LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume LIV, Issue 22, 26 July 1897, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

• W« regret to report that the Rev. W. J. Habens, Inspector-General of Schools, is confined to bed. Overwork is the cause of his indisposition. The only member of the Government in Wellington to-morrow will be the Minister for Justice. The Minister 7 for Railways left for Wairarapa en route for Hawkes Bay this morning, accompanied by Mr. Wilson, private secretary, and will be joined tomorrow by Mr. J. H. Lowe, Chief Engineer of Constructed Railways., who will accompany him on bis tour of inspection of those places where the railway line was affected by the Easter floods. The Acting-Premier is to leave for the South to-morrow. The Under-Secretary for Public Works (Mr. H. J. H. Blow) returned from Woodville ■ on Saturday night, and reports that good progress is being made with the construction oi the railway line between that town and Mangatainoka. "" "" , Mr. John Holmes, of the Treasury, who las been seriousty ill for several months, is about agajo, and will resume his duties at the beginning of the coming month. The proposal for an Annual Movable Committee of the Manchester Unity Oddfellom of New Zealand was discussed at the Wanjpiaurdistrict me/eting, held at Feilding on Friday, but a motion in its favour was negatived; Mr. Chas. Zachariah, of the Public Trust Office, has been sent to New Plymouth and the West Coast . to assist in the native lands rent distribution, .and to report generally on the West Coast native reserves on behalf of the Public Trustee. He will be absent about a month. The Committee of the Scenery Preservation Society was waited upon on Saturday by the members of the committee formed at Kbandallah on Friday evening with reference to the proposed public park in that suburb. It was decided to canvass the city and surrounding districts, and to wait upon the Government with a view to getting a subsidy upon the subscriptions raised. The Manawatu Railway Company will also be asked to contribute. Six bens and two cocks of the Frenoh Houdan variety, imparted for the Government poultry breeding stations, arrived in Wellington yesterday in excellent condition. * Palmerston North will soon have its Youths' Institute in full swing. A building in Cuba-street has been- given rent free by Mr. C. H. M'Lean for 12 months, and A series of six classes has been arranged for. There will also be a reading-room, arrangements for table games, and a gymnasium, and ty is proposed to form cricket and football clubs, a cadet corps, and a brass band. The-Riddiford family is about to erect a memorial window in St. James's Church, Lower Hutt, and is importing the window from England. The premier toper oi tbe colony is claimed for Wauganui,. his record being 120 convictions.

There is very little change to report as to the difficulty in the furniture trade. The leading employers are, wo are assured, still unwilling to make any concessions. The. masters are to meet to-night to consider the situation. On Saturday afternoon Mr. Gordon Reid was presented by the head-quarters staff of the Commercial Union Assurance Co. with •a' handsome dressing-case on the eve of his departure to assume tho duties of branch manager at Dunediu. The presentation was made by Mr. Hawk, the accountant. Mr. Reid has oean a prominent and popular member of the Star Boating Club, the Amateur Athletio Club, and the Wellington football Club, and will carry,with him to his new sphere of duty tho best wishes of a large section of the community. Mr. Oliver Samuel has bejen nominated by the New Plymouth Amateur' Athletic aud Cyclists' Club as one of the Vice-Presi-dents of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. The New Plymouth Club finds itself unable to nominato any competitors for the contemplated trip to Australia, in October, but has voted £2 2s towards the expenses of the New Zealand team. The following matters will be raised at the approaching coufcrencp in Wellington of delegates from the various acclimatisation societies in the colony on bobalf of the Stratford Society, which will bo represented by Mr. Clayton :— (1) That tho Go\ernment be asked to introduce a gun licence with a fee of £1, and that such license entitle the holder to shoot native and imported game during the season; (2) that a farmer shall, as now, have the power to transfer his shooting right* without a licrn^c to any individual for the whole season, but t hat such transference shall be given in writing and be registered with tha Acclimatisation Society of the district ; (3) the question of owners fishing in boundary rivers which, are tidal rivers and the rights of owners in connection therewith. The contracts for manufacturing uew uniforms «for the letter-carriers and telegraph messengers of the colony b.i-,e been let as, follows :— Letter-carriers' tunic?, trousers, and overcoats, Messrs. Boss and Glendining, Dunedin ; telegraph messengers' tunics and trousers, Messrs. Hallenstem Bros. & Co., Dunedin ; caps and helmets, Messrs. C. Hill <fc Sons, Wellington. Of the telegraph messengers only those in the four chief centres are to be put in uniform for the present, the cloth selected being kbarkee. Mr. A. L. Nelson, of the firm of Nelson Bros., of meat fame,' was a passenger from London by the Gothic, accompanied by his wife and his nephew, Mr. F. Nelson. They are booked through to Napier, where the firm's N.Z. head-quarters are. Mr. T. F. Martin, Secretary and Solicitor to the Municipal Association, has given to the Petone Borough Council his opinion as to the legality of the charge made for drainage connections between section boundaries and the main sewer. Mr. Martin says that the crux of the whole matter is in the question, " Are the so-called branch sewers part and parcel of the Corporation sewer, intended to remain such, and to be repaired and controlled by the Council ? " If so, a private owner might not unreasonably set up a claim to. connect with it, claiming that he is no more liable to pay for this part of the Cor- j poration sewer than for the main sewer. This question Mr. Martin adds can only bo answered by him upon -the information , afforded by the sanitary bylaws and the memorandum of the Mayor, which states that the Council, in order to save ratepayers expense and the streets being cut up unnecessarily^ included in tho drainage works the construction of these side drains with the intention that they should form part of the private drains when the houses are connected with the main sewer. After examining the bylaws bearing upon the matter, Mr. Martin concludes that these branch sewers do not form part of the Corporation sewer. Sections 274 and 277of the Municipal Corporations Act impose upon private persons the burden of laying these drains at their own expense under the streets and up to the Corporation sewer. Section 12 of the Corporation Bylaw does not compel owners to connect with the branch drains put in by the Council. It merely provides that these may be utilised on payment of 255. In this form and from the documents submitted to him, Mr. Martin is of opinion that the bylaw in question can be made' available. An English parcel post mail reached Wellington by the Gothic from London on Saturday afternoon. The Wellington and Northern portions of the Eakaia's parcel post mail came from Dunedin by the Hauroto yesterday afternoon. St. Peter's Church was crowded to the doors at yesterday evening's service, when an able and earnest ad&ress upon missionary work among the Chinese was given by Cheok Hong Cheong, superintendent of the Chinese missions in Victoria. As yesterday was the Festival of St. James the service began with a processional hymn. The anthem was Trimnell's "The Lord is King," and the Magnificat and Nnnc Dimittis were also by Trimnell. The lessons were read by Mr. James Cheong, 8.A., of Melbourne University, and the Vicar, the Eev. W. C. Waters, read tho prayers. A fine concluding voluntary was played by Mr. T. Tallis Trimnell. The exhibitions of Edison's Phonograph' and Kinetoscope in Lower Willis-street continue to be well patronised. Mr. Campbell Colquhoun has just received and added to his repertoire a large and varied collection of songs and instrumental selections from England and America. Yesterday afternoon the Wellington Garrison Band gave one of its excellent openair performances in the Basin Reserve in aid of the widow and family of the late Mr. R. Wilkinson. A sum of £11 3s lid was collected. " A meeting of carriers was held on Saturday night at the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, when considerable discussion took place in reference to the proposal to form an association or union. It was finally decided to allow the matter to stand over for the present. The committee expressed regret that it was not able to amalgamate with the committee already formed to work up the social gathering in aid of Mrs. Wilkinson, but unanimously resolved to assist in every possible waj\ it was also decided to hold a sociable evening with the object of bringing the carters and carriers of the city andtheir families closer together. "The" Vagabond" was repeated at the Opera House on Saturday night by the St. Jotin-Hayman Dramatic Company. Tho performance went smoothly, and the exciting situations were much appreciated. Several of the leading performers were called before the curtain. "The Vagabond" is one of the best of Sims & Pettit's melodramas, and will probably be staged again before the company concludes its Wellington season. "My Partner," a stirring four-act drama by Bartley Campbell, memorable as one of the features of a Rignold season of years ago, is to be produced to-night. The F Battery of Artillery, Napier, has decided -to take part in tho camp of volunteers which is to be held in Wellington before the end of the year. An original scheme of decoration in keeping with the nautical calling is being arranged for the annual plain aud fancy dress "social" of the Seamen's Union, which takes place on Monday next at Thomas's Hall. As the object is to provide funds for the Hospital the gathering should be well patronised, *

The following further amounts have been j received at the Evening Post office in aid of the w idow aud children of the late Mr. Robert Wilkinson :— Already acknowledged, JE3 2< 6d ; John U., 2s 6d ; L.T., 5« ; W.A.P., ss; J.W., ss; S.D., 10s; J.L., Gs. Total to date, £4 13s. The District Coroner held an inquest at the Porirua Asylum on Saturday on the body of Margaret Golder, aged 44. formerly of Waipawa, who died in the institution ou Friday. The evidence showed that decea>ed fainted on the morning of the 23rd inst. After being put to bed she fell out and bruised her eye, but not seriously. The nurs-e had not been a minute away when the accident happened. The jury, who had seen the body naked, expressed the opinion that no post-m,ortem examination was necessary. A verdict of Death from Natural Causes was returned. An outbreak of fire occurred at a house in Binham-street, occupied by Mr. Charles Brian, about a quarter to 8 o'clock last night, being caused by a son of the occupier accidentally- setting tire to some bed-hang-ings with a candle. Aoout £20 will coyer the damage to the* contents, which are insured in the Norwich Union Office. Councillor Wishart, of the Melrose Borough Council, has given notice of his intention to movo to-morrow night — "That the Wellington Ga« Company be written to asking upon what terms aud conditions it would light tho whole or portions of the Borough of Melrose with gas, aud if it would be prepjred to fix a price, a* tho present time for the Council to acquiro tho right oi" purchase." A gang of prisoners is engaged in preparing the floor of the Drillshed for the military ball which is to be giveu to the Karl and Countess of Ranfur.lV next month. Mr. J. W. llosrsrins, B'ho has been studying at the Trinity House Na>igation and Stga.y\ _Sehooir, Wellington, has pas««d his examination for a certificate of .competency as thiwl-chss engineer in tho mercantile marine. A telegram from Dunediu states that the Brough Comedy Company opened there ou Waturd ly night 'to v houso thror 'fid in every part. An iiutnouse ' crowd of tho early-door tiekethdiders assembled at halfpait 0 p.m., and shortly after 7 o'clock, becoming impatient, they broke the doors leading to the stalls anil the pit. Such a' first night is without precedent in Dunedin. A sermon in connection with the Welliu^ton Provincial Christian Endeavour Conference, which is to be held in Wellington during the present week, was preached in the Baptist Church yesterday morning by the Rev. G. Mann." This evening a devotional meeting will be held in the Webb-itreet Primitive Methodist Church. In , Wesley Church s to-morrow .afternoon there woll be a discussion ou> various subjects of interest to members, and later on a tea, >ong service, and public meeting will be held. Mr. Etbelbert Euddart, son of Mr. James Huddart, who has been in the London office for six years, has now been taken into partnership by the firm, which is known as "James Huddarb and Co., the Canadian and Australian Ro3'al Mail Steamship Company, Limited." - Mr. Ethelbert Huddart proceeds .to Vancouver in :v few weeks (writes a London correspondent) s and to him has been entrusted the making of arrangements 'in connection with the alteration of the mail route which makes Wellington the first port of call in Australasia, starting with the Warn moo from Vancouver on 23rd August. While in British Columbia Mr. Huddart will enquire into the frozen salmon trade, which it is proposed to extend to Australasia. Affer spending a rfew weeks in Vancouver Mr. Huddart will probably proceed to I^ew Zealand and Australia on the company's business. A number of ladies have given an evidence of their appreciation of the hospitality of the Star Boating Club by presenting it with a very handsome flag of appropriate design. The- flag was exhibited for the first time at the qlub's annual ball, and was greatly admired. This evening Messrs. Williamson & Musgrove's " Matsa " Vaudeville Company will commence its farewell season of three nights at the Theatre Royal. The company arrived from the South yesterday, having met in the Southern cities the same favourable reception as was accorded to it here. In addition to the favourites of the former season, fresh acquisitions have been made iv the inclusion of " The Lucifers," a -remarkable couple of athletes, and Miss' Chrissie Angus, an English burlesque artiste, who will thus be seen here for the first time. TVe understand that the tramway authorities have made special arrangements to facilitate the traffic to and from the Theatre Royal. The company's season cannot under any circumstances be prolonged, as it is absolutely settled that it shall depart per Mararoa at midnight on Wednesday. As Alderman Ben Tillett has made arrangements to proceed this week to Sydney, where preparations have been made to give him a hearty welcome, to-night's meeting will be the last opportunity the general public will have of hearing him. His subject to-night is " Social Problems." I Mr. Mac Duff Boyd will give a concert at Thomas's Hall on Thursday, sth August. The first part will be devoted to the famous limelight views of Mr. G. A. Chapraau, and the second part will be entirely Scotch, Mr. Boyd's choir and an efficient orchestra assisting. Old boy 9of Wellington. College are reminded in another column that nominations for the annual ball will close on Saturday next, The dispute as to the respective merits of two American oyoles is still maintained, the representative of the Red Bird replying in our advertising columns to-day to tho criticism of the other side which appeared in our issue of Saturday. For tho Sterling bicycle it is claimed that it is " built liko a. watch." Messrs. John Duthio & Co. (Ltd.) are agents for the machine in Wellington, and in another qolumn they publish a recital of its special merits. The current New Zealand Cyclist contains gome capital illustrations of men of mark, a group picture of tho International team, <Sc. The cycling news is Varied and well arranged. The latest Canterbury Times contains a full account of tho Premier's doings at Homo and of the banquot tendered to him at tho Hotel Cecil, &0., together with a large group picture tafeen on the occasion. Saturday's New Zealand Graphic contains a capital portrait of Colonel Penton on bis black charger, another picture of the Defence Minister and staff, and portraits of the lato Inspector Thomson, prominent Maori Temperance workers, &c. Messrs. Thompson Bros. & Co., coal and produoo merchants, of Dixon, Featherston, and Pipitea streets, advertise that they supply only the best quality of, poal ohtainable. . • ' Messrs. A. G. Tame & Co. advertise a sale of furniture atEnfield House, Willis-street the contents of oight v rooms. Fall particulars will bo given to-morrdw. At Johnsonvillo, to-morrow, Messrs. F. R. Jackson & Co. hold a salo of stock. A oreat number of people arenowalivo to the fact that white or fancy China mattings make a most economical floor covering, and aro both durable and pleasant under tho feet. To copo with the ever-increasing demand, wo have just oponed,/46 bales, and it is our intention to place them on tho markot at very low rates during the Great Winter Sale at To Aro Houso. Anothor lot of some magnitude that we aje adding to this great sale is a. lot of 200 honeycomb quilts, in three sizes, which we purpose selling at fully 30 per cent, under u&ual pricos. Greab attention will be devoted to cash orders from tho country for any artiole quoted in our advertisement from the Great Winter Sale at Te Aro House,—* t>yx,