LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12066, 9 September 1902, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

—■■ ■ ♦ Tub Union Company's steamer Mararo* left for Sydney at nine o'clock last night,, taking a number of passengers in both, classes, and an exceptionally large cargo. Included in the cargo from Auckland were two boxes containing hull ion valued at £10,831, shipped by the Bank of New South Wales, and consigned to the Sydneyoffice of the bank; 2316 sacks maize, for Sydney and other ports; 133 cases kauri gum, for transhipment to London and the Continent; 501 sheep and 30 head cattle, for sale at Sydney; 83 bales flax, HO kegs beef, lines 0 bacon, oats, etc., and transhipments of copra, vanilla, etc., from to* Islands for .Sydney. The weather was very inclement throughout yesterday, the wind blowing strongly from' the south-west, with frequent heavy squalls of rain and hail. The strong wind blowing raised a bit; sea on the Muuukau bar, which was 100 rough to enable tna s.s. TakapuHa to leave for New Plymouth and Wellington, and her departure hM been postponed until this morning, in? lightkieper at Cape Maria Van Di«jM» reported a westerly gale Wowing, witß * heavy sea yesterday morning. Sir. Charles Rhodes, attorney for theNew Zealand Mines Trust, has accepted » seat on the Board of Directors of the J.ortJ»em Steamship Company, a vacancy having arisen through the death of the late Mr. J. L. .Wilson.. . ; . : ; :

'Hie King a proceeding to Balmoral Ilia Majesty is fated tr/bare suffered no ill effects from hs deerjkalking in rough country. Lord Rebuts ;wd Mr, Brodrick, who, at" the Kaiser's inviWtion, are attending the German army maaeijvres, have reached Berlin where His Majesty accorded them a "iiyerv warm welcome, The pepukee, however gave them ; very edd reception. w eW s from St. Vinceit reports that- a terrigo eruption of La Sotfriere occurred on the night of Wednesday list, aid that on Friday the volcano wai Ntil in activity. <_bviu" to the cable l> tie island having been "broken few particuhrs are. to hand, but it is slated that tlunijh no Joss of life occurred, the whole of lie Carib country has been destroyed. M'. Seddon, before leaving England, addressed a, farewell message to the press, ho pug tho confidence ami goodwill now* exiting between tub colonies and the Motherlnd would long continue, and trusting the scent conference of Premiers would improve Imperial trade relations. To an inUrvewer, Mr. Seddon (jaid his most- striking inpression was surprise at Britain's u pat regarding Ihe danger threatening her manufacturing supremacy, lie, also virtuied the (.'pinion that, tile people, both in the colonies and at Home, were more Imperialistic than those representing them. (wing to the failure of a brake a serious vamcar accident occurred in Glasgow, nneady being killed and 30 passengers uijurrd. A meat famine prevails in Germany owti* to the prohibition of the importation of foreign cattle. The poor in .Saxony ate eying dogs. Six tenders have been receive! in London for the Xew Zealand-Smith Arican steam service. " A Haytian rebel gunbat. which had seized ' a German vessel, was sunk by a, German l cruiser. 1' is reportei that the crew were drowned. Yesterday's report out he sick troopers at "JvCotuihi stated that tin conditions of Vincent, who is seriously 11 wit a pneumonia, ihowed very little chaise. Three troopers veie discharged yestejlay. thus leaving ZJ on the islam;. The report from the hospital states i,it I'arkr liad improved, that Blacklook was much better, that Manson was progressing sVrsfa.ctoriry, but that ShelloekVas still \-ry bad. "Tits others were making stead' improvement. Dr. Makgill, district Lolth officer, desires to thank the following persons who have sent gifts for the sick roopeis at Motuihi: — Mrs. Friend, Mastf Harper, and Mr. MeLet'd. ■ The cargo steanrr Titania arrived from New York direct ysterday morning with a cargo of general American merchandise. The steamer met will extremely bad weather crossing the Soutlern Ocean, a series of terrific gales and ugh seas prevailing for elavs together an! greatly impeding the progress of the vessel. During the worst of the weather the iverage rate of speed for a whole 24 hours was only two knots per hour, and. on anotier occasion a. little over four knots per h»ur. The big steamer shipped a number if seas, bur beyond damaging some of thfl deck fittings no great harm was done. The first lengthy spell of fine weather during the voyage was only fallen in with whin the steamer entered the Tasmari Sea, las-big until port was made yesterday morning. In connection with the several alarms of its on hist Saturday afternoon and evening (the causes of which are unknown) it is supposed 2>y some that the outbreaks were not the result of accident. This belief is shared by Superintendent Woolley, of the fire brigade, who points out that between the alanr.s in the afternoon, and also between those in the evening, just about sufficient time elapsed for the brigade to get back to the station before receiving another call. His idea is that the outbreaks, several of which were wiihiß a very short radius, were purposely thus timed, and that they were caused by some person who desired to start a big fire* in the city. The supposition that the motive was merely a mischievous one to test the smartness* of the brigade has also been hazarded, but neither this idea nor the theory of incendiarism finds favour with the police, who regard the succession of outbreaks as an unusual chapter of accidents, it being unlikely, they point out, that any person with malicious or mischievous intent, would go about the execution of his plans either in the middle of the afternoon or during the early hours of the. evening, when detection would be so much more likely than during the late hours of the night. In addition to the fires mentioned yesterday, two ash boxes were found to be alight in the yard (facing High-street) at the back of the premises of Mr. Edson, chemist, on .Saturday afternoon. The fire was put out without any difficulty. Some grass in the vacant allotment in front of the Municipal Buildings was also on fire the same afternoon, and was put out by some boys. No alarm was given in either of these cases. A man named James Ryan, who resides in Maaakau Road. Famed.- had his foot crashed by a piece of metal falling on it whilst working ow the tramway lines at the corner of Pitt-street and Earangahape Road, on Saturday last. He wa* taken to the hospital, where the injury, which is not a serious one, was attended to. Apropos of the Motor Cars Regulation Bill now before the House of Representatives, a correspondent writes.: —In the United Kingdom, where the traffic is much (greater and the population much more dense than in this country, the legal limit is 12 miles an hour, and this limit is already found to be unnecessarily low. and there is a, strong movement on foot to have it expended or removed altogether. In the latter case the motor traffic could be regulated in the same manner as is applicable to horse-drawn vehicles, so as to prevent "furious driving," ami "driving to the common danger." "" Should it be deemed advisable to put a speed limit in force, obviouslv in this country a much higher limit than is necessary in England would suffice ; certainly to put a lower one is as ridiculous as it is unnecessary, seeing that, in comparison with the Home and Continental countries, the traffic on our country roads and the 'density of our population do not demand it. Also the number of motors in this country is as nothing compared to the large number of them in general use in other parts of the world. To say what limit would be reasonable under ail conditions is a very difficult matter, as the requirements of different localities at different times must vary greatly, but in regulating the traffic of motor cars sight should not be lost of the important and undeniabiel fact that they are infinitely mere under control and guidance than horse-drawn vehicles. It will doubtless cause playgoers disappointment to learn that Mr. Geo. Abbott, manager of the Opera House, has received a, cable message from Mr. George Musgrove, announcing the. postponement of the opening of the "Sweet Nell of Old Drury" season from September 22 until October 6. This will mean the curtailment of the season to one week, since the Opera House is booked alter October 14 right, up to Christmas. The postponement comes hard upon the Opera House proprietors, who have spared no trouble or expense in pushing on the work of alteration, being willingly assisted ill this direction by builder, decorator, and all concerned, with the result that there was not the slightest doubt, about the theatre being tread 'by September 20. A detailed description of the renovated playhouse is given in another column, from which it will be seen that what little remains to be done can easily be completed in the two weeks t;, expire before the contract is up. The following letter from the ActingChief Inspector of Stock in New South Wales, with regard to pigs front New Zealand being imported into that colony, has been forwarded to us by Messrs. Pitt, Sou, and Badgery, Limited*. Sydney :—" Referring to your letter of the 30th nit., asking if the prohibition against the importation of swine from New Zealand would now be removed, owing to the. non-existence of swine fever there, I have the uonour to inform you that no official intimation has been received as to New Zealand oeing now a clean colony as regards swine fever, •hut inquiries will be made, and should :"•: satisfactory evidence as to its cleanness be forthcoming the cancellation of the pro•eliunation prohibiting the importation of swine from that place will be recom- ; mended,

The Auckland Cycling Club has made arrangements for a, road race over a 25 miles course on September 27. The club has also arranged that an opening rim procession is.to start, from Ponsonbv reservoir, so as to witness the start at Paniell and the finish at Cornwall Park. As a. result of a disturbance on the wharf lost night two men were arrested on a charge of fighting, and will be brought before the Court this morning. Six persons, charged with drunkenness, were in the police cells last night. Dr. Makgill, district health officer, informs us that the model septic tank., which is now on view at the district health office, was made by Mr. Mitchell according to a design furnished by Dr. Mason, chief health officer. A conference of ministers and officebearers of the various churches is to be held in the Y.M.C.A. social hall this evening, to discuss the Bible in .Schools Association's proposals. Archdeacon (Jalder will give a practical illustration of the religious teaching proposed to be given in the public schools. Mr. Thos. Huddle will preside, and the discussion will be opened by the Revs. Gray Dixon and C. IT, Garland. The Mount Roskill road district scheme of lighting has been completed, with the result that the road between Auckland and Onehnnga is now lighted by a continuous row of gas lamps, the lamps provided by the Mount Roskill Road Board having tilled the gap which previously existed. There has been something like a revolt of the Liberals of Mangaweka against the action of the organiser for the Liberal and Labour Federation. The, Wangamii Chronicle's Mangaweka correspondent reports a stormy meeting. attended by settlers, business people, and others interested in the Liberal cause, at which great indignation was expressed at the action of the organiser, and the following resolution carried, without dissent, amidst continuous applause, and ordered to be sent to tho Acting-Premier, president ol the New Zealand Executive:—"That the Mangaweka branch of the Liberal Federation of New Z~i el, numbering some 250 male member-.. ucr reading the correspondence sent b„, -Mr. Culver (organiser ol lite New Zealand Liberal Federation), stating that the executive have selected Mr. Remington to contest this seat in the Liberal interest, and calling upon Air. Horsblow (president of the branch) to retire from the contest in his favour or cease to hold office, are unanimously of opinion that such action is arbitrary, unjust, and against the true spirit of Liberalism, and that- we as a. body are opposed to the unwarrantable interference of Mr. Culver in dictating to the electors as to the particular candidate they are to support without being consulted. and refuse to uphold his suggestion. Furthermore, we have every confidence in Mr. Hornblow, both as out president, and a candidate in the Liberal interest: therefore we decline to accede to their request." In a letter to the Sydney Daily Telegraph recently, commenting on the cablegrams regarding the state of St. Paul's Cathedral, Loudon. Mr. H. W. Little stated: It is not. reasonable to suppose that St. Paul's Cathedral is in danger of collapse. For the past two years cracks have appeared in the southern transept, and the Cathedral architect (Mr. Somers Clarke) has duly observed them. It is no great surprise to learn that it is now necessary to rebuild a. portion of the southern porch. Some 35 years back the City Corporation commenced to sink a sewer very close to the southern porch. The then" Cathedral surveyor (Mr. Cartwrighl) observed the danger that threatened the foundations, and after much delav the course of the sewer was changed, but "the mischief was done. About 1£ years ago one of the pillars that support the western portico exhibited a crack. Under the skilful directum of Mr. Penrose (until recently the Cathedral surveyor), a large portion of the pillar was removed, a newwork substituted. No cathedral in Christendom receives more careful and regular attention than St. Paul's, Apart from the diligence displayed by the proper authorities, frequent visits are paid by leading architects, who are careful to place in print any seeming defect." An appeal has been issued from Sydney under the signature of the Mayor am other representative citizens, for subscrip tions in aid of the sufferers by the Moun Kembla disaster. There, were 9-1 death: resulting from the disaster, and 35 widow and 150 children have been left unpro vided for, apart from other relatives. T< remove an impression that sufficient pro vision has been made for the sufferer under an Act resently passed in -Nov South Wales, the circular issued to th public states that the allowances grante tinder this Act are 8s per week to eac! widow, and 2s 6d per week for each chil under 14 'years of age, and an urgen appeal is made for immediate subscription to supplement this. A subscription lis lies at the Heralw Office, where contribu tions will be received and duly forwarde to the proper quarter. Here is a record that will be found ban to beat. A Wairarapa settler, resident o Alfredton, an applicant for an old ag pension, states that he was bom in 1801 lie had reared eight of a family, six o Whom were married. He is now father o eight children, and his descendants numbe 68 grandchildren. 218 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren, making total of 304. " Ten of the number are i the fifth generation. The old veteran wa born in Stratford. England, is still in po. session of his full faculties, notwithstync ing his great age. and is able to get abot with the aid of a stick. The applieatio for a full pension Las been granted to him. At a meeting of the Sydney Water an Sewerage Board recently, Mr. Henley aske the president if he. would have inquiri< made as to the possibility of experimentui with the Stiger vortex guns, or otht methods of producing rain on the catchmei area. Mr. Garrard said he understood th; the Stale Minister for Works had some ii formation on the subject, and he woul communicate with Mr. O'Sullivan. He w; afraid, however, that not much good wt likely to result. Mr. Henley said that was the duty of the Board to make all no sible experiments. He believed that thei were other ways of getting water from tl clouds —"The sending up of a kite wit dynamite, for instance, and letting it o electrically." If the experiments failc some knowledge would have been gained, ; all events. Mr. E. W. Alison announces that he w lie a candidate for Waiteraata at the tort coming general election.