TELEGRAPHIC.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4609, 13 March 1902, Page 5

TELEGRAPHIC.

press association. AUCKLAND, March 12. Tho death is announced of Sister Mary Catherine Hughes, of St. Mary’s Convent, Ponsonby. Deceased was the last of the first band of Sisters of Mercy who left Ireland in 1549, arriving >n Auckland in 1830 under the care of Kev Mother Cecilia and Bishop Poinpallier. Of the second band who left Ireland in - 1850, only one remains, tho present Mother Superior of Ponsonby Convent In the final for the Auckland Ladies’ Tennis Chainjiioiiship, Miss A. Nicholson easily defeated Mrs Cooper, 6—l, 6—-4. This is the eighth successive year Miss A. Nicholson holds this coveted distinction.

Captain Huggett having retired from tho Melanesian Mission yacht Southern Cross, after twenty-three years’ service as mate and master. Captain Hammond, late of the Union Company, has been appointed to command the vessel.

During the Parliamentary iriu to the north of Auckland district, accidents occurred to members. Mr Houston fell off his horse and was shaken, but not hurt. Mr Buddo cams a cropper on a bridge. Mr McGuire also came off his horse, but is understood to havo done so in order to save the animal going over a precipice.

A polo tournament opened to-day at Alexandra Park between Auckland provincial teams for the possession of the polo cup. Auckland No. 11. defeated Glevedon by five goals to three, Auckland No. I. defeated Waignaio B by six goals to nil, Cambridge defeated Waignaio A by eleven goals to nil. The semi-finals will be decided to-morrow, when Auckland I. and 11. teams and Reran era and Cambridge try conclusions.

The rearrangement of school holidays brought into force by th© Education Board last month is not satisfactory. Tho whole question was threshed out by the Board of Education to-day, and it was agreed to revert to the old system temporarily. Before attempting to draft a new programme, the Board will communicate with all school committees and ask for suggestions as to tho time and duration of holidays. It .seems that the Act passed last session providing a colonial scale for payment of teachers does not 'make provision fer payment of travelling allowances or for payment of teachers when on sick leave, and according to a telegram from the Education Department read at a meeting of tho Education Board tho Act does not contemplate the employment of sewing teachers, of whom there are seventy in tho Auckland district. The Board has decided to inform these teachers it regretted instructions from the department rendered it necessary to dispense with their services by the end of April. GISBORNE, March 12.

Mr Georg© Moore, aged 58, a colonist of 40 years’ standing, formerly of Otago, died to-day. CHRISTCHURCH, March 12.

An outbreak of illness occurred among the men of the s.s. Toroa, four of whom have been sent to Christchurch Hospital suffering from diphtheric throats. They are the second engineer, the cook, an A.B. and a fireman. The vessel was thoroughly disinfected and fumigated at Lyttelton, and when she left for tho Chathams to-night she took a supply of medicine as a safeguard against another outbreak. A clean hill of health was given the vessel by the Health Officer for the port before her departure. ASHBURTON. March 12.

At tho District Court to-day, before Jud"o Ward the appeal of Whitaker, licensee of the Royal Hotel, against the decision of the Magistrate who fined him £5 Is for allowing liquor to be consumed on his premises at a Masonic banquet was heard. The evidence showed that appellant omitted to get a penult, and finding the banquet later than he expected, gave liquor free. The Judge said it was a hard case, as the licensee was evidently ignorant of the law. The guests were not the licensee’s guests. ’The appeal was dismissed, ‘with £5 5s costs. OAMARU, March 12. The sale of the Awamoa stud stock, which took place yesterday and to-day, was in many respects a phenomenal one. The Leicester stud sheep brought splendid prices, but Lincolns were not in much demand. The mare Jean Donaldson brought 285 guineas, Mr Douglas, of Napier, being the purchaser. Gladys was bought by the Hon J. D. Ormond for 155 guineas; the Cairngowon filly at 250 guineas by Mr A. McLean, of Napier, and the two-year-old filly Duchess of Glasgow by the Messrs Nathan at 170 guineas.

Special to the “ Times.” PALMERSTON, March 12. At the monthly meeting of the Manawatu County Council to-day, it was decided to take no action in regard to the testimonial to the Premier. ■ In the senior cricket match Old Boys v. Midland, played to-day, the former won by seven wickets and 4 runs. The Junior U.F.C.A. eleven defeated the Midlands second by four wickets and 5 runs. Considerable interest was taken in a ping-pong tournament among the members of the Bowling Club to-night. Three prizes were competed for, and Messrs Whiteford, Tyer and Kennedy were successful out of twelve competitors. The annual meeting this evening of the Amateur Operatic Society was attended by a large number of members. The following officers were elected; —Patron, Mr F. Pirani, M.H.8.; president, Mr M. Cohen; vice-presidents. Rev C. C. Harper, Dr Graham, Messrs W. T. Wood, Cottle, J. P. Innes; committee, Messrs Palmer, Young Rogers, and Tyer. Several new members -were elected. Mrs Palmer was elected a life member. A resolution was passed to the effect that it be an instruction to the incoming committee to endeavour ’to arrange with Mr Orchard to reassumo the position of conductor. MASTERTON, March 12. Out of a number of applicants for the position of matron to tho Masterton Hospital, Miss Lamb, of Waipukurau, was appointed to succeed Miss Oldfield Two young men named Nicholls and Skelton, former inmates Aif Burnham School, have been arrested on a charge of stealing a horse here last month. # Mr D. Pickering, who recently resigned from the Masterton Municipal Fire .brigade, after many years' service as can tain, was last night presented with an illuminated address and made a me membcl' - ' WANGANUI, March 11. About nine o’clock this morning it was reported to the police that the body of a man was floating in the river about a chain above the town bridge. The body was brought ashore, and identified as that of William Smith (otherwise known as' “Buffalo Bill"), a saddler by trade. He was a prohibited person, lately workins? at Mangawhero, and had recently been discharged from gaol after serving a sentence for drunkenness. On the body was found a watch and chain and Is 6d m monev There were no marks on the body. Deceased attended the races last week. ‘