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New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12231, 28 March 1903, Page 5

. (Sir Hector Macdoaald's suicide caused a profound sensation in Great Britain. His brother states that the unfortunate soldier declared to him that there whs ail intrigue against him in Ceylon, due to jealousy at his promotion. He also says that had he been guilty Sir Hector would never have left Ceylon and faced Lord.Roberts. It is stated that the general had an audience of the King before his departure from. England, and that His Majesty advised him to demand 'a court-martial. . This statement, however, is denied by a London evening paper. The French papers suggest that his manlier at his hotel in Paris indicated that he premeditated suicide. The Irish Land Bill, which is described as a bold and complicated scheme, has been favourably received. It is reported that Russia is secretly, negotiating with a syndicate of French and Belgian tankers for a loan of twenty millions sterling. Sir Clement Markhain says Captain Scott's .discoveries in Antarctica "indicate that land stretches to the Pole in a series of lofty mountains. The King, during his visit to Scotland in May, will hold a' levee in the ancient Palace of Holyrood.

A cable from Newcastle states that the Waihora arrived yesterday, and that the Elmville has sailed for Lyttelton. A Hobart message states that the Athenic arrived at five p.m. yesterday, and sails at eight a.m. to-day for Wellington. She has°s2 passengers for Australia and 120 for New Zealand.

Thirty thousand copies of " Some Reasons Why Every Farmer Should Join the .New Zealand Farmers' Union," by the president (Mr. J. G. Wilson) are being circulated throughout the colony. In concluding Mr. Wilson says:—-A successful farming community means a successful colony, and as the union is more of a defensive alliance than an offensive one, and seeks by its work to make the farming class and its employees more prosperous, it must be in the interests of the colony as a whole."

Referring to the deadlock in the furniture trade, the Napier Telegraph remarks:—lt is the Court itself frhich has persistently transgressed the common-sense rule that not the place where labour is sold, but the market value of labour, should be the criterion in settling disputes. The Court has held tSe other way. In this district, for example, it has made three rates of day work wages , in a certain trade between 'and inclusive of Dannevirke and Napier. Competent journeymen in the first-named town ;>re entitled only to £2 2s per week. In Hastings they may ask £2 ss. In Napier they must be paid £2 10s. The Court has also made lis per week difference in the wages paid to some workers in Napier and similar workers in Wellington, In a more recent decision it has made £3 the day work rate in Auckland, and a few miles outside the city the journeyman has to be content with £2 2s. The judgments of the Court have been chaotic and contradictory in the extreme, and in our opinion this weakness has led up to the present dispute in the furniture trade.

An Ex-non-com." writes to lis stating that some time since we published a letter from the paymaster at Wellington, in which it was stated that all returned men had received their full pay. He has a statement by Paymaster Mabin, showing that his pay "is in arrears to the extent of some £15. In the letter he said that the cheque would arrive in about a week. It has never come.

On Thursday evening last, at the Mount Albert Methodist Church, a large gathering of unusual interest took place, for the purpose of bidding farewell to Mr. W. Astley, Miss Astley, and Mr., Mrs., and Miss James, on the occasion of their departure, on a visit to the Old Country; and also to Mr. J. Alison and Mr. C. D. T. Farley and their families, who are leaving Mount Albert. The chair was taken by Mr. G. Fowlds, M.H.R., and the choice literary and musical programme ■which was submitted met with an enthusiastic reception. The valedictory purpose of the gathering was happily dealt with, in addresses by the chairman, the Rev. S. Griffith, and, Messrs. Wesley Spragg and T. A. Ashton, the three lastnamed concluding by making a presentation to one or other of the departing guests. The speakers referred in cordial terms to the esteem in which the cruests were held, and to the valuable services rendered in connection with, the work of the church, Sunday-school, and choir. Special emphasis was laid on the splendid work done for so many years by Mr. W. Astley, not only as the leader of the choir, and as its organist, but also in connection with the Mutual Improvement Society, and in any movement . that was for the good .of the district. Mr. Spragg and others bore warm testimony also to Miss Sistley's efficiency and success as a Sunday-school teacher. The Rev. S. Griffith, on behalf of the trustees and congregation, presented to Mr. W. Astley a gold watch, suitably inscribed. Mr. Wesley Spragg, at the conclusion of his address, presented Miss Astley with an elegant travelling-bag and dressing-case, on behalf of her present and former scholars and the Sunday-school teachers. Mr. Ashton, on behalf of the choir, presented to Mrs. arid Miss Alison respectively a gold brooch and a hymn and tune book ; and also stated that three volumes would \be forwarded to Mr. Chas. Farley, who was unable to bs present. Mr. W. Astley and others having responded, light refreshments were handed round.

News from Whangarei states that Mr. William Stead, of Waikiekie, has been killed by a tree falling.

While a number of men were engaged at about a-quarter past nine a.m. yesterday in discharging coal from a hulk into the bunkers of the s.s. Sierra an accident befel one of them named Samuel French, who resides at Devonport. French was standing on a plank about 15ft above the deck of the hulk, his work being to unhook the baskets of coal when landed on the plank by the winch. As he took hold of a basket for the purpose of landing it on the plank the winch hoisted it too high, wjth the result that French, who held on to the basket, was carried above the plank. He then lost his hold, and fell into the hold of the hulk, striking the plank in his descent. He was removed to the hospital, where lie is reported to be progressing favourably. His injuries are not of a serious nature.

A meeting of citizens and friends of Mr. P. Pv. Dix was held last evening at the Central Hotel, in order to consider the question of a testimonial to that gentleman in the form of a complimentary concert to be tendered at His Majesty's Theatre on Monday, the 6th prox. Preliminary details were arranged, and it was decided to ask the cooperation of several local commercial and athletic bodies. Numerous letters were received from prominent citizens and professional men apologising for their inability to attend, and stating that the committee might rely on their help to promote such ft testimonial of goodwill and kind feeling towards Mr. Dix and trusting that it would meet with the encouragement it deserves.

Mr. A. Hanna, solicitor, who has been on ft holiday visit to Sydney, returned to Auckland by the R.M.s. Sierra yesterday.

At ten minutes to seven p.m. yesterday; the City Fire Brigade was called to a fire which had broken out at the premises of Mr. Benton, draper, Karangahape Road. While the gas in the window was being lighted a curtain accidentally took fire. ; It was fortunately discovered promptly . and , extinguished with buckets, of water, and when the brigade arrived the fire was already out. The damage caused bv the flames and water is between £15 and £30. The stock is iiisured in the New Zealand for £1000.

.. Last evening a very pleasant ceremony took place 'at the Auckland . railway • telegraph gallery, when the cadets preRented- Mr. W. H. Dempsey, of the ... '-Auckland' telegraph office, their instrucs*k tor, *• with a handsome companion ■/. con-. taining a pair of silver-mounted pipes and cigar holder. In making. the presentation, , Mr. J. D. Morton spoke in eulogistic terms -of. Mr. Dempsey, who afterwards replied in v a few well-chosen words; . ; - Pp -i- ; ■ . v:. ;V: : - ■ - ..-' - . v.: v.--

The numerous Auckland and Wellington friends of Mr. Jim Poland will learn with regret of his death, which took place a few days ago at Reinfontem, South Africa. The aeceased, ti'ho was especially well known in football circles, he having represented both -t-ueklaiid and Wellington, left- for South Africa with the Second Contingent, and during the war he saw a great deal of active service as one of Brabant's Horse. . After peace was declared he joined the Cape Mounted 1 ohce, and has remained in South Africa ever since. The news of his death was received by the Premier, who immediately advised his brother, Mi*. Hugh Poland; at Paeroa. He was 33 years of age, and was a great favourite with all his old associates.

Mr. W. H. Hazard, of Auckland., returned to town during the week from a visit to the upper readies of the Waikato River, where he made Inquiries touching the supply of trout in the main and con° tributing streams, and also devoted some time to fishing with considerable success, So far the Waikato has been but little exploited by anglers, but will no doubt come into favour when it is more generally known that in many parts of the river there is an -abundance of rainbow trout only awaiting the arrival of the sportsman to be taken. At Atiamuri, distant some 30 miles from Rotorua, on the aikato River, there have been several takes lately, while in the river close to airakei one angler's basket weighed no less than 421b, the result of but three hours fishing. The day previous the same sportsman landed r. rainbow trout that turned the scales at 141b in this comparatively unknown quarter. All along the line Mr. Hazard found trout, and it seems that they have worked their way down stream as far as Hamilton. There a party recently engaged in dynamiting the river with a view to raising the body of a drowned person brought to the surface a rainbow trout weighing between 31b and 41b. . In all cases where the rod was used the fish found to take the bait freely, and provided capital sport.

The expedition which went to the wreck of the Elmgamite in the s.s. Energy, to endeavour to recover the gold and valuables which went down with the wreck, returned yesterday to Onelnniga to refit, the outfit having in some respects been found unsuitable. A dynamite charge was discharged about 10 fathoms below the surface, with the result that a portion of the deck was brought to the surface. The party leave again for the wreck this morning, and from what they have seen of the position of the wreck they are hopeful of success in their attempt to recover the gold.

The Taranaki Herald states that splendid trout ox the rainbow variety, weighing 7'2,-lb. was caught in the Waiwakaiho River last Saturday, by Mr. Mannering, manager of the Union Bank of Australia. This is the third large fish which Mr. Mannering has taken out of this stream recently, this proving that good fishing, is to be had within easy reach of town. The fish caught on Saturday was in excellent condition, and afforded capital sport, taking 22m. to land after being hooked.