AUCKLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9888, 6 November 1893, Page 3

AUCKLAND NEWS NOTES.

(Fbom Oub Own Cobbespondent.) Auckland, November 4. The platform of the movement for Scripture lesson books in schools has been published. A meeting having been convened in the City Hall only for sympathisers with Scripture teaching by State schoolmasters, the supporters of the presenb secular system have convened another meeting in St. James's Hall on the same night, to which all citizens are invited and at which the question may be freely discussed. Ever and anon tales are told relative to saurian monsters, but, unfortunately for the interests of science, it is seldom that those who observe strange objects at sea are able to capture them and bring them to porfc. The latest story is told by Mr Christensen, master of fche cutter Alarm, that while becalmed a few miles off Great Mercury on Tuesday last he saw a strange sight. It was in the shape of a fish which rose close under the stern of the vessel and then disappeared. It appeared to be about 30ft long, and had wings from 10ft to 15ft long, which it flapped together as it rose about 10ft above the water. Mr Christensen states he has heard of similar fish having been seen by whalers, and also that they are to be found off the coast of Africa. There has been a row on at the Parnell Football Club, arising out of an impression that ifc was being used for political purposes. At a meeting convened, the chairman (Mr Schwartz Kisling) said he thought if politics were going to be introduced into football then discord was bound to be the result. There was no doubfc in his_ mind that a concert held had been a political dodge. Ifc was a curious coincidence that Mr Lawry should have taken part in its' proceedings when no other vice-presidents were present. He would move the following resolution, which he considered was letting i those in fault down lightly :—" That in view . of the existing impression that this club has i been made a vehicle for political purposes, it is i resolved that this meeting strongly deprecates i the introduction of political matters into the j club in any shape or form." The resolution i was carried after hearing the secretary's ex- ; planation, which was accepted. It appeared Mr Seymour Thorne George (a vice-president) ( had not been invited, and that the concert had not bsen advertised, while Mr Lawry made the presentation of the cups. 1