GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue XX, 17 May 1902, Page 949

GENERAL NEWS.

The valuations <of Auckland city properties for this year show an increase of £9149 over those of last year.

Captain. Grant, drill instructor to the Auckland Board of .Education, is at present up North. Last week he drilled the boys of the Whangarei public school, and from Whangarei he goes further North, visiting Kamo and other schools on his way.

There has been considerable activity among the hot springs in the neighbourhood, of the Kuirau reserve, close to Ohinemutu. One of the springs, which cut away the main road a year or so back, again became active ( and threw up mud in large quantities.

Steps are being taken to arrange the erection of an accommodation house at Waimangu. The Tourist Department also intends building a tower to enable visitors to look down into the crater without risk of injury from a sudden eruption.

Mr. John Armstrong, one of the members of the Nelson expedition, who arrived in the Whitby on November 5, 1841, died at Blenheim yesterday, aged 83. He lived there till he retired from business, and leaves a large number of descendants.

The other day, says the Waikato “Argus,” wc recorded a large bag made by Mr J. Mack amongst the Maungakawa deer. We can now go one better, for we learn that Mr Irwin Hunt, of Kiwitahi, lately shot no less than 11 in one day.

A very successful capture of Paradise ducks has been made by officers of the Tourist Department at Lake Tekapo, in the South Island, last week. A large number of duck were secured. They are to be sent to the acclimatisation grounds at Mastertion, and after a short stay there are to be distributed in suitable localities over the North Island.

The “Taranaki News” states that it is now possible to take horses through from the Upper Ohura Road on the Whangamomona side, via Taungarakau Valley to the track on the Ohura side. This is the bush route which is to connect Taranaki with the Auckland district. The portion mentioned can be covered in a day, but the track is very rough. In many places the horses will require to be led, and none should try it except those accustomed to rough bush travelling.

Mr J. Stevens, M.H.R. for Manawatu, was in Hamilton last week, engaged in purchasing remounts for the Imperial Government. Messrs MeNicol and Co. and Mark Harrison are acting as agents for him. The horses purchased will be passed by Colonel Holdsworth, Remount Commissioner, who, with Captain Taylor, of the Imperial Army Veterinary Staff, is expected to arrive at Hamilton on Thursday.

Amongst the blocks of bush land that the Labour Department intend to inspect as being deemed suitable to place unemployed on during the coming winter are the following: — Fifteen hundred acres at Mamaku, near Rotorua, 1500 acres on the Roto-rua-Tauranga Road, and a third block at Taumaramu. As soon as other arrangements in Wellington are settled Mr Mackay will visit the localities named.

A comparison of the port charges levied in Wellington and other parts of the colony, made by Mr T. M. Wilford, showed that for a vessel’s first visit Wellington charged at the rate of 4d a ton, Lyttelton 7d, Port Chalmers 1/6, Auckland 6d, Bluff 1/2, and Napier anchorage 4d. For subsequent visits Wellington made no reduction, but the other ports did, that at Port Chalmers and the Bluff being substantial. Assuming that a steamer of 2400 tons register called at each port three times in a month, the respective charges would be— Napier £BO, Wellington and Auckland £l2O each, Lyttelton £l4O, Port Chalmers £275 17/, Bluff £2BO.

Mr Kinsella, the dairy expert, speaks in sanguine terms of the rapid development of the dairy industry in

the Auckland district. He says the work of his department is rapidly expanding. Messrs McEwen and Shirley, dairy instructors, are now in Auckland in order to give expert information in all parts of that provincial district. Mr Kinsella says he is not at liberty to make any statement regarding Australian butter box system.

General Babington, Commandant of the New Zealand Forces, inspected No. 3 Company of the Waikato Mounted Rifles last Wednesday at Cambridge. The muster ’?as about 35, but when the fact ir taken into consideration that 14 of this company are with the contingents in South Africa and two are gone to the Coronation, the attendance was not bad. The General seemed satisfied with the troop, and told the men that when they had remedied some minor defects, for which they should have instructors provided, they would make good soldiers.

A plucky action is reported to the credit of Mr Porter, second officer of the s.s. Tongariro, which arrived at Wellington a few days ng> from Napier. While the Home steamer was lying in the roadstead a seaman fell from the deck into the sea. There was a heavy swell running, and for a moment those on board who saW the accident seemed to have lost pbwer of cool action. In the rtridst of the excitement Mr Porter, fftlly clothed, took a header overboard and Swam to the man, who by this time whs in his last struggles, and slipping a rope round him had him safely hauled aboard.

In the coming session of Parliament Mr Fisher, M.H.R., will introduce a Bill to alter the constitution of the Wellington Harbour Board. At present the Board consists of eleven members —three nominated by the Government, two by ratepayers of the city,. one by payers of dues, one by the Chamber of Commerce, one by the Wairarapa district, one by Hutt and suburbs, one by Manawatu district, and the Mayor of Wellington, ex officio. The Board to be proposed by Mr Fisher will consist of fifteen members. The number of Government nominees and oP the country members will remain as at present. The difference-will lie-that instead of two members being dieted by ratepayers only, there will be five members, to be elected by voters on the electoral roll of the city, and one member, being a bona fide member of the Wharf Labourers’- Union, to be elected by Wharf Labourers’ Union. The Bill is on similar lines to a Bill to alter the Constitution of the Board introduced to Parliament by Mr Fisher in the session of 1885.

According to recent alterations in railway fares and freights gazetted, free second-class quarterly tickets may be issqed to school children not over fifteen years of age attending Government primary schools-, and to those attending private schools for primary education. Such tickets may also be issued for the purpose of enabling- pupils not over nineteen years of age to attend a district high school, or a secondary school, as defined by the Manual and Technical Instruction Act, 1900, provided that such pupils have passed the Sixth Standard or are holders of scholarships, exhibitions, or free places tenable at such district high school or secondary school. Tn future New Zealand grown fruit and will be carried for any distance—s6lb for 6d; over 561 b but not exceeding1121bs, 1/; for every additional 561 b or fraction thereof, 6d. The charges for game, dead hares and rabbits, and fresh fish will be, for any distance—not exceeding 71b, Gd; over 71b. but not exceeding 141 b, 1/; over 141 b but not exceeding 281 b, 1/6.

The Directors of the N.Z. Dairy Association have now completed their round of meetings, and at each creamery centre complete satisfaction has been expressed with the results of the first year of co-operative work. With only three or four dissentients, it has been decided to form a reserve fund, so that if a lean year should come the loss will not fall suddenly upon the suppliers, while the permanency of the undertaking will be guaranteed. The directors have favoured this

course from the beginning. and now they have the assurance that the vast majority of the suppliers are behind them. The annual report to be presented at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Chess Club at Wellington on Monday night congratulated Mr R. J. Barnes, of Wellington, on having won the championship at the hist tourney. The only ‘ telegraphic match played in the North Island during the past year was between two clubs not affiliated. This the acting-secretary (Mr F. K. Kelling) remarked is not as it should be, but he is glad to learn that things are to be livened up shortly with a big match Auckland v. Wellington. Tile compilers of the “British Chess Code” are about to supply a much - felt want, viz.—an addition of a section to their rules dealing with play by telegraph. The Associations of Canada, Australia, ami New Zealand have been invited to furnish suggestions. The matter of instituting a series of telegraphic contests to decide the club championship of New Zealand is in abeyance. The scheme presents many difficulties, and perhaps the time is not ripe yet for New Zealand to have a competition of this nature. Thanks were given Messrs. Hosking and. Grierson, of Auckland, to the committee which worked with them in bringing the recent Championship Congress to such a successful issue, and to all who had given financial assistance. The balance-sheet shows a credit balance of £8 11/.

Last Thursday, by invitation of His Excellency the Governor and Lady Ranfurly, the Grammar School Cadet Corps, under Captain McCullough, marched to Government House, and were inspected by His Excellency. After going through various manoeuvres on the lawn, the cadets were invited into the house, where a sumptuous tea had been prepared for them in the din-ing-room. Lady Ranfurly and her daughters were indefatigable in their attention to their youthful guests, who did full justice to the good fare provided. After te* the house vvas thrown open to the boys, a privilege which was much appreciated by them. A number of parents and friends were present during the afternoon, by Lady Ranfurly’s kind invitation. When leaving Captain McCullough called for three cheers for His Excellency and Lady Ranfurly, and His Excellency said lie hoped he would see twice as many boys on a similar occasion next year.

A meeting of the committee of the Auckland Anniversary Regatta was held last week at the Waiteinata Hotel, Mr C. B. Stone presiding. The balance-sheet of the last regatta was read by the treasurer, Mr W. C. Somerg. It showed that the receipts, including- the balances from last year, totalled £402 8/8, which included subscriptions and donations amounting to £252 10/. The expenditure was £352 16/9, of which amount £2ll 4/ had been paid away in prize money. The balance carried forward was £49 11/11. The Chairman said that the committee were to be congratulated upon the successful results of the late regatta in every way. They had been able to pay- all their debts in full, and carry forward a good balance towards the next regatta. A large measure of the success of the regatta of 1902 was due to Mi - Somers, who had worked exceedingly well and had handled the financial part of the business most successfully. The balance-sheet was adopted and ordered to be published. Mr P. F. Battley moved, and it was resolved, “That it is desirable to form a Regatta Club, to be registered, and that a committee consisting of Messrs Stone, Somers, Gould, anil the mover be appointed to formulate a scheme and report to a future meeting.”

NATIONAL COUNCIL Ob' WOMEN

The above Council, at its meeting in Napier last week, passed resolutions to the effect that the State, should remove the disabilities under which illegitimate children now suffer, and give them an equal status with those born in wedlock. The Council also resolved that where men and women are engaged on similar work there should be equal pay; and

in addition the following resolutions were passed: — (1) That the sole qualifications for an old age pe union be 25 years’ residence in the colony and a certified age of 65 years, and that the amount of the pension be increased to 10/ a week; (2) that all sentences for serious offences should he decided as to duration by the reform of the criminal, and should be limited to the nniximiini penalty attached to the crime; (3) that women visiting Justices be appointed to our prisons; (I) that capital punishment be abolished. THE CORONATION. A large and representative meeting of Auckland citizens was held last Friday afternoon for the purpose of making arrangement for the celebration in Auckland of the Coronation of King Edward VII. Committees were appointed to arrange for an entertainment to children, and for a military display, and it was decided to ask citizens to co-operate in the celebrations, and to illuminate their premises at night. At the close of the meeting the committees met. and it was decided that the committees be united, so that a full report can he presented to the next public meeting. It was also decided to convene a meeting with the teachers of all public and private schools in the city and suburbs for Tuesday evening, to discuss the details of the proposed entertainment to the children. A meeting of the Wellington Citizens’ Committee has adopted the programme in connection with the Coronation celebrations. This includes a procession of school children, volunteers, friendly societies and labour organisations to the Basin Reserve. where a short religious service will be held, and a short programme of sports be carried out afterwards. A special dinner is to be supplied to all inmates ot the homes ami public institutions. A meeting at Invercargill held to consider what should be done locally to celebrate the Coronation of the King was attended by seventy people, and a committee was appointed to make proposals. The idea of Joining with Dunedin to make a demonstration in that city was scouted, and With regard to the soldiers’ memorial it was thought that the time to deal with that would be after peace was proclaimed, and that then Southland should provide a memorial of its own dead. The Mayor (Mr. Longuet) and Mr. Hunan, M.H.R., said that tb' ir names were on the Dunedin committee without their consent, and they would not act thereon. THE FARMERS’ UNION. The executive of the Farmers’ Tr n i on met last week in Auckland, Mr M. M. Kirkbride presiding. ft was decided to circularise branch secretaries, urging loyalty to the agreement between the union and the Commerical Insurance Co. Mr Glass, organising secretary, wrote that Mr Beatson, secretary of the Hawke's Bay Provincial Union, wished to be relieved ot the collection of subscriptions, and suggested that they be paid direct to the Auckland executive. It was decided to write for further information. The Minister of Lands wrote in reply to a communication to the Acting-Pre-mier from the union, urging the expenditure during the financial year of the sums voted on the estimates, that the Government would endeavour to> have all moneys voted expended. He pointed out that if the work were all put in hand at ones there would be an insufficiency of labour, and that when the money was expended a large number of men would be unable to obtain employment. It was decided to refer the matter to the Colonial Conference. the members present expressing the belief that if the money was to bo got there would be no difficulty in obtaining labour. Mr Phillips thought that some better system of the allocation of grants should be brought into operation votes at present entirely depending ori political influence. The Department of Works wrote in reply to a resolution passed at the Farmers’ Union Conference, urging the necessity of pushing on with the construction work on the North Island Main Trunk Railway, that good progress had been made during the year, and that the Minister hoped to see this maintained during the current year. Clarke's World Famed Blood Mixture.—‘The most searching Blood Cleanser that science and medical skill have brought, to light.’ Sufferers from Scrofula. Scurvy, Eczema, Bad Logs. Skin and Blood Diseases, Pimples and Sores of any kind arc solicited to give It a trial to test its value. Thousands of wonderful cures have been effected by it. Bottles 2s. 9d. each, sold everywhere. Beware of worthless Imitations and substitutes.