GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue III, 18 July 1903, Page 168

GENERAL NEWS.

Mr J. Walker, of Auckland, won sixty frizes in all classes at the New Plymouth poultry show last week. He scored well in Feilding also, winning amongst others the North Island championship for white fantail pigeons.

The Rotorua paper states that during the excavations on the road between Atiamuri and Orakeikorako some very pretty specimens of opal and cornelian were found, which have been sent on to Sydney to ascertain their commercial value.

During this month the Lands Department will throw open for selection 60,045 acres of land in different parts of the colony. The Auckland land <4272 acres) has already been paragraphed. In Taranaki several sections in the Rehn township. No other North Island lands are being offered.

A supply of the new wheels for the Auckland tram-cars recently arrived, and some have already been fitted to the cars. They are quieter and afford more comfort to the passengers than the old wheels. The proposal to give increased width to the new cars, which are to arrive before next summer, is favoured in the city, and the City Council last evening decided to favour the improvement.

The popular course of University lectures on ancient art, mentioned some time ago, commences on July 22, provided that not less than 40 persons are desirous of attending the series. There are to be in all some ten lectures. Lantern slides have been specially secured at Home, for the purposes of illustration, the majority being from negatives the exclusive property of the Hellenic Society. It is proposed to give the lectures on Wednesdays, and each will occupy an hour, commencing at 5 o’clock.

The other d’ay an old man, who was thought to be insane, was taken from Havelock to Blenheim. Recently he had terrified two ladies by compelling them to stand and answer a whole host of ridiculous questions. He had for a long time been worried by the presence in the creek of innumerable boulders, and used to spend many hours of the day and night in the vain effort to take out the stones. He was also accustomed to digging in his garden all night, and the ground was worked into a fine powder, but he had seldom planted any seeds or plants.

An extraordinary ease of accidental poisoning is reported from Waihou, near Te Aroha. Mr D. Russell, school teacher, and his wife and three daughters were accidentally poisoned on Monday week through a box of wax matches being put in the teapot used at tea. The youngest child, three years of age, was playing with the teapot and a box of matches, and put the box in the pot, the mistake not being discovered until the meal was nearly over. When the accident was discovered, Dr. Kenny, of Te Aroha, was sent for, and in the meantime remedies were administered. When the doctor arrived he found the family out of danger, with the exception of Mrs Russell, whose condition was serious. Dr. Kenny remained with the family all night, aud Mrs Russell’s condition had improved considerably by the morning.

The Auckland City Council last week had under consideration a letter from the new' Commissioner of Police, Mr Dinnie, concerning the recent request for more policemen for Auckland, stating that “the number of men now’ at my disposal precludes the possibility of making any addition to the present strength, but should the augmentation to the force which has been applied for be sanctioned by Parliament, it will probably enable the strength of the City of Auckland to be increased in an appreciable manner.” Councillor Parr was not satisfied with this reply. In comparison with Other cities, Auckland was certainly undermanned, and he moved, ‘"That our Parliamentary representatives be urged to interview the Minister for Justice with a view to strengthening the police foree in Auckland,” This was seconded by Councillor McLeod and carried. .

A dense fog overhunk Auckland on July 10th. It set in about seven o’clock, ■nd continued until half-past nine, during which time it was quite impossible for one to see more than a few feet ■head. The trams were scarcely discernable, even to a person abreast of them on

the footpath. In Patteson-street, Freeman’s Bay, the fog was densest, and warning bells were kept ringing on the trams continuously. A most peculiar sight was witnessed in Newton. The fog appeared to come up Ilowe-street in a solid mass, and it lifted a few feet in crossing Karangahape-road, and then sweep down into Newton gully. No interruptions are reported in the ferry services, although considerable difficulty was experienced in steering a safe course. Fog signals were being sounded at short intervals, and all vessels were driven at reduced speed. The mall steamer Ventura was something like an hour coming up from her anchorage off Campbell’s Point.

A meet of the Pakuranga Hunt Club took place at Mr. W. McLaughlin’s residence at I’apatoetoe on Saturday, but only a fair number attended. A hare was found at the other side of the avenue, aud ran to the mountain, where fresh hares were picked up. Hunting was then rather slow until late in the afternoon, when a strong hare afforded some splendid sport. He ultimately escaped in the cover. Luncheon was provided at Mr. McLaughlin’s house. As Mr. O’Rorke was absent Mr. McLaughlin acted as master of the hunt, and the followers included the Misses Kelly. Stribley, Want, Rae, Grey. Mi’s. Moody, Messrs. Lewis, Pit tar, Bullock-Webster, Carminer, Lloyd, Samuers (Wellington), Meredith, Purchas, Myers, Crawford, Wallace (2), Wood (a visitor from England). Grey, Motion (2), and Held, the four latter being from Waiuku. Those driving were Miss Smales and party, Mr. Wynne-Grey and party, and Mr. A. R. Harris, of East Tamaki.

Mr E. Ford, who died suddenly of heart disease at Wellington on July 10. was on a short visit to that town, and contemplated returning on Thursday, but was unable to do so on account of illness. Mr Culver, secretary of the Liberal and Labour Federation, went to see bun on the morning of July 10, hearing he wes ill, and was just in time to see him pass away. Mr Ford (says our Maungatoroto correspondent) has been a prominent public man for some time, and had the good of the public at heart, and he will be greatly missed in the district. The sincerest sympathy is felt for his relatives.