LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 77, 28 September 1898, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Legislative Council read a third time yesterday the Native Land Laws Amendment Bill, partially debated the second reading of the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Bill, and considered in Committee the Tramways Hill and the Gaming Bill. In the House of Representatives a variety of matters were dealt with, those of chief importance being consideration of the Old Age Pensions Bill iv Committee (some progress being mads), and the laying on the table of the Public Works Statement and Estimates. The ever-recurring difficulty of reaching wife-deserters was discussed briefly by the Benevolent Trustees yesterday. In the particular instance under notice a husband, s;iid to have ample means, had gone over to Sydney, leaving his wife and three children here to get on as best they could. The wife wanted the Trustees to have the man brought back, but. ifc was stated that unless £11 was "planked down" as a guarantee the police authorities would not take action — in any case the woman herself must initiate the proceedings. In further conversation it transpired that the wife had a separation from her husband, which rather complicated matters. The organ of Wesley Church, Taranakistreet, has just undergone a thorough overhaul and renovation at the hands of Mr. A. Hobday, and has been brought up to modern requirements. The whole of the stops have been revoiced, and have been given an entirely new and artistic quality of tone. The organ will now be worthy of the church, and will rank among the finest in the city. Its reopening on Sunday next is to be made the occasion of special services. Half-an-hour sufficed for the transaction of the ordinary business before Mr. H. Eyre Kenny, S.M., this morning. Two first offenders were punished, and part of the police evidence on a charge against John Saywell of having no visible lawful means of support was taken, and the case then adjourned till 4th October. Charges against J. J. Gilchrist and L. Caselberg of breaches of the Factory and Shops and Shop Assistants Acts were again adjourned, this time to 3rd October. Thomas Ridden was ordered to pay 2s 6d a week towards the support of his father, an old man 77 years of age, who had been unable to work for three years. The Imbecile Passengers Act is likely to be brought into operation in regard to a recent arrival by the Aorangi. A man ill and destitute came here by that steamer from Victoria, British Columbia, and having bftoome chargeable on the Benevolent Institution the Secretary has, b} r direction of the Trustees, written to the Collector of Customs at Wellington, notifying him of the case and asking that the necessary steps be taken under the Act referred to, which provides inter alia that any shipping company bringing such destitute imbecile passengers into the colony shall become liable for their maintenance under a substantial bond. Mr. George Mcc, Commodore, presided over last night's meeting of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club. Mr. J. Dealey wrote offering a cup for third-class competition, and the Vice - Commodore (Mr. A. H. Turnbull) and Rear-Commodore (Dr. Fell) jointly offered a cup for the second class. Both offers were received with thanks. Messrs. F. Carrington and G. Fitzgerald were elected measurers for the club. The full programme of handicap events for the ensuing season was drawn up, and it was decided to open the season on the 12th November. It was disappointing to see so few people present at the Terrace Congregational Church last\evening to listen to the excelleut recital by Mr. Purcell Webb, the church organist. The organ solos included " Evening Prayer" and " Andante in A " (Smart), " Offortoire in A Flat" and " Grand Offertoire" (Batiste), "March St. Polycarp" (Ouseley), "Harvest Home" (Spinney), and "Finale" (Lemmens). The "Dead March in Saul" was played as a tribute of respect to the memory of the late Bir George Grey, the audience standing throughout. The choir rendered two anthems. Miss Woodward, who has a good v^ice, sang " Eternal Rest," and Mr. F. S. Pope sang " The Lord Worketh Wonders." A collection was taken up in aid of the choir fund. An unusual course was adopted late yesterday afternoon, during the heariug of the charges against Douglas Mickle in the Magistrate's Court — Mr. Kenny, S.M., and Mr. E. Arnold, J.P.; on the Bench. Mr. Jellicoe, for the accused, applied to be allowed to make an application in camera, and the request was complied with. The Justices, with Mr. Hislop' and Mr. Jellicoe, adjourned to the Magistrate's room, the press, representatives being denied admission. For about half-an-hour the Bench and counsel were absent from the Court, and on returning Mr. Kenny intimated that the case would be again remanded till Friday morning, at 9.30. It is understood that Mr. Jellicoe's application was that the case should be dealt with summarily, but that it was refused. Mr. Gilrnth, Chief Government Veterinarian, has been on a vi«it to South Wairarapa for the purpose of enquiring into the cause of numerous deaths among the lambs in that district. He lias not yet submitted his report to the Agricultural Department. Before he returned to Wellington he gave an address before the Eketahuna Farmers' Club. To-morrow evening a programme of 16 items is promised visitors to a concert at the Vivian-street Citadel by the Salvation Army.

The case of a man named Carl Jacobseu (now undergoing a term of imprisonment for minor offences), which was recently mentioned in the House, came before the Benevolent Trustees yesterday. A letter from the Miuister of Justice was read stating that Jacobseu was suffering from a chronic form of St. Vitus's dance, and it was not considered proper that he should be detained in the prison. The Rev. Mr. Van Stavereu said he knew the case well, and he did not think the Trustees could do anything. The man could not be kept in the Home on account of his habits. The Relieving Officer bore out Mr. Van Staveren's statements. It was resolved to reply to the effect that the Trustees could not do anything. Another case which came before the Trustees was that of an " incurable " who had been in the Hospital for ten years. The man was said to be bed-ridden, and one of his sons asked that he now be admitted to the Ohiro Home, as he could no longer be kept in the Hospital. It was pointed out that his cost in the Home would only be 6s a week, and as there are several sons the Trustees decided that they must between them pay for their father's keep, otherwise he could not be admitted. In another case it was unanimously agreed to admit into the Home a woman 80 years of a«e, her friends undertaking to pay for her keep. Agitation on the part of the New Zealand Dairy Union has resulted in a conference with the officers of the Railway Department, and arrangements are to be made by which cream from Masterton, Mangamahoe, Eketahuna,and Featherstou (and from Newman up to the Ist November) will be conveyed by the mail traiu to Wellington. Cream from other places on the Wellington-Wood-ville line will be sent either to Palmerston North or to Wellington by goods train. Ahout 200 lads were entertained at a tea meeting at the Boys' InstHute last evening. Afterwards a concert programme was gone through, to which Miss Steel, Messrs. Murrell and Wallace, and Masters Bradey and Knox contributed. Miss Wilson, Mrs. Murrell, and Mr. Livermore played the accompaniments. The Committee of the Institute thank Messrs. Kellow, Scott, Oldham, Mawson, Godber, Skinner, Dimock, Campbell, and M'Harrie Bros, .for donations of food ; also the ladies who assisted to make the evening an eujoyable one. Local disciples of Isaac Walton mustered at' the Trocadero last evening (Mr. J. J. Devine presiding) to consider the advisableness of approaching the Minister of Railways with the view of getting some concessions in railway fares for anglers. It was urged that were reductions to be made it would mean a considerable increase in the number of anglers, and therefore in the revenue. This being the unanimous opinion of th<^ meeting, a committee consising of Messrs. W. H. Tisdall, N. J. Tone, E. Smith, and J. F. Andrews was appointed to deal with the question, with power to act. The committee was also requested to ascertain if any coach proprietors would make any concessions in the matter of coach hire to anglers. A resolution was also carried, " That it is desirable that an Anglers' Association should be formed of anylers in the Hutt County, with a nominal subscription, to meet twice a year." Messrs. Devine, Audrews, Tisdall, Boys, Whit&y, and Tone were appointed to draw up rules. The opinion was expressed that the rules should discountenance any fishing competitions. Taupo and Wanganui were the only places visited by frost in this colony last night. A calm "night was experienced. everywhere, the temperature was mild, the glass steady, and this morning opened generally with a blue sky and light winds, indicating that the storm predicted by Mr. " Inclement" Wragge, Queensland Meteorologist, to take place on the face of Tasman Sea yesterday and to-day has not " come off," at this end, at any rate. • Yesterday at noon a deputation consisting of the President and Vice-President of the New Zealand Brotherhood of Labour waited upon the Mayor for the purpose of drawing his attention to the number of unemployed in the city, and the desirability of proceeding with the works contemplated under the Wellington City Streets Act. His Worship said that he would have been only too pleased to compty at once with the request of the deputation, but unfortunately his hands»were tied by the fact that the Bill had not yet become law. As soon as it was finally passed certain moneys would be immediately available for carrying on the works which it authorised. The monthly meeting o£ the Melrose Borough Council last night was attended by the Mayor (Mr. C. T. Browne) and Councillors Webb, Key, Wishart, Frost, Sidey, Brunskill, Clark, Fullford, and Newell. The report of the' Public Works Committee, which has already been published, was considered. A proposal by Councillor Wishart, seconded by Councillor Clark, that the amount of the grant in aid of the Queen's Drive should be £35, was lost, the clause in the report that the ocntribution should be £25 being carried. The other recommendations in the report were also adopted. A letter was read from Mr. P. J. F,air asking that Goa-street, Kilbirnie, should be extended to the Town Belt, and was referred to the Public Works Committee. It was decided to call upon Mr. J. B. Topp, of Kilbirnie, to comply with the sanitary bylaw. Messrs. Mason and Richmond submitted a plan of proposed subdivision of sections 11 and 13, Ohiro, and the Couucil decided to consider the matter at the next meeting of the Public Works Committee. The Bylaws Committee reported having compiled a consolidation bylaw, and on its recommendation the Council decided to hold a special meeting ou the 6th prox. to pass the bylaw. The funeral of the late Mr. Thomas Steele, a pensioner of the Bank of New Zealand, who died suddenly at Tawa Flat, took place there yesterday, and was largely attended. The deceased was a brother of Mr. W. J. Steele, at one time General Manager of the National Bank and now one of its directors. A romantic j*avn was spun by a Maori defendant in a judgment summons case heard in the S.M. Court at Palmerston North last week to explain how he came to incur the debt. The storekeeper where he resided, he said,, had told him that some man had hidden a pot of gold up in the mountains, and that if he could find it the storekeeper would give him the half of it and keep him in food all the time he was looking for it. There being no evidence to the contrary available, the Maori's stoiy held good, and as he had not succeeded in fiuding the gold or anything else, aud he had. no estate of any kind, no order could be made against him. It is still an open question in the mind of the Court whether the simplicity of the native or of the Pakeha was the greater. Miss Jean Allan, of Patea, who was trained in the Dunedin Hospital, has been appointed Matron of the Wanganui Hospital. There were 15 applications from nil parts of the colony. As the British warship Narcissus was on the point of sailing from Hongkong for Kol^e recently it was discovered that one of her safes had been broken into and a large sum of money stolen. Several of her men were also .missing, and it transpired that they had "decamped on a Japanese jsteamer from Yokohama. The torpedo-boat destroyer Whiting was sent in pursuit, aud, overhauling the Japanese steamer, the men wanted were taken out of her and back to the cruiser. . The opening of the cycling season in Wellington will be carried out on Saturday, loth October, by the Wellington Amateur Cycling Club. All cyclists of both sexes are to be invited to take part.

The quarterly summoned meeting of Court Sir George Grey was held last night, the C.R., Bro. J. Helliwell, presiding. Dr. Ansou having resigned his connection with the court, the members on his Jist were in the meantime placed on Dr. Fell's list. The question of the appointment of an eye specialist was held over for further enquiry. The report of the Bylaws Committee was ordered to be printed in slip form, aud discussed at the financial meeting on 25th October. The question of a uniform agreement with the cit}' Foresters' surgeons was left in the hands qf the court delegates. Two new members were proposed for initiation. There is much dissatisfaction among poultry fanciers in different parts of the colony at the delay of the Agricultural Department in supplying sittings af eggs. The first annual ball of the Deutsche Liedertafel, which took place at Thomas's Hall last night, was an exceedingly pleasant affair. It was excellently managed by a committee consisting of Messrs. Focke, Eller, Gerritzen, Wedde, Trommer, Reuler, Wahren, Graummiza, Staub, Hulke, aud Lehmaun, with Messrs. U. Gerritzen and R. H. Wedde as secretaries. The hall was decorated with nikau palms and bunting, the national colours — black, red, and white — predominating, while .on the walls were large oil paintings of the present and former v Kaisers, the Empress, the late Prince Bismarck, and other German celebrities, as well as that of Queen Victoria. This particular work was supervised by Messrs. Gerritzen, Wedde, Scbmedes, and Eller, who may be complimented upon their artistic taste. Among the guests were Mr. Krull (German Consul at Wanganui) and Mr. Fooke (Vice-Consul at Wellington). The ball was opened with a polonaise led by Mrs. Schaefer and Mr. Gerritzen. Fischer's String Band provided the music, Messrs. Hoppe and "Walter were masters of ceremonies, and Mr. Godber was caterer. At intervals the members of the Liedertafel, under the conductorship of Herr Clemens Lehmaun, sang with fine effect " Der Rhein " (The Rhine), " Der Tanz-Lied" (The Dance Song), and "|Haiden-roslein" (The Field Rose). The Benevolent Institution Trustees yesterday passed a vote of thanks to the Women's Christian Association for providing an outfit for the late "Hermit of Island Bay," who has been sent to relatives in Queensland. Interesting as well as instructive was the lecture on " The Influence of Sea Power on History" delivered by Mr. J. W. Jauisch in St. Andrew's Schoolroom last evening. The Rev. C. S. Ogg occupied the chair. The lecturer quoted from the capital work by Captain Mahan, of the United States Navy, on the subject of warfare, &c, and the growth of the British Navy during the century was also dealt with. Descriptions were given of different wars which have been fought, and appropriate limelight views were thrown on a screen, Mr. J. W. Barltrop having charge of the lantern. Mr. Janisch was rewarded with a hearty vote of thanks. Last night's meeting of tUe Loyal Sister Wallis Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., was exceptionally well attended. Sister E. Martin, N.G.,.presided, and the officers of the District and members of the Ldyal Britannia, New-, town, Antipodean, Rose of the Valley (Hutt), Petone.and Eketahuna Lodges were present by invitation. . During the evening Sister Wallis, at the request of the N.G., presented a photographic group of past and present officers of the lodge to Bro. W. M'Goldrick, P.G., in acknowledgment of services to the lodge. Several of the officers present tendered their congratulations to Bro. M'Goldnck, who suitably expressed his thanks. Subsequently an entertaining programme was given, Sister Henderson and Bro. Hope contributing songs, Bro. Wills a recitation, and a dialogue entitled " "Doing the Grand" was given by members. In the annual show of the Wellington Kennel Club, which takes place on Friday and Saturday, the public is promised one of the most successful ever held in New Zealand. Not only are the entries very large, but all classes are well represented, and the keenest rivalry exists amongst the " fancy." Mr. Paul Hunter's string of dogs, always an attraction, will arrive to-night, and his latest importation from Australia is now here being prepared for the show. His Excellency the Governor will open the exhibition. " The quality of mercy is not strained," says Shakespeare, and in another column the quotation is used to draw attention to the fact that next SuncUy a fine military band programme will be performed in the Basin Reserve in aid of an old Imperial soldier who has fallen upon evil times. It is hoped that the kindly efforts of Mr.' Thos. Trowell and those associated with him will result in substantial financial aid being given to one who has served his country well. The Sports Committee of the Wellington Football Club met last night and definitely fixed the date of the club's annual sports for Saturday, Bth October. It was also decided to postpone the closing of the bicycle entries to Saturday next. The Secretary of the Eight Hours Carnival calls for tenders for the rights of two refreshment booths, for supplying lunch for the committee, and for rights of games, &c. Acceptances for all the handicapped events at the sports close at the Trades Hall on Monday evening next. The date of the Wellington Orchestral Society's next concert has been fixed for the 11th prox., and it was announced at last night's rehearsal that the Meistersiugers had been engaged, and would make their first public appearance at the concert. Mr, Mozer, a new tenor from Australia, has also been secured for solo work. Archbishop Redwood, Bishop Wallis, and Messrs, John Ross and E. W. Mills were uuauimously elected as additional Vice-Presidents of the society. Miss Adelene Wilkins, elocutionist, will read a paper on "Elocution" before the Wesleyan Literary and Debating Society, at the Taranaki - street Schoolroom, tomorrow evening. Miss Wilkius and two of her pupils will give recitations. Dr. Pyffe has prepared a fine programme for his organ recital to be given in St. Peter's Church this evening, Mendelssohn, Corelli, and Guilraant being iuoluded among the composers. Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Mackintosh, Miss Ross, and the choir will assist, and the offertory is to be devoted to the organ improvement fund. A meeting of shearers is convened for tbia evening at the Trades Hall. The Ladies' Musical Society give another concert at the Sydney-street Schoolroom to-* night. Those posting papers to their friends by San Francisco mail to-morrow are notified that they can obtain copies of the New Zealand Graphio wrapped ready for addressing either at the local branch office, Customi house-quay, or outside G.P.0., to-morrow. Wrapped oopies of the Canterbury Times, for posting by the San Francisco mail, may be obtained to-morrow either at the local offioe, near G.P.0., or at table outside G.P.O, Mr. J. ODea, aroliiteofc, invites tenders for the erection of a seven-roomed house. Mrs, Male, Lambton-quay, specialist in coats and skirts, announces that she inake^ up ladieß' own material, but if necessary she supplies dress stuff, Mr, G. W, Wilton, chemist, notifies, that he supplies purified oxygen for inhalation. The gas may be obtained at a moment's notice, day or night, Mr, T. Shields, tailor, Lambton-quay, directs, attention to a shipment of summer, tweeds per the Gothic and requests on early calif

The directors of the Manchester Wholesale Co-operative Society are so satisfied with the quality and the prices of the produce which they bought in New Zealand last year that they have decided to make much more extensive purchases in the colony during the coming summer. Mr. Fairburn, the society's colonial representative, has been on a business visit to New Zealaud for some time, and the buyers of several other large coucerns in .Great Britain which deal largely in produce are also in the colony. Hitherto they have never visited this colony, all their purchases in the past having been made in Australia. Messrs. Harcourfc & Co. announoe a sale to-morrow at No. 68, Wellington-terrace (the residence of the late John Kennedy), of superior household furniture, linen, cutlery, electro-plate, and the uaual effects of a wellfurnished house. The auctioneers draw attention to the fact that the furniture is all new, and a large portion wa9 only recently imported from England, and is in first-class condition. Messrs. Macdonald, Wilson & Co. hold a special sale of horses at Sinclair's Stables to-morrow afternoon, at 2 o'olocfc, details of which are published. Messrs. Abraham & Williams hold a sale of stock at Palmerston to-morrow. Messrs. A. G. Tame & Co. hold a stock sale at Lower Hutt to-morrow. Messrs. F. Sidey and Co. wall sell tomorrow, at the Central mart, Manners-street, galvanised iron tubs, glassware, &q. Messrs. Macdonald, Wilson & Co. advertise the full details of a sale of 50 bioycles, which they will hold on Wednesday next at their rooms. The firm points out that aa auction sales of bicycles will now be limited buyers are urged to inspect the lot now to be sold. A gaslight display will be held on Tuesday evening from 7 to 9 o'clock.