LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11624, 11 April 1901, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Herald Summary, for transmission by the next outward San Francisco mail, Jfll be published to-morrow morning. Those desirous of forwarding the Summary to their friend? in Europe, America, etc., ff ill have ample time to do so, as the newspaper mail closes on Saturday next, at 9,30 a.m., up to which hour papers for insuring may be obtained of runners at the post office. This mail will be due in London on May 11.

The Coal Commissioners have visited the coalfields north of Auckland, the Huntly coal mines, the West Coast coal mines, the Otego coal mines, and the Canterbury coal mines, and will visit Mokau this week (says the Wanganui Herald). After this it is intended to proceed to Nelson. The Commissioners expect to have their report ready for the nest session of Parliament, and it is expected that it will be of great importance to the colonv. A further geological survey of the coalfields extending beyond the present Commission is very desirable, more esitecially in view of the possible very extensive coal beds in the vicinity of Wangamomona. Should these, beds prove to be as valuable as expected, it would doubtless make Wanganui a very important manufacturing town. It has been suggested that a sitting of the Commission be arranged for at Wanganui, to take evidence in respect lof the distribution of coal. We might suggest that the Commissioners visit the site. of these new coal beds near the source of the Tangarakau and examine the possibilities of their-development.

An inquest was held yesterday afternoon, by Mr. Gresham, coroner, at "the Criterion Hotel, on the body of Mrs. Margaret Doolan, ,who died in a tramcar on the previous night, under circumstances narrated in yesterday's issue. Dr. Knight made a postmortem. In his opinion death was due to failure of the heart's action. Patrick Doo-lan-gave evidence that deceased was his mother, a widow. Her age was 75. She resided in the Great North' Road by herself. He was talking with her the day of her death, and she was in her usual health and spirits. She did not complain of anything, 5 but suffering from old age. The jury returned a verdict in Accordance v/ith the medical, evidence.,, , :.....-..-.■.

Mr. Joseph Proud, one of the Coal Mines Commissioners, and himself for 35 years a practical miner in Durham, told a Lyttelton. Times reporter that at Brunnerten many tons of coal were annually tipped into the Grey River because no market could be found for it. It was slack coal to be sine, but it was of a class that woul I make briquettes of the very' best kind,,and it was saddening to see it, as he saw it w th his own eyes, shot ink the Grey River, to be irretrievably lost to the colony.

An emergency .meeting of the Cambridge Domain Board was held on Tuesday evening, at which alb the members were present. A deputation of, eight gentlemen waited on the Board and presented a petition signed by 258 residents, asking the Board to reconsider its decision to resign as a body. A suggestion was also made in the petition that the constitution of the Board be revised, with a view to the number of .members being increased to seven, instead of five. The chairman addressed the meeting, and said that being anxious to settle the matter peaceably, he was prepared to accept the compromise. He then moved: — "That the Board thanks the 258 petitioners for their expression of confidence and for their appreciation ot the work of the Board during the past 21 years. Further, that as the number of the requisitionists so largely ..exceeds those whose action caused the Board to resign, and as the requisition is intended to reconcile all parties, the Board consents to withdraw its resignation and to act again if appointed." Mr. Jno. Fisher seconded the motion, which was put and carried unanimously. The deputation thanked the Board and withdrew.

The restrictions upon vessels arriving at this port from Sydney having been reC moved, vessels will not be subject tc the 24 ;?: hours' quarantine, but will be inspected , upon arrival by Dr. Sharman, the health officer of the port, and allowed to berth at -'the wharf at once. The American mail : steamer Sierra, which is due from Sydney * to-morrow night, will therefore berth at the wharf after inspection, to take in cargo for Pago Pago,.Honolulu, and San Francisco.

A special meeting of the Onehunga Borough Council was hold last night for the purpose of signing the new burgess roll. His Worship the Mayor (Dr. W. R. CloseErson) presided. The town clerk reported that there were only two name& to be added to the roll. These wer*. duly placed •on the roll, after -which, it was signed by the Mayor and Messrs. J. Rowe and .1. J. Shal- ;■ drick. The meeting then terminated.

The Wesleyans of Birkenhead, Northcote, Lake Takapuua, and Devonport combined on Tuesday evening to hold a farewell social to ! the departing circuit minister, the Rev. C. E. Beecroft. The gathering took place at the Zion Hill Church at Birkenhead, and was largely attended. Mr. C. E. Button presided. " Mr. Wordsworth presented Mr. Beecroft with a copy of " Christ in Modern Theology" from the Northcote congregation. Mr. Alex. Wilson, C.C., spoke feelingly on behalf of Birkenhead, and presented a copy of "Young's Analytical Concordance." Mr. Beecroft, in receiving the gifts, referred *■> the many kindnesses of his church membra. Mr. Arch. Wilson remarked that Mnyfield had already shown its appreciation of Mr. Beecroft' friendship among «em. During the evening the Rev. Mr. ■oeecroft mentioned the receipt on the previous Sunday at Albany ol an inkstand and ■Kussian leather pockeibook. Solos were . sung between the speeches by Misses Mason a »d Button and the Rev. A. B. Chappell.

The returning officer for Auckland City (Mr. Ussher) has received the nomination of Br. J. Campbell for the Mayoralty. The nominators are. Messrs. David Goldie, the present Mayor, and Mr. George Fowlds, ; M.H.R. It is Dr. Campbell's intention, 'J necessary, to contest the seat against all comers, as it is apparently the desire of the ■ «at majority of the citizens that he should do so. A Maori was injured at the Foresters' - 5 '3 at the Thames by falling over an embatuoaeak when \» dislocated his shoulder. '■■; ■■'■

The Lyttelton Times hints at the probability of a statement to be made before the next session opens, by the Premier of the colony, upon the financial state of the country. It is also expected that the surplus will amount to between £400,000 and £500,000.

There is at present on view at the offices of the Education Board a collection of maps, object-lesson charts, and other material used in schools, which was selected by Mr. John Mitchell when he visited the Old Country.

The Auckland Builders' Association received a deputation from the bricklayers' labourers yesterday at their rooms, Victoria Arcade. The labourers applied for a reduction of hours to 44, and an increase of pay to Is per hour. After some discussion it was unanimously agreed to concede the demand. The labourers also asked that the Builders' Association should fix a date on which the new arrangement should start, and to do so as soon as possible, seeing that they had already lost a fortnight through the action of the bricklayers in going out on strike, with which they had nothing to do. The labourers' deputation retired while the Builders' Association discussed the application. After some discussion a motion was moved, " That the altered arrangement of hours come into operation on the 15th inst." An amendment was moved, "That the previous decision of the association be adhered to, and no alteration take place till May 1, and that the bricklayers and bricklayers' labourers could go back to work on the old arrangement for the fortnight." After a warm discussion the amendment was carried.

A meeting of dairymen, at which there were about 100 present, was held at Christchurch last week. Mr. C. Lewis, M.H.R., was present by invitation. In the course of a short discussion the disadvantages to which milk suppliers were subjected this season, through the high prices of stock, and the extra expense they were put to in complying with the provisions of the new Dairies Act, were pointed out, and it was suggested that the best way to meet the difficulties would be to form an association to regulate both prices and delivery. After discussion, it was resolved that those present should form themselves into an association. A committee was formed t" draw up rales, and ■to submit the same ".» &a adjourned meeting.

When the hairdressers' dispute was hz lore the Conciliation Board at Christchurch a witness, who had been called by then union, and who was an employer himself, was asked if lie thought that 3d for a shave was too small a charge. " Too small!" be exclaimed. "Why, it is ridiculous, it is absurd. The public would not object to a higher price, and it would be better all round. If the prices were adjusted, it would be better for both the men and the employers. What is wanted here is an association with some backbone." A hairdresser's assistant stated that Christchurch was the only large centre in the colony where no charge was made by hairdressers for trimming beards. , When the sitting was over an assistant, in conversation with a reporter, said that 6d should be charged for beard-trimming, as it required much more skill than hair-cutting. The former, he said, required an experienced workman, while the latter might be undertaken by an apprentice. The assistants say that 6d should be charged all round for shaving, hair-cutting, and beard-trimming, and that if this were the case they would have no difficulty in getting higher wages from their masters.

The Auckland Builders'" Association yesterday discussed the terms of the award of the Conciliation Board, re the Amalgamated Carpenters and Joiners' dispute. It was' decided by a large majority that the dispute should go to the Arbitration Court for settlement.

There were the following prisoners in the lock-up last evening: —Peter Lorenzo, on a charge of being drunk while in charge of a horse and cart; Joseph Allen Clarke, and Joseph Wm. Robinson, on a charge of theft; and a man named Miller, on a charge of issuing a valueless cheque.

A meeting, of the General Committee of the Imperial troops' reception -will be held this evening in the City Council Chambers, in order to pass the final accounts, and vote disposal of the surplus. A full attendance is specially requested.

The chrysanthemum and dahlia show -will open to-day at the Choral Hall at half-past two p.m. There will be Marriage's orchestra present, and afternoon tea will be provided.