LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14017, 24 March 1909, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Two Italian seamen, who -were arrested for deserting from their vessel, and were yesterday ordered by Mr. C. ~0. Kettle, S.M., to return to the ship, effected an escape • from the lock-up last evening. ■ At about 10.30 one of the men gave himself up to the police, but at midnight the other had not been,recaptured. ■■. ' *> ' '. :; "!' "'"'■ ■ ~.'■' '- . Yesterday was the ; 64th anniversary of the landing in Auckland of the first 200 men who comprised the gallant 58th Regiment. It was on March 23, 1845, that this first corps arrived from Sydney under ; the command of the late Major. Mataon, of: Par- f hell: The remainder of the regiment, under the command of Major Bridge, landed hero in April, 1845. )}_ Of the first 200 men of the 58th there now only remain two alive, Sergeant Jesse Sage, of Auckland and Private Henry Gillam, of Mangawai, both of whom are in their 86th year. s

The success which attended the cadets' encampment held recently atPapakura was referred to by Mr!. J.- F. "Pnfilen at the Auckland City Schools Committee meeting last night, the speaker remarking', that the weather arid { hygienic conditions were,- per: > fect, and even, though the boys were under the strictest discipline they had thoroughly enjoyed the outing. He moved that a vote of thanks be passed to Major W. Kay and the officers who had carried the movement to such a ' satisfactory conclusion, despite the criticism which had been indulged"; in by some of the teacher* with the object of casting a damper on the ;proposal, v. The motion was seconded by Mr. J. Trevilhick* arid carried. Mr. F. E.■ N. • Gaudin severely condemned the action of teachers an expressing adverse opinions in regard to the movement. The chairman took exception to this remark on the 1 ground that teachers should be free to state their views on such matters.' "The dissatisfied teachers as a whole were largely influenced by the head teachers," said Mr. W. Robins, ''ana therefore their attitude was riot surprising. The Chairman : "I do not think they were influenced one iota." Dr. Bardie Neil thought teachers should' •be ;- expected to obey orders, but at the same time ho agreed with the chairman that they should be allowed a free expression of opinion. The petition asking Parliament to frame legislation to enable a fresh poll. to betaken on the licensing question in the Ohinemuri district, or, as an alternative, to allow the existing licensee to oontinne, is now being circulated throughout the district for signature (telegraphs our Waihi correspondent). . So far abont 600 : persons: have signed the petition, andean active canvass of the entire "electorate is to be made. , . ■.'-.."' . •«• „ The opinion recently expressed by the chairman of the Education Board (Mr. 0. J. Parr) that for the future teachers holding Dl certificates could not hope to win inspectorships or city headmasterships caused the chairman of the Auckland * Schools Committee (Mr. P. M. Mackayr to move the following motion at last nights meeting of the j committee: "That the City Schools Committee beg to" draw the attention of the Board of Education to the injustice which is likely to be inflicted on Dl teachers of over 20 years' continued efficient service if they are to-be debarred, as indicated by the remarks of the chairman of the Board of Education, from applying for a headmastership *of a city school or school of like standing." Mr. Mackay said there were undoubtedly a number of men who did not possess the highest academic qualifications and were yet very able teachers. The" service qualification for CI , teachers was 11 years, and there was no reason why -, such - should be placed on a higher '■; plane than Dl men, who perhaps had the advantage of 20, years'; practical experience. The latter would :be done an injustice if they were to be debarred from applying for high positions even though their work as teachers had been marked by practical ability.' He '!had no hesitation in stating that one " D man" whom lie had in mind (Mr. Purdie) was head and shoulders above many "C men." Mr. P. E. N. Gaudin seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. It was decided, on the eugge&tion of the chairman, that- Mr. C. &A. Purdie, late" inspector of schools) but now a member of the Education Board, be forwarded abetter: of : \i congratulation upon , having secured the adoption by the Board of his promotion scheme. ' » An intimation was received by Inspector Cullen yesterday recording the sudden death at Pirtmgiaori Monday night of Mr. William Jones," a-former member of thepolice force. ? , The iate ex-constable first j served in ; the armed constabulary, and sub- j sequeritly filled theftpositiqn of constable; at' Pirongia and ; Awamutu. .For some years, during the latter part of his official career, he acted" as watch-housekeeper ;at Auckland, ,;and!,!retired'!,about nine years ' ago to go farmlog, returning' again to Pirongia a year ago. It.has been decided to* hold an inquest. The sworn statement 'of Sidney: Crawford, _of Second Avenue, Kingsland, journeyman baker, who filed his petition in bankruptcy on Monday last, has been lodged with the official assignee '"■ (Mr. E. Gerard). Bankrupt sets forth his liabilities to 14 unsecured creditors at £68 , 2s sd, and his assets at 4s 6d. He states that in 1907 he went to Clevedori, where he received 5s or 6s a day wages, on which he had to keep a wife and four children. He had to leave his trade owing to illness. In 1908 he returned to Auckland, • and his wife was taken seriously ! ill. One of; his children had ; also been under medical' car since its * : ; birth. "Consequently a considerable amount of his.wages had been paid for doctors' fees and medicine. ' His present wage was £2 15s a week. He had filed owing to pressure of one creditor. v The first meeting of creditors has been fixed -for Wednesday morning, March 31." The pumping station, ';. leading mains, and reservoir in connection with the new waterworks at / Onehunga are now completed,' and! the plans is standing the full ■ pressure test admirably, vAs soon las : the borough engineer (Mr. H. Metcalfe) is satisfied with the ; test J the plant" will be taken over by the borough. Strange circumstances have come to light ; (says a Press Association message from Lyttelton) in connection with "a man named Baldwin, a Peerage : passenger by ! the steamer Fifeshire. / He went to England in 1906 for the benefit of his health and returned by the Fifeshire, intending to go home to Invercargill, where he had resided for 30 years. The man being partially paralysed in the legs, the Customs Department in Auckland refused to allow him to land under section 4 of the Immigration Restriction. -Act. v; The man has been living on board all the time the vessel was on i the ' coast, and; has vainly tried to communicate with his relatives. Mr. Laurerison, M.P., wired to the Minister! for Customs, suggesting that clause 17 covered the case, releasing returning New Zealanders from the prohibition, and it was expected he -would be released. On Monday evening Mr. Baldwin took the law into his own hands and went ashore with his belongings, presumably having had some assistance. The Hon. Geo. Fowlds, at Christchurch on Friday, purchased for presentation to the Auckland Art Gallery,' the picture "A Venetian Street," now being exhibited at the annual exhibition of the Canterbury Art Society. > The picture is by, Mr.. R. Procter. v It is probable that two vessels of. the Australian squadron 'will visit New -Zealand late, in July or early in - August. Their itinerary includes Wellington, Auckland, j and Lyttelton. At the last meeting of the;Onehuriga . Borough .Council it was reported that there was, a big*hole/ near one of the approaches to the Mangere Bridge. ■; Mr. A. S. Holmes stated that repairs were being effected, but /the bridge 1- required redeckirig. To this the ! Mayor (Mr. J. Rowe) replied / that a new,., bridge was wanted.. Some time back plans and an estimate for a new bridge were secured, but so far the cost seems to stand in the way :of I the : work being ' carried out.

The annual regatta, held at Ngaruawahia on St! Patrick's Day, attracted a very large number of -visitors from all parte of the Auckland province. ~; A good idea of the dense throng that lined the river banks during the progress' of the various events may be gained from the striking panoramic [views appearing on the double-pago of ; this week's issue -of the Auckland Weekly News, published to-day. In addition, the number contains some fine pictures of ; the great war canoe race; the canoe f hurdle race, the sculling events, '; and-\ the everpopular haka. The recent disastrous .fires which { have occurred in various centres of • the Dominion are also fully.; recorded, among them; being ; two highly: interesting panoramas showing the ; burning of ', the Royal Hotel at Palmerston North, and the ruins of tlieOnehunga tannery, whilst the devastated ' main street of Bulls township is also given..;; Other events of special interest recorded are the Amateur Swimming Association's carnival, the second ; eruption of Nga-uruhoe .volcano, fighting the fire, in the Millertoni coal mine, opening iof the polo tournament at Palmerstori North, and the St. Patrick's Day procession at Auckland. • The miscellaneous events dealt with are exceedingly varied, and include a highly interesting photograph taken half-a-mile underground at the head the great Otira tunnel, the North Shore Yacht Club's cruising race, a portrait of the accused (Dr. :f Goode) in the sensational WaiU'ira murder v case, and a startling picture showing the - result of Arctic weather in the North Sea. Eleven claims have been made upon the' A.M.P. Society in respect to Penguin wreck victims who held insurance policies with that office, one being ,■ under an industrial policy. In . two cases * the policies were effected in 1908, and a similar number was taken out' only 'in the previous year. It is probable that considerably more than £2000 will need to be. paid by the society in settlement. *;' ;• Sergeant M. ; Rogers; of the Onehunga police district, is away on three: weeks' holiday leave, and in; the meantime 'the station is in charge of- Sergeant Montgomery. Constable D. McGlone, Who was in charge at Himtly during the strike, has returned to Onehunga. • ~../.