LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13368, 24 December 1906, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The ilElutn will not be published to;inor. row (Christmas Day). For the convenieraoe of those who Wish to put advertisements in Wednesday's issue, and of others, the Queen-Sim* office will he [ open to-morrow after four p.m.

The passenger traffic on tho railway* on Saturdav WW heavier than on the previous day. The ten o'clock express from Auckland to Rotorua carried a bunt 250 passenger*, while tho train which left 36 minute.-* later for the Thames, connecting with Waihi and Taumsrunni, took about 176. The inward expresses from Rotorua ami Thames were also extensively patronised, bringing between < 400 and 500 people to town. A special train from Taumarunui, with 700 navvies on board, also arrived during the course of .the afternoon. The traffic on the Helen line was hoary. What applied to the railways also applied to arriving and departing vessels, each carrying a livrg» complement of passenger*. The Talune, which left on Saturday afternoon for East Coast posts, took 184. The Rarawa, which arrived from New Plymouth on Saturday, brought 311 passengers to Auckland, and took 346 back to New Plymouth yesterday. The Taka puna, from New Plymouth, on Hand ay, brought 346; the Manuka, from Sydney, 272 ; and the Waikaro, from the South, 350.

Our commercial cablegram from London report? the price of Danish batter at 121*. and colonial unchanged (106s to 110b). Colonial choicest is being well cleared, but secondary sorts aw slow of sale. Price* of wool are firm, with erosssbreds hardening. The bank rate of discount has again touched 6. per cent., and consols bare fallen to 85£.

' Notwithstanding repeated warnings, careless individuals evidently continue to throw lighted matches upon the, decking of the Mangere. Bridge. It was only last Saturday week that the Onehuaga Fire Brigade prevented the destruction of the bridge, and yesterday afternoon it was again discovered to bo on fire. The flames wore getting a fair hold when Mr, P. Molloj came along, and after considerable work with buckets of water he managed to prevent any serious damage being done.

The Christmas Hobday Number of the Auckland Weekly News, published today, contains a very largo number of interesting illustrations bearing directly on the holiday season. A feature is the splendid double-page series, which embrace a. variety of pictures ot native, life and summer scenes in Maoriland. Among the most prominent of the holiday pictures may be mentioned a remarkably striking, full-page dealing with the New Zealand International Exhibition, and a. full-page of highly popular holiday sketches, entitled " How we enjoy our Christmas Holidays."' Included among the pictures illustrating current events are scenes at Now Zealand's International Exhibition, the Wellington Swimming Club's sports, and portraits of Stan bury and Webb, who are to row a match on the Wanganui during the holidays. The miscellaneous illustrations arc exceedingly varied, and embrace holiday scenes in all parts of New Zealand.

An accident happened at the Electric; Tramways Power; .House, shortly before midnight on Saturday night. Harry Taylor, a young man, engaged on the switchboard, was in the act of putting a fuse in the switch-board, when it burst. Taylor had his face burnt, and his eyes were, tor a time, blinded. , He was removed to the hospital, where he was admitted, and is still an inmate. On inquiring last night it was' ascertained that the burp were superficial, and that, although the eyes are injured, the sight is not affected.

The well-known Maori'.chief, Kingi Ngutuere, who died in the Wairarapj 'A few days ago, as the result of injuries sustained in a buggy accident, was a son of thatnoted chief Ngatuere Tawhiri Matea, who was counted by the Government during the native, disturbances as" one of the influential friendly natives. Deceased was chief of the famous Ngatimoe tribe, and also of the- Ngatikahungumi, whose adherents arescattered over the space between Wairarapa and Hawks's Bay. Preparations have been. made for a tangi on a gigantic "scale. The. body has been placed in a zinc-lined coffin, and the ceremony may last a fortnight. Thirty telegrams were despatched to chief? in every part of New Zealand, including the South Island, and the assembly of natives from all parte is expected to rival any previous tangi in the colony. Ngatuere was 61 years of age.

A young man named George Mains, of Remucra, met with a nasty accident while driving through Onehunga about half-past ; six o'clock on Saturday evening. He was accompanied by Mr. P. Cliaafe, and just as they rounded Beatty's corner the vehicle they were in capsized' through one of the wheels getting caught in the groove of the tramline. Mains was picked up in an unconscious condition, and taken to Dr. Scott's surgery, where he was attended to by Dr. H. Tresidder, his injuries being chiefly about the head, though his hands were badly cut. After being insensible for nearly an hour Mains recovered consciousness, and was then taken to Haverhill private hospital for further treatment. The vehicle was considerably damaged, but Mr. P. Chaafe escaped with a shaking. After the occurrence the horse bolted down, Trafalgar-street, and Miss E. Ellebt, who was driving past, had a lucky escape from a collision. The runaway was eventually secured by Mr. Glaniield.

Word has been received by Inspector Culien that Alfred K. Smith died suddenly on Saturday at, Wharekawa. The deceased, it is stated, was a -brother to Mrs. Arnold, wile of an architect, resident at Auckland.

In connection .with the night train, which leaves for Kotorua this evening, a hope has: been expressed by several intending passengers that the Department will provide more chair carriages than have been put on in connection with previous night trains. This attention to their comfort would be greatly appreciated by excursionists. '"- ■ '"v

There- were 10 persons in the police cells last evening, while eight charged with drunkenness and one with a breach of the peace had been admitted to bail. Six out of the ten are charged with drunkenness, one with a breach of the peace, one with lunacy, and one with false pretences, and another with an unnatural ofience.

To-morrow morning the Tramways Company will run a half-hourly service from all termini, commencing at eight o'clock, and continuing until half-past one o'clock. From then until about ten p.m., the ordinary service will run.

A new round trip ia in store for visitors to Rotorua. The Tourist Department » making a road to connect Lakes RoUriti, Okatina, and. Tarawera, and an oil launch is to be placed on Okatina, which is described m * very beautiful sheet oi water five miles in length, right in the heart of the Maori 'country. A traveller starting from Rotorua will be able to complete the circuit in one day. It is expected that the road will be completed before the end of la? summer. "