LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14581, 18 January 1911, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The yawl Viking, which has been chartered by His Excellency the Governor, was docked in the Auckland graving dock yesterday, by Mr. Chas. Bailey, junr. The Viking is to be cleaned and reeoppered as well as thoroughly renovated inside with new cushions, rigging, etc. All the work will be done by Mr. Bailey. She is to be ready for His Excellency, by March 1..

A 1 donation of 25 guineas to the funds of the Auckland Anniversary Regatta Committee was agreed upon by the Harbour Board at its meeting yesterday, on the motion of Mr. W. J. Napier, seconded by Mr. J. H. Gunson. It was explained that this sum had been formerly given, but that of late years the amount had necessarily been curtailed owing to the sum available for outside, expenditure being limited to £50 a year. As, however, the Board was now permitted to expend a greater sum on such purposes, it was felt that it would be only fitting to revert to the larger sum, seeing that the regatta was really a commemoration of the birth of the Dominion.

A memory of the explosion of the Harbour Board's powder hulk at Tamaki, 14 months ago, was revived at yesterday's meeting of the Board, when a letter was received from Messrs. Hesketh and Richmond, on behalf of Mr. W. H. Hazard, claiming the gum of £53 5s 3d as the value of' powder stored by him on the ill-fated hulk. It' was explained that the claim had not been' sent in earlier as Mr Hazard had been informed that there was no need to send in the claim till 'the late lawsuits on the 6ame subject "were disposed of, and that 1 all claims would' be dealt with on the basis of the result of those cases. Mr. W. J. Napier said that as the claim had not been lodged within the statutory period, Mr. Hazard had no claim upon the Board. The chairman (Mr. A. J. Entrican) said there was a matter of equity to'be considered, and all the other claims had been met. On his motion the letter was referred to the Finance and Legal Committee. -

The telegraphed news of the decision of Mr. Rawson, S.M., at Westport, that hotels were legally entitled to be open on December 26, last came as a great, surprise to the licensed victuallers of Auckland, who must have felt something like men who have -just found their pockets picked. Accepting the judgment of Mr. Rawson as correct, the hot-el keepers feel that they suffered a serious loss owing to the statement of the Attorney-General. The "local hotelkeepers, though the news that they had to close on December 26 came as a thunderclap to them, decided that they were doing - right in conforming with the reading of the law as given to them and determined .to close their hotels, although they were advised by some solicitors that there was no necessity to do so. This closing, it is said, was only effected at the cost of mlich discomfort and inconvenience to the clients of the hotels, to say nothing of the pockets of the publicans.

The new Harbour Board by-law, which makes it unlawful for passengers by ferry steamers to leave the steamers before they are-properly moored, was referred to at yesterday's meeting of the Board. The chairman said that the Board was loth to prosecute' people, but as the by-law was now in - force it must be observed.

The need for an improved suburban railway service, particularly between Auckland and Penrose, was referred to at a meeting of the One-tree Hill Road Board last night. The present outward train service in the evening was referred to as being quite inadequate for the requirements of the district. On the motion of Mr. C. McKinney, it was decided to communicate with the Railway Department suggesting an outward train service at 7.20 p.m., 8.30 p.m., 9.30 p.m., and 10.30 p.m. ; alf-o thai the 5.55 p.m. nonstop train to Penrose should stop at each station en route. Members of the Board expressed their appreciation of the early morning train to Auckland, which also connected with the Kaipara train, leaving at seven a.m., and trusted that this service might be regarded as permanent.

Although the month is now far advanced the railway traffic on the Main Trunk line continues to be heavy. Last evening's express was well filled, especially in the second-class compartments. A large number of people are also travelling to and from Rotorua, both outward and inward expresses being well patronised each day.

The German cruiser Condor is expected to revisit Auckland shortly from her cruising grounds among the Pacific islands. The object of the visit is to give German subjects in New Zealand an opportunity to report for military service. The Mount. Eden Fire Brigade was called out last evening to attend to a fire in a small disinfectant factory, close to the brigade station. The premises have, only been in the hands of the present tenants for two or. three days, and their names were not known last night. The factory is a small workshop, used for making a disinfecting powder, of which carbolic acid, mixed with lime and sawdust, are among the principal ingredients. The lime, in a heap of the mixture, which was left on the floor, appears to have become moist, and the heap heated up, and emitted great volumes of smoke and vapour. The brigade, after entering the place, had an extremely unpleasant task, owing to the irritating nature of the fumes, and the water used probably made things a good deal worse. When the outbreak was finally suppressed, it was found that little damage had resulted.

The greatest compliment which as . r been paid to Auckland as a yachtin tre is the charter by His Excellency T. Governor, Lord Islington, of the ] 9 some cruising yacht ' Viking, one of finest vessels on Waitemata Harbour "tlweek's issue of the Auckland We Ek ' News contains several fine.pictures"of a Viking, including a beautiful 'photo™,' u of Ota-*. Bay, Whangaroa Hit, h with the vessel at anchor. Oth« r . f graphs show the cabin of the Vikin* her bows" as she strikes a heavy -°' establishment by the new commandant 8 General Goriley, of Lord Kitchener's d' fence .scheme is an exceedingly import, V' event in the military history " 0 th minion. 'ITie training camp for f{jj area officers and sergeant instructors"? the first step in the formation of the ei'* zen army which is to defend oim-.a,' U ", •A* f 4 . in time of war. A series of photograph! in the Weekly New? shows the kind 0 f men who have been chosen to mould tK new forces, and the way they are hein* trained. The bowling tournament vvhkf has just been concluded at Auckland andwhich attracted 400 players from all parts of the North Island, and come from th ' South, furnishes the subject of numerous"' highly characteristic snapshots. On the double page there are two country scen'ps-' one showing the shearing-sheds and part of the flock of a large North Island sta. tion, and the other illustrating the construct ion of the Slratforu-Ongarue li nr> near the Whangamomona tunnel. -.The recent disastrous fire at Wanganui, and the camp of boy scouts at Chit urcli are included in the numerous other events dealt with, while there are also two high ly humorous drawings, one of which shows the first recorded bowling match in" the Dominion.

A tramcar was derailed on the steep bill between Greenwood's" Corner and the Royal Oak, while en route for Onehocga on Sunday evening. At. the time of'tha accident the car was travelling at a rate of approximately eight miles an hour, and on leaving the line ran for nearly a chain before being brought to a standstill.- Fortunately there were only a few passengers ' who though naturally somewhat alarmed' were quickly reassured when they found the accident was not of a serious nature. The Tramways Company, having reason to believe that some person had placed stones on the line, has put the matter m the hands of the police for investigation. V The P. and 0. mail steamer Mantua left' Sydney at four p.m. on Monday for Ancfe land, and is due here early on Friday morning. The Mantua will be the third ' P. and O. boat to call at Auckland this ■" season. So far about 70 passengers hava booked to leave Auckland by the vessel, 25 of -whom are booked through to Lots, don. While at this port,, the Maatoa will take on board th& usual quantity o£ stores, coal, etc. She leaves Auckland! on the return voyage to Australian porta and London at six p.m. on Friday. ' ; , ! •

A proposal to obtain a small motor -cay for the Harbour Board engineer's depart, ment aronsed some opposition at. yesterday's meeting of the Board. The purchase, of a car 'was recommended by the commit-'

tee set up to inquire into matters connec* ted with the administration of the Board*

Mr. J. H. Bradii characterised the prcn posal as gross extravagance, and lie "was supported by Messrs. "W. E. Hutchison and J. M. Mennie, both of ■whom con* eidered that the outlay -would not be warranted, seeing that the area over whichthe . car could be used for the engineer's purpose was practically bounded by Free* man's Bay and Mechanics' Bay. He; proposal was agreed to, the three ms>; bers named dissenting. ' • *' . * j

- The new commandant of the New Zea. land defence forces (Major-General Godley), who left for Wellington by the Main'. Trunk express last night, i's more than; satisfied with the sense of "keenness" which he found permeating the Auckland: Garrison. Conversing with a Hkrat.t> re-,' presentative before he left the . general said: —" I am immensely pleased with the soldierly spirit that I find in Auckland, and the evident desire of all ranks to make a success of the new defence scheme* This is the first district in which I have! been able to see all the troops, except tha Mounted Rifles, and I hope it . won't b» long before I am able to get back and see them in . the field. I hope that recruiting will commence at once, in order

that the Territorial units may be raised to their full strength as soon as possible.* Asked whether the different units are to be established on a peace or wax" strength; General Godlev stated that the establish* ments would be shortly decided upon, and in any case " the units would b§ double their present strength.

The residence of Dr. McDougall, Khyber Pass Road, was the scene of an incipient fire yesterday morning. Mrs. McDougall was cleaning a stove with kerosene, and the oil in a dish she was using' caught fire. In trying to carry it outside she spilt it, and set fire to a couch, a table cover and some cushions. Her son ran out and broke an alarm, brniging the brigade in quick time but the fire had already been extinguished by Dr. McDougall and Constable Holliday. Onlj about £2 worth of damage was done.

Dr. Makgill, district health officer, left for Taumaranui yesterday, to consult with the Borough Council concerning it? sanitary by-laws, ..and to inspect and report upon the water supply proposed to be installed. On his way to Taumaranui he was to visit Te Awamutu, to transact some Departmental business there, and on his way back he will probably visit the Sanatorium at Cambridge. He is expected back on Friday.

The Department of Lands will offer ft® public auction 160 sections of town land at Paeroa on Friday. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Air. E. C. Gold Smith, will conduct the sale, which will be held at the township of Paeroa.

At present a number of incurs on th» Epsom service run only to Greenwoods Corner, and then return to Auckland or to the depot. It was suggested by MrChas. Bagley at a meeting of the Mount Roskill Road Board- last night that if these cars, or at any rate a certain number of them, ran out to the, Royal Oak, on the Onehunga boundary, it would 3 a benefit to a large section of the tra\e ling public, and a source of increased ie " venue to the company. Mr. Bagty moved, and it was resolved, "That tlB Mayor of Onehunga (Air. John Rowe), the chairman of One-tree Hill Road Boar (Mr. E. Craig), and the chairman of the Mount Roskill Road Board (-Mr. Chas. Bagley) act as a deputation to wait upon the manager of the Auckland Iraniways Company, and explain the position* with a view to getting an extension 0 the Epsom cars to the Royal Oak.

The new commercial code of harbour signals has necessitated an alteration .* the method of signalling from Mount ~ • toria the arrival of steamers uom f l -- la.nd at Auckland The present sl S n< the code pennant over H., but the bourmaster (Captain A. Duder) has P o ' out to the Harbour Board that under ■ _ new commercial code this means _ ' heave to, have important news to , t , , municate." He has suggested an n obtained permission from the boa . inf } substitute a new pennant, half red •- . half blue, for the code pennant, in sigu-r ling the arrival of these steamers..