LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13380, 8 January 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

A complaint has to he condition of the Auckland police cells was made at the Police Court yesterday morning by a young man who had been arrested the previous day on a charge of failing to provide for his wife. An adjournment was asked for by the plaintiff's solicitor (Mr. J. R. Lundon), but the defendant objected, as he did not wish to go back to custody, as he had already become infected with insects. Mr. Dyer, S.M.. said that if such a state of things did prevail it should be looked into at once. Sub-Inspector Gordon said that that was the first complaint he had ever heard. Mr. Lundon said it was not the first time he had heard the complaint, but they had had no means of thoroughly verifying the statement. The police, however, were not to blame, as he believed the cells themselves were perfectly clean, but all sorts and conditions of men were taken into the cells, and provided with blankets. Insects got into the cells and blankets, and other men who followed were put in the same cell, and got the same blankets as had been used by a person not too clean in his habits.

Mr. J. D. Enys, of Enys, near Penrhyn, Cornwall, but at one time a resident in New Zealand, has forwarded to the Auckland Museum an enlarged photograph of the wellknown painting of Captain Cook, preserved in Trinity House, Hull. The painting represents Captain Cook at an earlier period of his life than most of the other portraits extant, as, for instance, that belonging to the Greenwich Hospital, a copy of which hangs in the hall of the Auckland Savings Bank. The portrait can be seen by anyone interested on application to the museum. Mr. Enys has also presented copies of the painting to the Wellington and Canterbury museums.

Since taking over the Weka and Elsie from the late Manukau Steamship Company, the Northern Steamship Company have effected a number of improvements in the interests of the residents of the settlements along the shores of the Manukau. Recently, a time-table was arranged for the s.s. Muritai to call at the Manukau Heads and wayside places. Yesterday the Kia Ora relieved the Muritai. and called at the Huia, Manukau Heads, Orua Bay, and other places, much to the delight of the settlers, who intend requisitioning the company to allow this vessel to continue on the run. The Kia Ora is the first vessel to go alongside at Orua Bay.

Those who have had anything to do with the local Police and Magistrate's Courts have long been loud in their complaints against the unhealthy and uusuitble building, anil will be glad to find the authorities pushing forward the erection of the promised new building as expeditiously as possible. When the question came to be considered at the Calliope Dock inquiry yesterday as to whether the Court should adjourn or go on for another hour or so, the magistrate, jury, and counsel were all of one opinion, and that was that it would be well-to get out of the building as quickly as possible. The jurymen and counsel intimated as much to Mr. Kettle, who laughingly remarked that "lie was glad that he had someone there to sympathise with him. The Court, was particularly stuffy during the whole day, and Hie throwing open of the. windows did not by any means relieve matters, as then everyone present got the benefit of the fumes and soot from a neighbouring chimney. The.Union Company's steamer Manuka left, for Sydney last evening with a, large number of passengers and a quantity of general cargo. Included in the shipments from Auckland were one box of gold, valued at. £4976, shipped by the Waihi Gold Mining Company, and lines of hemp, flax, pumice, sand, fungus, etc. There was also a large shipment of pumice for Melbourne. While Mr. and Mrs. Lucas, of Auckland, and their ten-year-old daughter were sitting in a sulky at Beach Road, Onehunga. on Sunday afternoon, the horse attached suddenly moved on. and pulling into a rut capsized the vehicle and occupants. Mr. and Mrs. Lucas escaped uninjured, but the little girl was much shaken, and for a time it was thought that she was severely hurt. Valuable assistance was given by Mrs. S. Pascoe, and then the child was taken to the hospital by tram, where she recovered sufficiently to be shortly afterwards taken home. After capsizing the sulky the horse kicked the framework to pieces.

A small boy named Vivian Clyde Parker had a very narrow escape from being killed yesterday morning. He had been given a penny to buy some sweets, and was crossing over to a shop in Manukau Road, Parnell, to spend it. when a swiftly approaching tramcnr appeared, and although the motormandid all in his power to stop tile ear, it struck the lad somewhat heavily on the side of the head, and threw him clear of the lines. It was found that the little fellow's injuries were confined to slight concussion of the brain and bruises. Insufficient electric power, due to there not being sufficient steam ,at the power-house, caused a delay iiAhe tram service in Queen-street shortly after live o'clock last evening.

Mr. John Langford, who has lately retired from the Fijian Government service, and Mrs. Langford arrived from Fiji last night by the Taviuni. Mr. Langford arrived at . Levuka in 1870, and the following year, on the formation of the Fiji Government under Cakobau Bex, he joined the Civil .Service, and when Great Britain annexed the group in 1874 lip was transferred to the new regime, and he has been in the service ever since—a period of 32 years. Hi* first appointment was as cleik in the Colonial Secretary's office. In 1878 he was promoted to be chief clerk and vleik of the Legislative Council. .Six years later he was appointed Registrar of the Supreme Court and curator of intestate estates, and these important positions he has held up till now, when, with old age creeping on and indifferent health, he has retired on his pension. A young man. clad only in a white shirt, paid a visit to the house of Mr. and Mrs. Price, of Pah Road. Onehunga, on Sunday morning, and awakened the inmates by lifting up the sash of a partly open window and thrusting his head through. M.\ Price got up and gave chase, but the young fellow 4 'ran round to the back of the house, and shut himself in a bathroom. With the object of frightening the intruder Mr. Price called for a gun, and this had the effect of making the young man surrender. Mr. Price immediately recognised him a* the son of a well-known resident, and a. young man who had for some time past suffered mentally. The young fellow was immediately placed in blankets, and driven to his parents' residence. Mr. C. Brockway Rodgers, who lias been inspector of agents and claims under the Ocean Accident Insurance Company in Wellington for some time past, has been promoted to the position of district manager at Auckland. On Saturday Mr. O. H. Harbroe, on behalf of the Wellington staff, made a presentation to Mr. Rodgers, and congratulated him on his promotion. The general manager for New Zealand (Mr. C. Montetiore) was also present. Mr. Rodgers has been one of the vice-presidents of the Wellington Boxing Association, and. on behalf of that body, Mr. M'cVilly, who was present at Saturday's function, expressed regret" that Mr. Rodgers was leaving the district. The return of bankruptcies for the yeai 1906, in the four centres of the colony under the direct control of official assignees shows Auckland at the head of the list with 55, Wellington next with 32, Christ-church third with 26. and Dunedin with 23. Studying the position exclusively by these figures, the conclusion would he that Auckland, from a business point,of view, is in the worst position when coinpared with the other centres, but there are other factors to be taken into consideration, which quite alter lie appearance of things. Owing to the grasp of commercial life, and the impartiality oi the officii assignee here (Mr. Gerard), it often happens that instead of private compromises being arranged between insolvents and creditors, bankruptcies are placed in his hands for investigation and adjustment. The number of private assignments which Mr. Gerard dealt with last year, in addition to the administration of the bankrupt estates, is a fair criterion that the local office is» not included in the unfavourable criticism given expression to during last session of Parliament on the bankruptcy administration generally in the colony. Regarding railway tablets and accident" the Dunedin Star is credibly informed that a very "close .shave" occurred at Sawyer's Buy station » vrtJi -or iw,, •nKi}? , *"**X'tipi;!+n~" press for the north was approaching, when a man on the platform, walking without looking, struck the Oar of the automatic exchanger with his head. Next instant he was on the line. How far the express was off is a matter which varies with different accounts, but one eye-witness says two seconds. Some commendable people, whose names have not transpired, lent a hand quick enough to save the situation. The rescued man appeared to make light of the occurrence. Mr. Norman E. Burton, who has just vacated the position of sub-editor of the New Zealand Herald to take up a position on the editorial staff of the Otago Daily Times, was given a pleasant surprise last night when saying good-bye to the employees of the linotype department. The companionship gathered around the " stone," and the foreman, Mr. Honeyeombe, in a happy little speech, referred to the good feeling which had always existed between Mr. Burton and the news room staff, and asked his acceptance of a gold-mounted umbrella, as a souvenir of past happy relations. Mr. Burton replied, sincerely thanking the companionship for their gift. A young man named Charles Thomas met with a painful accident at the Newmarket railway workshops yesterday morning. He was engaged cutting a bar of iron, when a splinter flew up and lodged in his right eye. He was conveyed to tin hospital, where an operation was }>crfornied by Dr. Pabst. The injury is of a serious nature. According to the Wellington correspondent of the Dunedin Star the Royal Commission to inquire as to what native la,nds should be dealt with to ensure their being occupied for settlement will comprise the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), Mr. Justice Cooper, and Mr. A. T. Ngata, M.H.R. The following tenders have been received by the Education Board for the election e a school building at Rukuhia, near Hamilton:—W. G. Dudley (accepted), £209 9s; J. E. Hampton, £212; A. Grayson, £263: W. Wilson, £263. The state of His Majesty's prison, Auckland, for the week ending January 5 was as follows:—On remand, 10 males'; awaiting trial, 2 males ; penal servitude for life, 3 males; hard labour, 226 males, 15 females; imprisonment, 2 males; default of bail, 1 male; received during the week, 24 males; discharged, 36 males: total in pri son. 244 males. 15 females. The Parnell tire brigade received a (all shortly after noon yesterday, only to rind a. quantity of fallen trees burning at the bottom of Brighton Road, Parnell. It took upwards of an hour to extinguish lite flames. Mr. J. B. McKinney, who has been the leader of the Bible classes in connection with St. David's Presbyterian Church, was presented on Sunday last with a travelling companion by the members of the classes on the occasion of bis departure from Auckland. Inspector Cullen has received a telegram from Sergeant G. Hastie. of Hamilton, stating that a man named James Ross has been arrested there on a charge of perjury i" connection with a boardiltghouse tire inquiry. A 12-year-old boy named Thos. Beaton wa* . : admitted to the hospital yesterday afternoon, suffering from a broken thigh sustained through falling off a tire-escape at the Takapuna Hotel. The only occupants of the police tells last night was one person arrested on a charge ot. drunkeuness and another on a charge of | soliciting alms. H