LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2093, 12 April 1898, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A reward is offered for a ring los in Whitaker Street, yesterday.

The British forces have. won a "decisive victory in the Soudan. ;

On Saturday evening week next, 18fch, at Smardon’s .Public Hall, all lovers of music are premised a treat of an exceptional kind, when Madame Shoesmith, the well-known charming* soprano, -gives her first concert here. Her reputation as a vocalist is so thoroughly well-known, that all we could say would add but litt'e to the position she already holds in her profession. Assisted as she is. by Miss Maxwell (contralto). Mr Gus. Grant (baritone) Master H. Tutschka, the famous child violinist, together with some of our leading amateurs, the bill is of such a natureasought’todrawabumperhouge The band has been retained, and we feel eon fident that in recommending our readers to make it a point to attend, we will, after the performance, receive most flattering comments on our prediction of the success of the concert.

The “■ Melbourne Herald, ”in arguing) as to the meaning of clause No. 29 of the Federal Bill which vaguely includes in “ Does it' mean, for instance,” says the writer, “ that the Parliament has the power to support the Commonwealth Ministers in a declaration of war agai use—suppose we say New Zealand—in order that *• Seddonism ’ may instantly cease,and comfort .be carried to the tortured soul of the ‘ Argus’ ? Of course it doesn’t. Yet *• external affairs ’ is a term so ample and far reaching that a desire on the part of the Imperial Parliament ta either strike out No. 29. or materially qualify it should come to none of us as a startling surprise. The narrowness of the Junction Eoad, at Paeroa, on Thursday night, was the -cause of a nasty accident, resulting- in a young lady, named Miss Carey, receiving a compound fracture of the leg. Miss Clarey,in.conjunction with Messrs. Sefton and Connelly, was being driven to the' steamer in a buggy by Mr. P. Crosby, and when about half-way down met a coach coming up. Mr. Crosby drew to the one side, but the road being-.very, narrow tho far wheels of the buggy went off the crown of the- road, and a capsize resulted. Mr. Sefton and the driver were shaken and considerably bruised, the latter par* ticularly and was compelled to receive attention at the hands of Dr Buckby. Miss Carey, however, fared worse, one> of her legs getting caught in the wheel of the buggy. Miss Carey was immediately taken to the boardinghouse of Mrs. Hawk, and promptly attended to by Dr. Forbes, and though she is doing as well as can be expected it will be some time before she is about again. . Great sytnpaby is. felt for her.

Miss Powell, - the corresponding secretary of tho Women’s Christian Temperance Union will hold a meeting of ladies tomorrow afternoon at 3 o’elock in the Wesleyan Church with a view to explaining the principles and operations of the Society, No doubt there will be a large attendance of ladies.

Mr Guthrie, of Guthrie Bros., the successful tenderers for the new Hot Springs Hotel has arrived in Te Aroha, and Mr Currie, who was expected to arrive last night is to furnish him with levels so that the work of re-erection may be proceeded with at once. A most enjoyable smoke concert was held on Saturday night in honour of tho visiting cricketers. We regret having to hold our notice .over

We are again compelled through, pressure on our space to hold over a quantity of important matter. Te Amha during the holidays was ero vded with visitors.

On Saturday night a meeting was held at the Town Hall for. the p irpose of appointing a comm' 1 tee to draw up a programme of sports to he held on Queen’s B'vthdav, Mr Reuben Parr occupying the chair. The appointment of the committee. was the only ousmess transacted. <

„ An exceptional opportunity to buy some househ Id effects cheaply, it will be seen from an advertisement in another column, is being offered by Mr D D. Macnicol to the public, of Te Aroha.

We have to call attention to the list of names of those authorised to collect subscriptions on behalf of the Queen’s Birthday Sports Committee.

Result of cricket matches and other matters have had to<be held over on account of pressure on space.

On Easterday tho Anglican Church which was beautifnlly decorated, was crowded at both the morning and evening services. In the afternoon a children’s service was well attended. The Rev Joseph Campbell conducted the services preaching sermons appro priate to the occasioa. The Choir was also largely augmented by visitorsfrom Auckland.

Mr W. Shepherd Allen, M.A., occupied the pulpit morning and evening at the Wesleyan Church on Sunday. In the evening Mr Allen preached an impressive sermon from the 16th ch., 9v., 2nd Ch. Mrs Hird sang a solo from the Messiah,.He was despised and rejected of men,” and Mr Beyers presided at the organ..

We have to call the attention of bicyclists to an ad vertisementin another column from which it will-be seen that a first-class second hand machine is now on exhibition at Messrs Mclndoe and Hill’s shoo.

A visitor says:—lf Auckland is to be benefited in that direction through her thermal springs it will be by thorough inquiry by our medical men as to the benefit of the baths. Most medical men send patients to the baths merely with the idea that the change will do them good. The medical properties of the baths ought to be thoroughly investigated,, so the wa may know if cures are likely to be permanent. I have seen some wonderful things in the way of cures, and I am convinced that medical inquiry would result in a greater flow of visitors to the: baths, •and as a result to- the city of Auckland. The miner’s heart is generally in the right places—Forty pounds has been collected by the men at the Waitekauri Company’s Golden Cross Mina for the widow of Edwin Ford accidentally killed there recently in the "shaft. A resident some time ago pointed out to us that navigation on the river Waihou between Te Aroha and Paeroa was in danger of being blocked by the exuberant growth of the willows. We observe the Matata and Rangitakei rivers are now almost blocked up with willows, in fact the growth is so great in places that there is absolutely no. passage even for a canoe.

The roeth'odist Conventian held in Trinity Wesleyan Church, Hamilton, on Wednesday, was well attended and a very interesting and instructive time was spent; Rev Dr Hosking presided in the morning, Mr J. D. Melville in the afternoon, and Mr W. S. Allen in the evening.

Messrs McNicol and Co. will hold their annual sale of turnip cattle at Ohaupo on Wednesday, 25th May ( Tuesday—usual sale day—being the Queen’s Birthday.) They will also hold their fourth Sheep Fair on Thursday, 26th May. We understand that Mr Richard! Reynolds, of Trecarne, Cambridge, who left a few months ago to take charge of an estate in Mexico, has decided not to take up his duties and will probably soon return to Waikato.

The evidence given at the D. S C. fore Enquiry reveals the fact that Auckland is but wretchedly supplied with fire extinguishing appliances. The plant experts declare is a L miserable ’ one and only fit for a third or fourth rate town ; quite inadequate for a eity like Auckland. Of the £IOO,OOO worth of property lost by fire since Christmas £6.0,000 would have been saved had an efficient alarm-system been in operation.

It is some twelve months ago since the Te Aroha News began to advocate the conversion of our township district into a borough in view of the impossibility of carrying out needed schemes of reform until our borrowing powers were enlarged. It was Mr Cad man’s suggestion as the best way out of , the difficulty, and we embraced it as providing the only feasible solution of the difficult problems confronting any attempts by us to secure a water supply for Te Aroha, and making the most of our more valuable assets. From a report appearing in another column, it will be seen that the consummation r of our wishes in this direction is merely a question of time, as the Right Hon. the Premier fully approved the idea on the grounds that such a sanitorium as Te Aroha had proved itself to be must be regarded as national property, and no reasonable request having for its object the legitimate development of its resources ■ could well be overlooked by the Government. 1