LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 99, 24 October 1904, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The colonial mails which left Auckland per R.M.S. Ventura on 23rd September via San Francisco, arrived in London on 23ra inst. With re&pect to the case of Miss Gertie Campion, Mr. Ben Fuller, of Fuller's Entertainers, writes as follows: — "Enclosed my mite (£1 Is) towards Miss Campion's fund. Seeing the number of companies that will be in town tuis week — the Fitzgeralds, Stephenson's, Dixs, and Fuller's — I would suggest a monster combined matinee in aid of the the fund, and to that end our company would lend His Majesty's Theatre staff free of charge, and I have no doubt other proprietors would do the same with their theatres and companies. Whichever theatre it was held in, I would do my best, to further the cause, and I am sure all the other companies would fall into line. Tickets could be issued and the public by this method would contribute largely. Wednesday week would be a good date." Comcittees are at work in Timaru and Wanganui arranging for benefit concerts in aid of Miss Campion. Sir Joseph Ward told a representative of the Lyttelton Times that there would be no obstacle to her admission to New Zealand, if she should decide to come here for treatment. He would be very glad to facilitate her return in any way he could, and to help in providing for her comfort. The hearing of the case in which a youth named Hugh Austin was charged before Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M., with having supplied a young girl with perchloride of iron, knowing that it was intended to be used for an unlawful purpose, was concluded this morning. His Worship intimated that he would say what he had to say next Friday morning. Mr. Myers prosecuted and Mr. Herdman defended. With regard to the disturbance at Te Puke, a settlement near Tauranga, which resulted in a Maori being sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment for assaulting Constable Stagpoole, an ey&-witness' of the affair informs a contemporary that matters became very serious at one stage of the fracas. A number of Europeans were besieged in the hotel, which was surrounded by a howling mob of Maoris. Te Puke has a mounted rifle corps composed of Maoris, and they were asked to attack the Europeans with fixed bayonets. Fortunately the Maori volunteers refrained from taking a hand in the disturbance, which was quelled alter much difficulty. The general entries for the forthcoming Agricultural and Pastoral Show at Palinerston North show a decrease of 49 as compared with those for the show of the previous year. The following are comparative details, the figures for 1903 being given, in parentheses: — Competitions (40) 6T); horses (468) 435; cattle (235) 225; sheep (536) 486; pigs (85) 92; dogs (135) 128; poultry and pigeons (389) 350; industrial (454) 460; vehicles (120) 180; total (2465) 2416. The display of agricultural implements, farm and dairy machinery on the implement space and in the Exhibition Hall is a large increase on that of previous years, and entries are estimated at 500. Fashion favour* a profusion of laces and insertions for summer gowns and underwear. Kirkcaldie and Stains, Limited, announce a fresh shipment ot Torchon, Guipure, and Valenciennes in the approved patterns. See page 7 for detaili.

The hearing of a number of informations against milk vendors for having sold adulterated milk, and against manufacturers for having created a smoke nuisance, were to-day further adjourned untV the 31st inst. Four informations foi having allowed churches to be used foi public worship without a license were withdrawn owing to the requirements regarding exits, etc., having been carried out. Two cases against persons response ible for two churches were further adjourned for two weeks. Between Saturday night and yesterday morning, a man named Robert Mayberry boarded the steamer Kahu and stole a pair of boots. He was arrested wearing f;he missing articles and charged at tho Police Court to-day with theft. Accused admitted the offence, and was sent to gaol for seven days. For insobriety, John Casey was fined 40s, m default fourteen days, and Patrick Maher 20s, in default seven days. Three first offenders werir also dealt with. The Victoria College Lawn Tennis Club formally opened its season last Saturday afternoon, the President (Professoi M'Kenzie) declaring the courts open foi play. The fine weather attracted a largi attendance of members and friends. Tlu club now has 60 members. Competition! are to be held during the season for trophies presented by Professors Yon Zedlit7 and M'Kenzie. Tho Thorndon Club is tn open its courts next Saturday. Yesterday was "Children's Sunday" al St. James's Church, Adelaide-road, and appropriate hymns were sung by the choir, combined for the occasion with a band of Stnday-scholare specially trained by Mr. King, the choirmaster. The ser. vices were bright, and the musical portion was all that could be desired. The morning and evening services were con* ducted by the Rev. W. Shirer, and tho afternoon service by the Rev Gibson Smith. Lieut. Herd, of the .Garrison Band, returned to Wellington yesterday froni Gore, ' Where he had been acting as judga at the ninth annual contest of the Otagp and Southland Brass Bands' Association, which was held, last Wednesday and Thursday. Thirteen bands took part in the contest. The Quickstep Competition was won by the Baldutha Band (147$ points), with Queenstown (146| points) second, and Momington (144£) points) third. For the playing of the test selection (Rossini's "La Cenerentola"), tha Momington Band secured the first honours with 74 points, Gore being second with 72 points, and Port Chalmers an* Cromwell third with 71 points each. Two of the bands were graded in a second class for the "Own Selection" contest, the Orepuki Band (71 points) beating Balclutha (69 points). The Education Department hajygceived the results of the last examinatj^H^rou nection with the City and Guild|^^R^k don Institute. The successful WeffliPßF cancuuates were : — Plumbers' work — Firstclass and preliminary passes: A. E Wadsworth. Second-class pass: J. F Adams, F. Foothead, H. J. Mack, A. W Parton, J. Roulston, F. J. Swindell, A Thomas, G. Turner, A. E. Wells. Electric light and power — Second-class pas* (honours grade) : L. M. Silver. Secondclass pass: F. C. Turnbull. Preliminary pass: F. C. Turnbull, W. H. Ballinger, A. E. Hargreaves, A. K. W. Rissel, W. R. Richardson. Wiremen's work— -Seo ond-class pass: W. H. Ballinger. Carpentry and joinery — Preliminary passi H. Green. Mechanical engineering — First-class pass (Part I.): T. J. Rothe. Telegraphy and telephony— First-class pass: Edmund H. Marriott. "Our utmost endeavour is to obtain a fair and legitimate trade— not for licensed victuallers alone, but for thu public," said the President of the New Zealand Licensed Victuallers' Association (Mr. A. R. V. Lodder) at a social funo tion at Petone on Friday. "We onlj want that which is fair and just, tkff same as any grocer, or butcher, or tradesman is entitled to." He remarked, inter alia, that the Hutt Valley branch of the Association was probably the strongest in the colony, because the members were bo united. Mr. W. J. Williams, exSecretary of the branch, who is leaving, for Feilding, said he had found on com* ing in contact with many of those wha were opposed to the trade, that whe» they had the trade's standpoint reason* ably explained to them, they were not. so bitter as was generally thought. It was always a strong point when thp licensed victuallers made themselves ra spected as upright members of society, who were entitled to fullest respect am such. (Hear, hear.) Complaint has been made by soma trades unions against the way the Laboui Department carries out its newly-given duty of prosecuting persons charged with committing breaches of industrial awards. Ihe Wellington Typographical Union v not amongst the complainants. At iti meeting on Saturday night the union passed a resolution expressing appre ciation of the manner in which the Labour Department had dealt with all th« breaches of the union's award to whict the department's attention had. been withdrawn. A motion favouring re-affiliation 1 with the Trades Council failed to find favour with the meeting. In view of the opening of the Welling ton Hospital Nurses' Home by His Excellency the Governor on Wednesdaj next, a reference by Dr. MacGregor in his annual report to Parliament in 1901 on the matter of hospital nursing will not be out of place. Tho Inspector-General of Hospitals cays: "The last few yeaiw have brought a great change in the organisation of our hospitals. Formerly our hospitals were for the most part served by a mixed 6taff of male and female nurses. Gradually this has been altered, so that now in almost all our hospitals, large- as well as small, the nursing staff consists of female nurses only, mala nurses being etill retained to help in th« care of such cases as are unsuitable for females. This revolution has been part of a world-wide movement. For the first period of tue nineteenth century the novelist has generalised the type in "Sairej Gamp." In too many instances profes sional nurses -were of this pattern — ignorant, untrained, and self-indulgent. Aftei the Crimean war the reforms instituted by Florence Nightingale caught hold o f the national imagination, and she was presented with a sum of £52,000, which sh«devoted to the iorming of a training school for nurses, where self-denial, devotion, and discipline should rule. For a long time numbers of well-educated wo men, filled with the enthusiasm of human ity, devoted themselves to the noble car t eer thus opened for them, and from their ranks matrons and other officers of English hospitals were drawn, until now, at the opening of the present century, w find the btwiness of nursing has become <* distinct profession." t The Catholio Young Men's Club U moving in the direction of perpetuating the memory of the late Bro. Mark A meeting on the subject will be heid tc morrow evening at St. Patrick's Hall. The D Battery will be represented 1 at the field artillery tournament iChnstchurch on Boxing Day. The benefits of "a real co-operative so. ?l et ?j >"tt ,J° be> di 6c °ur*e<i on «t th* Druids Hall, Tinakori-road, ou Wedneir day evening. Particulars are advertised, Munfc, Cottrell, and Co., general carriers, Customs and forwarding agents Storage a speciality. Furniture packed and removed. Office* Queen's Cham* here.. Telephone No. 23,— Advt,

' At the musical gathering at Govemoaent House on Saturday night Mr. James Muir, Secretary of the Associated Board pf the Royal Academy of Music and Royal College of Music, pointed out that •class singing and general school examinAtions had not been taken 'up out here *s well as the Board might have expected. Mr. Robert Parker, in reply, said everything had to give way for the course of matriculation work in most secondary -Khools, and it seemed to him no time was left for any subject that exercised the poetio and imaginative faculties. Claee •tinging was a subject cultivated to a irery large extent in the larger colleges in England, and a subject that should reBeive a great deal of encouragement here. He further explained that whilst class Kinging was practically neglected in the secondary schools, most of the pupilij individually went up for the musical examT&ations. The Rev. Fergus Ferguson discoursed last night in the New Century Hall on "The Touch of a Vanished Hand." ±ne lecturer stated that between the natural and the spiritual body there exists a discrete degree which alone stands as the' barrier between these two principles. The natural body has nothing in common urith the spiritual body; but they are plosely united by affinity or agreement. It was perfectly In accord, he said, witli all law — natural spiritual — that friends separated here on earth can meet and speak with one another. God would never break the bruised reed nor quench the smoking flax. No good things would He withhold. There was a large congregation. The second anniversary of the Wellington Young Men's Christian Association was celebrated with special meetings fceld on Saturday night and yesterday. On Saturday • night an anniversary prayer /meeting, over which the General becre4ary (Mr. H. N. Holmes) presided, was Attended by sixty young men. Yesterday (ftemoon there was a special Bible-class itneeting, followed by a Strangers' Tea, at which young men from all parts of the world packed the room. Several of the Vice-Presidents «of the Association attended, and Mr. Bedford, M.H.R., spoke npon his experiences at Strangers' Teas during his tour through America. He said the Y.M.O.A. movement to-day was one of the greatest forces in the (religious life of the United States, and Strangers' Teas were found a great attraction for young men who were strangers in the cities of America. Last night v Gospel service was ,held in the Opera House, Mr. Holmes presiding. There was /t, large attendance. Mr. A. Jolly gave wi address upon "The Tragedy of cue J?irst Temptation," that of the Garden of Eden. To-night the annual business meeting of the Association is to be held, Mie business to be discussed including a ■aew building policy. On Thursday next there is to be a tea meeting in Wesley Hall, to be followed by a public meetAt the Socialist Hall, Cuba-street, last ftvening, Mr. Hampton delivered an address on the subject: "Is there need for $n Independent Labour Party in New Zealand?" Mr. Hamnton enumerated the planks of the platform of the new party, and said the policy of the party would foe to lead up to Socialism and abolish the Miree evils of Rent, Profit, and Interest. The introduction of a State Bank would abolish the system of paying interest to ihe London bondholders, and would strike h heavy blow at the bulwarks of capitalfem. He considered that the platform of the new party was more Socialistic than the Socialist platform in New Zealand. Considerable discussion followed. Sir. Wolstenholme, in attacking the remarks of the speaker, thought the new party was not needed, and thought the workers of New Zealand were chasing a will-o'-the-wisp by trying to bolster up trades, in an agricultural colony, whose natural resources were against such trades, And more adapted for agricultural products. Mr. Josephs thought that the Aame state of things would continue under the new party, and the only way to atop exploitation was to do away with fthe wages system. Mr. Key said the »nly hope for the worker was a bloody Mr. Hutchinson favoured the tdea of supporting the man and not the measure. Mr. Hulbert thought the principle of trades unionism was superficial ■nnd selfish. Other speakers also took ■part in the discussion. The annual report of the Young Men's Christian Association, which is to be prenented at to-night's meeting, shows that a great increase of members has taken place during the second year of the association's existence. At the end of its first year the roll contained 289 names, 80-day it contains 364, and there are twenty more nominations awaiting presentation at the next meeting* of the Board. All the departments carried on during the year have been doing good work. As many as one hundred men have attended the Saturday night prayer meetings, and (she membership of the Sunday Bible classes has rapidly increased. This class is now followed by a tea provided for strangers, and special efforts are made to get young men to attend this social gathering. It has already been found to be a valuable adjunct to the associaiion's work. A Bible class is conducted on Monday nights for the study of Christ's life, and on the same evening .Vlr. C. S. Falconer gives instruction to young men who are training for individual Christian work. Missionary efforts are not neglected, a special meeting befng held once a month. As a result of. this department, Mr. H. E. Kempton {eft during the year to take up mission work in China, and the members of the have undertaken to raise £50 * year towards his maintenance on the Beld. The Literary and Debating Society has prospered exceedingly, and the ffeading-room and library are used by many men. Mr. Holmes receives many Applications from strangers to Wellington for suitable places of residence, and do help him in this work he keeps a register of boardinghouses. He has found ft difficult to supply the demand. The Association has not forgotten the physical lide of life, having during the year run three football, two hockey, and two cricket teams, a Rambling Clnb, and a gymnasium class, and is now forming a SwimTning Club. * Refernce is made ip the report to the resignation of the first Secretary (Mr. A. E. Whyte), to the coming of Mr. H. N. Holmes to take his place, and to the visit of Mr. D. A. Budge, of "anada. Defiance Butter is to be had in every grocer's shop, and careful housewives insist upon having it. Pure, fine-flavoured, •nd always fresh.— Advt. Afternoon Tea.— At C. Smith's, Cubartreet, ladies can see tho prettiest assortment of pure linen afternoon tea cloths, hemstitched and embroidered; also a few handsome embroidered linen bedspreads, 'ioylies, and duchess runners, eto. These foods arc tho best valuo we have yet geen, nid are confidently recomm ended. Blouse ■nuslins, delaine's, voiles, sillcß, etc., in rreat variety of design and colouring. bpotß everywhere, but no spot better than •>ur Cuba-street shop for a grand selection *t moderate prices.— C. Smith.— Advt.