LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume LIV, Issue 19, 22 July 1897, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr. Amelius Smith, Secretary of the xlepartment of Industrie?, left for Sydney by tbe Tutanekai last night, for the purpose o\ -welcoming the Earl and Countess of Rjuifurly on behalf of the Government. Mr. Smith was on the staffs of Governors Grey and Bowen, and is thoroughly familiar with all the official routine duties, as will as the social obligations, that are associated with the Vice - Regal office. Besides these advantages there is perhaps hardly another official in the colony who has a wider knowledge, of the affairs of the colony than Mr. Amelius Smith, so that the selection is in every way excellent. The returns of the Railway Department snow that the revenue for last mouth was £4000 greater than during June of last year and £16,000 more than in the corresponding month of 1895. The increase in passengers last month was exceedingly large, but on the other hand during the Jubilee week the goods traffic was very small. Mr. G. E. Tolhurst, General Manager in New Zealand of tfie Union Sank of Australia, who has been absent in Melbourne for many months, returned to Wellington by the Mono.wai yesterday afternoon. Mr. W. G. Rhiud, Inspector in New Zealand for the Bank of New South Wales, who has been away for the benefit of his health, came back by the same vessel. A seal was found alive on the beach at Lyell Bay yesterday by Mr. James Capper, of the ilaranui refreshment rooms. It is - about Bft long, and has a piece bitten out of its tail, evidently by a shark. Mr. Capper has. acquainted the Customs with his find, in •order to avoid a prosecution for having a s-eal in bis possession during the close season. Mr. Gray, late Inspector of Produce in London for the New Zealand Government, states that Auckland butter, on account of its first-class aud uniform quality, holds a position which has been attained by no other New Zealand butter in the English market. It invariably commands from 4s to 6s per' cwt more than other brands. " That reputation, Mr. Gray says, is universally Acknowledged by the trade. The nautical assessors who are to assist in . the Magisterial enquiry into the mishap to > the Wainui will be Captain Gibbons \ (formerly of the s.s. Waverley) and Captain 1 Ten S&oen. • Tho Union Steam Ship Company has applied to the British Board of Trade for permission to change the name of the steamer Richmond, now undergoing repairs in this port, to the Haupiri — after a lake on the West' Coast. The Railway Dfepartment has decided to send to America for a few collapsible crates for bicycles. 'If they are found to be suitable, a large supply will be ordered. During holiday times special vans for bicycles will be attached to passenger trains on the main lines. *¦ The machinery of the Asiatic Restriction Bill passed last session was put into motion for the first time in Wellington yesterday afternoon. Of six Celestials who were passengers from Australia by the Monowai, four had. naturalisation papers in their possession and. consequently escaped the poll-tax. Two of the part)'; including the bride of a Chinese resident of this city, both of whom had just j come from China, had to pay the £100 tax. A man named Archie Miller fell off the I Queen's .Wharf into the harbour last evening, , md in response to the cries of two of .his mates Constable T. Ryan divested himself of his overcoat and shako, and plunged in to t£e rescue. The mishap occurred at about 7 o'clock, and Miller having drifted some distance oat the task undertaken by the constable was a risky one, especially as the . two men on the wharf were not the sort to render assistance. Ryan, however, reached the man just as he was sinking, and managed to swim baokto a wharf stringer with him, suid then called for a rope. This was supplied by the two men before mentioned, and Miller was hauled up on to the wharf. Ryan then naturally expected that he in turn would be assisted, and called for the rope, but the cowardly brutes made off with their resoued mate, leaving his rescuer to get put as he best could. It was a disgusting exhibition' of ingratitude. Ryan's prompt and plucky action is deserving of the highest praise. But lor his conduct Miller would have been drowned. j Messrs. Williamson and Musgrove'sMatsa Vaudeville Company will play a short farewell ' season of three nights on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next, at the Theatre Royal, the Opera House being otherwise engaged. The company is to return to Sydney on the night of the 28th instant per Mararoa. Miss Leamar and Mr Culeman, who have been summoned to Sydney to attend rehearsals of ''The Gay Parisienne," have been replaced by the Lucifers, and Mifs Chrissie Angus has been specially sent over by Mr. Williamson to lend additional novelty to the company's entertainments. The Lucifers appear to have created amazement in the South. They gave a private stance to the medical profession on Thursday last at Dunedin, Mr. Lucifef s wonderful power of muscle, remarkable strength, and phenomenal hurdle jumping being an interesting study to those present. In a standing jump he clears sft lOilli 'At anottreYMime a strap is buckled rourid bis chesty and by the simple expansion of bin lungs be bursts this strap. In addition to these feats the Lucifers are said to be excellent Comedians, and keep their audiences i in roars of laughter whilst performing remarkable feats of strength. It is understood that a private medical seance will be given here, the date of which is to be duly announced. Miss Chrissie Angus, the other new member Of the company, is an English burlesque artiste well-known in London, and only lately brought to Australia. The plans for the season will be opened at Holliday's to-morrow morning. Constable Hondrey, clerk of the District Police Office in New Plymouth, is to be transferred to a similar position in Auckland, vice Sergeant Ellison, formerly of the "Wellington District OlUce, who i» to resume street d uty. Constable M'Gill, from the Commissioner's Office, is to fill the vacancy at New Plymouth.

An enthusiastic meeting, attended by representatives of almost the whole of the City Labour Unions and political societies, has made arrangements for Mr. Ben Tillett delivering two leolures here prior to his departure for Australia. The first of these lectures will be given at the Exchange Hall oh Saturday evening, aud Mr J. Hutoheson, M.H.R., wiU preside ; the second will be on Monday evening, when Sir Robert Stout will take the chair. Seven marines and sailors just out from England came over from Sydney by the Monowai yesterday to join H.M.S. Goldfinch, the vessel having been shorthanded. The Rev. Cheok Hong Cheong, a Victorian Chinese missionary, accompanied by his eon, Mr. James Cheong, were also passengers by the Monowai on a visit to this city. The Chief Justice has reserved judgment in the case Tanner v. Allardyco, argument in which occupied two days. We are. requested to state that the letter received by the Southern Cross Society from Mrs. Conington with regard to visiting justices for the prisoners referred to the female prisoners only. The Ladies' Working Party connected with St. Peter's parish held its annual meeting yesterday afternoon, at the parsonage. The report and balance-sheet, showing that £102 had been contributed during the year towards the reduction of the church debt, be ides help given to the general church fund, were adopted. The officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows : — President, Mrs. John Blundell; Vice-Pre-sidents, Mrs. Annie Anderson and Mrs. Louis Blundell ; • Secretary, Mrs, Wilberfoss; Committee, M^sdames Bock and Maudsley. At St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral yesterday Mr. "Walter G. Glover, third son of Mr. G. Glover, the well-known warehouseman of Oriental Bay, was married to Miss Frances C. Coleman, second daughter of Mr. S. Coleman. The bride was married in a travelling dress, and was attended by her two sisters, Misses Lily and Minnie Coleman. Anumerous gathering of friends > of the bride witnessed the ceremony, The amount received up , to date by Mr. L. L. Harris, Hon. Treasurer of the Victoria Operating Theatre Fund, is £665 9s sd. The latest amounts are — Messrs. -Sargood, Son & Ewen, £23 ; per &W. Brown, proceeds of '" social " given by 1.0. Oddfellows, Lower Hutt, £15 ss; half proceeds of Friendly Societies' gathering, £5 Ss 9d; Manawatn Railway employes, result of "social,", £5 17s. Shocking charges were made in the Magistrate's Court this* morning against three men named George Catch pole, Nicholas R. Frew, and Henry Rudman, all men well over 50 years of age, who usually find employment on the coal hulks in harbour. They were arrested by Constables Ryan and Kelly last evening on separate charges of indecent assault upon girls under 16 years of age. On their being brought up at Court this morning Inspector ¦ Pender applied for a remand for a week, which was granted, bail being allowed — accused in £50 each and two sureties each of £25. The allegations of the police are said to disclose a stat* of depravity amongst a number of young girls here difficult to imagine. At the same sitting of the Court Mary Valadore. for drunkenness, was fined £1, with the alternative of 14 days in gaol. A substantial architectural improvement is about to be made to Vivian-street, at the instance of Mr. Robert O'Connor Tenders were accepted yesterday by Mr. J ODea, architect, for a row of 12 two-storied shops, intended to fill in the long vacant gap between the Salvation Army Barracks and the Cricketers' Arms Hotel. Mr. O'Dea's plans •provide for neat as well as convenient business premises, each shop being" semi-detached, with plate-glass fronts, and a frontage of 117 ft1 17ft 4iri-to the street. They will be built of wood, with brick dividing walls, and an ornamental verandah running along the whole front. The addition of these shops will materially improve the busines< aspect of Vivian-street, which must f in course of time, owing to the congested ' condition of Cuba-street, become one of the chief business streets in that part of the city. The list of tenders sent in for the work is as follows:— S. Williams (accepted), £5800; A. D. Blick, £5812; F. Hunt, £5900, E Bishop, £5950; W. B. Allen, £6000; A. Seamer, £6258 : Fairhurst &, Ritchie, £6400; J. Russell, £6493; W. G Emeny, £6577; J Hopwood, £6600. Mr. ODea has also drawn plans for Mr. O'Connor lor six seven-roomed detached houses in Jessiestreet, which runs parallel with Vivianstreet, thus further indicating the advance which is taking place in the locality. The Loyal Antipodean Juvenile Lodge of Manchester Unity Oddfellows met last evening, Bro. W. Read, N.G., in the chair. The auditors' report and balance-sheet Tshowed the finances to be in a sound condition. Officers were installed by Bro. J. Martin, P.P.G.M., a'j follows :— G.M., Bro. W. Read ; N.G., Bro. G. Peck ; Supporters to N.G., Br.os. R. W. Webb and G. Forbes: V.G., Bro. C. E. Webb ; Supporters to V.G., Bros. W. T. Black and A. Howe. A company, with a capital of £5000, has been formed in Canterbury to manufacture what is claimed to be an absolutely punctureproof bicyelp tire, invented by Messrs. A. H Anderson, H. S. Hobday, and W Cleming, of Christchurch. Experiments made in thai city on Saturday showed that it was impossible to pierce the tube with knife blades, pins, &c. This result is achieved by means of an endless band which is placed between the outer and inner rubber tubes, aud the invention lies in the material of which this band is made, and which is known only to the patentees. Patent rights have been applied for in Great Britain, on the Continent, in America, and the Australian colonies, and a provisional patent has already been secured in New Zealand. It is claimed that the band does not add to the weight of the wheel or affect the resiliency of the tire. The Superintendent of the Home for the Aged Needy,' Adelaide-road, desires to thank Mrs. Banks for a parcel of clothing and Airs. M. Geddes for periodicals for the inmates of the Home. The latest form of Jubilee Memorial is that the promoters of an Oddfellows' Lodge of the Manchester Unity at Levin propose to christen \t the Loyal Victoria Lodge. The exhibition of the kinetoscope and phonograph in the shop next to " Cycledom," in .Willis - street, continues to be well patronised. At the civil sittings of the Magistrate's Court to-day Mr. H. Eyre Kenny, S.M., recorded judgments for plaintiffs as follows : — Undefended cases — Commercial Agency v. R. T. Buckeridge, £2 18s sd, costs 11s ; Mercantile Association v. T. J. Gardiner, £2 16s, costs lls ; Susan Blanc v. Dan Johannes, £1 4s, costs 6s j W. C. Fitzgerald v. L. Crawford, £2 14s, costs lls ; F. Bradey v. S. Geary, £1 19s, costs ss; E. J. Walsh & Co. v. May Green, 10s, costs 6s. Judgment summons — W. Dawick v. W. Coomes, £8 2s 6d, order for payment of 5s per week. In ' tho defended case in which G. Adelines sued E. Ford for £9 15s 4d, money lent and goods supplied, the plaintiff was nonsuited with £1 Is costs. A popular scientific lecture on " Modern Advances in Telegraphy " will be delivered by Mr. J. Gell, M.1.E.E., in the Wesleyan Schoolroom, Taranaki-streot, thin evening in connection with the Wesleyan Literary and Debating Bociety. The lecture will be illustrated with experiments. Admission is free, and the public are cordially invited to attend. The annual meeting of the parishioners of ¦ St, Peter's Parish wiU be held thii evening.

I Aiuont; the passengers by the Westralia this afternoon is Mr. John Holmes who, is going to America with a view to make enquiries in the interests of the flax industry of the colony ; also Mr. W. G. Foster, manager of the Estates Co., and the Very Rev. Father Dawson, both bound to Auckland. Particulars have reached Wellington by the "English mail of the collision between the steamer Bani burgh, l of Newcastle-on-Tyne, aud the colonial liner ludraghiri, of tUe Tyser Co., which necessitated the latter vessel putting back to London for repairs. The collision took place on 2nd June, at 5.30 a.m., off Sea Reach. The Bamburgh had her stem and bows damaged, and the Indraghiri has her port bow damaged. The Indraghiri. resumed her voyage to Australia, Auckland, and Wellington on the 20th June. H.M.S. Goldfinch sailed for Auckland this morning. , Last night's downpour of rain at Petone prevented the holding of the first annual meeting of the parishioners, of St. Augustine. The governing body of the newly-formed Wellington Retailers' Association is to consist of the President, twoVice-Presidents, the Hon. Treasurer, and ten members. An affiliation case ocenpied the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, Thomas Quinlivan, racehorse-owner, of Hastings, being sued by Mrs. Jane A. Patterson, of Wellington, for the maintenance of the informant's illegitimate child, of which the defendant was alleged to be the father. Mr. Treadwell appeared for the complainant and Mr. "Wilford for the defendant. After a quantity of evidence had been taken the case was adjourned sine die, as one of the material witnesses was ill. The Official Assignee examined Henry I. Monkhouie this morning, in the presence of two creditors, as to the cause of his bankruptcy. Debtpr said he got into difficulties in 1889 when farming, and had since been working irregularly, averaging not more than 35s or 36s a week. In the latter part of last year he made about £86 in classing wool, and liquidated a portion of his liabilities. He ' had a family of seven children, and had no "property or expectations, but would agree to pay 5s in the £, spread over 12 mouths, if able to get work. The loss ' sustained ~by the fire on the Mawhe,raA\iH become the subject of contribution in general average. Mr. Joseph Mandel, licensee of the Empire Hotel, returned yesterday from a trip to Australia, whither he had gone in search of the latest ideas in hotel construction. As a result of his visit, the plans drawn by Mr. G. Schwartz for the new Empire Hotel will be altered in a number of important details. Among the arrangements made by Mr. Mandel is one with the "Winderlich Patent Ceiling and Roofing Companj', by which all the ceilings throughout the proposed hotel will be made of the ,new zinc designs so largely used iv the chief Sydney buildings. This species of ceiling, besides having the material advantages of being fire and water proof, is highly artistic in appearance. Mr Mandel has also purchased two large bronze figures, which will stand at the large ceatral entrance of the hotel, holding aloft electric lights. Arrangements, have also been made with a Sydney firm, which makes a speciality of this class of work, for fitting up the kitchen in the latest) style, the various ranges, &c, required not being obtainable in this colony. The new Empire Hotel will be mainly modelled upon Menzies's Hotel in Melbourne, which Mr. Mandel considered the most comfortable iv Australia. Tenders will probably be culled for the erection of the buildiug in September. Messrs. E. Gerard and M'Ewen, of Wel^ lington, will act as delegates for the New Zealand Collie Club on the Council of the New Zealand Kennel Club. An effort is being made by some of the residents of Khandallah' to preserve from destruction the native bush which adds so much to the beauty of, the place, and their negotiations with the trustees of the late Mr White's propert}' has resulted in the securing of 31 aore? on the slopes of Mount Kaka. It is now proposed to submit the matter to the public at a meeting at Kbandallah to-morrow night, so that steps may be token to vest the property in snob a- way that the domain may become the property of the public. The ¦ Scenery Preservation Society and others have offered to co-operate in bringing the matter to a successful issue. It is to be deplored that efforts in the direction of preserving the pative bush in and around Wellington have not been made before, and the public will no doubt heartily support the present undertaking, for the bush at Khandallah is the only bit of native forest in the district now available for public reservation. It is satisfactory to note the great success which is attending the Wellington Gymnastic drib, which wa9 started but a few months ago. The second term has just commenced, and a large number of members ( are enrolling themselves. Next Tuesday evening will be open to the general public. " Weird Places and Wicked Spots in New Zealand" is tbe title of the lecture advertised to be given by the Rev. F. W. Isitt tomorrow evening. Mr. Isitt, who recently toured the King Country, is an enthusiast with the camera, and will exhibit among others several slides prepared from negatives taken by himself during the trip. The Wellington branch of the New Zealand Natives' Association has taken the Opera House for the 11th August, which is the 57th anniversary of the hoisting of the British flag at Akaroa by Captain Stanley, and intends to celebrate that erent by a grand concert, also a series of tableaux will be arranged, and all the contributors to the entertainment will be New Zeahm lers. The new Governor, the Earl of Ranfurly. will be asked to give his patronage to the affair. It is intended by the Association to hold some publio entertainment on all days which mark special events in the colony's history. Mr Walter M. Smith, pianoforte tuner, just returned from London after studying the latest methods, has a professional announcement in another column. Messrs. A. G. Tamo & Co. insert full particulars of tbe furniture sale which they will hold on Friday, at 1.30 p.m. The catalogue is a long one and of a good class, and is to be cleared out to make room for a large lot coming in for next week. There are two pianos in the list— part of the stock of a bankrupt storekeeper, The firm also inserts full particulars of their horse sale on Saturday, aud gives notico that the traps will be sold at 2 o'clock sharp. Messrs. Laery & Co. will sell to-morrow, at their rooms, a magnificent assortment of furs. Mr. W F. Shortt will sell to-morrow, at his mart, Castellina marble and agateware. Messrs. George Thomas &' Co. call attention to an important sale of hardware, &c, which will take pkc* at the Fruit Market, Harris-street, on Wednesday next at 2 o'clock. Full particulars appear in usual auction columns.