LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11689, 26 June 1901, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

r, ... - The Rotorua Number of the Auckland Weekly News, published Inst week, has had a very large sale, almost equalling that of the issue of the previous week, for which there was such a sensational demand. Many taring opinions have been expressed on all sides about these two issues, and it is conceded that last week's number of the N'kws has never been equalled by any newspaper in the colonies. This week's issue, which will be published to-morrow, promise* lo lie quite a* good as the former publications, owing to the excellent views that it will contain of the Royal reception in Wellington. In addition there will be a fine series of entirely new pictures of the Rotoma reception.

The Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones, Minister for Public Works, accompanied by .Mis. and Miss Hall-Jones, arrived from Wellington yesterday. This morning they leave for Kotorua, where they make, a short stay.

Owing to the illness of Mr. Alfred Kidd, and the fact of the Mayor (Dr. Campbell) having a pressing engagement elsewhere, the conference between representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and the City Council with reference to lire brigade and water supply matters did not take place yesterday, being postponed till to-morrow afternoon, when it is expected Mr. Kidd will be able to attend. Superintendent Hugo, of the Wellington Fire Brigade, who is expected in town to-day, will thus be able to be present to assist in arriving at an understanding as to what is necessary for the proper equipment of the Auckland City Fire Brigade.

Mr. Skillington, librarian of the Auckland Free Public Library, received, through Dr. J. Logan Campbell (Mayor of Auckland), on Monday la.st the autographs of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York for the Free Public Library. The autographs are of great value, and serve as a record of the visit to New Zealand, and especially to the library, of such illustrious visitors". The signatures will l>e placed beside those of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the Prince Consort, King George 111., and King William IV. The earliest signature of Queen Victoria is June 22, 1857, and contains instructions to the Governor of South Australia, "Whereas we have been pleased by our Order-in-Coun-cil to declare our Royal will and pleasure that in all the prayers, liturgies, and collects the words ' for the Queen' be used instead of the word ' King.' "

An infant named Elsie Maud Lewis, boarded out under the Infant Life Protection Act with a Mrs. Eliza Collicoat, residing in Lincoln-street, Ponsonby, died at twenty minutes to nine o'clock yesterday morning. The child was bom on October 17 last, and had been attended by Dr. Knight. Death is stated to have been caused by vomiting and diarrhoea, through teething. An inquest will be held to-day.

An inquest was held yesterday afternoon at the Wynyard Arms Hotel, before Mr. Thomas Grcsham, district coroner, on the remains of an infant named Mabel Cole, who was boarded out under the Infant Life Protection Act, 1896, with Mrs. Cinnamon, residing in Abercrombie-street. The evidence of Dr. Wine was to the effect that he had attended the child since the 13th inst., when it was about 3j months old. It then appeared wasted and sickly. He gave it as his opinion at the time that the child was hardly likely to recovei, and ordered a change of treatment, which was followed, but the child died on Monday last. A verdict of death from natural causes was returned. The coroner in summing up commented at some length upon the very reprehensible practice, in some cases, of calling in medical aid for the first time at the eleventh hour. He intimated his intention of suppressing such practices as far as possible. He had to specially report such cases to the Minister for .Justice, and ho should bring the matter under tho notice of the Minister.

Our readers will remember that for a considerable time past Mr. M. A. Ferri has been taking an active part in trying to get the Austrians who are here settled upon the land, as permanent settlers, instead of devoting themselves wholly to gumdigging. The ignorance of the English language no doubt has been felt a drawback to them as permanent settlers. The hostility shown to them by the professional gumdiggers has had the effect of causing a considerable number of them to leave the colony. Mr. Ferri states that about 600 of his countrymen have left Auckland during the present year, and in some he fears, they have not improved their position by the change made. However, permanent settlement of some of the Austrians is in progress. A few have become settlers in the Herekino settlement, and Mr. Ferri, who has been in correspondence with the Government on the subject, has been offered two blocks of land in the Lucas Creek district, one block containing 843 acres, and the other 183 acres. As the Austrians intend to go in for fruit-growing chiefly, these two areas will provide homes for a few of them. Mr. Ferri has inspected the land, and is to pay another visit to it in company with some of the intending settlers, and it is to be hoped that satisfactory arrangements will be made for giving the men a home so that they may settle down to a steady and industrious and prosperous life.

A meeting of creditors under the Administration Act, 1879, Amendment Act, 1888, was held in the office of the official assignee yesterday. Mr. Lawson, who was appointed by the Supreme Court to administer the estate (that of G. S. Graham, deceased}, informed the creditors that, owing to not receiving notice of his appointment until the 19th irtst., his investigations were not complete, and he would call them together again as soou as he had more information, lie stated that the unsecured debts in the estate (per schedule) amounted to £684 6s Id, and the assets consisted of £360 (cash), in the hands of Mr. J. B. Graham, solicitor ; furniture, £25 ; and sundry small country sections, £29: total. £414, "leaving a deficiency of £270 6s Id. He remarked that several of the claims already in, and included in the £684 6s Id, were barred by the Statute of Limitations, and it would be his duty to reject them. A general discussion ensued, but no resolution was adopted.

An examination of candidates for the London College of Music certificates was held in the Coromandel district school (writes our Coromandel correspondent). There were four candidates for the elementary, and four for the junior pass. Thy examination papers arrived in a sealed packet, and were opened in the presence of the candidates, and handed to them by Miss Newton, local representative of the institution. The examination was conducted in the presence of the Revs. Norrie and Mitchell, Mr. T. W. Rhodes, J.P., ami Miss Newton. It will be three or four months before the results will be known, as the papers have to be sent to London.

A correspondent refers to the number of cases of typhoid that have lately occurred, and surmises that, they may have been caused by eating oysters, which have come off rocks which are sometimes covered with water which is full of impurities. The Russell district is now closed, and so is the Hauraki district. The supply of oysters lately in Auckland has been almost entirely from the beds in the Manukau district. This matter should be looked to by those responsible.

The Lyttelton Times becomes enthusiastic, and says:—"We are tempted to ask whether some Imperial secret has not been well kept, and whether the Duke of York has not kept some honour for this day which is to rob us of our "plain Mr. Seddon.' The colony would not be satisfied with a mere knighthood tor its chosen leader, and if the hero is not. to be a peer, well, we shall all be better pleased to have him remain one of ourselves, our ' great commoner.'"

The annual meeting of members of the Chamber of Commerce, with members of the Douses of Parliament, prior to the opening of the session, takes place this afternoon at the Harbour Hoard offices. The subjects to be dealt with are: Land for settlement, railways, the Auckland-Manukau canal, amendment of Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and Workers' Compensation Act.

The Collector of Custom!* desires us to intimate tbat all bonded warehouses will be closed on Friday and Saturday for annual stock-taking.

At a meeting held on Monday night in the Coromandel Council Chambers, it was decided to erect a tablet in the Coromandel district school in memory of Queen Victoria. Messrs. McEwan, Inder, and Rhodes were appointed a sub-committee to carry out the wishes of the meeting.

The Auckland [towing Club holds its annual smoke concert in the Masonic. Hall, Princes-street, on Friday evening next, and judging from the interest displayed by the committee, and the members generally, the function promises to be as successful as any of the concerts previously held by this popular club. An excellent programme of songs, musical item:, recitations, etc.. has been arranged. Mr. Hamilton Hodges will take part in the musical progiamme.

There was a good attendance of shareholders of the Auckland Co-operative Terminating Building Society at St. James' Hall las* evening, when appropriations in three of the society's groups were balloted for. Mr. Robert Walton presided, and several of the directors were present on the platform. In the first group there were two appropriations, and as the successful shareholder (No. 792) was only entitled to one share, he was allotted the 71st, while No. 250, the next drawn from the box, being the holder of two shares, was allotted £400, bringing the appropriations in the first group to £600. In the second group the 60th and 61st appropriations (£400) were drawn by Nos. 552 and 553. while in the fourth group appropriations 13 and 14 (£400) were drawn by Nos. 32 and 919.

The police require owners for a quantity of new clothing, two pairs of boots, a gold whip, and horseshoe scarf pin, and a ijuantitl of small silver coin, contained in a towel, all of which property they believe to have been stolen.

For their second winter concert- in the Choral Hall to-morrow evening Mr. and Mrs. Hodges hare arranged a very tine programme of music, which more than sustains the high standard of excellence which the public have become accustomed to in the concerts given by these talented musicians, who are introducing at this concert a number of new songs and arias that have not been heard in the city previously. Miss A. Schmidt, who makes her first public appearance at these concerts, possesses a full contralto voice of great sweetness and power. She has chosen two fine compositions by Petrella, and ono of Coven's charming songs, " I Think of All Thou Art to Me." Mrs. E. H. Quisree who has. established herself as a pianist of very high order, is down for piano solos by Chopin and Weber. Mr. C. B. Plummer, the well-known 'cellist, will contribute some obligates. Jhe box plan is open at Wildman and Lyell