NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15174, 13 December 1912, Page 8

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The City Council met last night. Its next meeting will be on January 23., The Westport Libra 17 Committee has resigned in a body owing to a disagreement -with the Borough Council.

King's College closed its scholastic year ■yesterday, the annual distribution of prizes taking place in the afternoon. Two men, one arrested for drunkenness, and the. other on a charge - of vagrancy, occupied the police cells last evening. A report cm the canal scheme was received by the City Council last night, and will bo considered at a later meeting.

The annual meeting for the purpose of fixing the statutory half-holiday will be held on Wednesday, January 22, 1913.

■ The City Council offices will be closed from December 25 to December 28, 1912, inclusive, and. on January 1 and 2, 1913.

A collection of books worth between ' J £2500 and £3000 has been presented to the City of Auckland by Mr. Henry Shaw. The sum of £9 has been forwarded by Captain Fleming, marine superintendent, to the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society, at Dunedin, on behalf of the Auckland seamen.

Owners of verandahs which need repairs and who have not, complied with notices requiring them to effect the repairs, are to be served by the City Council with final notices to remove the offending verandahs.

The total number of births registered in Gisborno for this year is 600, while the total for all last year was 527. In nine days this month 14 marriages were registered, six having been performed by the registrar.

A Gisborne syndicate is reported to be considering the possibility of harnessing the Motu Fall a short distance from the township, and providing electric current for Motu and the various mills that extend towards Matawai.

Early yesterday morning a fire broke out on board the steamer Hauroto, lying out in the harbour. The prompt v/ork of the tug To Awhina saved the vessel from total destruction, but damage to the extent of nearly £1000 was done.

A specimen of Japanese art in the form of a lacquer panel of tasteful design has been presented to the Citv Council for inclusion in the Art Gallery. The City Council accepted the gift last night, with thanks to the donor, Mr. 11. Burrows.

A request from those interested in the Young People's Open-air Mission that they should be allowed to conduct Sunday afternoon services on Shelly Beach was declined by the City Council last evening. Tho Council considered the beach wf>s already fully occupied.

A small fire occurred at Coromiuidel yesterday, when a cowshed next to thy public school was burnt. The exertions of the brigade prevented the fire from .spreading, in spit© of the high wind. It is supposed some children playing in tho shed with matches caused the fire.

After last night's meeting of the City Council, the members took the opportunity to wish the Mayor and Mrs. Parr the compliments of the season. Their wishes were heartily reciprocated by Mr. Parr, who complimented the Council and the staff upon the way they had co-operated with and supported him. Mr. W. E. Bush, city engineer, replied.