LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13454, 5 April 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

An alarming incident occurred on tramcar No. 46 whilst proceeding up College Hill yesterday. The car had not proceeded far when the fuse blew out, and the fuse box ignited, the flames ascending to the windows of the cat. The passengers became considerably alarmed, and most of them made a rush for the door. The car was immediately stopped, and the motorman and conductor extinguished the flames by throwing sand on them. The side of the car was badly burned. The passengers were transferred to another car, no one being injured. The damaged car was taken to the barn at Ponsonby for repairs.

Judging from a complaint made by Mr. G. W. Basley, at the Harbour Board meeting, the eloquence of some members at Board committee meetings is beginning bo pall on the rest.. Mr. Basley said it. would be a good thing for the Board if there could be a form of closure at committee meetings. On the previous day the business had been delayed an hour owing to the talk of one member. Anyone would have thought the member in question was the chairman of the Board and the chairman himself was merely an ordinary member. This sort of thing had happened before, and while the gentleman in question perhaps knew a good deal, he (Mr. Basley) thought be (the member referred to) emphasised far too much, and it would Ik- for the benefit of the work generally if each speaker were limited to, say, five minutes. Something in this direction should be done. Mr. Macfarlane supported what Mr. Basley had said. The time of members had been unduly wasted on the previous day; there was far too much talk. A member: "Not only in committee either. Mr, Basley said lie merely mentioned the matter at this stage; lie might frame a motion later on.

An exceptionally fine serial story, "The Avenger," by K. Phillips Oppenbeim, the brilliant author of "A Maker of History," "A Prince of Sinners," and other popular novels, will be commenced in to-morrow's Hkrald. The story contains a strong love interest, and the mystery element is remarkably well sustained, the plot being perhaps the most skilful this gifted author has yet placed before the public. -The Avenger" is certainly one of the finest of Mr. Oppenheim's worTcs, and our readers can be assured of a great literary treat. The first instalment will be published to-mor-row.

The Customs Department have completed a return which shows that 1052 persons arrived in Auckland from oversea, port* during the month of March, and 1373 people left for places beyond the col v. The United Kingdom supplied 253. the Australian States 663, Fiji 33, and San Francisco 89. Of the arrivals 524 were born in the British Isles, 198 in New South Wales, 70 i" Victoria, 53 in the United States of America, and 70 in New Zealand. Of .the Continental people there were only 25, Norway and Germany supplying nine each, France five, and Russia and Italy one each. The departures included 1156 for Australian States, 56 for Fiji, 80 for San Francisco, and 21 for the United Kingdom.

The Tyser liner Star of New Zealand arrived from west coast of England porta yesterday afternoon, atte. a very smart voyage of 49 days. The steamer met witu generally line weather until approaching the Australian coast, when a series ot northerly gales, with high head seas, were encountered for several days. The New Zealand coast was made on Wednesday evening, and the port made as above. During the bad weather experienced the steamer's engines had to be put at reduced speed, and had it not been for this delay the Stat " would have reached Auckland on Tuesday, putting up record time on the voyage. The cargo by the steamer consists of about 6000 tonof general merchandise, of which about 1000 tons will be landed at Auckland. Captain Beck, the commander of the steamer, and hi* officers, are to bo complimented upon the fine order iu which she comes into port after her voyage.

At the close of the ordinary business at the Harbour Board meeting yesterday, the chairman (the Hon. E. MHchelson) said the Government inspector of machinery had requested the Board's engineer to immediately place the dredger in dock, and had stated that unless this was done the dredger would have to stop working. The inspector was informed that owing to one vessel betas in the dock, and another having engaged, the dredger could not he put in at once, but the inspector insisted upon the work being done at once, he having condemned a number of plates in the well. Seeing that the work was going to cost more than £50. and as it was urgent, he (the. chairman) called for tenders. The engineer's estimate was £400, and the tenders received were: Stager Bros.. £645 16s; \V. B. Stager and Son, £395 : Fraser and Sons £657 12s 6d; and Maseey Bros., £638 9«.' The chairman had authorised the acceptance of \V. B. Seager and Son's, tender. The chairman's action was confirmed.

A short time ago letters were sent to the Auckland Harbour Board by .Messrs. R. Keals and Son, and others, pointing out the difficulty of draining low-lying lrvpls at Ponsonby until the city drainage scheme was completed, and requesting the Board to allow certain drainage to be made to low-water mark. The Board yesterday agreed to grant the required permission, subject to three months' notice of termination.

Our Pukekohe correspondent writes: — The following is the result of the weightestimating competition at the recent Pukekohe Agricultural Show:—Weight of bullock, 9781b: W. Crook, Manurewa, 9351b,• J. Jackson. Mackelvie-slreet. Auckland, 9701b; H. Newman, Patumahoe, 9651b' Weight of three sheep, 2131b: W. Knight Mangetv, 2131b; R. Dick, Otahtihti. 2131b;' C. Crispe, Mauku, 213'1b : A. Anderson' M'angeiv. 2121b; F. ,1. Wills, Mangle' 21441b; J. E. Makgill, Waiuku, 2111b; 1)' Makgill, Waiuku, 2161b.

The Harbour Board Committee, after consideling a suggestion by Mr. H. Bruduer for the setting up of a committee to inquire into the working of the several department* of the Board, recommended yesterday that a. committee ho appointed to inquire into and report upon the duties performed by the Board's staff and other workers; head's of departments to furnish such reports a.s may be required by the committee; the committee tc consist of the chairman, Messrs. Keyes. Kneeu. Murdoch. Heather, and Bradney. The recommendation was agreed to.

Messrs. Brown and B;ui« are progressing with the lifting 0 the capsized Ivirfpie Wai-iti, at Miuigawhare. On Tuesday the vessel was raised to a point that at low tide left nearly the whole of the rail on her lee side out of water On Wednesday energies were spent in getting mud ami water out of the bull. A final lift, will probably bo made to-day, and it is confidently expected that the Wai-iti will shortly once again be moored alongside the wharf.

In connection with tlxe recent tramway strike it ie understood that at the forthcoming wilting of the Arbitration Court the Auckland Electric Tramways Company will be cited to appear on. a charge of discharging 14 motomen and conductors without! giving them a week's notice, as required by the award. Two of the men will also t» cited to appear on a charge of leaving work without giving due notice. Both charges have arisen out of the tramway strike itr. November last. .

The City File Brigade received an alarm] of fire from Tatori-street, off Wellington* street, about seven o'clock last evening. A house occupied by -Mr. iijuden, and owned by Mr. A. .7. Kntrican, was found to bo in flames, but the promptitude of the brigade confined the outbreak to one room. Very little damage was done.

As an outcome of the visit of members of the Harbour Board to Albany, the Board yesterday decided to agree to the petition of residents of Albany for a wharf, and to erect one at a cost not exceeding £300.

Official advice has been received by in.specter Oullen that the Commissioner of Police, after reviewing the circumstances connected with the case of Constable Burke (who was the defendant in a recent case in the Police Court), decided to retire Burke from the force.

The offer made by the Auckland Oat Company to exchange certain land at Freeman's Bay, in return for portion of the Harbour Board's lands, was declined by the Board yesterday, and it was decided instead ~, to inform the company that the Board was prepared to enter into negotiations for the purchase of the company's properly facing Nelson-street.

It has been decided to separate the offices of Under-Secretary of Justice and Registrar of Patents, hitherto held conjointly bv Mr. F. Waldegrave. Mr. J. C. L«;wis. present deputy registrar, has been promoted to i he position of Registrar of Patents.

The police were informed yesterday that a native named Tuahiahia was yesterday committed for trial at Huntly, on a charge of forging and uttering a cheque at Huntlv for £24 6s lOd. -1 v '

An elderly man named John Williams was admitted to the hospital lust evening suffering from an injury to the head, at, the result of a fall. At a late hour last evening his condition was reported to be satisfac.orr.

The police colls last evening were occupied by four persons charged with drunkenness, and one charged with theft.