LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14133, 7 August 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Asked by a Herald representative yesterday whether Crown land tenants were speculating in their leases, the Auckland Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr. E. C. Gold Smith) stated that he was not aware of any speculation going on in the Auckland province within the meaning of the term. He had just completed three years as Commissioner at Christchurch, but during that time he had not heard of any speculation such as the Christchurch Commissioner now referred to. "The Crown Lands Boards," he added, "have taken stringent measures to prevent any such speculation being indulged in, always requiring the lessees to fur- - nish a satisfactory reason why transfers should be granted.",

It is understood (telegraphs our Hamilton correspondent) ' that the historical land which the Maoris taking part in the Huntly conference intend to purchase between Ngaruawahia and Taupiri, for the purpose of establishing a native settlement, is the old Hopuhopu mission station, containing about 1000 acres.

The new regulation affecting the carrying of deck cargoes on scows engaged in the intercolonial trade, which , was gazetted on Thursday, has been received with general satisfaction among scow-owners in Auckland. The well-known scow Zingara, which visited Christmas Island recently with an expedition party, has already been chartered to load a cargo ot sawn timber at Tairua and Mercury Bay, for Sydney. Captain W. Robinson, who took the Zingara to Christmas Island, has been reappointed master of the vessel, which will probably leave Auckland today for Mercury Bay and Tairua, to commence her loading. The Zingara will be the first deck cargo scow to make a trip from New Zealand to Australia. She is an excellent sea boat.

Six parties of surveyors will proceed to Te Awamutu and Te Kuiti on Mon- ■ day for the purpose of surveying the Korakonui and Rangitoto improved farm settlements, which are to be thrown open for the benefit of the unemployed and dismissed or retired Civil servants. , The Korakonui settlement, about seven to 10 miles beyond Kihikihi, comprises 17 sections from 100 to 250 acres each, while the Rangitoto settlement, about 10 miles east of Te Kuiti., is much larger, consisting of 74 sections from 100 to 200 acres. In both cases the sections comprise first-class land in fine open country.

The main arch of the new Grafton bridge has been often referred to as a great undertaking in ferro-concrete construction. Its span of 320 ft, however, is less than half -of that of the great arch of the new Henry Hudson memorial bridge at New York, which has a span of 703 ft, and .which is being built of ferroconcrete. " The arch, which has a rise of 177 ft, consists of a huge rib of steel and concrete 70ft in width, with a thickness at the skewbacks of 28ft, and ■ at the crown of 15ft. The Scientific American describes the arch as being over two and a-quarter times as long as the next longest concrete or masonry in existtence. The paper quoted says that the bridge will be "a monument which will be as enduring as , the Pyramids • themselves-." '

In connection with the Takapuna tramway works, the -tram lines in : O'Neill 9 Point Road have been laid in the - centre and not at the side, as stipulated by the Waitemata County Council/ with the result that it practically means the formation of a new road. Yesterday, at the Council's request, Mr. John Brown, .and Mr. H. Munro Wilson, chairman and engineer respectively of the Takapuna Tramways Company, waited upon the Council to explain matters. v Mr. Brown said he understood that when the deed of delegation was drawn up at Wellington a provision that? all tram lines must be laid in the centre of the road had been overlooked. Shortly after the contract had been let, they received word that the lines must be laid in the centre." That was the reason, he understood, of the deviation from the original plan. - The directors had instructed the contractors to do everything possible in accordance with the instructions of the Council's engineer, and had otherwise done all they could to meet the Council's wishes. After some discussion the Council decided to deal with the matter in committee. " ,

One feature of Auckland's continued, growth as a business and commercial centre is the ever-increasing number of telephone subscribers, the work of the exchange having been consistently on the increase for some time past. The list of subscribers has attained such formidable dimensions that the Telegraph Department are now issuing their telephone directory in book form. Free copies are supplied to telephone subscribers for main telephones only.

At the Devonport Cricket Ground this afternoon the Auckland representative hockey team's claim to the championship of New Zealandan honour which it has held during the past two seasons— be disputed by Taranaki. The visitors have brought up a strong eleven, and are very hopeful of returning with the blue riband of hockey in the Dominion—the New Zealand Association's challenge shield. The Aucklanders, recognising that they are meeting foeman worthy of their steel, have trained assiduously, so that" a fine exhibition of "the game that grows," should result. Prior to the match the Auckland Ladies' Association championship will be decided between the Rangatira A and Moana teams. On Tuesday evening the Auckland team (men's) will leave by the Main Trunk express on a tour extending as far South as Invercargill. This tour, by the way, is the biggest yet undertaken in the annals of hockey in New Zealand. The following week the Auckland • ladies' representative team will visit Napier, where the New Zealand championship tournament is being held this year.

A rumour was circulated recently • that Imperial veterans holding a war medal, and over 65 years of age, were now entitled to a shilling per day from the Chelsea Hospital-funds, under freshly issued regulations. From the War Office orders, officially issued to Captain GoodwynArcher, superintendent of the Veterans'. Home, it is evident that the concession was not made; in fact, under the amended regulations, the liberality of pension to the long-service veteran is lessened, and the short service veteran is treated more generously. A copy of the Act can be seen at the offices of the hon. assistanttreasurer (Messrs. H. M, Carpenter, Limited), Queen-street.

The only damage sustained by the small steamer Mangapapa when on the beach at Karamea was a slight injury to the rudder, which baa since been, repaired, '

In the literary supplement issued witjj' ; to-day's Herald, Tohunga writes on''*' "Painting the World White." W.B. con tinues his article "Where the White Man " Treads," and James Drummond, F.I, g F.Z,S., his "Nature Notes." Frank Fox ' contributes "Strange Parliaments," ant i Mrs. Leo Myers "A 'Keek' at Scotland." Continuations of the serials • "Lass 1 " "Seymour Charlton," and "The Haven ", appear, while Local Gossip, Lor.don' fashion notes, chess and draughts iite iS rary and theatrical jottings are included. An excellent photograph of the mining Lund liner Waratah is also given.

The partly heard compensation cas* in which the executors of the will of the late W. S. Laurie claimed £475 against the Mount Eden Borough Council' f or land acquired in Mount Eden Road and View Road, was finally disposed of yes. terday by Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., and Messrs. H. R. Cooke and F. G. 12 wing, ton (assessors). After the hearing 0 further evidence, and the addresses of Messrs. Baxter and Prendergast, counsel for the claimants and respondents ;nispec- • tively, Mr. Kettle announced that the Court had unanimously decided that, the Borough Council should pay the claimant £150 in full satisfaction of the claim. A recommendation was also made that in the event of the claimants desiring to subdivide their property, the roads should be allowed to remain as at present. The Mayor of Mount Eden (Mr. Oliver Nicholson) expressed the belief that the® Council would give an undertaking to this effect. 3ff|g

The express track from Auckland to - Wellington, or that portion - of it that traverses the King Country, or between ' such stations as Taihape, in the South, and Frankton Junction, in the North, is comporting itself as a well and- truly laid railway track should (says the Post). ' As a general rule, it follows that a line may be expected, for 10 years, to ha somewhat unsettled, and subject to weather influences, especially as regards slips * in cuttings and subsidences on banks. ", Onffs the Manawatu branch these were parti-' cularly noticeable, while during the late heavy and boisterous weather traffic be- : tween Wellington and Foxton, Napier, and through the Gorge, was' held up because of the numerous slips, etc., brought down by the rain. But the Main Trunk, where, in the ordinary course of events, |i. blocks might be expected, escaped any such accidents, so far as the Department; is aware. Further proof is advanced, in that while other branches of the service in the North Island were so delayed, the express , between the two cities was always up to time.

In connection with the forthcoming electioz/ of two directors to the board of the New , Zealand Dairy Association,' Limited, a crowded meeting of shareholders, representing three creamery centres, was held on Thursday night, at Bombay. • ; The two candidates,: Mr. Wm. Kanstead, of Matangi, and Mr. J. D. Chalmers, of Waiuku, attended by invitation. • After hearing their , addresses, the shareholders unanimously decided to give these gentlemen their votes and interest at the ■ en-. : suing election. ~~

:> Examinations took place at , the offices : . of the Inspection. of Machinery Depart-i\ ment, in the Customhouse; Building,: Albert-street, on August 2 and /when 30 candidates were examined, of > the .. following grades, viz. '.—-Marine , fiist-class engineer, , river engineer, extra fast-class stationary engine-driver, .first-class stationary engine-driver, second-class station-. ary engine-driver, and traction and locomotive engine-driver.

The district deputy-grand master for : the Auckland district 1.0.0. F. {Bro. F. T. Harding) has just returned to Auckland' after an extended visit to the more distant lodges. Leaving Auckland -on ■ , Monday, July 19, he first visited tie . j lodge at Opotiki. > This lodge has felt Jj self somewhat neglected, as no Grand Lodge officer has visited it for some yea::?. The members - mustered in strong ' force to ■welcome the D.D.G.M. Bro. Harding installed the "officers for the coming term, and spent a very pleasant two days amongst the Opotiki brethren. He then journeyed to Rotorua, and thence : to . Mamaku, where he also installed the officers for the coming term. Here, again, he met with a true Oddfellows' welcome. From there he proceeded to Hamilton, thence to Papakura, where he, was met by the G.M. (Bro. R. Armiger), th& B.G.M. (Bro. R. Gray) and other; brethren, who had journeyed from Auckland for the purpose of instituting 1 8 lodge of the Order at that place. Fourteen candidates were initiated, and a® several more are waiting to join there is every prospect of a strong lodge. Bro. D. W. Jones, the school teacher, was installed as N.G. and Bro. Smellie, the Presbyterian minister, as V.G., Bro. Richardson, sen., as treasurer, and Bro. Andrew • Richardson, jun., as secretary. Bro. Harding returns to Auckland we satisfied with his. trip, having found 3 1 the lodges he visited in a very flourishing state.

Probates were granted in the following . estates by Mr. Justice Edwards, in' Welington, the papers having been sent from Auckland':— Riley (Mr. Baxter), Annie James (Mr. Glaister), Mary JaneHay (Mr. Clayton), Julia Witting (Mr. Gittos), Geo. Cliff (Mr. McDiarmid). Letters of administration were ; granted in the estates of Albert Edward Riley (M»ler and Son), and Robert Brown (T. McDonald). ; , An epidemic of diphtheria has biokeD out in Lyttelton, and five cases have e« n reported in three families, one being a ® * Owing to the want of an infectious 16 ' eases hospital the cases cannot be proper , isolated, and anxiety is. felt lest the oil , break should spread... As it is, the tiea ment of . the cases is, putting a severe * on the local medical men, and i 6 also m ar " fering with their work in other directions. The annual sale ot work in aid of th' "Young Helpers' LeAgue" branch ° ■ r Barnardo's Homes, which was opene ' . the Choral Hall on Thursday, was con* eluded last evening. I' l s P' to ° i'■ unfavourable weather, there was a 8 number present, anM business throughou the evening was fairily brisk, and tl6 every reason to belyevo that the sa '•< , work has,' on the whole, been a 001 success. | During the months of July, I^Yg were 218. cases of driinkenness b<3 or , Police Court at "Auckland.: Of ikese, W were females, 76 ! werw ; °® en et' g4 had broken prohibition orders, so ethers were prohibited/ The fines a® o v-jj to £94, exclusive of losts, ° f , was inflicted for breaking, prohibition. . dcrs. 1 _ • <