LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13192, 1 June 1906, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The proceedings at the University Colhge ceremony at the Choral Hall yesterday i *'<>re enlivened, as usual, by the inevitable demonstration from the students' gallery. The traditions of "capping"' day, which for some inscrutable reason appears to he inseparably ■ associated in the minds of the !'under-grads." with frivolity, were not neglected, but there was a noticeable moderation in the jollifications, the proceedings not being nearly so noisy and objectionable as on some past capping days, notably that of two years ago. The interjections, though slightly person?.! in some instances, were taken in good part, and if the academic dignity of the gathering suffered any shock, those taking part had sufficient forbearance to conceal the fact. A welcome variety was afforded at the close of the proceedings, when, at the invitation of the vice-chancellor, the president of the Students' Association addressed the meeting from his place of honour in the gallery. He made an admirable amd practical little speech, which was received with well-merit-ed applause.

The question of providing a new and moTe up-to-date building for a Council chamber at Devonport was mentioned last evening during the discussion by the Council of the estimates for the coming year. The sum of £50 had been placed on the estimates for painting the present building, etc. The Mayor (Mr. Alison) said the present structure was not in keeping with the requirements of the borough, and should be replaced as soon as possible with a- suitable and presentable building. He saw no reason why £50 should be spent on the present building. The proper course would be to place a proposal before the ratepayers for a loan for a suitable building. They had a splendid site. It- was decided to reduce the amount for expenditure on the Council chambers to £10, which will provide for its lighting for the year.

In connection with the remarks made by Mr. J. R. Reed, during the hearing of a charge of criminal assault and aiding and abetting respectively against two Maoris, at the Supreme Court .on Wednesday, when it was stated, "These Maoris come from the country where the value of an oath is not very great," Mr. Reed explained yesterday that he desired to make an explanation in reference to the remarks. ."I never intended to reflect on country districts generally as being a source of perjury," said Mr. Reed. His Honor supplemented his previous remarks in the case by remarking, "I have not the least doubt a native committee would be able to come to the best conclusion in such cases." The charges, as reported elsewhere, were dismissed. ,'.-.'..

Mrs. Luke, the wife of the late Mr. S. Luke, received the following cablegram from the Premier (Mr. R. J. Seddon) yesterday :—" My heartfelt sympathy is with yourself and family in the great bereavement and irreconcilable loss you have sustained. I have lost a sincere friend, and the colony a deserving- citizen. Children of Auckland will miss him. In your great sorrow the hearts of all unite in tendering warmest sympathy, which we hope may to some extent assuage your anguish in this your hour of sorrow. Cod's will be done. Those taken before are lights that lead us to our eternal and everlasting home."

An. inquest was opened yesterday, before Mr. T. Gresham (city coroner), on. the body of Robert Ezzy, who was- crushed by a boiler at the Brick, Tile, and Pottery Company's works, New Lynn, on Wednesday. Mr. T. Cotter appeared on behalf'of Messrs. Reid, Grey, and Colinshaw,- and Mr. Alexander on behalf of the deceased' srelafives. After hearing the evidence of Dr. Carolan and John Munster, Mr. Alexander suggested that the jury should view the scene of the accident, which it was arranged to do at one o'clock to-day. The inquest was then adjourned until Monday next. Mr. Colinshaw, the engineering expert, who . was injured at the New' Lynn accident, was seen at the Waverley Hotel by Dre. Carolan and Porter yesterday, and was found to be progressing favourably.

The remains of the late Dr. Arthur Guyon Purchas will arrive front Hastings by the Tarawerai this morning. The funeral will take place at two o'clock today from " Flintoft," Epsom, where the late Dr. Purchas resided. A memorial service will be held at St. Mark's Church, Remuera, and the interment will take place at the Church of England cemetery. Purewai. The members of the Auckland Clergy Association are requested to be present.

The annual meetings of licensing committees will be held during the coming week. The Waitemata committee meets at Devonporfc to-day, the Auckland committee on Tuesday next, the Parnell committee on Wednesday, and the Eden and M'anukau committees on Friday next.

A correspondent writing from Okoroire says:—Last Wednesday night a lunar rainbow was seen here. It took the form of a perfect arch, and was very brillia.nt, some of the ordinary rainbow colours being visible. Most of us -here had never seen one of these, and one gentleman stated that it is 25 years since he saw one.

During the heavy rainfall on Wednesday night the water poured over the face of the Mount Hobson cutting, skirting Remuera Road, in such volume as to wash away a considerable quantity of soil, and cause small landslides in several places, wfiic-h carried away portions of the fence on the mountain. As a result, traffic on the Remuera Road was impeded, and the tramcars were delayed for some lime, as the fallen earth covered the lines.

The 43rd Albertland anniversary was held on May 29, by the usual meetings in the Temperance Hall. The earliest, and one of the best friends of the settlement, the Rev. Win. Gittos, came to Port Albert for the occasion, and on the Sunday preached to a large audience in the Temperance Hall, the subject being, " Him that- Honors Me, I Will Honor.'' A large number came together on Tuesday, including the oldest identities, their children, and, ia many instances, the third generation, as well. The weather was not too lavourable, but the tea was well patronised, and the hall was rilled in the evening. Among the speakers were the chairman (the Rev. W. Gittos), Mi. J. 8. Mawei. and My. L. P. Becroft. Two good lecitations were given by Mr. C. West. Among the musicians were Mr. Atkinson (Auckland), Mr. Win. Armitage and son, Mi. G. C. Nicholson, Miss J. Hufford, Miss Wharfe, Mrs. A. N. Worker, and the Misses Becroft. The varied^ items of the programme elicited very hearty approval. Gymnastic drill, by Mi. Reid, schoolboys and girls, proved highly interesting. A confirmation service was held at St. Johns Anglican Church, Waihi, on Wednesday night, when 30 candidates were presented. Bishop Neligan gave an r.ddress, and the Revs. C. E. Fox (Melauesian Mission) and H. Hawkins (Maori Mission) were also present. On inquiry at the hospital last evening, it was ascertained that James Meaiafl'y, of New Plymouth, who was knocked down by a -tramcar in Symonds-street on Tuesday, is still in a serious condition.

The New Zealand Tablet concludes a spirited reply to the recent criticism of bazaar lotteries by, saying that "it the Wellington Council of Churches attends to its own business, it will be too tired when night conies to dance any more unseemly theological can-cans on the violated hearthstones of its neighbours."

' The funeral of Mr. Henry Simmonds, Thames Borough foreman of works, took place yesterday afternoon, being conducted by the Oddfellows Society, of which the deceased was a, prominent member. The Anglican burial service was lead by the Rev. Dr. O'Callaghaa, and the service of the Oddfellows Society by Mr. T. E. Mullins, N.G. of the Waikalo Lodge.

, The best bacon pig, in the experience of the Eltham Bacon Company, is a crossbred, either Tamworth or Yorkshire sows, crossed with pure Berkshire boars. If these pigs are well fed, and brought quickly to the ideal bacon size, i.e., from 1101b to 1151b. they give every satisfaction. With "the Tamworth, however., if not grown, the frames are inclined to be on the large side, and when the- pug is carrying sufficient flesh for the curing it is apt to be too heavy, and does not lind favour on the market. The managing director of the company told a Taranaki News representative the other day that the factory put through 5000 pigs during the year. A number of tenders for Education Board reserves were received by Mr. 11. N. Garland yesterday. They will be opened to-day. David Dawson kuinau, of Great North Road, storekeeper, late of l'aeroa, filed a petition in bankruptcy yesterday—assets £142 4s 7cl. liabilities £172 6s, deficiency £30 Is sd. The first meeting of creditors will be held on Wednesday next, at the office of the official assignee. In the annual report of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society it, is stilted that the very vexed question a,s to whether the rainbow trout are to bo a. success in the Wellington district- or not- still remains undecided. Encouraging reports have been received as to some rivers, but on the other hand many .streams where success was anticipated have proved disappointing. The deer question in the Wairurapa, has become a very difficult one to deal with satisfactorily. The deer tire now located principally on privately-owned lands, ami if cannot, be gainsaid that at times they' are a considerable tax on the owners of the said lauds, to whom the society is in many cases indebted for the protection afforded to the deer. Jit order to provide a sanctuary a large block of Government land, some 30,000 acres near Martinboro', was declared a reserve. Owing to the difficulty of protecting such rough country, this reserve lias for some years been drawn oh by shooters, but this season a determined attempt has been, made by the Government and the Acclimatisation Society to ensure that it was a sanctuary in reality as well as in name. The closing of the reserve- has caused disappointment to some stalkers, to whom private land was not. : vailable, but on mature consideration sportsmen must see that if deer-stalking is to continue in the district a reserve must be provided. The only quest-ion is, has too much country been shut up,, if so, means can be token to release a portion of it,. but , on the main question there can be no doubt that a reserve is absolutely needed, and that it must be protected against all-comers.

Contrasting the. prices, or land in the vicinity of Wellington with the values ruling in the outskirts of much greater cities, Mir. G. H. Ligbtfoot, secretary of the Carpenters' Union, mentioned an, interesting fact."- A-couple of- years ago, said, he bought a section of land, with "a 50ft frontago and a good depth, in Caterham Valley, a pretty suburb of London, 16 miles out from the metropolis. •' The land, faced a good street, and was backed by a reserve, on which no buildings could lie erected. This site was only a minute's walk from

the station, connected with a fast, cheap railway service, and yet, with all the ad vantages, the purchase price was only £2 a foot. When, Mr. Lightfoofc left England, seven or eight months' ago, he sold out at the comparatively low figure of £2 10s a foot, a mere trifle when set against the sums disbursed for some suburban properties near Wellington.

Attention is directed by Mr. J. E. Mackenzie, an enthusiastic .-ungler, writing in the Hot Lakes Chronicle, to a singular movement of the waters of Lake Tarawera.

" The lake," he says, " seems at present subject to a vertical pulsation or rise and fall of its waters. I became aware of this when fishing alone during the first forenoon of my visit. I was fishing from the beach, near the mouth of the Wairoa Stream, and wading ankle-deep in the watei. At first'the ebb and flow seemed only to have a vertical range of 3wi or 4in, and might, 1 thought, be due to wind fiction, there being a stiff breeze blowing at the time. But presently a much bigger wave occurred; the water rose nearly up to my knees; some pieces of timber and other debris that had been resting solidly on the beach were now afloat and moving about. Then the wave began to ebb, carrying the debris with it. It resembled a wave ou the sea beach receding with great velocity, filling the air with the sound of rushing, breaking waters. J found myself standing high and dry on the bench, looking down upon the sinking level of the lake, and wondering what was going to happen next. The sensation was that of being sucked into the lake; it was a great relief to one's nerves when the ebb ceased, and the " tide' began to make again. The complete oscillation, including rise and fall, occupied about five minutes. On relating my uncanny experience to some ' campers' in the neighbourhood, they told mo that they had also observed tliese pulsations of the lake, that usually tliey were but slight, but that occasionally a ' king wave' occurred such as I had witnessed."

The steamer Mooraki, which arrived at Wellington from Sydney on Wednesday, had 54 Angora goats on board. It is understood that the majority of the andmals are to b* sent on to Blenheim.

A little child had a narrow escape at l'onsonby on Wednesday. It fell in front oi a Wain cur, and the life guard of the car snatched it up and held it until extricated. The child was uninjured.

The New Zealand Agricultural Department has just issued, a most interesting report by Mr. J. A. Kinsella, Chief Dairy Commissioner. The report, though entitled •Agriculture in Other Lands," and dealing to some extent with the 'froze* meat trade, experimental farms, poultry, etc., is devoted principally to the dairying industry, and shows the conditions affecting this industry in Great Britain, South Africa, Argentina, Canada, and other countries. One of the most valuable features of the report is Mr. Kinsella's remarks on the distribution of New Zealand produce' on the English markets, and for tliis alone it should prove of great interest to the dairy fanner.-: of this colony

The Oaehunga Cycle Touring Club held their annual social in the Forester's Hall last night. There was a varied programme of songs, etc., and dancing was kept up until a la,te hour.

There were live persons in the lock-up last night, four being charged with drunkenness and one with theft.