LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12409, 23 October 1903, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Suez mail, which left Auckland on September S. arrived in London on Monday morning last. The unusually high barometer yesterday was the subject of some comment in Wellington. Captain Edwin stated that it was just one of those " high pressures" that come along now and then, the special feature of this occasion being that it was distributed over a.wider area than usual. In Wellington yesterday's record went higher than any reading for some live or six years. It is stated that there is great activity in regard to the Waikato coal deposits at present. Among those prospecting is the Consumers' Taupiri Coal Syndicate, Limited, which has been boring for coal for some time on Mr. Hooton's farm. Rangiriri. Lately the Calyx drill has been at work, and we are informed that it has passed through the top seam of 10ft of bright, hard coal, which seam was 6ft and oft respectively in two other holes. The second and third seams, previously found, have now to be bored for with the Calyx (hill. Among the motions to come before the Auckland Diocesan Synod on October 23, are the following: Mr. A. Swarbrick to move. •' That the Home Mission be abolished, and that the entire diocese be divided into parishes and parochial districts, each in charge of a resident minister." Mr. W. H. Churton to move: ''That this Synod is of opinion that it is expedient to constitute a Diocesan Trust and Agency Corporation, to undertake the management of the capital ot , the various trusts in the diocese, and the col- , lection of income on the lines indicated in the report of committee, dated October 9. 1902." The Rev. H. Anson to move : "That i , the Synod is of opinion that the sale of intoxicating liquors should not be conducted for private profit, and that in order to secure this end the traffic in liquor should be placed under public control." An important development of the brickmaking industry is about to be undertaken near Auckland in the opening up of a large area of clay land situated on the Albany River, about eight miles from Auckland, beyond Birkenhead. Mr. M. IT. Frost yesterday completed instructions for a large quantity of modern brick-making machinery for working the clay, which has. been found to be of a very high character for bricks. and. it is believed, for pipes and other coarse earthenware. Samples of the clay and baked bricks are to be seen at Messrs. Edwards and Co.'s office, 97, Queen-street, Through the kind tkoughtiulness of Mrs. Rolleston, of the Central Hotel, the patients at the Auckland Hospital were yesterday afternoon visited by Mr. Edward Branscombe's Westminster Abbey Glee and Concert Party, who, as on the occasion of their last- stay "in Auckland, charmed the patients bv rendering a selection of madrigals, rounds, catches, glees and solos. They were afterwards entertained at tea- by the matron, and were warmly thanked on behalf of those to whom they had afforded a treat, which will long be remembered. At the Pae'roa Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. Bush, S.M., Geo. P. Decastro was charged, on the information of the district, health officer (Dr. Makgill), with failing to report a- suspected case of infectious disease, namely, scarlet lever. From the evidence it appeared that Mr. Decastro was a chemist, and was consulted by Sir, McCaskell, of Hikutaia, about his children, and prescribed for them after the sickness was described to him by Mr. McCaskell. Mr. Miller, who appeared for the health officer, held that anyone in Mr. Decastro's position, and knowing his business, would suspect that there might be a case of scarlet fever, and should, therefore, have reported it. After hearing defendant the magistrate inflicted a fine of £1, and costs £55 5s 4d. Messrs. McCaskell, Durbin, and May, of Hikutaia., Were then similarly charged with failure to report a suspected case of scarlet fever, and pleaded guilty, but stated that they were not aware they had to report the cases The magistrate stated that he understood from Dr. Makgill that the charges were intended mainly as a warning, and he would only inflict a nominal line of Is and costs. The costs amounted to £1 17s each for McCaskell and Durbin, and £2 5s 6d for May. \ The dairying season throughout New Zealand promises to be a record one, and if prices are maintained the export of butter and cheese, it is anticipated, should exceed last year's output by at least • £100,000. Many of the Taranaki factories . are increasing the amount of butter mamii factured by 20 per cent, to 30 per cent., • and there is a large increase in the supply • of milk all through the country. The wet, ; mild spring has given a remarkable abun- , dance of grass, In many of the back disi tricts, however, particularly north of Auck- - laud and inland Taranaki, where the roads ; have not been formed and metalled, far- . mers can only get- their milk to the facf tories with difficulty, and the bad state : of these roads will hot doubt mean a loss ? to .the country in dairy produce alone al- . most equal to the entire cost of putting i them in good order. The magnificent show of grass seems to be general in both North and South Islands, though the Northern part of the country is exceptionally blessed in this respect. A recent arrival, s who has seen many parts of the world, a declares that in no other country has he seen such splendid pastures as in Northern e New Zealand. y a Our Thames correspondent writes : Mr. .- A. Sanford, of Auckland, has made arrangee ments for establishing freezing works here e in connection with the fishing industry, and t hopes to have the plant in going order in ;- about three months. ," In the recent musical examinations (praci? ticalh held here, Mr. Francis H. Morton has ( been awarded the second scholarship in con--6 nection with Mr. W. H. Webbe's School of e Music. This is for the candidate heading e the list- in the highei division, school exy animation, and is valued at five guineas. o An Auckland cabman named Richard 1- Partridge was charged at the Police Court l " yesterday with breaking a Harbour Board 16 by-law by taking his cab on to one of the I wharves and failing to remain by the cab. ,1 Defendant said that he had engaged another l e cabman to drive his cab along the wharf e . and to stand by it, so that he (defendant) 1S could look out for passengers at the gang- ,.„ wav of an incoming steamer. He had been 10 convicted on a similar charge before, but lc j had since studied the by-law, and knew that j, in the present case he was within his rights. ' a [ Sub-Inspector Black, who prosecuted, con- ,,[ tended otherwise, and said that it caused a st great deal of ill-feeling among cabmen, but. IC I the Bench took defendant's view, and disal charged him. II Our Ooromandel correspondent • states r. , v that Harry Thompson, a bushman, emed ployed at the Tiki bush, met with a severe ty accident on Wednesday by falling from the n' top of the (bun, dislocating his left shoul- °' tier. He .also received two scalp wounds 311 on his head, and his chest and back were °> bruised. He was brought into the Corotv inandel Hospital, and Dr. Cheeseman aten tended to the wounds and set the collar- '"' hone. he as His Excellency Sir Henry Jackson, Cue "■ Governor of Fiji, embarked on board 11.M.5. :i, Pylades on the 13th inst,, bound for Gail, vutti, Solomon Islands, in his capacity of i,, High Commissioner of the Western Pacific. 3 From the Solomon Islands, Sir Henry will a proceed to Brisbane, and from thence to leg Fiji. His Excellency will, in all proba,,.s bility, be back in Suva within four weeks. i',e The secretary to the High Commissioner ,j ie (Mr. At. King) proceeded with His Excelall' .-lency.

houses

The Apia crrespondimt; of the Fiji Times writer, under ate of September 30:—"Mr. ' - A. Willis, we was skying at the International Hot*, died ?n the 16th inst. under the. 'mat distreling circumstances, ha having cc, his thipafc. There is so doubt, that. JMs mind was unhinged by serious troughs whiehihave conw on hita ■ during the '%%t few rears. Ha was aa ; old resident of Pmdv., having arrived;' here in the! seventies, After annexation he was engaged by the United Stat«3 Government at',TutuUa, is which service he continued ami! the timiof his death. Hs was well liked, and a fist-class tradesman. ■' The funeral was attaded by both the : ' American and British Consuls and many lof his old friends. Th Rev. Huckett con- ; i ducted a religious serce at the grave."

' During the di-:cv.s:-io upon the pew rent question at the CHstehurch Diocesa a I Synod, a prominent layman quoted the lease of ? vicar who, ci ; 'in~ to a. new ! parish, offered to mm good out of his stipend any deficiency might arise I consequent, upon, aboliling the seat rent*. j The oiler was accept!, and the church* j was made a free on? The next year it j was found, that, insttd of there being * deficiency, there was , substantial surplus ia the parish accounts "If the matter \vete faced in that way by ther vestries,' added the speaker. " insteaefcf the miserable txpedient- of letting seat we should probably find our churches verynuch fuller than they are at present.'

The election of Isy'eprestntatms at the Anglican General Syod for the diocese of Auckland has as follows:— mata, Mr. J. H. Upfci; Waimate, Mr. W. J. Speight: Waikat, Mr. A. Swarbrick; Taranaki, Mr. W. 1 Skinner!

The Hot Lake. Chronicle says ; — "Waimaagn gey.?: was particularly active on Sunday la:, commencing to plaT .short!" after one o'exk. and continuing to perform throughout he afternoon. There were some very fineshots during the day, which were witnesse by a laige number "of visitors."

Almost every availbls mom in the various hotels iii Christaurch is already eagaged for Cup vree\ although there his been a large increase in hotel accommodation recently by th< building of larger

The Waihi town ck'Tc has just- been notified that the first inialir.ent of £5000 of the waterworks loan vili be placed to tie Council's credit in a jfev days.

A speaker at the church Diocesan Svnod stated that siting existed in Christchurch as had in their Vay as those found in oilier cities.

Tli& Western Pacific Herald of October 15 says:—The Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, Limited, established a unique record in shipping circles in this colony to-day, the total tonaage of the vessels iiyiu/j their flag in these waters being 19,000 tons. It. speaks volumes for the irado of Fiji that we can find cargo for so many vessels. i

News lias reached Suva from Apia of the death of Mr. J. D&viesj an old-time resident of Samoa, and one who was full of the early experiences of Satnoau history. Mr. Davies was the- last postmaster under the Tripartite Powers.

Word was received at Levuka on October 12, of Hie death of Ratu . Manoa., Bnli of Wai Leva, and one of the oldest chiefs of Fiji, being about SO years of age. The late chief wasf one of the cannibal chiefs and a great -warrior, having fought several battles with Till Caiau. Being eventually conquered by fiat chief he became, a fast friend of all the European settlers, and was extremely hospitable. His residence was one of the finest in Fiji. ' ! •

IngleTJood is to be lighted by electricity. The contractor 'undertakes to supply the street lights (32 candle-power), at £4 10s per lamp pel." annum. For household purposes he is prepared to supply 16 candle-power 'lights at 25s per annum per light, and eight candle-power lights, suitable for bedroom purposes, at 12s 6d per light per annum. : (

The Grejmouth correspondent of the West' Coast Times states that whitebait preserving companies have already started operalions on a large scale, and are offering good prices, but up to the present the- whitebait in Greymouth waters have only been few in number, and the weather has . not beer* favourable for making large hauls. Fish of all kinds have been extremely scarce of late, and for what little there has been on sale the fish retailers asked almost prohibitive prices.

In one paddock on the Totara Estate ;; (says the Oaraani Mail, there are 18 stud! Border Leicester ewes, and these 18 eves have proved most extraordinarily prolific, ' ; ; for they have dropped and are still maintain-; ; ; ing no'less than 57 lambs, all the ewes hav- i| ing dropped more than the usual quota, ', Fifteen of them dropped three lambs each,,' and the remaining three had four each.

. There has been a very good lambing per- "* centage in some parts of the North Island. At the Gwavasi station, in Hawke's Bay, 345 lambs were docked as the progeny of 255, ewes. Besides these. 50 were lost during th« severe weather. Most of the lambs. are al-. readv ready for the butcher. In the Kangi' tikei, Mr. James McGregor, of Wangaehu, obtained 120 per cent, of lambs from 503 «.wes. This is believed to be a record for the district . ~;"5Ji

The police cells had only one occupant* last evening, a man charged with drunkenness.

Frank William Thompson was yesterday committed for trial on a charge of theft at Dargaville. '-,