AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 15, 13 April 1910, Page 5

AUCKLAND.

Advances to Workers. Since the Ist January this year no advances have been made locallx to workers under the Act. All applications have been refused without reason, and Mr. Poland has been moving in the matter. He inframed our W’aihi correspondent last week that the Department has decided to continue loan* to local workers, providing the dwellings, are to be erected in each instaneve. Hitherto, loans weregranted for additions, purchases of residences, and paying off mortgages. Native Schools. Bishop Averill returned from his East Coast tour last -week, ami went on to Napier. The Bishop expressed himself as highly delighted with his visit and the interest shown in church work by the Maoris of the East ('oast. He was particularly impressed with the work of the native school teachers, whom he had seen under different seta of circumstances. He had stayed with them, and visited them in their homes and schools, and was quite confident that they were doing splendid work educationally. socially, morally, ami religiously. They were exercising a great influence Imtli in and out of the schools, and •their work was one of the Iwst elements he had encountered. He greatly appreciated their work on behalf of the

Maoris, and considered it to be one of the most striking things he had witness ed on the coast. Gisborne Hi«h School. 1 he Hon. Geo. Fowlds on Thursday performed the ceremony of opening the now High School building. There was a large attendance. The proceedings were favoured with glorious weather. The Minister approved the decision oi the governors to establish a school on broad modern lines. Under the proposed scheme about three-fifths of the work will be common to all courses, the remainder being more or less specialised. It was an attempt to provide reasonable, efficient secondary education fur all sections of (he community. Death of IMv. W. Williams. On Saturday, at Okahukura. Mr. W yvern Williams, son of Mr. T. C. William*. <-f Auckland, was fatally shot by a rifle. An inquest was held on Sundty, before Mr. L. P. Beer oft, coroner, and a verdict was returned that deceased came to his death by the accidental discharge of a rille while in his own hands. It appears that Mr. Williams made up a party to go out and shoot some wild cattle. The others went on and left the deceased behind, cleaning his rifle. Apparently the weapon, which was a magazine rifle, was loaded, and in handling it an accidental explosion fol lowed. I'he sound of a shot was heard, and on rushing back, deceased was found lying on the ground, with a bullet wound in the left breast. Death was instantaneous. The body was brought to

Helenaville by launch, and then by train to Auckland. ' • News of the accident reached Auckland On Saturday evening. Immediately the news came through, Mr. E. Williams, a brother of the deceased, left Auckland for llelensville by special train, accompanied by Dr. Murray. They had no sooner left, however, than a further telegram arrived, stating that the accident had resulted fatally. The late Mr. Wyvern Williams was 39 years of age, and was the third son of Mr. T. C. Williams, at present residing at “ Wickford,” Princes-street, Auckland. He was married in July last to Miss Mason, of Hastings. The body ■was brought to Auckland, and the funeral took place this afternoon. Okahukara, the scene of the accident, is one of the Williams’ properties, which the deceased gentleman managed. A Sportsman’s Paradise. ’According to an Auckland sportsman, Mr. Hallyburfon Johnstone, of Howick, the Ifaurangi forest reserve, near Martinborough, is a deer stalkers’ paradise. Mr. Johnstone was accompanied by his brother, Mr. Lindsay Johnstone. They took with them supplies for three weeks, but returned to Wellington in three days, having in that short period shot the full number of stags allowed by law. Two royals, four “ elevens,” and two “ tenpointers,” were secured, all bring head? worth preserving. Mr. 11. .Johnstone states tlmt this is his fifth season of deer-.sta Iking in the 11 aura ng i forest, and he has never seen stags so plentiful before. Tuahiue lighthouse. A visit paid last week to the Tuahine lighthouse by the ('hairman of the Harbour Board and th<‘ District Engineer, confirms the opinion that the position of the tower is unsafe, and that it should l>c removed immediately, acs the whole point is liable to slip into the sea. Coal Mine Fire. The Kimihia Coal Mine, a small mine belonging to the Taupiri Coal Company, and employing three pairs of miners, haft been closed down for about a week, owing to a fire having been discovered in the mine. The underground workings cover a large area, as at, one time quite a number of men were employed there. Every effort has been made to check the fire by building up the drive at the mouth of the mine, but it is understood that these have not been entirely successful. As the location of the fire is under Kimihia Ixike, a large expanse of water, there is a danger of a subsidence. ‘Mine-Inspector Boyd Binnie was here last week in connection with the matter. Mr. \\ . J. Ralph. one of the directors of the Taupiri Coal Mines Company. seen by our representative, said the outbreak in question occurred in the old Taupiri Reserve Mine, which has been in work for a period of about 30 years. It, was practically worked nut, the main heading having run to stone, and the abandonment of the mine has been under consideration, only three pairs of men having been engaged there for some time past. The fire itself, Mr. Ralph says, has originated from spontaneous combustion, owing to a fallen roof in a portion of the old workings. Every precaution has been taken since the outbreak to cope with the lire, and a series of brick stoppings has been constructed, which will confine it to within an area of 30ft. or 40ft. It is considered that it will smother out as soon as the air is cut off. Very little coal was being taken from the old working, Mr. Ralph says, and it will not in any way affect the output from the Taupiri Company’s chief mines at Huntly. rhe seem* of the present outbreak is about two miles away from the mini’s in question, the workings being located right under the Kimihia l«»ke. The Sisters of Mercy, The diamond jubilee of the establishment of the Order of »‘>isters of Mercy in Auckland was celebrated last week. On April 9, 1850, Bishop Ponipallier, with seven Sisters of Mercy, arrived in Auckland, which Rev. .Mother Cecilia Maher 'described in one of her letters an “a singular-looking town, partly in a valley and partly straggling up a hill; wooden houses, streets marked, and grass everywhere.” The enterprising and self-aacri-ficing baud of Sisters left Dublin on

August 8, 1849, for London, thence tG Antwerp, from which place they embarked on August 27 in the ship Oceanica. After a long and perilous journey they landed in Sydney, and were the guests for several days of the Benedictine Sisters. A quiet sail of some weeks brought them to Auckland, which they sighted on April 7, 1850. On the 9th the Sisters landed on the beach, where all the inhabitants came to welcome them. The subsequent works of the Sisters of Mercy are well known. The parent house, St. •Mary’s Convent, Ponsonby, takes its place among the educational institutions of the Dominion. A new convent is now in contemplation. A diamond jubilee bazaar is to take place at the end of the vear.