WELLINGTON NOTES.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

FIRE AT MASTERTON.

MASTERTON, this day.

A fire broke out at Street and Crowder's boardinghifuse at 20 past three o'clock this morning. The building was gutted. There were some 15 boarders in the house at the time; but all escaped. The insurances of the house were £275 iv the Royal Company and £305 for furniture in the South' British. MOUNT ALBERT WATER SUPPLY. Mr. Geo. Fowlds has had an interview with the Minister in charge of asylums with reference to the Mount Albert Road Board getting its water supply from the asylum springs, and he will be able to put definite proposals before the board on his return to Auckland. WOOLLEN MANUFACTURES. So rapid has been the expansion of the Wellington woollen manufacturing business that the directors find it absolutely necessary to meet present requirements by installing a worsted manufacturing plant as an adjunct to its woollen machinery, and to increase the size of the mill buildings at Petone by some 14,000 square feet, in order that the company shall buy to the best advantage and -secure the very latest in worsted machinery. Messrs. Exley (a director) and Ramsdeii (mill manager) proceed to England for the purpose of selecting .plant. It is understood that the boilers will be constructed locally. CRECHE FOR WELLINGTON. Mother "Mary Joseph Aubert, who has already done admirable service by establishing a home for incurables, proposes to start a creche in the city. A creche is an institution in whicli mothers who are compelled to earn their living may leave their children during the day, and where thoy will receive proper care and attention from responsible people until their mothers call for them after working hours in the evening. The : creche in Wellington will be under the care of the Sisters of Compassion. A SOCIALIST PAPER. It is the intention of the Wellington branch of the Socialist Party to issue a socialist paper, and a committee has been set up to issue the first number as expeditiously as possible. Captain Whitney, of the Colonial Ammunition Company, had a long interview with the Premier to-day regarding the contract for further supply of cartridges for the colonial defence force. EXTINCT TORPEDOES. Though the purchase of ten Whitehead torpedoes and an engine compressor by Cable and Co., local iron founders, from the Government, for the nominal sum of £190, appeared an extraordinary deal, the fact is really nothing very remarkable iv the transaction. The defence authorities find no further use whatever for the torpedoes, owing to the substitution of ground mines defending the entrance to our harbour. It is the intention of the purchasers to demolish the torpedoes for scrap metal. The original cost of each torpedo was £450.