LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14304, 25 February 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

At 10.30 yesterday morning the Rev. Henry Kinnoer Lawrie, a minister of the Presbyterian Church, residing in Great South Road, Greenlane, _was admitted to the Auckland Hospital suffering from wounds in the throat, supposed to have been self-inflicted. Mr. Lawrie had a. charge in the South, but resigned this some 12 months ago, and since then he has- been living in retirement with his wife at Grcenlano. Lately, on account of ill-health, he. has been considerably depressed, and it is alleged that yesterday morning, he attempted to cut his throat with a knife. . On admission to the hospital it was found that a number of incisions had. been inflicted on the throat, but none of them were of a serious character, and the patient's life, is not endangered. Late last night Mr. Lawrie was reported to be making good progress towards recovery. Much sympathy will be felt for the patient and his wife.

H.M.S. Powerful, the flagship of the Australasian squadron, with Admiral Sir Richard Poore on board, is due at Auckland today, from Sydney. She leaves for Wellington after a short stay ' here. 11.M.5. Encounter left Wellington for Auckland yesterday morning, and is expected to roach port early to-morrow morning. The Challenger "and Pegasus, now in port, will remain here until next week, when they will leave for the South. H.M.S. Pyramus will leave Sydney in a day or two for Auckland, and is expected to put in an appearance here before the other warships proceed to the South.

The only nomination received for th* office of president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce is the name of Mr. J. H. Gunxon, and the only one for the vicepresidency that of Mr. Leo Myers. The annual meeting of the Chamber takes place to-day, when these offices will be filled.

The seat held by the settlers' representative, Mr. James Trounson, on the Auckland Crown Lands Board, has become vacant by effluxion of time, and nominations to fill the vacancy.will be received by the returning officer, Mr. It. Leckie, at the Crown Lands Office, up to five p.m. on Wednesday, March 16. As notified in another column Mr. Trounson offers himself for re-election.

The Union Company's steamer Tarawera, which grounded on Tuesday night, when leaving Napier for Gisborne and Auckland, arrived here yesterday afternoon. On being seen by a Herald representative, Captain S. Kennedy declined to make any statement as to the vessel's mishap. , It is believed, however, that no damage has been i caused to the Tarawera by her contact with the shoal.

The advisability of instituting municipal wash-houses was a subject "that, was seriously considered by the City Council during a brief discussion last evening. The subject arose in the form of a report from the city inspector, calling attention to a contravention of the city by-laws, by certain housewives in the , direction of lighting open fires in back yards on washing days. This, it was pointed out, was a dangerous practice, especially in thicklypopulated areas. A suggestion was made by one member :of the Council that" instead of -prosecuting offenders,' the proper procedure would : be- to '< force landlords., to. provide their tenants with the requisite conveniences,, such ras :, wash-houses and coppers. ■;.,- Mr. P. M. Mackay and others strongly advocated the setting up of municipal ;.; wash-houses, and ; Mr. R. T. Michaels, in supporting that proposal, naively confessed .that were the seheme adopted he personally would be pleased, '.'especially if there were any pretty girls there."

The . case of the official assignee v. Lennox was again mentioned to Mr. Justice Edwards at the Supreme Court yesterday by Mr. F. Earl. • It was stated that-.the case was practically settled, and that an application would be made to His Honor this morning for a decree in the forms of the settlement.

The Auckland Electric Tramways Company last night notified the City Council that they are communicating with the London'-; board regarding the extension of the tramline up Queen-street to Karangahape Road. . They hoped to bn in & position to give their decision at an early dale. v ..- ■•. ■ ■■". . ':•" -, ; - ■ , .

The attention of , the* Hon. C. Fowlds, Minister in charge of Mental Hospitals, has been',drawn to the fact that the Mental Hospital here is frequently referred to as the "Avondale Asylum," or "Avondale Mental Hospital," and that much inconvenience and annoyance ■ are caused .to people wishing to visit the institution taking their train tickets to Avondale instead of Mount Albert, .and having to walk back a distance of about a mile and a-half. He has ;requested us, therefore, to call public, attention to the fact that the proper official designation of the institution is tho "Auckland Mental Hospital.' - ... •..:'-.;

Tho Finance Committco of the City Council reported last night that it did not approve of the > city engineer's suggestion that permission should be obtained from the present Lord Auckland to adopt his coat of arms as those of tho city of Auckland. The committee considerod that as.it is desirable to have a proper coat of arms, according to proper heraldry, for the city, the town clerk and city engineer should report thereon. This course was agreed to. , "

An interesting function is to take place in the Grammar School Hall to-night. The old girls of the school are handing over to the care of the headmaster the colours which are ,to be presented to the Grammar School Cadet Battalion. These have lately arrived from England. The de-signs-were-drawn in accordance with the King's regulations, and were then approved by the New Zealand Defence Department. The work has been carried out by tiro Army and Navy Stores, London, under the supervision of-a high military authority. A very large gathering of old pupils is expected to be present on this occasion.

The Dunedin City Council has written asking if the Auckland Council approved of the holding of the proposed conference of representatives of public, libraries of New Zealand at Dunedin at Easter, .and if so would it nominate four members to attend on its behalf. Reporting on this matter last night, the Libraries Committee of the Council recommended the proposal few.' the approval of the Council. This was accorded, and the selection of delegates to represent the Auckland Public Library and the Leys' Institute? ) was left to the Libraries Committee and to the committee of the Leys Institute to arrance,