LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11637, 26 April 1901, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

At the meeting of the Royal Reception Finance Committee yesterday, Mr. J. H. Witheford, M.H.R., congratulated Dr. J. Logan Campbell (Mayor-elect) and the city generally upon the result of the Mayoral election. Mi. Witheford's graceful action was applauded by the members of the committee, and Dr. Campbell bowed his acknowledgments. His Worship the Mayor, Mr. D. Goldie, who presided at the meeting, expressed his pleasure at the election of Dr. Campbell. That gentleman would, he said, be installed on Wednesday week, and he (Mr. Goldie) hoped those present would attend on that occasion. The whole thing was very gratifying, he considerd, not only to the doctor, but to all who had taken a deep interest in his election.

At the aunn, meeting of the parishioner* of St. Mary's Parnell, last night, the vicar (the v . G. Mac Murray) moved:' " That this me%g desires to places on record its great o vr at the loss sustained by the whole Chi%, an d especially by the J Maori section oi"K Church, by the death • of the veteran m>\nary, the late Arch- ; deacon Clarke. 'Hi valued help so freely rendered to the v% and parish of St.- •■ -. Mary's Cathedral IsWatefully remembered ' by us all,'and his memory will be cherished as that, of a friend % 0 " unsparingly spent . ' himself for the Churl's well-being." In moving this. Mr. MaMurray said that he felt very keenly indeedthat he was moving a resolution referring 0 one who Was not merely a valued officer & the Church, whose .. place it bad been fount impossible to fill, but also of a friend afil parishioner. He had been more turn --a brother" to him since lie ; (ie speaker) had become vicar of Ihfc parish. Arch- • deacon Clarke never wai*d to be asked to . help him or the parish whenever it- was possible to offer his heir). No one but him- .-',, self knew how sorely he ad missed Archdeacon Clarke and his help He had always felt when the kindly archdeacon was here he had someone on whhn he could rely ■ in times of emergency, and whom he could ' trust no matter what happmed. He could hardly trust himself to speak of the late Archdeacon's goodness to him and the parish. He was glad to amounce that the clergy of the diocese had resolved to place a brass tablet in the chan.'el ot St. Mary's - Cathedral in memory of tin late Archdeacon Clarke, and it would be hii duty at the first meeting of the new vestrr to ask for permission to place the tablet there in memory of their dear friend. Tie resolution was * seconded by Mr. W. Kensington and carried in silence. ' ; .

Complaint has been mide to us on behalf of a number of old age pensioners in th« Waitemata • district, who have been treated in a manner which shovs most repreben-_ sible carelessness on the part of someone. Notices were issued to a number of applicants for pensions or renewals, directing) them to appear at the courthouse at Auckland yesterday, when their claims would be investigated. Many of the claimants had to leave the Wade and Waiwera by last) Monday's boat in order to be in Auckland at ten o'clock yesterday morning. When they come here they find that the Magistrate has gone to Whangarei, and that tht" hearing of the cases must be postponed till Tuesday next. About a hundred claimant*, are in this predicament, and a very serious ' one it is for them. The summonses to attend were issued by the clerk of the court? at Helensville. It has been suggested to us that it would be more suitable to have i court for hearing claims at the Wade,, whicl would be convenient for a large district • But that persons who are old, infirm, art poor should be dragged to Auckland aid kept hanging on here for r* week by a mstake of this kind is an unpardonable. outrage. •

Owing to pressure of judicial duties, the investigating magistrate for «ldi age pensions for the County )of Eien has been obliged to postpone the hearing of renewals and new claims at Panmura, waich. were to take place this afternoon, at three o'clock, till six. The deputy-regutral* has communicated with the proper authorities at Panmure, advising the alteration, so that no inconvenience may be experienced by the interested old folks resident there. ' "■ ?

An accident occurred yesterday morning in Fort-street to a man , employed by the Auckland Sanitary Company. He was lifting a dust barrel into its place on the cart, when he slipped and fell, the barrel coming on top of him > and bruising him rather severely. Dr. King attended to the man's injuries, and he was taken home in a cab;

A good deal of interest was manifested in the election of councillors of the Borough of Hamilton. The following was the result of the polling, the first nine being elected: James Shiner Bond, 199 Edwin John Davey, 198; William Dey, 193;' "Thomas Slade, 181 : Arthur Coyle, 179; Robert Parr, 178 ; James Robert Ellison Hatriek, 176; Isaac Coateg, 176;. George Watford Sare, 176; Andrew Seymour Brewis, 173; John Bettley,. 136 Thomas Chappell, 125; Arthur Edwards Manning, ' 173; John Munro, 164; George Samuel Pearson, 149 William Taylor, 134; .Henry Exford Tristram, 151. • '

In connection with the fire at Waikino, our Paeroa correspondent states that Mr.' N. White, after going over the salvage from the fire on Wednesday morning, ■ finds that his loss has been reduced to about £150. . All concerned in the fire speak in high terms of the honesty of the crowd who were present, not a single instance of pilfering being recorded. Mr. A. T. Ngata, who has worked zealously for the benefit of the Maori people, has compiled a draft cf by-laws to be submitted to the Maori Councils recently constituted. These emanate from the Te Aute Students' Association. The' by-laws show what the Maori Councils are intended to do, and the conception that the Young Maori Party have of the powers and duties of their councils. They are desirous to work with and through these councils several reforms, social and sanitary, all directed to the one end, the improvement of the condition of the Maori people.

As the train which leaves Te Aroha for the Thames at twenty-five minutes to five p.m. was proceeding between Tirohia station and Paeroa, on Monday last, an incident happened which might have resulted in some damage being done (writes our Te Aroha correspondent). An obstruction had been placed on the line, a log, fortunately slightly rotten, which the cowcatcher had no difficulty in breaking up. When the Thames train, which arrives at Te Aroha at six p.m., came to the same place, it was found that the broken fragments had been replaced on the line. No clue can be obtained as to the person who perpetrated the rash act, save that the prints of a boot, about 9gin long, have been discovered near to the spot. It is supposed that the log was placed there by some boy, but there are no houses anywhere near. The police have the matter in hand.

The vital statistics for the Thames district during the year 1900, as prepared by the registrar (Mr. E. Honiss) show (writes our Thames correspondent) that during the twelve months there was a- total of 267 births, 66 marriages, and 103 deaths recorded. In connection with the births, 128 of them were males and 139 females, which shows a majority of 11 in favor of the latter sex. Of the 66 marriages celebrated, 13 were conducted in accordance with the Church of England service, 12 Wesleyan, 9 Presbyterian, 9 Roman Catholic. 5 Primitive Methodist, and 4 Baptist and Congregational, whilst 3 were celebrated by otheU denominations not enumerated, and 11 werei celebrated by the registrar. Of the deaths, 26 were of persons under the age of 20 years, 8 were between the age of 20 and 30 years, 6 between 30 and 40 years,; 6 between 40 and 50 years, 14 be-. tween 50 and 60 years,.2o between 60 and 70 years, 16 between 70 and 80 years, 6 between '80 and SO years, and 1 over 90 years. These latter details show that so far as the Thames district is concerned, the period of longevity compares very favourably with that obtaining in other districts,, for it will be noted that the higher proportion of deaths is confined to persons ranging in age from 60 to 80 years.

A wliare belonging to Messrs. Adams and Collins was destroyed by fire at Neavesville on Saturday last. The owners had been roasting quartz in the fireplace during the morning, and on going out later on left the fire burning. When they returned a few! hours later they found the whare had been' burnt down. They estimate their loss at about £50. Impey's Band will play the following programme this evening in the Albert Park: —• ' Quick march, " Caracalla" (La Thiers);' overture, "Le Diademe" (Herman); vaMj " Beauty's Eyes," on melodies by ■■ F.; * Tosti (Morelli); selection, "Boccaccio (*, Suppe); gavotte, "Secret Love" • (KescnK cornet solo, " Alice, Where art Thou? n «* | Ascher) ; valse, "The Beautiful Rhine (iv| Bucaloffii); grand ; fantasia, . "V' volJ f. (D'Arcy Jaxone); barn dance, 'On tt* r Village Green" (Bollinson); "God Save W\King," - ■ ■ ■ *»

' A London, cablegram announces an important victory on the English turf for the J; New Zealand sportsman, Mr. Spencer Oollan, whose horse, Australian Star, won the City and Suburban Handicap at Epsom on P Wednesday last. Australian Star was bred £iin New South Wales, and when three years • old was purchased by Mr.Qollan for 2500 "- guineas. ■' ■■

On Wedaeday night Gunner Alfred Tarlin, of the Auckland Permanent Force, li-d after a brief illness. Ho strained bis heart while working recently at the guns, and took seriously ill last Sunday. Deceived leaves a widow and two children. He was widely known in football and volunteer circles. The funeral takes place to-taujrow afternoon. '

inspector Cullen received intelligence yesterday from Papakura that a small cowshed, barn, and stables had been burned down at two 0,.m. that morning, the property of Mr. Coulthard, Hunua. The total value of the property was £160. There was no insurance.

Br. J. Logan Campbell returns thanks to the ratepayers of Auckland for electing aim'as Mayor of Auckland. He. says that he fully recognises and acknowledges the unanimity with which the public has lien pleased to express itself on this occasion, and assures them that the confidence reposed in him will not be misplaced.

About a-quarter to nine o'clock last night the sky was illuminated in the direction of Avondale. On making inquiries, it was stated to be a paddock of gorse on fire, in the vicinity of the Point Chevalier public school.

The- huge tenting of Messrs. Fitzgerald Brothers' Circus arrived in Auckland yesterday, and a gang of men are at present working at Freeman's Bay reservation in erecting the tents. It is stated by the management that the circus will not visit the Waikato district or any inland towns. on this occasion, as the combination is too large. Special arrangements will, however, be made for trains to convey intending Visitors to town and return after the performance*. A telegram from Mr. Thos. Fitzgerald Says the business South has been a record for New Zealand, the new London and Continental Company proving a great success. The opening night in Auckland will be Monday evening next. Matinees will be given on Wednesday and Saturday, and the location will be within the reach of nil, as special 'bus services are being arranged for. The season here should prove a very successful one.