LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13096, 8 February 1906, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

j Two new appointments were made to the teaching staff of the Auckland Grammar School yesterday. Mr. J. D. Dineen, of Mount Roskill, and Miss E. M. Griffin, of Warkworth, being appointed assistant-mas-ter and assistant-mistress, respectively. Mr Dineen is 22 years of age. He entered the Auckland University College in 1902. having obtained a. junior university scholarship at the Grammar .School, in 1991. He obtained his B.A. degree in 1904, taking as his subjects Latin. English, French, German, mathematics, jurisprudence, constitutional history, chemistry, and electricity. He has had experience in teaching at Te Aute and Prince Albert Colleges. Miss Griffin is also 22 years of age. In 1901 she matriculated from the Prince Albert College, and for the last lour years has been studying at the Auckland University College, where she obtained the degrees of M.A. and 8.A., with honours. For the latter degree she sat in Latin, English, French, mathematics, and mechanics and botany. She has made a special study of botany, and was awarded the University College premium in 1903. There were three applications for the position of assistant-master and seven for that of mistress. Mr. Justice Edwards ordered the Supreme Court to be cleared yesterday during the hearing of a case of indecent assault. This is the first time this order has been made in the Auckland Supreme Court. The act was amended last session, extending the powers of the judges in this direction. The clause reads as follow^: —"Where on any trial before any Court of justice the Court is of opinion that the interests of public morality require that all or any persons should' be excluded from the Court, it may exclude therefrom accordingly.'' The Act provides that such power shall not be exercised for the purpose of excluding the prosecutor or the accused, or his counsel, or solicitor, or any accredited newspaper reporter. The Court may also, by order, j forbid the publication of any report of the j evidence, either as to the whole or amy portion. Hk Honor ordered that the name of the complainant in the case should not be published. Evasion, or attempted evasion, of such an order may be dealt with j as contempt of Court. j A resolution was passed, at last night's meeting of the Trades and Labour Council congratulating the Labour party in England upon thel: success at the recent elections..

A day full of interest and education*} value was spent, by tlio member* 0 { ,7 Auckland City Council yesterday i they journeyed to the Waitakerei and inspected the source of the water "* ply which will be brought into the S m the near future. Leaving the torn hall at eight a.m., the party visited the Wait kerei Falls, the pipe tracks, reservoir " etc., reaching town again about past six p.m. S- v-;;,l nutters < v < re ranged between the Council and as to extras, etc. To-,lay the Uuncil*" start out again at eight a.m.. to .< Nihotupu Falls, and the members' spend a busy day. as a great portion ' tiie Ailuitupu watershed has to l>» . , • , . 1 ' •'« traversed in order to inspect any possible so-m, of pollution of th, supply. V fl.r, r ; * 8 i ~ 1 * um report oi yesterday's proceedings will I* ?Wf , ; ♦ i » ■ iOi\ud Jn another part of this issue. A letter wis rend from the Minister f„ r Education at yesterday's meetiiv ,l Auckland Education IWJ regretting thai the Government could not at" present its way to accede to the lipid's reauest fT a, grant- of £614 towards the est of ere,-, ing a school at Ma.au:a. The Minister suggested that perhaps the letter nUn would be to work the Weymouth and li* kura No. 2 schools as halt-time schools xu chairman said it was a very h::ni tiling j,,. deed tor the residents of Manure*) Ar subscribing £100 towards the cost 0 f th „ school, and after the Board had authored the purchase of a central site. consisting of five acies of ground. Tin- Board. on the motion of Mr. A. th Harris, decided to MBd an emphatic protest to the Government against their decision, ami to ask for further consideration, in view of the interests at stake and of the liberal assistance ahead* afforded by the residents. "

| The question of the admission to the j Auckland Grammar .School of those pupil* J who hold proficiency certificates was con- | sidered by the Hoard of Governors yestw* j day. If has been ascertained that 243 I pupils holding national and district scholar* j ships and certificates would be admitted to ; the school or Monday next. It was furj ther anticipated that' a large number of j pupils holding proficiency certificates, who ! are over the ago of 14 years, would apply f or | admission. ft was decided that the head- | master should hold an examination of these | pupils, and those gaining the highest nuni- | bet- of marks will receive preference in so- | curing admissior to the school. .As tlx ! Board arc restricted to 10 per cent, of the I total number of pupils under this hem], j this was considered the fairest course to t adopt. The headmaster was also given i permission to engage temporary teaching j assistance if necessary. All pupils who ! hold proficiency certificates should attend j at> the school on Monday morning, but it is ; advisable to send in their najnes, aceomj panied by a birth certificate and testimonial : of character from their last head-teacher. j The headmaster will be at the school all Friday, and from nine to ten o'clock on Monday, for the convenience of parents.

j The following cases of infectious disease# I have been reported to the district health ; officer (Dr. Frengley) during January, fop ■ the Auckland province:—Enteric fever: I City, 3 cases; suburbs, 4 cases (Onehunga 1 2, Parnell 1, Reumera 1); country disj tricts, 11 cases (Hamilton 1, Mangonui County 7, Rotorua County 1, Waihi 2); total, 18 cases. Scarlet fever-: city, 2 cases; suburbs, 1 ca.'o (Grey Lvnn) ; country districts, 3 cases (Manukau County 2, Whangarei 1): total 6. Diphtheria": City, 3 cases; suburbs, 2 cases (Grey Lynn and Archhill) ; country districts, 1 case (Waihi); total, 6 cases. Tuberculosis, 8 cases. Three cases of blood poisoning were also reported.

An invitation to be present at the celebration • of the jubilee of the founding of the Melbourne University in April next has been received by Mr. S. Luke, chairman of the Auckland Education Board. Mr. Luke has also been advised that an informal conference of tlw representatives of the universities of Australia and New Zealand will bo held at the same time for the purpose of discussing subjects of common interest.

Mr. L. H. Jillings, of Te Papapa, met with a severe accident yesterday. He was attending to a horse, when the animal kicked him on the head, inflicting a nasty wound. The injured man was medically treated, but is very weak, owing to loss of blood.

The inmates of the police cells last night were three persons charged with drunkenness, one with assault and obscene language, one with attempting to leave the colony without making provision for an unborn child, one with perjury, one Wellington case of alleged wife desertion, and a Chinaman charged with deserting from H.M.c.s. Iris.

The party who are proposing to make a search for the treasure which went down in the steamer Elingamite, off the Three Kings, several years ago, when she was wrecked whilst on the voyage from Sydney to Auckland, leaves Auckland this morning in the s.s. Pelican. The party, which has been organised by a .syndicate of Wellington and Christchurch gentlemen, is headed by Mr. A. M. Cow, and it is proposed to blow an opening in the hull of the steamer near the bullion-room, by the use of dynamite. The Pelican should reach the vicinity of the wreck to-morrow morning, when, if the weather is favourable, operations will be immediately commenced. Mr. Leigh, who is the diver of the party, is said to be a very experienced man in this sort, of work, and the party are confident that they will be successful in their endeavours. The wreck of the Elingamite has been located and. 'buoyed, so that they anticipate no difficult? in at once proceeding with their operation* if the weather is line.

The challenge shield won by the One* hung«a School Cadets will be presented by His Excellency the Governor (Lord Pto" ket) at Government House on February 20 A telegram was received at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Education Beard from Colonel Loveday, officer commanding the Public Schools Cadets, suggesting that a battalion parade should he held upon the occasion. On the motion of Mr,. Luke, the chairman, it was decided to agree, to the suggestion. The new Brick works at Maraefcai, being erected by the Maraetai Bricks, Limited, is nearing completion. The main stack is expected to be finished on Saturday*. Mr. Tracy, from Sydney, has bees appointed manager, and he expects to commence the manufacture of bricks when the patent kiln is filled. It is expected that two brickmaking machines will be run, with a daily output of 20,000 bricks. A thiru machine will be started if required, increasing the output of bricks to 30,000 daily. The colonial mails which left Auckland per R.M.S. Sonoma on January 19 arrived at San Francisco on Tuesday afternoon last. The mails are due in London on February 17. There was a large tendance in the Albeit Park last night when the Garrison Band played a number of solutions. Tnese Wednesday evening concerts in the. par are being keenly appreciated, its is evl denoed by the large and attentive crow 9 .which they attract.

Sir Joseph Ward, Minister in charge of the Tourist Department, has received from the High Commissioner in London a copy of the following letter received by Mr. Reeves from Mr. J. G. A. Creighton, of Canada: —"I have to thank you for your letter of January 24 last, and for the copies of the New Zealand Government railway time-table, and the itinerary of travel, which you hav kindly sent. They are very convenient, and I hone to prove their usefulness. We arc accustomed to look upon Canada as a paradise for anglers and sportsmen, but I must confess that our country is not in it with New Zealand. We hear that, large numbers of tourist-sports-men of the better class are already attracted to New Zealand. The thorough, and at the same time moderately-stated information which your Government sends out is one of the best advertising methods that could be adopted. In this country and in the United States great harm has been done by the exaggerated statements in advertisements published by railway companies and tourist agencies over which the Dominion and provincial Governments exercise 110 control. I hope that if there is any way in which 1 can reciprocate your courtesy you will let me know.''

At a special meeting of the Cambridge Borough Council, held on Monday evening, to consider matters connected with the proposed high-level bridge, the Mayor said they were now approaching finality in the matter. The style of the bridge had been altered by the engineers from a cantilever bridge to one of an arch design. Five tenders had been received in Wellington by the engineer, Mr. J. E. Fulton. The estimated cost was £11,375. Because of the alteration in the plans, it would be necessary to again approach the various local contributing bodies. The Mayor moved, "That the plans as now submitted be substituted for those of the cantilever bridge, previously agreed to, and that the Mayor be instructed to take the necessary steps to obtain the sanction of the various local contributing bodies." This was seconded by Mr. 0 Toole and carried. In a letter to the Council, Mr. Fulton explained that the increase in his estimate was accounted for by the advance in the price of steel. He also advised i.iat the Council should let a contract for the steel work, and another for the bridge erection. The Mayor said that the tenders would arrive in Cambridge five days after the Government had approved of the plans. The only obstacle in the way was that the engineer-in-chief would not be in Wellington till Friday next.

Mr. John McWliae, one of the oldest members of the Melbourne Stock Exchange, and for six recent years its chairman, is at present a visitor to Wellington. What has particularly struck Mr. McWhne in New Zealand is the fact that the people—thoisc who have a little money to spare—neglect the absolutely best security for their investments, viz., debentures, and continue to allow the soundest securities for invested capital to go abroad. The people of New Zealand hear of a loan being raised somewhere on such and such terms, and 1 the thought may .strike them that someone has loaned the money, but what does not seem to be grasped is the fact that those persons, however remote they may be, are ready enough to advance the money, knowing that it is absolutely the best security that can be obtained, and on the broad ethics of investment their four per cent, is better than five pel. cent, or six per cent, that may be obtainable on first mortgages, say, in Wellington. In the one case one has a mortgage on a propeity, the solid vailue of which cannot perhaps be accurately obtained; by taking up debentures one has a first" mortgage on New Zealand. Mr. McWliae thinks that the people of this colony only need to bo educated up to this form of investment to enable Hill the money the country wants to be borrowed from within. At present the thing has grown to such an extent that the people were able to assimilate £3,000,000 a year in Melbourne. They had just floated a million and a-half loan without- any difficulty, and were now dealing with a half-million loan from New Zealand. " The popular idea about debentures," said Mr. McWhae, "is that you have to wait 20 years or so for your money. That is not the experience in Melbourne, where this form of investment had become so popular that there is always a demand, and consequently there is seldom! any difficulty in unloading."

Tenders are being prepared by the Government architect for bindings to cost nearly £20,C00 for the Sydney University, to be used as a School of Engineering. The late Sir Peter Nicol Russell left the sum »{ £50,000 to the University, provided that the Government would spend £25,000 on a building to accommodate the School of Engineering. The machinery to be placed in the building will bring the Government expenditure up to £25,000.

One of the subjects discussed by the conference of stock inspectors, in Wellington recently, was a suggestion that the veterinary division of the Department of Agitculture should be created into a separate department, under the control of the chief veterinarian, responsible directly to the Minister. The result, of the deliberations of the conference will be placed before the Cabinet.

The annual report of the Wellington School Commissioners shows that 2070 acres were added to the area vested in the commissioners during the year, the total now being 102,277 acres, of which 4642 acres of rough country is unlet. The total number of leases is 476, holding 97,634 acres, cid paying an annual rental of £6461 li* lOd.

There is much anxiety at Ngunguru (writes our Whangarei correspondent) owing to the disappearance of a Maori named Kaihu, who left his home about 10 days ago and has not been seen since. Search parties have been out, but so far no trace of the missing man has been found.

Additional school building grants have "been authorised by Cabinet as follows: Eureka (near Hamilton), £300; Waikino, £650.

Some months ago, says the Asliburton Guardian, a couple of young men from the Timoiiu district visited A.shburton in search 01 suitable farms, whereon to settle, and meditate on life's pleasures. At that time Craeroft and several farms in that locality were under offer. They were advised to go in ami buy. Inquiring as to the probable value of land in that district, they met with the response that £7 per acre would probably be reached. This proved a staggerer. '"Why," said one, "the land is very light, and the district a continuous gravel pit, in fact, land of that description would be worth but £3 10s per acre in the Timaru Blanket. They were astonished when told that such land produced the best lamb and wool. They left in disgust, uf'.d eventually their ideal El Dorado passed into the hands of some of the most keen farmers in this country. The recent results -of prices realised for this season's wool from that country Are as gall and wormWood to these two young Tim ami via