LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12698, 28 October 1904, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The sittings of the Hospital Commission were- contmued yesterday, when the witnesses under examination were- Dr. Inghs, Dr. MacGregor (Inspector-Geneva! of Hospitals), and "Mr. G. J. Garland (chairman of the Hospital Board). The case on behalf of Dr. Neil closed with the evidence of Dr.. MacGregor, the- chairman of the Board being the first witness called by Dr. Robert on, on behalf of the Medical Association. The inquiry is likely to extend over the whole of next week. Our report of yesterday's proceedings appears elsewhere. \.;

. The following are the tenders for timber in the Tutamoo and Tangihua blocks, regarding which complaint was made in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, the highest tender having been declined:— Lot 3, Tutam&e t granted to the Kauri Timber Company at 3s 9d; the Mitchelson Company tendered :at 2s 9d, and the National Mortgage and Agency Company at 3s. Lot 4, Tutamoe, granted to the Mitchelsbu. Company at 2s 9d ; the Kauri Timber Company's tender of 33 3d being declined. For lot 5, Tutamoe, there was only one tender— Timber Company. at Is 6d—and the offer was refused, on the ground that the price was not sufficient. Lot 6, Tutamoe, was granted -to. the Kauri Timber Company "at 3s, the. only tender. For lot 7, Tutamde, the National Mortgage Agency Company's tender was accepted. at 3s, the other tenders being Mitclielson Timber Company, 3s. 9d, and Kauri Timber Company, 25., Lot 4, Tangihua, was granted to the Mitchelson Company at 2s 6d, the Kauri Timber Company's tender of 2s 8d being recused.

At the meeting of the Grammar School Board yesterday three proposals were considered regarding school games, etc. The headmaster wrote asking for authority to collect 3s 6d «ach term from each boy as his quota towards the expense of maintaining the school games, in consideration of the liberal support given by the Board. The chairman (Professor Brown) said the school sports cost about £50, including prizes, etc., and the Board had hitherto voted £10 towards that amount, the rest coming from entries for the events. Last year there was a deficiency, and the question. waii whether the Board should grant the larger sum of £20 tliis year. There-Was also a proposal to provide a cricket co-ach, and the Grafton Club had suggested that one should be procured \ from Sydney. He had consulted with members of the Board, and it was considered that £20 might be contributed by the Board towards the cost of. Ob: taining a coach. The three questions were put to the vote, when the, last two were agreed to. The first, was postponed, on the suggestion of Professor Brown, for a fuller meeting of the Board.

Regarding the serious stench that residents of Parnell and the western end of Graf-, ton Road, Symonds-street, and neighbourhood have had to complain of likely, the Mayor jthe Hon. 32. MitcheTsoa) gars a probable explanation at last night's meeting of the City Council. Instead Of the stench being caused by the Council's rubbish tip in the parnell intake, as has been, alleged* he ',said the city engineer and district health officer put it down to an did deposit on the beach, and to a blockage of the channel, caused by an old punt and some logs lying across it. These he had. authorised to be removed. ::

The Government steamer Hinemoa returned from her visit to the Kermadecs last night. Captain Bollons repoirts : that the whole of the islands in the group were visited, but there was no trace of either castaways or wreckage found. There was no sign of volcanic action having taken place recently, and the crater on Curtis Island was less active than,on the Hinemoa'6 last visit, some months ago. f it will be remembered that the captain '.■■.'of the wrecked barquentme Addenda .re-; ported that wliih ho passed Stinday Island, whilst on a voyage to' Lyttelton, * some months ago, Sunday Island appeared to be in. eruption. '«

The ship Astracana has been re-surveyed by Captain W. D. Reid (superintendent for marine) and tor. H. Wetherllt (Governtoent inspector of machinery), the surveyors appointed by the Minister for Marine, owing to the complaint of same of the crew; as to the Ship being tmseaWorthy. The necessary repairs having been carried 0% the suirveybrs have reported to the Minister for* Marine that the ship is how thoroughly seaworthy. In consequence of the 'surveyors' report, the embargo preventing the ship from proceeding on her ; voyage- has been removed, and a3 Soon as the cargo has been restowed, the Astracana will resume her voyage to Delagda Bay. '

At the" City Council meeting last night the report of the Streets Committee contained' the following clause regarding the widening of Beach Road, hi front of 'the proposed fire station Previous decision adhered to, via., " Your comtfaitteV being of opinion that the street at this point does not now require firfther widening, has authorised tenders being called for the erection of the building." Mr. A. J. Entrican urged that some effort should be made to widen the road, and on his motion the matter was referred back to the committee, Mr. Entrican to see the pi-operty-owners and report to the committee.

Mr. G.' Garland, provincial secretary of the New Zealand Farmers' Uniorl, Auckland, has received the following letter from the Undersecretary of the Public Works Department, Wellington am directed by the Minister fox* Public Works to wknowledgs the receipt of your letter of tbe 14th mat., again urging the early extension- of the Helensville Northwards railway, and, in reply, to state that the representations made will receive the earnest consideration of the Government. It will no doubt be satisfactory . to you to know Jut in the Railways Authorisation Bill, submitted to Parliament last week, proviskm is made for extending the lino to the southern boundary of the Maungataupere parish." •

A communion table, erected to the memory of the late Mr. William Atiderson, will be unveiled by Mr. John Patei'son,; at the pre-cominuniou service this evening at St. David's Presbyterian Church, Khyber Pass Road.

A settler named Pdok, of Mount Albert, was admitted to tie hospital yesterday suffering from severe injuries to his chisst. He was rounding up a bullock and carrying an axe at the same time, and in order to get out of the way of the animal he dropped the axe. His horse and the bullock net/ and Pock was thrown. He fell on the upturned edge of the axe, which penetrated his chest. He suffered a great deal from loss of blood.

On the recommendation of the Streets Committee the City Council last nighfc agreed to grant the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club the use of the Domain Cricket Ground, on December 3 next, with the right t< charge for admission, on condition the club takes steps to prevent betting ok the ground, on the following terms : fiiO for use of ground, £2 for advertising, $,% for use of pavilion, and 5 pel cent, oh all takings at the gate over >£50. It Was also agreed to aiilow the Auckland Cricket Association the use of the cricket ground on Saturday afternoons, under the game arrangements as in previous settsons. A request by the Cricket Association for the extension of the pavilion and improvement of the condition of the outhc ruses on the ground was referred to the city engineer to report,

A boy named Robert Hunt, residing in Macaulay-street, Newton, was ran over in Queen-street yesterday. Ho was selling newspapers,. and crossed the road to supply a customer, when a dog knocked bin down. Before he had time to recover himseli a cart;, driven by R. Lucas, greengrocer, Parnell, passed over his loot. He was seen by Dr. Sharman, and after his injuries had been attended to he was seat home in a .cafe

The city sanitary contractor having received notice from the City Council that his contract must be carried out after November 1, according to the full conditions thereof,' Wrote at last night's meeting stating la;** the whole of the pans recite to cdmnW With this condition could not be Supplied' by the present contractor by the date n;tmo<] • He asked for, and was granted, permission' ' therefore, to obtain pan's elsewhere, subject- ' to the approval of the city engineer. ; * - At last Might's meeting of the City Comi. '' cil, Mr. W. Thome wrote thanking.the.' Council for his re-appointment as a sinking fund commissioner. The Mayor (the Hon ' E. Mitchelson) explained that through an • oversight Air. J. J. Holland, a commissionerfor many years, had been replaced by an-' »■" otluir gentleman as a commissioner. He regretted this, and moved that the Council' thank Mr. J. J. Holland for his long and faithful services as a sinking fund commissioner. This was earned. . The efforts of the congregation of St. James' Presbyterian Church, .Wellington--street, to raise sufficient funds for a pipe organ have been liberally supplemented by Mrs. Charles Knox, one of the oldest mem- ' i bers of the church, who has presented £100 towards the fund. The committee' of management have decided to place an order to supply a pipe orgar to cost £600. " The Streets Committee of the City Council, reporting last night upon the Auckland, public cemetery trustees' intimation ttobthey would offer ho objection to the erection of the new cemetery bridge, provided ths -J consent of grave-holders was obtained, re.' ■'" commended that the latter be communicatee 1 "■ With oh the subject. This was agreed to. At the meeting of the Thames Borough :':-§I Council, held last night, the; following Resolution was earned:-— Lkis Council views with alarm the continued increase in. ,' the cost of ;naritable aid, and is of opinion,, -'..'■ that in lieu of a. single woman and single' man being appointed caretakers at the Old' People's Home at an increase of salary over the amount hitherto paid, the Charitable •„- Aid Board should appoint a .named couple,, and their salary should not exceed £100 per annum. The Council also takes the oppor-; tunity of thanking its representatives on. ■ the Board for the stand they are taking hr . this direction." The city engineer reposed to the" City' I Council at last aight's meeting, that the ex- ! penditure on streets in the city to October jll last amounted to £10,603 4s 9d. During the fortnight ending October 25 the expendiI ture was £855 Is 6d, making a total to date . of £11,458 6s 3d-

A meeting of the joint school committees, j. was- held on Wednesday evening in. the Kauaeranga school, Thames to confer with the inspector for technical education with j reference to the necessity of establishing a technical school at the Thames. It ro pointed out by the members that conthmttion classes had already been established.' ■.'." with a roll number of "150, which clearly proved the necessity of such a school, uaii' was also a guarantee that it would pro',c successful. The chairman handed a lis; to the inspector, showing the number of scholars of all grades Who would be likely to avail themselves of the education u. provided. The meeting concluded with a vot« ■•".',. of thanks to the inspector and to the sSiaiir- ' . man. .The City Council last night received an'. , intimation from the Colonial Secretary thai ~ , the proclamation annexing' the reclaimed. : land in Freeman's Bay, and adjoining Hob- , - : ; son-street Wharf {including Victoria Park}. ' - to the City of Auckland, would no "jateticJ ' this week. At the meeting of the Women's Christian; : Temperance Union on Wednesday afternoon 1 ' it was unanimously agreed to write to Mr. ■- W*. ■Si Speight congratidating him on his ' - manly attitude at the recent Anglican Synod : - in regard to the temperance- question, and also on his staime.' defence of the fundamen- •-; tal principles of Protestantism. :; "■'■ ■ ■■':. .■:■■■ -. .'.■■ . ■-•<■-,■■: V- {■■;:; : ■ ■..-;;■>>»; »s.i ! ,«^'l%<! A new Oddfellows' Lodge.; with a mem- ; : . bcrship of 43, was opened at Hikurahgi on ..• '- Wednesday, when sij delegates from Auck- • land lodges were present. ' , The agitation for the removal of the unsightly telegraph poles from the river bank ; ' on Park Terrace, Chri'il.iurch, has (writes' , our correspondent) ceded happily. Mr, Logan, the superintendent of telegraphs,; came down from Wellington, and having in* < epected the locality telegraphed his opinion • to Sir J. Ward. One of the evening papers came out with a statement that Mr. Logan - had. decided that the poles could not be moved. This was an error, for although it .'"/•;■ represented Mr. Logan's personal views, the •' ' decision did not lie with him 2 but with the Minister. The publication of the stateir -.:, ' however, was, as it turned out, most fortu- : ;.; : -;: nate, for it aroused such a strong demon- ' i stration of public feeling in the matter, and caused so many urgent telegrams to be seat V ;." : to the Minister, that the latter telegraphed to the Mayor notifying that if the municipal authorities agreed to the shifting of the poles they were to be moved. • A conference was held between the president of the Beautifying Society, the Mayor, Mr. Isaiah, and the local inspector of telegiaphs. When! the fact that the : request for the removal the poles was- the outcome of a general:-, desire on the part of the citizens was ex- ■ plained, Mr. Logan.agreed thoroughly with the necessity for theit removal. TW fe&uW: is that not only will the Department put the poles on the other side of the terrace, providing the City Council agrees, but they are also favourably entertaining the idea .61 substituting ironbark ptiilas, which will be far more sightly than the huge half-dressed v totara poles that now disfigure the landscape. ■ . ■- - . The work of demolishing i.ho old White Hart Hotel, in High-street, Christd.iirch, to make room for a handsome new building ; in brick and. stone, is now proceeding. *"2 White Hart was the first notel in Cbrifitchurch, and was established in 1:351 by the late Mr. M. B. Hart, the father of a w«I- . known Christchureh journalist. It was Lhen ; a tent, formerly a ship's sail, the floor being , of smoothed logs. ■ ' Some years later this primitive erection Was replaced by a snail wooden building, the chief . feature of which was a wide verandah, which was for rarity years the corn exchange Of the city. It "''-'as ■■ •' the resort on Saturdays of the farmers fife 1 the surrounding district, who sold their wheat, and had their one o'clock market dinner, according to the English custom. In 1866 this building made way for a portion of that which is now in turn to gi. A- : showing the increase in land values ifl Christchureh in hnlf-t<rcentury, it is stated thai the present owners of this property ; lately refused £35,000 for the land alone, for which the original owner paid less thss. £100. The new hotel is to coat over £22,000. The revelations of the Victorian Government Analyst in regard to the adulteration of foods were referred to by the State Go* vomer, Sir Reginald Talbot, at the annual meriting of the Australian. Health Society, ' He said it was cruel that people should purchase, ansuspectingly, food rendered unwholesome and deleterious-.by'the addition' of chemicals. Their old friend, ■ sausage, he noticed, came undir pecial suspicion. This adulteration of fcoci affected everyone, It was terribly serious, and all classes were entitled to the protection of the State He vios glad to hear that M.. Bent, the Premier, with characteristic energy, was, about .to > take measures in Parliament to deal with. tho tnattei. "■'■■ ::^.^M ■■■■>S! A baby had a narrow escape from death at Kyabram, Victoria, recently* Tho I child's mother, Mrs. Menzies, had the inI fant in her arms while driving in R gig* , | when suddenly the horse plunged forward | and bolted. The sudden motion fchiW Mrs. Menzies out into the roadway, an the child into the bottom of the vehicle. There it remained while the hcix 1 tora furiously through the town, uud wJieu< f ~ after the animal dashed into j» waggott, .' and finally pulled tip, tho child wfj sought for it was "found safe and sound* without even. a braise or a scratch. f i There were five poisons > the lockup 1»» night, charged with drunkenness,, -:.-.--.'w 'Oiiij

It i 3 possible that the whole "of the AmtraJjsii tßofl'F ""hick took part in the South African campaign "will share in the distribution of the banners which have been predated to the defence authorities by the ■KiW- Originally it was proposed to send 35 bfciffi?' ,s to Australia. Last year.it was Ranged to distribute 20 of them, and, with m appr*)iv»l of Hi* Majesty, 20 ot these have bten forwarded to His Excellency the A oTt jnior-General--18 for allocation to'Austialidn Light Horse regiments, one for the jv Ta ] Australian Artillery, and one for tho Ve\r South Wales Army Medical Corps. It o" course, bo out of the question for tbi Minister for Defence to Vary the scheme which tho King has personal!} approved. There are still 15 banners to be distributed, 'and the manner in which this shall be dene iaa aot yet been determined.

•' Speaking at the exhibition ot Australian manufactures at. Melbourne, Mr. Isaacs 1111.15., said that while- politicians were Wfclißg under limelights on other issues that meant the securing of i-ommcrcial conditions extending far beyond our ocean boundaries— and they had bitter political touts on those issues— promoters of the exhibition were quietly, peacefully, and nl 3 V savin? to their countrymen and ■country Women: —" Let us, at all events, win our preferential trade at heme." A Tart crest step would bo taken if that, end «We achieved. It did not involve any Political dissension, but it meant assisting in the development of the State's resources.

Preaching at the Congregational Church, prckrau. Victoria, the Rev. Joseph King, aTnt for Australasia of the London Missionary Society, dealt with the subject of «Missionary work and race relationship. ißssQMaries had proclaimed, the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of Christ "nd tho fraternity of the races, but the litest form of Christian Commonwealth had 46 up the iron gates of rigid legislation to keen out all coloured immigrants. he was not agitating for a repeal of that law, but he was most anxious to secure an earnest, exhaustive, and fearless consideration of the whole position. It was not simply an Australian quest ton, but one demanding the Jonipt and careful attention of the whole world and the very best thought of the best statesmen of the day. Surely there was a way whereby nations might intermingle with mutual respect/, and without inflicting ifrjttries upon each other.