LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13470, 24 April 1907, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Thk wind, which has l>een blowing along tho coast from the eastward for mend months past, shifted into the westward yesterday, and the weather appears settled. A further large raft of logs was towed down to Auckland from Wliungarei by the Devonport Ferry Company's steamer Young Bun* garee yesterday, comprising about 350,000 ft. If the weather continues tine, those who are in a position to judge estimate that the local mills will be kept fully supplied with timber during the next few months.

The municipal elections in eases where more than the required number of candidates have been nominated are being held throughout the colony day. In Auckland city polling will commence at nine a.m., and close at seven p.m., and the same hours will be observed at Grey Lynn, Onehunga, and Newmarket, but the Devonport poll will close at six p.m. The required number of candidates not having been nominated at Parnell there will be no election in that borough to-.day." Owing to the large field out for the city the results are not expected to be available till after midnight. The list of [tolling booths was published yesterday.

The Auckland Weekly News, published to-day, contains a very largo number of interesting and high-class illustrations. Among the most prominent may be mentioned a selection on the double page of some of the leading pictured at the Auckland Society of Arts' Inhibition, which opens this evening. Included among the pictures illustrating recent events ,tr« those showing the last of the 'Frisco mail steamers arriving at Auckland, Horticultural Society's Show, the silver cradle presented to His Worship the Mayor, s.s. Haupiri ashore at Napier, closing scenes at the New Zealand International 'Exhibition, Wellington Racing Club's Autumn Meeting, a splendid recent view of Mount Rttapehu, which is 'reported to be in eruption, scenes oh the route of the North Island Main Trunk railway, and a full page of sketches at the Society of Arts' exhibition. The miscellaneous illustrations are exceedingly varied, and noticeable amongst them are some fine scenic and industrial views in both islands.

The number of men employed on the railways in the province of Auckland, according to the Journal of the Department of Labour for April, ix as follows:—Kawa-kawa-Grahamtown, 46; Helensville Northwards, 144; Gisborne-Rotorua, 33; North Island Main Trunk, 2173.

A magnificent S]>ecimen of a rainbow rout caught in Lake Taupo was shown by Inspector Cullen to a Herald reporter last evening. The fish, which was sent down to Mr. Cullen by a friend, weighs 141b, and is beautifully proportioned, having a small head, a maximum depth of 10in, and a total length of 28in. Several similar fish wen; caught in the lake recently, including one weighing lSilb..

At the meeting of householders in the Pukekohe West school district on Monday, evening the following resolution was passed unanimously:—"That this meeting approve of the action of the School Com-" inittee in protesting against the closing of the school to children on the statutory school days to hold agricultural classes foe the education of teachers, and would suggest that the holding of such classes should be on Saturdays." The Buckland School Committee aLso considered the question of closing the school for agricultural dasse«« and a motion that the Buckland school btf kept-open on Saturdays was negatived in favour of closing the building on that dav*

T hr first meeting of creditors in the estate of George Walter Brown, of Mercer, butcher, was held at the official assignee's office yesterday. There was only a small attendance. After discussion the creditors expressed the opinion that the bankrupt had not acted dishonestly, although somewhat foolishly, and that they did not wish any further examination into his affairs. The assignee (.Mr. E. Gerard) suggested that the bankrupt should endeavour to supplement, out of present and future earnings, the dividend payable. Tenders had been called, and in the interval the business was being carried on without cost to the estate. Matters were left in the hands of the assignee, who said he would confer with Mr. F. Bodle, of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, regarding the acceptance of a tender.

In connection with the death of Mrs. Cordes, which took place in Wellingtonstreet suddenly on Monday last, the Coroner (Mr. T. Creshain) decided that it was unnecessary to hold an inquest, the deceased having been attended for a considerable period for heart disease. The. sudden death of an infant named Casey was also reported to the Coroner on Monday, but Mr. Creshain, after consulting with the medical attendant, decided that an inquest was unnecessary.

During the year ended March 31 last 553 permits for new buildings, including 336 for alterations and additions, were issued within the Wellington City limits, the permits covering works estimated to cost £581,233. The value of the building operations for which permits were issued in 1906 was £426,271, and £344,560 in 1905. The number of permits issued last year was 579. In addition to the returns given above (says the Post). 330 building permits (including 54 for alterations and additions), involving a total value of £176,307, were issued during last year in the district formerly known as Melrose Borough, now part of Creator Wellington. The value of the buildings for which 358 permits were issued hot year in Melrose was £147,784. An analysis of the buildings for which permits were issued within the city area during the year jtistxloscd gives the following details, the figures for the previous year be ing shown for comparison in parentheses: — 294 dwellings (323 in 1906); 13 shops and dwellings conunned, (22) ; 32 warehouses and business premises, (44): eight churches and public institutions, (1); one school, (1) ; and two hotels, (2). The Melrose permits were nearly all for dwellings. The city engineer states that a large number of permits had already been applied for since th« last year ended, and he thought the building trade was as brisk as ever, and teemed likelv to continue so.

Since the beginning of the year there has been .111 outbreak of diphtheria in the Auckland district, but the local Health Department are taking all necessary precautions for the isolation of patients, and the prevention of the further spread of the disease. On inquiry from the health officer (Dr. J. 8. Purely) yesterday, it was learned that there had been a few isolated cases in the town, but there was. he said, 110 special locality affected. During the last two months ten cases of diphtheria have been reported from Devonport, nine being children, sis of whom attended the school. Precautions have been taken to prevent the children in actual contact with these cases from attending the school, and the Health Department and the local authority are taking steps to have the houses in which cases have occurred thoroughly disinfected. Dr. Purdy made a thorough inspection of the Devonpoit school yesterday afternoon, and found everything very satisfactory." "With a "view to dispelling any fear or risk of further infection, however, he decided that the school should be thoroughly fumigated, and for this purpose it will lie closed from to-morrow till Monday next. The Health Department has also investigated the milk supply, and has found that the milk supplied to the infected families came from various sources. In conjunction with the Defence Department, Dr. Purdy has prohibited any private parties from camping at Narrow Neck, Takapuna. in future, as this, he states, is the original source of infection in the Devonport district. The above facts were reported to the Borough Council in a letter from Dr. Purdy, which was read at lac"t night's meeting of the Council.

At the meeting of the Devonport- Borough Council last night a letter was received from the secretary of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society (Mr. T. F. Cheeseman), regarding the question of stocking Lake Takapuna with rainbow trout, and of providing for the regular renewal of the stock from year to year. Tie society, it was stated, was willing to provide up to 20,000 rainbow trout fry each year, providing that ponds were made and maintained in which the fry could be kept until they were large enough to be placed in the lake. the Council's pumping station at the lake ottered a very suitable locality for the construction of the ponds, and it was asked that the proposal should receive the earnest consideration of the Council. 'hi the motion of the Mayor (Mr. K. W. Alison), it was resolved, "That the Council approves of the proposal, is prepared to assist by permitting ponds being made and maintained on the Council's land, in which the try can be kept until they are large enough to Ik* placed in the lake, to provide water, and to give attention to the feeding and preservation of the fry, but decline to expend any monev in connection with the proposal.

At the meeting of lit* householders of the Huntlv school district on Monday evening the following resolution was rallied, on the motion of the Rev. Mr. Deck, seconded by Mr. W. H. Bailey :—" That this meeting of the householders of Huntly place on record their appreciation of the good work of the late Mr. I!. M. Watt, architect of the new school, and that a letter he sent to Mrs. Watt expressing the meeting's deep sympathy with her and hei family in their sad affliction." The motion was passed in silence, alt present standing.

The local Labour Department are experiencing much difficulty in securing suitable men for work" on the North Island Main Trunk railway. For some time past there have been no calls at the office by applicants for work, and it is therefore assumed that the men in the district are all well employed.

The following candidates have befn nominated for seats on the Otahuhu Road Board :—Messrs. R. L. Absolum, J. Brady, T. Graham, F. Hoye, F. Lippiatt, F. 1. Phil pott, A. Sturges, and J.Todd. Messrs. Todd, Brady, and Lippiatt are members of the present Board.

The Auckland Garrison Band will play the following programme in the Albert Park this evening, at eight o'clock: —March. "Marseillaise," Frost; wait/, " Kstudiantina," " Waldteufel ; selection, "Smithy in tV Woods," Michales: cornet duet, "Ida and Dot," Losev; Indian intermezzo, "Laughing Water," Smith; cornet solo, "Starlight," Morse; march, "Cotton Blossoms," Hall "God Save the King."

The inmates of the police cells last night consisted of four persons arrested on charges of drunkenness and one on a charge of committing an assault