several of the articles are very amusing.

The third wooll sale of the season was b*te at the Wool Exchange yesterday forenoon' the three auctioneering firms interested sub' mitting catalogues totalling about 1800 ' bales, the last clip of the year. An turarf at the cloying sale the wool was on tin l who!* slightly inferior to that at the earlier sales and when this fact is taken into considerS tion it may be said that prices ruled much' about the same as at the opening of tjj e season, being still decidedly low as .compared with last year. Best- halfbred woof touched s|d per lb, lambs' wool sold from 3Jd to 5Jd. crossbred averaged about 4W and the coarser and poorer wools about 44

This week's issue of the Aocklasjj Weekly News will be one of the most attractive publications? ever issued in .tia'lvW: colony. It will contain no less than jjQ most interesting pictures of the visit of tin ' Imperial and Indian troops. The views inelude splendid pictures 01 the procession oa • Saturday, the record gathering in the Domain, and the Indians at the summit of Mount Eden. etc. Altogther the number ' is replete with many views that are likely ■ to have a permanent historical value in the future.

The Government evidently intend puahing on the North Island Trunk railway, as we learn that another assistant engineer has been sent on to the works. Mr. C. E. Armstrong, lately in charge of the Kav*.kawa and Grahamtown railway extension, has now been transferred to a section (£ the line near Taumaranui. V *

'The invalided troopers returning fro© South Africa by the Karamea are expected to arrive in Auckland, via Manukau, about half-past ten o'clock to-day. '■;

The University Senate commences its ait*' tings at noon to-day, at Government House, in the ballroom. Sir James Hector, Chancellor, arrived on Saturday, and other members arrived by the Ngapuhi yesterday. Tha sittings are expected to last about 10 days. We understand that the election of a member of the Senate to fill the place vacated by Dr. Mime, of Otago, will be of one of the earliest duties of the Senate. The University Colleges have lost two professors, Professor Ulrich, who, it will be remembered, lost his life while looking for geological specimens on the precipices at the back of Port Chalmers, and Professor W. M. Clark.La*t vear the New Zealand University spenS £2000 in scholarships, and the progress of the work has been entirely satisfactory. No doubt attention will be directed to amendment of the satutes, especially in the direction of improving the medical, engineering, and legal status in the University. ~,

In addition to the Imperial soldiers re*'. ferred to elsewhere, who missed their pas»! sages by the Britannic yesterday, were a sailor and two firemen belonging to the' crew* The firemen went to the police station in tbo afternoon, but the police authorities refused" to have anything to do with them unless they surrendered as deserters, and as the men would not do that they were sent about, their business. ; ;

On Friday and Saturday first the second annual exhibition under the auspices of the Avondale Fruit and Horticultural Society is to be held. This 'district is improving very much, and the coming show is expected to cause many to regard this districts a-* " the Garden of Eden." There are otht 700 entries, and the sections of fruit, flowers, and vegetables are likely to be strongly represented. Poultry will also be shown, 1 but this branch of the show is not regarded as of great importance at present.

A very racy story is told of an Im- '">. perial private -who was billeted out to a : "strict teetotal family" in Dunedin. After* he had been made heartily welcome, the, • host remarked that he hoped his soldier guest would not mind the family being : rather strict in regard to intoxicating spirits* :, Tommy enjoyed his beer, and being any*! ; ;; thing but a hypocrite, told them so, but .'.■■ added that he could have anything ha, wanted in town, the while thanking his en-i ■ tertainers for their cordial greeting. Justs \:\ before supper was announced the host asked his guest if he would like to wash his hands.;. ; " Yes."' " Well, we can go to the kitchen.".' When they reached the kitchen the teetotal host cautiously closed the door, and dropping his voice to-a confidential tone, said :JL 1 " Of course, we are very strict about ' but I find I must have a little nip occasionallyas a tonic, you know. You might' have one with me." Mind, not a word to the wife." Tommy agreed, of course, and was easily persuaded to have a second. | When bed time was announced, the good '; wife said she must show the visitor to the room she had prepared for him. When sha and her guest had reached the apartment,: the door again was softly closed, and in' much the .same confidential —"Of ; course, we are \ery strict about drink, you know but I have a slight affection of the chest, and I find I must occasionally take a* little stimulant. But not a word to my husband I" A bottle was produced, anct the red-coat had another series of [ The pantomime was repeated on several oc-> casions, and, by keeping faith with husband and wife, Tommy had a very enjoyable time.* How his mates envied him when he retailed Hie experience at mess, is spoken of from end to end of the Britannic.

Our Hunua correspondent writes: —lt i$ always a pleasure to be able to report the introduction of high-class pedigree stock into the Auckland province. Mr. Luke Ballard, who is to the front in that great sheep, the Lincoln longwool, paid a visit to the Wa-nganui sheep fair, purchasing; some high-priced and highly-bred of the above class, viz., one ram, bred by Mr.i> Wm. Wilson, Waverley ; one bred by Mr.t Brennar, Waverley;; one bred by Mr. Hair's estate, Brunswick ; and one bred by Mr. J- \ S. Holmes, Omorou. The rams are all in; the New Zealand Flock Book. Mr. Ballard is to be complimented and commended in having introduced new blood of such highclass to this province, at considerable costMr. Ballard informed me that sheen of all classes sold at high rates, and anything of special merit far exceeded expectations.

Only one nomination was received for the election of a graduate's member to the Auckland University College Council, viz., that of Mr. Geo. Wither, 8.A., who was nominated by Messrs. E. H. Strong, M.A., and H. Dean Bamford. Mr. Bigg-Wither will therefore be declared elected.

Our Taranaki correspondent writes: —lt is with regret that I chronicle the death of Mr. Julius F. Klenner at the District Hospital on Saturday. Mr. Klenner, who resided in Waitara, was thrown from his horse in that town on February 9, and was stunned, he being left on the post office premises for a considerable time, as it was thought he was then sleeping off drink, the facts of the case not then being known. However, the evidence of Dr. Leatham at the inquest, held at the District Hospital, ■went to show that the cause of death waS fracture of the skull, and blood clot on the brain. The jury returned a verdict that deceased died from injuries received through accidentally falling from a horse, and added a rider suggesting to the Department the advisability of all constables in charge of, stations receiving instruction in ambulance' work. I might state the deceased was well respected in and around Waitara, Sentry Hill, and Lepperton. The funeral took place on Sunday, and was well attended.

The Whangaparao Estate, consisting of ; 1350 acres, Las been sold by Mr. R. H. Shakespear to Messrs. Bond and Bell for the sum of £3300.

Mr. T. 0. Jenkins, chairmarj of the Ahuroa (Kcmokoriki) Railway Committee, hat just received a telegram from the Hon. thi Minister for Public Works, Mr. Hall-Jones,; stating that owing to recent occurrences he will be unable to visit the, North Auckland district in reference to railway extension, as soon as he expected. lb is anticipated, that the Minister will be through early in March. There are many sett-lens through* out the Central North who have been looking forward to the Minister's visit. : J -

As we were going to press this morning a steamer from the northward was reported to have passed Tiritiri. This will probably, ; be the Union Company's steamer Tayiuaij. which is due to-day from Fiji.; -.- .: - - : ; v*::-'*-;iM

.■!*>-■ " IM^ 1 ~ 1 The Hon. the Premier and the Hon. J. TO Ward* Colonial Treasurer, were engaged transacting Departmental business yesteray- A meeting of the Cabinet was held • - ' late on Monday night, at.which there were ;v|'; : Present: The Hon. 11. J. Seddon (Premier), the Hon. J. G. Ward, the Hon. Mr. Dun- " can and the Hon. J. McGowan. The fact «-as mentioned that the Government hud " been approached regarding recruiting for the I South African Police in this colony, and that an answer had been sent that it wan j ■■"'' not desirable in the interests of the colony, ! The tender of W. Gardiner, £648. was acI cepted for the erection of an accommodation house at Waikaremoana. The expenditure of £2000 was authorised in connection with tha new works at the Rotorua baths. The ■"suestion of purchasing a farm at Papatoetoe I question and experimental purposes was for stud and experimental purposes was held over until a full meeting of Cabinet.

In. the Mackelvie Gallery is a fine picture entitled ''In Time of Peril." Miss Anna Bock has just painted a very clever copy of ft, which is on view at Mrs. Nicol's. Miss Bock is a promising young artist, who holds eight first-class certificates, also a silver inedal, won two years ago, when only 15 years of age. Her marked progress in art should warrant her taking in hand original work.

Mr. Pearson, the English architect, has ' forwarded the working plans and specifications for St. Matthew's new stone church, and they are now in the hands of the local architect, Mr. A. Hartley, There are 39 large detail plans, and the specifications form a book of many pages. Before tenders can be called for many copies >>f the plans and specifications have to be made. Mr. Hartley is pushing on this work, with all speed, and it is anticipated that within a fortnight advertisements calling for tenders will he published in the colonial newspapers. No reply has yet been received from the Duke of York as to whether lie will lay the foundation stone. Indeed, it has not yet oeen decided whether H.K.H. will visit Auckland »t all.

At the Lunatic Asylum on Monday, Mr. Gresham, coroner, held an inquest concerning the death of John Henry Wilson, who died there on Sunday last. dlr. Webster gave evidence, showing that the deceased had been an inmate since 1893, and had suffered from Bright's disease, also latterly from phthises, which was the actual cause of death. The jury returned a verdict accordingly.

The mission for the parishioners of St. Benedict's, Newton, conducted by the Passionist and Dominican Fathers of Sydney, commenced on Sunday night last, when the Rev. Father Augustine preached from the text, " what doth it profit a man to gain the : whole world if he suffer the loss of his own soul?" A large number of children attend the mission from the various Roman Catholic schools. Two Dominican fathers, who arrived on Monday, took part in the mission last evening.

Late last night two men and a woman were arrested on a charge of assaulting and robbing an Indian named Ranjin Khan of £2 17s 6d. The names of the persons arrested are Edward Green. Thomas Stafford, and Annie Edgecumbe.

The fine weather experienced last week in the Manawatu district has been taken the fullest advantage of by agriculturists to do their harvesting ; and cutting, stooking, and stacking work has been pushed along. In the neighbourhood of Feilding, which has had three consecutive weeks of bad weather, with rain nearly every day, a, great portion of the oat crop has been discoloured, and no small portion spoilt. The late-sown portion of' this grain, however, will not be affected. Wheat, of which only a small area was sown, was affected, and cocksfoot crops were practically ruined. The weather also played havoc with the fruit.