LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12260, 2 May 1903, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The British Government have been authoritatively assured that Russia has no intention of departing from her previous pledges in regard to Manchuria, or of seeking exclusive privileges. There are, however, persistent rumours in Tokio that Russia is massing troops north of the Talu River. The Russian Consul at Uskub has been warned that a lieutenant of the Bulgarian army reserve and seven others have entered Macedonia, intending to kill him and his colleagues. A Turkish train near Salonica has been dynamited. The revolutionists created a panic, in the city. They destroyed the Ottoman Bank, but attacks on. other buildings were frustrated. Two persons were killed by bombs. The Turkish troops ultimately succeeded in restoring order. In Macedonia a Bulgarian band of revolutionists, numbering 100, was annihilated. The supposed volcanic eruption in Canada turns out to have been nothing more serious than a great rock slide on the Turtle Mountain. The cloud of dust raised was at first taken to be the smoke of a volcano, and no doubt the noise caused by the tumbling mass of rock increased the illusion. The Nonconformists in England have been advised by counsel that to offer passive resistance to the collection of the education rate would render them liable to criminal as well as civil proceedings. Mr". Cadman, at a banquet in his honour in London, was congratulated on having brought to a successful issue bis efforts to develop the X\ew Zealand iron, steel, and coal industries. The deaths from plague in India amount to 30,000 weekly.

The Herald Summary, for transmission by the next outward San Francisco mail, will be published on Wednesday, May 6. Those desirous of forwarding the Summary to their friends in Europe, America, etc., will have ample time to do so, as the newspaper mail closes on Friday next, at 11.30 a.m., up to which hour papers for mailing may be obtained of runners at the post office. This mail will be due in London on June 6. .

The colonial mails which left Auckland per R.M.s. Sierra on March 27 did not reach Loudon until Wednesday last, four days late. This delay must have occurred on the passage across the Atlantic, as the Sierra made a very rapid passage to San Francisco, reaching that port at ten a.m. on April 13, some hours in advance of contract time. .

While the Hon. James Carroll, the Minister for Native Affairs, was at Kawakawa-, on Tuesday last, on his way to Kaikolie, deputations headed by Messrs. J. A. L. Hull and J. Fleet waited upon him, urging the immediate completion of the Kawa-kawa-Whangarei railway, and the formation and opening of the Kaikohe-Ngapipito Road, to which favourable replies were, given.

His Excellency Sir Henry Jackson, the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, contemplates a visit to the Kingdom of Tonga shortly. While at Nukualofa the High Commissioner will, in all probability, arbitrate in some cases of complaint lodged by British subjects against the local regime.

A few days ago we published a subleader calling attention to the altogether imperfect arrangements at Frankton Junction for the supply of meals to persons travelling. It was common in the busy season for three trains to meet there. Some passengers could not get a chance to sit clown, while, owing to the inadequate arrangements for waiting, others had to leave the table before their meal was half finished. They had, however, to pay the full amount. We are informed by Mr. Ronayne, general manager, that diningcars will be running on the Auckland-Roto-rua service before December of this year. The cars are now under construction. * Forthis improvement travellers will be profoundly thankful.

j The shooting season for native and imported game opened yesterday, and as gray duck and teal are reported plentiful, some good bags should be obtained. Several ! Auckland sportsmen left on Wednesday and I Thursday, the majority going to Rangiriri I and Lake Waikare, two favourite grounds. J Among those who left by rail on the days I mentioned were Dr. Owen. Messrs. J. B. i Williamson, F. Secconibe, Julian, F. Kelly, I Chatfield, E. Anderson, and F. Coombes, 1 while the up-country shootists at Rangiriri | include Mr. H. Rowland, of Waihou, who, j in company with a Hamilton sportsman, i obtained upwards of 100 brace of gray duck | rad teal last season. Pheasants are again I very scarce.

The Collector of Customs received a telegram from Wellington yesterday, stating that the Governor had declared the tidal waters of Ahipara Bay, Herekiao Harbour (inside the heads) and Whangape Harbour (inside the heads) to be oyster fisheries, and that it is lawful for duly licensed persons to take oysters in the open season in. such fisheries. The Collector of Customs has received information that these localities, which are some 20 or 30 miles north of Hokianga Harbour, on the West Coast, abound in splendid oysters. There is no regular shipping communication with the coast north of Hokianga, but the supplies of oysters from the new fisheries may be either brought to Hokianga in the boats, and thence shipped to Onehunga, or they may be taken overland to the Awanui River, a distance of a few miles, and then sent down to Auckland by the steamers running to Awanui.

There was a scene in the Police Con* last evening, when a defendant who Uj "been lined at the conclusion of the hear' of a charge of assault preferred , v , a ,J him, launched forth in a volley of •>! at the magistrate (Mr. T. Hutchison, S M ? The man was assisted by his wife -], • became hysterical in her "efforts, and hid to be removed by force from the Court x. Constable Eraser and Detective Ma,Al«~ His Worship, who bad granted defendant ' the option of a fine, at once rescinded V decision, and sent the man to gaol for'* fortnight. V A meeting of the committee who organ- ' ised the Auckland testimonial to Major" General Baden-Powell, at the time of the relief of Mafeking, was held Yesterday ]n the Mayors room, City Council Chambers, to wind up the f ut J and make final arrangements {„ the presentation of the escritoire. * D. Goldie presided. The treasurer, Mr J P. Hooton. submitted his renort, which ' showed that the subscrintions amounted ♦ ' £2-20 16s 6(1, and interest to £11 l s oS 10 total of £231 18s 3d. The casket ahead - presented to Major-General Baden-Poweß cost £95 12s 6tl, while the escritoire mjHr hv -Mr. Seuffert- cost £120, and insurance and sundries £8 5s 9d. There was thus a balance of £8, which will he required for the packing and shipping of the esrri toire. Mr. W. K. Hutchison was Z ' pointed to superintend the packing on be- ■ half of the committee, and it was decided to pay Mr. Seuffert a bonus for the pack! ing. The secretary (Mr. J. W. Shackelford) was instructed to write to the Premier and ask him to arrange foi the Hon ■ W. P. Reeves. -General for New Zealand. to present the escritoire on behnlf ' of the people of Auckland. The escritoire | being anique in character, it was decided to invite His Excellency the Governor and Lady Ranfurlv to inspect it before it is packed, and the Mavor of Auckland (Mr. A. Kidd) and Mr. J. W. Shackelford (secrelary to the committee), were deputed to wait on Lord and Ladv Ranfurlv, and ask them to inspect it. Messrs. L. 1). Nathan and Co. have kindly consented to ship the escritoire to England free of charge br the Kumara.

Tin grand secretary of the New Zealand Constitution of Freemasons (Mr. Malcolm Niccol) arrived yesterday for th« annual communication of the Grand Lodge, which takes place in Auckland on Tuesday The Grand Master, R.W. Brother H. J. Williams, is expected to arrive this morning. The Grand Lodge communication will take, place in the Masonic Hal!, PrincesStreet, and the installation of the new • Grand Master in the Federal Hall on Tuesday evening.

Our Kaeo correspondent writes:— and Mrs. C. Shepherd and their two children had a wonderful escape from serious injury on April 26. They were out driving, and while descending YVaitapu Hill the brake on their buggy refused to act. The horses became frightened, and it resulted in the vehicle being overturned. The children escaped without injury, while Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd got oft" with a severe shaking and numerous bruises.

All , subscribers to the Veterans' Home fund are reminded that on applying to the hon. secretary (Lord Northland), they will be supplied with tickets of admission to a special enclosure at the ceremony of the laying of the foundation-stone of the home, which will be performed by His Excellency the Governor on Empire Bay, the 25th hist.

At the last meeting of the Board of Go- ' vernors of the Auckland Grammar School, a resolution was passed expressing the Board's appreciation of Mr. Luke's services during the 17 years he had been associated with it. The record of the Auckland Edu- ■ cation Board shows that Mr. Luke's services extended over a period of nearly 19 years. Mr. Luke was first appointed <i governor of the Auckland Grammar School in December, 1884, the appointment being ■■' made by the governors to fill a vacancy f caused by the resignation of Mr. Hobbs. • From that time Mr. Luke's service as a governor has been continuous. He was first elected by the Auckland Education Board in April", 1886, re-elected in 1888, 1891, ■ 1894,, 1897, and 1900.

The following is a list of infectious diseases reported to the district health officer (Dr. Makgill) during the month of April: Enteric fever: City 8 cases, suburbs 8 cases (Parnell 1. Mount Eden 2, Avondale 2, Onehunga 2, Birkenhead 1), country districts 23 (Bay of Islands 6, Piako 1, Ohiuemuri 6, Whangarei 1, Thames 2, Waikato 1, Rotorua 3, Waitemata County 3) : total,- 59 cases. Scarle* fever: City 2 cases, suburbs 4 cases (Grey Lynn 2, Archhill 1, Mount Albert 1), country districts 8 cases (Waitemata County 4, Whangarei 1, Hamilton 1, Rotorua 2): total, 14 cases. Diphtheria: City 1 case, Grey Lynn 1, Pukekohe 1. Tuberculosis, 4 cases; blood-poisoning, 2 cases.

A well-known. Thames resident, in th; person of Mr. Joseph Cloutt, died at the Thames Hospital yesterday morning,' to which institution he was only admitted on the previous day, suffering from a severs attack of pneumonia. Deceased was coloursergeant in the H'uuraki Rifles, and his 'remains will therefore be accorded a military funeral on Sunday afternoon. He leaves a wife and two children, for whom mud) sympathy is felt in their sad bereavement. The gaol authorities have notified to ths coroner, Mr. Gresham, the death on' Thursday of a Maori prisoner, Tutere Rata, who was undergoing a sentence of two years' imprisonment with hard labour. It appears that the deceased was transferred to the Auckland Hospital on March 4 last, and was in the hospital at the time of his death. Mr. Gresham has pointed out to the gaoler that the law only requires that an inquest shall be held in a case where a prisoner has died in prison. In the present instance, although the prisoner was doing time, his death did not take place within the precints of the gaol. Consequently no inquest will be held.

By the will of the late Mr. W. C. .MeBroom, probate of which was granted yesterday, Dr. Barnardo's homes* will benefit to the extent of £200. The remainder of the estate, less several bequests to distant relatives, is bequeathed as an endowment to a public hospital, near Waverley, on the West Coast of this island, where"Mr. McBroom had been a patient for some time. This portion of the estate consists of property worth about £2500.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the new descriptive catalogue and price list of fruit trees issued by Messrs. E. Morrison and Sons, Bed Bluff orchards and nurseries, Warkworth. The list catalogued is an extensive one, and contains all the new varieties which have been introduced. The prices are moderate, and those wanting a copy of the catalogue may obtain one by applying to the firm issuing the same. It is well illustrated, and has been very neatly printed at the Herald Printing Works.

A young woman named Ethel Trim was charged at the Thames Police Court yesterday morning with leaving Auckland without providing saiiicient maintenance for her child. Accused pleaded not guilty. 0 a the application of Sergeant Darby, the Bench granted a- remand to Auckland, bail being allowed. Mr. S. I. Whitebouse,. J.P., presided

Our Kawhia correspondent states that six persons, four men and two women, fined some months ago for sly grog-selling, are to be token up "by Constable McCarthy to the Auckland gaol, having refused to pay their fines.

The First Battalion Band, under Bandmaster W. J. Quelch, will render a programme of music in the hospital grounds on Sunday afternoon next. Among the items to be discoursed will be a trombone solo by Corporal H. Taylor, cornet sow by Bandsman P. William's, and a eupW nium solo by Bandsman E. Whittle.

Several letters to the editor will be ioV^ on page 6 of our (Supplement.