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Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 39, 15 February 1905, Page 4

The following is Captain Edwin' 3 weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day: —"Moderate to strong winds from between south-east and east and aorth-east; glass fall." Messrs Henderson and MaeHirlane. the local agents, are in receipt of cable advice stating that the mail steamer Ventura arrived at San Francisco from Auckland, Tia the Islands, at 10 pjn. on Monday last, six hours late. Tho death is announced ■of Captain Nigel Ivan Markham, at Bruern itbbey, Chipping Norton (England). The deceased was the son of Admiral Sir Albert Hastings Markham, of the British Navy, and was well known here. He took an active part in volunteering matters, and was Acting-Commander of the Newton Rifles, and later on Adjutant of the No. 1 Battalion, Auckland Infantry, in which position he rendered good service. The late Captain Markhajn was one of the first to volunteer for active service with the Sixth New Zealand Contingent for South Africa, beinjj appointed to the command of the sixteenth compauy, which left for the front in the s.s. Cornwall, arriving in South Africa early in March. After gaining the distinction of being mentioned in despatches, his health broke down, and he was invalided Home. While in Auckland the deceased married Miss E. Firth (daughter of the late Mr J. C. Firth), who is residing in Auckland at present. The news of Captain Markham's death will be received with universal Tegret. The secretary of the Harbour Board (Mr J. M. Brigham) has received notification from M-essrs. Ferguson (of Wellington) and Hay (of Dunedin) that they have agreed to the request of the Board to visit Auckland and furnish a report on Mr Hamer's scheme of harbour improvements. The Board will consider the question of terms at the meeting on Tuesday next. Messrs. Ferguson ✓and Hay expect to reach Auckland early in March. The Coroner (Mr Gresham) remarked this morning that no payment was allowed to hotelkeepers for the use of rooms for inquests if they were within a radius of two miles from a morgue. The frequent inquests held at the Criterion' and Gleeson's Hotels carried, therefore, no remuneration for the licensees. In more civilised towns a court-room was attached to the morgue. In order to destroy horses or other animals which may become incapacitated in public thoroughfares, the Wellington Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have decided to obtain Seigmond'a mask, an appliance which is fitted on to the head of the animal, which can then be killed without endangering the life or limbs of • |>ersons in public streets. Emanuel Turner, 89 years of age, who lived alone in Bathgate-street, South Dunedin, was found dead seated in a chair yesterday. Turner left a considerable sum of money. He had £2123 in the Union Bank, *£100 in the Post Office Savings Bank, and £33 7/ in the house. He had been a shepherd anU, musterer for many years. So far as is known he had no relatives, but s bundle; of letters dating , back to 184G has been handed to the Public Trustee. What -might have been a very serious trap accident occurred at Raglan on Friday last, when Mr J. N. Pegler, J.P., Acting-CoroneT. and Constable McCarthy were returning from holding an inquest at Te Mata. The horse bolted coming down a hill. The trap capsized, and both men were thrown heavily to the ground. Mr Pegler was stunned and badly bruised about the face. The constable was not much the worse. Another buggy was obtained by Mr Somerset, near whose place the accident happened, and Mr Pegler was brought in to Raglan, where he was attended by Dr. Sanders, and is now progressing favourably. Devonport will be en fete from Wednesday of next week, when the "Village Fair" will be open. It will be held on the Devonport football ground, which is a most delightful, secluded and shady spot, and will remind those from the Old Country of the English fairs with their rollicking fun, lively side shows, novel entertainments, noise and bustle. The grounds are being specially illuminated with gas, and as the through ticket from town includes a pleasant trip across the harbour as well as admission to the grounds, many thousands should be induced to attend. A theatre is being specially fitted up and the performances will include a genuine Christy Minstrel performance, "Chiselling," several farces, and fancy dancing, while among the side shows will be a juggler, conjuror, art gallery, containg many contributions by artiste from England, Punch and Judy, Aunt Sally, merry-go-round, and the usual host of enter taiaen.

At Hawera yesterday, Tutangi Waionui, a chief at Paereroa, was sentenced to five months' hard labour for perjury. The case arose over denials concerning the supplying of native women with ■liquor. Two otlier natives charged with perjury were discharged. Recently the Department of Agriculture received a letter from a Pujiedin resident, who • advocated the mtroduc tion of a consignment of English mag-r-ies with the idea of keeping down the sparrow pest. It appears that magpies have already been introduced, and that they are to be found in several purts of Wellington. The question was referred to Mr. T. W. Kirk Government biolosist, who oposed the proposal, as he thought the introduction of the birds would result in more harm then good. He wrote on the subject to Professor Theobald, of the Wye Agricultural College, and economic zoologist to South Kensington Museum, who , says: "Although 1 have never lived where magpies have been very abundant, as they are in Holland, I must say that, as a general friend of birds, I do not like the magpie at all. He ii an arrant thief, and I am sure you would be doing wrong if you allow Ins intjoduction into New Zealand. As to t*«ir destruction of sparrows, I am convinced that th£ bird is of no use whatever. Only once do I remember seeing magpies nesting near a farmhouse in Norway, and I quite well remember seejng many sparrows there, too. The magpie does some good by eating snails, slugs, and some small rodents; but hia evil habits in taking chicks, young game, poultry, and game eggs, etc.. more than counterbalance the Tittle good he may do. No doubt a few small birds' eggs are also taken but the magpie likes the farmyard best, and it has even been recorded by Lord Milford as attacking an old donkey, and feeding on it after the animal's death. I have had four weeks' old chickens killed by magpies, and, speaking generally to you as a naturalist and countryman, I say emphatically don't think of allowing his introduction." An accident occurred on the railway at Kingsland on December 10, a train running into a cart containing two men and a child. The child and one man escaped injury, but the other man received a scalp wound. The Railway Department proceeded to summon Charles Henry Page, the driver of the cart, for driving over the railway crossing in Onslow-road at o£her than a walking pace, and failing to comply with the notice, "Stop, look out for the engine," exhibited at the crossing. The case came before Mr. S. E. McCarthy, S.M., in the Police Court this morning, when Mr. Skelton, who represented the Rcilway Department, asked that it should be withdrawn, as they were not satisfied that the evidence would sustain the charge. The magistrate agreed, and declined to grant costs to the defendant, the information having been issued by the police. A very sudden death occurred at Te Mata on Thursday morning, when Mr. Thomas McCarten, who was on a visit to his half-brother, Mr. E. Brown, drop- , per dead- The deceased was going across a paddock with a young son of Mr. Brown's, and was whistling as he went along, when he fell down on his knees, and in a short time rolled over and expired. Mr. McCarten had come up from Methven, Canterbury, with his mother, nud intended returning in a few days. At the inquest if was shown that the had suffered from rheumaticfever, ftid the doctor who attended him said that heart complications had subsequently been the result. A narrow escape from drowning was experienced by Mr J. Hally, solicitor, while bathing in the Waikato River. Mr Hally was swimming with a number of others, and had separated himself from his companions, and was swimming outside the fenced On trying to regain the shore the current was too much for him, and becoming exhausted he threw up his hands and called for help. Messrs. A. Dodd and E. Palmer swam out to his assistance, and managed to keep Hally above the surface until Mr A. MeNeish also went out and assisted to get him ashore. But for the timely assistance rendered Hally would have very probably lost his life. Mr W. Nieholl, the pioneer mining prospector of the Ohinemuri goldfield, had a remarkable escape from drowing last Wednesday. Hβ left Port Whangamata alone in an open boat at daylight last Wednesday morning for Bowentown, about fifteen miles distant. ' After being buffeted about in the open sea for 18 hours, having to use the oars almost continuously, the sails being useless, he reached Homunga Bay some time after midnight. In desperation he attempted to beach the boat through a tremendous surf. The craft capsized, and Mr Nieholl was thrown beneath it. Succeeding rollers washed the man and boat up on to the beach. He succeeded in extricating himself from the boat, and, in a terribly exhausted condition, managed to crawl up the beach out of the reach of the waves. He was found by some natives next morning, who gave him food and drink. Mr Nieholl "is now very little the worse for his exciting adventure. The City Valuer submitted to the City Council yesterday the valuation lists for the year 1905-1906. He reported that the increased assessments over ' ist year totalled f 18,093. This amount vas made up from the following ■Igiires: New properties, f8,190: inreases in old values, £9903. The . ratable value for 1904 was £406,688 and i for the coming year the total amount is j £424,781. These values are, of course, j subject to revision in the Assessment Court. Entries for the Auckland Swimming Club's gala close to-night at the Amateur Sports Club Rooms. Applications are invited for positions of assistant masters and mistress for the Palmerston North High School.