LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13095, 7 February 1906, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Work on the Auckland-Penrose railway duplication is proceeding satisfactorily, and it is expected that a number of additional men will be put on the undertaking shortly. Some difficulty is being experienced in putting down the foundations for the new bridge across Parnell rise, owing to the soft nature of the bottom. Evidence has been obtained of reclamation works having been carried out in Mechanics' Bay very many years ago. The foundations should, of course, be platted) on the papa rock, which is characteristic of the locality. Excavation is being carried out at Newmarket, and the material is being utilised for tilling in the gullies at the western end of the yard, which will very materially increase the area at this station. The work is going on simultaneously at both cuds of the ParneU tunnel.

The 'Frisco mail number of the AUCKLAND Weekly Nkws, issued to-day, contains a remarkable variety of high-class pictures, dealing with events of unusual interest. Among the local current events, scenes at the Auckland anniversary regatta will be of special value for conveying to yachtsmen and aquatic lovers in general some idea of the popular water carnival, and the widely different types of vessels engaged in the various events. Other current happenings of note ate the Premiers lour of Westland, which' is illustrated throughout from the opening of the Hok:-tika-Ross railway to the ascent oi the famous Franz Josef glacier, opening of the Auckland Bowling Association's pennant competition on Saturday last, Takapuuai Jockey Clubs Summer Meeting, unveiling the statue to the late Mr. Thomas Carroll at Waiioa, carnival week at Nelson, Palmerston North floral fete, and the recent Chinese riots at Shanghai. The number also contains some beautiful bush scenes and landscapes on th« Main Trunk railway, including a full-page road scene at Oio, and a view of the Watiganui River from Matapuna, together with the usual number of high-class industrial views. By the incoming mail, due on Moudaj next, the Tourist Department is importing 1,000.000 ova of the Cisco herring, which is said to be the natural food of the rainbow trout. The Auckland Acclimatisation Society have been asked by. the Tourist Department to hatch oat the ova at their Wuimakariri hatchery, near Okoroire, and to distribute Hie fry in the Rotonia and Rotoiti Lakes. Sportsmen will, no doubt, readily recognise the good services rendered by the Department in taking a step of this description, designed to foster and encourage the propogation of trout in the streams ana lakes of the Auckland distiict.

The Finance and Legal Committee of the Harbour Board recommended at yesterdays Board meeting that £30.000 of No. 5 loan account should be placed on fixed deposit for six mouths, £6000 of loan account No. 4 to be similarly treated, aud that £2100 of the contractors' deposit account should ho placed on fixed deposit for 12 months. The chairman explained that this was in order that the money might become interest-bear-ing, as. according to the decision of th* various banks some time ago, interest would not be allowed on the money otherwise. The Board adopted the committee's recommendations.

A fire occurred on. the premises of Mr. Take, Stanley-street, yesterday morning, by which a wash-house was destroyed. lb is believed that the embers of a fire M*> from the previous day, after washing, ignit* ed some woodwork. The brigade were) quickly in attendance, and the damage «•*' confined to the v» ash-house.

An accident, that might have been attended with serious results, occurred in •Waterloo Quadrant yesterday afternoon. pr. Darby had driven to the Supreme Court with his sister, Miss Darby, and the groom, a hid, took the winkers off the borse to give it a feed. It immediately took fright, and bolted towards Princesstreet, where it struck a lamp-post. This did not stop the animal, for it rated across the footpath, and struck a telepruph p o le in Eden-street. Both shafts of the trap were smashed, the splashboards broken, the springs severed, and the axle bent. The horse became freed of the trap, but was brought to a standstill by some pen. Miss Darby, fortunately, had got out of the trap just before the animal bolted, but several pedestrians in the footpath had a narrow escape of being seriously injured. The trap had been hired from Messrs. Andrew and Wise.

In accordance with recommendations from the Works and Tariff Committee, the Harbour Board decided yesterday to instruct the harbourmaster to cany out strictly all by-laws of the Board and Government regulations in relation to lights upon logs, vessels, etc. It was also decided to instruct the harbouimaster to see that Article 10 of the regulations for pievcntion of collisions at sea was strictly enforced, each steamer being required to carry a fixed bright stern light. Consideration of lie harbourmaster's report regarding the Kapanui-Clayntore collision was deferred, the secretary being instructed to furnish each member of the Works and Tariff Committee with a typed copy of the report.

Some doubt has arisen as to the admission to the Auckland Grammar School of pupils over 14 years of age who have obtained proficiency certificates. The new regulations, framed under the Secondary Schools Act, and gazetted 'last year, provide that pupils over 14 years of age who have obtained a certificate of proficiency may be admitted at the discretion of the Grammar School Board "provided that the total number of pupils so admitted shall not exceed ten per cent, of all the free pupils admitted under the. Act.'' That is to say, if 150 pupils under and over the age of 14 years obtain proficiency certificates, the maximum number of pupils over 14 years of age thai could be admitted is 15. In connection with those pupils under 14 years of age who hold certificates of proficiency, it is not anticipated that there will be any difficulty about accommodating them at the Grammar School. Intending pupils are advised to present themselves not later than ten o'clock on Monday next at the Grammar School, in order that the rolls may be finally made up.

For some time past the residents of Hunua have been urging the extension of the telephone line to that place, but the Government has asked the residents to give a guarantee against loss. Mr. J. T. Stembridge, of Hunua, who has been moving in the matter, offered to provide office accommodation and the clerical work, and he has now received the followiug letter from the Postmaster-General (Sir Joseph Ward):"l have pleasure in informing yoi that it has now been decided to extend the telephone line to Hunua, without calling for a guarantee against loss. Instructions have accordingly been issued for the work to be put ill hand as early as practicable."

An inquiry was received by the Harbour Board yesterday as to whether, in the event of the Napier Harbour Board requiring his services, Mr. W. H. Hamer, Auckland harbour engineer, would be able 1:0 proceed to Napier to report on a scheme for harbour improvements. Mr. Hamer, however, slated that he was too busy at preseut to undertake such commissions, arad he had already replied to the Thames and Gisborne Boards to the same effect. The Board decided to reply to the Napier Harbour Board accordingly. A young man employed on one of the ships in the harbour collided with an exDress in Queen-street, yesterday afternoon, vhen walking across the street. One of clio wheels passed over his toes, but fortunately no serious injury was sustained. A lease, subject to the consent of the ratepayers of Devonport, for bath sites at that suburb for a; term of 50 years has been granted by the Harbour Board. If, at any time after the first 21 years, the Board desires to resume possession of the sites granted, it will have the power to do so upon payment to Devonport Borough Council of the value of improvements. The Auckland representative eleven are practising nightly in the Domain, in view of the match with the Melbourne team on Friday, Saturday, and Monday next. A. Haddon, who headed the batting averages in the late tour, has been elected captain for the match. With the exception of Armstrong and McLeod, all the members of the team are sightseeing at Rolorua. These two players are spending a couple of izys at Waiwera.

The fortnightly meeting of the Onchunga Council, in committee, was held on Monday evening, when the applications of Messrs. A. Kekall and G. Slalor for the position of borough ranger, at an increase of salary from £12 to £25, were considered- It is understood that Mr. A. Kclsall has been reappointed to the position.

Mr. W. W. Bird, the inspector of native schools, states that the fate of every successful native school is to become a board school. He says, "We bring these schools along until we can nand them over as a Koing concern to the Board of Education. The latest instanco is the native- school at Tc Kuiti (King Country), which passes to the control of the Auckland Board of Education. The most intelligent Maoris who have children attending school are themselves folly alive to the advantages their children reap by being ablo to understand English beyond standard 11. Attention is also paid to instruction in the laws of health as fatas they specially apply to Maoris. In 13 Maori schools there are carpenters' shops, at which the boys arc taught to make articles of furniture most in demand among Maoris, and in a least live- of these 13 schools the workshop buildings have been supplied by the Maoris themselves. A movement is already on foot to give lessons in cooking to girls in various places. The Department also does its best to find openings for boys who have received workshop training as apprentices to suitable trades, and for some years past a scheme for trailiing suitable Maori girls as nurses has been ia vogue. It will be extended this year. Future modification of tho syllabus will be hi the direction of extending technical instruction." With regard to secondary Maori schools, Mr. Bin! pointed out that carpentering has been for some years exceedingly well taught at St. Stephen's school, in Auckland, where the boys of the . school constructed the new building after the old one was burned down. At Queen Victoria, Turakina, Hukarere, and St. Joseph's girls' schools, practical instruction ; s given in cooking, dressmaking, and domestic economy.

The colonial mails via Sues which left Auckland on December 25 arrived in London on Sunday afternoon last.

: Two persons charged with drunkenness occupied the police cells last night.