LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16202, 12 April 1916, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Huddart-Parker steamer Wimmera

left Melbourne on Saturday for Wellington, via Hobart, with 13 bags of Australian, 89 bags of English, and 7 bags of soldiers' mails for Auckland. The mail should come North on Saturday. As" a result of a fire on the launch Kismet late on Monday night, tho. vessel was practically destroyed. The launch, which is owned by Messrs. Brown Bros., was towing the scow Daphne, in the vicinity of the* Hobßon Wharf, when she suddenly caught fire. Messrs. Lane and Brown, who were in charge of the launch, immediately cast off the towline and endeavoured to put out the fire with patent extinguishers, but without success. The launch Sambo then came upon the scene, and the two men were taken off. The burning craft was towed to the breastwork, where she sank. The engines may possibly be used again, but the launch was burned to the water line. The Kismet was not insured. The cause of the firo is unknown. A resident at Campbell's Point, Parnell, Mr. V. Dunne, has lately vacated a leasehold property held by him prior to the expiry of his lease, on account of the nuisance arising from a drain which he alleges has been damaged by the blasting operations of tho Harbour Board in its foreshore reclamation. On this account Mr. Dunne has made a claim upon the board for compensation. At yesterday's meeting of the board a report was presented by the engineer tq the effect that it was unlikely that anv blasting operations at the point could have done the damage referred to, and that the expansion of the roots of a tree was a more probable cause. On the recommendation of the engineer that the claim be resisted, the board decided to disclaim liability in the matter. A man named Michael Shannon appeared in the Police Court yesterday charged with deserting from the ninth reinforcements of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Sub-Inspector Mcllveney said the charge was brought, under the Imperial Army Act. He asked that the man be handed over to a military escort. Sergeant-Major Browning asked that the man be handed over to a military escort at the watch-house. After some discussion between • the sub-inspector and the ser-geant-major, the magistrate, Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., agreed to issue a warrant remanding the prisoner and authorising the police to detain him until a military escort arrived at the watch-house from Fort Cautley to take charge of him. Some time ago it was promised by the Harbour Board that a wharf to the value of £1200 would be built this year to give access to the Kauri Point reserve, in the upper harbour. Owing, however, 'to war conditions it has been found inconvenient to comply with the letter of the undertaking, and the .minister for Lands, in a ! letter received at yesterday's meeting of ! the board, intimated that in the circum--1 stances there is no objection to the post- ' ponement of the work. In the same letter the Minister states that the question of the futuro control of the reserve has not yet been settled, but that it will probably be placed under the control of a domain board. ■ The point was emphasised by the members of the board that the postpon;ment was limited to the period of the war. A motion to fix a time for the sitting of the Compensation Court to hear the case of Dimock v. the Auckland City Council— of those arising out of the Jermyn Street works—was before Mr. Justice Chapman in Chambers yesterday. Dr. Bamford appeared for the claimant. As His Honor did not see his way to make an appointment for Mr. Justice Cooper, who was the judge really concerned, the matter was allowed to stand over. His Honor observed, however, that he did not see why compensation cases should not now go into the lists of civil cases. Since the passing of the Public Works Act of 1913 there was no longer any difficulty as to tho judge. Any judge could hear such a case. The point of His Honor's remark lies in the fact that prior to the passing of that Act the judge in such cases was necessarily the judge for the district in which the claim arose. I

It is expected that the Quay Street landings will be completed within the next two or three weeks. A junction with the old work has been made. The Harbour Board's engineer reported yesterday that 20in by 20in concrete piles for the Central Wharf, aggregating over half a mile in length, have now been made. Other items in the engineer's report were that 1 the old Riverhead Wharf is undergoing .repairs, and that a shed on the new Riverhead Wharf is being moved to the new position asked for by the settlers.

" I do not see any prospect of this war ending before 15 months have passed, and I am sure that financially things will not be any better than they are now lor one year at least after peace is declared," remarked the official assignee, Mr. W. S. Fisher, at a creditors' meeting yesterday.

I A meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board was held yesterday afternoon. Present : Mr. H. D, Heather, chairman, Messrs. E. W. Alison, W. E. Hutchison, M. H. Wynyard, W. Wallace, x'. Arthur, H. R. Mackenzie, J. S. Bond, and E. J. Carr. It was agreed, 011 tne recommendation of the Board in Committee, that the secretary be instfucted to open an account in the board's books, to be called " The Manukau Harbour Renewals and Contingencies Reserve Account"; that the sum of £1377 4s 9d being the profit 011 the year's working of Manukau Harbour, be placed to the credit of the account, and that this course be followed from year to year.

At the annual meeting of the Kuox Incurables Home Trust Board, the Rev. G. B. Monro, of Remuera, was re-elected chairman, and the following are the trustees for tho ensuing year :—The Mayor of Auckland, Mr. J. H. Gunson, Messrs. J. H. Upton, Thos. Peacock, John Reid, A. Clements, and the Hon. E. Mitchelson. Excellent work is being done by this institution in caring for the incurables of the province, there being now 34 patients—l 6 women and 18 men. It is hoped that another ward will be opened in the near futuro

The wharf which it is proposed to erect on the Panama Estate, Tamaki River, will be situated a considerable distance above the Panmure Bridge. The harbourmaster, in a report presented to the Harbour Board yesterday, stated that the structure will not interfere with navigation. The board accordingly decided to offer no objection to the construction of the wharf.

An agreement between the City Council and the Harbour Board, under which the council paid the board £90 a year for . dredging of silt from the mouth of the Queen Street sewer, expired it the end of last month. As occasional dredging will still be necessary, the council will be asked to renew the arrangement on the same terms as formerly

* A striking scries of photographs dealing •with the capture of the Maori ' prophet by the police is published in to-day s issue of-the Auckland Weekly These pictures, taken by a special photographer from the Weekly News staff, who accompanied the police expedition, fully cover the exciting episode, and present in lively form many incidents that took place while firing was in progress between the Maoris and the police. There are aloo several other features of interest, including the latest war pictures, the arrival of the Aurora at Port Chalmers, and topical cartoons. Those who wish to secure copies are advised to forward their orders as early as possible, as no further editions will 'be published.

When No. 2 Jetty was demolished to make way fcr the new central wharf, the motor ambulance of the witerrde workers was temporarily removed into the building on the Queen's Wharf occupied by the police and Customs authorities. So convenient has this station been found, that the Harbour Board lately approached the Collector of Customs with a proposal that the ambulance should '.e kept in the building permanently. Having received assurances that the Customs Department will not require the room occupied by the vehicle, the board has bided to adhere to the present arrangement for its accommodation.

The resolution passe by tho Mount Albert Borough Council on March 13, authorising the raising of a loan of £5700 for the completion of certain drainage, was confirmed at a special meeting held yesterday evening. The scheme provides for the completion of drainage works at Morningside, Mountain View and Gladstone Roads. The currency of the loan is for 36 years. Interest is to be payable at the rate of £5 5s per cent, half-yearly, the payment of interest, sinking fund, and other charges being met by a special rate of one-twelfth of a, penny in the pound on ratable value.

, A request has been made to the Harbour Board by the local Collector of Customs that a delicate scale, graduated to ounces, and similar to that now in nso on the Queen's Wharf, be placed on the King's Wharf. The purpose for which it is required is the weighing of tobacco, and its absence, says tjie collector, has caused delay and inconvenience to the Departmental officers and the mercantile community. The board has agreed to provide the instrument.

Five boys, whose ages rantred from 15 17, appeared before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., in the Court for Juvenile Offenders yesterday. Three of them were charged with stealing a quantity of goods, valued at £7 16s 10id, the property of LaidlawLeeds. Two others were charged with receiving the stolen goods. The offences were admitted. Chief-Detective McMahon said the first three boys were employed by Laidlaw Leeds. The other two were outsiders, companions of theirs, who removed the goods from the premises. At first sight, the chief detective said, the case looked as if it were the outcome of a deeply-laid plan for thieving on extensive lines. The fact was, however, that all the offenders had good characters and excellent homes. The magistrate said the line would have to be drawn somewhere. He looked on the offences seriously, for there was evidence of criminality. All the offenders would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. They would be admitted to informal probation for six months. ,

"I have been thoroughly ashamed," declared one of the speakers at last night's meeting of the Acclimatisation Society, "to see so many young fellows present at this meeting who are not wearing the King's uniform. Those young fellows should go away from this hall hanging their heads with shame, to think that, though they consider themselves sportsmen, they are not wearing the colours." Another speaker stated that he knew many of the youths referred to had volun* teered and been rejected. "After the landlord act at Grey Lynn," interjected another, "any man ought to be prepared to fight."

A statement of assets and liabilities has been forwarded to the official assignee, Mr. W. S. Fisher, by Henare Meihana, of Waiotapu, near Rotorua. Liabilities are shown as £187 15s 6d owed to unsecured creditors, and assets are stated as nil. In his statement bankrupt says that he is a bushman and general labourer. About three years ago' he began to get into financial difficulties, being unable to obtain sufficient money to meet his liabilities. A judgment summons was obtained against him for £30, and he was committed to the local prison, being unable to satisfy plaintiff's claim. Other creditors had since threatened legal proceedings, and as he could not satisfy any one of his debts, he was obliged to seek the protection of the Court. Besides his wifo and child, he had to Support his grandfather and grandmother. His average earnings during the past three years had not exceeded £1 10s per week. He had no furniture. A meeting of creditors will be held at Rotorua on Friday.

In the course of his lecture last night on the work of the Young Men's Christian Association at the front, Mr. A. Varpey spoke of the soldiers' love of music. High-class songs were not for him. Songs such a£ "Tipperary" and "Keep the Home Fires Burning" were more to his taste, although when coming from a spell in the trenches, where lie had been facing death hourly, he preI ferred something deeper. Music had the result of keeping "Tommy" more in touch with home, and this was the association's' chief object. A Snapshot League had been-formed in England, in which 10,000 workers had enlisted their services. By giving an order the soldier was able to i;et the latest photograph of home, of his wife, or whatever he wished. This imbued him with fresh courage and renewed strength and kept him from dwelling unduly on his experiences.

A spec! ! order, following upon petitions by residents, was passed by the Mount Albert Borough Council last night, changing certain street names. The order is subject to confirmation. Under it, Mary's Lane, west of the New North Road, becomes Lloyd Avenue West, and east of New North Road, Lloyd Avenue East. The old Klngsland Road, renamed New E<lendale Road, becomes Edendale Road • Hansen Roacf changes to Marne Avenue; Mania Road to HaveTstock Road; and the Mount Albert-Onehunga between New North Road and the Mount Roskill boundary-becomes Mount Albert Road. The portion of the same road between Point Chevalier district and New North Road is to be renamed Grafton Road.

A fire was discovered in the incipient stage in a wash-house attached to a residence occupied by Mrs. M. A. Tonk-- of Gladstone Road, Newton, at 10.27 a.m. yesterday. The City Fire Brigade was summoned, and suppressed the outbreak before :n,vh damage had been done. The cause o * fire is unknown.

After the conclusion of a short bankruptcy sitting yesterday morning Mr. Justice Chapman sat in Chambers till late in the afternoon. Some 56 motions wero dealt with, relating almost entirely to matters of routine..