LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16096, 9 December 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Ax English, Egyptian, and Australian mail is due at Wellington by the steamer Westralia to-day. The Auckland portion comprising 22 bags of English mail, six bags Egyptian, and 16 bags of Australian will come north either to-morrow morning or afternoon.

A young man named Kenneth Stilwell was admitted to the Auckland District Hospital last evening suffering from internal injuries as the result of having been trampled upon by a horse. The injured man, who was brought into town by the eight o'clock express, is a farm labourer residing at Patumahoe, some miles out of Pukekohe. The patient, Joseph Rogers, who received, a severe scalp wound as the result of an accident on Tuesday, is progressing as well as can be expected.

Overcrowding on trams running from Bayswater to Takapuna was referred to in a letter received by the Takapuna Borough Council from a resident, at the meeting held last night. The writer complained that overcrowding was most noticeable on the tram conveying passengers on the 5.45 p.m. boat from Auckland. He had counted as many as 20 people who had only standing room. In view of the heavy summer traffic, it was necessary that the matter should be attended to. It was decided that the attention of the Tram Company should be drawn to the complaint embodied in the letter.

A false alarm of fire was received by the Remuera brigade at 8.42 o'clock last night. The call, which was made by telephone, was to Beech Road, where a house was supposed to be on fire. The brigade turned out and had a fruitless journey of over a mile from the fire station.

A record price for Walheke Island bullocks was obtained at Westfield yesterday, when Messrs. A Buckland and Sons obtained £23 7s 6<l each for three bullocks, owned by Messrs. J. and D. Gray. Not many years ago Waiheke Island could only produce store cattle, but to-day they compare favourably with Waikato stock.

The welcome announcement was made to the Newmarket Borough Council last night that the Finance Committee had been successful in negotiations with its bankers for an overdraft, but that at the present moment there is happily no need for financial accommodation. However, members viewed with satisfaction the prospect that funds would bo at their disposal whenever required.

A reference to the Maori soldiers is contained in a letter from Corporal Willcox, of the 16th, Waikato, Company, and son of Mr. W. A S. Willcox. Writing from Lemnos on October 10, Corporal Willcfcx says :—f l What is left of the Maori contingent is also resting here. They are a fine crowd. We had some of them with us in the last trench we were in before we left Gallipoli. They are splendid workers, keen as mustard, and never grouse. I am proud to know some of these good fellows and to share food and tobacco with them."

The wreck of the Star of New Zealand off the coast of France, recalls the loss of other vessels of the " Star " line. The Star of Japan, a new vessel, was wrecked some seven or eight years ago off the coast of Africa, the crew being saved. On June 24, 1912, the Star of Canada was driven ashore at Gisborne and became a total wreck, and a few months later the Star of New Zealand collided with the steamer Sliene Bloom, near Holyhead, England, and was beached. Repairs were effected' and the vessel was refloated.

In spite of the generosity displayed in connection with the carnival, the committee which is working for the collection of funds for distressed Jews in Russia and Poland reports that its appeals are meeting with liberal response. According to recent information, the distress amongst Jews in the track of the war in Russia and Poland is beyond description, as they have been in the bombarded and pillaged areas. A strong appeal is to be made by the Jewish community in Auckland on behalf of the distressed members of their race in Prussia and Poland by means of a garden fete to be called " The White Fair," and held in the grounds of Mr. David Nathan, St. Kevens, Karangahape Road, on Wednesday and Thursday, December 15 and 16.

Two charges of theft were preferred against two boys, each aged 10 years, in the Juvenile Court yesterday. The articles concerned wero a quantity of stationery, valued at £3 10s, a gas meter, and the sum of 6d. The boys were recently released on probation from the Weraroa Training Farm. Sentence was indefinitely deferred, and the boys were again committed to the care of the Training Farm authorities.

During the month of November the number of books consulted in the reference library was 6949 valumes, a daily average of 236. Of these volumes 361 are classed as general in character, 812 in philosophy and religion, 679 in sociology, 1532 in language and literature, including fiction, 507 in science, 1268 in arts, and 1790 in history, travel, and biography. In the lending departments there 'were issued 6157 volumes, of which 2005 volumes are classified as general literature, including magazines and reviews, 3922 fiction, and 230 works suitable .for juvenile readers. The number of visitors to the Art Gallery during the same period was 6095, a daily average of 207. Additions to the libraries during the month totalled 276, of which 75 volumes were added to the reference library, and 201 volumes to the lending departments.

For the December examinations in connection with the New Zealand University, now in progress, Auckland has eclipsed its previous records in regard to the number of candidates, 326 having presented themselves for matriculation and 30 for junior scholarships. The bulk of the matriculation candidates are sitting at the Prince's Rink, Victoria Street, under the Rev. Dr. O'Callaghan, principal supervisor, but there is an overflow of about 100 at the Choral Hall, where Mr. A. H. Bowell is supervisor. The aspirants to junior scholarships are also working their papers at the Choral Hall, under the oversight of Canon McFarland. The examinations will extend to the middle of next week.

A soldier returning to Trentham by the eleven o'clock train from Wellington on Sunday night had a. remarkable escape from serious injury when in the vicinity of the Belmont station. He was standing on the platform of the carriage, the gate to which was apparently open, and while the train was travelling at a moderate speed a sudden swerve caused him to lose his balance and he was thrown on to the permanent way. News of the accident was telephoned from the next station, and help was at once sent by trolley-car from Lower Hutt, but before it returned, to the surprise of everyone, the man arrived at Lower Hutt station, having walked back. His face was considerably marked, bat otherwise ho was quite uninjured.

An intercession service in connection with the war was conducted by Dr. A. W. Averfll, Anglican Bishop of Auckland, in St. Matthew's Church at noon yesterday. The service was one of a series of weekly services inaugurated by the bishop some months ago. Prayers were offered on behalf of the British Empire and the part it was taking in the war. Help was asked for our army and navy, and prayers were offered for those at the front. The value of prayer was emphasised by the bishop in the course of a brief address. He assured those who wavered that though apparently no answer was made to their prayers they should not be disheartened. God was but testing their faith. Their petitions, if made in a humble and earnest spirit, would not be in vain. Those who prayed for men at the front were assisting them, and if they ceased to pray those at the front were the losers. People could not know in this life what their prayers were doing for their friends who had departed, but it was surely right to pray for them. The bishop said he believed that prayer was a great power for good in connection with the war.

There was considerable excitement at the Wanganui Town Wharf on Tuesday night, when the barque Hazel Craig left in tow of the Putiki. Just on sailing time two constables arrived at the wharf with three sailors, who had been in gaol for the past few days for deserting their ship, the trio having been captured in one of the country districts. The men were placed on board, but two of them climbed along a rope and took up a strategic position well under the wharf. After much search, in the darkness and rain, the sailors were located, and once more assisted on board. The third man at this stage tried to get back on to the wharf, and vigorously offered to fight all and sundry. The truculent sailor alleged that the barque was short-handed, but the captain's view was entirely different. The barque eventually departed.

A further meeting of the Auckland Anniversary Regatta Committee was held in the Ferry Buildings yesterday afternoon. Captain W. Boss presided. The notice of motion by Mr. W. Wilkinson, to. the effect that a previous resolution deciding that there should be no cash nrizes be rescinded, was carried. Captain Ross and Messrs. J. Grant and Alexander Alison were appointed the Flagship Committee.

The recent heavy rainfall in the Taranaki district is demonstrated by the record for November, which was taken by Mrs. John Brown, of Upper Mangorei, a few miles from New Plymouth. The month's register was 20.65 in—a record for over three years. There were 26 wet days during the month. The maximum fall was 3.92 in on the 11th.

Owing to the great scarcity of feed for cows in the Ashburton district the supply of milk and cream being received *t the local factory is only about half that ff last season, although there are more cows from which the supply is drawn. It had been intended to open a new cheese factory in the district this season, but iwmg to the shortage in the milk supply ft will probably not be opened until next season.

A Napier resident had an exciting adventure about two o'clock on a recent morning. After seeing some friends off on the Tarawera he mounted his bicycle to ride home. Despite the lights being turned off, the cyclist forced the pace until he struck something hard, and then he found himself and bicycle falling through space. The next thing he met was the water, about 20ft below the alignment of his original track. Then a rope struck him, and seizing it he xta* pulled back on to the wharf, m answer to his questions, ho was ijifinned that he had ridden over the end of the Glasgow Wharf.