LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11879, 3 February 1902, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

General French has dispersed Fouche's commando, capturing 26. General Driscoll lias captured 17 Boers, including two fieldcornets, one of whom (Grobelaar) subsequently died of his wounds. A sharp action has taken place between Colonel Du Moulin's column and Monwindt's commando, the Boers being repulsed with loss. Eight of the Sussex regiment were killed. Twenty-three British columns are now operating against De Wet. The . offer of Dr. Kuyper, the Netherlands Premier, to act. as negotiator ; for peace, has been rejected, Mr. Chamberlain stating that the advances must come from the Boers themselves. The rejection of Dr. Kuyper's mediation is attributed to the absence of credentials binding on the Boers, there being no evidence that they desired his mission. Mr. Brodrick has announced that there were 237,800 British troops in the field on January 1. Mr. Balfour has explained the provisions of a. Bill to alter the procedure of the House of Commons, with the view of preventing waste of time, obstruction, and disorder. England, Japan, and America are protesting against the exclusive concessions in Manchuria to the Russo-Chineso Bank, but Germany favours the concession, hoping it" will provide a pretext for similar privileges in Shantung.

On Saturday forenoon the Premier paid a visit to Cornwall Park, One-tree Hill, and in the afternoon attended the ceremonies in connection with; the farewell to the Eighth Contingent, so that no business of a public nature was transacted that day. The Premier, Mrs., and the Misses Seddon reached the Auckland wharf from the sendoff shortly before eight o'clock, and at once left "for Onehunga, where they embarked on board the Government steamer Tutanekai, en route to Nelson, where Mr. Seddon takes part in the ceremonies in connection with the Diamond Jubilee, The Auckland sittings of the Arbitration Court are practically finished for some considerable time. The Court proceeds to Dargaville to-day to hear the timber workers' dispute, returns to Auckland on Monday, 10th inst., and leaves for Wellington on the 12th. On the 17th inst. the Court sits at Nelson, 20th at Westporfc, 22nd at Greymouth, and other sittings are arranged as far south _ as Invercargill, where the Court sits in March. A memo, from the officer in charge of the telegraph office states:"Adelaide advises that severe storms all through the night between Alice Springs and Port Darwin caused delay to the cable traffic. The lightning was almost incessant, and Sydney's late business has blocked back the incoming." The Takapuna Jockey Club, brought their summer meeting to a successful conclusion on Saturday afternoon. During the running of the Steeplechase, one of the contestants, Rufus, came down, and his rider, H. Berry, received injuries which proved fatal. Two horses fell in the decision of the Borough Handicap, and one of them, Donnybrook, broke his nose in the fall. In the last race, Brilliant came down and broke one of his forelegs, and was destroyed by the aid of a friendly bullet. Neither of the jockeys were hurt.

An accident, which might have been attended with loss of life,; occurred at the Makohine viaduct on Tuesday. One of the " struds," weighing five and a-half tons, was being hoisted into position, when-the shackle broke, and the mass of iron fell, smashing through the scaffolding, and embedding itself in the ground, nearly 300 ft below. Several workmen , had just passed under, and one, hearing the shouts of the men, leaped on' an adjoining scaffolding just as the huge casting came crashing through the platform on which he was just previously engaged. Our Waihi correspondent learns that in. answer to inquiries concerning the Govern*' merit's intentions in regard to the Wailii Borough, Sir Joseph Ward telegraphed to Mr. Jackson Palmer, the member for Ihe district, stating that the election of Mayor and councillors for the new Borough of Waihi will be conducted by the returning officer appointed by the Government. Who is to be the first Mayor of Waihi ? is at present exercising the minds of the Waihi people, the merits of several probable candidates being freely discussed. There are .quite a number of aspirants for seats on the Borough Council. Great excitement is anticipated on polling day.

Our New Plymouth correspondent writes: —A party of eight men, while attempting to ascend Mount Egmont from the Tariki side on the loose scoria track, had a miraculous escape from severe accident. The leader of the party, in stepping on a scoria lump on a steep grade,, found the scoria give way, and warned his mates just in time. They were barely able to move to one side from the falling mass. The last man, Mr. Morris, was bit on the thigh with a piece of rock, but was not seriously hurt. They then resumed their journey safely. Mr. Morris returned to town.

Amongst the Auckland candidates who passed the University matriculation examination, as noted in a telegram in Saturday's paper, was "E. Wit-tey." The name should have been "E. Cliitty," who, we are informed, is a blind youth, aged 18, who has been an inmate of the Jubilee Institute- for the Blind' for eight years, and is the first blind pupil to pass the matriculation examination in New Zealand,

Mr. Harry Taylor's two-horse express was being driven up the Tokatea Hill, Coromandel, on Saturday morning by Mr. Rud Jordon, with a load of furniture, when the horses became unmanageable near the residence of Mr. Fred. Jeune, and capsized over the hill, about 30ft, fortunately into a large excavation. The leader was underneath, the shafter was on the leader,, and the express and furniture was on top of the two horses. Fortunately a number of men were passing, coming off the eight o'clock shift, and after about one hour's work got the trap lowered to the bottom road little the worse for the mishap. The shaft-horse was cut and bruised, but will be at work in a few days. The leader was very much knocked about, and will not be able to do any work for some weeks. The harness was completely smashed up.

Our Kaukapakapa correspondent writes: —It is with much regret that I record the death of Mr. Joseph A. Simcock at his father's residence on Monday morning last, January 27, at the early age of 38 years. Deceased was the eldest son of Mr. Charles I'. Simcock, one of our earliest and much respected settlers. He had been suffering from failing health (consumption) for about two years. About six months ago he took a trip to the Whangarei district, and stayed for a time with some relations there, thinking to benefit by the change. The change, however, did not do any good, and he returned to his home again. On the way he consulted several Auckland doctors, none of whom gave him any hopes of recovery. He seemed to rally for a time after returning home, and was able to get about, and some hopes were entertained of his recovery. About a fortnight ago, however, he took a decided turn for the worse, and passed away as above stated. Deceased was a strong active young man and a great footballer, and, until failing health overtook him, was captain of the Hclensville team. The funeral took place on January 29, and was very largely attended . from all the surrounding districts, especially from Helensvills, where deceased was widelv and favourably known, j The Rev. M. Grantham, in an ; impressive j manner, officiated at the grave. A number of beautiful wreaths bearing words of sympathy were laid on the coffin ; one very beautiful one in a handsome glass-covered case was contributed by the Helensville football team. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved family in the loss of their eldest son at so comparatively an early age. .

The leading • article . in the Catholio Chronicle for February is on "Tho Maori Missions," and deals with the efforts that have been made to improve the social conditions of the natives, and the missionary efforts, A picture is given of the fathers engaged in the Maori mission, with His Lordship the Bishop, and , also' one of the members of the Synod. The letter-press, contents are of the usual varied and suit-able character. • ■