Evening Post. SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 1897. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

As the employes of the Evening Post enjoyed a holiday yesterday, wo are under the necessity of compressing two days' news into one issue. Owing to the extreme pressure an editorial article prepared for this issue is unavoidably crowded out. Mr. John Grace, eldest son of Dr. Grace, M.L.C , took his M.B. at Durham University with honours about a. year and a half since, and with such marked distinction that he and two others were officially invited to dinner by the Professors. We learn by this mail that Dr. John Grace passed the Fellowship of the Eoyal College of Surgeons in Noveniber. He is at present in Vienna completing the preparation of a book on the eye, which he is editing for Dr. Jessop, of St. 'Bartholomew's Hospital. Dr. John Grace was a Wellington College boy, and first studied medicine at the Otago - University College. A sitting of the Magistrate's Court was held yesterday, Messrs. A. Collins and E. Arnold, Justices, being on the Bench. Leuaj Doreen was sent to gaol for three n< nthi for habitual drunkenness. Egbp'- f ' ir V> | charged with drunkenness, wsp W* < on making a promise to go.-J «? ' once. Harry Fisher and".t- / ware each fined 10s, wit' i 48 hours' itnprisonmen U drunk an>' disorderly. *^ , > order"' pay a fine oF^a, ■ , for • v'k for haying resisted - ' ' i Ecdl .i .n the execution of his duty. Mess . E. W. Mills and G. H. Harbroe, Justices, presided this morning. Three first offenders were convicted and discharged, and 1 a second offender was fined 6s or 24 hours' imprisonment. The Premier was serenaded at his residence on New Year's Eve by the Nelson Garrison Band. . - The annual conference of the Primitive Methodist body for the colouy will commence at Feilding on Wednesday next. Harvest prospects on the Waimeas, which a few weeks back were poor, on account of the continued dry weather, have been greatly improved by the rains. Hops are said to be looking better than they haye done for years, and barley, wheat, and oat jjrops promise to yield well.

A child in Brightwater, Nelson, had its shoulder dislocated through being lifted up suddenly by one arm. We are sorry to learn that Captain Jones, of the s.s. Duco, is lying seriously ill at his residence in Oriental Bay. Messrs. B. H. Moller (Nelson), and A. Laurie (Teviot), have been nominated by the Nelson Horticultural Society as delegates to the Intercolonial Fruit Conference to be held at Brisbane on the 4th February. The Agricultural Department is asking for nominations from all societies, and the Government will select two delegates and pay their expenses. Mr. George Drury, Chief Clerk in the Registrar-General's Department, was presented by the staff on Thursday with a silvermounted pipe and a beautifully designed New Year's card painted by Mr. Hutton.one of the clerks. The presentation was made as an evidence of the esteem in whioh Mr. Drury is held by the staff. The Corporation of Dunedin to-day invites tenders for the purchase of £5000 worth of debentures in connection with the Public Abattoir Loan. The debentures will bear interest at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum, payable half-yearly, and have a currency of 20 years. Tenders must be sent in by the 13th January. The contests amongst the several bowling clubs for the honour of wearing the Edwin Feathers continue with unabated vigour. The trophies, which were lately won from Thomdon by a Newtown team, have again changed hands, and are now held by Nancarrow, Blythe, Greeks, and Brackenridge . . (skip), alao of the Newtown -Club. . . An inqHest was held at the Mount Cook Police Station on Thursday afternoon on the body of an infant named George Robinson, whose death was recorded in our issue of Wednesday. The evidence showed that the child, which was being boarded out, fell off a sofa aud sustained concussion of the brain. A verdict of Accidental Death was returned. On the voyage of the Tasmania from Sydney Captain M'Gee organised a concert in aid of the sufferers by the Stockton (Newcastle) mining disaster. A sum of £5 Is was thus raised. The "social" heldattheDrillshed,Petone, last evening, in aid of the funds of the coming Fire Brigade demonstration, was successful in every way. The hall was crowded, and the items given by Mr?. Snaddon and the Misses Retter were greatly appreciated. The dance music was supplied by Miss Olive Dellwood and Mr. T. Fitzsimons, and delicacies were given by the ladies of Petone, who also devoted much time and trouble to the arrangements generally. The committee of management consisted of Messrs. Carter, Leigliton, Lodder, and W. H. Ballinger. Owing to the s.s. Corinna being required to go to the aid of the stranded steamer Buapehuy her Lyttelton trip announced for this evening has been abandoned. The Penguin is to make a special trip to Lyttelton at 4 p.m. to-morrow, returning to th's ■ port on Tuesday and sailing on her advertised date— Wednesday— for the Southern port. The following is the final result of the election for the Southern Maori seat : — T. Parata, 262; T. R. Ellison, 149 ; Taiaroa, 144; Mutu, 113. A scene occurred on board the ship Soukar between 1 and 2 o'clock this morning. A powerfully-built man named Pearce, employed as a stoker on the Takapuna, rushed into the forecastle of the Soukar, which lay at the Queen's Wharf, and caused a great commotion by ordering the men out of their berths. In an excited manner, he called on one of them to dress himself and go to the Police Station to answer a charge of murder. The man, feeling that it was the best plan to humour Pearce, got up, and was in the act of putting on his clothes when Constables Murphy 'and Connall, who had been sent for, arrived and took charge of the disturber. The arrest was effected with great difficulty. Pearce fought like a maniac, and both constables were very roughly handled before they were able to put Pearce in the lock-up. Doctors Young and Tripe have certified that he is insane, and he will be committed to the lunatic asylum. John Idle and William Campbell, the men arrested in connection with the burglary at the City Hotel, have been remanded till Monday next. ' Messrs. Bing, Harris, & Co/s donation to the Sailors' Rest was two guineas, not 21s, as mentioned in a late issue. Full' particulars are advertised of the public meeting- in connection with the annual Convention of the New Zealand section of the Theosophical Society. This Convention will be of special interest to Theosophist?, being the first to be held in New Zealand, as the section was only formed in the*arly part of this year. Delegates to it from the Southern branohes arrived yesterday, while two of the Northern delegates, Mr. and Mrs. Draffin, have been here during the week. The addresses to be given at the public meeting are of varied interest, cpveving some of thie most important of the Theosophical teachings; and they should give a good outline of this system of thought, so that enquirers will have a very favourable opportunity of finding out what Theosophy is and what is the object and purpose of the Theosophical Society. It is stated by many that the teachings of Theosophy set aside the teachings of Christianity, but those who have knowledge of the matter state that this is not so. Perhaps this may be elucidated more clearly to-morrow j/ight. An advertisement in this issue points out to ticketholdcrsand others that the concert in aid of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ferguson and family, who lost their furnitur^and effects by a fire at Newtown on the 24ti November, has been postponed to the 12th January, in consequence of the Christmas and New V ear ' holidays and the prior engagements of several , ladies aud gentlemen who intend to take part in it. The programme will appear in due course. A meeting of tl*s United Butchers' Asso1 ciation will be held at Richards's Rooms, ' Cuba-stree*, on Monday evening, to make the nocessary arrangements for the annual i picnic. Mr. John Fuller's Myrioraran, Coi • jny | concluded its season at the Ei Jaangt [all ' last nifht. I L The Kinetoscopic entertainment in the '"^fifton Photo G^iery, Willis-street, has '.'Bl i very popular during Iho holidays, and large number of persons have satisfied j'-flieir curiosity as to this ingenious invention. This evening, in view oi" there being a num- , J .i p1 ,' 'of Scottish visitors iv town, one of the i pictures on view is thai of some Highland laddies dancing to bagpipe music. The Rev. J. Clover, of Waimate, will ' deliver a popular lecture— subject, " Love, 1 Courtship, and Marriage"— ou Monday ' evening, the 4th inst., in the Webb-street Primitive Methodist Church. A collection . will be made in aid of the Conference Fuud. To celebrate the opening of the women's branch of the Hibernian Society, a social ! gathering will be held at Thomas's Hall next . Wednesday week, the 13th inst. Mr. R. J. Feun, who has been connected with the Education Department for some P time past, has purchased the labour agency business of Messrs. Edwards & M'Beathi ' bettor known as the Empire Labour Exchange) ! Grey-street, and has arranged to obtain the * services of a lady to conduct the female » branoh. It is aIBO his intention to add general commission work to the agency.

A sale of Maori curios and relies, with some added curiosities dear to collectors, is announcod'for Tuesday, the 12th inst. The sale will be held by Messrs. Harcourt & Co., who state that the collection is a good one, covering over 230 lots, and comprising bone and wood meres, greenstone charms, valuable taiahas, spears, carvings, Maori cooking utensils, fish-hooks, flax and feather garments, and a great many other articles characteristic of the life of the old-time Maori. Other New Zealand curios include stuffed birds and rare birds' eggs, and there are also some Chatham Island relics and Australian birds and platypus. A set of the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute, vols Ito 23, concludes the list. Good advice for the New Year will be found in the Empiro Tea Company's new advertisement in another column. Mr. E. Pearce, of the Boot Arcade, has just opened four cases of fine ladies' shoes, which he will sell at bargain prices this evening and next week to make room for further shipments to be opened. Our readers' attention is speoially directed to an advertisement in another column, " The Greatest Eduoator of the Age." The order of services at St. Peter's Churoh for to-morrow is advertised. Services will be conducted in the Weslayan Churohes to-morrow as follow : — Wesley Church, Taranaki-street, 11 and 6.30, Rev. W. Baumber. Molesworth-street, 11, Rev. J. Ward; 6.30, Rev. A. B. Chappell. Newtown, 11, Rev. A. B. Chappell; 6.30, Rev. J. Ward." At the Terrace Congregational Church tomorrow, the services will be conducted by the Rev. J. R. Glasson. At the Courtenayplace Churoh the services will be conducted by Rev. B. T. Hallowes. The Ordinance of the Lord's Supper will be observed at close of the morning and evening service at tosh churches respectively. The pulpits of the Primitive Methodist churches in this city will be occupied tomorrow evening by representatives from the South who are on their way to attend the annual conference at Feilding. At the Vivian-street Baptist Church tomorrow, the Rev. C. Dallaston will preach in the morning and evening. The evening sermon will be specially to young people. Subject, "How to Make the Best of both Worlds." Christian Endeavonrers are reminded of the united rally in the Baptist Church to-morrow morning at 9.30. Convention hymn books will be used. The Forward Movement services for tomorrow are advertised. The Rev. W. A. Evans will conduct the evening servioe. Helping Hand Mission services will be conducted in the Choral Hall, Conxtenay-place, to-morrow as advertised. Mr. Frank Hales will preach at the Church of Christ, Dixon-street, to-morrow evening. The Wellington Ethical Society will meet at the Rechabite Hall to-morrow evening. Mrs. Harris, the inspirational and trance speaker, will deliver a lecture in the hall, Lower Ghuznee-street, to-morrow evening, at 8 o'clook. The Te Aro House Christmas Tree has been transplanted. It is now flourishing at Sidey's new auction room in Manners-street, between the Bank of New Zealand and the Opera House. Its branches are laden with all manner of Chrirtmas gifts for old and young, and it would seem impossible for any single person to come away without having seen a present exactly suitable to the requirement* of the case. Above all, the value offered is in all cases the value of Te Aro Houbo. Surrounding the Christmas Tree are tables piled with more Christmas goods. Toys, dolls, books, pictures, ornaments, usefuls, are there in profusion. ' There are sixpenny tables, shilling tables, eighteenpenny tables, two shillißg tables, and tables with goods at all prices. But whatever the price, the -value is the best obtainable, and the only verdict of buyers must be that the one. and only place to buy seasonable presents is next the Opera House, at the Branch Department of Te Aro House.— Advt. Pork sausages, 6d per Ib, made from yraiui-fed pork ; order early. Wardtll Bros. and Co., 51. WiUis-atreet.— Adyt.