LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume LIII, Issue 113, 14 May 1897, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The members and secretary of the Private Benefit Societies' Commission go South by steamer this afternoon. THe Gazette notifies the appointment of Mr. G. H. Jenkinson as an inspector of stock, and of Mr.'J. H. Dickson as an inspector of abattoirs and slaughterhouses for the County of Waitotara. The appointment of Mr. J. A. Henderson as poultry expert, previously announced, is also gazetted. We notice that our paragraph with refer* enoe to the progress of the Midland Railway works has been copied by several contemporaries without acknowledgment. The Government is again being urged to make provision for secondary education in Marlborough. Failing an endowment it is asked that a sufficient sum be granted auuually proportionate to the advantages enjo3 r ed in other provinces. • v Postmasters have been notified by tha Postal Department that the Mayors of Feilding, Marton, Wanganui, Palmerston, and Foxton; the Chairman of the Town Board, Bulls; Chairman of the County Council, Sanson ; and Chairman of Relief Committee, Sanson, are authorised to frank letters and telegrams on business of the Rangitikei Belief Fund. During the absence of Lieut.-Colcnel Pitt in England with ,the New Zealand contingent, Captain and Adjutant Li ttlejohn will act as a member of the Nelson Local Board for the examination of candidates for commissions in the New Zealand forces. The members of the Court of Arbitration are: — His Honor, Mr. Justice Williams; Mr. Robert Slater, J.P., Mount Pleasant, Caversham; and Mr, Henry Thompson, Christchurch.Mr. Garvey, Governor of the Terrace Gaol, was, owing to illness, unable to be present in the Magistrate's Court yesterday in order to bring up a probation report. Mr Garvey has been laid up with a'nervons 1 complaint for three daj ; s, but is now recovering.

The Hospital at Greytown will in future bo known as the South Wairarapa Hospital. A private telegram received in Wellington yesterday brings news of the accidental death in one of the Thames mines of Mr. John Childerhouse, an old and respected resident of the Thames. The deceased was about 50 years of age. Dr. Findlay concluded his series of three lectures in connection with the Citizenship Class at the Forward Movement Hall last evening. The lecturer reviewed Democratic government in the United States of America, pointing out the many evils that affect its political and municipal life, showing also how distasteful politics have become to the better classes in the community, and the consequent deadening of the political conscience to all prinoiple. Reference was then made to many features of a harmful kind that beset Demooraoies in general.and, Democracy being inevitable, cuggestions were hinted at whereby it may be preserved or delivered from these evils. At the conclusion of the lecture, on the motion of Mrs. Evans, supported by Mr. Milligan, a very hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Dr. Findlay for. his lectures. In acknowledging the vote, the Doctor expressed his regret that the efforts of the Rev. Mr. Evans to bring about the thoughtful study of social questions by means of lectures, classes, &c, were not more generally appreciated by the people of Wellington. The general apathy affecting all matters of intellectual life, he felt sure, would be largely dispelled with the establishment of a University here, and Dr. Findlay appealed to those present to use their best endeavours to that end. H.M.S. Pyl'ades is to be at Wellington on 22ud June. In November the Pylades lc.ives.for England, her place on the station being taken by the Mohawk, a more modern class of vessel, which is now being refitted it Portsmouth. The latter vessel will leave for Australia after the grand commemoration review at Portsmouth. Official intimation is given in the Gazette of the appointments in the Mines Department mentioned by us some days ago, as follows: — Mr. G. Wilson, Inspecting Engineer; Mr. James Coutts, Inspector; and Mr. Thomas Ryan, Assistant Inspectorfor the Auckland district; and Mr. Patrick GalTin, Secretary of the Mining Bureau at Wellington. Mr. J. H. Smith, of Christchurch, succeeds Mr. A. C. Barlow as chief goods clerk at the Wellington Railway Station. Mr. Barlow, who is leaving to-day for West Australia, was entertained at the Royal Hotel last evening by a number of his late brother officers, and presented by Mr. Styles, stationmaster at Wellington, on behalf of the staff, with an illuminated address. Sixty school-children in the Marlborough district have expressed a desire to tike advantage of the Education Board's proposal to establish shorthand classes at a small fee. The Board is now making enquiries as to the most suitable system of shorthand to adopt. Yong Chqng Lum was charged at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon with having broken and entered the dwelling of Yong Lee, and stolen therefrom the sum of £2 10s lid; and also with assaulting "Wong Kum (who attempted to capture him) by striking him with a stick. He was demanded till Monday on both charges. At the fortnightly meeting of the Carriers' Union last night, Mr. Allan Orr in the chair, the delegates to the Eight Hours' Committee reported that matters were well ahead for the forthcoming demonstration, whioh, it is anticipated, will be the best of its kind yet held in the Empire City. The officers of the Union were appointed a deputation to waitupon the Wharves and Accounts Committe&of -the Harbour Board this afternoon to discuss questions affecting the interests of carriers. A communication from Mr. 8. Waters, making a number of suggestions for the welfare of the Union, was held over for, future consideration, it being decided to ask Mr. Waters to attend the next meeting of the Union to explain his suggestions. An admirable lecture, full of interest to New Zealanders, who really know very little of the scenic beauties of their own shores, was given by Mr. Malcolm ' Ross at St. Peter's Schoolroom last evening, on the fascinating subject of the Southern Alps, the peaks, glaciers, and passes of which have been many times scaled and explored by Mr. Ross. Last night's lecture embraced descriptions of climbs about Mount Cook, Mount Sefton, Mount Earnshaw, the Reinarkables, and also Mount De la Beche (which was climbed by Mr. Ross and party laat March), and was illustrated by some very fine photographic views, shown with limelight effects by Mr. Chapman, of the Hutt. Mr. Ross was given a hearty vote of thanks for his lecture, the proceeds of which are to help the fund for the erection of a church at Brooklyn. The Ohiro Home was visited last evening by a party of the .Cambridge-terrace Christian Endeavour Society, who gave the inmates a very pleasant social entertainment. The visitors, to the number of about 30, supplied refreshments plentifully, and a very enjoyable evening was spent. On Wednesday evening Mr. Carter, owner of the drapers' whare at Karaka Bay, ¦was entertained by a party of friends at the Trocadero, in recognition of his kindness to them when visiting that locality. A very pleasant evening was spent. The Committee of the "Wellington Tree Planting and Scenery Preservation Society has decided to officially contradict the statement of Councillor Higginbottom that the society was practically part and parcel of the Upland Farm Syndicate. The Committee has decided to have a number of trees planted this year, and the Government is to be requested to issue pamphlets as to the best method of planting trees, &o. Yesterday afternoon, at the Magistrate's Court, James Durmody pleaded not guilty to a charge of disobeying an order of the Court to pay 8s per week for tile support of bis wife. The arrears amounted to £5 12s. After hearing evidence, Mr. Kenny, S.M., reduced the amount of arrears to £2, and adjourned the case for a month. The charge -will be dismissed if accused continues the payments during that period. The Weslevan Literary and Debating Society held its weekly meeting in the Tarajjaki - street class-room last evening. There was a large attendance of members, and Mr. E. L. Burgess was in the chair. The evening was devoted to elocution, and recitations were delivered by Miss M'Lean (encored), Messrs. E. L. Burgess, E. Fuller, J. W. Collins, E. P. Rishworth, F. Rish•worth, H. Chisholm, and A. Callum, followed by critioisms of members. Next Thursday evening a mock Parliamentary election will take place. Competition in the Westralian steamship service is becoming keen. Messrs. M'ilwraitb, M'Eacharn & Co. have withdrawn from the arrangement the various companies agreed to, and the old war of cutting tariffs is again coming into force. There is some talk of another shipping service being started between the eastern provinces and -Westralia, and it is said that English capital is available to back the venture. "We have already mentioned that another syndicate proposes running a service between Westralia, Sydney, and New Zealand. This service may possibly come into force about October. Two large Maori canoes have been found in a kauri, bush in 'the Tauranga District. One of them is ready for launching, and is in a fine state of preservation. The local Maoris have a tradition that these canoes Were being made many generations ago.

We hear that some experts slate that the mineral oils imported are more inflammable than they should be, and that there is no Inspector of these oik. Some years ago an inspection was made of some imported oils, •and it was decided to destroy them. The danger to the community from inflammable oils, especially in a wooden city, hardly requires to be pointed out. The suggestion has been made by the Bishop of Wellington that the offertories collected at the thanksgiving services in connection with the Queen's Record Reign next month should be devoted towards a fund for establishing a home for women in Wellington, to be called the Victoria Diocesan Home. The proposal has not yet been considered by the various parishes, in whose hands its acceptance or rejection rests. A meeting of the delegates to the New Zealand Kennel Club was held at tho Trocadero last night, Mr R. Triggs in the chair. The Schedule Committee reported that the schedules for the Southland and Blenheim shows had been approved. A letter was read from the Dunedin Fanciers' Club, notifying the appointment of a new Secretary, and stating that their schedule would shortly be submitted. The Blenheim Kennel Club wrote asking for a reduction in registration fees for dogs exhibited at their shows. The Seoretary was instructed to write, pointing out that no reduction could be made on the present charge of Is for each registratipn. Letters from the various Australian clubs were read, favouring the appointment of an English judge, but pointing out the difficulties that existed in obtaining one at the present time. The Chairman remarked that the time was coming when a lisT of competent judges would have to be submitted to the various clubs to select from.. . . ' • The Catholics of Wellington to i give a reception to Archbishop Redwood on his return from Europe next month. At a meeting of the Grand Orient Lodge held on Wednesday evening the sum of £2 2s was subscribed for the Hawkes Bay Relief Fund. An interesting lecture on Arctic Exploration, with especial reference to Nansen's " Farthest North," was delivered by the Yen. Master. Three tenders were sent in to the New Plymouth Harbour Board for cartage to and from the breakwater in view of the dispute with the Railway Department. They were considered by the Board in committee on Tuesday, and a resolution was passed that the Minister of Railways should be again approached with a view to a compromise of the trouble. Two undergraduates of the London University who have taken up their residence in Auckland have applied to the Education Department to be allowed to sit there for the B.A. and intermediate examinations of that institution. The Department has acceded to their request. A meeting of the Wharf Employes' Benefit Society was held last evening, when final arrangements were made in connection with the social to be held in aid of the Hawkes Bay Relief Fund. Sir R. Stout, Mi. J Hutcheson, and Mr. Fisher, M.H.R.'s, and others, have given their patronage. A large number of tickets have been sold. A proposal brought forward by Mr. Fraser whereby sick members would be entitled to £1 per week and have the attendance of a doctor by raising the contribution fees was, after some discussion, negatived. It was decided to register the society under the Friendly Societies Registration Act. The second number of the Colonial Inventor, " an illustrated journal of progress, scientific and mechanical," has reached us. It is well printed, and contains some excellent illustrations and much matter of interest on the subjects it deals with. The Inventor is published monthly at Christohurch. Two prizes of the value of £20 and £10 are to be offered by the Empire Tea Company, Wellington, of which Messrs. W. & G. Turubull & Co.* are the proprietors, for the first and secUnd best original designs for a tea show card. The competition is confined to registered students of the technical schools of New Zealand, and the liberality and enterprised displayed by Messrs. "W. & G. Turnbull & Co. will, no doubt, result in a fine collection of designs being sent in. By the Wakatipu on Saturday, Mr. R. Triggs, of Wellington, is sending five of the best fox terriers south of the Line, inoluding the champion prize winner Dusky D'Orsay, to Sydney, where they have been sold to the President of the New South Wales Kennel Club at a very high figure. At the Choral Hall last night the proceedings of the Star of Wellington Lodge, 1.0. G.T., were presided over by Bro. Simpson, C.T. A communication was received from Palmerston North asking that two delegates be appointed to attend a Temperance Convention to be held on the Queen's Birthday. Bro. Hall and Sister Clark were elected to represent the lodge. A number of matters of interest to lodge members were dealt with, and the remainder of the evening passed pleasantly with musical items. The Mitchelltown Brass Band will play a programme of selections at the Basin Reserve on Tuesday evening, when a collection will bo taken up in aid of the Hawkes Bay Disaster Fund. The last has not yet been heard of the Motnpiko (Nelson) School Committee fracas which led to several Court cases recently, and the fining of some of the persons concerned. On Wednesday informations were sworn alleging perjury against two Motupiko residents who were witnesses in the cases. A youth named William Glover and a small boy named Arthur S. Muir were charged before Mr. Eyre -Kenny, S.M., with having discharged a firearm in Cubastreet. It appears that the two' were firing at a lamppost, and the bullet from their gun struck the arm of a passer-by. Muir, after receiving a caution, was convicted and discharged, and Glover was fined 10s, with 21s costs. One first-offending drunkard was also dealt with. Mr. Maughan Barnettf s Musical Society last evening held a well-attended rehearsal at St. John's Schoolroom, under the conductorship of Mr. Watkins, as Mr. Barnett was busy at the Dresden Rooms rehearsing the orchestral portions of the works to be given at the forthcoming concert. The pieces performed at both rehearsals were Cowan's "Song of Thanksgiving," and Messrs. Adams and Barnett's new composition. Some very interesting photographs are on view in Mr. Hoffman's window in "Willisstreet, representing graceful tableaux and exercises performed by the pupils of Mr. T. Tankard in New Plymouth after only four months' training. The newly - formed gymnastic club is to be congratulated upon having secured Mr. Tankard's services as director, and a bumper meeting may be expected at St. Peter's Schoolroom to-night. The provisional committee have selected some of the most modern gear, some of which has had to be manufactured specially, and they are confident of being prepared to open the gymnasium on Tuesday night next. Intending members are requested to attend the meeting to-night. The «.s. Duco will run the usual excursions to Day's Bay to-morrow and Sunday afternoons, leaving the Bay on the return trip at 4.30 p.m, Members of the Federated Seamen's Union are requested to attend the special meeting to-night at 8 o'clock, at the room", 8, Greystreet, for the purpose of electing a Committee of Management and other busines*.

The difficulty between the Drainage Engineer and Messrs. M. T. M'Grath and Co., the contractors for the outfall sewer, in reference to the mode of carrying out the works at the outlet on Cook Strait, has been settled. The contractors are to be allowed to carry out their intention to erect a coffer dam to assist in putting down the pipes, and work, which was suspended* pending a settlement of the dispute, has been resumed. The contractors, who are emplo3"ing about 30 men, have only to construct 15 chains of the sewer to complete the contract, and are confident of being able to do the balance of the work before the end of September, the tinu allowed for finishing the undertaking. The firm sustained considerable loss by the heavy sea during Easter week, the whole of the massive barricade which was put down to facilitate the laying of the outlet pipes being washed away. Miss L. Wilford and Miss Muriel Barnett, the young golf players who tied for the Riddiford Medal on Saturday last, played off on Wednesday. The result was a win for Miss L. Wilford, with the excellent score of 79. The statement submitted by the bankrupt Michael Tracy, bootmaker, shows' his total assets at £272 11s (made up of stock-in-trade and plant £173, book debts estimated to produce £40, £39 11s cash in hand, and £20 worth of furniture). His total debts amount to £457 18s Bd, leaving a deficiency of £185 7s Bd. His chief creditors, none of whom are secured, are : — Savgood, Son and Ewen, £143 16s 3d ; Bing, Harris & Co., £U7 6s6d; G. Lewis (Auckland), £52 2s 3d ; J. W. Hoare & Co., £31 17s 7d ; M. O'Brien & Co. (Christchurch), £28, 5s 9d ; T. S. Tracy, £25 ; T. P. Slinn, £14 8s 9d; J. Belcher,£ll 3s 4d; Smith & Co. (Christchurch), £7 10s; A. J. GeorcJ, £7 Os Id. The Committee of the WelUngton Kennel Club, in its annual report to be presented on the 31st instant, remarks on the improved financial position and satisfactory progress of the club. The membership has largely increased during the year, and the club is free from debt. A large number of dogs have lately been imported from Great Britain and the Australian colonies, and several important sales of well-bred dogs have been made from New Zealand to Australian fanciers. The committee acknowledges the assistance it has received from donors of special prizes and from the press. The next show of the club will be held on 17th and 18th September, and Mr. E. H. Cox, of Sj'dnej r , has been invited to act as judge of all classes. Mr. J. A. Wilson, Resident Engineer of the Publio Works Department, returned to -Wellington last night from a visit paid to the Manawatu district at the request of some of the local bodies which desired to obtain"- his opinion on various matters. Amongst other things he inspected the Fitzherbert Bridge, damaged by the floods last month, and he also visited Foxton in connection with a proposal to bridge the Manawatu river near that township. The proposed structure will, it is believed, cost about £15,000, a portion- of which sum the local bodies are sanguine of obtaining from the Consolidated Fund. The bank rate of money is coming down on the West Coast (according to a Greymouth paper). The other week the Bank of New Zealand, unasked, reduced the rate of interest to the Greymouth Harbour Board to 5 per cent. Other bodies soon got wind of this, and it is believed that all local authorities on the Coast will get their overdrafts at a like rate. This will be a great saving, some of the corporations paying as high as 9 per cent, until a few months ago. Mr. C. Smith, tho Cash Draper, Cubastreet, advertises haying purchased at a very largo discount children's coats, pelisses, and millinery. For particulars see advertisement. Messrs. Pettio & Kenning are making a special display of winter dress materials, inoluding new covert cloths, all shades, navy and black serges, fanoy tweeds, &o. Dressmaking at popular prices. Messrs. E. Hannah & Co. are offering j special inducements to those requiring boots, ' shoes, slippers, &0., to patronise their boot stores. See advertisement in Wanted cojpmn. Mr. J. H. Farquhar, of the People's Shoe Store, Cuba-street, advertises cheap boots for winter. Prices within the reach of ajl. Mr. A. Lindsay, the working men's boot provider, will oner some real bargains in men's and boys' strong boots to-morrow. He also in another column informs the ladies that he has just opened 30 trunks of ladies' boots and shoes for winter wear, which will be sold at very low prices, and every pair he guarantees to wear. His usual bargains in boys' and girls' school boots will be offered. Mr. Job.. E. Iyindborg, the Cheap Draper, Cuba-street, directs special attention to the many remarkably cheap lines going tomorrow. Messrs. J. J. Casey & Co., cheap drapers, Cnba-street, wish it known that special bargains in every department will be offered on Saturday and all next week. Mr. E. Pearce, of the Boot Arcade, has just landed, ex Matatua, a splendid lot of ladies' evening shoes; also, two cases of gent.'s walking boots, specially made in England for the Wellington publio. These goods will be cleared at low prices to make room for further shipments to arrive shortly. "Dancing shoes are ohoap just now, judging from the prices quoted by Messrs. Potter and Son in their advertisement in another page, and no one need suffer from cold feet when they can buy a pair of warm slippers at sixpence. A. G. Tame & Co. annonnce a sale of furniture at Eosina-terruce, off Wellingtonterrace, on Tuesday, at 1.30. The catalogue includes a. magnificent piano by Blnthner, which cost 90 guineas, and as the vendor is leaving Wellington there will be no reserve. Messrs. A. G-. Tame & Co. advertise six good draughts for their sale to-morrow, all good sorts and heavy ,_ and to be sold with trial. They also intimate particulars of other horses and a first-class dog-cart. Mr. W. F. Shortt sells to-morrow clothing, accordeons, and sundries. Messrs. Francis Sidey & Co. Bell by auotion to-morrow, in their new rooms, Mannersstreet, furniture, fanoy goods, &c. That wonderful material flannelette is more in evidence than ever this season. There is apparently no end to the variety and novelty of the patterns and designs which each succeeding season brings out. For the coming winter a bewildering display of lovely fabrics has been imported by James Smith and Co., whose faith in the popularity of the material may bo gauged by tho fact that they alone have alroady opened up for this winter's trade nearly 200,000 yards of flannelette of all kinds, which they are now showing at that well-known emporium, Te Aro House. Chiefly should attention be attracted to the lovely exhibition of blouse flannelettes. On viewing the delicate blending of colours 1 , the intricate and artistio patterns, and the beautifully-finished texture of. these materials, it is difficult to believe that they really can be flannelettes, to bo purchased for a few penco per yard. Striped, plain, reversible, tweed, sealotte, pino pattern, tartan, Trilby, and a thousand and one other varieties are now being shown at Te Aro House.— Advt.