LOCAL AND GENITAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13355, 8 December 1906, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Hon. G. Fewlds, .Minister tor Eduction, visited the St. Stephen's Maori Bov*.' School and the Victoria School for Maori Girls, at I'arnol], in company with Sir John Gorst. yesterday morning. A visit was also paid to the Manual and Technical Training School at Newmarket, in the afternoon the Miniver and Sir John visited the Lin datier Art Gallery. To-day Mr. Fowlds will accompany Sir John Oortst, Mis* Gorst. aufl Captain Alfcih mi a visit to the Waitakerei ranges for tin* purposes of seeing soma kauri trees. Mr. Fowtds will probably j leave for Wellington on Monday.

At the meeting of tin* Agricultural niid Pastoral Association yesterday the secretary announced that the- results of the weight•igiiessiiig competitions had been received from the judges. The actual freight of the bullock was 1008!!., that of the cow 8631b, arid of the sheep 2071b, and the championship, went to Mr. B. (». 1). MeMaster, of Wairarapa, who guessed the exact weight of the con-, yens within 51b of the bullock, and within 61b (,f the sheep. Messrs. W. L. Wilkie, <_'. A. Crisp, W. (4. Maeky, F. Wright, 0. 0. Mucky, and H. Sloane all guessed the correct weight of the sheep, while Messrs. J. Dentin ami 8, 0. Maeky were bracketed for second in th« ease of the bullock, guessing 10011b, Mr. Mi Master's gu<«ss being 10031b. In the weight of fche cow Mr. Henry Sloatie wa» second with 8671!).

. Evidently someone ban sworn a vendetta against Mr. Robert Smith, of Mount Smart Road, Onehungu. Oil more than one ovension during the past couple of years be has had horses and cows maimed by some miscreant, while ait animal was shot dead one night. Unfortunately tiie perpetrate' of these misdeeds still remains at large, and was' probably the author of the latest mean action, for the oilier day a number or valuable young walnut trees in Mr. .Smith's garden were destroyed. 'Jhe. police have the matter in hand, anil am prosecuting inquiries. Mr. Smith is of opinion that the trees were destroyed by being slabbed at with a bill-hook from Over- the fence.

The Postmaster-General has not been slow in responding to the strong .representations made to Jim by the member Kaipara, on behalf of settlers in remote districts, for the establishment of telephone communication. There wee- many claims urged upon the Minister by Mr. Stallworthy, and inquiry has established the {fed that they were well founded. Sir J. G. Ward has telegraphed to Mr. SUdlwbrthy M follows:--''! hav» pleasure in informing; you that I have authorised the telephone extensions, Maiakoho to Arania, Paparoa to Mar ere and the. work will be begun at' an early date. I havii also approved the extension, Awatiga to Mangatu and Kiitui. subject to a subsidy, which was estimated at £27 annually for- five years, but which I have reduced to £13 per annum for the same period. I have approved the extension,' Matrtkoho to Hukitere, subject to a subsidy which was £22, but which I have reduced to £11 per annum for five years. 1 have also authorised the extension, Whrtkapirau to Bailey, subject to a subsidy of £22 per annum for rive years." ,

The American Shipping Subsidies Bill, a.» reported in our cablegrams yesterday, provides /or an increase of the subsidy to the Sun Francisco. Auckland, ami Sydney mail sen-ice by £43,200. The United States at present pays £50.000 and New Zealand £20,000 a year to this mail service. The proposed increase, if carried, wilt bring the total subsidy to £113,200. The Bill provides for the spending of £10,000,000 in 20 years on developing .the American mercau. tile marine.

At a special .meeting, of the Birkenhead Borough Council on Thursday night a special rate of fourpc-ncc in the £ was rack, payable on July 1 next, Id provide for tho interest (which include* sinking fund) on the loan of £53600, granted by th* Government for the purpose of reconstruct - ing tho main Birkenhead road from th* wharf as far as Bath Road. This rate bfcs been struck in compliance with the previsions of the Local Bodies' Loads Act, which require? the rate to be struck before the money if. it id over by the Government Department. Tender* have been called, closing on tho 20th hist:, for this work, which will Ik- carried out in conjunction with the reclamation works, contracts for which have been let by the Auckland Harbour Board.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelly to Animals have imported an instrument which provides- for the more humane ''despatch" of animal.--. The instrument is placed against the beast forehead, and is given a smart tap with the hand, when, it is claimed, death follows instantaneously and painlessly. A number of cuttle condemned by the Government inspectors a.i unfit for food will be made the subject, of a demonstration with the instrument shortly.

The First Battalion Band will play the following programme on the Rotunda.. Albert Park, to-morrow afternoon, commencing at three o'clock: —Match, " 8.8. C.F.;" selection, "I Lombard!;"' waltz, "Flours d'Australie;" quickstep. "Challenge;" selection from Verdi's operas; march, " Rylanda;" "God Save the King." The Auckland City Rand will render ' the following selections at the Western Park tomorrow afternoon, at thrtee p.m.:— March. " Pmijanb " (C. Payne); overture. " Mvosotis" {A. Blangey); selection, "' Lucr^zia Borgia " (Donizetti) : valse, " Testno Mk>" (E. Becucci): selection, Pirates of Pi-iu-u)mx'' (Sir A. Sullivan); esquissi. ■' Ataorettu" (F. Rose); quickstep. "Uncle Sammy"' {Abe Hohmimi); "God Save the. King." /■!;.. :

The police «Jls last night were occupied by five persons arrestml on charges «i drunkenness