THE RABBIT NUISANCE.

Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 31, 8 February 1888, Page 2

THE RABBIT NUISANCE.

We nnderstand that the Government have virtually resolved to give M. Paßteur's rabbit pest remedy a thorough trial, the scene of operations to be some uninhabited ialand on the coast of New Zealand. The experiment will be a thorough one, and will prove whether the discovery is all that M. Pasteur claims it to be. The action of the Government in this matter deserves commendation.

Our report of the annual congregational meeting of St. John's Presbyterian Church held last evening, and the weights for the Wanganui Jockey Club Autumn Meeting, will bo found on our fourth page to-day. The Government have, we are glad to say, failed to obtain any tender for the purchase of the Tinakori-road Domain. This is not to be wondered at. The Government have no legal right to sell the property, and cannot give a good title, or indeed any title at all, to it without Legislative authority. Any person who ventured on a purchase might find himself in a very awkward position, and possibly plunged into litigation. It is said that Ministers now intend to out the property np into building allotments and offer them for sale. If they do, we doubt very much whether they will find purchasers. Much the best thing they can do is to wait quietly until Parliament determines what is to be done with the property. If the house is not oocupied it will not cost anything in the interim. "One Who Knows" writes to us as follows :—": — " Thanks for your able leader last night on the question of Civil Service reform. Every word of it is, unfortunately, but too true. Every Civil Servant now hourly realises the torture of Damocles. The suspense and anxiety are almost unbearable. You were particularly oorreot in your references to the Public Works and Audit departments, those Augean Btables through which no Ministerial Hercules has yet ventured to direot a purifying stream. It will probably scarcely be oredited, but it is nevertheless a fact, that a fow weeks ago two officers of the former department were actually given substantial increases to their salaries, and were allowed to draw eight or nine months' back pay at the increased rate. This is a nice, fair style of retrenchment. There was a tremendous explosion, almost involving disruiition, in the Cabinet when the fact became known, but the thing was done and there an end on'c." It appears that the only tender received by Government yesterdiy in connection with the Tinakori-road residence recently vacated by Sir Julius Yogel was one sent in by a Wellington gentleman for the furniture, but as the amount offered was not a satisfactory one it has not been accepted. The Minister for Public "Works has arranged to leave for Nelson en route for the West Coast by the Pengpin to-morrow. Mr. Mitchelson will be accompanied by Mr. A. T. Bate, Private Seoretary, and expects to return to Wellington via Lyttelton on Friday the 25th instant. On the following Friday the hon. (gentleman hopes to be able to leave for Auckland by the Takapuna. In addition to inspecting the West Coast harbours, the Minister will enquire into matters relative to several of the coal leases, and will also receive some deputations with reference to roads and other works. The enquiry made by Captain Falconer, at the request of the Minister for Defence, into the accident during the Naval display on Saturday afternoon, has been concluded. Captain Falconer has reported that the mishap was caused through Private Grey, the steersman of the torpedo launoh, failing to see the whaling pig, which he ran down. General Schaw, who was consulted on the subject, stated that the whaling gig lay so low in the water that Grey would be unable to see her from where he was standing. In consideration of this fact and of Grey's bravery in jumping overboard and resuming Seaman Yarrow, the Hon. Mr. Fergus has decided to take no further ucUou in tlio matter. We have been requested to point out to the management of the City Tramways that the convenience of many Civil servants would he consulted if a tram were to leave the Government Buildings at 1 o'clock, instead of five minutes to that hour as at present. Suoli an alteration would enable a number of officials who live at some distance from the scene of duty to go home to lunch and return by 2 o'clock. There is every probability of the difficulty respecting' tbe dosing of the Ka.iwa.iwai School by the Committee in December being settled satisfactorily. The member of the Committee in whom it iB found the site is vested has undertaken to transfer the property to the Board, and if this is done the Board will not carry out its intention of prosecuting the Committee for closing the school. We have received from A Friend a contribution of £1 towards the fund in aid of the Costollo and Matthews families. F. J. Preston, wine merohant, has been adjudged a bankrupt. Mr. A. G. Johnson, Believing Officer, stated at the meeting of the Benevolent Trustees yesterday afternoon that Mrs. Costollo, a sufferer by the late fire in Eva-street, had applied to him for relief the morning after the fire, and he had advanced a sum of money from the funds of the trust to her credit. The meeting expressed approval at the secretary's aotion. Captain Page, of the Municipal Fire Brigade, desires to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of a cheque for from Mr. E. H. Crease, in recognition of the brigade's servioes at the fire adjoining his premises on Saturday morning. The first prize in the Sculling Race won by Mr. McKay, of the Wellington Rowing Club, on Monday evening, consisted of the Udolpho Wolff Schnapps Cup, value £5 5s (presented by Messrs. Walter Nathan and Co., the local agents for Mr. Wolff), and £5 in money. The cup was handed over to Mr. A. G. Johnson, captain of the Wellington Rowing Club, this morning. The following telegram has been received in town from Nelson from a reliable authority:—" Enterprise (Owen) return, 106oz amalgam for nine days. Considered satisfactory with boxes." The Benevolent Trustees met as usual yesterday afternoon, there being present — the Rev. H. Van Staveren (Chairman), Messrs. Allen, B. Smith, S. Danks, and Edwards. A statement wai received from the Secretary to the effect that a man to whom rations had been granted had refused them Rations were granted to a man who had formerly been a member of the police force. The secretary was instructed to prosecute a man who had been reoeivlng rations for his family, but had declined to work out the cost. Passages to Lyttelton were granted to a man and his wife, and the passage of another man paid to Napier. Several other cases were dealt with. Mr. C. P. Powjes (Treasuror) reported that he was in receipt of a Gazette not : ce to the effect that acre 1011 had been vested in the Trust. After passing accounts to the amount of about •£124, the Trustees adjourned. A row between the women who rent rooms in a large house in Lower Boulcottstreet occasioned some little excitement in that thoroughfare last night. The language used by both was most disgusting. The nuisance is one from which the residents have suffered for a considerable length of time, and we understand that several gentlemen have at last decided to assist the police in ejecting the questionable characters referred to. A correspondent at the Pilot Station writes to us complaining of the indecent conduot of a lot of grown-up men, who go down there on Sunday and bathe in full view of tbe houses occupied by the residents there. On Sunday lost, our correspondent states, there were a dozen men running about naked on the be*oh not 20 yards from houses in which a number of females reside. He also says that when remonstrated with, the men were impertinent and laughed, and Baid that those who did not want to see should keep inside. We would not advice our correspondent to try the remedy he proposes, of a oharge of buckshot, but if he can identify any of those who offend against decency in the manner described, they will no doubt be severely punished if brought before the Police Court. It is probable that Messrs. Williamson, Garner, and Mnsgrove's opera company now playing in Sydney will shortly re-visit New Zealand, with " Dorothy " and the " Princess Ida," as novelties. They will open in Dunedin abont the end of April. Mr. J. MoColl, the owner of the horse Fabrication, has c.jimenced an action against the Wellington Racing Club for the recovery of the stakes in the Selling Race, for which. Fabrication came in first, but was disqualified at the Hutt on Saturday last. The usual meeting of the Sons and Daughters of Temperance was held last evening in the Good Templars' Hall, with Bro. C. C. Crump, W.P., in the chair. After the usual business had been disposed of, one candidate was initiated, and two proposed. The meeting then went into harmony, and songs and recitations were given by those present, also an essay on Sir Walter Scott by Bro. Chisholm. A very enjoyable meeting waa brought to a close at 9.40 p.m. Herr Mosch ha 3 been appointed Musical Director of the Open House. This will be an advantage to lessees, as Herr Mosch will always have a first-class orchestra available at a reasonable rate, but of course his employment will not be compnlßory. Hia abilities as an orchestral chef are bayond question. We have been asked to state that Te Aro House will be olosed on Friday, to make the necessary arrangements in connection with the sale of A. G. Price's bankrupt stock, which commences on Saturday at 10 o'olook a.m.

An action of considerable importance, the prospect of which has already awakened no little interest in commercial ciroleß, is likely to come before the Supreme Court in the coarse of the next few weeks. The plaintiffs are a well-known local hardware firm, who seek to recover damages for slander from a prominent bank manager. The persons concerned are naturally reticent on the subject, but it is known that a writ has been served upcm the financier claiming .£2OOO damages or an ample apology, and the alleged defamation is alleged to have been contained in a communication made to a third person in the course of business, which bad the effect of damaging the plaintiff's credit with that person. Messrs. William Dawson & Co., E. W. Mills & Co. (Limited), and John Duthie & Co., advertise in this issue that in consequence of the strong advance in the price of galvanised iron in the English market?, their price for 26-gange galvanised corrugated iron is now .£2O per ton, sft to Bft, with the usual extras for 9ft and 10ft. Mr. H. S. Wardell, K.M., presided at the Magistrate's Court this morning. A first offender was mulcted in the nominal penalty for having been drunk on Wellington Terrace yesterday. Walter L. Walsh appeared on remand, to answer the charge of having deserted his wife, Mary Anne Walsh, and left her without adequate means of support. Mr. Matthews appeared for the accused, and stated that his client had no intention of deserting his wife, but had gone to Auckland to fulfil an engagement, intending to return as soon as possible. The complainant stated that her husband left her when she was near her confinement, and, as a consequence, she had to seek admittance to the Alexandra Home The father of the accused gave evidence to the effect that he had helped his daughter-in-law on several occasions during his son's absence. His Worship allowed the case to stand over, to see if an amicable settlement could not be arrived at between husband and wife. The annual treat in connection with the Voeeltown School was held on Friday last on the sohool grounds, and proved the moat successful one yet held. The children, to the number of about seventy, assembled at 10 o'clock, and spent the day in races and games of various kinds until evening, when an excellent tea was served. An adjournment to the sohool was then made, when Mr. Reid, of Newtown, very kindly exhibited his marie lantern, much to the delight of the children, who, after giving ringing cheers for the teacher and those who had assisted her, dispersed. Miss Brown, the mistress of the school, worked hard to make the treat a success, and was assisted during the day by Messrs. Beavis, Agate, and Maokay, and Mesdames Agate, Lambert, and Harrison, and Miss Meek. Special mention must be made of Mr. Fitohett, Ohiro Farm, who supplied a large qnantity of new milk gratuitously. Messrs. Hasell & Co. will sell to-morrow, on the premises of Mr. T. Harlet), Khandallah, the whole of his dairy stock, carts, drays, harness, hay, &o. Messrs. Francis Sidey & Co. will sell tomorrow, on the premises, Ingestre-streot, furniture, bedding, law books, &c.

Wb would respeotf ully advi«e onr numerous friends and the publio generally of the city and Buburbs that our oustomary sale of surplus summer stock is now in full operation, at the Wholesale Family Drapery Warehouse, Te Aro House. If marking goods at unprccedentedly low prices, and giving superior quality in exchange for ready oash pan ensnre the olearing out of the balance of our summer stock, then the public may rely upon it that this has been done in the most thorough, complete and satisfactory manner, at Te Aro House. We would call special attention tn the amazing bargains to be obtained in our dress department, and would counsel our friends to carefully peruse our price-lists, whioh will bo issued daily during this week in the Evening Post. Bring them with you and test the correctness of our statements when you visit the sale at Te Aro House. Nor will the bargains be confined to dress fabrics, they will ho equally great in mantles, costumes, millinery, underclothing, fancy, olothing and mercery. All persons 1 desirous of making their money go to the utmost possible extent will find this easy to be done at the summer stock sale, Te Aro House. This sale will hist for 14 days only, and the goods will be displayed on tables in the centre of the drapery department, in the showroom, -and in the men's, boys', and 1 youths' clothing department, at Te Aro House.— Advt. Baxter's Lung Preserver has gained great popularity in this district as a speedy and effectual remedy in the treatment of Coughs, Colds, Bronchitis, and other chest and throat complaints. — Advt.