THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 84, 9 April 1889, Page 2

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

We Bincerely trnst that the news wired yesterday in roferenco to the Midland Railway is correct, and that the work of construction is to be proceeded with. The end at which instructions are said to hare boen given to complete the surveys and let contracts, is the Canterbury Bide, an extension towards the West Coaat of the Government lino from Christchuroh, which now ends at Springfield. This will probably prove one of the best paying parts of the Midland Railway, and the company is wise in pushing it on first. It will probably, howover, be some time, oven if the company is in funds, before the Nel&on section of the proposed railway is seriously undertaken.

A newsletter from our Masterton correspondent, some notes on tho New Zealand Footballers' English tour, and a letter to the Editor are to be found on the fourth page of this issue. A proclamation issued yestorday further prorogues Parliament to Thursday, 9th May. It is understood that Mr. George Fisher will very soon address hjs cou9&£aents for Wellington East. The S.S. and A. Co.'a steamer lonic, from London, arrived in harbour at 9.30 this morning. She brings 6 pkgs of mails and 15 boxes of parcel post, 60 passengers, and 2600 tons of cargo for New Zealand. Amongst the passengers are Lord Weatbury and the Hon. H. Tollemaohe, M.P., who are making the rou«d trip in the ship. An alteration has been mado in the arrangements for the instalment of Lord Onslow's family at Government House. It was originally intended that His Excellency's ohildren and servants should arrive in Wellington on the 16th instant, hit it appears that the decorations of the vice-regal residence will not be completed until about ihe 20th. On this fact being intimated to Hjb Excellency, he arranged that the members of his household should defor their departure from Sydney and leave that port in time to be bare on the 28th. Dnrjng last month 19 patients in the Hospital consumed 158 pints of wines, spirits, and malt liquor^ being at the rate of 8| pints each, as against an average of 7£ in March last year. The jiiqsor last month was prescribed as follows : — the Resident Surgeon, 85 pints ISoz for seyen patients; Dr. Cole, 44 pints 17oz for seven patients ; Dr. Martin, 15 pints for one patient; Df.i Fell, 11 pints 18oz for four patients. ; Mr. B. Longhrey, late City Surveyor, left for Melbourne by the Rotomahana yesterday. Prior to his departure ho was presented, at tho Empire Hotel, with a diamond ring, purchased by his frienda, who also drank his health in bumpers of ohampagne. Fires were lit under the new boilers of the Hinemoa yesterday for tho first time since they have been put into the vessel by Messrs. Cable $ Co. We understand that the trial was a satisfactory one. The Rev. Sir Fwderick Arthur Gore Ouseley, Bart. , whose deatfc we hear of to-day, was one of the moat celebrated English composers of the day. He was the only son of the late Right Honourable Sir Gore Ouseley, Bart, (a veteran diplomatist, . sometime Ambassador at the Courts of Russia and Persia), and was born in Gros.-venor-square, London, 12th August, 1825, succeeding to the title on the death of his father in 1844. Being edneated'j for the Church, he took a degree at Oxford, ! and was ordained deacon in 1849, his first curacy being that of St. Paul's, Knightsbridgo, which he held until 1851. On the dispersion of the choir of St. Barnabas he collected the scattered ohoristers and established a little musical colony under the mastership of the Rev. Henry Fyffe , M. A. , at Lovehill House, near Langley Marsh, Bucks. Afterwards he created at his own cost and on his own property the beautiful Chcr,oh of St. Michael and All Angels at the Old Wood, near Tenbury, being appointed its first .vicar in 1856. Ho afterwards became Warden of St. Michael's College, Tenbury, of which he was the principal founder, its object being the education of boys in music, the classics, and general knowledge. Here he formed a musical library, acknowledged to Joe the largest and most valuable in the kingdom. In ISSO he took the degree of Mufl. Bao. at Oxford, hiß "exercise" 'being c. cantata, "The Lord is the true God," and in 1854 he took the higher degree of Mus. Doe., for which his oratorio, "St. Polycarp, v was composed and performed. He took priest's orders in 1855, and soon after was appointed precentor of Hereford Cathedral. At tte close of the same year he was nominated Professor of Musicin the University of Oxford in succession to the bite Sir Henry R. Bishop.

and has lately been a member of the Convocation of the Province of Canterbury and Canon Eesidentiary of Hereford Cathedral. Sir F. Onseley's principal compositions have been church works. He has composed eleven services and over 70 anthems, one of the best of which is " How goodly are thy tents, 0 Israel. He edited the sacred works of Orlondo Gibbons, and hiß treatises on Harmony (1869) and Counterpoint and Fugue (1869) are standard works. Among his numerous other works may be mentioned a "Treatise on Musical Form and General Composition," a "Collection of Cathedral Services," and "Anglican Psalter Chants" (1872) which he edited in connection with Dr. Monk. The balance-sheet of the Wellington Musical Festival, which was held in the early part of December, haß at last been issued, and Bhowa a net deficiency of .£l4l 5a 7d. The receipts from all sources amounted to i!47C 12a, and the expenses to JE6I7 17s 7d, the principal heads of expenditure boing as follow :— Performers' fees, JE99 3s (instrumentalists, £82 7s; vocalists, £\G 16s) j passages, board and lodging, &0., for performers from beyond Wellington, £65 13a ; Garrißon Hall and gas, £H 3a 9d ; practicerooms, £26 18s ; platform and decorations, £73 8b; cartage, hire of forms, chairs, &c, £50 5s lOd : mnsic, hire of piano, organ, &c, and tnning, £85 9s 8d ; advertising, £69 Os 4d; printing and stationery, £31 10s sd ; sundry oxpenses, £49 19s 7d; secretary's fee, £25. The only ascot available is tho music, valued at £50, so that the committee have been obliged to issue a circular calling upon the guarantors for the full amount of the guarantee fund, viz., £126. The committee state that they do not seek to disguise the fact that the expenses of the Festival have exceeded their expectations, but they expreßß the hope that the otherwise undeniable anccesg of the Festival, the pleasure and instruction that it afforded, and the impetus given by it to music in Wellington, will be considered sufficient to countervail the expense incurred. We understand that a firm of merchants are in negotiation for the purchase of the Star Boating Club's shed, the intention being to use it as a grain store. The club, as onr readerß are aware, erected the building on its present position on the understanding that when the reclamation was completed a site at the bottom of Cubastreet would be found, and the shed shifted to it. It has been ascertained that the cost of removal would be something considerable —about £200, it is estimated— and it is believed that the club wonld find it cheaper to sell tho present building and erect another on improved lines on the new Bite. An amusing incident occurred in the Magistrate's Court this morning. Tho defendant in an assault action was being questioned by the Clerk of tho Court as to whether he pleaded Guilty or Not Guilty to the charge. The defendant, appearing not to hear the query, Mr. James interrogated, "You are not deaf are you? " " Yes, sir," promptly asserted the defendant, with a palpable Irish brogue; "both deaf and blind." "Since when?" jocularly interjected the Clerk, amidst the tittering of those assembled in Court. Tho latter question did not admit of an answer. The Trustees of tho Hospital held their fortnightly meeting in the City Council Chambers this morning. There were present—Messrs. F. H. Fraser (chairman), G. M. Kobbell, C. M. Luko, G. Allen, D. Speedy, J. Taylor, C. E. Willeston, and Rev. H. Van Staveren. The House Committee recommended that in fntnre the Steward should obtain prices from the leading houses in the city before purchasing supplies of ironmongery. The recommendation was adopted. A further reccommendation that the salary of Miss Heath, the dispenser, should be increased to £75 per annum, was also adopted. The Chairman stated that the ironmongery supplied last year cost £88. The Secretary reported that since last meeting Mr. W. Bee had donated £1, and that the Wellington Branch of the Seamen's Union had forwarded their annual subscription of £25. It was decided that each Life Governor should be suppliod with yearly tickets for two in-patients and six out-pationts. On the motion of Mr. Allen, it was resolved that a competent pereon Bhould be appointed to inspect the rosidonce in Molesworth-street, and report as to the cost of repairing it. The Rev. H. Van Stavoren moved that a list of the provisions consumed during the mouth should be laid before the Trustees. Tho resolution was seconded by Mr. Kebboll and agreed to. The police BJnce Saturday evening have boen investigating an alleged case of robbery from the person, which had been reported to them by a foreigner. The complainant, it seems, wfia discovered by Constable Bowden huddled up on the footpath in Willis-street lato on Saturday night, and, in response to tho interrogatory of the officer, said that ho had been turned out of a certain hotel in the city, and had been robbed of £37. The constable " took a note" of the statement, and subsequently met the complainant in the same thoroughfare, when he reduced the amount of his loss to 355. After such a reduction tho constable referred the matter to the detective department, who have made enquiries, and are of opinion that there was no robbery. In confirmation of this opinion Detective Campbell has ascertained that the complainant was ejected from an hotel previous to his meeting Constable Bowden, because ho had not the wherewithal to pay for a modest "refresher" in the shape of a pint of beor whiph he had imbibed. Frank Malay, charged in the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon with having made use of insulting language towards Edward and Susan Kirby, was convicted by Mr. Robinson, R.M., upon the evidence offered, and finod £2, with 7s costs. The defendant (who was represented by Mr. Skerrett) was allowed a week in which to pay the amount of the fine and costs, while an alternative of three days' imprisonment was imposed. The privileges* in connection with the Hutt Hack Racing Club's meeting, to be held at tho Hutt Park on Saturday next, were sold by Messrs. Noble Campbell & Co. yesterday. The right to the gates, which also includes the outside stand, was bought by Mr. J. A. Chuck, at £15 ; and the following were the purchasers of the other privileges :— Grand stand bar. Airs. Crawford', Central Hotel, Lower Hutt, £9; No. 1 publican's booth, Mr. T. Oxenham, Victoria Hotel, Petone, £9; luncheon and refreshment booth, Mr. T. Smith, £2 ; correot cards, Mr. Ross, £7 ; and right to tether horses, Mr. Giles, 10s. An elderly man named John Dooley, for whoso arrest a warrant was yesterday issued by Mr. Robinson, in consequence of his having negleoted to appear in Court to answer a charge of child-beating preferred against him by the police, wan brought before Mesßrs. A. W. Brown, H. Blundell, and Lieut. - Colonel Butts, Justices, this morning. The defendant, who said he was afflicted with deafness and blindness, pleaded Not Guilty. Harold Mosley and Ernest Beckway deposed to seeing the defendant beating his little daughter Agnes (nino years of ago) at tho corner of Holland and Tory streets, on the evening of the 29th April. The child Bcreamed loudly, and apparently the punishment was unnecessarily severe. Constables Hattie and Gleeson deposed to examining the child and finding several bruises upon her Dody. The defendant said his daughter had been but moderately whipped for not attending school, and he did not hurt her. The Bench considered the offence proved, but taking into account the man's infirmity, they would impose the light penalty of seven days' imprisonment, with hard labour. Tho police have up to the prosont been unable to execute the warrant which was yesterday issued by the Court for the arrest of Maud Dobie, who is " wanted " upon a charge of using obscene language. It is believed that the woman has left Wellington. Another person, John Martin, is also required upon a charge of unlawful behaviour, and a warrant for his arrest has been forwarded to Christchurch, for which oity, according to information in the possession of the polioe, he is understood to haye departed. Margaret M'Anally was ordered by Mr. Robinson, 8.M., yesterday afternoon, to pay a fine of 2b' $d and 2s damages, with 7s coats, for injury io property belonging to Margaret Davidson. The case did not como before the Court until late yesterday afternoon. Patrick M'Cafferty, the cabman who was yesterday afternoon fined £1, with £3 costs, for assaulting Mr. J. B. Gould, stationmaster at the Wellington-Manawatu Railway Station, was, last evening, Bent to the Terrace Gaol upon a warrant of commitment |fco three days' imprisonment in default of payment of the fine and costs. Miss Jesajie Apkerman, the representative from America of .the Women's Christian Temperance Union, repeated her interesting and instructive lecture, entitled ¦" San Francisco by Gaslight," at the Exchange Hall last evening. The chair was occupied by Mr. J. R. Blair, who at the conclusion of the lecture thanked Miss Ackerman for her entertainment, and the usual compliment was also passed by the audience, which was fairly large. The Revs. Dr. West and J. Barry oooupied seats upon the platform during ( the lecture. The secrecy of the Pioneer Football Club informs us that tha match between that olub and the Sydenham. 'Club on Sat nr day last resulted in a viotory for the Pi&nuer;? by six points to three, and not in a 'draw, us j/e; siaigd. yesterday. A goal was disputed, but ; was give? in favour of the Pioneers by the , referee. Toe authority for our previous statement the ft^cretary of the Sydenham Club. According to the London correspondent of | the Lyttelton Times, report speaks yery highly indeed of Messrs. Burnand and Salomon's dramatic cantata, "Pickwick," which at the time of writing was to be produced at the Comedy Theatre in a day or two. Mr. Burnand (says the correspondent) has carefully avoided the ground occupied ,by /Gilbert in "Trial by Jnry." Mr. Pickwick wity not appear in court, but in the modest retirement of tho historic apartments ,in Gos'well^Btreflt, the whole action being confined ' to fee oyontful morning of the fatal' mfsunderstwidinpr with Mrs. Barbell. The herd 'of ifie cantstjt is " the baker/ wit& whom it will "be rAnteni- ¦ bered Mrs, jjardejl tyidfl the evidence of Mrs. Baundersy was B,ußpa,otod pf " keeping company." On the eventful morning the baker has a mareUge license in his pocket. Mrs. BardelT»namb is to be filled in, and he will call for her answer. He suspects Pickwick of being his hated rival, and he tells Mrs. Bardell so. She can have jnst one hour in which to decide. At the end of that hour the baker returns, only, alas ! to find the buxom widow ia the miserable Pickwick'^ arms. The three friends are on tiia landing. No explanation i 3 forthcoming ; the baker requires none; he waits lor inone. tho guilty pair with supreme disdaui. £o sings the refrain of an appropriate •" bfcker-poll,. or rather " barcarolle," and departs. In: another second the wedding beilß chime, and by poetio license the man of bam a«d loaves espouses another. Such is the story of the cantata, which opens with a Bardell balled, sung by the fair widow herself, who is " discovered dusting." The music, by little Solomon (composer of Billee Taylor), is said to be admirable of its kind, and with Arthur Cecil &s Pickwick, Lottie Verne as Mm. Bardell. Detae Braudam as the baker, it goes well.

The report and balance-sheet presented by the secretary, Mrs. Bennett, at the annual meeting of the Ladies' Sewing Society of the Umted Methodist Free Church, Courtenaypiace, held in the schoolroom yesterday evening, must have been highly gratifying tb all concerned, the funds of the church having been augmented by during the year from this source. Votes of thanks were ac °orded the retiring officers, Mrs. Bennett and Mrs. Norbury, and they were unanimously re-elected to the position of secretary and treasurer, respectively. The room being required for the rehearsal of the concert to bo given this evening, the ladies dispersed at an unusually early hour. Mr. W. T. L. Travers took occasion in the Magistrate s Court yesterday afternoon to comment adversely upon the very nndesirable practice of solicitors interrupting the proceedings. Tho remark originated from tho fact that a case in which Mr 1 ravers and Mr. Skerrett were engaged had just been heard, and his Worship waß about to pronounce judgment, when Mr. bkerrett, prompted possibly by tho knowledge that the judgment was going against him, advanced argument for an extension of leniency. His Worship replied, and the counsel was about to continue his remarks when Mr. Traver3 rose, and, referring to the interruption by Mr. Skerrett. said ho must protest against these intorrnptions, which lately had become very frequent. As ono of the oldest members of the Bar in Now Zealand, ho felt himself compelled to say that tho practice was never permitted in any other Court in the colony, and if the privileges of solicitors wero allowed to bo abused in suoh a manner, and oontinual argument advanood without restraint, there would be no finality to cases. The practice was a very objeotionable and most improper ono, and he hoped his Worship would not allow it to continue Once a, oaso had beon closed, counsel had not the least right to make any further comment His Worship concurred in Mr. Travers' remarks, and said ho had noticed lately that counsol had rather exceeded their privilege a habit which he trusted would not be adhered to. llessrt. J. IT. Bethune 4 Co., instructed by Dr Alexander Johnston, who is leaving for England will sell by auction, at his residence, Goldiesbrae Grant-road, to-morrow and the following day' (Thursday), commenrinf? at 11 a.m.. the whole of his splendid household furniture, including handsome rosewood ffrand piano, by Collard and Collard London, and the articles contained in the drawincroom, dininproom, library, bedrooms, kitchen &c • also, superior Rlass-fronted landau carriage, by Mulhner, of Leamington, well-built phaeton, nair grey carnage horses, roan marc, carrin(rc harness, saddle, bridle, &c. as per catalogue. The sale beins unreserved, and the whole of the furniture flr B£ class quality, an opportunity will be afforded which seldom occuth to persons furnishing of supplying their requirements. b Baker Bros, will sell ;to-morrow, in their property auction mart, by order of the Hegistrar of the Buprerae Court, a property at Karori, and by order of the mortgagees, a building allotment in Horner-stveet. Newtown; also, a building section in Moir-street. off Brougham-street, and a new cottage in Cardall-street, Newtown. George Thomas & Co. have been instructed to sell on Thursday next, the salvage recovered and removed from the late fire in Willis-street. Noble Campbell & Co. will sell to-morrow, fruit, produce, &c. Townsend & Paul will sell to-morrow, fruit, produce, Sic. Francis Sidey & Co. will sell to-morrow, furniture, drapery, &c. Freeman R. Jackson & Co. will sell to-morrow, at Johnsonville, stock, &c. Lowes & lorns will sell to-morrow, at Masterton, stock, &c. F. It. Wood will sell on Thursday next, at his yards, Taratahi, stock, &c.