LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13391, 21 January 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

In Symonds-street on Saturday afternoon a (raiiicar collided with a cart driven by John McCullock. but wry little damage was done. MeCullock, who lives in Char-lotte-street. Eden Terrace, had jii,-1 entered Symonds-street from Kariingnhapc Road, and was crossing the line to let on his right side wlu'ii a down car, which lie had not noticed, struck this off wheel of the cart, lull fortunately nob with great force. MeL'ullock was thrown out on to the road, but beyond a few scratches and bruises was unhurt.

A young man who wa.s being arrested on ■a charge of assault in Queen-Street on Saturday* evening made * bolt for freedom while the arresting constable was engaged securing the names of witnesses. The accused had only got a. few paws when lie tripped and came to the ground, the constable, who was in rinse pursuit, falling on top of him. The first-named sustained a dislocation of the ankle, necessitating his removal to the hospital-

The Right Hers. Dr. O'Connor and Dr. Dunne, Roman Catholic Bishops of Armidale and Bathmst, New South Wales. arrived by the Sonoma from San Francisco on Saturday, homeward bound.' Dr. O'Connor left Australia about 12 months ago, and travelled through Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, France. England, Scotland, and Inland, making a protracted stay in the latter country. He then toured through America, catching the Sonoma to Auckland. Speaking to a Hkkai.d reporter last evening, the Bishop of Annidalc stated that the condition of the people in Ireland had materially improved since his last visit. He referred particularly to the labouring 'lasses. The people were now full of hope, and expected that next session a measure would he brought down which would give satisfaction to every Touching upon the religious question in France, Dr. O'Connor said he had nothing to say excepting that the position, as represented by the English and American press, was not as they knew it. The Bishop of Bathursl (Dr. Dunne) and the Rev. Fathers Marshal!. Dunne, Shanaghan, O'Donohue, and O'Reilly, of New South Wales and Victoria, who accompanied Dr. O'Connor on tour, also arrived by the Sonoma, and the party are at present the guests of Bishop Lenihan, at Bishop's House, l'nnsonby.

The Union Company's s.s. Takapuna, though time-tabled to leave for New Plvmoutli at three p.m. on Friday. did not get away from Onehunga until five p.m., having waited back for the "Frisco mail. When she got down to the heads the signal went up tli.it the bar was dangerous, so the vessel had to anchor at Huia Boy. As a southerly gale came on and the sea did not abate, the Takapuna remained inside all i * j night. At nine o'clock on Saturday morni ing the signal was favourable, and the steamer crossed twenty minutes later. On the way down, heavy seas had to be contended with, and a strong southerly gale. Owing to the delay, it «a« not possible to leave New Plymouth until half-past eleven p.m. on Saturday, and the Takapuna was not able to reach Onehunga on the return trip until ten o'clock yesterday morning. Mr. R. T. Douglas. J.P., held an inquest at Kaiau on January 16, concerning the death of Andrew Peters, aged 26 years, postmaster, who was found in bis office with a gun shot, wound ill his head, and a magazine rifle lying beside his body. The evidence given went to show that deceased, who suffered from asthma, and had recently recovered from a. severe attack of pneumonia, went out for a walk on the 15th inst. and returned to the poet office abou* an hour later. Immediately afterwards a. gunshot was heard, and on deceased's brother making investigations he found the deceased, quite dead lying on the floor with the top of his head blown off. The jury returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide I while suffering from a fit of melancholy.

A fatal accident at Raetihi i.s reported by our correspondent in that district. On the 9th iiist. Frank Burgerman was driving a timber trolley when the bridge over which it was passing collapsed, and the trolley and driver fell into the river below. Burgerman received serious injuries, to which he succumbed three days later. At the inquest held subsequently, a, verdict of "Accidental death" was returned, no blame being attachable to anyone.

The Union Company's steamer Manuka arrived from Sydney at half-past eleven p.m. yesterday, with a, large number of passengers in both classes, and will undergo inspection this morning. The steamer left Sydney at five p.m. la.st Wednesday, and her prolonged passage was due to meeting with strong head winds and sews from the time of leaving Sydney until Hearing the New Zealand eoj>t on Saturday evening last. An old colonist, in the person of Mrs. Mary Ann Duggan, relict of the late C'fjlour-Seargeant John Duggan, has passed away. Deceased arrived in the colony in 1849, in the ship Oriental Queen, and with her husband resided for some time at l'apa-kura. On the outbreak of the Maori war Mr. and Mis. Duggan took up their residence a; Onehunga, where deceased remained until her death. Mrs. Duggan, who was highly respected in the district, leaves a son and six daughters, 50 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren.

A short sitting of the Police Court was held before Mr. ('. ('. Kettle, S.M., on Saturday. Charles Woods, a third offender, was fined 20s and costs, or ill default .--even flays' imprisonment, for drunkenness. Woods was also prohibited for 12 months. Unbelt Clark, a. prohibited person, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when culled upon. A first offender was fined 5s or in default 24 hours' imprisonment.

The funeral of the late Mr. Joseph Johnston, of Olahiibu, took place last Friday, and was one of the largest, in the district for some time, all classes of the community and all churches being represented. The funeral service was conducted by the Revs. C. Bond. <;. Spence. W. J. Wat kin, a.nd W. Sale, past and present ministers of the Olahuhu Methodist Church, with which deceased had .so long been associated.

The Quadro pneumatic signalling apparatus in connection with the new railway station yard at Dunediu, has now nearly been installed, and the completion will mark an important epoch in railway matters. It will take the place of the now old-fashioned full lever apparatus, and practically the whole of the line.-: will be controlled from one central point, a signal box at the south end of the station taking charge of all the points from l'elichel Bay to the south end of the station. Dtinedin will thus enjoy the distinction of being the third centre in the British colonies in which this system has been brought into use. Brisbane and Sydney were her forerunners in this- respect.

On Saturday Chief Detective Mansack and Detective McMahon arrested a man named Arthur Goodwill, coachbuilder, of Otahuhti, on a charge of criminal assault.

The Southern portion of the "Frisco mail was taken away by the Karawa from Onehunga yesterday. Mr. Lindsay, mail agent, and two assistants, went in charge.

The summer school for teachers will probably open at the High School, Otiehunga, to-day. Most of the apparatus, etc., has already arrived. It is intended to continue the school for the next three weeks.

There is at present an animal treaK at the Carterton bacon factory. It is a pig with a skin black like that of a negro. The meat inside it, good and wholesome, and the animal has been passed by the Government: inspector, which fact bears nut the truth of the old saw that beauty is only skin deep. We believe that one other freak of thus sort has occurred in the colony,

Potato growers this season have been congratulating themselves tifon having peraped the ravages of the blight, but now the tune is changed. From quarters all around Kltham (say- the Argus) »> hear complaints of the blight having made its appearance in a severe form. Growers are tutting the stalks off the potato plant**, but are doubtful as to the effect of so doing. Potatoes that a tew days ago looked in perfect, condition are now sadly blighted.

A Woodville (Hawke's Bay) boy had a somewhat unpleasant experience of camping out last week. He suddenly developed most drcadtiii earache, being nearly driven mad. and on ictuining to his home himother had to take- prompt measures to relieve him. Hoi oil was poured in linear, and then it was probed to see it there was any obstruction.. The surprise, of both the mother .iv.-i the boy can be imagined when a live worm was taken .'.Hit of the ear. The boy thought he. had got water in his ear while bathing.

The advocates of the single tax in Wellington are very active at present, and street meetings are being held in the evenings. At a meet in" on Saturday night the principal speaker declared that ail the products of labour were deteriorating in value. The entire wealth of the globe, he said, had to be leiiewed every few year-. while land values were growing all the time. He appealed to the bystanders to join the light for a. substantial increase in the land tax. and a reduction of taxation on the necessaries of life. Further outdoor meeting, are to be he'd during the summer months.

A wide-awake ranger, apparently, L Mr

W. V Beck, who looks after the Otago Acclimatisation Society. It appears that

"the boys'' down at Wuipahi have lately been doing some extensive poaching. <>u

receipt of the news, the ranger left Dun edin last week. and. reaching the " poach ers' preserves," selected an island in th stream as a suitable point, of observation.

In due course the " euddlers" and spears

men came to the river hank, and got to woik on the trout. Half-an-hour later three of them found themselves within the

four corners of the scope of the law. »'o get at his men the ranger had to swim the river and give chase for half-a-mile, but he brought them to bay at the finish. While the chase was in progress all Waipahi turned out. to see the fun.''

On April 29. 1906. the poultry of this colony totalled 3,191,604 birds, comprising fowls, 281.999 ducks, 77.101 turkeys, 44,300 geese, 2613 guine- fowls, 173 pea-fowls, 52 ostriches, and 1097 "not. specified. In 1901 Victoria, with a population (1,201.070) much greater than ours, had 3.619,938 fowls. 257,204 .lucks. 203.823 turkeys, and 76,855 geese. Dividing New Zealand's poultry among the provinces, we find that Auckland comes first with 735.502 (including the ostriches), Canterbury next with 696,033, Wellington third with 471,589. Wellington tops all districts but Canterbury in ducks. Slightly over 1000 of the total head of poultry belong to the remote Chat hams.

The questions of the conditions under which seamen are engaged has been revived by a case which recently occurred at Newcastle (N.S.W.). On a recent date a ship left port, having on board six men who had never been before the shipping master, and who were not in possession of discharges or permits to ship. This fact was discovered by the Water Police as the ship was about- to sail, but the pilot, acting on the authority of the Customs clearance, took the vessel to sea,.