LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume LIII, Issue 94, 22 April 1897, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

♦ Attention is directed to the notification of his Worship the Mayor convening a meeting of the citizens for 4 p.m. to-mor-row, to consider what atep9 should be taken for adequate relief being given to those who suffered by the recent floods. It is hoped that there may be present a large and representative meeting of citizens. During the Premier's trip to Onehunga in the Tutanekai, he rigred about 3000 New Zealand Government debentures, and also placed his initials 49 times on each of them. Mr. Atcherlj, of the Survey Department, is preparing an illuminated address, which the NeW Zealand Veterans' Association intend* piresenting to th« Queen on the occasion, of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, flhe address will be oh view on Saturday in M'Gregor Wright's shop window. In the course of a brief interview which a Herald reporter had with the Premier (Hon. R. J. Seddon) before his departure on Saturday, the .latter stated that he would he bmck in New Zealand by the 20th of September. If this be so, there is a probability of the session opening about the 30th September — the date to which the Opposition wished to limit supplies when the question was debated in the House. The Premier was also asked as to whether there was any probability of a reduction being made in the rents charged for mining areas, a question on which a good deal of interest is being manifested by those connected with <Jhe mining industry. Mr. Seddon, however, started that any such application would receive careful consideration, but it was a matter connected with the department of Mb colleague the Minister of Mines, and he would therefore express no opinion on the question. A society which does much good, and whose aims deserve every support from the public, is the Wellington Tree-planting and Scenery Preservation Society. The bleak '.'uviroas of this city need all the improvement and amelioration which human skill van give before Wellington can claim to <)qu«l in beauty any of the other chief cities an New Zealand. At the last meeting of the Committee, a letter and plans were received from the Moxham Farm Syndicate, showing the line of a proposed road through the Town Belt and the society's reserve. It was resolved to support the formation of a road of easy grade up the gully leading from Salamanca-road. A letter and a very* numerously signed petition was received from Petone, requesting the co-operation of the society in assisting the inhabitants in acquiring a certain reserve, in order to preserve its scenery. It was resolved to inspect the reserve indicated, and. if found suitable, to assist the inhabitants of Petone in acquiring the reserve for scenery preservation. The practice of making natural scenery hideous by advertisements again engaged the attention of the Committee, and it was decided to invite the co-operation of kindred societies throughout the colony in mitigating the evil. A poll is to be taken in Stratford on proposals to light the township by electricity or gai.

At Mr. Atkinson's meeting last night Mr. His.lop took the opportunity to correct a statement made by Mr. Atkinson that the present Minister for Lands was the author of the provision in the laud laws of the colony limiting the area of Crown land which could be acquired by one person to 640 acres first-class and 2000 acres secondclass land. Sir Harry Atkinson first applied the principle to the Crown lands of the colony, and Messrs. Rolleston and Richardson had applied it to different leasehold tenures under which Crown land was acquired. Apropos of Record Reign celebrations, it is perhaps worthy of note that Mr. T. W. Mackenzie, of this city, was present at the coronation of the Queen, and can recollect all the details of the procession. One of the identities of Broad Bay (Otago), Mr. John Rodger, formed one of the guard of honour at the coronation. Mr. Fisher, at Mitchelltown last evening, paid a special compliment to the value of the Evening Post as an advertising medium when he said that one advertisement in this paper at short notice was sufficient to draw together so full a meeting. Councillor Frost, of the Melrose Borough Council, will move at the next meeting of the Council for a return showiug the exact legal position of the' streets at Brooklyn, and whether any of the roads have been taken over by the Council ; and, if so, which. The desirability of diverting the money voted by Parliament to meet the expense of sending the cavalry contingent to the recoi'd reigu celebrations, to provide relief for the sufferers by the Hawkes Bay floods, was the subject of some remarks from Mr. Atkinson at Newtown last night. He said that little had been heard of the Premier's bodyguard, which was one of the .most distinguished planks of. the Government's policy iv recent times. The £10,000 which it would cost to send the contingent Home would come in opportunely as the nucleiis of the Hawkes Bay Relief Fund. (Lengthy applause.) In answer to a question on tile subject, Mr. Atkinson said the men composing the contingent had the matter in their own hands. If they decided not to go, the State would be saved the expenditure. He did not think the Premier would have the face to spend the money if the men did not go. The matter could also be dealt with by public agitation. The recent heavy rains have caused considerable damage in the Wainui-o-mata district to roads and culverts. The road on the Wellington side, owing to several slips and to portions having been carried away, is practically impassable. The river has also changed its course, and as a consequence several settlers have had large parts of their farms inundated and, in some cases washed away. The Melrose Borough Inspector of Works reported to the Public Works Committee of his Council en Tuesday night that no damage had resulted to borough works from the storm-water. He also reported that the metalling of Harrison-street, Brooklyn, was now finished, the metal being taken off the side of the Ohiro-roadj which is now improved by widening a verj' narrow point • a satisfactory completion has been made of the Island Bay culvert ; pip«s are now being laid in Wright - street, Vogeltown , and a gate has been erected at the entrance to the Council's land, near the grids at Mitchelltown. Only one creditor attended the meeting j yesterday in the bankrupt estate of Francis Brady The bankrupt's offer to pay £1 per month while he continued in work was accepted. At Kent-terrace Presbyterian Church yesterday afternoon Miss J. Bowden and Mr. James Galland were wedded the Rev. J. Kennedy Elliott, 8.A., officiating at the ceremony. The bride wore a silver-grey silk, trimmed prettily with chiffon and sequin, and wore a veil lastened on with brilliants ; while the bridesmaid, Miss Nellie Hedgland, was dressed in heliotrope trimmed silk and passementrie, with hat to match. Mr. A. Bowden acted as best man, the bride being given away by her brother, Mr. C. Bowden. Mr. and Mrs. Galland left by thf 5.20 train to spend their honeymoon in the Manawatu district. The bride's travelling dress was a fawn tweed, with old gold vest. The presents were both handsome and numerous. The 26th standard examination of the New Zealand Pharmacy Board is being held at Mr. Mee's rooms, Lambton-quay. The subjects, which are written, practical, and oral, extend over yesterday and to-day Mr. Geo. Mcc and Mr. Geo. W. Wilton are the supervisors. The candidates are from various parts ot the district, and some of them have had considerable difficulty in getting to Wellington on account of the deranged state of the roads, one man doing a difficult 60 miles with the alternate aid of a bicycle, " Shanks's pony," and Maori canoes. The Loyal Antipodean Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., held its usual meeting last evening, Bro. G. Parkins, N.G., in the chair. The quarterly balance-sheet was read and adopted. The following extract shows the position of the principal accounts : — Sick and Funeral Fund, credit balance of £7210 Os Id ; Management Fund, £337 12s ; interest account, £29, with a grand total of f>inds available of about £7900. The increased value of the hall property is £3258 6s. P.P.G.M. Bro. W. Guise, who represents the lodge on the Orphanage Society, which, it will be remembered, was founded in Jubilee year, gave a summary of the work done, and the financial position of the society He received a, vote of thanks for his services. A meeting of the Wellington Associated Drapers' Sports Committee was held Jast evening iri the Trocadero. Mr. Fairbairn occupied the chair. The balance-sheet of the late sports meeting, showing a substantial credit balance, was read and adopted. It was decided not to hold a ball this year in connection with the distribution of trophies. Mr. H. M'Cardell, as handicapper, was voted a donation for his services, as also was tha hon. secretary, Mr. D. C. Ingram. '•' Tou may take it from me," said Mr. Wilson at Newtown last night, that Mr. Atkinson will never be Premier of New Zealand— for a great many years to come," he added as a saving clause. " Nor you either," chimed in a woman's voice from the audience, and amidst laughter Mr. Wilson disclaimed any ambition to hold the office. The Exchange Hall was well filled last evening, when a benefit performance of " Time Will Tell," an Original three-act comedy by Herbert Gardner, was given. The characters were ably filled by the Misses Whittaker and B. Kelly, Messrs. H. J. Fraser, W. Brown, G. Morgan, R. A. Marshall, juu., H. Hall, P. A. Savieri, and D. Kelly, all acquitting themselves well. Music was supplied by Cimino's orchestra. The performance, which was in aid of Mrs. Wilkinson and family, is likely to show a substantial result. At the Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr. Eyre Kenny, S.M., William Stewart, who had previously been remanded for medical treatment, on a charge of drunkenness was fined 10s (or 48 hours' imprisonment) and ordered to pay 12s 6d expenses of treatment. Mary M'Carthy was oharged with the theft of boots from the shops of Messrs. Tracy and Pearce. The old woman, who had to be assisted into tho dock, shaking as with the ague, pleaded Guilty, drink being the temptation. As it was a first offence the Bench passed a sentence of seven days' imprisonment in each case, the sentences to be concurrent. A charge against Joseph Thomas of allowing his horse to do damage in the Parliamentary Grounds was withdrawn, as he had paid for the damage done.

"If I chose I could go on for two solid hours giving you instances of blackmailing by Wellington lawyers of tlie Maoris of their lands."— The Minister for Lands at Newtow n last night. The Minister for Public Works is now at Hastings. He is expected back in Wellington about the end of the week. The Minister for Railways will receive the deputation voicing the complaint of farmers and dairynien as to the alteration in the train time-table to the Hutt district at 3 o'clock on-Monday. Mr. W. R. Rutherfurd, who has been connected With the Stock Department at Mastertou for the last five' years, has been promoted to the position of Inspector of Stock, at Wairoa, Hawkes Bay. Mr. F. W. Markmann, in tho service of Messrs. Briscoe, MaoNeil, and Co., was pre^ sented yesterday by the employes of the firm in Wellington with a set of plate as a wedding present. Mr. John MacNeil made the presentation. The man James Jones, who was smartly arrested by Constable Cox at Petone yesterday in the act of breaking into the house of Mr, D. Webley, was brought before the Court at the Lower Hutt yesterday, and remanded to appear in Wellington on the 27th inst. »•' A deputation from the Upland Estate Company is to interview the City Council to-night with reference to the proposed road through the estate to Karori. At the request of Mr. Swan, Mayor of Napier, Mr. Atack, Manager of the United Press Association, communicated with Mr. Browning, Superintendent of the Eastern Extension Cable Company atWakapuaka, asking that cable messages to the sister colonies urging assistance for Hawkes Bay flood sufferers be sent free. , After referring the question to the Australian Manager, Mr. Browning has replied that the company willingly accedes to the request. The local representatives of the Blackball Coal Company have been informed that operations at the mine, which were suspended owing to the heavy floods on the West Coast some few weeks baok, will be resumed about the 10th Maj. Mr. Robert Steward, late second officer of the s.s. Rotokino, who has been studying at the Trinity House Navigation and Steam Schools, Wellington, has passpd his examination for a certificate of competency as master of a foreign-going ship in the mercantile marine. The attention of members of the St. Thomas's Young Men's Society is drawn to an advertisement notifying the postponement of their weekly session. The Wesleyan Literary and Debating Society will open its new session with an elocutionary recital by Mr. A. S. Patersou and members in the Taranaki-street Schoolroom this evening. During the evening the Wesleyan Orchestral Society will render selections. The public are invited to be present. An alteration in the date of Mr. Maughan Barnett's piano recital is announced. It w ill take place to-morrow fortnight, Friday, 7th May, instead of on Monday as previously I advertised. To-morrow, St. George's Day, the Mana will run an excursion to Day's Bay, leaving the Ferry Wharf at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Messrs. A. G. Tame & Co. advertise two orates of crockery for their furniture sale tomorrow at 2.30, and also make some additions to their furniture sale at 1.30. They also advertise ten horses, on account of members of the record reign contingent, without reserve. Messrs. Laery & Co. will sell to-morrow, at their rooms, Willis-street, the hull, boiler, and engines of the s.s. Neptune. Hats and bonnets form a subject of absorbing interest to the fair sex about this season of the year. "What is to be worn this winter P " is the oft-repeated question which forms the basis of many a conversation. We are glad to be in a position to give all ladies making this enquiry a most satisfactory answer. If you desire to know what is most popular, what is most fashionable,_what is considered the very acme of taste in ladies' head-gear; go to the millinery department or study the windows at Te Aro House. There is to be found surely the loveliest choice of hats and bonnets ever shown in any country. Selected Parisian models, choice trimmed hats in wonderful colour effects, fashionable toques, trimmed and untrimmed, cycling hats, sailor hats, stylish red hats with corresponding wings and quills for trimming, and in addition a very fine selection ot children's millinery for the winter season, including felt hats, Puritan bonnets, fancy hats, and other novelties, are all now being shown in unbounded and delightful profusion in the millinery department at Te Aro House. — Advt.