LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS,

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12003, 27 June 1902, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS,

Am English mail, which left London oal May 23, will arrive from Sydney by the s.s. Mararoa on Sunday next.

The Herald Summary, for transmission by the outward San Francisco mail, was published yesterday morning. Those desirous of forwarding the Summary to theif friends in Europe, America, etc., will have ample time to do so, as the newspaper mail closes at eleven a.m. to-day, up to which hour papers for mailing may be obtained of runners at the post office. This mail will be due in London on July 26.

The Union Company's steamer Waipori arrived from West-port last night after a long passage of four and a-half days. From the time of leaving Westport on Sunday morning last until reaching Cape Maria Van Piemen on Wednesday night, the steamer had to contend against a heavy gale from between north-east and north-west, with a heavy head sea, and continuous rain squalls. The wind blew with terrific force at times, and the steamer's progress was so much retarded by the bad weather that for a whole 24 hours she only covered a distance of 76 miles. After rounding Cape Maria better weather conditions prevailed down the coast to arrival.

At his residence, Calliope Road, Devonport, yesterday morning, Mr. Edward Alexander departed this life after a few days' illness. The deceased, who was a native of Ireland, followed the sea for a number of years, and came to New Zealand about! 18 years ago, residing first at Newton ana then at Waiuku, finally settling down at Devonport about four *y ears since. Mr. Alexander took a great interest in yachting* being a member of the New Zealand Yacht Squadron and the North Shore Sailing Club, and was owner of the well-known yacht Irish Lilv. He leaves a widow and three children to mourn his loss. The interment takes place at O'Neill's Point Cemetery thai afternoon,

He latest news in our came messages this morning regarding the King's condition is that yesterday he was more cheerful and rsuffering little discomfort, and was continuing to make satisfactory progress. During the night, however, he was restless and affii-conscious, while his temperature was | high, symptonvi which are not calculated 'to ftliay anxiety. But His Majesty is hearing up well, and it is reassuring to learn. on the authority of the Medical Journal, that the abscess was not clue to , B ny organic disease or malignant growth, Thi' Pall Mall Gazette states that the ! abscess, if not removed, would have involved certain death. Foreign specialists re optimistic regarding the King's chances of recovery. Worlds ide sympathy has been evoked for His Majesty* the German |hd French papers vicing with one. another in their expressions of friendliness. Lord Milner has been sworn in as Governor of the Orange River Colony. It is expected that by August all the Boers in the Concentration camps Mill have returned to their homes. Professor McAdam, of Edinburgh, and his assistant, were fatally shot by the college porter, who entered the lecture hall with a loaded rifle and fired at them. He is supposed to be insane. Lord lveagh and his son ami Sir Ed. Birkbcck Were on board the German torpedo-boat which sank in the Meuse, but were saved.

A message has been received by Inspector Cullen from Constable Sefton, stating that a native had found on the West Coast beach, | between Hukatere and Te Kao, a bottle containing a paper showing that it had been ' thrown overboard from the baifpientine | Volador, on September 1, in latitude 36 degrees south, longitude 169.15 degrees east, while the vessel was on a voyage from Westport to Auckland.

•Our Whangarei correspondent writes: — On the 17th inst., as Mr. Edward Boult was riding on the main road, his horse put its foot on a loose stone and tripped, coming to the ground and pitching Mr. Boulfc to earth. His foot was fast in the stirrup, and had the horse not stood still, after going a few paces, when it scrambled to its feet, Mr. Boult might have been badly hurt.

. The fitting up of the engine-house at the new city tire brigade station in Pitt-street is now practically completed, and the members of the brigade will enter into possession of their new quarters on Monday next.

A man named Samuel Purdon met with » painful accident at Turn* yesterday. He was employed working between two logs, when one slipped, and jammed his body against the other, with the result that he was severely crushed. On being brought in to the hospital it was found that the injuries sustained were not of a very serious character, but he will be incapacitated from work for a while.

A Red Hill correspondent states that on June 20 there died at Red Hill, Northern Wairoa, one of the old identities of the Wairoa, in the person of Mr. A. Copedo. The deceased was well known throughout the Kaipara, having at one time been in the pilot service. The cause of death was congestion of the lungs. His fatal illness was a comparatively short one, deceased being iil less than a* fortnight, and though all was done that could be done he passed away peacefully on Friday evening. The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon, at Red Hill, and was very largely attended by the settlers of this and surrounding districts. Deceased leaves a widow and a family of six sons and four daughters to mourn their loss.

The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. G. W. Aitken) and Mr, Thomas McKenzie (the first white man to land on the site of the city) have each received from the Chinese residents of Wellington very valuable gifts, which were intended in commemoration of the Coronation. Mr. McKenzie's present is a large scarlet mat, worked in most elaborate patterns with green and gold, and finished off with elaborate gold-mounted tassel work. The whole surface of the mat is hand-worked with gold braid representations of peacocks and various Chinese figures and bird devices, and is elaborately studded with miniature mirrors. The back of the mat is of white silk, and on this are a series of hand-painted figures, one set containing a humorous group seated on the back of a hug« dragon. A Chinese interpreter explains that the mat represents a Chinese play bill, and that the lettering thereon represents good wishes to a king or one high in authority. Apart from its intrinsic worth, which must be very great, the presents are quite unique, and will provoke the envious admiration of the numerous friends of the honoured recipients.

During tie tour of Southland. Sir Joseph Ward (says the Otago Daily Times) has had an opportunity of learning the esteem in which he is held by some of his admirers, one of whom addressed him as the " Guardian Angel of Southland" at Gore. At Winton a nervous chairman created a laugh by referring to him as the " Premier of Southland."