LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15964, 8 July 1915, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The work of training the members of the second Maori contingent at Narrow Neck camp is proceeding in a satisfactory manner. The natives are keen, and are readily becoming acquainted with the principles of squad drill, to which their training is at present confined. They are of a. good stamp, and the opinion of those competent to judge is that the men will become as proficient in military matters as the first Maori contingent. It is probable that the natives will be armed with rifles by the end of next week. Rapid progress is being made with the erection of hutments for the accommodation of the men, and it is expected that these will be completed within a few days. A visit will be paid to the camp to-day by Colonel J. E. Hume, officer commanding the district. Coastal shipping, winch had been somewhat disorganised by the rough weather, has resumed its normal running. The Taluue. after remaining at anchor in Rangitoto Channel for about fifteen hours, continued her voyage to the Cook and Society Islands early yesterday morning. The Rangitoto beacon light, which was extinguished on Tuesday, was put in working order yesterday, and the light, was showing as usual last evening. The cause of the trouble was found to be that hundreds of a peculiar species of small brown flies had found their way inside the lens and smothered the light. The occurrence is said to be a most unusual one. and it has been suggested that the flies, which are to be found in quantities at Rangitoto l , were attracted by the light and warmth. Tt will be seven or eight weeks before the work of erecting the Central Wharf will be commenced. Many of the concrete piles for the. new structure have already besn made at Freeman's Bay, but considerable time is required for the concrete to " ripen." The existing wooden jetties will not b= demolished until the new wharf is sufficiently advanced to provide equal berthage accommodation, and when they are cleared away the construction of the Quay Street landing will be continued. The chairman of the Harbour Board. Mr. H. D. Heather, stated yesterday that the wharf would take from 18 months to two years to complete. Financial arrangements in connection with the work had been completed. A special meeting of the Auckland City Council was held yesterday to strike the rates for the current year. In Auckland and Remuera the following rates, in addition to water rates." were struck :— General, Is 4d on annual value: library. Id : hospital and charitable aid. 3d ; sanitation, 2d : drainage, 3d. For the district of Grey Lynn the rates were : —General. 25-12 d on unimproved value ; hospital and charitable aid, £d on capital value; drainage, l-5d on capital value. The question was asked as to bow the Grey Lynn and | city rates compared, and the city treasurer replied that a property with a capital value of £500, calculated on a 5 per cent, basis to represent the annual value, would pay £3 10s lOd if in Grey Lynn and £3 17s Id if in the city. The meeting also appointed a Town Hall messenger from 225 applicants.

An unusually denso fog enveloped the city last night. It fell about eight o'clock, and increased' in. density till eleven o'clock. The fop bell on the wharf was rung as a warning to shipping, and as vessels within the harbour plied to and fro, fog horns were sounded. In the Dominion Road area, the fog was particularly heavy, and the lights of the tramcars were invisible at 100 yards. A heavy fog prevailed on th« west -coast yesterday morning. The Northern Company's steamer Rarawa, from New Plymouth, was unablo to cross the Manukau Bar until 10.30. With the changing of the wind to the south-west, the fog lifted, and the Rarawa reached Onehunga at mid-day.

Letters from the Islands received by the Riverina yesterday contained advice that the Melancsian Mission steamer Southern Cross will not arrive at Auckland until the end of this month. The Bishop of Melanesia, Dr. ('. J. Wood, and Archdeacon W. A. Uthwatt, the latter on his way to England on furlough after a severe attack of fever, will be passengers by the steamer. The mail also contained reports that Miss Bechervaise and Miss Coombe have both been ill, but the health of the other missionaries has been excellent, in spite of the exceptionally dry season.

A motion for tho appointment of an interim receiver and manager of the property of J. McKenz.ie, of Helensville, carpenter, a debtor, was moved by Mr. SButtle.in Chambers yesterday. Air. Justice Cooper made an order appointing Mr. W. S. Fisher, official assignee, as interim receiver and manager of that portion of the debtor's estate consisting of the monev if any. due to him in respect of certain contracts.

Early i„ August a poll will be taken in Grey Lynn on a proposal to borrow £10.000 for water extension. The -raising of the loan will in no way affect the GreyLynn rates, but. in accordance with the terms of amalgamation, the loan will be a charge on the whole city. Originally it was proposed to raise a loan of £100J000 for various requirements in the borough, including street works, baths, a librarv, and drainage v but the City Council recently decided that, in view "of present conditions, only the proposal to borrow £10,000 for water reticulation should be placed before the ratepayers. Referring to the subject yesterday, the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Ounson, stated that it was in the interests of public health that the reticulation should be undertaken at once.

A statement in regard to the proof of death of soldiers serving abroad was made by the Attorney-General in the House yesterday. In replying to a question by Mr. Malcolm (Clutha), the Minister said that the attention of the Government had been called to the difficulty in the way of legal proof of the death of soldiers abroad ; that legislation on this matter had been already prepared and would shortly be introduced: that the question of missing soldiers would, if necessary, be dealt with after the conclusion of peace ; that the question as to the cost of administering the estates of deceased soldiers would be given careful consideration.

In reply to Mr. Escott (Pahiatua), the Minister for Defence stated in the House yesterday that 400 copies of the weekly illustrated papers, presented by the proprietors, are sent weekly at the. cost of the Defence Department to Egypt, and 100 copies are sent at the cost of the Defence Department weekly to Malta. Under these circumstances it was not considered necessary to despatch newspapers post free.

The Government has been asked by Mr. T. W. Rhodes, af Thames, whether it intends to amend the Pensions Act in the direction of making provision for those Maori war veterans who are not the holders of the New Zeafcrid war medal and who are not at present entitled by iaw to receive a pension. The Hon. R. H. Rhodes. Minister in charge of the Pensions Department, stated in the House yesterday that it is not proposed to amend the Pensions Act in the direction indicated.

A petition was presented to the House of Bepnesentatives yesterday by Mr. R. A." Wright (Wellington Suburbs) on behalf of Ada Royd Garlick, widow of Thomas Booth Royd Gariick, who died suddenly on February 20, 1915, during the performance of his duties as director of physical education in New Zealand. The petition stated that Mr. Gariick accepted the position upon the grounds of a fixed conviction of the vital necessity for such physical 'education and culture for the health and strength of growing youth, and under such conviction sacrificed a lucrative practice of £1200 per annum for a salary of £600. The deceased's death, the petition states, was hastened by the worry, caused by the proceedings at a Parliamentary inquiry with reference to the appointment and the subsequent financial loss consequent thereon. At the sudden death of the deceased the petitioner found herself without means except the school which the deceased had caused to be equipped, and which was practically of no value, as the goodwill had been lost through the previous prohibition as to her practising. She therefore asks for such relief as the House should deem fit.

The heavy downpour of rain during Tuesday night caused the inundation of a considerable area in the Mount Roskill and Dominion Road districts. In Balmoral Road several sections were flooded to the depth of 4ft. Residents in Elizabeth Street reported that owing to water surrounding their homes they were unable to get about yesterday, and the tradespeople were unable to make their usual calls. Miniature lakes exist along Dominion Road, and small biys in the vicinity enjoyed themselves with punts during the day. The water flowed down Dexter Avenue and Mount Pleasant Street in streams, carrying with it quantities of gravel. Much of this was deposited along the tram tracks in Dominion Road, and caused inconvenience to the tram service officials. At several points along Dominion Road the water covered the thoroughfare. The watertables in this area are inadequate to cope with the overflow. As a result of the heavy rains the roads at Mechanics' Bay and Onehunga have suffered considerably. The footpaths on New North Road suffered in places owing to the rain water finding its way through the asphalt. The Victoria Park and Domain Cricket. Grounds were in a very sodden condition yesterday.

A male child was born on board the steamer Riverina early on Saturday morning last, while the vessel was on the passage from Sydney to Auckland. The steamer does not carry a surgeon, but the mother was well cared for by the stewardess and lady passengers. As the result of a collection which was taken up amongst the passengers, the sum of £7 12s 6d was handed to the mother. The child was christened "George Riverina."

The proposal of the Takapuna Borough Council to mis* <« loan of £50,000. for the improvement u" the roads of the borough was considered by the council at its meet- ! ing last night. The Mayor, Mr. W. j Blomfield, said the Australian Mutual Provident Society had offered to lend the money at a rate of 5g per cent. The money could not be obtained from the i Public Trust Office at under 5$ per cent. j In addition the Public Trust Office would I require a solicitor's fee of 2s 6d per cent. I for obtaining the necessary documents, ! and a further 1 per cent, for the provision j of a sinking fund. The council resolved !to accept the offer of the A.M.P. Society. The suggested acquisition of a suitable site for the purpose of a park was then discussed by the council, and-several offers were reviewed. Finally, it was decided to defer consideration of this matter for a fortnight.

A number of defaulting territorials were brought before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., at the Police Court yesterday on charges of failing to render the personal service required of them under the Defence Act. In the case of Andrew the prosecuting Defence officer stated that for the last 12 months the defendant had failed to attend drill. He was brought before the Court last year for the same offence. Defendant did not appear, and no excuse was given. His Worship imposed a fine of £5, and stated that if charges respecting each drill missed in future were laid, a fine of £5 would be recorded in each instance. L. B. Batten was fined £2, A. K. Hedland £1, and A. J. Burns £1 for similar omissions.

Two cases of cruelty to animals were heard before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. Leslie Elliot was convicted for cruelly ill-treating a heifer by wounding it with a shotgun, and was fined £5. For failing to supply nine fowls with proper and sufficient food and water. Robert Wright wat fined £1.

A sale of lost luggage which has accumulated on the Auckland railways during the past six months was held at the goods shed at Mechanics' Bay yesterday. Over 500 lots, consisting of nearly a thousand parcels, were offered for sale. They comprised a great variety of articles, including boxes, bags, " swags," overcoats, tools, and umbrellas. There was a large attendance. Many bargains were secured, and as usual many humorous incidents enlivened the proceedings.

The suggested inauguration of a municipal ferry service was a matter brought under the notice of the Takapuna Borough Council last night in a letter from the Northcote Borough Council. The latter body intimated that it had passed a resolution to ask the Auckland City Council and the various borough councils on the northern side of the harbour to co-operate with the Northcote Council with a view to considering the question of establishing a municipal ferry service, to be under the joint control of the councils interested. The Mayor, Mr. W. Blomfield, said the matter did not affect the Takapuna Council. The letter was received.

The Hospital Ship and Wounded I Soldiers' Relief Fund will benefit to the i extent of £225 17s id, as the result of the i patriotic Rugby football match played on | June 5 by the Trentham and Auckland representative teams. A cheque for the amount will be handed to the Mayor of ! Auckland to-day by the Auckland Rugby j Union officials; The union decided at last ] evening's meeting to forward a letter to the Prime Minister, thanking him for granting free railway passes to the members of the Trentham team.

A shed at the back of the residence of Dr. Tracy R. Inglis in Ponsonby Road was damaged by fire at about 4.30 p.m. yesterday. The city fire brigade M called out, and the flames were extinguished before any serious damage had been done.

The disabilities under which the Auckland City Council labours in regard to the newly-established dsh market were mentioned by Mr. C. J. Parr, M.P., in the House yesterday afternoon. Owing to the limited powers of the council, he said. the risli market was not a success. The council had no authority to expend monev on boats or shops, and the result was that it was losing money. He urged that it was necessary that the law governing these matters should bo so amended as to give municipalities increased powers. =