LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume 1327, Issue 1327, 3 September 1906, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The sum of £300 demanded by ; the Government from the local bodies interested towards the cost of. removal of the Paraell bridge piers fro:n the roadway has now been paid into, the public account by the City Council, and the Minister for Railways has received notice accordingly.

The Mayor of Auckland (Mr. Arthur M. Myers), as president of the original committee of the Auckland Charity Fete, has received from Mr. A. C. Atkin, the honorary secretary, a letter stating that, in addition to liquidating liabilities incurred by the originator of the scheme to the extent of some £250,~he has handed over to the following institutions amounts totalling £240:—Little Sisters of the Poor, £70; Veterans' Home, £35; Children's Home, Ayr-street,"Paraell, £35; Jubilee Institute for the Blind, £35; Society for the Protection of Women and Children, £35; Ladies' Benevolent Society, £35. It may be mentioned that none of the proceeds of sports, etc., were used for paying the old debts. The best thanks of the various institutions are due to the chairman of committee, Mr. H. C. Tewsley, and) the treasurer, Mr. A. C. Atkin, for their efforts in raising the above amounts for distribution, and they are to be heartily congratulated on their success.

A selector who had taken up land in th back blocks, and had failed to comply with residence conditions, applied to the Crown Lands Board on Saturday morning for exemption, and said that lie was doing so because there was no school in the locality, and that if lie went on the land it would mean debarring his children from getting education. Mr. McCardle took up the view that this was a, reasonable excuse for non-residence. A discussion ensued, in the course of which the Commissioner, Mr. James Mackenzie, pointed out that when the Board went through the King Country this was one of the most burning ■ questions which came before members. The settlers who Went on the land found that their neighbours who had families often evaded the residence conditions, and stated. that if the latter were compelled to comply, there would be no scarcity of schools in their blocks, as the Education Board was always willing to erect a school where there was a reasonable number of children. The Commissioner thought that the Board should be very careful indeed in waiving residence conditions on this account. The question of the appointment of travelling teachers was then brought up for discussion, and it was generally agreed upon- that if such a ■■•s.-ste." '. vero" adopted it would to a la.- . xl.i..iL solve the present difficulty. Mr. McC'ardle gave notice to move at irxt meeting, "That a recommendation be v le to the Educastion Board advising the appointment of travelling teachers in outlying districts, where there are no 'educational facilities." '

That remarkable interest was taken in, the mterprovincial football match between 1 Auckland and Wellington on Saturday WW clearlv demonstrated by ; the huge ; attend-, ance at Alexandra Park, it being estimated that close on 15,000 people witnessed the match. The game, which : was won by Auckland by 11 points to five, was one of the fastest, and most strenuous ever played between the Rugby exponents; of the; two provinces, and while it may be fairly said that the Wellington men fought gallantly to wrest from the holders the Ranfurly challenge shield, the better team on the day's play undoubtedly .won the match. A full report of ; the match will be found in another part of to-day's paper. The departure of the ~! mail steamer Sonoma from Auckland for Island ports and San Francisco has been fixed for September 11, instead of September 7-. ■' The vital statistics for Auckland for the month of August, 1906, as compared with the corresponding month of last year were —Births 246, against 227; deaths 114 and 92 ; marriages 70 and 85. Electric car 58 was out for the first time on Saturday morning, and, in order to relieve the congestion of the heavy football traffic, was put on the Epsom line. When near Cornwall Park gates, however, a collision occurred between the new car and a combination".car, while both were loaded with passengers. 'No one was hurt, but the front of the combination car was smashed in, and the controlling gear was damaged. The new car was not damaged, but both it and the combination car were run into the Epsom barn for repairs. -

With a view to further assisting "in;the agitation to the Government to improve and increase the wharfage accommodation at Onehunga, the Mayor of , the borough (Mr. Rowe) and members of the Council have signed a petition to bo forwarded to Mr.' Kirkbride, M.H.R., who will present it to Parliament The petition sets, forth that the borough has a population of 3753, that there is no Harbour Board to control the Manukau Harbour, that there is a large shipping trade which! is likely to greatly increase in the .future, that the present wooden wharf was erected more than 20 years ago, and though the traffic had grown greatly during that period, nothing had been done to provide wharfage were commensurate with the increase.

The* Harbour Board .will consider the following motions at its meeting to-morrow:-— By the chairman (the Hon. E. Mitchelson): —"That the -Works and Tariff v Committee and the Finance and Legal Committee be discharged, and that in future all business referred to committee shall be considered by a committee of the whole Board, four to form a quorum." By the chairman:-— "That/ the question of the Board taking over the supply of water to shipping on north side of the harbour be referred to committee to report as to price to be paid to Devonport Borough: Council for supply of water to Board by meter; price of pipes now laid upon wharves, meters/ hose, etc., and such other details as may be required to enable the Board to carry out such purpose. By Mr. Mcnnie: " That the engineer be instructed to prepare aiod submit plan for repairing breastwork of allotments between Nelson-street and Hobsou-street reclamation." . •'■'■-■. ■

The Wellington Post makes the following; observation on the statement made by the London Daily Telegraph as to the possibility of a public subscription being started on behalf, of the family of the late Premier: —"It is difficult to understand how a. great London ..daily, .paper could have been influenced to make such a statement in its leading article, for it has been, stated here by those who should be well informed that the value of the united estates of the late Mr. Seddon and his widow cannot be set down at less than £20,000, while three■ members of the family draw from the Treasury an aggregate of more than £800 per annum.". .-.. . : ■ \-. ' \ ''■ ' - At a special meeting of the Co-operative Egg and Poultry Company, held last week, the producers unanimously decided to find all necessary capital without issuing reserved ishares at 10 per cent. It was further resolved that the capital of the company be £10,000 in 20,000 shares of 10s each. The necessary capital being subscribed, the 'company is being registered, and "aw soon as completed will commence business. All the profits go to the producers as a bonus at the end of .. the year, there being no interest to guarantee to outsiders. There is an ingenious, or 'rather original youth living in this district'(writes the Pongaroa correspondent of the Pahiatua Era), who has just recovered from an attack of scarlet fever. He had not the ordinary patience to lay up With it, so got out of bed, went to his father's woolshed, washed himself all over in sheep dip, and so, it is said, completely cured himself. A lot of coast land at Flaxboimie, Marlborough, is carrying a- native shrub allied tawhina. This is becoming a great pest; in fact, towards. Cape Campbell it has practically got the upper Hand. Many acres are, to be seen covered with this plant, and if steps are not taken it will become a great nuisance to the 'settlers. Tawhina was recently gazetted a noxious weed. '.':'■ ■ ' A deliberate robbery has lately been committed at the Suva Town Hall Museum, which is 'part of the public library. A small glass containing in compartments specimens of valuable stones has had. the lid forced open by a strong sharp-pointed knife, and the most valuable specimens have been stolen. Wilson Dixon, tailor, of Eotorua, has been adjudged a bankrupt on the petition of James Hodson, importer, Auckland. The first meeting of creditors will be .' held at the office.of the official assignee (Mr. E. Gerard) on the 7th iust. " During last month 298 people visited the Auckland Tourist Office, being an average of 11 a day. On August 16 there were 26 nailers. This is a considerable increase over the number for the previous month. A truck load of tow while being conveyed by rail from Onehunga to Auckland on Saturday morning was discovered to be on fire shortly after passing Remuera station. The truck was shunted on to a side track at Newmarket, and the flames extinguished by the fire reel there. A portion of the tow was destroyed, and the truck somewhat damaged.,/./'.-". ' ".,;;., A strand of barbed; wire pierced the eye of a man named Clement Callaghan while he was doing some fencing at Mamaku, near Rotorua, last week. The injury is a serious one, and the patient was admitted to the Auckland Hospital on Saturday. - y While working in the coal mines at Huntly last week an employee named Sidney Hammond was struck by a piece of coal in the eye. The injury was somewhat serious, and he was admitted to the Auckland Hospital on Saturday. The members of St. James' Presbyterian Young Men's Bible Class have been, contributing Is per week each for a year for the building of a all for . social evenings. ] Sufficient money having been raised, the hall has been erected on the ground of St. James' Church, and it is 40ft by 25ft. The formal opening of the hall took place last week. ' .-■'■ ■ '■• > d