LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12812, 11 March 1905, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Tin-; new engine for the power house of the Auckland Electric Tramways Company, which was landed from the steamer Itakaia on Thursday, was taken up to the power house early yesterday morning. The engine was placed on a trolley alongside of the steamer, and a start was made with a team of 17 horses supplied by Messrs. J. J. Craig, Limited. Mr. Carey, the electrical enginee of the Tramways Company, was present to supervise the arrangements, as was also Mr. Thomas Craig, of J. J. Craig, Limited. Planks of heavy timber were placed from the Rakaia to the head of Queen-street Wharf. As the horses started, it was found that the lift was a bit 100 heavy for them, and a further supply of seven horses was brought into requisition. The team then at full gallop brought the engine oft" the wharf in safety. The company have been working so far with three dynamos, giving 1500 horse-power, so that when the new engine is in readiness the machinery at the power house will be equal to working up to 2500 horse-power, which is held to be, ample for all immediate requirements, including the additional power for the proposed extensions of the tram service, j

When the mail steamer Sonoma left for San Francisco yesterday afternoon a thorough search was made of the steamer for stowaways, the result being that two were discovered, on board, and were put on board of the pilot steamer Kuaka, and brought back to Auckland. The officers of the mail steamers are now exceedingly keen to see that they do not carry anyone except those who have booked their passages.

Mr. H. S. Wardell, S.M., has reviewed the pension granted to William Burtenshaw, and cancelled the certificate on the grounds that the pensioner was not complying with the provisions of the Act, it having been shown that Burtenshaw had recently on several occasions been the worse for liquor, and when in that condition had proved a source of annoyance to his neighbours.

An inspection of the Auckland fruit auction rooms yesterday by Messrs. Boucher and Harnett, Government fruit' inspectors, resulted in several lines of apples and pears infected with codlin moth being condemned, and the sale absolutely prohibited. This is the first case in which the sale of fruit lias been prohibited under the Orchard and Garden Pests Act in Auckland. A marked improvement has been noticed in the fruit offered for sale uy the retail shops in Auckland this season. Some grocers and pedlars, however, still fail to realise that they are liable to a penalty for being in possession or offering for sale moth-infected fruit.

At the Arbitration Court yesterday the phrase "incompetent workman" was referred to by Mr. Justice Chapman, who expressed the view that the term was an unfortunate one. Workmen had found it to be most objectionable, and naturally did not care about applying it to themselves. The term " under-rate workman" appeared to l>3 preferable.

Mr. Thomas Cotter, barrister and solicitor, of Auckland, left on Wednesday last for Tonga. It is • understood that King George of Tonga has sought the advice of Mr. Cotter on matters relating to the reoent action of the High Commissioner in Tonga affairs. The King is said to be by no means satisfied with the existing state of things, and after consultation with ill-. Cotter will probably take some steps to establish his treaty rights. It is likely that Mr. Cotter will subsequently visit Fiji, where Sateki, the ex-Prime Minister, recently deported by the- High Commissioner, at present resides.

In connection with the harbour reconstruction scheme, concerning which Messrs. Ferguson and Hay have Wen requested to submit a report on Mr. Earner's proposals, we have received the following copy (dated March 10) of a resolution, of the Board, and an amendment of the same by committee: — " That a committee be appointed to confer with Messrs. Ferguson and Hay on the question of the scheme of harbour works as submitted by Mr. Plamer, with a, view to provide the accommodation, equipment, and future requirements necessary for the large and growing port of Auckland, and in. what manner the shipping and mercantile interests of the community may best be conserved, from a commercial and engineering point of view; also with the supposition that the Board will become their own wharfingers, and that export goods accommodation be provided, the committee to have full power to act."

It is said that numbers of dead trout have lately been seen floating in the Waikato River, and it is thought probable (hat the use of dynamite has been responsible. Believing that the use of explosives tuts interfered with the- fish quite as much as the shags, steps ' are likely to be taken by the residents of the Huntly district to form an. anglers' club at an early date, with Iho object of assisting tho Auckland Acclimatisation Society in their efforts to prevent the illicit killing of the fish.

Our Hamilton correspondent write-:: — Yesterday morning the lad Munro, who pleaded guilty the previous day to committing several robberies, was brought before Mr. Xorthcroffc, S.M., for sentence. Ho ordered the lad to be taken into his father's employ, and to coma up for 1 sentence when called upon. The magistrate gave the boy a wholesome lecture, and warned him that if he came before him again he would bo dealt with as severely as the law would allow.

A rather serious accident happened to Mr. I'dgar Andrews at Onewhero on Sunday morning. March 5 (writes our correspondent). tie was taking his milk to the factory in a low waggon, built for carting milk. When turning tho corner near the factory the wheel struck a. root, the result being that Mr. Andrews was thrown out, the wheels passing over his right leg, breaking the large bone just above the ankle. Plenty of help was at hand, and Mr. Joseph Spraggon put the leg in splints, and Mr. John Andrews drove the injured man home. Dr. Williams, of Pnkekohe, recommended Mr. Andrews' removal to the Hamilton Hospital, where he was taken on Monday.

To-day, at the offices of the Eden Terrace Road Board, a poll of the ratepayers will bo taken for the election of a member of the Road Board, in place of Mr. F. S. Ballin (resigned). The candidates* for the vacancy are Messrs. T. Moor, F. E. Kretsehmar, and J. W. Browne. In the course of the next, few days Mr. ('. M. Hansen, managing director of the Auckland Electric Tramways Company, will lay proposals before the Mount Eden Road Hoard with reference to the extension of the car system along the Mount Eden and Mount Roe-kill Roads. It in also expected that the extension of the Remuera line to Green Lane will be undertaken at an early date. On the- application of Mr. Baume, at the Auckland Supreme Court, the registrar, Mr. R. Goring Thomas, made absolute a decree nisi in the divorce ease of Annie Margaret Robinson v. John Robin son. The athletic sports news (by "Lynx') will bo found on page 5 of the Supplement issued with to-day's Herald. Items of interest will be found on cricket, athletics, bowling, golf, lawn tennis, cycling, rowing, yachting, and other pastimes. The monthly meeting of the Birkenhead Borough Council -was to have been held in the Zion Hill schoolroom on Thursday. There were present: Mr. A. Keyes (deputy Mayor), Messrs. E. J. White, J. G. Kay, and W. Wallace, but, as there was not a quorum, it was decided to adjourn the meeting until March 22. During the past few days natives have been arriving at Waohi from the surrounding districts to attend the tangi over the remains of Honana. Maioho, a noted rangatira, and uncle of the Hon. Mahuta, who died at Mangere last week, aged 80 years. The remains of the dead chief, together with the bodies of two other natives, were interred in the tribal burying place, near phi, on Wednesday last. Our Kawakawa correspondent writes : — On .Saturday, March 4, Messrs. Fleet and Co.'s flaxuiill at Oromahoe was put up for auction by Mr. J. A. L. Hall, and realised £651, Mr. John Halliday becoming the purchaser. Again last night the City Fire Brigade received two false alarms. The first was at live minutes to eight p.m., and came from ; the alarm-box in Lincoln-street, Ponsonby (F Circuit), and the second at thirty-three minutes past eight p.m., the alarm this time coming from the corner of Abercrombic-street and Karangauapo Road (C Circuit). The Anglican Bishop of Auckland (Dr. Neligan) will preach at All Saints' Church, Ponsonby, to-morrow morning.

■' A young /man named Percy Trembatb, employed by Mr. Oartwright in breaking out metal from the Waihi Council's Bulltown quarry for the Grand Junction battery, met with a painful accident yesterday morning. When bringing out his truckload he tripped over a chain and fell heavily to the ground. Fortunately he fell clear of! the truck, which at that moment ran off the line and toppled over, otherwise the consequences might have been more serious. He was injured internally, and was subsequently attended to by Dr. Claridge.

The post office notifies that it has been decided that covers known as "cut-out'' envelopes, namely, those having a portion of the paper cut out in front to enable the address of the enclosure to bo read, are to be prohibited transmission by post after the 31st instant. The officials .state that it is found in practice that the aperture admits of the corners of other letters becoming inserted, thus impeding the sorting, while the address of the enclosure in the "cut-out" envelope is liable to become partly obliterated, which again interferes with sorting. They further slat© that the envelopes interfere with machine-stamping as regards not only themselves, but also other letters, in some cases resulting in letters, the corners of which find their way into the aperture, becoming torn.

I Our Fairburn correspondent writes: — Mr. Houston will again contest the Bay of ; Islands seat. Mr. J. C. Johnston, of Whananaki, who is also a candidate, passed through the settlement last week, having been in the north on election matters. A case of -poisoning occurred last week (writes our Fairburn correspondent), I but fortunately did not end fatally. Mr. George May, who is engaged with a smvey ! party at Kanana, partook of bush honey i recently taken from the hive, and later was seriously ill. He has quite recovered now. I It is understood that Mr. C. J. Parr, solicitor, will in all probability contest Auckland City West at the next general election in the Opposition interests. The church parade of the companies of the Auckland volunteer garrison on the Domain Cricket Ground to-morrow afternoon should be well attended. Before the parade is dismissed a collection will bs taken up in aid of the Veterans' Home. The following workers' compensation cases will be taken by the Arbitration Court on Monday next: —McKenna v. Walsh and another; Latham v. Phillips; Barton v. Bulcraig. The body of (lie young man George Wright, drowned at Mangawhare on Monday last, was recovered yesterday morning (writer, our Dargaville correspondent), close to where it disappeared. An, inquest was held in the afternoon, and a verdict of accidentally drowned was returned. Last evening Detectives McMahon and Fabey arrested a man named McLaren on six charges of forgery of cheques amounting to more than £60. The forged cheques, it is alleged were cashed by several tradespeople. A public meeting of all Auckland city and suburban shopkeepers will be held in the Chamber of Commerce, Swanson-strect. on Monday evening next to formulate united action in reference to the Shops and Offices Act, and to arrange deputation to the Premier. The Hukerenui Agricultural Society's .Show was well patronised yesterday. The exhibits are numerous, and of good quality. The Premier was present. The dispute between master, fishcurers and the Fishcurers' Union has been referred to the Court of Arbitration direct. The special services in connection with the opening of the new St. ' Matthew's Church will be continued to-morrow. The Rev. Canon Mac Murray, M.A., will preach in the morning, and the Rev. Wm. Beatty, M.A., in the evening. At evensong Mr. Frank Graham will sing a sacred solo recently composed by himself, entitled " Sun of My Soul.'' Large numbers of people are availing themselves of the privilege of ascending the lower of the new church. The ascent is very easy, and the view of the city and surrounding country is very fine. In our report of Madam© Wigmore's organ recital at St. Matthew's the names of Misses Melvern and Datson were inadvertently omitted. Both these ladies contributed items which were greatly appreciated.

The meeting of the original St. Barnabas' Association has been unavoidably postponed.