REORGANISATION AND CONSOLIDA TION.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 105, 31 October 1888, Page 2

REORGANISATION AND CONSOLIDA TION.

♦ Mr. Macdonaid, in his late speeoh, reiterated and iurther explained his former romarks as to the necessity for a reorganisation of the Municipal staff. He was careful to guard against its being supposed that reorganisation necessarily involved retrenchment in cost, jK it w.er,e earned out on the lines laid down by Mr. Macdo^axj?, the coat would certainly be increased instead of dqereasefj, but at the very outset the question naiurajly presents itself, is there any proved necessity for disturbing the present arrangements* W,« do not think that Mr. Macdonald has shown tho existence of any such necessity. Tho business of fte Municipal govirnmeat appears to us to be carried on at present in a yery effeotiye and 'satisfactory manner. W,e sear of no grumbling, tnd the ©ffiao work is wejl done. Mrl Macdonald's complaint is ifcftt the Town Clerk devotes himself almost entirely to the legal portion of his duties, and leaves the clario^l and routine work to his assistant, Mr, Page. This may be so, but does th« foot furnish jast ground for complaint? We fail to see it. The objoct of having a lawyer as Town Clerk is that the city may have the advantage of his legal knowledge without '

having to incnr bills of costs. If the legal business of the city is so groat as to absorb all Mr. Martin's time (and owing to matters arising out of the Te Aro Reclamation and other things, this has, we believe, been the case recently), then undoubtedly he is quite right to attend to the branch of his duties which he could not delegate to a non-profpssional man. Surely Mr. Macdokald would not advocate leaving tho legal work of the Corporation undone, or calling in outside professional help to have it done, in order to afford the Town Clerk timoto perform routine or clerical duties, which can be, and aie, performed quito as efficiently by Mr. Page. We do not supposo that Mr. Macjdonald wishes to suggest that Mr. Martin shirks any of the work, or imposes an undue burden on Mr. Page, but unless this be so, we fail to see any necessity for interference between them as to the apportionment of their duties. With regard to the Inspoctor of Nuißance3, Mr. Macdonald simply repeated tho old cry of his holding too many offices, and its being impossible for him to attend to tho duties of all of them. It is very easy to make a statemont of this kind, but the assertion should not be accepted without proof, and we have as ytt seen no proof in this case. Air. Johnson appea-s to pei furm all hid multitairious duties with considerable efficiency, and he do.^s not appear to think himself overweighted by them, -.is wn notice that, in addition to official duties, lie finds himself able to take a leading part in matters connected with aquatic sport. To Mr. Macdonald'S bitter personal attack on Mr. Ames we alluded yesterday, and need not, therefore. Bay any more on that point, but as to tho City Valuer's employment of his time, it is necessary to say something. Evidently Mr. Macdonald's scheme of reorganisation would either involve Mr. Ames' retirement altogether, or his being reduced to the position of a mere clerk. Either change would be a loss to tho city. Mr. Ames possesses a knowledge of oity property which it will probably take Mr^ Macdonald some years of practice in the assessoi-fchip to equal, and his duties could^ not be officiontly performed during ordinary office hours. We have known Mr. Ames at work for weeks together before 4 o'clock am., and doing a gcod day's work on his valuation beforo the ordinary clerks appeared at their offices. Mr. Ames, we take it, is paid to perform certain specific duties, and the remuneration he receives is by no means excessive. Those duties he has for years performed in a highly satisfactory manner. Mr. Macdonald may well be contented if his property tax valuations prove as satisfactory to all parties as Mr. Ames* city assessments always have done heretofore. It would be a great mistake to reduce the City Valuer to the position of a mere clerk, and tie him down to office hours. On the whole we fear Mr. Macdonald's proposed reorganisation of the Corporation service would result in disorganisation and extravagance instead of inorcased efficiency or economy. Ono very valuable suggestion, however, he did offer, and that is that the head of each department should prepare and lay before tho Council an annual report reviewing the work done by his department during the previous year. Such reports would prove a most valuable record, and fnrnish the materials for a kind of civic history, showing the progress of Wellington. We trust Mr. Dtjthie, -when he assumes office, will accept the suggestion offered by Mr. Macdonald in this mattor, and give it effect. The question of consolidating the municipal loans ocoupied a good doal of Mr. Macdonald's speech, and he went into elaborate fignres to show the feasibility of conversion of the existing bonds into others bearing a lower rate of interest. It has been well said that figures can be made to prove anything, and Mr. Macdonald is an adept in dealing with figures. Wo do not feel competent to criticise those he has paraded on the present occasion, bat are content to accept the conclusions at which he has arrived. If those aro correct tho present relief which his scheme would afford to the city finance would undoubtedly bo very welcome, and we do not know that over-much anxiety need bo displayed about increasing the debt which Sir Geoege Grey's unborn millions may ultimately have to meet. An eminent politician, not Sir George Grey, is said to have replied to an appeal to consider posterity, by asking what posterity had done for him ? We need not put forward the same ground for not abstaining from increasing the debt of tho future in ordor to obtain present relief. If we leave a very heavy debt to those who come after us, it mußt also be borne in mind that we leave also the moans of paying it, in the magnificent endowments which the unselfish foresight of the present generation is securing for tho city. Long before Mr. Macdonald's proposed 4 per cent, loan would mature, the civic ondowments of Wellington will probably be worth millions. We nre therefore quite prepared to accept mid advocate Mr. Macdonald's scheme as ono advantageous to the city, if it will produce the results he sets out, and can be carried into effeot. But can it ? That is the point, and on it we can give no oortain answer. Glendower could call spirits from the vasty deep, but there was some doubt as to whether they would come or not. Mr. Macdonald can formulate an apparently desirable Bohomo for rnduoing the rate of interest now payablo on the municipal loans, but the question is whother the persons entitled to the interest will be inclined to accept the proposal for its reduction on the terms stated. Mr. Macdonald thinks they will, and quotes Mr. Westgarth indirectly as an authority in support of this opinion. We can only hope that Mr. Macdonald is not over sanguine, always assuming that Mr. MacdonaiiD's anticipated remits will be realised if they do so, but there can certainly be no objection to obtaining the views of other financial experts and authorities on the soheme, and this the City Council should, we think, lose no time in doing. Sir Jtjlitjs Vogel might be asked -to giro his own opinion on -Mr. Macdonald's scheme, and to obtain that of other financiers who would look at it from a bondholders' point of view. ~

Our report of last night's meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing: Association and a newsletter from onr Wairarapa correspondent will be fonnd on the fourth page of this issue. Several 1 otters to the Editor are held over. The vital statistics for Wellington for the month of October are as follows :— Births, 128; marriages, 22; deaths, 36. The Post Office authorities have received advioes that the K.M.S, Zealandia, with the English mails of 6th Ootober, left San Francisco for Auokland on the 20th instant, timetable date. The Alameda, with the colonial mails of Bth October, reached San Franoiaco on tho 27th, one day early. The Aorangi, which has arrived at Hobart, is understood to have on board the first portion of the plant for lighting this city by electricity. A Wanganui paper dubs the Hon. G. F. Richardson the Minister against Mines and Lands, instead of for Minos and Lands. It would appear from our oable messages to-day that simultaneously with getting into hot water over interference in the Presidential election, Sir L. Sackville West has succeeded to the title of Lord Sackville by the death of his brother, who was the first Baron Sackville, the peerage boing an offshoot of the earldom of De La Warr. The late Lord Sackville was formerly a captain in the Grenadier Guards, and held several appointments at Court. The Commission to enquire into the position of Ngarara, Porangahau, Mangarimn, and Waipiro Blooks, will consist of only two members, viz., Mr. H. G. Sith-Smith, R.M., and Colonel Trimble, M.H.R. These gentlemen are to meet in Wellington on Friday, and will probably commence to take evidence on Monday. Their business is expected to ononpy about a month. It is understood that Mr. W. Mitchell will act as secretary and shorthand writer to the Commission. The petitions for the amalgamation of the oity lioensing districts were not signed by more than one-half of the ratepayers on the day of the recent municipal elections, and are now being taken round from house to house in order that the required number of signatures nuy be obtained. Information has been received by the Harbour Board that of the molten material of the old Post Office clock. 4owt 221b of old brass and (iewt 7Jlb of iron was sold by the Public Works Department to Mr. J. Seagar. This leaves about 36owt of material unaccounted for, and the department will be asked by tho Board whether it can ascertain what has become of the missing portion. Tho case in whioh Mr. Maude, of Gisborne, appealed against a decision of the Resident Magistrate in that town, convicting him of bavin? disobeyed «, by-law requiring every householder to keop a certain quantity of water on tho promises for fire prevention purposes, was deoided by Mr. Justice Richmond yesterday, who upheld the contention of Mr. Gully that the Borough Counoil had no power to enforce the regulation. The appeal was therefore allowed, costs being fixed at .£7 7s. Twenty - seven scholarships are being offered by the Education Board this year, of whicli 18 of the annnal value of £15 are open to ohildren under the age of 15 attending schools in the Wellington city and the Borough of Melroso; five,' of the annnal value of .£3O, are open to ohildren attending schools in the Wairarapa district ; and fonr, of £30, to sohokra in the Wellington conntry districts. The examinations will take place simultaneously at the Terrace School and the Greytown School on Wednesday, the 28th of November, and intending competitors must send thoir names to the Secretary of tup Board not later than the 19th November. The owners of tho barque Kentish Lass have furnished us with the following suggestive particulars of the cost of visiting the ports of Dunedin and Wellington respectively. The visit to Dunedin was with timber from Kaipara, and that to Wellington with timber from the Bay of Islands. The expenses in Dunedin were as follows :—: — Towage from sea to Dunedin, £12 3s ; towage from Dunedin to sea, .£l2 3s ; pilotage in and out (compulsory), 8d per ton, £8 4s ; port charges, (3d per ton, 306 tons, j£7 13s ; light dues', £d per ton, 6s 5d ; berthage or wharfage, 11 days, £3 10s 2d; use of ?rane, 32 hours at 4a 6d, .£7 4s ; total, £53 3a 7d. '- Kxpenses in Wellington :— Port oharges, 2d per ton, 306 tons, JG2 lls ; light dues, id per ton, 63 sd : removal, £2. No towage or wharfage, pilotage not compulsory, and use of crane not required, vessel using her own winch. Tot»l Wellington charges, £i 17s 3d, or £48 Gs 2d less than in Dunedin. As 'the result of the recent complaints about the state of disrepair into which Bomo of tho city and other sonools have fallen, the Government ihavo intimated to the Education Board thoir intention of plaoing .£1271 to the Board's credit as an 'adv'anco on account of the building grant for the purpose of repair* au'tjl |>:.int;»i!;. fy. Turnbull, the Board's architect^' & d the luspuotor ot Sonools have been antiorjeod to examine the various Bohools and invite tenders' for tho necessary v/orjes, to be submitted to the Board at its next meeting, A special meeting of the Star Boating Club will be held this evening,

Commenting this morning upon the celebrated Education Statement of last session and its strictures upon the alleged extravagance of Boards in regard to building, the Chairman of the Edncation Board said that the Minister's paper was vitiated by the fact that it started from a false basis. The only thing to be regretted was that the statement had been embalmed in the parliamentary papers, and might be turned up some day when oil knowledge of the subject had "vanished. One of the most essential points in the controversy was that buildings could now bo erected for from 30 to 50 ppr cent. lesß than was the case ton or twelve years ago, the period upon which the Minister founded his calculations. Mr. Buchanan, M.H.R., thought it could not be questioned that the Board had notkeptatight hand upon tile extravagant tendency of architect 1 ) which a private employer would have done. AH over the Wellington district, and especially in tho country, more money had been spent than waa required for the accommodation afforded. With this exception he was quite in sympathy with the Chairman' b remarks, and he considered the Minister's papor unjustifiable, ill-thought out, and simply framed so as to gratify his predilections in several ways. The City Council and Harbour Board seem to have suddenly awakened to the fact that a large quantity of valuable liell-raetal has disappeared from amongst the debris of the General Post Office fire, and they are croing to direct the attention of the Government to the matter. The fact of the bellmetal having- disappeared was stated in our columns months ago. 1 On Monday evening a deputation, consisting of Messrs. Thompson, Cole, Ward, and Captain Marshall, waited upon the Public Works Committee of the City Council, and presented a petition for the construction of proper drainage in Nairn-street. The petition was received and the deputation informed that a reply would be given in due course. A petition from the residents in the lower part of tho same street, praying that the stream running through the gully near the Ohiro-road shonld be oovered in, was also presented to tho Public Works Committee on Monday evening. Mr. Garvey, the Governor of the two Wellington gaols, left for Lyttelton to-day to take temporary charge of the gaol there until the arrival of Mr. Cleary, who has been transferred from Hokitika. The first of tho new maohinery recently imported by the Wellington Woollen Company for their works at Petone was started yesterday. When completed the new machinery will increase the productive powers of the works by 50 per cent., while tho increased expenses will consist almost entirely of the wages of the larger number of operatives employed. Even with these increased appliances and working day and night the company have orders to complete wLioh will occupy them up to the end of March. The extent of the operations now carried on may be judged from the fact that the wagea and salaries }>aid now amount to upwards of £1200 a month. Mr. John Kennedy, an old settler in the Wanganui district, and for a long time the popular host of the hotel at Upokokoro, ha 3 purchased Miss Fielding's interest in the Prince of Wales Hotel, Grey-street, and has assumed possession. Mr. Konnedy has troops of friends, and Mrs. Kennedy was formerly well known in Wellington as Miss Ewing, having, with her mother, formerly conducted, the Criterion and City Hotels. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy will, no doubt, maintain the favourable reputation which tho Prince of Wales has attained under its former proprietors. The drivers_ of the tramcar and omnibus which, according to the report of Constable Doyle, raced at a breakneck pace down Cuba-street on the evening of the 19th inst., were charged in the Magistrate's Court this morning with furious driving. The defendants both pleaded Not Guilty, aeserting that the pace was not faster than ordinary. Constable Doylo was of opinion that the pace was at least 12 miles an hour, and another witness called by the prosecution stated that the omnibus waß certainly moving faster than upon ordinary occasions. The Bench decided to dismiss the case against Johns, the driver of the tramcar, and fined Warne, the other defendant, ss, with 9s Co3ts. Tho same defendants were further charged with having driven round the corner of Cuba and Manners-streets at a pace faster than a walk. A plea of Guilty was entered, and tho Court fined Johns ss, with 9s costs, deciding that tho previous fine would cover tho penalty in the case of' the other defendant. The New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association decided last evening that the winners of championship races shonld wear a coat and cap of maroon colour with a suitably embroidered badge on eaoh, the total cost being 30s. It is believed that every club will be only too pleased to present a coat and cap to each of its members who wins a championship. The weekly meeting of the Trustees of the Benevolent Institution was held yesterday afternoon. Present — The Eev. H. Van Staveren (Chairman), Messrs. A. Wilson, Lancaster, G. M. Kebbell. and George Allen. Amongst the applicants to whom relief was granted were a woman on whose behalf .£l5O was subscribed in the city some 18 months ago, her husband having died under very distressing oiroumstances ; an old man who has spent 46 years in the colony, and is now disabled ; and a woman who has repeatedly summoned her husband for failing to maintain her. The Treasurer was authorised to pay £3 18s 9d as the Board's share of the cost of passing the Wellington Hospital, Home, Orphanage, and Asylum Act through Parliament. Donations were acknowledged of hats from Messrs. Hallonstein and Co., and boots from Mr. F. Moeller, for the use of the old men supported by the institution. The Secretary (Mr. A. G. Johnßon) intimated that he would be glad to receive donations of underclothing and boots for the same pnrpose, and would make arrangements to send for any arliolos of which notice was given to him. It was resolved to ask the City Council to appoint a representative to occupy the seat vacated by Mr. A. Young, and to take proceedings against a man for the desertion of his infant child. It was announced in Napier tho other day that 12 unemployed could find Government work at Woodrille, and that free railway passages would be given. Only three, howover, turned up. At the meeting of the Wellington Ministers' Association, held on Monday last, a letter from the Christoharoh Association was read, urging that signatures be secured to a petition to be presented to the British Legislature against the African slave trade. Copies of a petition which is being signed in Christchurch were forwarded with the letter. It asserts that in recent years the slave trade in East Central Africa has been revived, and carried on with greatly increased vigour, rendering whole settlements desolate. This protest and appeal is prompted chiefly by Professor Drummond's recent work on " Tropical Afrioa," in which he gives a graphio account of the atrocities of the Arab slave-dealers Commaader Cameron affirms that half-a-million human beings are kidnapped every year in Central Africa, and that more than 300,000 of these perish on their way to the slave markets. Cardinal Lavigerie, Eoman Catholic Bishop of Algiers, accuses even the Congo Free State of allowing slavery to flourish within its borders. The Ministers' Association expressed sympathy with all efforts made to suppress this vile trade, but felt that their information respecting it and the methods proposed for its suppression were too scanty, and their remoteness from England too great, to warrant any public agitation on the question. It was telt that action would probably have been taken before any petition from New Zealand could bo presented, and that the British Churches were likely to agitate with such energy and enthusiam as to render a petition from these far-off islands superfluons. A charge of assault, which had been postponed, by J. W. Wrigley against Alex. Wilson, Jan., was this morning dismissed by the Court, as the complainant did not appear. Patrick Kearney, who was charged with having driven his express at a pace faster than a walk round a corner, offered sufficient explanation, and the case was dismissed. For having allowed his chimney to take fire on the 19th instant, William Daikie, who pleaded Guilty, was fined Is, with 14s costs. Messrs. W. H. Levin, J. Lockie, and W. M. Maskell, Justices, were on the Bench. The anniversary soiree of the Webb-street Primitive Methodist Church was held last evening. The decorations and tea did credit to the ladies of the congregation. After tea a public meeting was held, when the Rev. W. S. Potter called upon Mr. E. Tonks to preside. That gentleman said that he and othors of his family had been led to join the ohuroh through Primitive Methodist Agency. Tho Rev. J. Nixon addressed the meeting on Christian enthusiasm, and was frequently applauded. Mr. Embnry, in an earnest manner, urged the ohuroh to more earnest and hopeful work in the future. The Rev. H. H. Driver gave an address on the importance of patience and hopefulness in Christian work, while the Rev. W. S. Potter briefly reviewed the work done by the ohnrch in other districts, especially in Porirna and Newtowri, ' where new churches are to be opened in a few days. The report regretted the loss of several valued members, some of whom have died, and others removed to distant parts. The choir sang several selections under the leadership of Mr. Wright, and a successful meeting closed at 10 o'clock. The Wellington Amateur Dramatic Club gave their second private performance of the season last evening at the Theatre in the presence of His Excellency the Governor and suite and a very large audience. The productions on this occasion were "The Old Story," a two-act comedy by Henry J. Byron, and " Woodcock's Little Game," a farcical comedy by J. Maddison Morton. The pieces werp excellently staged, but the universal opinion of the audienoe was that the acting wag not up to the usual standard of the Club's productions. No fault could be fonnd with the conception of the parts, but the prompter's voice was a deal too audible, and deoided hitoheswere noticeable here and there, an especially awkward one ooenrring in the closing scene of " Woodcook's Little Game." The audience, however, were not sparing in their applause where it was deserved. The cast was as follows : — " The Old Story — Waverley Brown, Mr. H. E. Nicholls ; Thompson, Mr. W. D. Lyon; Captain Kootoo, Mr. L. C. Woolcott; P. N. Jones. Mr. W. J. Jerrold ; Wilkinson, Mr. O. H. Pinel ; Mrs. Minerva Deadset, Mrs. Carte ; Miss Snipely, Miss E. Pilcher ; Miss Crichett, Miss A. Price ; Luoy Brown, MiBS Grant; Fritters, Mrs. W. D, Lyon. ''Woodcock's Little Game" — Mr. Woodcock, Mr. W. D. Lyon; Mr. Christopher Larkings, Mr. E. H. Smith; Mr. Adolphns Swansdown, Mr. W. H. Deny; David. Mr. W. Corliss ; Mrs. Colonel Carver, Mrs. F. Wills; Mrs. Woodcock, Mrp. S. Robinson; Mr?. Larkings, Mrs. Carte; Susan, Mr 3. W. D. Lyon. The Club's orchestra, under the condnctorship of Mr. C. J. Hill, performed Reveral selections during the evening, which received the appreciation they merited. two Punedjn firms of photographers *re publishing fine views of the new Sutherland Waterfall, from negatives taken by their special artists, who acoompanied Mr, Adams' survey party. i

Afire occurred -in Greyjnonth yesterday, whioh has not be'eiJ^reportied by the Press Association. A detatched building, owned by Mr. S. Gilmer, of Wellington, situated in Tainui-atreet, and u«ed as a laundry, was destroyed. It is not known how the fire originated, and it is doubtful whether theie was any insurance. We have to thank tho Union S.S. Company for a copy of 11 really well got up illustrated guide book to the scenic beauties of of this colony. It is well written and profusely illustrated, and its circulation will certainly tend to convince people that New Zealand it) really what the work is named An Earthly Paradise. Three first offenders were oharged with drunkenness in the Magistrate's Court this morning before Messrs. W. H. Levin, J. Lockie, and W. M. Maskell, Justices, and were ordered to make the usual contribution to the Treasury, with the default, in each instance, of 21 honr3' imprisonment. Constable O'Brien last evoning arrested a young girl named Ethel Burtiby, whose ago certainly did not exceed 16 years, upon a charge of vagrancy, Whon arrested tho girl, who is one of the unfortunate class, asserted that she had been without food for two days. The accused was brought before Messrs. W. H. Levin, J. Loekie, andW.M. Maskell, Justices, this morning, when the mother appeared to give evidence; Btating that her daughter had unfortunately cultivated undesirable acquaintances, and had been away from her home for the last two years. She had an offer of employment for the girl in a dressmaking establishment in the city, and this sitnation h«r daughter had expressed her willingness to accept if she escaped the present charge. Sergt. -Major Morice said the police only desired to get the girl away from her evil companions. The Bench decided to dismiss the charge and give the girl on opportunity of reforming. j A first-class opportunity for people to pay a visit to tho new Marlborough goldfieldwill he afforded on Saturday noxt, when the Union Company's fine steamer Kotorua will make an excursion trip to The Grove, calling at Picton going and returning. Particulars will be found in our advertising columns. With good weather the trip is a most enjoyable one, as the Sounds are very beautiful. The return fare is only 10s. The usual session of the Star of Newtown Lodge, 10. G.T., was held last evening 1 in the Temperance Hall, Adelaide-road, Bro. Copithorne, C.T., presiding. One candidate was admitted to full membership. The election of officers for the ensuing quarter was then proceeded with, keen competition in each office beinpf experienced. The officers elect are:-CT.,' Bro. Long; V.T., Sis. Sharratt; Secretary, Bro. Maokay; P.S., Bro. Barcham ; Treasurer, Bro. Weston (reeleotod) j Chap., Sis. Vince ; Marshall, Bro. Drummond ; Guard, Bro. Whiting ; Sentry, Bro. Gilbert; Reg., Bro. Thompson; pianist, Sis. Barcham. The election of S.J.T. was left till next session. It was decided that degrees be conferred next session, at 7 p.m., on two candidates. After other routine business had been conducted, the Lodge was closed at 10 p.m. in the usual way. Tho minstrel troupe on board the Tongariro gave a very sncoeßsful entertainment in the Working Men's Club last evening. The audience was a largo one. Mr. H. Girdlestone discharged the duties of interlocutor with considerable ability, and Messrs. W. King and W. Peachy acted as Bones and Tambo respectively in a very satisfactory manner. Songs were contributed by Messrs. W. Read, A. Talmie, W. King, W. Peachy, W. Hallctt, H. Maylen, F. Johnson, Girdleatone, and H. M'Dowell, and several were encored. In the second part, Mr. W. Peachy gave a character song, "Warmer There," and an amusing sketch entitled "Black Justice," which was performed by Messrs. Peachy, King, Johnson, and prisoners, brought to a, termination a really capital amateur minstrel performance. The opening of the public dining-room at the City Buffet Hotel is announced to take place to-morrow. Full particulars as to hours and tariff appear in the advertisements distributed over our third page. We notice from advertisements that' Mr. Morison's sketching classes will oommenoe tho season on Saturday, 3rd November. The studio will now be known as the " School of Art," Exchange-buildings. We would draw the attention of our readers to the advertisement of F. D. Woodroffe, purchaser of Graves & Fleming's assigned stock, in which he announces the further purchases of a manufacturoi's stock of costumes and mantels, and also a warehouseman's itock of Frenoh millinery, all bought at half-price. .These goods are included in the sale now being held. Cuningham, Badham & Co. will sell to-morrow, furniture, fireworks, &o. Geoige Thomas & Co. will sell to-morrow, produce, &c Laery & Co. will sellto-monow, fruit, &c. In no previous season have we been so perfectly prepared for business in the millinery department. We have a competent and experienced saleswoman in charge. We havo a milliner of more than usual ability. Wo have all the latest fashions in trimmed and untrimmed hats, bonnots, &c, and a profusion ot all the newest things in trimming, flowers, feathers, &a., just to hand, per steamer Tongariro, at tne Wholesale Family Drapory Warehouse, To Aro House. We have also received a varied and choice assortment of ohildren's muslin and fancy pinafo es, boys' whito and cream serge tunics and blouses, infants' merino pelisses, with plush capes, infants' cream and white washing frocks, pelisses, &c. ; a very pretty ohoice of cashmere and lace hoods, hats,&c, and an extensive variety of ladies' underclothing in "Hibernia" and other makes, at Te Aro Honse. Ladies shonld see our worked robe costumes, beautifully embroidered, with material for bodice, 32s 0d to 79a (id ; pongee silk oOßtumes, smocked and deliriously trimmed, and also some exquisite tussore costumes, elaborately trimmed, not forgetting a charming variety of liberty silk costumes, smocked and paunelled, really beautiful goods, from 49s 6d to six guineas, at the Wholesale Family Drapery Warehouse, Te Aro House. — Apvt. Baxter's Lung Pkeberver 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.