AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2524, 30 July 1902, Page 19

AUCKLAND.

Kewenc To Haho, the veteran Maori] fchief has died at Aotea Harbour; aged nearly 90. He participated in the various [battles in cannibal time*, but had been a •importer of the Government ever since •British sovereignty was established. The stable* near Ellen-lie racecourse owned by Mr Peache. contractor were burnt to the ground an the 15th. All tho . hcraes, numbering 14, were saved Iho Sings were insured in tdie North British for ,£llOO. The contents, valued at £600, ' were uninsured. Dr Wilson visited Mercer to report on the fatal sickness epidemic among the "Maoris. He found four ohildren dead ami , one ill, and reports the disease to be of a typhoid character, accelerated by unsuitable diet, poor housing, and want of treatment. The Trades and Labour Council passed- * resolution supporting the proposal for a Royal Commission composed ot an equal number of men and women to anquire ana report regarding the employment of children in the dairying districts. It w«s aleo decided to request the executive to obtain the conjoint representation of ail tne New Zealand councils in urging tne Government to push forward this session its proposed measure of nationalising fire insurance, also taking action regarding individual accident insuiance. The Waimangu goysev is extraordinarily active. On Tuesday morning Warder Scanlan, who has charge of tl»e tree-planting operations in the vicinty, reported that the I geyser was violently active for extended neriods between 8 o'clock and 10.30 in the morning, a huge jet of water being thrown «p to heights estimated by spectators to be between 800 and 900 feet. Roger Eddowes was found m the Thames at midnight, and rescued by a policeman and fishermen. He was taken to the hospital, . and is now out of danger. He denies that it was a case of attempted suicide, and says fee was fishing, and grew sleepy and tell ° V \ r t of the committee appointed in" connection with tho proposed P re£ent . a : tion to the late Bishop Cowie, which will now be made to Mrs Cowie, it was- announced that the total receipts amounted to £1100. , r , Mr Keith Lucas and a party from Cambridge University (England) have just Spent a fortnight on Lakes Rotoiti and Rotorua, where they have been collecting and studying tho fauna of the lake. Their stay has been favoured with fine weather, and they expressed admiration at the wondera of the lake district. They took soundings of the lakes. After a short stay in Auckland they will visit Lakes Waikaremoan* and fWairarapa, continuing their researches. Fiji papers contain particulars of the trials at the Suva Supreme Court of several Indian Coolies ior murderous attacks on planting overseers. At Ba an Indian named &hanka \va6 sen+reneed to 10 years penal servitude for wounding, with intent to anurder, W. K. Sweetland at Rarawai, Ba. Bwectland was terribly injured with a cane Ifpiie by the prisoner, aoid had to have hi» left band amputated. The assault occurred I "last November. For another affair, wound- j ing C. H. Lamb and J. W. Sadlier, on the Ma Vatu Estate, three Indian labourers received sentences of six years, four years, and 2 years' hard labour. In the assault on jLamb, three men attacked him last month (while he was going round the lines inspecting. He was knocked down and beaten very Beverely. The men then left for their houses (to get their knives, and Lamb climbed up ■a, Mango tree. Two of the men had started to climb the tree after him when help came. A faint telescopic oomet has been discovered in Virgo by Mr John Grigg, of the TixMBM steervatojJt' "&*& comet srae &»-

covered on July 23. Its position on July 27 was north declination, 5.33; right ascension, 12hr lmin ; daily motion, south 22mm, easterly. The troopship Britannic, which has left Melbourne, will make Wellington the first port of call in New Zealand.