NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14374, 19 May 1910, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

In another column Mr. Henry Shaw tenders his thanks to the electors for placing ; him at the head of the poll. Strong hopes are entertained in the Masterton district of the prospect of establishincj light line railway communication between Masterton and Hawke's Bay. Two third-class male passengers who arrived at Wellington by the Corinthic from London were not passed by the health - Dfficer. Their cases will be subjected to further consideration. - The criminal sessions of the Auckland Supreme Court will be opened on Monday next,- before Mr. Justice Chapman. The hearing of civil cases will be continued at the same time before Mr. Justice Edwards. In company with an old resident of the ' Masterton district, a representative of ah oil syndicate recently visited Whareama and other portions of. the East Coast. . It is reported that evidences of the existence ;of petroleum were found on several .proper-.. ■• ties.".'' - " • "An incipient fire was discovered in one of ;; the J rooms at King's Court private hotel, Upper Queen-street, shortly after ' seven o'clock last evening. The City Fire Brigade was summoned, and, arriv- / ing quickly on the scene, soon suppressed ; the outbreak. The damage is estimated at about £5. ' -' ' . _ The weekly meeting of the Huntly Lite- ; rary and Debating Society was seld on Friday night, Mr. B. Hart presiding. An , animated debate took place on the subject, • "Should Cremation be Made Compulsory?'' Most of those .present took part in the dis- ,;: cussion, and the question was decided in the ff; ; affirmative. Messrs. H. E. Kruger and E. Hunter led the affirmative, and the presi- *' dent (Mr. Thos. Robinson) and Mr. D. Low \ the negative. . < ■ -, The monthly meeting >of the Huntly School Committee was presided over by : Rev. A. J. : Beck. The headmaster's report ■ \ showed that the average i; attendance for April" was 264.7,. out of a'roll number of 298. At the headmaster's request the committee approved a scheme of lectures on - school gardening., "• The > lectures are to be , given by experts to the upper classes, as ■.... well ;as to parents .aed - adults ; interested; The first will be entitled "How to Grow ; Vegetables all the Year Round in the Cot _ .;t-age Garden," and will be delivered by Mr. Mills, of the Waerenga Experimental Farm.