LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13028, 20 November 1905, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The November criminal sessions .of the Auckland Supreme Court will be commenced before His Honor Mr. Justice Edwards' at eleven o'clock this morning. As is shown by the calendar published in another column, the list of cases set down for trial is an exceptionally heavy one, comprising 41 charges against as many persons. Several of the offences with which the accused persons are charged are of a very serious character, one man, Andrew Campbell, a boardinghouse-keeper at Botorna, being charged with murder, and another, William Reid, sen., with attempted murder at Auckland. The other cases upon the list include six charges of breaking and entering and theft, seven of common theft, one of breaking and entering, six of theft from the dwelling, four of theft from the person, two of indecent assault, three of perjury, and one charge each of bigamy, being in possession of house-breaking implements, forging and uttering, assault causing actual bodily harm, child desertion, unnatural offence, assault with intent to. do grievous bodily harm, attempted suicide, forgery, and of shooting with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Jurymen and witnesses in all cases are required to be in attendance by eleven o'clock. ,

The Premier went to Rotorua on Saturday and addressed a public meeting there on Saturday evening. He returns by today's express, and will probably leave for the South' by this afternoon's west coast boat.

The Opposition candidate for the Waitemata seat, Mr. E. W. Alison, who gave such a good account of himself during the last Parliament, delivered a fighting speech at Devonport on Friday, night, in reply to recent addresses by the Premier. Mr. Alison, who received a mast cordial reception, dealt exhaustively with the land question, Maori lands, and public works expenditure, and contrasted the Opposition platform, which he quoted, with what was stated to be the Government policy, and he also entered fully into the relative positions of the North and South Islands with regard to claims for public works expenditure, and the actual expenditure and votes. The meeting, with the exception, possibly, of a few at the back', was entirely with Mr. Alison from start to finish, and .he was repeatedly cheered, receiving a vote of thanks and confidence and an ovation of-cheers at the conclusion of his address. Cheers were also given for Mr. Massey. An attempt was made to secure counter-cheers for the Goverfi'ment, but it ended in failure. A full report of the speech is published in this issue.

The attitude of the Auckland Sunday-. schools' Union towards the licensing and gambling questions was considered at a meeting of the General Committee of Lhe union on Friday night. After some discussion the following resolution was carried unanimously: —"That this , committee desires to record its very earnest hope that the result of the coming elections may be in the direction of diminishing the facilities for obtaining intoxicating liquor and for gambling."

We . have ■ been., requested by Mr. A. S. Aldrich, Consul for Japan in Wellington, to mention in the columns of the Herald that some kind-hearted sympathisers in various parte of New Zealand having expressed a desire to contribute towards the fund for the relief of the widows and orphans of the Japanese soldiers who lost their : lives in the. late , : war with Russia, and towards the relief. of the distress which appears to be imminent in some parts of Japan from the failure of the rice crops, he will gratefully receive, acknowledge, and forward to Japan, any subscriptions which the generosity of the people of New Zealand may prompt them to remit. Mr. G. W. Basley, solicitor, of Vulcan Chambers, Queen-street, Auckland, has kindly consented to receive any subscriptions from the humane public of Auckland and neighbourhood.

The public presentation ■ of. portraits of the .late Mr. Wm. Leys and of, Mr. T. W. Leys, to the. Leys Institute, took place in the lecture hall at that institution on Saturday evening.. Mr. D. B. McDonald (chairman of ; the, Testimonial Committee, presided,. and in making the presentation paid a high tribute to the generosity of the Leys brothers in connection with the founding of the institute. Reference was also made to the other gifts received for the benefit of the institute. He stated that as a recognition of the generosity of Mr. T. W. Leys, it had been decided to present the institute with a portrait of Mr. Leys, and it was subsequently resolved to purchase from the institute the portrait of the late Mr. Wm. Leys (which already adorned the walls), and to make the double presentation on behalf of the subscribers. The portraits (which are fram the brush of Mr.: OF. Qoldie) were then unveiled, and formally presented lo Mr. J. Court, as representing the City Council. Mr. Court made a suitable acknowledgment, find Messrs. W. J. Courtney and G. Gregory also spoke in appreciation of the generous gifts of the Messrs Leys. Mr. T." W. Leys, in acknowledging the presentation, expressed his appreciation of the -action of the committee, and referred to the warm interest taken in the institute by its various other benefactors since it had been established. The proceedings terminated with the singing of the National Anthem. The committee who organised the testimonial and undertook the collection of subscriptions for the purpose consisted of Messrs. D. B. McDonald, G. Gregory, J. J. O'Brien, M. Casey, J. Court, W. J. Courtney, 0. J. Parr, J. C. Dickenson, G. H. Plunnner, and G. Oswald.

There was quite a flutter of excitement in the district a few days age (writes our Te Kuiti correspondent), when it was discovered that the railway refreshment rooms had been burglariously entered and certain things stolen. This feeling was intensified when it was found that a private dwelling at no great distance had also been broken into and a gold watch awl other valuables taken. Green and Ooldbreok's store was also entered, and Mr. Forsythe lost two valuable nigs. Constable Mathews had some suspicions regarding a young fellow who had been living in a tent. The constable tracked, him up the line toward Auckland, finding the swag first. When the train was about to start the man was noticed coming out ;of the bush. The train was stopped find an arrest made.

A child! named John Heard, residing with his grandmother at Karaka, was admitted to the hospital on Saturday, afternoon, suffering from an injury to his forehead. This, it appears, was caused by -a kick from a horse. The injury being a serious one, the little fellow, who is only five years of age, was operated upon by Dr. Walsh, and ;he now remains in the hospital in a critical condition. ' : ~ ~

Birch, the tram conductor, who was injured by being jammed between two cars at Queen-street terminus on Monday last, and who subsequently had his lej, amputated at the Auckland Hospital, has. taken a turn for .the better, but he still remains in a/critical condition,- -

The Auckland Ladies' Benevolent Society's annual floral fete and carnival will be held at Ellerslie on Saturday, Decern. l'- : " ber 2, and special efforts are being made to ensure its success. Already the srJ rangements are well in hand. One of the j principal features of the fete will he the I procession of decorated vehicles, which j takes place upon the ground.- Special I prizes are offered for decorated vehicles I for which a number of classes have been opened, and particulars of which will be seen in the advertising columns of this issue. The forthcoming demonstration is largely in the nature of a special appeal to the public for assistance, without which ' the fete cannot be a success, and it is to '■' be earnestly hoped that tins Auckland public will', respond generously, as -in the ; " past, especially as the society only makes one appeal to the public annually.in order ■ to obtain funds with which to carry on their charitable mission. At , present the '■ society has only £90 in hand, which ie barely sufficient, to carry on two months' work. .... • .- -: In another part "of this issue will*he>; found an announcement regarding the large • Opposition demonstration to be held in the Opera House to-morrow evening. Mr..; ; Massey, the Leader of the Opposition, willj' reply to the Premier. Mr. Massey has been engaged speaking to the electors of Franklin l * lately, where he has been heartily received. . He will be in town on Tuesday. , Fourteen tenders for a warehouse to be,-' erected at the corner of Victoria and Co- ' burg Streets for Mrs. T. J. Harbutt, havo; been received by Mr. A. Wiseman, archi- • tect. The block will consist of three"£ storeys, and will be finished in cement, ( with a frontage to Victoria-street of 36ft, and 82ft to Coburg-street. The main :; ground floor space. entering from Victoriastreet will be occupied by the Auckland Co-operating Terminating Building Society. Messrs. Philcox'and Son were "the successful tenderers, and will- begin opera- :; tions immediately. . . ' During his address at Onebunga on Friday evening the Premier announced that it ' was intended to grant increased accommoda- ; tion at the High School. At the conclusion :■ of the meeting the local School Committee h waited upon- Mr. Seddon, and asked for .: assistance towards securing a - section of li land adjoining the school for increasing the playground. The Premier was in sympathy with the committee, but replied that be , ; could -not deal '.with school committees, bub only with the Board of Education. • If they would bring the matter before the Board it '• would then come before him, and be wouk give it his consideration. ; * A horse with harness on caused a stir about a-quarter past six p.m. on Saturday by bolting from the top of Khyber Pasii and through Newmarket. Several attempts a were made to stop the animal, and it almost!) . collided with tramcars on two occa- . ■ sions. Opposite the Captain Cook Brewery it narrowly missed striking a car, and a trap. Eventually it was stopped near the Junction Hotel, and taken to Pullan and Armitage's stables. • • " ;} ~ Shortly after nine o'clock on: Saturday morning a horse attached to one of Mf. J. ! Glanfield's carts, and driven by a young man named T. Hill, swerved round in Trai faigar-street, Onehunga, and got in the way of a passing tramoar. For a few seconds ; , it appeared as though an accident- : would happen, but Motorman "Kirkwood managed to apply the emergency brake, and brought the car up against the vehicle without causing any injury to it. ; The prompt action of the motorman averted a' serious accident. The final meeting; 0 f the Trafalgar Centenary Committee was held last week, the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. Arthur M. Myers, presiding. The balance-sheet showed tha' . the receipts from donations and the sale of programmes amounted altogether to £68 18s lid, and the accounts passed for pay- . ment totalling somewhat more than the receipts, the committee decided to make up the deficiency themselves. Votes of thanks were passed to Captain Woollcombe, of H.M.s. Prometheus, for the hearty cooperation of himself and his men; to Colonel Davies, C.8., for the use of the Drill Hall; Mr. Le Roy, for the loan </ flags; and to the Mayor, not only for presiding, but also for carrying through the arrangements. The Mayor, in acknowledge [ ing the vote passed to him, suggested that the committee should express their satisfaction with the splendid turnout which was made by the school cadets, especially mentioning their soldierly bearing and marching. The suggestion .was adopted and carried unanimously. A" A raft 7ft long and 4ft wide, and constructed of kauri timber, somewhat worn, has been found upon the west coast, about 15 miles north of Hukatere. In reporting the matter; to Inspector Cullen, Consitable Sefton, of Kaitaia, states that on each side of the raft are three oil or tar drums, designed to act as* floaters, ' and that .an empty, box is also fastened to the centre. There is nothing, however, he says, to in- ; dicate where the raft came from, though it has evidently been in the water for some time. - - y "-j At the instance of a number of settlers in the Eketahuna district, the' Government deputed Messrs. Barron (of the Land Purchase Board) and Kensington (Under-Secre- •''. tary of Lands) to inspect the Tiraumea run, of about 11,000 acres, situated about 27 miles from Eketahuna, and owned by Mr. Holmes Warren, and report as to its suitability for closer settlement purposes. It is understood that the report is of a favourable nature. It is stated that estates in the North Island are likely to be acquired shortly by the Government in terms of the Lands for Settlement Act. The Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Olub will hold ■ their carnival in the Domain on December 16. An excellent programme of events • has been drawn up, with a view to making the carnival a success. Outside the usual events, races for youths under 19, and a secondary schoolboys' handicap (220 yds) have been added. A one and a-quarter mile steeplechase also appears upon the list of events, and is open to any member of any amateur club. Provision, it is understood, is also being made for boxing and wrestling competitions. ... i The Wairarapa Age says that the Kopua* ranga branch of the Farmers' Union has passed the following resolution: —"That owing to the loss tln.t would be sustained by present holders of American machinery now in the colony, if a prohibitive duty were placed on it, by farmers having to throw away machinery through not having duplicate parts available, this branch is of the opinion that matters should stand as they are; and, further, that the question is altogether too wide to be considered until further information is available." The potato blight has wrought havoc amongst, the crops throughout the Kaukapakapa district (writes our correspon- j dent). An unusually large area had been planted, but the blight has everywhere made its appearance in '■ a; very bad form, - • 'to the great loss' of the settlers. The only irimatevof the police cells last night were two persons charged with druu ; kenaess, and one with desertion**