LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11780, 9 October 1901, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

An important meeting of Auckland citizens was held last night to consider the three questions of tie extension of the Main Trunk railway from Wellington to Mancronni the settlement of northern lands, Ind the San Francisco, mail service Resolutions were passed urging on the Government the speedy construction of the railway and settlement of the lands and the settlement of the San Francisco mail service for a fixed period of years with Auckland » she port of call. A full report of the proxidings will be found elsewhere in. this issue.

A Wellington Press Association telegram states that the Premier believes there is every likelihood of General Babington accepting the position of Commander of the Forces in New Zealand.

Dr. Campbell has been in communication with Mr. Austin Strong, of New York, in connection with the laying out of Cornwall Park. Although quite a young man, Mr. Strong has had considerable experience in the designing and laying out of big parks. He is associated in New York with the wellknown firm of Parsons and Pentecost, and assisted them in perfecting the beautiful park of League Island, Philadelphia, and the great Niagara Park. Mr. Strong, who is expected by the next San Francisco mail steamer, will on arrival draw up plans for the new park and submit the same to the trustees-

A local syndicate intend erecting a new theatre in Queen-street alongside the Metropolitan Hotel. The proposal, whilst definite up to that point, has not yet reached a, final stage, as the building to be erected will include certain businesses and other premises, and these will be built to suit tenants. It is more than, likely that an arcade will form the entrance to the new playhouse from Queen-street, with shops on either side. The theatre is to have a seating capacity of 1800. It is to be fitted up in the 'latest style, and will have a sliding roof. A prominent member of the syndicate will shortly visit Sydney in order to gain some fresh ideas on theatre decoration, etc. In all probability the proposal will be in shape in about a month's time. In the meantime the architects, Messrs. E. Mahoney and Son. have sketched out preliminary plans. The theatre should prove a boon to local playgoers, as on account of its size it should be an inducement for the best and largest theatrical companies playing in Australia' to visit Auckland as well.

Yesterday afternoon Mrs. Ann Wheeler, wife of Mr. J. Wheeler, merchant, oi Argyle-street, Ponsonby, died somewhat suddenly at her residence. She had been in her ordinary health as far as the family were aware. About 10 or 12 months ago, it is stated, she was attended by Dr. Knight, for a diseased bone in the frontal region of the head, but after being treated had apparently recovered, and regained her usual health. About three o'clock in the afternoon her daughter Hannah was talking to her, after which the mother went into the sewingroom. About a-quartei to fiv; p.m. the daughter had occasion to go into the sewingroom, and found her mother lying on the floor on her back, in an unconscious condition, and with an abrasion on her temple as if she had fallen on to the floor. Dr. Parkes was rung up, but Mrs. Wheeler had died before he arrived.

An unexpected scene occurred at the Police Court yesterday afternoon. Mary Walsh, while being tried on a charge of having no lawful visible means of support, frequently interjected with threatening gestures to the Court officials, and when the Bench sentenced her to a month's hard labour she startled the Court by her peculiar behaviour. She was seated at a table, usually occupied by the legal profession, and immediately the sentence was pronounced she sprang up from a chair, dived forward, and struck her head with great force on the floor. When removed to an ante-room several constables had some difficulty ill pacifying her. She attempted to do herself injury by striking her heiwi against the wail of the room, but subsequently she cooled down and was removed to the cells.

The Old Colonists' Reunion Committee, who are arranging for the commemoration service at St. Andrew's Church, to-morrow forenoon, have invited a number of clergy to take part in the service. At the after meeting >- the Choral Hall, the Hon. E. Mitchelson rtill preside. The executive committee who have the matter in hand consists of the Hon. E. Mitohelson, J. J. Craig, D. M. Dingwall, John M. McLachlan, J. M. Geddes, J. L Wilson, R. Tudehope, W. Culpan, John Kirkwood, Malcolm Niccol, Wm. Owrie, Frank Phillipps, Jas. Robertson, W. J. W. Ffctoon, Thos. Buddie, and Wm. Thorne.

The animal meeting of the shareholders of the South British Insurance Company will be held fa»-«Liy, at eleven a.m.

The Mayor and city engineer went to the Domain yesteiday, where some work had been ordered to be done. It had all been attended to. The painting of the caretaker's house is all that is required to finish the improvements. They went on to Mount Eden .inspected the new stone breaker, which should be at work in a few days. Yesterday morning the Mayor and the city engineer took the new superintendent of the Auckland Fire Brigade for a drive round the higher levels of the city. Thev also visited the site of the proposed central station in Pitt-street and Beresford-street. Mr. Woclley considered the site to be wet! chosen. In his opinion it would still be necessary to retain a small station somewhere iii Albert-street, for the new fire escape, as it was in the lower portion of ; the town that the higher buildings were situated. It would not be required in the higher levels, and time would be lost in bringing it down from the central station, Pitt-street, to the vicinity of the wharf. Great interest is being taken at the Thames in the ceremony of depositing the colours of the late Thames Naval Corps (now Thames No. 1 Rifles) in St. George's Church, on Sunday afternoon next. The. ceremony promises to be a most impressive one, and one that will be of more than passing interest to members of volunteer corps, consequently steps are being taken to have so large a gathering of volunteers present as can conveniently be brought together. With this object, in view, invitations have been issued to the officers and members of both Nos. 1 and 2 Battalions, and special arrangements are also being made for the conveyance of visitors from the up-country districts and also from Auckland. For the convenience of volunteers and visitors from Auckland, the Northern Steamship Company's steamer Wakatere has been specially chartered, and that vessel will leave Auckland on Saturday afternoon next at halfpast two o'clock, returning from the Thames ou Sunday afternoon, the return fare being fixed at ss. The death of Mr. Jas. Stevenson, second sou of Mr. James Stevenson, Albany, took place, after a long and painful illness, at the District Hospital on Saturday last., at the early age of 29. The funeral took place yesterday, at the Albany cemetery, there * was a very large attendance of friends from Auckland, Birkenhead, Dairy Flat, Long Bay, and almost all the local settlers were present to pay the last tribute of respect. The service at the grave was conducted by the Rev. Hugh Kelly, of Knox Church. Great sympathy is felt for the young widow (who is a daughter ot Captain A. McArthur), and for the members of the two families bereaved.

The Building Committee of St. Matthew's Church, in conjunction with Mr. E. Bartley, architect, have further considered the tenders received for the erection of the new church, but no definite decision has been come to, and another meeting is to be held this evening. Meanwhile further inquiries are being made on the subject. It is thought that if the erection of the spire and a portion of the towel were postponed for the present, the cost of the church could be brought within the sum of money at the vestry's disposal. The cost of bringing down the Kuiti stone by rail is said to be such as to make it almost prohibitory, and it is possible that another stone which has been brought under the notice of the committee may be adoped. The Treasury Department have informed the Grey Lynn Borough Council that it will be necessary to reduce the amount of the loan asked for by that body, as the Department is not able to lend more than £4000 to any one local body It was suggested that the £250 asked as loan for the Richmond Road ward be dropped, and the remainder taken from the loan asked by the Surrey and Sussex wards. The £250 is the sum agreed upon as the Richmond ward's contribution to the main sewer. The formal consent of the ratepayers is necessary to these alterations, and when that is given the £4000, the Department states, will be available. . Two deaths are reported from the Whargarei district of well-known settlers. Mr. Gribble, for some time agent for the Bank of New Zealand, in that township, died on Saturday last of consumption. The deceased gentleman was much respected. He leaves a widow, two sons, and a daughter. Mr. Henry Whimp, one of the original settlers of the Opuawhauga and Hikurangi districts, who was well and popularly known, has also passed away. He'was formerly a member of the Whangarei County Council, chairman of the Opuawhanga Highway Board, and School Committee. He was a storekeeper and postmaster. He leaves a widow and a large family.

Patrons of the Auckland Amateur Opera Club are awaiting with interest the forthcoming production of /Gilbert and Sullivan's popular fairy opera, " lolanthe," the opening performance of which is announced to take place at the Opera House on Monday, October 21. The opera is to be mounted and costumed with every attention to detail and these who have witnessed the rehearsals speak in the highest terms of the vocal and histrionic talent shown by those selected to play the leading roles. lhe chorus will number 50 voices, and a carefullv selected and powerful orchestra, under the'baton of Mr. Arthur Towsey, will complete a combination which should ensure crowded houses throughout the short season. The box plan is to be opened on Thursday next.

In the Thames Warden's Court yesterday, before Mr. R. S. Bush, a number of plaints were dealt with that had been issued against the Thames Hauraki Goldfields (Limited) by several of its creditors. The total amount sued for was £2482 2s 3d, and in each instance the person suing had been connected with the company, either as attorney, solicitor, mine manager, or clerk. Judgment, with costs, was entered against the defendant company for each amount sued for. Mr. J. A. Miller, solicitor, appeared for the various plaintiffs, and Mr. C. A. Harris (one of the attorneys) for the defendant company. In entering up judgment for the various plaintiffs, the Warden asked the clerk of the Court if there was and rent due on the defendant company's holdings, to which the clerk replied there was not, adding that if there had been rent due it would not have made any difference, as he held a lien on the company's property in connection with the Government's interest on the company's plant. At this remark, Mr. Harris stated the creditors, who had sued the company that morning, had no intention whatever of interfering with the Government lien. As a matter of fact, it was to their own interest to look after the Government lien, and thus keep the property intact. It is understood that the cases were brought mote as friendly suits than anything else, and also with the view to protect the company with respect to any further actions that may be brought against it.

Messrs. Thos. Cook and Son, the wellknown tourist agents, are arranging with the different parties interested to oper 1 up a new route, by which passengers could leave Auckland by steamer to New Plymouth, connecting with Mondays' and Thursday.' trains to Stratford, due at ten minutes to nine a.m., there to connect with Mr. J. Hewar's coaches to proceed 42 miles eastward to Whangamomona. Passengers would be conveyed the following morning by coach to the steamer junction (Putikituna) 14 miles, connecting about ten a.m. with Messrs. Hatrick and Co.'s new upriver steamer on Tuesday and Friday mornings, proceeding down the- Tangarakau branch of the Wanganui River to Pipiriki, reached about four pin. From this point Messrs- Hatrick and Co.'s regular steamers leave on Wednesdays and Saturdays at nine a.m., due at Wanganui about three p.m. The house at Pipiriki is being largely improved ; bedroom accommodation for over 100 persons is being built, together with billiard-rooms, commercial-rooms, etc., lit with electric light throughout. A first-class tennis court is being laid out, and attractive gardens prepared, which will very largely assist in making the Wanganui River one of the most popular tourist resorts in New Zealand. The new route Messrs. Cook and Son are opening up provides for the very pick of the Wanganui River -scenery, and as. the expense is nominal, the coming season should see it much in demand.

With regard to the command of the Seddon Horse, we are informed that at the meeting of the company on Saturday, though Mr. Reid was proposed as captain, he was not elected. Mr. Simson. who was also proposed, received a higher number of votes, but not sufficient, according to the I regulations, to place him in the position, a ; two-thirds majority being required. The members of the Birkenhead and Northcote Fruitgrowers' Association on Monday evening further discussed the jamstrawberry question. Only Messrs. Thompson and * Hills replied to the secretary's letter asking for quotations, but gave none. Mr. H. Day said he had spoken to Mr. Mennie on the question of hulling. He suggested giving 3|d per lb for hulled strawberries. It was decided to appoint Messrs. Arch. Wilson, Charman, and Hulme to interview the directors of the Auckland Farmers' Co-operative Society, and suggest that they should undertake the pulping of fruit. Mr. S. Craig, of Paeroa, narrowly escaped meeting with a serious accident yesterday (writes our. Paeroa correspondent). He was riding along Normanby Road when his horse shied at a verandah curtain. The movement was so sudden that Mr. Craig was unseated and thrown heavily on the metalled road- His face was badly cut, but no serious injury was sustained. The time for the opening of the Auckland Society of Arts' exhibition is now rapidly drawing near, and it will to all appearance be a great success. The secretary has received notice that quite a number of pictures are coming from the South, in addition to advices as to a full local exhibit, new members are also joining, and all bids fair for a most successful art season. The next lecture in the Y.M.C.A. winter course will be given on Friday evening by the Rev. H. B. Gray, M.A., of St. Andrew's Church, his subject being "An Hour With Crockett's Men and Women." Several Scotch songs will be given by wellknown friends.

To-day is Labour Day, but the only observance of it will bo the closing of some of the Government offices.

The steam road roller is at present engaged at night in consolidating and rolling the portions of Queen-street which have been remetalled.

A large quantity of railway rails (1200 tons) have been landed recently from the s.s. Rangatira from London.

Influenza is rife just now, and several citizens have fallen victims to it. A considerable number of the workmen at the Chelsea Sugar Works are laid up with the complaint.