LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13482, 5 July 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Tub following is a copy of a telegram which lias been received by the secretary of the Auckland branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation (Mr. T. Harle Giles), from the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, in reply to a message conveying sympathy and good wishes:—"! thank you sincerely for the good wishes which you express on behalf of the Auckland branch of the federation. It is very gratifying to me to find that my work has been appreciated, and it is sufficient reward to me to have the goodwill of my fellow colonists. lam hopeful that the sea voyage and rest will restore my health, and enable me to further assist in promoting the welfare of our colony and bettering the conditions of its people." Mr. Wm. Johns, on behalf of country members of the federation, sent the following message: — " Country Liberals sincerely hope your holiday trip may completely restore health shattered . through .strenuous overwork in the service of an appreciative country."

The Auckland City Council has received 26 applications for the position of electrical engineer, and the Mayor stated at the Council's meeting last evening that more applications were expected from Home on the 18th of the present month. The applications were referred to the Streets Committee to make a selection of six, to be referred to the Council for final choice.

The inquiry proceedings in connection with the wreck of the Kia Ora were continued yesterday afternoon, and advanced another stage, several passengers coming forward and alleging that the chief officer, Mr. do Wolfe, was under the influence of drink the night before the wreck. No further evidence was given on the passengers' side concerning the proceedings on shore, but the second engineer gave evidence at length in contradiction of the statements made the previous day. The phase the inquiry has now assumed has attracted extraordinary public interest, and throughout the hearing yesterday the. Court was. crowded to excess. A full report of the evidence given yesterday appears in this issue. ......

At a meeting of the Employers' Association, held on Wednesday last, a discussion arose upon the prevalence of gambling, and of the increasing facilities afforded those addicted to this habit for indulging their vicious tendencies. Emphatic disapproval of this demoralising condition of tilings was freely expressed, and a resolution was passed urging every member of the association to adopt stringent measures for the suppression of the vice.

From Saturday morning (6th inst.) the business of the parcels branch of the chief post office will be transacted in the new premises, Langguth and Co.'s building, Fort-strett.

The following communication, haa been received by Mr. G. L. Peacocke, chairman of the Auckland Railways League, from Mr. F. Clark, of Patotara, Kaiwaka: —" At the request of the members of the Kaiwaka Railway League I beg to tender you our sincere thanks for the able manner in which you have for so many years advocated the extension of the North Auckland railway. We fully recognise that in you the North ; has had a. true and able friend, and one who at any time, and at great personal inconvenience, has been only too willing to give us assistance." Yesterday was the "Glorious Fourth," the 131 st anniversary of the declaration of American Independence, and was Honoured by the usual observance.?. During the day a large number of citizens called on Mr. W. A. Prickett, Consul-General of the United States, amongst them being the Mayor (Mr. Arthur M. Myers), the town clerk (Mr. H. W. Wilson), the Collector of Customs (Mr. J. Mills), the Hon. J. A. Tole, K.C. (Crown solicitor), and the various foreign Consuls. A large number of letters and telegrams were also received from all parts of the colony.

At the meeting of the City Council last night a letter was received from the Hon. G. Fowlde, Minister foi Public Health, acknowledging receipt of the Council's letter relating tc the inspection of foods and beverages, and staling, in reply, that he quite recognised that better, supervision than now. obtaiued should take place. He had a Bill prepared dealing with the standardisation of foods and beverages, which, if it became law, would, lie hoped, tend to reduce the practice of adulteration which undoubtedly now existed. As soon as the Bill whs printed he would send the J Council a copy..

A number of citizens of Auckland have i invited Dr David Starr Jordan, the wellknown principal of the Leland-Stanford University, California, to deliver a lecture during his stay in this city, and he has consented to do so on Monday evening next. The lecture is to take place at the Choral Hall, beginning at eight o'clock. As Dr Jordan is one of the leading authorities on education in the United States, this will afford a rare opportunity for all those who are interested in educational matters to hear a distinguished scholar give his views on a subject which all colonists recognise as of the highest impovtance.

A nautical inquiry in connection with the collision in the Waitemata Harbour between the s.s. Taviuni and the barquentine. Pendle Hill is to be opened on Saturday next, at 9.15 a.m.; before Mr. Kettle, S.M., as chairman, and Captains Grant and Sehofield as assessors.

At the meeting of the City Council last evening a letter was read from the Whangarei Borough Council stating that they were contemplating the construction of drainage works for a, portion of the borougk, and had decided to invite applications for competitive designs from competent- engineers for a suitable scheme. They asked the City Council to allow Mr. W. E. Bush, the city engineer, to review the conditions that might be prepared regarding competitive designs before advertising the competition, and also to act as judge, and advise them in the choice of a design suitable to the requirements of Whangarei. The Mayor (Mr. A. M. Myers) said that, recognising the importance of a drainage scheme to a community, he would recommend that the request- be granted. He had spoken to the engineer, who said he would only be away for two or three days, and, this being the case, it would not, therefore, seriously interfere with his duties, and it would mean practically no delay in the preparation of the city scheme. • Mr. C. J. Parr said while he did nob object to the engineer being away for two days, he thought that, in view of the backward state of the city streets, the Council should not encourage the practice. The requisite permission was granted. j

Representatives of the Baptist Churches of Auckland and suburbs are making preliminary arrangements for the annual meetings of the Baptist Union of New Zealand, to be held hero early in October. These meetings promise to be of exceptional interest. In accordance with the traditions of the denomination, foreign mission work will hold a prominent place on the programme. A large number of delegates from lnvercargill upwards are expected.

In his speech on the Address-in-Reply, Mr. Massey xirged that the late exhibibition was somewhat premature. Had the Government waited till the completion ot the North Island Trunk railway, when possibly there -would be one or two fast turbine steamers running across the straits, there would have been a far larger attendance. He understood that some of the details of the mismanagement would be made public before long, and would be an object lesson as to what Government management really meant. Mr. Massey referred to the remark made by him last session that he believed the exhibition would cost £75,000 or £80,000. Shortly after this a Minister, on being interviewed in Auckland, stated that the cost would not oe more than £25,000. The Minister for Public Works, who was also interviewed shortly afterwards, placed the.figure at £10,000, and a little later he raised his estimate to £50,000. " Now, sir," said Mr. Massey, "I want to know what the exhibition really has cost."

Of all the many good works of our late Governor, perhaps none has been of more continuing usefulness than the creation of the Ladies' Committee of the New Zealand Society for the Protection of Women and : Children and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. These ladies havo for some years arranged for a ball, or something else, in order to provide a substantial addition to the funds of this most deserving charity. This year it will take tlie form of a progressive euchre and bridge party, to be followed by a dance, in the Choral Hall, on the 18th last.

• A lengthy letter from Mr. Hone Heke, M.H.R.,'was read at last night's meeting of the- City Council, on behalf of the Orakei natives, objecting to Orakei reserve being acquired by the City Council for drainage purposes. The Mayor (Mr. A. M. Myers) said there was evidently a. good deal of misapprehension as regards the Council's proposals, and he moved that as soon as the city engineer presents his report for a comprehensive drainage scheme the natives be informed that the Council will be pleased to receive a deputation from them for the purpose of getting their views, and so that the Council could explain theirs. ' He had no doubt that everything would be arranged satisfactorily. There was no intention of disturbing the natives for many, many years from their present abode. The motion was carried. A resolution from the Orakei Road Board on the same matter was also received. It was decided to send a similar reply in terms of the Mayor's motion.

The following tenders were opened at last night's meeting of the City Council, for the construction of the Waitakerei impounding dam, the waterworks engineer's' estimate for the work being £34,537:— J. T. Julian, £36.323 7s; Lovett and Tucker, £40,133 17s; M. Coulson and Co., £37,368 10s; John McLean and Sons, £38,557 16s; A. McLeod, £37,747 lis 8d ; Moodie and Co., £40,867 10s; A. Ross, £36,990; Fitt and Co., £37,897 17s 7d ; Rhodes and Tuck, £37,976 7s 9d ; Thos. Billington and Sons, £29,112 lis Bd. The tenders were referred to the Streets Committee to report.

The chief postmaster at Auckland has suggested to the City Council that it should frame a by-law making it compulsory for letter boxes to be affixed to doors. The matter has been referred by the Council to the city solicitor.

Lieutenant-Colonel Wolfe, officer commanding the district, and a member of the Veterans' Home Committee, paid a visit to the home yesterday, and was much interested in the resident veterans and their .surroundings.

When the map of the Auckland City is prepared the city engineer intends submitting a report to the Council dealing with every road in the city, so that some definite policy may be laid clown with regard to the making up of streets not at present kerbed and channelled.

The Finance Committee reported to the City Council last evening that it had been decided to consult the district health officer; on the subject of establishing a depot for the sale of humanised and other milk fori infants. • • . !

' Between 1896 and- 1905 there have been 368 deaths from shooting in the colony. | The details are as follows: Pea-rifles .- Homicide, one; accidents, seven suicides, four. Revolvers: Homicides, nine accidents, 14 ; suicides, 91. Other firearms: Homicides, four; accidents, 130; suicides, 108.

The chief postmaster advises that telegraphic communication with Gisbprae ha» been interrupted.. I