LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13398, 29 January 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

A somewhat exciting incident occurred off Messrs. Bailey and Lowe's shipbuilding yards, Custom-street West, yesterday afternoon, and resulted in serious damage to the new oil yacht. Tawhiri. The yacht was at. anchor off the yards, ready to be taken up on the slip for alterations. A scow was being launched off the slip and ran right on top of the Tawhiri, smashing a hole in the side of the yacht. Mr. Cooper's Mm. who was below at the time, had a narrow escape, but managed to scramble out. The scow carried the yacht under her how almost to Freeman's Bay bofore she got clear. The yacht was afterwards towed down to her moorings again in a much damaged condition.

The Post Office authorities inform us that the mail steamer Sonoma will not leave Auckland for Island ports until Sunday next. -Mails close at Auckland at eight p.m. on Saturday.

The function of formally opening the new carriage drive to One-tree Hill takes place this afternoon, the ascent bom the gates being fixed for four o'clock. Motor cars will only Vie permitted to ascend to the terminus of the old drive, but all other vehicles may go to the top. Amongst the speakers will be Sir John Logan Campbell, Messrs. C. Baglcy (chairman of the Domain Board), L. J. Bagnall (chairman of the Education Board), F. W. Lang, and J. Bollard. M.TT.R.'s. In consequence of this function it is intimated that the golf links, excepting the tramway paddocks, will be closed for play.

The splendid series of flood pictures appearing in last, week's issue of the Auckland Wkkki.y Sews proved bo popular that the whole edition was rapidly exhausted. With this week's issue an even finer series will be published of the Hood at its

height, showing boats in the main streets of our country towns, bridges damaged. settlements submerged, washouts on the railway lines, trains held up by the Hoods, a derailed engine in the King Country, and a splendid lot of miscellaneous pictures, taken in every portion of the flooded districts by special photographers. Orders should be placed early to avoid disappointment, as it is expected that the, issue will be rapidly sold out.

The mutoruian, Herbert Straker, who was arrested on Saturday on a charge of committing manslaughter, by failing to observe proper cart' in driving a car down College Hill on Wednesday last, and thus coming into contact with an elderly man named Graydon, and causing his death, was brought before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., on remand, at the Police Court yesterday morning. Mr, Prendergast appeared for the accused. SubInspector Gordon applied for a further remand until Monday next, which was granted, th" same bail as before being allowed.

The colonial mails via San Francisco which left Auckland on December 22 arrived in London on Sunday last.

The freight of the Huddart-Parker's steamer Wimmera, which left for Sydney last night, included a box of gold (shipped by the Waihi Gold Mining Company), valued at £3232, and a box of bullion (shipped by the National Rank), valued at £935. The steamer also took a general cargo and a number of passengers.

A two-storeyed brick store, on a Harbour Board allotment, in Gore-street, was submitted for sale by auction by Mr. T. Mandeno Jackson yesterday. The building, which was the property of the late Mr. J, M. Laxon, was sold for £4300 to Mr. W..S. Whitley. The bidding commenced at £3000."

As far as can bo ascertained the representatives of workers here are not satisfied with the Legislative Council appointments (says a Christchurch paper). They say there should have been more Labour men among them. Two out of 14 seems to them to be a, very small proportion, especially us they regard 12 as being mainly opposed to them, or unsympathetic at all events. One of the leading Labour representatives in Christchurch expressed the opinion that Labour is very inadequately represented in the Council. •

The First A.M.R. Band will play the following selections in the Albert Park tomorrow (Wednesday) evening:—March, " Waveny " (Hall); selection, " Pinafore " (Sullivan); waltz, Only Thine (Round); operatic medley, " United Kingdom" (arranged by Warrick Williams) ; cornet solo, "Sing Me to Sleep;" overture, "Alpha" (Warrick Williams); gallop. "Look Out (Ord Hume); "Cod Save the King."

With reference to the motor launch race for the Standard Gas Engine Company's cup, run on Saturday last, Messrs. D. Reid (owner) and W. R. Twigg (agent For the Lozier engines) inform us'that the launch Shadow did not break down, as reported, during the race. They Bay that the engine ran right through the course of 50 knots without stopping at any time.

Yesterday Wing the anniversary of the birth of the German Emperor. His Worship the Mayor, all the foreign Consuls, and numerous citizens railed upon Mr. Carl Seegner, Imperial German Consul, and offered their congratulations.

The state of His Majesty's prison, Auckland, for the week ending January 26. was as follows:—On remand, 8 males, 1 female; awaiting trial, 5 mules; penal servitude (life), 3 males; hard labour, 234 males. 16 females; imprisonment., 2 males; default of bail, 1 male; received during the week. 18 males, 2 females; discharged, 17 males, 3 females. Total in prison, 253 males, 17 females.

An interesting memento of one of Wellington's oldest institutions—the hospital— lately come into the possession of Mr. I*. M. Luke, the chairman of the Hospital Trustees. It is a faded copy of the annual repart iof the hospital for 18851886. the second year of Mr. Luke's connection with that body, of which he is now chairman for the third time. With one brief interval Mr. Luke has been a member ever since thai date, and is the only remaining member of those who occupied members' seats at the board table twenty-one years ago. Mr. F. H. Fraser was then chairman, and the other trustees were Dr. Newman and Messrs. S. Dunks, IF. Gaby, C. M. Luke, C. K. Willeston, H. J. Williams, G. M. Kehbell, and (}. Perkins.

The excursion of farmers from the Rangitikei district to the Momahaki experimental farm lias, the Advocate is informed, produced very valuable educational results. These have been especially noticeable with regard to manures. In the past farmers have been generally content to sow lewt or less of manures wit root and rape crops, but after seeing the results of the use of varying quantities of manure on plots side by side in the same paddock they are now using up to 2cw'. per acre. Momahaki experiments having shown thai quantities above that amount did not produce a proportionate increase in crop. Crops in the Eangitikei district treated with the larger allowance of fertilisers are looking far better than ever before, the farmers are of opinion that another excursion would result ii« further valuable hints being acquired.