WELLINGTON NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 242, 14 October 1886, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(nv TELEGRAPH— OVTN COBJUSPONDENT.)

WbLMNOTONi this day.

A Big Claim.

Mr Hknp.y Baulkh, of Wellington, U a man with o grievance. For many year? past he has mada claims upon successive Governments in reference to the Chatham Inlands which he has threatened to enforce through the medium of the Law Courts, but his actions have never come to anything. He has just served the Colonial Secretary with another writ, clnirning £05,110 7s 3d.

Railway Matters. The Government cxpre-s (heir williogDesß to co operate with the Wellington and Manawatu Kailwuy Company in running trains to and from New Plymouth and Wellington twice each week. If a ateamer awaits the arrival of the train at New Plymouth, the journey from Wellington to Onohunga could be performed in about 2f> hours The Railway Company have the matter now under consideration. _ Sir Julius Vogel is still confined to his room from the effects of the ope ition which he underwent last Sunday. The Hlnemoa's Cruise.

The Government steamer Hinemoa returned yesterday from a lengthened cruise of a month* duration. After lauding the Big Bay prospecting party, and calling at Ji'iekaon's Bay and Jlilford Sound, Captain Fairchild virited in succession the Snares, SolandorH, and Campbell Islands, attending to the food depots eßtflbli«lied on each group for shipwrecked aailorß. He haa brought with him quite a menagerio, inciudingfoursfa lions, which>ire to be forwarded to the English Zoological Society for their Begont'e Park collection, besides golden crested penguins, albatrosses, and sea hawke. Tho vessel has been an object of interest ever since her arrival.

Damage to Oamaru Breakwater,

Mr Blackett'a report on Oamaiu breakwater ha? been forwarded to tho Board. An application was made to tho fiovorntuent; to supply the money neressary for repairs, the Board's fund being exhausted. The Government refused to do anything until one of their officers had ween it, and Mr Blaokott's report is the result. Tho district will fcave to find the money itself. The corrjor blocks have beon undermined in places by the action of the eea, and have given way in consequence of there not being eulh'cient ballast on the outside, or any protection to the monoliths.

Loans to Local Bodies. It is stated that December Ist will be fixed as the date for receiving applications for loans for local bodies under tbe Act of last soeeion, A circular giving instructions to those interested will shortly be issued.

New Asylum, The Government have accepted a tender for the erection of the first portion of the new Lunatic Asylum at Porirua, 15 miles outside the city boundary j The question as to whether tho new Government printing office is to bo erected is to be settled as soon as news baa been rectived relative to the floating of the new loan.

The members of St. George's Quadrille Afgembly closed their teafon with a moßt successtui fancy dress ball iv .St. George's Hall on Tuesday evening. There were between thirty and forty couples present, The coitucuen were very haudaome and striking, and were shown to great advantage in combination with tbe bright colours of the banting with which the room was decorated. During the greater par! of the evening Mr Papprill had the limelieht thrown upon the interior of tho hall, ard the effect was beautiful in the extreme. The moft noticeable amongst the costumes of thu Sadies may be mentioned Waitemata Football colour?, Flower Girl, Gipsy Queen, Columbine, Nancy Lee, sunshowtr, and Drawing Room Minstrels. Honours of belle were divided amongft several afpirants. The rtancd programrre comprised twenty - three iti me, capital mueic Doing supplied by a band under tbe Italerehtp of Mr Swa'e?, and consisting of Mesfrß Davidson, Craifr, McCotninh and himself. Mr J. \V. Swalfs m-i.Je.an energetic and tth'eient M C , while the Committee under who?e trwagemect the ball was co successfully carried out consisted cf Messrs Sim" cock, Philip, J. W. Swales, W. Keyee, and H H. Swales, Hon. Secretary. The catering was in the hands of Mr Johnston, and gave thorough satisfaction.

The usual soiree in connection with the anniversary services of the Beresford street Congressional Church was held on Tuesday. Tho atteniance was not no large as «a- anticipa cd. Tea was served in the school-room, which had been prettily decorated for the occasion. The following ludies presided at the tables :—Meedamee Eady, Smith, Fisher, Airston, and Misses Hosbins, Haylos (2), Hill, Brown, Jone?, E. Brown, Simms, Da'dy, and O'Dell. At the after Fervioe, addressee were delivered by Bevg. Thoa. Adamf- (Newton), W, J. L. Cloas (Mount Edeu), and J. Sv Hill (Anglican)- The Rev. J. B/jberUon presided, nnd made some appropriate remarks. Tho choir mustered in good numbers, and at intervals rendered the follow, ing foleo!ions :—-anthem, "Sine Ye Jehovah's Praises ;" Quartette nv.d Chorus, "How Sweet Tho?eStrains,'.'Jli3.-eH Haylei-, Messrs Tracy and J; ady ; at.d the anthem " Costing All Your Care Upon Him." The Secretary, Mr Cox, read the annual report, wh'c'i showed toial receipts £137 6$ 2'l,and oxpjnditure £105 3s OJ, ha\ing a cedit balance of £22 2-t Set Tho report also referred to tho resignation of Captain Daldy as superintendent, and Ihe app infment of Mr B. Tudehope; also the resignation of the pas'or of the church. The mA showed a staff of 29 teachers and officer), with 76 morning scholars, and 295 afternoon. The scholars bad contributed £30 4e 2d for BiblfS and hymn booke, £16 10a lid for missions, and £6 19s 3d for church funds. Altogothor the reports showed the sch ol to be in a flourishing condition. At the conclusion of the meeting Mr R Tudehope proposed votes of thanks to the ladieß, speakers, and all others that had assisted.

An aereeable musical and literary entertainment was given onTuesday night by All Siints' Literary Union in the parish scheolroom. Mr W. J. Speight presided. The programme gone through was as follows :— Pianoforte duet, Messrs A. and W. Bruce ; recitation, "Tbe Voice and Pen," Mr W. J. Speight; reading, "Robert of Sicily," Bey. W. Calder ; vocal duet, "Oh, ye voices, have gone," Misees Lewis ; reading, " Death of Absolom," Mr J. W. Hall; pianoforte solo, Mrs Kirkpatrick ; song, "Remember or Forget," Mrs Johnson ; reading, " Diary of Pepys," Mr Aehton Bruce ; song, "The Little Hero," Mr Wallace Bruce ; reading. "The Leper," Rev. W. Caldei. At the next meeting of the Union the President will read a paper on " Proportionate Re presentation," a modification of Hare's system.