WELLINGTON NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3, 3 January 1903, Page 2

WELLINGTON NOTES.

£Py Tels«rsp&.—Oi«i Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, this day. MR DAVID SYME.

Mr David Syme, proprietor of the "Melbourne Age" newspaper, who has had a very large share in the making and unmaking of Victorian Ministries for many years past, is now on a visit to this town. Mr Syine, who was acqompanied by his wife, is on a tpur round the Southern lakes, a delightful resort after the heat of Melbourne, and was much struck with the prosperous appearance of the oountry throughout Southland and Qtagp, Mr Syme rstwrps home *t the end of next week, OBITUARY. Information has reached Wellington of the sudden death of Mr Packer, engineer of the steamer Te Kapu, which sad event tpok place at Karamea, op ihe West CPBsJt pf. the Middle Island- Mr Packer was known along the seaboard of New Zealand, having been associated at different times with the engineering department of the Ohau, Hauroto, Pukaki and other vessels of the red funnel fleet. He leaves a wife and three 1 children, MAORI INDUSTRIAL VILLAGES. Some time ago the Government adopted a scheme of Maori industrial villages, and decided to make the first experiment at a place on the Wanganiii River known as Pamoana. A survey of'•the lapd whiph the natives have agreed to give for the purpose of this village has now been completed, workabip plans for which have been prepared by the Public Works Department. This will be the first building to be erected, and the whole scheme will be pushed on early in the year. THE SHAW 9AVII/L COMPANY. Captain Babot, for 25 years the ohaw-Savill and Albion Company's marine superintendent for the North Island, is retiring on a well-deserved pension as from the end of last year. Oaptain Evans, formerly commander of the Tainui, Matatua and other steamers of the Shaw-S&vill fleet, has been appointed to the vacancy.. THE NEW ZEALAND BAND. Though. Bandmaster Herd declined to give your reporter the names of those players who had been selected to form the New Zealand band team to tour Great Britain, stating that it was premature at this stage to divulge the personnel of the combination, I have ascertained from reliable sources that the number of applicants 48 300. In the final selection 27 or 28 will be chosen from Southern bandsmen- As comment may be m&de on the absence of any Auckland players from the list, it should be said that only two applications were received from the Northern province, namely, from a drummajor and an up-country bandsman. It is expected that the players definitely chpsen i?dlj fee known on Tubs" day next. • PONSONBY REGATTA PRAISED. It must be flattering to the officials "who conducted the late regatta at Ponsonby to know that their arc rangemer<+.s met with unqualified ad» miration from Captain Smith, Superintendent of Mercantile Marine at this portj and one of the nautical assessors now investigating the circumstances attending the wreck of 'the Elingamite. Captain Smith is loud in his praise of the businesslike method adapted for carrying out the regatta, and the hosp? + ality extended to him smd other visitors. THE AUCKLAND TRAMWAYS. Captain Smith, who goes back to Auckland in the course of a few days, adds Mβ testimony to the excellence of the new eleetrja tramways in. tfee nortjusm city.