GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue XII, 20 September 1902, Page 728

GENERAL NEWS.

A resident of Rotorua, while digging* in his garden a few days ago, unearthed a fine slab of greenstone, which was evidently intended by the original owner for a “mere.” The “Dunedin Star,” in the course of a. recent editorial, in which reference is made to the probable outcome of the next general elections, says that no one seriously supposes that, the present Government will be superseded in December. Rotorua's famous Royal arcTi is now a. thing of the past. Tzast week the Town Council's employees commenced their work of removing the arch. It is the intention of the Tourist Department to utilise the material in the sanatorium grounds to form an entrance to the aviary. A trap containing Messrs Dec, Ramsey and Seed, driving from Kamo 1o Whaugarei on Saturday night, was run into by a horseman. All received a severe shaking. Doth shafts of the trap were carried away, while the rider's horse was severely staked. The “Outlook” last week announced that a gentleman in Dunedin, who desires to remain unknown, lias promised a donation of X 10.000 in live yearly instalments of .422000 each, towards the erection of a residential Presbyterian Theological College in the city. The Eden and Epsom Lawn Tennis* and Croquet Club hold their annual “At Home” next Thursday evening, September 18-, in St. Benedict’s Hall. A large number of acceptances have Lien received by the lion. secretary, and everything points to this function being one ot the most successful of the season. A fatal whaling accident has occurred to one of the No. 3 Whaling Company's boats. Norfolk Island. While fast to a whale, and working- on it. the boat was struck and smashed by the flukes of a loose whale. Byron Adams, boat header, was killed, and another man slightly injured. The crew were in Ihe water for an hour before being rescued. A lTokianga is waking up (says a Northern paper) is the number of oil launches running on the river. There is one at the Heads, one at Rawene, three at l\ohukohu, and one at Mangamuka, also one at Tah(‘ke. so that Hokianga has quite a small fleet of miniature steamers besides Messrs. Bindon's s.s. Energy. Dr. Wohlinan, the Government Balneologist, wants to know what reason there is in destroying thousands of acres of the loveliest bush in the world, and planting “the dirty little pinus insignus.” N. w Zealand forests are its finest assets, he says, and she is incurring liabilities by destroying them, and paying for the planting\of much hideousness.

Some three tons of machinery arrived at Rotyjma last week for a new flax mill which is about to be erected about twelve miles from Rotorua, on the A tin muri-road. There Is a g'ooj supply of flax along the banks of the creeks in the neighbourhood, the cutting of which should give employment. to the natives at Horohoro and surrounding settlements.

Tenders for the new Chamber of Commerce Hall, to be erected in Swanson-street. were received and considered by the Building Commit-

tee of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, which met last week. The following were the tenders opened: J. A. Moody £2447, TV. E. Hutchison £2535, W. Philcox and Sou £2590, John Davis £2675, John Lye and Son £3034, and J. J. Holland £3040. The tender of Mr Moody was accepted, and work on the new chamber will be commenced immediately. The building is to he completed not later than February 8 next.

Yesterday (Tuesday) was the 40th anniversary of the arrival in Auckland of the ship Hanover, which with the Matilda Watenbach, conveyed the first Albertland settlers to the colony. Both ships left London on the same day, 39th May. 18G2, but the Matilda, being the smaller vessel, got here a week ahead of the Hanover, casting anchor in the Waiteraata on September 8 th, while the other ship did not reach her destination till the 16th of the same month.

A' commission consisting of Dr. Gills, Mr Boynton (Public Trustee), and Mr Gordon (Mines Department) has been appointed to deal with the adjustment of the finances between the Ohinemuri County Council and the Waihi borough, Mr Easton, tho previous commissioner, having exceeded his powers in dividing the gold duty on a. population basis. Tho proceedings will begin de novo, and the issue of an Order-in-Council, declaring the local body entitled to re reive the gold duty derived from the mines in the borough, will stand over pending the report v* the commission now appointed.

A disastrous fire occurred on Limestone Island at 2.30 a.m. on Sunday, when the whole of the cement works was destroyed. The fire is believed to have originated through the ground coal igniting. The fire was assisted by gas generating rapidly, and it spread throughout the works. The morning shift working had a narrow escape.'

The loss is estimated at between .£20.000 and £25,000. The insurance at the present is unknown. Forty men have been thrown out of work, and various contracts to supply cement. are incomplete.

It is not known as yet what damage was done to the machinery. The miil employed over fifty men.

A Bucharest telegram, published in the London “Express,” states that the Minister of Public Instruction has issued an order forbidding the use of corsets' by girls in any of the Roumanian Government schools. The head mistress of each school will ba held responsible for the carrying out of this rule, it being suggested by the authorities that she and her assistants should set their pupils a good example by Rot wearing- corsets themselves. The pupils are furious at this order of the Government, and are backed up by 'the younger governesses, who are up iu arms against what, they consider an infringement of the rights of women. Of the late Mr. D. C. Wilson, engineer and surveyor of Whangarei, a correspondent of the “Northern Advocate” writes:—“When a young man he was never more at home than in the wilds of the bush; and at his best could climb the tallest frees to see the lay of the country, going up a rata vine, monkey-like, hand over hand. Seldom lost in the trackless forest, he had a splendid nerve. The bush to him was a written book. In the year 1857. in the Kaipara, when there were only a few Europeans on the Otamatea. he was thrown among the natives. Being on a survey party with his brother he went with the young natives to swim in the great rivers, and fish, and hunt pigs, becoming an expert boatman and aquatic, and also be&me perfectly familiar with the Maori language, customs and songs.”

On Saturday before last Magnus Boss, 13 years of age, son of Mr Andrew Hoss, of Victoria avenue, was working in a garden belonging to Mr S. Smith, and about three o'clock he received a shot in the leg. The boy, wlxo was hidden front view by a clump of pines, saw nobody about, though several people state that they heard a sot at the time. Dr. A. (1. Purehas was called in, and found that a sipall bullet had passed right

through the ealf of the boy’s leg. A man named Spratt, working some 150 yards away, says he heard a. bullet whiz past him, but so far the police enquiries have failed to discover where the shot came from. The boy is getting on well. It is thought that the bullet probably came from a pea-rifle fired bv some bovs.

At an enquiry in Sydney concerning the missing steamer Quiraing, which left Newcastle for Duedin some time ago, and was never heard of again. Caribou, a donkeyman, stated he left the vessel owing to the fact of a large quantity of water having been found below just before she sailed on her last voyage. There were two feet of water in the hold, four feet in the engine-room, and two feet in the bunkers. The vessel’s hatches were too open, and with heavy seas the water got below. Gardner, a fireman, stated that he left the Quiraing because of the water below. Smith, late third engineer, considered the vessel iu every way seaworthy. ■' Edmunds, a sailor, said he left the vessel because he did not. think her safe. lie told the captain his reason. He alleges that the latter replied, “I wish I could do the same myself.” The enquiry has been adjourned. The rise of price in coal and ship’s stores and the rise in wages have caused the Northern Steamship Company to make a slight, increase of fares to all places, and an increase of frieght to nearly all places, to which their boats run. The increase, on passenger fares is about 10 or 12 pei- cent. The increase on cargo rates varies to different places, that to Opotiki being as follows: —Coal and manures, previously charged 10/ a ton, increased to 12/6; timber, from 2/ to 2/6; wheat from 1/ to 1/3, and oats, from 1/ to 2/ per saek. The increase came into operation toward the end of last month, and is in line with the increase of rates that has been general among the shipping companies recently.

The local secretary for Trinity College, London, reports that upwards of fifty entries have been received for the halfyearly examination in theory of music to b- held at Auckland in December next. Entries close on Tuesday next. The following summary of the results of t-he practical examination held last week by Mr Alfred Mistowski, visiting examiner' for Trinity College, will be of interest, to students lend teachers of music: Bas’d. Fa’l’d.

Dr. Wohlmann, Government balneologist, has been reporting favourably on the thermal springs of Te Aroha. On Friday and Saturday last he inspected the district, in company with Mr Corlett, the inspector of works at Rotorua, and pronounced the Te Aroha drinking waters superior to any others which he had examined in the colony. The water from a hot mineral spring- which came into existence shortly before Dr. Wohlmann’s visit will, the doctor believes, prove superior to the water of the famous Octagon spring. Dr. Wohlmann arranged for the development, of several springs by excavating, and for the measurement of the flow and analysis of the water. He also expresed the opinion that the hot water tunnel which supplies some of the baths would serve admirably for the formation of vapour baths. Dr. Wohlmann will shortly submit a written report to his Department stating the developments he advises. He is now at Rotorua.

Princess Radziwill, it is reported, has been giving some trouble to the authorities of the House of Correction, Capetown. She is stated to have taken advantage of the comparative freedom of movement which was allowed her to practice her gifts of fascination upon one of the workmen. Ultimately she entrusted the artisan with a missive to a wellknown professional gentleman in the town, asking him to visit her disguised with auburn wig and beard to discuss certain matters connected with her imprisonment. The letter,

however, did not reach its destination, the workman having conveyed it straight to the prison authorities. The pj-incess was naturally disappointed when instead of her friend with golden locks she was interviewed by a magistrate armed with the terrors of the law.

The first annual report of the Department of Industries and Commerce has been presented to Parliament. The report states that notwithstanding the great quantity of oats inspected and graded, including 115,907 tons of oats for the army supply in South Africa, not a single complaint has been received as to the quality or condition of the grain that has been passed. A similar remark applied to the inspection of hay and tinned meat purchased by the Imperial authorities in the colony. Considerable discussion on the frozen meat trade is being carried on in the colony at present, a suggestion being made that all freezing works should be run on co-operative lines in the interests of the farmers, and in some instances State control is strongly advocated. In the opinion of the Department the number of ports of discharge should be materially increased, and the number of consignees reduced. Steps should be taken to secure the discharge of frozen meat at Liverpool, Bristol. Manchester, and Glasgow, also at South African ports. This would relieve the pressure in London, open up other extensive markets, and to some extent do away with the enormous number of London brokers and salesmen who by their competitive efforts, are prejudicing values. Unless some combination is effected regarding the disposal of New Zealand, meat the Government are advised, for the benefit of the producers, to consider the situation with a view to bringing about better conditions, both as regards the disposal and the regulation of supplies. Any increase, in the number of ports of delivery of frozen meat would carry the same advantages to our exports of butter, cheese, frozen ‘ rabbits, flax and other produce.

A very foolhardy attempt to break and enter a shop at Devonport was frustrated early last week. Two men, Messrs Antonio Martin and Geo. Thompson, who reside next to Lowe s draper's shop, Victoria-road, heard a noise as of sawing proceeding from the front door of their neighbour’s establishment shortly after four o'clock in the morning. Suspecting that a burglary was being attempted they state that they quietly proceeded round to the residence of Constable Miller and notified him of what they had, heard. They returned with the constable to the spot, and found a person down on his hands and knees boring through the front door. Constable Miller immediately closed with the would-be burglar, threw him, when, after struggling a little, he-said, “Don’t shoot, Miller. I'll be quiet.” He was then handcuffed, and on a light being procured was recognised as a lad named George Andrew Percy Johnston, seventeen years of age, the son of a local resident. After being handcuffed Johnston said, “I wanted money to go to America. I wish I had waited till I got it honestly. The tools are my father’s;; take me to my mother.” In the doorway were found a brace and bit, a keyhole saw, and in the pockets of accused a piece of candle acd some matches. There were a series of augur holes, eighteen in number, extending three-fourths of the way round the lock, and connected by means of cuts with the keyhole saw. Johnston was taken to the loek-up and was brought before the Auckland Police Court and charged with attempting to break and enter into the.shop of John Lowe, at Devonport, with intent to steal therefrom. Sergt. Hansen, who represented the police, applied for a remand until Wednesday next, which was not opposed by Mr Alexander, who represented accused. Bail was allowed in two sureties of £5O each.

Higher examination (piano) 1 1 Senior division (piano) 21 3 Intermediate division (piano, violin and singing) 22 6 Junior division (piano and singing) 13 9 Preparatory grade (piano and violin) 31 10 Total 88 29