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Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 36, 11 February 1905, Page 4

Entities in connection -with the Birkenhead Show close on Monday evening eext at the "W-esleyun Schoolroom,. Birkenhead.

A special meeting of the Birkenhead Boioßgk Council will be held on iionday evening to 'appoint their representative on the Harbour Board for the ensuincr year.

Tenders have been accepted by the trustees of the Birkenhead Alefcfiodist Church for re-rooiing a«l, painting the building inside and out. The funds will he provided out of cbe sum raised by tuc recent bazaar and gift Sunday. It has been decided to light tbe bn'ilding ■with gas. and special collections will be taken up for that purpose at to-morrow's services. Owing to the church undergoing repairs the services for the next two S-andays will be held in the large schoolroom adjoining.

At a meeting of the Palme rston Xorth Chamber of Commerce a -motion wa-s passed urging the Government to get a special appropriation from next Parliament for the prosecution of the North Island Main Trunk railway with greater expedition tljan at present. It was decided to work up' nu agitation in the Southern portions of the island with that end in view.

Northcoto residents are moving in the direction of procuring an Ashiord litter, to be stationed there, so that it may be. always available for the conveyance to tho hospital or their homes of "any who are suffering from the efl'eots of accident or sudden illness. At the request of the secretary of the Si. John Ambulance Association, ilrs Lawrence Clow has kindly consented to receive donations towards the cost of procuring , an Ashiord litter, which will ba about £20.

A Press Association telegram states thai Captain Post leaves Wellington for Sydney this afternoon for the purpose of bringing over the training vessel Sparrow to Wellington. In Sydney Captain Post expects to pick up a "runner-"' crew, leaving towards the end of the month. When opportunity oiFej-s. every use will be made iof the ship's canvas.

The Paeroa-Waihi railway is being pushed on. but to keep up with the ■work a number of bridge cnrnenler.t are required. Applications for work in this capacity will be received by Mr Ferguson of the labour Department.

Captain W. Ross, master owner oftiw harmientine Ysabrl, which arrived from llio yesterday afternoon, \w ill port at Tongs when the High Commissioner visited the i.-tand kingdom to investigate certain ("oinplaints with results already known. Captain Ross was called by ilie Higii (.'ouiniissioner. and muds a lengthy statement as to the disabilities under which >7e\v Zealand vessels calling at '1 oppi had laboured. The Commissioner heJd that the complaints made were well founded, and it is understood that better treatment will be meted out to trading vessels in the future.

The barquentine Ysabel, which arrived from an island cruise yesterday afternoon, does not look any the worse for the terrible experience she had in the recent hurricane at Xiue. The strength of the storm proved her staunchness, and with the advantage of a linev. wither trip home. Captain Koes brought his vessel iuto port looking her neatest, lie does not can- to say much

! :bout the hurricane, n brief account of which we have already re.eerved by mail. l"ho trying pari •of it was the wholoome horror which the tempest impressed upon the native passengers, who. in thf- imminence (if what seemed to them to lie inevitable death, evinced the utmost terrcr. The N'UC natives, it appears, have no religion and no idea of a Supreme Being, but have some vague conception i>f a devil, and their outlook in the moment of peril was extremely Wack. During the storm Captain Ross was astonished to sen one after another of the natives throwing articles nviTfcoa.nl. Oh asking their reason for this he was told that these were articles lluit hud been stolen. The liurricane raised a perfect wall of water, which was carried a considerable distance inland, and caus•m] much damage. Ktrtrmately for the Niun natives, they have a stand-by in hat-making when' the crops have been damaged, and the results of the storm ire not likely to cause them any perious distress. A very interesting lecture was given uv Mrs "Matthew Gilmour am garden ■Arty held at -Mr H. K. UHiuaur's restrlence. llowiek, on Tuesday last. Mrs ■jilmour described the manners, cu.sLoins and modes of life of the natives Inhabiting the islands to the. south of N'pw Guinea in a bright and clever manner. eu<ra;ring for some two hoars the mention of n large audience. The rain-making tohungas, patching fish by '■cite-ilving, bait-trailing on the surface of the sea. were described in graphic language. Implements ingeniously made by the natives were exhibited and adniired. Many amusing s'.-ories were told of the habits of the natives. It -was stated that presents were brought long iistances during droughts, Irdt iiie rain■uaker eo-uld never bo satisfied, the ra;n ucinp worth much more, and the longer rho drought the more numerous tlie presents. On one occasion he was tJieat--?n-ed with death, but he toid the natives hat if he was killed they would never have rain any more. The Rev. Warlow Oavirs. in returnin°r t.hatik.-. pointed out the , modesty o.f the lady's address. which contained not a word about the Irawbaclcs of missionary life and the trapic'eide of the work, instancing the fate of his friend, .Mr Chalmers. He r>aid a hiirh compliment to all concerned : n providing- the pleasant afternoon's enjoyment. Mr and Mrs Gihnour ihon entertained the purty with rp.frcs.Uments on the lawn. — (Howiek Vorrrsponde.nt.)

llis Honor Judge Haseldeii. speskin™ at the Taranaki District Court, said a man with land and stock in his wife's name could not go through the Bankruptcy Court easily. Be would have to explain everything. But a man who has his property in his own name and could show where and how losses occurred, and that he had given up all hp had i*ot to satisfy the creditors so far a« it ■would eto, would get the assistance of the Court.

Mr A. Ros<\ Collector of Customs, is advised that the Government steamer Hinereoa left Wellington yesterday for Northern lighthouses via the East Coast, and should reach Auckland oil Wednesday next.

Mr E. Gerard lef* Auckland in the Talune to-day for Gisbome.

A large party left the wharf on an excursion trip in Capt. Skinner's nw ausiliary schooner Kaeo this morning. The boat is visiting seveml places of interest in the Gulf, and -will return to the wharf about sundown.

A challenge race between the crack motor yachts Union and Slim Jim was ■Arranged t-o take place this afternoon. The course is the same as the squadron launches took last Saturday, and both boats are starting from scratch.

A special meeting of the Auckland Swimming Club "will be. held at the Amateur Sports Club on Monday evenjing next.

Mr R. Bragato. the Government \itieulturist, has lately been visiting different parts of the Hokianga district, giving information about vines and their" management. He expressed a high opinion of the suitability of the North for successful grape-growing if it is gene about in the right way. A movement is on foot to get an experimental station established somewhere on or near the Hokianga Harbour. Several sites have been offered, but it seems probable that a reserve sat apart for the purpose many years ag" near Rangiaima will be used. Mr Bragato pronounces the soil and location to be suitable, as the section comprises several different kinds of soil, and is very accessible by water ot by land.

It. is now about a hundred years since the tragedy of the '"Boyd" in Whangarorv Harbour. At very low tides U2id calm weather a portion of the wreck can. suil 1* *ecn. A few feet of water cover it even at The lowest tides, but one sids> of the vessel can be seen, the other being apparently embedded in the mud. Several interesting relies are got oui of the wreck from time to time. Mr Gothard. of the Whangaroa Hotel, has a solid copper gudgeon, one of i-hxe.c into which the rudder had been fitted. A rumour was current lately that the Maoris -had discovered the whereabouts of a quantity of gold bars that are supposed to have been taken from the ship and hidden away at tho time when the crew were massacred. However., the natives are very reticent about it. and nothing definite can be ascertained at present.

While passing down the Hokianga Harbour a few days ago the fine Norwegian barque touched with her lofty spars the telegraph wire stretched over the Narrows at a great height and broke it, so that for a time Kohukohu was cut off from telegraphic communication with other places.

Substantial improvements have been made at Kobukohu, Hokianga. lately. The Kauri Timber Company have extended their wharf considerably, and liave installed a special fire-engine in their yard. The Government wharf has also added to. and a much larger goods-shed erected, which was badly needed. A landing stage for boats in in course of erection near the shore end of the wharf, and will be a boon to I settlers who have to use boats. Mr ! McCeohifl has Intejy erected a la-rg-e boat-building shed, and has already J a steamer on the stocks for Mr T. I Hartley. >!r Varborough ha* pni up a I new store near the post office. This I makes the fourth store in the townI ship, a.nd aLf seem busy.

Many . interesting specimens of work in kauri gum are to be met with in Auckland and tbe Northern townships. Perhaps one of the most unique is a model .steamer owned by Mrs J. Christie, sen., of WTiatrgaroa. It was made by her brother, and presented by- him io Mrs Christie, vho has refused several offers of large amounts for the curiosity. The same lady has a huge lump of gum of excellent quality, and nearly globnlar, weighing, when polished, about 7.51b5. When first dug it weighed over ninety pound;.

The Premier picnic committee have arranged with the Railway Department for a special train from Mercer at excursion rates on Saturday. 4th March. They are also negotiating for further railway concessions, the successful issue of which they hope to be in a position to aanoun.ee in the course of a few days. Entries for sports events close to-night, and the hon. secretaries will he in attendance at the Fountain of Friendship Hall, Lorne-st., up to 8.30 this evening for that purpose.

The Ferry Co. notify an excursion to St. Heliers and Rangiioto Island to-mor-

Mr T. Harle Giles. Principal of King Edward's College, Day School for Boys' and (Sir].-?'. ]/>-,vpr Symonds-Rtreet. r.otities the re-opening of his College. Xew pupils may now enrol.—Ad.

Heavy discounts in bedsteads Fullsize, round ends, heavy castings. 25/9; bras rail. 1 inch pillars. 33/6- —Tonson Oarliek".- sale. —Ad.

School p.gain! Hoo-ray! The boys can <jrt blouses from 2,'. and a very special line, extra, strong , , from 2/3.— Of course, at Geo. FotvMs, Victoria Arcade.—Ad.

Heavy discounts in rattan jroods. Pretty bamboo tables. 7/9; rattan and rash chairs. 6/U: pot stands. 2/11. —Tonson Oariick : s sale.—Ad.

He looks delighted. Yes, ne has bought natural wool undershirts from 2/11, and underpants same price, at Gco. FowHs, Victoria Arcade.—-Ad.

( ITeavy discounts in frilled muslin curtains. 18/6. reduced to 3 2/6: 24/6 reduced to 19/6. —Tonson Garlickrs !?ale. — Ad.

Special tables of remnants!— Blouse silk.s. plain and embroidered costunre linens, coloured wool dross fabrics, blade and navy serges, muslins, prints, palateas. linings, etc. all to be rieared at further reduced prices.—Smith and CaTi<rliey-'s Sunmmer Fair.—Ad.

Heavy discounts in sateen bed draperies, complete with vallance, 35/ —At Tonson Garlicky sa.lc.—Ad.