LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12545, 12 April 1904, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Huddart-Parker steamer Westralia left for Sydney last evening with a number of passengers and a large and valuable cargo. Included in the shipments from Auckland were 31 bars bullion, valued at £10,850, shipped by tin Waihi Gold Mining Company through to London; 627 cases and 99 sacks kauri gum for London and the Continent; nnc' lines of hides, flax, tow, frozen meat, canned mullet, etc., ior Australian ports.

A complaint in regard to the holiday tim«. V table of the electric tramways was made at the meeting of the Grey Lynn Borough CoW ' cil last evening by Mr. C. I. McMaster. H> ' said that the company sometimes announced time-table*, to which they did not adhere ■ and that an instance of this had occurred on • Good Friday, when, so far at least as Grey ' Lynn was concerned, the time-table was not '■ strictly followed. The Maybr (Mr. J. y? * Shackelford) said the Council had a right. J to know when any alterations were made in' •. the time-table, and on his motion it v as ; resolved to request the company to submit ■ all special time-tables for the Council's an. •! proval. Further particulars of the fire which oecured at the residence of Mr. Frederick' : Thomas, Sarsfield-streat, Ponsonby, early yesterday morning, show that the family had • to escape in their nightdresses, so short was the notice given them. Mr. Thomas stated - to the police that lie left a fire burning' in J§ the front room, and that he believes, someH embers must have fallen out 011 to the floor, ft and so set five to the house. Practically none of the furniture was saved, and the I house was quite destroyed. The owner of the house is Mr. T. T. 'Muscfield, who insured it for .£350 in the London and Lancashire Office. Mr. Thomas insured his furniture for £100 in the Royal Office, but he estimates his value of the furniture destroyed more than ir double the amount for which it was insured. S ; s The fire brigade was quickly on the scene, but the fire had got a very strong hold by : the time they arrived.

The premises of Mr. James Salinger, electrician, Coombes' Arcade, were entered on Saturday night, and about £1 15s in coppers was stolen, and about four shillings' worth of stamps. Mr. Salinger's office is situated on the first floor of the arcade, and it is believed that an entry was effected through one of the office windows. A hand-bag containing the money collected from peuny-in-the slot machines was left in the office, and when Mr. Salinger visited the premises lie found the ba ] removed to a bench in the workshop ar 1 the money gone. A number of drawers v ,re found to be rifled, but two cheques cither escaped the attention of the visitors or were declined as difficult of negotiation without risk of detection. The matter has been reported to the police.

On Sunday night Mr. S. Weston, chief

engineer of the Northern Company's steamer Clansman, whilst proceeding to his residence in Shelly Beach Road, met with an accident, resulting in one of his legs being broken. Stepping off the kerbstone at the corner of ' one of the bye-streets, Mr. Weston slipped, his leg gave way, and he fell heavily, : remaining for some time unable "to move. Fortunately two gentlemen camo along, and kindly assisted Mr. Weston to his home. This is the third time that Mr. Weston has met with a similar accident. The district courts recently established at Thames and Hamilton are to be put is operation shortly. It has now been ] arranged that District .Judge Kettle will ! hold criminal and civil sittings as from June 1 next, commencing at Hamilton on j the second Tuesday in June and at Thames on the second Tuesday in August. The sittings will be quarterly, and will afterwards be held at Hamilton on the second Tuesday in September, December, March, > and June, and so on, and at Thames on the same day in November, February, an& Slay.

Mr. E. H. Montgomery, of the Govern-' ment Tourist Department, has received x letter from Lord Elibant, who states that ! he has derived an immense amount of good ! from a six weeks' stay at Rotorua. When he arrived in the thermal district he could hardly walk, owing to rheumatic stiffness, but ere ' he left ho accomplished the feat of a stiff • climb to and from the Frying Pan while at : the Waimangu house, as well as another 1 i tedious walk ou the same day. From Rotorua Lord Elibanfe went to Napier, intending, to reach Wellington in time to catch the , Ruapehu on the 14th inst.

I | A number or orchardists visit the Government orchards and vineyard at Wairaagi •to-day, leaving at 10 a.m. They travel under the auspices of the Auckland Fruitgrowers' t Union. Messrs. E. Clifton (Chief Inspector of Stock), W. A. Boucher (Government I'omologist), Sig. Bragato (Government Viticulturiat), and Mr, W. C. Robinson, of the Stock Office, will receive the visitors. Mr. Boucher will give an exhibition of spraying, and fumigating fruit trees.

! An inquest into the cause, of the death of ! David Dean, who met with an accident in ; the railway tunnel at Ivarangahake on Fri- , clay last, was held on Saturday afternoon, j before Mr. W. Forrest, coroner, and a jury |of six. The depositions of deceased, taken !Mi short time before he died, were read. la ! this Dean stated that ho complained to Jones, the shift boss, that the rock was ! dangerous, and that Mr. I fay, the Government engineer, was standing close by at the time. Mr. .llay, in evidence, said be did not hear Dean make any remark of that nature, and Jones, the shift boss, also said that Dean hud not made any complaint to him. Thomas Donoliue, the foreman ia charge of tho tunnel work, staled that no one had spoken to him about the plaea being dangerous. The men all knew there was a certain amount of danger, but witness did not consider the placo particularly dangerous. Evidence was also given by • Dr. Craig, Thomas Dean (deceased's cousin),' • and James Maugan (one of the miners j working in the tunnel), and the jury re* I turned a verdict of accidental death, and ' | stated that they considered the authorities i had taken all precautions to protect the men from accident. The body was removed j irom Karangahake • to Paeroa on Sunday, and conveyed to Pokeno by the early train yesterday morning. A short service was held at tvarangahuke by the Kev. Oopeland, ■ while Mr. W. McLean delivered the-Druidio service, deceased having been a member of the Karangahake Lodge of Druids. The procession was a very lengthy one, and was headed by a large number of Druids from the Karangahako, Paeroa, and Waikiuo Lodges. The members of the No. 1 Qliinelmiri Hides also attended in uniform. The wreaths sent were very numerous, while messages of condolence were received from, a large number of places.

J At tho Police Court yesterday Charles i Russell Fielder, the blind organ-grinder, ap- . peared before Mr. 0. C. Kettle, S.M., to answer a _ charge of having attempted t.i commit suicide 011 Thursday evening last by taking a dose of laudanum. The accused denied that he had taken laudanum. It was shown m evidence that the accused had, in company with his son "Bertie," some 12 or 13 years of age, visited Mr. 11. Parker's chemist shop in Queen-street 011 Thursday afternoon, when, after purchasing <• sleeping draught, he also procured a small bottla of laudanum. When the son had taken his father to his home in Grey-street he put lib hand in his father's pocket and took out the sleeping draught, halt emptied the bottle, and filled it up with water again. Then he put it back to its original place, and withdrew the other bottle, which he gave to his sister, telling her that her father wanted I to Ibid her "good-bye!" The laudanum bottle was then three-parts full. Shortly afterwards Fielder became ill, saying to his son that l"3 had taken poison. The police were Buramo id!, an emetic administered, and the man removed to the hospital, where he was treated by Doctor Walsh for laudanumpoisoning, which he showed symptoms (if. he accused's only statement to His Worship besides that of a denial was that he "had had more trouble in connection with family mattens than any other man in Auckland for the past four months." Mr. Kettle said it was not a bit of use sending Fielder to gaol, and ordered him to come up for sentence when called upon.

Those interested in the progress of the Rub so-Japanese War will be greatly interested in the complete show of pieturos J now being exhibited by Mr. C. W. Goodson, at his Queen-street establishment. The pictures are thoroughly .Japanese, both in Sj: style and sentiment. The interpretations with each were kindly given by Mr. All Cheß, the well-known Chinese merchant. 'jv& The pictures can only remain on show for ; v ||? a few days. Two small boys were arrested at lillerslie '4 Racecourse yesterday. It is alleged that they .got into the dining saloon, and carried $|| off a pair of pepper castors. They appear f§| at the Police Court this morning. m

Th« Court of Appeal gave judgment atWellington yesterday on the law points arising; out of the case of Reynolds v. the Nelson Harbour Board. In this case the plaintiff, Mr. Leslie Reynolds, C.E., sought to recover from the defendant Board a sum <of ab»ut £1600 for services rendered in connection with the preparation of the plans of chf harbour improvement works now being started at Nelson. The Board had called in two consulting engineers to report on Mr. •Keloids' plans. These engineers recommended certain modifications of the plans, and these were adopted by the Board. Mr. Reynolds sued the Board, with the result tbit he was awarded a sum of over £300 by a jpecial jury in the Supremo Court, subject to certain law points, which were reserved foj appeal. The Appeal Court has now unanimously held that the provisions of the Harbour Act not having been complied with hi),plaintiff could not recover (the verdict of lbs jury being Thus set aside). Several numbers of the Court expressed the opinion that Mr. Reynolds had suffered great hardshin, having done work of which the Boatd had received tho benefit, while he got no payment. Leave was giveu to appeal to the I'rivy Council.

The residents of several of the internal streets iu Grey Lynn, on which the new formation tracts are proceeding, have lieen put to a great deal of "distressing inconvenience," as one ratepayer put it, during the recent spell of wet weather. Where the heavy yellow clay, of which the subsoil of the Surrey Hills is composed, lias he«n laid bare, the roadways and footways were well-niirh impassable during the rain, and complaints against the delay in carrying out-the contracts have been both loud and deep. One member of a deputation which waited on the Borough Council last night described the position as "a state of siege," ami another stated that he had found it necessary, after crossing the street each morning, to change his boots before coming to town. The Council's decision to take steps to have the works pushed on more expediticuslv has not been arrived at any too soon, tird the greatest possible despatch will have to be exercised in order to get the works completed, and the new roads metalled before the winter sets in.

The burial of the dead from tha Auckland Hospital and Cost ley Home was referred to at yesterday's meeting of the Charitable A'.d Board, and gave Mr. John Bollard a peg on which to hang ft few remarks. The member pointed out that the Board did not now send a responsible officer to see the bodies interred as was formerly done, and expressed the opinion that the contract price was so low that it could hardly be expected that the work would be as satisfactory as might be wished. The " old box " now in use as a fcearse should be replaced by a more suitable vehicle, and the Board should make it a point to bury the dead from their institutions decently. Other members coincided with Mr. Bollard's remarks, but 210 action was takes, in view of the fact that the existing contract expires shortly.

A Are occurred at Mr. R. Holmes' bakehouse in Waihi 011 Sunday morning, and before the flames could be extinguished the plant was completely destroyed. The five" had got a firm hold before discovered, and owing to the high wind it seemed at first as it tho llamas wotud extend to the large block of valuable buildings adjoining, Lut the fire brigade turned out very promptly, and confined the jlexnent of danger to the burning bakehouse. The building, which is owned by Mr. W. Mc* Watters, of Ptieroa, was insured in the Imperial office for £55, but the contents of the bakehouse were not covered at all, and Mr. Ho!mes is a heavy loser. The origin oi the fire is unknown, but it is believed that wood placed on top of the oven caught fire and the flames extended to-the woodwork.

A lad named Frank Tarry met with a serious accident yesterday at Messrs. Carder Bros, pottery, Ponsonby Road. lla was dragged in between cog?, and his leg was badly jammed, a severe wound being inflicted on the thigh. Tarry, who resides in Ponsonbv Road, was taken to the hospital. He was doing fairly well when inquiries were made last night.

Our Matamata correspondent writes: —In connection with the subdivision of the MatamaU Estate, a staff of Government surveyors has been employed for some time past, checking and making some alterations to the survey made by direction of the Assets Board. The field woVk is now practically completed, and plans maybe expected very shortly. I learn that the Government intend reading the estate forthwith. Mr. J. Simpson, assistant manager of the estate, has resigned. The vacancy has balm filled by Mr. Bailey, who has for some years had charge of the Assets Boards properties in the Bay of Plenty.

The death is announced at Wellington of Mi'. Daniel Archibald, night foreman of the Government Printing Office, who expired suddenly on Sunday last. Mr. Archibald was well known on the Auckland press many years ago, and on the removal of the seat of Government he joined the Government Printing Department at Wellington, where he has since resided.

Our Whangarei correspondent telegraphs : —Mr. Edward Boult, who returned with Messrs. L. Hanlou, H. and F. Holmun, and E. Mair from Hen Island on Sunday evening, report good sport and plenty of fish, but the sea rough when out of shelter. They left Messrs. Steadrnau, Bedlington, and party on the island, the sea. being too rough for their small launch to face.

At Palmerston North yesterday George Gardner, John Moore and Lum Kee were charged with breaking and entering IJarraud and Abraham's warehouse and stealing tobacco and cigarettes, and were remanded till Friday next. Four charges of burglary are pending against each of the accused. The secretary of Trinity College, London, writes tc the secretary of the Marton Centre that one of the local exhibitions annually open to colonial candidates has been awarded to Mis; Amy Remington, or Marton, aged 11 years, tor senior pianoforte playing. Ihe candidate scored 91 marks out of a possible 100. Notice was received yesterday by the official assignee (Mr E. Gerard) that A, E. Stevens, storekeeper, of Puriri, Thames, has been adjudged r bankrupt, on the petition of W S. Whitley The firs' meeting of creditors will be held on Tuesday afternoon, April 19, at the office of the official assignee. The Auckland Racing Pigeon Club flew off their sixth young bird race of the seasor on Saturday lasj, from Ngaruawahia, an airline distance of 60 miles. The winners were Messrs. Saunders, A.R.P.C., 746, velocity 829 yards per minute, 1; Probert ijios., p.C , 16, velocity 80S yards per minute, 2; and Mi. J. Shaw's A.R.P.C., 770, velocity, 802 yards per minute, 3. Tho death of Mr. Joshua Edwin Robinson, until lately a teacher under the Auckland Education Board is announced, at the early age of 28 years. The deceased, who was a son of Mr. J. C. Robinson, of Ponsonby, was for some years a teacher at the field school, and was ft great favourite with his fellow teachers, and with the scholars, in whom he took a great interest. Some time ago Mi. Robinson fell into ill-health, which resulted in consumption, to which he succumbed. His bereaved parents will have the sympathy of many friends in their loss. There were three persons in the police cells last night, one charged with drunktnn«ss and two with theft.

! The Melbourne Age states: The pursuit of " nature study" at the State school scorns . likely, in a small way, to lead to interesting discoveries. A first limit lias just been brought under the notice of the Education ; Department in the discovery that the I " malarial"' mosquito lias its existence in i Victoria. Mr. J. A. Leach, a relieving ; teacher of the Department, has been re- ! eently engaged in giving » course of speci- ' men lessons in the northern suburbs. Children were engaged to collect the larvae of mosquitos and observe their development j from day to day. In the course of the work Mr. Leach recognised the malarial j mosquito, which up to that time had not | been recognised in Victoria. By the adj vice of Professoi Spencer he prepared a. i paper 011 I lie subject, which he submitt | at the last meeting of the Field Nutilraliski' Club.

In a paper on "The Forecasting of Atmospheric and Seismic Disturbances on Land and Sea," read at the rooms of the Society oi Arts (Melbourne), Professor Nowack claimed to have publicly predicted the Martinique disaster 11 years before it occurred, and that the papers and charts explaining his predictions are still lying ignored in the Meteorological Ofitco. About 18 years since professor Nowack commenced to investigate the peculiar properties of a newly-discovered Indian plant known as the«A lints preeatorins. or in English the "weather plant." This plant appears to bo affected by approaching atmospherics or seismic disturbances, and by its aid, and by data obtained from studies ot sun spots and general studies, in physics, geology, chemistry, and botany, tl>- lecturer churned to lie ali o to predict correctly a month beforehand and within a radius of 3000 miles all storms, on land or sea, cyclones, earthquakes, fire-damps and volcanic eruptions, and the exact state ot the weather seven days in advance of any given date. Furthermore, the professor states that he would be able to warn sea captains a month in advance by wireless telegraphy of any disturbances which they are likely to meet, and that he could forecast the density and length of fogs.

Our Taumarunui correspondent- writes: — Tito largo Louse-boat pontoon intended for the Wanna nui River was successfully launched 011 Wednesday afternoon. The contractors christened tho boat the Makeri, after one of the leading cluettaiuesses, liiumarunui. Mr. Laird, the contractor, and his staff are to bo congratulated upon the undoubted success of licit woikmanship. There, are two storeys to be built as superstructure upon the pontoon, the building of which may occupy some months. It is expected that the proprietors, Messrs. 11 trick and Company, will take the boat wver from' Mr. Laird in time for the early opening of next tourist season. A seud-oft' was given to the shipwrights. who have been busy on the pontoon work. A verv enjoyable evening was spent-. It is intended to hold a masquerade ball on the pontoon on Friday nest, the proceeds of which will be devoted to aid the funds of the local public library.