AUCKLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13693, 8 September 1906, Page 14

AUCKLAND.

(Fsoit Oca Own CoRSispoNDiKT.)

August 27. Tho • Education Board has been making progress with tho scheme for tho crection of a Technical Callegfc in Auckland as a Scddon memorial. Tho bill to legalise tho Auokland Savings Bank's contribution has been introduced into Parliament, and ten local subscriptions of £100 each have been promised, in addition to numerous smaller sums. Plans for the building in ferroconcrete have been submitted to tho board by Mr' George George, director of technical education, and Mr O. Rosseger, C.E., who has been assisting Mr George in tho matter. The board has decided to take the opinion of two architects oil tho plans. " Fcrro-conorete" seems to have ca-ught on in Auckland. 'Plans of a new building of this material to bo erected in Quay street for the Northern Roller Mills Company havo been approved by the City Council, awl several other'buildings of tho same typo aro in contemplation, including additions to' 11. M. Smeeton and Co.'s premises.

The now ferro-eoncrete railway wharf has now sufficiently advanced to givo tho public an opportunity of judging as to its stability, and tho universal opinion seems to ho that the Harbour Board has made a great step in advance by adopting this system of wharf-building. Two severe tests have, been applied, to tho wharf with' the most satis.factory ro3ulis.

A movement has been started in Auckland which, if skilfully directed, may havo an' important effect on the future of the colony. The main objects of the movement organised under, tho name of tlio National League*of New Zealand are to promote universal defensive training- of boys and young men up to tho" ago of 21, and to encourage training among seafaring men by securing preference of employment for Uritish teamen,, who, in return for the preference, givo special training service. Thoro are several other planks in the platform, including'preference in State employment to those who aro willing to givo special defensivo service to the country. .Tlio immediate purpose, of the league is to he propaganda which it is intended shall ho carried throughout New Maud, with the ultimate object of securing a referendum on-' the important . proposals of universal ti-aiiiinß- of tile youn? and profcrenco to specially-trained men in maritime industries and in State employment. Several of •YucklaniVi leading citizens have associated themselves with the movement, and tho promoters are confident 'that sufficient funds will bo forthcoming from patriotic colonists to' thoroughly organise the country a.nd educate the public mind on the need for c.fl'oetivo defensivo training on tlio lines laid down by tho league. Auckland has another grievance aqainst t,llo Government. In connection with tho duplication of the Auekland-Penroso rail-

way. tho bridge crossing the roadway cn tiie boundary of the City and Parnell Borough hats to bo widened. The piers of tho present bridge stand on tho roadway, and as tho Parnell tram servico passes under the bridge-tho position is faT from Ixji/ig a safa one. The Auckland City Council and tho other local bodies interested claim that it. is tho business of the Government, to mako it safe by erecting a single span bridge, and .they strengthen their claim by pointng out that only the fkjvernmont would be permitted to aggravate the present lxsition by widening the nresent bridge., file Government, on the other hand, contends that thero was no danger till the trams ran, and that it is- not responsible for tho trams. It

suggests meeting tho local authorities halfway and sharing tho cent of a. singlo span bridge. The looal_ authorities have replied that it ia. the business of the Railway De•imont to make-the railway bridges safe;.

but tho Government is unconcerned, and the unkindest cut of all was adminstorcd when Auckland's new Minister (the Hon, George I'owlds) rather emphatically took tho sido of tho Government and declared that, as a matter of principle, tho Government coijld not entertain any suggestion that it should liear tho whole cost of such work within any borough. Tho statement, though distasteful, was charmingly frank, and tho local authorities have mado tho lvesfc of a. bad job by offering a. contribution of £200 towards tho work, though still unable to appreciate tho Government's attitude or to admit tho equity of the demand for any local contribution. Tho total additional cost of making tho bridgo as desired by the local authorities is estimate! a t £500.

Considerable alterations arc about to. 1)6 mado to St. Patrick's Roman Catholio Cathedral, The older portion of tho cathedral is 10 lio taken down and rebuilt. A tender for tho work at £5003 has been accepted.

An interesting cerempnv was performed at. Parcngurciiga tho other day when tho Northern S. K. Company's new steamer Aupouri was christened in Native fashion by tho Aupouri tribe. Over 600 Natives took part, and during the ceremony tho manager of the company was presented with a framed portrait of Meri Ngaroto I'uhipi (originator of tho Aupouri tribe) and with a fine mero to be hung in' the saloon.

A rather unusual position arose Inst week at tho criminal sittings of tho Supremo Court. Olio William Walker had been charged with inciting to arson. At lact sessions a jury disagreed on the charge, and the result was the pa mo on this occasion. Tho Crown Solicitor then intimated that he could not ask for a third trial as lie had received a circular from the Department of Justice intimating that ho was not to ask for a further trial without reference to the department, Mr Justice Edwards expressed surprise at, the interference of tho department, and said if tho caso had been, a 6trong one he would have ordered a now trial without bothering about tho Executive. He did not think, however, that thero was any ehanco of getting a jury to convict, Walker was therefore ablo to leave tho court, The " interference" of the department in this matter is no doubt due to the fact that, an acouscd person was recently churged four times— a rather unusual proceeding. Three juries disagreed, and tho fourth brought in a verdict of "Not guilty." The caso brought against Walker is a very peculiar one, in : asmuuh as the chief witness for the prosecution ia a man named Crowther, who confessed to setting iiro to the house, and alleged in his confession that, Walker offered him a sum of money to do it. Crowther is now serving a sentence of imprisonment for setting tiro to tho house.

The action of the City Council in conncctioilj with tho shortage of tram cars is still exciting a great deal of public interest. Hie council is etill insisting on its light under the deed of delegation to lie satisfied that sufficient cars are provided to carry the traflic, and in this respect tlio position baa not heen materially altered. Tile number of cara running ami promised is etill considered insufficient, and tlio company has been informed that it must provide a sufficient number to carry the traflic, or pay tlio penalty.

Tho Auckland Education Board lias been at some pains to satisfy tho touchers in its employment that ' the evading of tho teachers by the inspectorial staff is fair and equitable. It was proposed to supply all teachers with a copy of tho results of tho grading by the inspectors, but a legal opinion liy the board's solicitor has made this course inadvisable, if not impossible. Tho solicitor's opinion is to the eft'cct that the board would not be privileged in publishing such a statement, which would bo libellous if it imputed that any teacher did not possess tho skill or technical knowledge necessary for the practice of his profession. It appeared to tho board's legal adviser that any teacher aggrieved by the publication of tho grading would bo entitled to go to the Supremo Court for an injunction to restrain the board from publishing it, and would probably be successful. There has been much merriment in Auckland over a charge laid in the Police Court against a Ponsonby resident connected wilh the shooting and burial of a dog. Tho facts as stated in the court wore that the dog's life was becoming a burden to itself and to everybody near it, and tlio owner decided to nut it out. of the way. _ITe put a pea rifle to its ear, killed it instantaneously, and buried it 100 ft away from any house. A day. or two later a policeman came round inquiring about' a dog which had been badly treated. This happened to bo another dog altogether, but while discussing the subject with the policeman the gentleman who had used the pea rifle made a frank statement regarding what ho considered the depont despatch and burial of his dog. Then tho police authorities got looking into the law, and- tho inspector of j nuisances camo along with a labourer, tlio dog was disinterred, carted to tho water

front, taken out to 6ea in a barge and dropped overboard. Following on this the Ponsonby resident appeared in court and was solemnly _ charged with burying a dopr within the city and with " discharging firearms to the annoyance of passersby." The latter chargo was laughed out of court, but 011 the first charge it was difficult to get away from tho technicality of tho by-law. However, tho charge was dismissed on the accused naying 31s costs. For four years the Auckland Fruitgrowers' Union has been discussing proposals to form a co-operative canning factory. Tho Government has now agreed to give a subsidy of £1500. and it has boon decided -to establish the cannery. A new industry has been started at Tauranga by the erection of a plant for the smoking of fish to supply the Auckland market. There is an abundance of, fish in Tauranga waters, but the infvequency of communication makes it difficult to supply the fish in a fresh stato to tho Auckland market. Willi a supply of .smoked fish coming from Tauranga, .however, a larger proportion of tho Auckland catch will bo availablo for marketing in a fresh state.