LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13486, 10 July 1907, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The following tenders have been received by the Auckland-"Harbour Board for the erection of five steel-framed sheds at the Railway Wharf:—J. H. Adams and Co., £25,430 19s 7d; Charles ' Judd, £27,475; Massey Brothers, £32.385 9s 3d; G. Fraser and Sons, £33,500 10s 3d; Guthrie and Coughbu'rn, £39,416. The engineer's estimate was £24,500. The tenders were referred to the Board in committee, with power to act, the engineer to report.

At a meeting of directors of the New Zealand Insurance Company, held yesterday morning, it was decided to pay an interim dividend of 2s per share, which will be payable on August 14.

Another full day was occupied by the Nautical Court yesterday in taking evidence in the Kia'OH, wreck inquiry, to which fresh interest was added by the statements of Mr. Hanson, of the Northern Steamship Company, and of Dr. Wylie, of New Plymouth, and by a severe crossexamination of the witness Cavanagh. So lar 29 witnesses have given evidence, and of these some have been recalled three times, and others ev»n oftcner, and the depositions have filled enough foolscap, which, if laid end to end, would stretch from the wharf to Upper Queen-street. The proceedings are by no means at an end yet, as there is more evidence and another statement is to be obtained from Kawhia. Then four lawyers will address the Court, and it has also been suggested that a diver should descend at the scene of the wreck to recover the Jiia" Ora's compass.

Speaking at the meeting of the Harbour Board yesterday, Mr. C. C. Daere stated that he considered the chairman of the Board should be paid for his services, and he thought that the matter should be brought up at the approaching Harbour Boards' Conference. Mr. W. J. Napier spoke in favour of the proposal, and pointed out that at one time the chairman was paid a salary of £250 per annum, when the revenue of the Board was only one-fourth of what it was now. He thought that the public, when they got a good and loyal servant, should pay him for his services, and not allow him, as he was very often obliged to do, to put his hands into his pockets for official disbursements. He thought the conference should press upon the Government the necessity for doing something in this direction.

The conference of Maori sanitary inspectors was continued at the Health Office yesterday, Dr. Pomare presiding. Dr. Buck lectured to the inspectors upon the building of a whare, referring especially to the laws regulating the cleaning of houses and the dangers of overcrowding.

The Auckland Wekklt News, published to-day, contain« a large number of interesting and high-class illustrations. Among the most prominent may be mentioned » striking new panoramic view of Rotorua, and an interesting panorama of Borhampore, Wellington. Included among the pictures illustrating recent events are those showing the benefit football match at Alexandra Park, a splendid panoramic view of the hockey matches in progress at Remuera, the barque Viking (recently lost), with portraits of the captain and his wife and. of the ship's officers, the Waikato Winter Show, Farmers' Union Colonial Conference at Wellington, South African cricket team in England, damage done by bad weather at Tararu, Thames, salving wool from the Suevie's cargo, and the building of Germany's " Dreadnoughts" at the famous Kru# yards. The miscellaneous■ illustrations are exceedingly varied, and noticeable amongst, them is a series dealing with the Fiji trade, and a portrait of -Mr. Cavanagh, who gave such sensational evidence at the Kia Ora inquiry. Mr. John Stallworthy, membei for Kaipara, has been informed by the Post-master-General, in response to his representations of the need for a post office at Matakohe. that " If the settlers are willing to present a suitable site, with not less than 40ft frontage, and BQft depth, the question of building an office will be considered- At present the revenue of the office is hardly sufficient to warrant the Department in incurring any additional expenditure." The settlers have already agreed to give a site, but whether the size is acceptable to the Department is not stated.

The p.s. Eagle collided with the end of the Settlers' Steamship Co.'s tee on Monday evening last, and knocked a hole in her bow and broke one of the side rails. The only damage done to the wharf was a broken plank. The ferryboat had just left the tee, when a steam launch hove in sight, and in order to avoid a collision the captain of the Eagle threw the helm hard over. A collision was thereby avoided, but the steamer did not answer to her helm quickly enough, and she struck the wharf. It is said that had not the captain of the Eagle acted so promptly a much more serious collision would have occurred.

The following telegram has been received by Mr. G. W. Basley, Mayor of Parnell, from the Attorney-General, with reference to the handing over of the old post office site at Parnell, for the purpose of erecting a public library: —" The exchange of library sites at Parnell is in train, and I afii urging its completion as early as possible, and hope to be able to inform you that it lias been completed in a few days,—J. G.

FrXDLAY."

There is quite a dearth of Presbyterian ministers in Auckland province at the present time. At the meeting of the Auckland Presbytery last night no less than three ministers resigned their charges, viz., the Rev. E. F. Macnicol, of Epsom ; the Rev. James Ervine, of Pukekohe; and the Rev. E. J. Evans, of M'ahurangi. The Moderator (the Rev. G. 13. Monro) stated that' this rendered vacant no less than 12 charges under the Auckland Presbytery. During the whole time that he had been here he had never known such a. thing to happen before. Tho Rev. R. Sommerville, clerk to the Presbytery, ' stated that the next item for consideration was much more satisfactory, being a. call by the congrega 1 on at the Thames to the Rev. James Milne, who was formerly in charge of St. Andrew's Church, but was now in England. The Presbytery endorsed the call, and decided to send it on to Mr. Milne, who, it is understood, .will accept it.

The Epsom Road Board last evening passed the following resolution:—" This Board places on record its recognition of the late Sir John Hall as a sterling colonist, a devoted citizen, and a sincere and able statesman, whose philanthropy throughout his life has been emphasised after his death by his gifts to charity, benevolence, education, and religion."

At the meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday Mr. H. Bradney drew attention to the rotten state of the retaining wharf at Calliope Dock, and said that if something was not done an accident might happen, which would result in the Board being sued for damages. It was decided to refer the ma.tter to the Board in committee, with power to act.

It is the intention of the Northern Steamship Company to place the steamer Tainui on the Raglan-Kawhia-Waitara running till the s.s. Waitangi is ready for the trade. The"' Tainui was expected at Onehunga yesterday, and was timed to leave again to-day, but she did not arrive, having no doubt been weatherbound at Waitara.

Inspector Ciillen received a telegram from Constable Butler, of Ongaiue, last evening to the effect that the railway station there had been totally destroyed by fire yesterday morning.

The Auckland Flourmillers' Union, of Workers has- unanimously carried the following resolution—"That this union notices with regret that Mr. C. H. Poole, M.H.R. , has announced his intention to support a Bill to remove the present duty from imported flour, which, if passed by the House, would swamp the market with flour from other countries, to the serious detriment of the milling industry in Auckland, the said industry being absolutely free from any trust or combine." Several members spoke strongly against the attitude taken up by Mr. Poole upon the question, especially as he had assured them of his intention to support all local industries.

The Kaihu Creek, near Dargaville, rose with abnormal rapidity on Wednesday morning, and the railway for some mile and a-quarter was submerged. When the flood had subsided it was found that serious damage had been done to the line, every particle of ballast for about a quarter of a mile having been swept away. Some idea of the extraordinary force of the flood waters may be gathered from the fact that unwieldy snags were swept like straws across the railroad into the adjoining paddocks. In one place, for a distance of about five chains, rails,' sleepers, ballast, and earthwork were driven out of their original position some 18yds, the rails being twisted like thin wire, and Che road-bed swept away.

The Kawau Steamship Company announce that the s.s. Daphne will make its initial trip to Kawau, Omaha, and Mangawai tomorrow, leaving at 11 o'clock. The Daphne will leave Auckland for Waiwera and Kawau at two o'clock on Saturday, returning on Monday morning.

Crown land, situate between the Wanganui River and the Alain Trunk railway, south of Taumarunui, will be open for application on optional systems on Monday, August 12 next. The land comprises the North Waimarino, Iletaruke, and Kirikau Blocks, comprising 55,109 acres, subdivided into 61 lots, and ranging in area iron* 399 acres to 1750 acres. The price is 25s to 38s pei acre. -

Five persons- charged with drunkenness: we're the occupants of the police cells last evening. ■