LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11783, 12 October 1901, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

i The tush for the Christmas Number of the irooASi Weekly News continues *> bri=k as ever, and orders are row poormg i into the publishing department from all "parts of the colony at a very rapid rate. The opinion is freely expressed that this rears publication stands without a rival as i the best ret issued in the colony. The Hisat-r. Summary, for transmission j bv the next outward San Francisco mail, j i-itf be published next Friday morning, j Those desirous of forwarding the Summary to" their friends in Europe. America, etc., will have ample time to do so. as the news- j paper mail closes on Saturday next, at 11 30 a.m., up to which hour papers for mailing m»v be obtained of runners at tiie post office.' This mail will be due in London on November 16. The following telegrams were received by His Worship the Mayor yesterday :—From the Premier, in answer to the cue sent re the . remission of duty on electrical appliances : " Your telegram received. I understand the j situation."" From Mr. J. H. Witheford, in answer to the resolution forwarded from the citizens' meeting last Tuesday night: ' 1 have alwars received with respectful attention any resolutions or suggestions from the people.' We are, however, doing, and have done, all possible as your representatives, in j the direction mentioned." The new superintendent of the fire brigade J (Mr. Woolley) has already set to work with j the organisation of the permanent brigade. Six permanent men have been engaged, and are now under Mr. Wcolley's instructions, , Pending the erection of the new brigade ; station.'at the corner of Pitt and Beresford Streets, the superintendent and his men will live at the brigade station in Albert- j street, so that they will be always available | in case of tire during day or night. The recommendation.? of the Board of Conciliation, delivered last month, in theplumbers' dispute, have not been accepted ' by the parties, and an application baa been filed with the clerk of awards (Mr. R. Goring Thomas), referring the dispute* to the Court of Arbitration for settlement. This makes the seventh case brought before the Board this year in which the parties' have declined to' accept the recommendations given. The following disputes are now waiting settlement by the Court, viz. : — Carpenters', ircnmoulders', timber-workers', bakers', carters', and plumbers'. These cases will come on for hearing after the business in Wellington has been disposed of, probably about the beginning of new month. The Baden-Powell casket, the gift of the citizens of Auckland to General BadenPowell, in recognition of his braverr in defence of eking, is being despatched to England to-day, under the charge of Captain Nicol, of the Rangatira. The escritoire of New Zealand woods, which the committee resolved to present along with the casket., is being finished by Mr. Seuffert. and will be "sent to General Baden-Powell about Christmas. An effort is to be made in Devonport. to collect 5100 for the erection of a memorial to perpetuate the memory of ; John P. Slays and Harold Frankham, | two Devonport lads who lost their lives i in the South African campaign. The j form the memorial is to take has not I yet been decided upon, and will to a I considerable extent depend on the sum | raised. The following have been api pointed a working committee to collect | funds:—Captain Coyle, Captain Parker, . the Rev. S. Hawthorne, Lieutenant ; Gardner, Lieutenant Wall. Dr. Laing, ; Messrs. Nicedl, Macky, Ward, Best, MilI ler, Dacre, Duder, Peacocke, Ewington, Alison, Ford, Battler, Gould, Fulljames, Snaith, Webster, Pickering, Peacocke, jun., Logan, jum, F. Mason, Armstrong, F. Burgess, Campbell, Swinnerton, White, Wilkinson, jun., G. Wynyard, jun., Broughton, and G. Bolous. The com- : mittee will endeavour to secure the assistance of as many ladies as possible to heip forward the movement. Subscription lists are to be issued at once. Mr. ! J. C. Webster is hon. sec. to the com- ! mittee, and Mr. M. Niccol, Mayor of ; Devonport, hon. treasurer. ] Our Hamilton correspondent writes :—A ■ deputation of business men, introduced by Mr. R. W. Dyer, Mayor, ,waited upon Mi. W. G. Meddings, inspector of telegraphs, with a view of ascertaining the terms, if practicable, of establishing telephonic communication with Auckland. Mr. Meddings said that the cost of running the wire on the existing posts would be about £1000, but j owing to the large number of wires already | carried, he was afraid that the induction '. would be faulty, and that owing to the consequent noise, the service would be practici ally useless. He thought that perhaps if i a very heavy copper wire were run the objection might be surmounted. The Government would require a guarantee of about I £200. He calculated that the working ex- ! penses would be about £150, and interest ! about £60. To meet this about 20 sub- | scribers, at £10 each, would be necessary. I In addition each would have to pay £5 for i local service. It was suggested that the [ local service was not required. Mr. MedI dings, in reply, said it would be inconveni- ! ent without it, as subscribers would have 1 to go to the post office if they wanted to ; communicate, and if rung up.a messenger j would require to be sent from the postI office to secure the attendance of the subI scriber. Mr. Meddings promised to arI range for an experiment with the ordinary : wire, and would have the Mayor intimated I when the experiment would take place, so \ that he and any others of the deputation j might be present to judge for themselves. The arrangements that are being made in I connection with the depositing of the colours ! of the late Thames Naval Corps in St, | George's Church, Thames, on Sunday afteri noon, are now almost completed, and the » ceremony promises to be a big success. It | is anticipated that the gathering of volunI teers for the occasion will be one of the j largest that has assembled there for many ! years past, as not only will the local and | up-country volunteei corps be present, but j a large number of representatives from the i various volunteer corps in Auckland have l also signified then intention of taking part j in the proceedings, including the Devonport Navals, Napier-street school cadet*, and I the Auckland Garrison Band. The Coro- | raandel Rifles will also be present. Several I old volunteer officers and veterans have ac- | cepted invitations, including Surgeon-Major I Payne, Captains Best and Newby, and Lieu- | tenants Radford, Johns, Burton, Bruce, and ] Gordon.

Yesterday afternoon a painful accident i happened to Mr. P. A. Hadley (of Messrs. ; Hadley and Co.), at then stone crusher, I Mount Eden. While in the stone-crusher I shed a beam fell down (about six by four), I and struck one of his feet. He -was brought I to town in a cab, and taken to his resi- ! dence, Symonds-street. On examination of I his foot it was found, fortunately, that no bones were broken, and he will be about 1 again in a week or so.

At a recent public meeting in Kawhia resolutions were passed urging the Govern- ! ment to immediately remove the restrictions from the native lands in close proximity to ! the township. On the Hauturu and Orabin blocks, which lie to the eastward of the Kawhia Harbour, bushfelling m now in full swing on the newly-taken-up Grown sections. The sections in these blocks are cut up into areas from 640 acres to 1670 acres.

The drainage scheme entered into by the Eden Terrace Road Board is being vigorously carried out. The contract price was £3097, but various alterations have been made from the original plans. Instead of constructing a new tunnel under New North Road, the Board decided to retain the present tunnel, as the pipes were found to be in a satisfactory state, and this meant a reduction in the cost of the contract by about £700. On the other hand, various additions have been made. The" contractor for the work is Mr. J. Knight, and the engineer, Mr. J. Boyka.

Among tic passengers who are fewrsag by" the Te Ansa for Napier to-day » Mr. J 4 '. Fenwick, stevedore for the Tyser line 4 that port. Mr. Fen-wick, who has been jj ill-health for £•=« time past, has mad. , ■ visii to the Hot Lakes district, taking » coarse of baths, and is now much unprM|| | in health.

•The evele trade Of Auckland bide £**. well to Mr. W. M. Service, who is \f*r&% for Palmerston, at a social gathering in the Central Hotel last night. Mr. was in the chair Mr. S«wk* w* nested with an illuminated address, all wished him every iscce?? in hit gar home.

Those interested in the Victoria School for Maori Girls will be glad to learn that some residents of Mount Eden have arracjaj an entertainment in aid of the above. The programme will consist of musical sekduis br the best Auckland talent, and that laagt able farce, entitled, " Freezing a Mother, in-law." very kindly repeated by some membeis of the "Eden and Epsom Lawn Teams Club. The date has beer, fixed for Frida>, October 18, at St. Barnabas' Hall, Bellerie Road. Mount Eden.

On Thursday morning a man named T. 0. Howe met with a painful accident in ftf bush beyond WaiiawheU (writes our W'ajy correspondent}. Howe, who is engaged oa a contract there, was in the act of trimming and squaring a log. when he slipped. I, falling he threw the axe over hi? shoulder, and In the rebound, after striking th« ground, the blade entered his back. indict* fnz a sever?' gash of 6in or Tin long. The man managed to walk to \\ aihi. The doctor found necessary to put in §erea stitches.

Instructions have been issued to tfii : owners of the Thames dairies, which were recently visited by the members of the local Councils, that certain alterations and i». provemenis will require to be made at once. It is understood that the newly-appointed Government- inspector has also received instructions to devote considerable attention to the dairies of the district, and particolariv to those not yet visited by either the health officer or the members of the Councils.

A woman named Brown. residing in Haydn-street, accidentally fell down a flight of steps, and hurt her back. She was taken to the District Hospital, where her back was found to be strained, but not very seriously.

The Kawhia paper reports that the other dav Captain Grey, of the steam launch Hauturu, rescued three Maoris, a man and two women, from a swamped canoe, which thl launch fell in with half-way across Kawhia Harbour c* her return trip from Awaroa, The canoe, which wis a small one, was filled br the lumpy sea, which got up with th« strong southerly wind then blowing. The Maoris were holding on to the Bides of ike canoe when rescued.

It is now over 12 years since Gilbert and Sullivan's original fairy opera. " lolanthe," J was performed in Auckland, and during thai; space a new generation of theatre-goers has arisen amumgst us, who will doubtless wel« come the opportunity of hearing an opera which has proved itself to be one of the most popular efforts oi these two famous collaborators, and those to whom this fairy spectacle is familiar will be pleased to renew their acquaintance with its bright and sparkling music when perforemd by tie Auckland Amateur Opera Club at the Open House next Monday week. No efforts are l being spared by the management of the ebb to present "lolanthe" to the public in tie most attractive form, and with the talent at their disposal, a well-selected orchestra and powerful chorus, the result should be highly satisfactory.

Our Bay of Islands correspondent writes: —The Ten. Archdeacon Walsh is just sending away a fourth instalment of hatchments, painted in his intervals of leisure in his quiet home at W'aimate North. They are to be set np with those that have gone before, is the Church of St. Mary's, New Plymostk. This church, now a handsome structure, was begun in the very early days of tie settlement. It has been enlarged from time td time to meet growing wants, until it has become one of the finest churches in New Zealand. In this connection it may be remarked that the interior of the church a of the local stone, of dark blue colour, and so provides a good background for the paintings. This instalment raises the number to 10. The former ones were (1) XLI. Monmouthshire Light Infantry ; (2) LXV. 2nd Yorkshire Regiment (Royal Bengal Tigers) ; (3) XV 111. Royal Irish, whose colour bears the oldest honour in the army, the Lion of Nassau : (4) LXX. Surrey Regi* ment; (5) Royal Marine Light lafantry; (6) the Taranaki Volunteers and Militia in one. Those going forward now are (7) XIV. Buckinghamshire Regiment {Prince of Wales* Own ; (8) XL. 2nd Somerset Regi. ment (colour with 40 honours): (9) LYIX, West Middlesex ; and (10) LVIII., Rutlandshire Regiment, the old Black Cuffs. A replica of this hatchment is prepared for the Waimate North Church. For the most part each hatchment contains the pair of colours belonging to the regiment, painted from information courteously furnished by the several regimental authorities, filled in with tie correct distinctive markings. They are not only works of art, but they afford" material for interesting historical study. Archdeacon Walsh hopes to continue the series by adding a hatchment each for tie Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, for H.M.S. Niger, whose bluejackets helped the colonial troops to turn the battle at Waireke, when some others were minus. One for the friendly Maoris, and for one or two other line regiments. The intention is to commemo-

rate the officers and men of all the regiments engaged in the war, of which Taranaki was the centre.

M.A.P. has the following Xew Zealand story: —They delight in telling stories against themselves in Dunedin, which they can afford to do, as they are a generousspirited and jovial folk. One of the Southern legislators greatly amused a late Scottish Governor of the colony by the relation of an incident which he solemnly declared to b> true. A man from Dunedin visited Wellington. An Irish friend in the capital insisted upon the visitor stayin a at his house instead of at an hotel, aid kept hint there for a month, playing the host in detail, even in treating him to the theatres and other amusement*, paying all the cab fares and the rest. When the visitor was returning to Dunedin the Irishman saw him down to the steamer, and they went into the saloon to have a parting drink. "What'll you have?" asked the host, continuing his hospitality to the verv last. " Now "look here," said the man "from Dunedin,' " Til hae nae mair o' this. Here ve've been keepui' me at yer hoose for a month, an' payin' for all the theatres an' cabs an' drinks—l can tell ye I'll stan' nae mair ©' it. We'll juist hae a toss for this yin 1" The poultry expert (Mr. D. D. Hyde) will arrive by the Takapana this morning, and will be at the offices of the Department of Agriculture, Government Buildings, Cus-tom-street, during the day, to converse witi» those interested in poultry rearing.

Arrangements are now being made for supplying music in the Albert Park during the coming summer, last year's scheme having proved very popular. The city bandmasters will be called together at an early date to discuss the programme for the coming summer.

■At Avondale to-night Cooper and Macdermott's Kinematograph Company will give a grand patriotic scenic concert, and as the programme embraces such pictures as those taken at Rotorua during the Roval visit, besides a large series of other interesting subjects, no doubt there will be a larg« gathering. The development of the trick nlms and illusions will mvstifv and amuse the audience, and a good concert programme is also promised. On Monday the company will appear at the Ponsonby Hall, leaving for Tauranga on Tuesday.

An English mail, which left London on September 6, will arrive from Sydney by the 8.8. EliDgwnite on Monday morning next.

The pursuit of Botha is being followed up by the- British forces, but the weather, which is described as being awful, is greatly hampering operations. In Cape Colony Scheepers' commando has been split up into small parties. The loyalists are pleased that martial law has been proclaimed throughout the colony. The Americans have obtained large orders for railway rails and locomotives for South Africa. General Buller has delivered a sensational speech. He stated that after the Colenso fight he sent Sir G. White a coded telegram informing him what to do in the event of the (surrender of Ladysmith. He did so, as he believed it might be necessary to capitulate, as he thought Sir G. White had only supplies for a fortnight, while the relieving force could not make another attempt for a month.

Already plans for being in London at the time of the coronation of King Edward VII., which will probably take place in Time next year, are occupying the minds of those who contemplate a visit to Europe at that time. Inquiry at the offices of the various mail lines shows that bookings for next season are exceptionally well forward compared with last season. All the great mail companies are arranging to place their finest steamers in the run in view of this particular event, and a great number of passengers have already secured accommodation in the steamers leaving New Zealand and Australia during the mouths of February, March, April, and May. The Oceanic Company, via San Francisco, with the three new twinscrew steamers, Ventura, Sierra, Sonoma, are already in touch with this extra passenger business, and are every week receiving applications for accommodation in the sailings from both Sydney and Auckland during the months referred to. The P. an 0. commence early with the China, the Orient Pacific with their Austral, and the Cana-dian-Australian line with the Moaua, the North German Lloyd with the Grosserkurfuret, and the French Company with the Ann and Behic. All these companies already are commencing to reap the early part of this shipping harvest, and it is confidently anticipated that the number of passengers from New Zealand and Australia next season will easily eclipse all previous records.

At the Thames Police Court yesterday morning Alexandra Angus, alias Stewart, on a charge of stealing a silver watch, was remanded until Wednesday next, in order that the attendance of a witness from Auckland might bo secured.

The Rev. J. G. Greenhough, M.A., president of the Council of Free Churches of Great Britain and Ireland, is announced in our advertising columns to preach in the Auckland Tabernacle in the morning, and in the evening in the Ponsonby Baptist Church, on October 20. Mr. Greenhough's lectures during his visit are announced elsewhere.

The hon. treasurer of the Churton memorial restoration fund acknowledges receipt of £1 from Colonel Burton.

The Rev. W. E. Gillam, and Mr. E. Bartley, architect, proceed South next week to Oamaru, to inspect a new stone quarry there, which has been favourably reported on as suitable for the building of St. Matthew's new stone church.

The old-established drapery business of Messrs. Milne and Choyce, Queen-street, is being converted into a limited liability company, with a capital of £25,000. The profits for the past year, as shown by the auditor's certificate, are sufficient to pay a dividend at the rate of 11 per cent, upon the 20,000 shares proposed to be issued. Seven thousand 6 per cent, preference shares are how being offered to the public, and these will also participate in the dividends paid on the ordinary shares when such exceed 6 pep cent. Mr. William Elliot, Bank of New Zealand Buildings, Queen-street, has the flotation in hand.