LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12478, 23 January 1904, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

The British mails which left London on January 9 left San Francisco for Auckland on Thursday afternoon last, and are due on February 8.

At its silting yesterday the Crown Lands Board considered the application made by Mr. Hugh 'league, on behalf of Mr. A. P. Gardner, Melbourne, for a concession to work ironsand deposits oft" Mamik.m Heads. The applicant applied for 100 acres. The concession was granted oil the following (among other) considerations:—A lease for 66 years, at 2s per acre, from January 1, 1906 ; 6000 tons of steel are to be made the first year, 12,000 the second year, and 24,000 the third year; thenceforward not less than 36,000 tons per annum. • The Government reserves the right to construct roads or tracks through the land held under lease, to be specially reserved without payment of compensation, as well as the right of the pedestrians, horsemen, cattle, sheep, etc.—travelling along the beach between Mauukau Heads and Pararaha Point at any time, if the works til not erected within the time stipulated, or the output of steel and Son is slopped for a period exceeding six months, the Government. at their option, hold the richt to eithei cancel the lease or impose a, special rental not exceeding £100 per month.

A bam and stable at Takapuna belonging to Mr. George White, butcher, were desV trcyed bj fire late on Thursday. Upwards of £100 worth of goods were lost, including chaff, harness, tools, and the "like. The insurance on the stable was £100 in the Alliance oflice, but the contents were uninsured.

A company lias been formed and registered in Auckland under the name of " The Rotorua. Motor Coaching Company, Limited," for the purpose of running passenger and mail motor-cars between Rotorua and Taupo and other parts of the district adjacent to Rotorua. The capital of the company is £10, COD. Four cars are at present running in the Rotorua-Taupo service, and there is a daily service to Waiinangu and Waiotapu. It is proposed to put" on two more cars almost immediately, and by next year it is expected to have a dozen or more in commission, and to be thus able to extend the service. The cars at present running between Rotorua and Taupo (one leaving each place every morning) are able to cover the distance in about half the ordinary coaching time.

A witness in the Magistrate's Court yesterday gave rather an amusing account of the speed of a tramear on a particular occasion when a slight accident occurred. " How fast was she going?" queried Mr. Cotter. "About the ordinary speed,'' replied the witness. "'How last- is the ordinary speed':" "Can't say; just normal." "What's normal?" "Just medium." "And what's medium?" " About half." " Half what?" "Half full speed." "And what's full speed?" "Just as fast as they can go." "And how fast can they go?" "Well, 1 don't know; i am really talking about, a steamer," concluded the witness, and Mr. Cotter gave up hope of getting any assistance from the witness as to the speed of the car.

The present tourist season is particularly heavy. Whilst tho oversea traiiic has not been so large as was expected, it has picked up a lot since tho season opened. At Rotorua the accommodation has been fully occupied. There is not much sign of any abatement, letters coming to band every mail containing inquiries from small parties who intend touring the colony. Waingaro. Okoroire, and Te Arolia have all been receiving a good measure of support, whilst the overland trip to Wellington, via Taupo and Wangamii, still finds favour with a very large section, but the new route via Taumarunui seems to possess a special fascination, dozens of inquiries coming to hand daily. The scenic attractions of this trip are second to none in tho North Island, the weaK spot, however, being the matter of accommodation. This defect will, however, be removed by next season, as new boardinghouses are to be put up bv private enterprise, whilst trick and Co., proprietors of the river service, are having a house-boat specially built, with berths for 50 people. Again, there are many people who, having exhausted the side trips at Rotorua, go right through the colony via Nelson and the Otira (Jorge, thence to ChrLstclmrch, and on to the cold lakes and Southern Alps.

The Whangarei Harbour Board (wires our correspondent) has received from the Marine Department., Wellington, an answer to its application for the foreshore of the Wlungarei Harbour to be vested in the Harbour Board, that the Department has no power to make the desired alteration without special legislation.

. In order to cope with tho growth of business in connection with the tourist traffic, and to suit the public convenience, it has been found necessary to move the Government Tourist Office into more commodious premises in the Government Buildings, Custom-street. Here the main room Ox office is 20ft by 19ft, where the Department make a fine display of wall pictures and other exhibits. The corridor is to have seating accommodation, and the walls are to be hung with pictures of New Zealand scenery, etc. Adjoining is the office of the registrar of electors for Auckland, Grey Lynn, Parnell, and Eden. Under the new system the offices are being grouped, and in both these cases the new offices are a marked improvement upon the old ones. Amongst other innovations there may be seen at the new tourist office printed notices Co travellers and sportsmen concerning the Department's inquiry bureaux and accommodation-houses.

A Glen Murray correspondent writes: — It is with feelings of regret that the residents oi Glen Murray part with their esteemed schoolmistress, Miss G. Harper, who has been removed to Clevedon. At the last concert at which Miss Harper was present, Mr. Annandale, after speaking of the able way in which the concerts for various purposes had been arranged by Miss Harper, presented her, on behalf of the. district, with a handsome dressing-case, as a token of esteem. Miss Harper suitably replied.

An Austrian selector met with a singular piece of downright bad luck at the Crown lands ballot on Thursday. He was successful in winning the ballot, entitling him to take up a large section of land, which it was proposed to plant as a vineyard, other Austrians joining in the development of tlie scheme. When the winner was asked for the deposit, he put down a couple of sovereigns, and left to get the balance from the Post Office Savings Bank On lis return he learned that lie had lost the land, another participant in the drawing objecting that as the Austrian was not ready with his deposit, he had legally forfeited his right. The objection had 'to be upheld by Mr. Mueller, Commissioner of Crown Lands, and, strangely enough, the ''allot was won by the objector. The Austrian reckons himself to be £100 out of pocket oy the deal.

£ meeting of the Pokeno congregation was heid in the Presbyterian Church at Pokeno on January 18 (writes our correspondent). The Rev. W. Watt (interim moderator) occupied the chair Mr A Marl ill moved. "That a call be given to a minister." This was seconded by Mr Jas Mi:ler, and carried. Mr. Madiil then proposed tnat the name of the Rev. Thomas Allen Nome be inserted in the call, which was seconded by Mr. W. Glasgow, and the representatives from the various stations spoke in support. The motion was earned unanimously. The moderator congratulated tho congregation on having such a feeling of unity in calling a minister. It was proposed by Mr. Smart that Mr \ Madih represent the session, and Mr h' Me Inn ess the congregation, at a meeting of the presbytery. This was seconded b, Mr. l>. Glial)nrjii, and carried. Mr Smart moved, and Mr. W. Glasgow seconded, that the representatives of the charge supporting the call at the presbvterv, fix the most suitable time for the induction of the new minister after the edict has been read in the various preaching stations." This was also carried. A hearty vote of thanks was given to the ladies for providing re . fresh men ts, on the motion of Mr Smart J. he meeting was closed with the Benediction.

The Government Tourist Department have made a new issue of their pictorial postcards. The series consists of typiea, Yew Zealand scenery, and includes "exec,l lent views of towns, thermal districts. tin Alps, and cold lakes. The address side hat good examples of Maori carving, and si the base a picturesque engraving of .Mount harnshaw, at the head of Lake Wakatipu.

The Ohinemnri County Council and th» Waihi Borough Council are agreeabv (writes our Waihi correspondent) to Df Giles, of Auckland, acting as arbitrator m their dispute. It has been arranged thata date in. February be fixed for "deciding the question. °

J First Battalion ami will hold a massed band performance, with the assistance of the Devon port and impe.y's Brass Bauds, in the Domain Cricket Ground tomorrow, when selections will be given byeach of the bauds, and marches en masse • also an exhibition of the contest drill, to be given b v the Battalion Band. A collection will be made in aid cf the contest funds of the band. Mr. Gresham, the coroner, held an inquest- at the Lunatic Asylum yesterday on tho body of a male patient, who died on Thursday. A verdict was recorded showing that the cause of death was general paralysis of the insana

There was one person Surged with dn n keuness in the police cell,last night, TW I'm vis. who a few davAy 0 L oSfrom the Sailors' Home Jf the ho Sp h al °£f fenng tro:n poison, vnil U brought «n7* Si d f arge ' Wi{h a,, 4 tb *"° ciS 'He Auckland Anniver.X Regatta tak„ pu.ee on 1.r.'1:.y next. -Ata mming of th committer, held yesterday the "' was acutely i,X " ! ' and w1 be found *• where m tins l.s.ue. It Wi announced " c * had practically a ranged that th. Siia.vr, baviii, and Albion; Company's <!„ sie.a;)cr iMp.uc Vuuid act as - mailer being lKt :'! !"■ i']" 1 " of her 'com" iiiander, who would be in|rview e <i by th commilue upon his arriv.i it VaVr? puled , that subsi-ripiions «re c „ mi ' D /«' (t'ceiv, but. the committee «pre»»i •> T.• • that all. who could do so jr on hi coir rittowards the funis with.it being waju? upon. It was arrangid iat the ,-in- ra „ should be rowed under tht>rtiles of the X Zealand Amateur Rowing . ssociatiou 'v* trie,- tor the various event will be receivS" at the \\ aitemala Hotel ii Monday night from eight to halt-past ill p.m. "The nance tee was iixcd at 5 per cent, on A* hist yri/e. ' ' vul