LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume LII, Issue 155, 21 November 1896, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

* Consequent upon extraordinary pressure upon our space, we are compelled to hold over editorial articles upon the meetings of Mr. Menteath and the candidates for the Mayoralty. Surveys made by Mr. Thomas 'Ward, at the request of the City Council, show that up to the preseut there are ahout 1000 encroachments in the street^ of the City. The Town Clerk has been instructed to obtain extra clerical assistance in preparing notices to the owneri of th» onoroaohing properties.

We are authorised by Mr. H. J. H. Blow, Under-Secretary oi the Public Works Department, to say that the statement attributed to him by Mr. Carnell, M.H.R., as to carpenters' wages in Wellington, is incorrect, and that Mr. Carnell must have misapprehended what passed between them. Mr. Blow's recollection of his conversation with Mr. Carnoll on the subject is that he told Mr. Carnell that good carpenters were in strong demand at v " top wages" (meaning thereby 10s per day), and that bricklayers were being paid 12s and 13s a day. Mr. George Wilson, the newly-appointed Inspecting Engineer of the Mines Department, has left on his first official visit to the Otago coal and gold fields. The money taken at the gates and the grandstand on the second day of the Agrioultural Show amounted to £107. The adjourned case of Richard Mothes v. Thomas Riddler, a claim for £22 10s commission on the sale of certain sections at Petone, was concluded in the Magistrate's Court this morning. His Worship non- j suited the plaintiff, with costs. , Mr, Bunny appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Ollivier for the defendant. j The dimculty between the contractors for the outfall sewer and their men, in reference to the tatter's demand for an increase of wages, is still unsettled, In proof of what the meat freezing and preserving, &c, •works do for the colony m the way of employment of labour, returns show that in 1895 some 1908 men and 52 women were employed at these works, and the wages' paid amounted to £180,775. In JB9O the number of hands, employed was 1568, and the wages paid were £138,459. The total value of the output in 1895 was £1,652,275, and in 1890 it wa5'£1,464,659. The question of improving the Fire Brigade accommodation at Thorndon and Newtown was recently considered by the Fire Brigade Committee of the City Council. Captain Kemsley suggested the erection of a station at Tinakori-road at a cost of £295, or with hejl tower £320, and of a station art Russell-Urrace at a cost of £362, or with bell tower of £392. The Committee was unable to recommend the Council that the Captain's suggestion should be adopted, and after making full' enquiries it decided to recommend (1) that the hose-reel station at Donald M'Lean-street be repaired and painted ; (2) that an offer should be made to hire, at a small rental, the land on which the hose-reel station at Tinakori-road now stands, and that if it wero accepted the station should be repaired and painted. The recommendations were adopted by the Council last night. The monthly meeting of the Harbour Board was held yesterday, Mr. T. J. W. Gale presiding. On the recommendation of the Wharves and Accounts Coinniitteei, it was agreed : — That £5 per annum he paid to the City Council for the watering of the roadway of Waterloo-quay ; that consent be given to the Wellington Amateur Swimming Club to hold aquatic sports at the Queen's Wharf ou a day to be fixed in January, and that Anniversary Day, 22nd January, being ! one of the Board's holidays, would be the most suitable date ; that the question of the imposition of liquidated damages for the non-completion within the contract time by Messrs. W. Cable & Co. of their contract for woolpresses be left to the Engineer to decide. The draft of new bylaws relating to reduction in the charges on hemp, storage of timber, stoppage" of steam sirens from being blown in the harbour, and providing that drivers of vehicles must stop at the tolsK clerk's office, was approved, and ordered to be brought up for confirmation on the 17th December. This was all the business. The City Council was interviewed last evening by a deputation from the Carriers' Uniou, consisting of Messrs. A. Orr (President), W. Standen, and W. Wilshire, who urged that the bylaws should be amended in various directions ; that the southern end of the shelter shed should be closed, to protect expressmen against cold winds; and that facilities should be placed in that building for the boiling of water, so that carriers might be able to make tea or coffee at meal times. The Council decided to defer consideration of the matters in question until the return of the Inspector of Vehicles from Australia. * Messrs. Shrimpton and Green, of the Christchurch Telegraph Department, performed a cycling feat this week, riding from Christclnirch to" Blenheim in three days. The most remarkable part of the journey was the ride of 100 miles from Kaikoura to Blenheim in a day. This part of the route is very rough, and it takes the ordinary stage coach two days to accomplish the distance. The cyclists returned via Nelson and the West Coast. Bishop Grimes, of Christchurch, is to preside at the annual entertainment and distribution of prizes %t St. Patrick's College on the 3rd December. - Lady Augusta Boyle's fine upstanding pair of horses were awarded first prize in the tandem class at the the A. and P. Show this week not Mr. D. Johnston's as stated yesterday. Mr. D. Johnston's pair obtained second place. In this issue we publish the programme of the Wellington Caledonian Society's eleventh annual sports gathering. The prize-money ha? been increased from last year, and it will be noticed that the programme consists mostly of amateur events, for whioh the trophies offered are very valuable. The Secretary informs us that he has received the permission of the N.Z. Amateur Athletic Association, the N.Z. Cyclists' Union, and the N.Z. Cyclists' Association to hold the running and cycling events under their rules and regulations. In the windows of "the Byko," in Willis-street, will be seen a sample of the machines which the Caledonian Society is specially importing from New; York for its grand exhibition art union. The' Harvard is the brand, and it is highly spoken of by cycling experts. A •list is also published of those establishments from which tickets in the art union can be procured. There is already a steady demand for them. In the. championship tournament of the Wellington. Chess Club Mr. Mason is still leading, with 14 points and one game to play. Mr. Littlejohn has scored 9 poiuts, and has five games to play ; and Mr. Mackay has 10 points, with four games to play. In the handicap tourney, Mr. Matthews has completed his games with a score of 18 points, Mr. Carman coming next with nine points, and two games yet to play. Last night's threatening weather caused the Wellington Amateur Cycling Club to postpone its run to Ross's Gardens, Lower Hutt, until Monday evening, when the cyclists will leave Martin's Fountain at 7.30 o clock. The new Schoolroom just erected at the corner of Constable and Daniel streets, Newtown, is to be opened by a tea and public meeting on Tuesday next. Sunday-school will be commenced on the following Sunday, Mr, G. Norton, of Wellington, has received an order from the Gisborne Rowing Club for two four-oared outriggers, to be used in championship events. The. aunual Synod of the "Wesleyan Church of the Wellington distriot will open in Wesley Church School on Tuesday next. Several of the ministerial representatives have already arrived, and some of them will conduct the service in the various Wesleyan churches of the city to-morrow. The Rev. J. Guy will deliver in the Webb-street Church on Tuesday evening next a lecture on " The Japanese at Home." illustrated, by dissolving limelight views.

The Postal Department has been advised | that the B.M.S. Mouowai. with English I mails of 31st October, left San Francisco on 12th November, time-table date ; and that the R.M.S. Alameda, with colonial mails of 31st October, arrived at San Francisco on the 19th November, due date. Six splendid Southdown ewe hoggets which secured first, second, and third prizes for Mr. J. Stuckey at the show here on Thursday and Friday were shipped to-day to Sydney to Mr. Bruce, Chief Inspector of Stock for the New South Wales Government. The sheep were bred at Te Eangitumau by Mr, Stuckey. • A solitary first-offending inebriate was the only occupant of the dock in the Magistrate's Court this morning. In view of the early arrival of the new Commandant it is proposed to resuscitate the old Te Aro Rifle Corps of volunteers, which, had disbanded after the 1886 war scare had subsided. Lieutenant Tegner, formerly senior lieutenant of the company, has taken the matter in hand, and through our advertising columns appeals for lOOsmart young fellows to enrol themselves. A painful accident hefel Captain Chambers, of the Stormbird, yesterday afternoon, the door of one of the cabins on the steamer being shimmed violently by a gust of wind upon' his hand. The end of one of the fingers was cut clean off, and the hand was much crushed. Mr. W, C. Fitzgerald attended the sufferer. Consideration was given by the City Council last evening to the proposal of Councillor Devine, "That the Council, as representing the citizens of Wellington, convey to the Premier its protest against the contemplated action of the Government in converting the Terrace Gaol into a lunatio asylum, temporary or otherwise, as ' being detrimental to property-owners in the vicinity, and to the interests of the city generally ; also, that the Council associate itself with any other Wellington public body or committee of representative citizens in urging on the Government the claims ot Wellington to the Terrace Gaol, when vacated, as a site for a University College," In speaking to the motion, Councillor Devine said he considered it was the duty of the Council to protest against the proposal of the Government. He believed the Corporation revenue would be affected if the gaol was. converted into an asylum, as the value of the property in the neighbourhood would depreciate. Wellington was badly treated in being deprived of a TJnivertity College, and he considered that the Council ought to join in an agitation for the establishment of such an institution. They should be treated as liberally as other large centres of the colony. The motion was seconded by Councillor Smith. Councillor Fraser, who was in the chair, endorsed Councillor Devine's views, and added that it would be a great pity to place an asylum in a part of the city where there were so many excellent building sites. Councillor Higginbottom supported the motion, and urged that the Mayor should call a public meeting of the citizens to protest against the Government's proposal. The motion was agreed to, and it was decided to forward a copy of it to the Premier. Letters of naturalisation have been issued to John Axel Asserted, Anders Knutzen Hanberg, and G. G. Schwartz, all of Wellington. Yesterday afternoon Mr. Greenfield, S.M., heard a Napier case, in which Henry R. Lascelles claimed £44 12s 5d for commission on the valuation of the Clarendon Hotel, Napier, from William Patrick Kirkwood. The defendant was brought up under a writ of arrest, on the ground that he was about to leave the colon3 v . His Worship gave judgment for the plaintiff for £39 12s lid, with £4 14s costs. Mr. Lee (Napier) appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Wylie for the defendant. The strong wind which blew yesterday interfered con&iderably with the play in the match at Newtown between the Manawatu and Wellington polo teams. The game resulted in a viQtory for the visitors by 9 points to 3. Messrs. P. M'Rae, A. Soutbey Baker, and Snow scored three goals each for the winners. For Wellington Mr. D. G. A. Cooper obtained two goals and Mr. E. Bucholz one. A concert in aid of the choir fund of St. James's Church,. Lower Hutt, is to be held to-night at the Oddfellows' Hall. Mr Bell's Committee in regard to the Mayoral election will meet at Thomas's Hall on Monday evening. Mr. Bell is to speak at theAlhainb'ra Hall on Monday evening. The members of the Wellington Amateur Cycling Club, who were, at the invitation of the captain, to have ridden to M'Nab*s Gardens last night; did not start on account of the threatening aspect of the weather. The run was postponed till Monday night. The Festival Choral Society will resume its weekly practice on Tuesday evening next. The sight-reading class will begin at 7.20 o'clock. The Hon. Secretary will be pleased to receivo personal applications from alto and male-voice singers. The Caledonian Society Exhibition chorus will meet for practice on Monday night. "Hie Temperance Reformers advertise their anniversary " social " for Monday evening. The usual excursions to. Day's Bay will be run to-morrow, weather permitting, by either the s.s. Duco or the Mana. Members of the Orchestral Society are specially reminded to be in their places tonight at 7.30 o'clock sharp. Special lines are advertised by Mr. T. J. Leighton in boots and shoes, having arrived too late for Exhibition purposes. Messrß. J. J Caßey & Co., drapers, 57, Cuba-street, announce that they have opened up a large shipment of choice fancy goods suitable for prosents,'--v?hioh they will distribute to all their customers, and the public generally, who will spend 5s and upwards, from 21st November to 31st December The Two-Keel Sewing Machine can be seen working at No. 12, Cuba-streot, opposite Te Aro House. To those in quest of a suburban residence Messrs £. Hannah & Co.'s advertisement in another column of houses for salo at Khandallah will bo of interest. Brigadier Hoskin, who is the leader of the Salvation Army, and is very popular, is to conduct a number of special meetings in Wellington,' assisted by tno five other prominent -Salvationists, Majors Bruntnoll and Birkcnsbaw, and Staff-Captains Knight, Edwards, aud Harris. The special programme starts to-night with an open-air gathering at the foot of Cuba-Btreet. All day to-morrow Brigadier Hoskin will lead meetings in Army Buildings, Vivian-street. On Monday night Rescue Work is to be the topic. Messrs. A. G. Tame & Co. will hold a sale of vehicles on Wednesday next at 11 o'clock. The order of services at St. Peter's Church for to-morrow is advertised. At St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral to-morrow the services will be conducted as advertised. Services will be conducted in the Wesleyan Churches to-morrow as follow : — Wesloy Church, Taranaki-street, 11, Rpv. L. Ryan j G3O Rev. W. Baumber. Molesworth-street, 11, Rev. J. Blight; 6.30, Rev. J. T. Nott. Newtown, 11, Bey. J. T. Nott; 6.30, Rev. J. W. Griffin. At the Terrace Congregational Church tomorrow, tho services will bo conducted by the Bey. J. B. Glasson. At tho Courtenayplace Churoh tiie services will b« conducted by Bey. B. T. Hallowes. At the Vivian-street Baptist Church tomorrow, tho Rev. C. Dallaston will preach morning and evening. Evening subjeot— " Whitewashed or Washed White." The preachers at the various Primitive Methodist Churches to-morrow we advertised, i

Mr. A. F. Turner will preach at the Church of Christ, Dixon-street. to-morrow availing. The Forward Movement services for tomorrow ore advertised. Th.c Rev. W. A.Evans will conduct the evening service. The snbjoct of the sermon to be preached in the Catholic Apostolic Church, Wobb* street, to-morrow evening, is advertised. | Helping Hand Mission servicos will bo con- • dncted in the Choral Hall, Courtenay-placo, to-morrow, «» Mr. Hinman preaches in the Assembly Hall, Riddiford-street, to-morrow evening. The Wellington Ethical Society will meet at the Rechabite Hall to-morrow evening. Miss Lilian Edger will lecture in Spiller'a Hall, Boulcott-street, to-morrow'evening. Mrs, Harris will deliver a looture in tho Psychological Hall, Ghuznee-street, to-mor-row evening.