LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13486, 13 May 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

An English mail, via Suez, which left London on April 5, arrived from Sydney by way of the South yesterday by the Takapuna. Personal Items and other - interesting news from our London correspondent - will be found elsewhere in this issue. "Matters in shipping circles were' very brisk on Saturday and yesterday, and the harbour officials had quite a busy time of it in providing accommodation for the steamers arriving. ■ The following is a list of the arrivals and the tonnage of the vessels : —Aparima, 5704 ; Hauroto, 1988; Lotte Manzell, 2322; Inga, 942; Miowera, 3393; WaJruna, 3947; Talune, 2087; Cape Antibes, 2549; Waikare, 3071: total, 25,903. This does not include coasting vessels. In the Newton-Grafton football match, played at Alexandra Park on Saturday, Purdie, a member of the former team, had the misfortune to have his arm broken. He pluckily attempted to stop a forward rush by Grafton's forwards, and was bowled over, sustaining the injury mentioned. In the Ponsonby-North Shore contest, W. Wynyard, who went on the field with a bandaged face, received a nasty knock on the head and had to retire. While playing in a Sun-day-school league match (Surrey v. St. Matthew's), the Surrey captain, Seth Lonergan, received a kick which nearly severed his little finger. In connection with the tramways equipment. Mi-. P. M. Hansen, managing director of the Tramways Company, states that an extra boiler will shortly be installed at the company's power station, and that the electric power will be increased by a further 600 k.w. set, producing 1000 horsepower. These additions will be ready for use by the time the Mount Eden extensions are in working order. A conference is bei,ng arranged between the Minister for Public Works and representatives of the Waitomo, Kawhia, and Raglan County Councils. The meeting (says our Te Kuiti correspondent) is to take place at Te Kuiti during this month, and it is hoped beneficial results will follow. The present state of backblock raids and the difficulties experienced in obtaining loans by local bodies are to be brought forward. One of the chief difficulties is the existence of large areas of native lands in the counties mentioned, and this matter will also be discussed.

A tramway conductor named Robert Rae, employed at the office at the Ponsonby barn, was carrying a ticket box out of the barn ab<sut noon yesterday, when a moving car struck his left arm and crushing it against a gateway broke the limb. Dr. Hanly attended to Itae, who is progressing favourably.

Our Oliakune correspondent writes: — Mount Pvuapehu is covered with snow, which has completely removed from sight every; sign of the recent eruption. Regarding the theory advanced by some correspondents to the press that the volcanic disturbance wat at Ngauruhoe volcano, and the deposit of silt or ashes on Ruapehu was a result of the activity in the volcano, there cannot be the slightest doubt : that the volcanic activity was in ■ connection with Ruapehu itself, the immense clouds of steam rising from the summit bearing witness to the fact.

The fire brigade received a call from the box at the corner of Hobson and Custom Streets at half-past four o'clock yesterday afternoon. The brigade promptly turned out, but found that a false alarm had been given.

By the will of the late Mrs. James Smith, who died and was buried at Auckland, in February last, it was directed that her remains should be interred in the peaceful little cemetery at Warrington, and the Otago Daily Times learns that her wishes are about to be given effect to, as they would doubtless have been at the time of her death, but for the fact that it was some time after her decease before her will was found.

Notice of motion for to-morrow's meeting of the H.ihour Board lias been given 'by Mr Dacre to the effect tint the Wat tenia '■ '* Mantikau canal syndicate be invited to meet the Board in committee.. Mr Dacre -'wiltfllli also move to request the Government to pro vide, more adequate police control of the bar. -''vhour, and that the question of requesting the '.V'.i City Council to reduce the price of wat :%IS supplied to the Board be considered by the . M Board in committee. Mr. Bradney will move for the appointment of a committee to '-IP'* revise the harbour by-laws. • ,' Matters in connection with the Oiuhun"s Cycling Touring Club's 10-mile road race for ' the Pardy Cup are still at a deadlock owinjj to the police refusing to sanction the event. The cause of the trouble is said to date back some time, when at the conclusion of -!ss?, a road race at Otahulm someone was knock- , ed down by cyclists. The Club Committee is in a quandary as to the best way to di» '0$ pose of the cup and medals. & - The Government valuer, Mr. B. K?ain, fi§| writing in regard to 'the paragraph appear- : ing in Saturday's issue respecting the valuations of the city, states that the assessments J have not been appraised on any particular sale, but. on an estimate of values covering ,j a considerable period. There has been no . revision of the city since 1905. and the in-MfSs creases in values arc more general than special. 1 A short sitting of the Oneluinga Polio® Court was held on Saturday morning, when , Messrs. John Row®, and G. J. Browne, : J.P.'s, presided. Sergeant Twomsy repre- : . sented the police. A young man named Frank Harrington, alias De la Rev, was '6i : charged with the theft of a school bag, the property of a boy named Hen wood. Harrington pleaded guilty , and was sentenced to : seven days' imprisonment. . :V^fThe funeral of Miss Grace Nerhenv, V; eldest daughter of Mr. P. J. Nerheny, took place at the Waikaraka Cemetery, W Onehunga, yesterday afternoon, and was . largely attended. At St. Patrick's Calhe- r! dral, the Rev. Father Murphy, assisted by •, Fathers Holbrook and Farthing, conducted ; s the service, while Bishop Lenihun and J|{| Fathers Clune and Lowlmn, occupied the sanctuary. At Onehunga the processional was joined by the members of the local . branch of the Hibernian Society, and a number of others. Arrived at the burial ground, the Children of Mary acted as : ■ pall-bearers, and carried the coffin to the grave, where the Rev. Fathers Mahoney , and Murphy performed the last rites. The ' 5 mourners included representatives of the Hibernian and friendly societies, the. .y, Sailors' Home Council, and the Liberal and Labour Federation. Mr. and Mrs. Nerlieny were the recipients of numerous messages of sympathy in connection with ' • their bereavement. The A.M.P. Society's report for the year 1906 is to hand, ami although this office is accustomed to chronicle large figures as Vi'fthe results of its operations from year to : year, the figures for the past year eclipse i]? all previous records. The new business w / written represents 17,122 policies for. 1 £4,585,436, yielding new annual premiums amounting to £158,331 17s 4d, the net gain to the business in force being £2,340,193, which makes the total sum * assured £57,809,714, and the total annual f§| income £2,923,677 lis 6d. The claims during the year have been very favourable, and with an addition to the accumulated . funds of £990,746 lie 3d, for the year, increase that fund to £22,413,827. Con* f, sidering that thty, society's operations have been confined Australasia this is a mar- -A vellous record of ' which the mltoibers of the society may well -be poud. At the end of flic" year assets were invested at aft ««•" age rate of £4 93 lid per cent., and the, expenses of management are tinder dine , I per cent, on the total receipts for the year. j The amount of cash to be divided among the policy-holders for the annual bonus is £664,693, which will provide reversion- , ary bonuses aggregating £1,200,000. During the year 15,365 policies were issued in |f| the : industrial department, assuring £405,957, with annual premiums of £24,295 9s Bd. The society is to be con- V gratulated on the excellence of : the past . year's results. Our Taupiri '.'.correspondent writes Sportsmen report the ducks to be very wild and scarce on the creeks. No good bags have been secured up to the present. . / I 11 ■!llP.■in ■ 1111 ■mi .■ lim I « ~~ :