LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12268, 12 May 1903, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The formal installation of the Hon. E. Mjtchelson as Mayor of Auckland will take place at the City Council chambers to-morrow, at noon. The installation ceremony will be performed by the retiring Mayor (Mr. Alfred Kidd, M.H.E.), who will deliver a valedictory addresii.

At the Supreme Court yesterday the charge of arson against John Hamilton, Id regard to the recent Newmarket fire, was partly heard. The matter of lejgal argument in connection with the plesis of W. Richardson and W. J. Bell, in the alleged libel cases, was further deferred until today. An exciting scene occurred when Richardson's case was called upon, the accused imputing bias to Mr. Justice Conollv, and asking that he be tried before another judge. Ilia principal ground for this application was a criticism which accused said he had published in regard to His Honor's decision in another cage. His Honor said he had never seen or heard of this criticism, and he refused to allow accused to read it in Court. The accused also referred to various other matters in terms which caused His Honor to sharply rebuke him, and to warn him that if he did not conduct himself properly he would have him locked up until he could behave himself. The affair ended by His Honor saying that the accused had not proved bias, and therefore refusing the application. A full account of the proceedings is given elsewhere.

The question of hospital fees was discussed at some length yesterday at lire meeting of tho Auckland Hospital and! Charitable Aid Board, with the result that the Board decided to raise the fees as from May 1 last to the actual cost of maintenance, etc., which is 4s 7|d per patient per day. A discussion also took place on Mr. Bollard's proposal, to end the arrangement by which friendly society members are admitted to the hospital at half fees, but this matter was left over till the inquiry into the hospital management, instituted by the local bodies, has been completed. The City Council's request, that the Board should resume the charge of infectious cases, was considered, but the Board decided to adhere to their former position, and. decline to treat infectious cases.

The adjourned, inquiry at Onehuuga yesterday, relative to the death of Mrs. Sarah Morris, an octogenarian lady, who lived a solitary life in an isolated part of Mangere, did not disclose many new facts. Exhaustive evidence was given respecting the condition of deceased when discovered by neigh bours, covered with blood and much exhausted, on February 26. Detective Maddern complained that as a result oil the reports appearing in the newspapers the Maori youths, who were suspected of having assaulted Mrs. Morris, had got away. On the application of the police, the' inquiry was adjourned until Monday, the 25th.

A fire broke out iu a small storeroom belonging to and situated at the rear of Mrs. lliordan'a restaurant, in Queen-street, Thames, shortly before twelve o'clock on Sunday night. When discovered, the storeroom was one mass of flames, and the rear part of the main building had also become ignited, but fortunately the fire brigade quickly arrived on the scene, and with two strong leads of water soon subdued the fire. The storeroom, which contained several spring mattresses, a lot of spare bed clothing, a mangle, etc., was totally demolished, and considerable damage was also done to the kitchen and one of the upstairs back bedrooms, the estimated damage being put down at about £50. There is no insurance on the buildings, but the furniture is insured for £150 in the North British and Mercantile Company. The cause of the outbreak is not known.

Our Paeroa correspondent writes; — Hikutaia has been thrown into a state of gloom owing to the death of Mrs. O. Alley, a _ well-known and highlv-rfispcctacl resident. Deceased had Jived in Hikutaia almost all her life, and was a greaf favourite with all. She leases the largo family of 12, 10 boys and two girls, and deep sympathy is expressed on all sides for the bereaved;, .

The Huddart-Parker steamer West-v for Sydnev at mi o'clock b ßt t7en ; Itf| ing a number of pawners in w g ' Uk and a considerable «i, of S'S eluded in the cargo from Audit 0, ' !»• bant bullion shipped by the. Walton Yj? 26 ing Company, for t.-run«»hi l>men * , l l>!(1 339 cases and 9 sacks kauri 7m' ? **»*«»; and the Continent; 200 Wm ? rt/> ndo n kegs beef, 72 packages » « of timber, flax, hides ore ttr J' l«»«a • "■» " 0r oydaey When William f.atta I fir L->,., 4 ,i , the Otahuhu Road Board, c ' d , eik o{ stealing £10, the moneys of thf n was before the Police Court , rd ' with, an application for bail Si, Parr, who appeared for the Bowrf'7 <*. that the auditor had comment!?' * UU4 vestjgation of the Board's boS a \'" books were found to be in « „ J-bs muddle, and it was possible Tw ral>!e charges would be. brought ««* as an outcome of the auditor's ; r acca, «<l tions. The application or w,B*" granted. 11 vag

Christ church Truth sars : Th« Gr«» Cbristcliurch. City Council is now IS* with its staff. We venture to Great Christchuivh has more JL town clerics, deputy foremen, and assistant inspectors to the acretW pMy other town extant. What bit L? 4B * do with them? It, has allowed come an understood thine tint all estimable and no doubt competent i men are to have permanent positions on £ new Council start, and if it dares }« « any of them out there will be a howl aX?! injustice and favouritism and bn.vk , faith, and it, will get itself as heartily di! liked as its greatest enemy could wish TV are reminded of a story 0 t a wnt'lJ whose wife had a mania for house with servants, so he advertised in.lt the newspapers that he to prcM J X take in laundry work at so much a t™ We submit the idea- to the City It might take ?n lencal work, and do book-keep and typewriting at "urrerit rates, or it might hire out" an itskrtlnt ' town clerk or two to inexperienced muai cipal neighbours just starting business We don't see how else it is going to keep ft! staff employed. . r .

The Auckland Society of Arts' art uaioa was drawn at the Choral Hall last waning,, in the presence of a large number of subscribers. The prize winners w« a re- 1111 £5, 11. C. Chatteris; 215, £8, . m"* Gillies; 648, £5, Mr. Bridgens; HQ fa; Mrs. Nolan: 677, £4, Mrs. Rjfirtel' sen.; 1145, £5, Mr. G. Kent; 1172, £2 Miss Irving; 281, £3, J. 11. ljpton; 413' £5, W. Coleman; 892, £5, T. % Sm iP 873, £4, C. Bennett; 592, £3, Ashlar Hunter; 146, £5, T. W. Leys; 9i}3, £]& Ashley Hunter. ' ' '

After the wreck of the Elingamit® Messrs. L. D. Nathan and Co., the local agents of the Huddart-Parker Proprietary, Limited, issued orders to all tins peopis from the wreck for clothing, board ftjjd lodging, amounting to £900, ;lo* which a claim was made on the Relief Committee* The committee have now received a letter from the local agents, intimating that their principals did not desire any refund which would curtail proper allowances to widows, and that on that account theiu rir.eipa.l3 had instructed them to accept £500 j# full settlement of the claim. Thin gallons act means that the contribution of.tie Huddart-Parker Proprietary to the relief fund practically amounts to £900, as they gave £500 to the fund before.