GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XX, 16 May 1903, Page 1359

GENERAL NEWS.

11l an Auckland drapery establishment the assistants’ started an antislang club, with a comprehensive tariff, but the laudable effort quickly lapsed owing to the ruinous strain upon the members’ finances.

Mr 11. Collins’ horse, Tide Wave, while being ridden at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting, fell at a tricky fence and broke its neck. Mr Collins sustained concussion of the brain, but recovered consciousness at the hospital.

The estate of the late Hon. W. Swanson is valued at £60,000. The property is divided amongst the members of his family, and the Public Trustee, who has been appointed administrator, is instructed to realise the property and divide it as speedily as possible.

Devonport Borough is estimated to have a capital value of £ 405,659 in property. The borough rates on. unimproved value, and anticipates receiving from the property on the threepence-three-farthings rate the sum of £1321 4/3, the rateable value of the propertv being £211,394.

A peculiar accident occurred to a Nelson resident. While some coal was burning in a grate, th ire war a sudden explosion of such force as to scatter pieces of fuel in all directions. One piece was driven completely through thick clothing into the leg of one of the occupants of the room. The wound inflicted was a Very painful one.

Mr Laurenson, M.H.R., writes reminding the readers of the Lyttelton “Times” that C'apt. Patrick Gilroy, who died at the Blui a few days ago, was none other than the famous whale fighter immortalised by Frank Bullen in “The Cruise of the Cachalot.” Mr Bullen dwells with patriotic pride on Captain Gilroy, who, he says, was unsurpassed as a whale fisher or seaman by any Yankee.

“The Talkeries,” Wellington, so well known as importers on a very extensive scale of phonographs, graphophones, records, etc., insert a new advertisement in this issue which will well repay perusal by all interested in these matters. The firm confine themselves exclusively to this one line of business, and being direct importers are able to offer anything in their line at the lowest possible prices, whilst their stock is thoroughly up-to-date and being added to by every mail.

The Premier makes the following announcement in regard to old age pensions. Compared with what was paid to March 31, 1902, there is for the financial year just closed an increase of only £3OOO for the year. From this must be deducted £lO5O refunds by Courts paid to the Public Account, and £7OO due in 1902, but paid this year, which reduces the increase to £ 1250. In other words the expenditure of 1902 has been held in hand. This amounts to a saving on the estimates of something like £ 10,000. The number of pensioners on the rolls on March 31, 1902, was 12,776, and the number on the rolls on March 31, 1903, was 12,557, a decrease of 219.

The memory of the late Miss McLeod, one of the most popular and highly respected school teachers who held the position of infant mistress at Churchstreet school, Ponsonby, will be usefully perpetuated by scholarships open to children attending the State or any private school in Ponsonby. This was decided last night at a meeting of the committee, which was recently appointed for the purpose, Mr D. B. McDonald presiding. Sub-committees were appointed to carry out the details, and it is to be hoped that the scheme will meet with complete success.

Colonel Porritt, of Paeroa, has received a telegram from the Premier, stating that he would be pleased to unveil the Bradford memorial at Paeroa on Saturday, the 16th May, if the time suited. Mr Porritt has replied, agreeing to the date, and fixing 3 p.m. on the 16th for the ceremony. The No. 1 Ohinemuri Rifles and the school cadets will hold a daylight parade, and the battalion band will also be in attendance. It is intended to ask the business people to observe a half-holiday, and at the meeting of the County Council on Thursday afternoon last it was decided to co-operate with the Citizens’ Committee in the ceremony, and no doubt the Council will take steps to suitably entertain the Right Hon. the Premier on the occasion ©f his visit. - " -

An English tourist, who has been in almost every habitable part of the globe, speaking to Mr Donne, Superintendent of the Tourist Department, the other day said the panoramic view from One Tree Hill, Auckland, surpassed anything he had seen in his travels. To his mind, the view from Mount Eden, though undoubtedly a magnificent one, could not compare with that from One Tree Hill. Alotgetber, he described Auckland district as “a really magnificent one from a globe trotter’s point of view.”

Dr. Pomare, accompanied by Mr Jas. Mackay, has been inspecting the Maori settlement at Paeroa, inquiring into the sanitary conditions, and in an interview with our Paeroa correspondent, he expressed himself very strongly on the absolute want of pure water in all the settlements, owing to the Ohinemuri river, on the banks of which the natives live, being used as a sludge channel. The doctor says he will not cease to urge upon the Government the urgent necessity of this matter until it is remedied. Several natives have died within the last few weeks of supposed fever, and another Maori suffering from typhoid fever was yesterday sent to the Thames Hospital by order of Dr. Pomare.

The City Council and the Tourist Department, are taking steps to open up the People’s Park at Nihotupu and make it attractive and accessible. The Tourist Department have given £5O, and the Council £ 10 for this purpose, and it has been decided to cut paths through the park to the points of interest, to make suitable camping places so that picnic parties may light fires without danger to the bush, and generally to improve the park as a recreation ground for the Auckland people. The city engineer has been instructed to prepare plans for the improvement of the park.

In this issue Mr Chas. M. Gummer, of Karangahape-road, has an advertisement which will repay perusal. Mr Gummer has recently started business at 142, Karangahape-road, as importer of cycles, sporting goods, gramophones and the latest electrical and other novelties. Mr Gummer is also sole agent in New Zealand for the Coventry Works Company, of Birmingham Cycle and Motor Manufacturers, and the Melink Manufacturing Company, Toledo, Ohio, who manufacture fire and water-proof safes, specially adapted for household use and small businesses. He is also sole agent for Dr Melcher’s shower bath yoke, which is far ahead of the ordinary shower. Illustrated pamphlets and circulars will be forwarded to any address upon application. A speciality is being made of country business, and any orders sent by post will be promptly and carefully attended to.