LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12602, 17 June 1904, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The : drainage scheme for the city of Auckland, recommended "by Mr. Mestayer, was discussed at a special meeting of the City Council last night. A majority of members expressed themselves favourable to the scheme, but there was/ a desire for more information, especially with regard to the septic tank system, and it was decided to ask Mr. Mestayer to come to Auckland and confer with the Council. A full report of the meeting will be found elsewhere in this issue.

[ In consequence of the success already at- ;| tending the motor-'bus service between I' Auckland and Ho wick, /the:. company conI template ordering another us in order to meet the demand for passages.

The Auckland Education. Board has been notified by the Education Department of the following special school grants as a result of the representations made to the Hon.. Colonel Pitt, Acting Minister far Education, on his recent visit to Auckland: £300, for school enlargement; , Maiig&tete, £2.20, for a new school; Ararua, £350, for a teacher's residence; Waihopo, £45 for enlarging the school. In. the case of Mangatete and Waihopo, the sums asked for have been granted, but in the eases of Epsom and .Ararua, the grant is smaller than that applied for.

A . charge arising out of the assault : .upon John Richard Cooke, in Beach- Road, ■■>. on Saturday evening, was heard in the Police Court yesterday. A. young' man named Frederick Phillips, who had his head bandaged, appeared to answer a charge of assaulting Cooke in. such a manner as to cause actual bodily harm—an indictable offence. The accused Was remanded until Monday, on the application of Sub-Inspector Black, who explained that Phillips had been arrested that morning, and that a Warrant was out for the arrest of another man who also was suspected of having been concerned in the affair. : Bail < was. allowed in two sureties of £25 each.; :

The Resident Commissioner of the Cook Islands reports favourably on the position, of education in the islands. At. the Tereora Boarding School, in Barotonga, a really good education is given, and Colonel Gudgeon predicts that this school will be to the islanders what Te Ante College fa"'.-; to the young Maoris of New Zealand.

Prior to the arrival of the Ventura (which left Auckland for 'Frisco on May 20), at Honolulu a member .'of the^ engineroom staff was killed by a. foil amongst the ."machinery. • A subscription for the benefit of deceased's mother was started amongst the passengers and crewjrwith the result that £200 was collected. '

The Pakuranga hounds met at the Mangere bridge on Wednesday, and had an enjoyable run over Mr., McKeiijrie** Ascot property. At the conclusion of the run, the members were entertained by Mr. and Mrs.rMcKenzie. After the meet to-morrow' the members of the club will give a concert in the Hqwiek Hall, commencing at half-past seven p.m., to the farmers of Pakuranga and surrounding districts, aild their families, to all of Whom, a hearty invitation is extended. - - -

Amongst the old residents of Auckland* who have. lately passed away was Mrs. A. Smart, sen., of Epsom," who came to New Zealand with her family in thin ship Tally* ho just 50 years ago. Deceased, who was a native of Edge End, Lancashire, Was 58 years of age, and had resided in Auckland with her husband for the last 38 years. ;;:

A young man was killed on June 9, near the Milton ; railway station, Queensland, by a goods train. When the driver' of .the train reached Toowong, two wiles further on, he informed the stationm&ster that his train had passed over a body ; of some description, tout as it was dark at.the time he could make no observation!}. A search was instituted, and the body of a Japanese was found lying near the outside rail. £; The head, which had apparently rested on the rail, was completely severed from the body. Portions of the hair and skull were found along the line for a distance ©1; 30yds.: On arrival of the police the body was'removed to the morgue, where it was later identified as that of Tabuzo Tobita.-a partner in the firm of Asalu, Asahi, and 00., of Brisbane. Deceased had been .in bad health lately, and, it is alleged, was somewhat strange in his' actions. , -

A shocking accident occurred at Mittagong, JNew South Wales, on June 8, when Miss FlorrieO'Key, aged about 20, a resident of Moss Vale, had -her right 'leg severed a'bove the knee. She was hurrying to catch the ten minutes to eight train for Mosd Vale, and had to cross tlk 1 line. The half-past seven goods train from Goulburn was standing just outside the station, and the young woman endeavoured to crawl between the engine and trucks. She had succeeded in getting almost through when the train was backed to make way for the passenger train from Sydney, and cut her leg -completely off. Her screams attracted the attention of the driver, who promptly ;brought the train to a standstill, and the young woman was extricated,, She was carried to the waiting-room, where Miss Gertie Riley, a local resident and "professional nurse; rendered first aid, pending the arrival of Dr. Middleton, who attended the sufferer. She was then taken •onby ■ the ten minutes to eight train to Bowral, where she was admitted into the hospital. She remained' conscious throughout the" night, and died the following morning.

A mysterious explosion, , causing serious injuries to Frank Eagling, a,; young man, and considerable damage to property, occurred at the North Kalgurli lease, Golden Gate, West ; i.Australia, : , at an. "' early l..houron June" 9. It appears 'that-shortly before two. ©'clock Eagling and a camp mate, Arthur Campbell, were awakened from their slumbers by a deafening report, In an instant the hessian iron structure in which they slept was levelledh to the ground, and the air was filled with flying debris. The next moment the two men were thrown 'bodily out in -the open amongst a lot of wreckage, comprising shattered furniture '? and the remains of their camp. Two or three adjoining tenements suffered considerably from the effects of the explosion, while those in the vicinity presented a battered and damaged appearance. Campbell escaped with : a few slight bruises; and severe shock, but his companion Eagling was t not so fortunate. Th force of the explosion embedded splinters of wood in his face; arms, and legs, besides inflicting nasty flesh Wounds in the chest. Neither of the men can tell what caused the explosion. Both remain firm in their assertions that no explosives of any kind were kept on the premises, ■ : .'.-v

During the last 15 months over 100,000 acres of good country have been offered for selection in the northern part of Taranaki, and of this about 80,000 acres have been taken up in sections varying from 5C acres up to 1500 acras in extent. Plans of over 90,000 acres are now lying prepared, and this land will be available for selection -ii an early date.. _■■[■ I; ■'■■': ''

|-- —f ilUllllHMmi^i, - ~J~~ ■ ■ - ... r j An electric traifoeair rail oft the rails be- • ' kween nine and ten o'clock last evening, '-■;■■': when turning this corner out, of KarangL ; ' hape Road into Pitt-street, on the down -' line. The line, wast "blocked for-a short \ time, and •whilst the car was being righted : several of the Porusonby„ and Grey Lynn and Archhill ears had to come to town by P' way of College Hill. ; ]3y the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Phillips, which took place at the Sydney ' y Hospital on June 8, the oldest native of New South Wales passed to her rest. The :/' : U ; deceased lady was well known to a very ■ ' large circle of friends, and had numerous relatives. She was bom in Kent-street, Sydney, on September 12, 1807, and consequently was in her 97th year. She was a daughter- of Stephen Johnston, a soldier, who was afterwards captain of the second fleet to New South Wales. At the age of 23 she married Mr. Phillips, who left her a widow some .29 years ago. The late / Mrs. Phillips was, notwithstanding her' '/ advanced age, a most interesting character. A >,"■ To many she would delight in relating her , personal experiences ■"connected with the '%\ convict days of Sydney. The deceased lady i in her childhood days wits a companion of il'l the safes Dean. Cowper. The friendship between the two/always remained, and in. after life the late dean gave Mrs. Phillips a Bible, which/ she highly prized, more;-.•■: especially since the death of the late dean. ;; For ten years;the deceased lived with her . ■ parents in one of four houses, then the only residences in ■'■.Kent-street. Subsenuently she removed to the Patersbn, and this was / the greatest distance out of Sydney, the / old lady ever reached during her long life. For the last 16 years she resided in Paddittgtort, Woolioomooloo. and other suburbs, and was of wonderfully clear intel- v ; lect and considerable activity. Last year' she attended two social functions at the Paddingtott.Towrt.'Hall, in connection with the Australian Natives' Association./:? On ; the last clay of Lord Bea'uchamp's residence; in Sydney as Governor,/ the late /Mrs. Phillips called at Government House, and 'was.:■.///:,; cordially received by Hi? Excellency. She was the last of a family, of thres; and has left three sons, many * grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.// Her remains were .- laid to rest .in the Waverley : cemetery.;,; / ,;-//•; There were in the lockup last, night, one person charged with drunkenness, one with / ■: •.■;..■ vagrancy, and one with assault. ~:• /