LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 13949, 4 January 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Tub unsatisfactory accommodation provided by the Railway Department for excursionists on race days has long been the. subject of adverse comment, but the complaints were never so loud as on the occasion of the racing carnival just concluded at Ellerslie. While a few carriages j were attached to each train labelled Ladies only," the male excursionists had to huddle like sheep in dusty coal and cargo waggons, much to their inconvenience, as well as to the damage to their clothing. On New Year's Day the last train from the racecourse platform included,* number of uncovered waggons, which wero quickly filled. On Saturday evening the last train from the course was again crowded, men being glad to stow away anywhere. Even the platforms of the "Ladies only" carriage were packed, no less than 11 men standing on one small platform. To make matters worse, on tha run back to town the engine was belching forth large, quantities of sparks, and these falling on to those on the platforms caused much concern, besides scorching holes in clothes. The increasing interest in the interprovincial cricket matches for the Plunket shield was evidenced at the Domain on Saturday, when the Auckland-Canterbury match was continued before an attendance of about 3000. The day's cricket was productive of several surprises, both Canterbury and Auckland batsmen noted throughout the district for their soundness being dismissed for comparatively fewruns. In the playing time of hours ro fewer than 23 wickets fell. Auckland had scored 239 in their first innings on the first day. Canterbury, on a heavy but improving wicket on Saturday, made 112 in their first innings, while Auckland's second innings realised even less, viz., 9?. runs. Canterbury were faced with the task of getting 220 runs to win, but lost three leading batsmen for 18 runs, so that they now have a somewhat difficult task ahead. To-day's play is expected to be interesting. Some years ago the Railway Department, for rome unexplained reason, placed I raised railway lines along the eastern. tee ;of the Onehunga wharf. These lines make it difficult for carts to get alongside vessels, while in the shipping of horses, especially valuable animals, the risk of injury is considerable. Yesterday afternoon an old lady was about to board the Rarawa, bound for New Plymouth, when by accident she stumbled over one of the raised lines, with the result that her right ankle was severely sprained. Assistance was rendered by friends, the stewardess, Miss Brown, and Mr. Johnson, second steward, who did all possible to alleviate the severe pain experienced by the sufferer, ' (

1 : ' ■ '""' ' ~ - ■■ / *.V; : "/; The weather on the -west coast has been somewhat boisterous for several past •'" with a farily heavy sea running. The ; North' ' ern Company's steamer Rarawa did not " reach. Onehunga on Saturday until 11 am ' : having experienced strong head wind* an* seas on the passage from New Plymouth ' - The steamer Rimu left Onehunga on Saturl day bound for Wanganui, but was delayed at the heads, owing to the seas. A heavy • ' westerly wind was blowing along th* " Manukau yesterday, but it was anticipated that the Rarawa would be able to main ; the passage outwards without delay. .• Amongst the many popular camping re.' ■ sorts during the present holiday season.'-.. the numerous inlets and bays at Waiheka are occupying a great deal of attention.' / The boardinghouses and cottages connectej therewith are all full, and in order to pro- ■'■' vide increased accommodation tents hav* > been erected in the gardens and along th* beaches. Good boating and fishing is v.; obtainable in the adjacent waters, whilst the bush-clad portions of the hills afford excellent rambling grounds. The view of' ' the gulf and several of the email islands which is obtainable on a fine day from the trig station overlooking Cowes' Bav, ie a' sight which will repay the walk up the ' Ml. Information was received by Sergeant Ramsay, of the wharf police, last night that an overturned outrigger had been seen during the evening from the deck of H.M.S. Challenger floating down the har- ' bour. A white skiff was also espied drifting down with the current, being much nearer to the warship than the outrigger. A naval steamboat was cent out when the skiff was about 500yd6 off, but by the time the latter was secured it was about two miles from the Challenger. It is not known whether the empty boats had broken moorings, or if an accident had occurred higher up the harbour. The police had received no inquiries up to midnight. I A resident of the Waikato district, who ; was in town on Saturday, remarked, in , the course of a conversation with a Herald | representative, that the country districts of Auckland never looked more prosperous than at the present time. He had recently " travelled through both North and South i. Auckland, and found that the lambing sea- | son had been exceptionally good. There had been a high percentage recorded almost everywhere. Cattle were in excellent condition, and the abundance of feed was resulting in record outputs of butter from all the principal dairy factories. Dairyfarmers this season were doing better than ever before in the history of the dairying industry. He had visited a number of large orchards, and seen everywhere plentiful fruitage. Moreover, there seemed a wholesome desire on the part of orchardists to combat fruit pests by every possible means. Grain crops, however, seemed to be somewhat light for threshing, but were /'" excellent for chaffing purposes. '. ~ « In view of the national importance af/. rifle-shooting, it is to be regretted th* the annual meeting of the Auckland Rifito •'", Association did not attract a larger attendance of civilians, who, as a whole, might have been expected to display more intere i; e in the actions of men who are doing splendid work under considerable disadvantage. The Penrose rifle butts are easily accessible from the city, the weather on Saturday w>i'_V"fine, and the shooting well worth witness ing. Yet the attendance, apart from rifle men, was noticeably sparse, particularly '■; of young men, who should take as keen an -/. interest in the defence of their country as they do in athletic sports. And viewed, , >; 1 even , as a sport, rifle-shooting is. -a kee-J* ...-. skilful, and exhilarating pastime. On the - other hand, as if to shame the apathy ftf their brothers, the number of ladies preselfc , made a creditable display. • *;; All day long yesterday pleasure craif V of every description, from the tiny open ' \ sailing boat to the large yacht or motor?;; launch, were making their way homeward to anchorage in the Waitemata, carrying " crews returning from the Christmas vac* ' lion. The cruises have in some caset ■■■'■* been extensive, the more venturesome go / ing as far as the Great Barrier or th* -, Bay of Islands, but the majority hav4 been content to visit some of the numerous / islands which. stud the Hauraki Gulf, V The boats returning late last evening goi a dusting," the high westerly wind, — raising a sea, so that in addition to a dead . ."slog" home the sailing craft _ had to : ; * shorten sail. ■ " 7 The west coast frontage of the Waitakerefl ranges is proving an increasingly. popular' camping resort, and this season there aro ' more camping parties at the P.faa soA near the Anawhata beach than during th« ;> Christmas week in any previous year. The slopes above Piba are at present dotfcvd ; with camps, and many parties, have gome in over the range from Waitakerei station. -;, An inmate of the Auckland Meat*!' Hospital named Louis Chick made hk .- escape from that institution between 11.30 a.m. and noon yesterday. Chick, who was admitted to the hospital at Avondale from Turner-street, Auckland, about 1 2; ■ months ago, had been heard to speak of going to Sydney, where an uncle resides;-;' The police think it likely that an attempt;! will be made to board to-dvy's boat for the New South Wales capital. Chick is described as sft lOin high, with brown hair and beard (distinct shade), and wear- 7 ing spectacles. His usual, apparel was brown tweed clothes and soft felt hat. - •" A horse attached to a sulky bolted in / First Avenue, Kingsland, on New Year'*- > morning, and ended its wild career in the gully at the top of the avenue. The turn-! out was the property of Messrs. Andrews and Wise, of Chancery Lane, and had been hired by Mr. Walter Smith, a resident of '.< Parnell. The latter states that he left the vehicle to procure a rope for fastening the horse to a post while he called for a friend, whereupon the animal cleared out. The latter was so badly staked that it had to be destroyed, while the trap was damage! •• beyond repair. A severe accident befel Mr. William 9. Moore, of the Onehunga Boot. Factory, o» New Year's Day, while cycling in th« direction of Te Papapa. He was proceed* ing along the road at a fair speed when the fork of his bicycle broke, precipitating • the rider heavily to the ground. 0»lookers at once went to the assistance tit / Mr. Moore, whom they picked up in as unconscious condition, while medical aid! was soon forthcoming. After a time k»i was removed to his home, where he & still suffering from the effects of his fall- . A grievance was ventilated at the melt- •/..' ing of delegates to the General Labourer*' Conference at Wellington. This was tha<; /' 1 the employers were permitted to have */., i representative (Mr. W. Pryor) in Parlw» • ment buildings during the session to watch j the interests of employers, whereas no such// concession was given to the Labour people. ; It was decided to ask the Wellington"., 1 Trades and Labour Council to take soma 1 steps to counteract this or else get an./ '■ equal concession to enable a representative §ft ' to watch over the interests of workers inlff ! Labour legislation. --,'j I The wholesale quotations for butter and /- '. eggs for the week ending January 9 are a*' ,* • follows :—Butter : Factory, Is oj[d per lb JJ ■ ; farmers', 7d per lb. Eggs, 9d per dozen* m