LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 153, 27 December 1898, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

■-♦ Information was received this morning of the destruction on Christmas night at 9 o'clock of the Feilding Government School The fire originated in the cupboard of the infant school, and was discovered at an early stage, but before the brigade cot the water on the flames had a strong hold. Some furniture was saved. There is no clue to the cause of the outbreak. The building had been locked up for the holidays, and there had been no fire in it for some time. Inspector Emerson, who is at present in charge of the Hawkes Bay Police district, will retire at the expiration of six months. His retiring allawance, it is stated, will be equal to about two years' pay. Two beautiful gifts have been presented to St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral in memory of the late Mrs. Swainson — a memorial window, of which the subject is Christ blessing the children, erected by former pupils of Mrs. Swainson, and an oak litany stool", beautifully carved, the work and gift of some personal friends. Charges of a somewhat serious character which have been made against a school teacher in one of the Forty-Mile Bush Districts will be investigated tomorrow by a committee appointed by the Education Board. It is probable that counsel will also attend the enquiry on behalf of those immediately concerned. The members of the Committee are Messrs. Blair (Chairman of the Board) McCardle, Feist, and Robertson and the town members, with Mr. Dorset, Secretary to the Board, leave by to-morrow' morning's train. Ine various bowling greens were fully occupied on Saturday afternoon and today, but the weather yesterday prevented bowlers from deriving any pleasure from their favourite pastime. It is rumoured that Mr. John Stevens, M.H.R., will contest the Rangitikei constituency at the next election instead of the Manawatu electorate, whicb he now represents in Parliament. As there are three other probable contestants, the local paper expects the fight to be a merry one. Another stage in the progress of the harbour-side settlements is marked by the letting of a contract for the ereotion of an Anglican church-room at Worser Bay. The building is to stand on the roadside, about half-way between Hearn's cottages and the western corner of Seatoun flat, and is to consist of a chamber 36ft by 20ft, besides a small chancel and vestry. Messrs. A. Williams and Ayling are the contractors, and the plans have been drawn up by Mr. J. W. Davis, one of the promoters of the movement, who will supervise the work. The land was purchased by the residents in the district some time ago, and the means of building are to be advanced from one of the Diocesan funds. The praiseworthy promptitude of P. North, the oldest and one of the most experienced drivers on the local trams, averted a very serious accident in the holidays. He was driving a croAvded car down Cuba-street, when a ten-year-old son of Mr. King, of Petone attempted to cross the road in front and running into the near horse was knocked down. The lad's escape from death was almost mira- , culous. One horse jumped over the body, and the driver put the brake hard down immediately, but only just in time, for the skiddilig wheels actually pushed the prostrate form a little way along the line. Mr. North's action was warmly commended by the bystanders, and the boy's only injury, in addition to some severe bruises, was a broken toe. Mr. Marchant, Commissioner of Crown Lands, and Mr. A. W. Hogg, who have been enquiring into revaluation claims of settlers oR Crown lands in the Wellington land district, have returned to their homes. Mr. Hogg has told the Eketahuna Ex press that the settlers claiming revaluation were all offered the privilege of surrendering their leases, that they might be put up again for public competition with value of improvements added. Only one settler, it is understood, is prepared to run the risk of losing his section in this way. Bathers are cautioned against swimming in the waters off Lyell Bay, as three sharks of goodly size were seen disporting close in shore on Sunday morning. The rainfall for the 24 hours ended 9 o'clock this morning was .77, or rather ."more than three-quarters ofan inch. Altogether 22 clubs have entered teams to compete in the Champion Foifrs tournament which is to be held ac Wanganui under the auspices of the Northcra Bowling association early iv January^

We have received the Christinas and New Year cards of the staffs of the New Zealand Times and Mail, the Pahiatua Herald, and the Wairarapa Leader ; also the almanac of Paton's Alloa knitting "wools firm. At this festive season of the year, more than the ordinary amount of latitude is allowed to those merry-makers who break the law as to sobriety. Four offenders, however, had to be apprehended during the holidays, and they were leniently dealt with yesterday morning by a Court composed of Messrs. E. Carrigan, J. J. Casey, and P Coffey, Justices. At the same sitting, John Thomas Neill, arrested by Constable Cairns on a charge of wifedesertion at Christchurch, was remanded till Wednesday. Two more inebriates were punished jji the Magistrate's Court this morning, the Rev. J. Crewes and Mr. John Collins, Justices, on the Bench. Another alleged wife-deserter, George G. Gleeson, of New Plymouth, apprehended by Constable Bree, was remanded to appear at that place . on Saturday. The young man Cyril Durrant, charged on remand with theft at Opunake in 1897, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. One month' >? imprisonment was the sentenlce passed on. R. D. M'Kellar, who had been found at night in the Panama Hotel under suspicious circumstances; At the Mt. Cook Police Station yesterday, Mr. E. Arnold, J.P., dealt lightly with two drunkards. Peter Maroney, for resisting Constable M'Guire in the execution, of his duty, was fined £2, in default seven days' imprisonment ; for obscenity he was sentenced to seven days' hard lauom ; while for drunkenness the same offender v/as fined 10s, with the option of 48 hours' imprisonment. The retorted gold, valued at £1200, from the Australasian Gold Trust property in the Titapu estate was exhibited in Nelson last week. As may be expected (says the Colonist), the exhibition of 318oz of the precious metal in one block was in spected with interest by numbers. Mr. W. H. {smith, night watchman at the Hospital for the last 13 years, died at that institution on Christmas morning. Deceased, who was a native of London, was 66 years of age, and illness had rendered him unfit for duty for some time past. He was in the police force In the early goldfield days. A native at Opotiki the other day, apparently out of revenge upon a settler, gouged the eyes out uf two horses with a knife, necessitating botu animals being destroyed. An inquest was held on Saturday afternoon as to the death that morning of Agnes Jane Johnson, of Karori Crescent. Mr. T. W. Hall was foreman of the jury. The post mortem examination by Dr. - Tripe showed that death had been due to disease of the heart, and a verdict to that effect was returned. There was a large congregation at the Christmas Night service of the Mission of the Good Shepherd, Berhampore. The Rev* 0. FitzGerald was the preacher. The building had been prettily decorated with flowers and evergreens, and the musical part of the service was well led by the choir. Holy Communion was celebrated at the churchroom, Island Bay, by the Rev. H. E. Tuckey at 11 a.m. on Christmas Day. The same clergyman also officiated at evensong. As in the other churches in the district much care had been taken in the decorations, the effect being extremely bright and in keeping with the festive season. The attendances were very satisfactory. The Hastings Borough Council has set up a committee to deal with the question of fire escapes at the lqcal theatre. ' The old Maori Hamiora, whose miraculous escape at sea in an open boat has been recorded in our Taranaki telegrams, is stated to- have been blown nearly to the South Island. The wind, then changed, and he was brought back again. He says he saw the coastal steamer Aorere (which it was expected would pick him up) pass, but it was too far away. The Wanganui Herald hears that Inspector M'Govern is under orders to remove to Wanganui, which is in future to be the centre of the West Coast (North Island) police district. The Novelty Parlour, in Willis-street, has been taxed to its utmost for the last few nights to witness the appearance and disappearance of eggs, lollies, pigeons, vanishing handkerchiefs, and to hear the songs and dances of the clever child performing there. Owing to lack of seats at night, special performances will be held every afternoon at 3 o'clock half-hourly, for the benefit of ladies and children. On Friday afternoon a prize competition will be held for the best dressed doll, and on Thursday night a competition for accordeon players. Competitors must leave particulars at the parlour at once. A plain and fancy dress "social" was held in the new, well ventilated, and well lighted Victoria Hall, Adelaide-road, last night, the place being crowded. Items were contributed by Messrs. Tasker, S. Swiney, Bryant, Clarke, M'Laren, Dentice, and Jepson (2), Mr. H. Williams was M.C., and Mr. 'Foden was at the. piano. Mr. C. Swiney acted as secretary, and the gathering under his management was a thorough success. Excellent refreshments were supplied. A case was heard in the New Plymouth District Court last week in which James Ingley (of Eltham) claimed £500 damages from Richard O'Donovan for libel. The wives of the parties were friends, and defendant's wife, at the time of the publishing of the libel, was on a visit to Mrs. Ingley. Defendant had called at Mrs. Ingley's house, and thrust before her a letter containing defamatory statements about the morals of plaintiff and Mrs. O'Donovan, and alleging base charges against them. Mrs. Ingley was much upset over the letter, and her husband brought this case for the purpose of clearing his character. After evidence had been heard, his Honour (District Judge., Kettle) gave judgment for £10 and costs. At the same time, he desired it to be understood that if defendant alone would have suffered, and his children would not have been affected, the punishment would have been more severe. Money in this case would hardly compensate a married man for the uuhappiness caused between himself and his wife by such a letter. The wedding o£ Mr. Rupert J. Panther, of Kirkcaldie and Stains', and well-known in cycling circles, to Miss Millicent O'Loughlin, daughter of Mr. T. O'Loughlin, an old resident of Wellington, was celebrated at St. Peter's Church on Saturday afternoon by the Rev. W. C. Waters. The bride, who was given away by her brother, was attended by her sisters Nina and Vinnie, who wore dresses of white musliu with leghorn bats, the bride being attired in a pretty tweed costume trimmed with white satin and chiffon. Mr. R. Hood was best man. The bridegroom's present to the bride was a handsome gold bangle and guard, and those to the bridesmaids were gold brooohes. The newly-married couple left by the Mokoia to spend their honeymoon iv Christchuroh. The Secretary of the Wellington Hospital invites tenders for the supply of a number of baths aud plumbing ; also for the erection of a bridge. The members of St. Joseph's Church Choir made a presentation to Miss Dnscoll on Christmas Day. Miss Driscoll, who is one of the oldest members of the choir, is about to leave for Sydney Those making plans for the New Year hoiuay are reminded by advertisement of tne monster Catholic picnic, to be held under the auspices of the Hibernian So cietj*

Messrs. ]?. Sidey & Co. -will hold a grea Bale of valuable pledges to-morrow at their rooms, Mamiers-atreet. Visitors are urged to attend, as the sale is unreserved.