GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue XXI, 24 May 1902, Page 1016

GENERAL NEWS.

A shipment of frozen apples sent from New Zealand to the London market has turned out a failure.

Mr 11. J. Manson has announced his candidature for the Manawatu seat. It Is understood he will stand in the Government interest.

A little girl about six years of age was badly scalded last week at Ohinemutu, Rotorua, while playing near the boiling mud holes.

The Wnimangn geyser played to a magnificent height last week, throwing stones right over the surrounding hills. This was one of the highest bursts seen for some time.

A slight shock of earthquake was experienced throughout the North island on last Friday evening, about eleven o’clock.

The following have passed the standard examination of the New Zealand Pharmacy Board:—Section A: Messrs De Montalk and Gifford (Auckland). Section B: Messrs Delaney, Haslett, and Neill (Auckland). The Wellington Grocers’ Union has resolved to petition Parliament in favour of the passing’ of a Bill for six o’clock closing, the time being extended to nine o'clock on Saturdays. Other industrial unions throughout the colony arc to be asked to cooperate.

A circular has been issued by the Brigade Office to country corps of the Auckland volunteer district, notifying that they will be expected to parade in town on Coronation Day to assist in the celebrations now being arranged. The military programme has not yet been mapped out.

While pig hunting at Wharekopae, forty miles from Gisborne, last week, Percy Stephenson, aged 19, was accidentally shot dead by his mate, Harold Warren. Stephenson was sitting on the bank of a ereejt, when Warren came up with his gun eneke-d. The charge exploded, entering the deceased's head from a distance of onlythree yards, killing him instantaneously.

Cabinet has decided to pay the salaries of relieving teachers in State schools for the first quarter of the present year, and 6d a head on the average daily attendance from the beginning of the present quarter until Parliament makes permanent arrangements.

Rerewhakaitu, an old settlement on the Kairgaroa Plains, deserted at the time of the eruption, was visited lately by a party of Rotorua shootists. Native game, hares and wild pigs were plentiful. As feathered game has been so scarce near Rotorua (says the “Hot Lakes Chronicle”), sportsmen might do worse than take a day’s i abbit-shooting at Ngatira (24 miles from Rotorua by rail), where rabbits are very plentiful.

His Excellency the Governor (Lord Ranfurly) intends visiting Kawau Island on Saturday next, and will stay the night there, returning on Sunday. This afternoon the Countess of Ranfurly gave an “At Home” at Government House, and this evening will attend the concert given by Mdlle. Antonia Dolores at the Choral Hall.

The “Rotorua Chronicle” advocates the establishment of a private sanatorium on the hills near Tarukenga, above Rotorua. “Here,” says the “Chronicle,” “sheltered by the hills, all the advantages of a clear dry atmosphere, combined with bright sunshine, could be obtained, and a most desirable temporary home for sufferers from consumption provided. Close to the railway the depressing sensation of isolation would be nvoided, while the outlook embraces a chain of beautiful lakes, with their ever-varying light and shade, and the town of Rotorua at the foot of the hill.”

Tlie Makohine viaduct (says, a Southern paper) is a far greater work than most, people imagine. To give anyone who ha’s-not seen it some idea of its size and height, take the Instance bf the girder that fell from the top the other day. This girder, Judging from the bridge below, is about 23ft. long. For gome reason it slipped while being

placed in position and fell end on into the solid ground, or until its top end was covered Bft. There arc 8424 yards of shingle in the concrete work, and about 10,000 casks of cement.

One of the pioneers of Balclutha (Otago), Mr John Finn, died recently. The deceased came to this country as one of the crew of a Nova Scotian whaler, in the year 1852. He was th.n in his teens, and after being engaged as a seaman in the coastal trade arrived at Balelutha. Deceased first found occupation as a pit-sawyer on Totara Island, the sawn timber being conveyed to Balclutha in boats. Later he was employed in boating on the river, conveying goods front the schooners that at that time used to come in at the Port Molyneux mouth of the river (obstructed by the flood of ’7B).

A visitor to Nelson says that that usually somnolent little city has been stirred. mightily lately by an assertion of woman’s rights in a new direction. A lady secured a cab and horses and entered into competition with the Jehus of the town, who at once took alarm and protested that she had not a license. This difficulty was quickly overcome, and the lady cabby entered the lists on equal terms in that respect. She has a very smart turn-out and good horses, and the fair daughter of Diana is securing all the fares she can find time to drive, while the old-timers can only look on and growl about the latest invasion of the new woman.

A feature of the Waipiro Hot Springs, on the East Coast (writes a correspondent of a Gisborne paper), is the great quantity of natural gas which exists on the surface of the ground. Go where you will round the hills you find gas oozing from the ground and a match thrown into any of the numerous crevices will give a blaze sufficient to boil a billy by. About half-a-mile from the accommodation house we came across an open space ou the fern hills, where the gas seemed to be even more jylmriifuk than elsewhere. Here we marked our initials on the ground and-throwing a match on them we" had the pleasure of seeing our names in letters of fire. 'At the corner of each letter we stuck sticks into the ground and a flame of fire shot up from each hole to the height of a foot or so, and the illuminations continued until we left the place.

Last Wednesday a number of prominent Thames citizens met at the Borough Council Chambers for the purpose of making a presentation to Mr John Watson, who for many years has been connected with the firm of Messrs Price Bros., iron founders, and who is leaving by the outgoing ’Frisco boat on a visit to Scotland. Mr Wm. McCullough, who presided, paid a warm tribute to the good qualities of Mr Watson. He wished Mr Watson a happy and prosperous voyage Home and a safe and quick return. The chairman then handed Mr Watson a valuable silver salver, suitably inscribed. Mr Watson returned thanks in an appropriate speech.

An improvement in the Waikato mail service was made on Monday last,, from which date a travelling post office will be attached to the train leaving Auckland at 9.30 a.m., and arriving at Frankton at 2.10 p.m., and to the train leaving Frankton at 10 a.m., and reaching town at 2.30 p.m. The office will con-' sist of two specially fitted up cars, and the agents on board will sort the correspondence as it comes to hand, sO that the small stations will no longer be required to make up separate mails for each station. The hurried sorting at some of the transit stations will be done away with, greater accuracy being thus secured.

Mr. W. F. Massfcy, M.H.R., speaking before the Whangarata branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, commented on the growth of the Union, which, he said, begun three years ago, now had branches from the North Cape to the Bluff, and numbered 23,000 members. He spoke of the political platform likely to be arranged at the forthcoming conference, and commented on a number of the subjects likely t > be discussed. He thought that farmers should derive greater benefit from the Agricultural Depart-

ment, which cost the colony £98,000 annually.

The Kawhia “Settler” advocates the stocking of a large portion of the Rohepotae (King Country) with deer, and says: “Had the King Country been stocked with big game some 20 or 30 years ago it would, when required for the settlement of the people, be greatly enhanced in value, as the game would break down the undergrowth, destroy the fern and spread the most valuable of the pasture herbages. We would urge upon the lovers of the finest field sport (big game hunting) that they bring their influence to work upon the Government to allow the Rohepotae to be stocked with deer.”

The officer commanding at the Cape cables that Mr Hugh Rees, of Westport, Seventh Contingent, sailed by the Aurania for. Australia. Sergt. Robinson, of the We’lington Seventh, is returning by the Tokomaru. LanceCorporal Little, of the Auckland Sixth, has been discharged from Charlestown Hospital convalescent. The Minister for Public Health has issued the following circular to all local bodies and newspapers in the colony: “In view of the continued presence of plague in Sydney and Brisbane, and the recent occurrence of a death from the disease in our own colony, it behoves everyone, private as well as public, to do everything in their power to destroy all rodents. A careful house-to-house inspection of all back yards, etc., should be undertaken by every local body. No waste food ought to be thrown upon the yard. All house refuse should be kept in a covered metal box, so that rats cannot reach it. All local authorities should institute a bi-weekly, at least, removal of all house refuse. No fowls ought to be kept unless in properly conistituted pens. Special men should be told off in every borough to trap and kill rats. It is hoped that everyone will aid the authorities in these efforts to circumscribe the sphere of disease.”

The Court of Directors of the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand has awarded to Mrs. Niccol, for rescuing persons from drowning in salt-water baths at Devonport, Auckland, on three occasions, silver medal and framed certificate. The directors- also decided to award a framed in memoriam cSrilficate to the relatives of Nora Gilmore, aged— years, who sacrificed her life in attempting to rescue another girl from drowning at Devonport, Auckland, in March last. The secretary was instructed to •write to the Mayor of Devonport drawing attention to the number of accidents, at the salt-water baths there, and suggesting that better provisions be ’made the safety of bathers.

On Monday His Excellency the Governor Lord Ranfurly, accompanied by the Hon. J. Carroll, Native Minister, and Captain Boscawen, hon. A.D.C. to His Excellency, paid a visit to St. Stephen’s Native School, Parnell. At the school they were met by Major-General Babington, Commandant of the New Zealand Forces, Mrs Babington and Captain Campbell. The boys, who were lined up outside the school, went through their gymnastic exercises and physical drill, and then performed some Maori hakas. The party then went into the school building and His Excellency presented the prizes to the successful competitors for the best essay on “The Empire.” Subsequently the school building was inspected by His Excellency and party, and he expressed himself as very pleased at aiyie saw.

The sale of work on behalf of Dr. Barnardo’s Homes was a great success, over £5O being realised; still, the weather was so bad that a number were prevented coming in, and about £3O worth of things remain, which will be sold at greatly reduced prices on Friday, 23rd. The thanks of the Barnado workers are due to Miss Rimmer and the friends who assisted her at the concert, to Mr Caughey for the loan of armchairs, etc., for the use of the Countess of Ranfurly, to Milne and Choyce, Tonson Garlick, and Mr Chapman (of Sargood’s), for donations, besides many other friends too numerous to mention. The beautiful bouquet which was presented to the Countess was the gift of Mrs J. J. Craig.