The Evening Star TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1888.

Evening Star, Issue 7750, 23 October 1888, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1888.

A telegram has been received in town that Mr James Reid, ex-Mayor of Queenstown, died yesterday. He had been out of health for some time past, but was not believed to be seriously ill. He leaves a widow and family. A fire broke out last night in a fowl-house at the back of Joseph Brown’s house, situated in the North-east Valley, but Mrs Brown managed to keep the flames in check until the arrival of the Valley Fire Brigade, when they were soon extinguished. The capabilities of the newly-formed Fire Brigade at the North-east Valley have been fairly tested. On Satuiday night there was a call, a fire having broken out on the pro* perty of Mr Thomas, and last night a fire broke out in the stable of Mr Joseph Brown. The brigade mastered promptly on both occasions and were instrumental in extinguishing the fires without much damage being done. A meeting of ratepayers favorable to the return of Mr Hugh Gourley as Mayor of the City was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Stuart street, last night. Mr H. S. Fish occupied the chair, and there were about eighty persons present. On the motion of Mr Larner, seconded by Mr Fleming, it was unanimously resolved Mr Gourley was the most fit and proper person to occupy the Mayoral chair." Those present then formed themselves into a General Committee (of which Mr Moss Moss was appointed chairman) for the purpose of securing the return of Mr Gourley. Inquiries made with regard to the sweating system at Christchurch show that though matters are not so bad as in Dunedin, girls and women are paid wages which seem quite inadequate to support them. For trousers finishing, the rates paid barely enable a woman to earn 10s per week by working till late at night. One establishment has, it is said, taken a contract for making men’s suits, finding trimmings and lining, for 30s each ; work which a leading tailor estimates cannot be done for less than 40s if fair wages are paid.

Committee of the New Zealand Bowling Association meet in Grand Hotel on Wednesday evening.

Saturday return tickets by rail to-Timaru will be issued on the 27th inst., available for return till November 5. Entries for the Dunedin Horticultural Society’s spring show will be received till 8 pm, on Thursday. We are indebted to the ‘ Daily Times ’ for the report of yesterday’s meeting of the Bank of New Zealand shareholders.

It was Mr W. Davidson, local agent of the New York Life Insurance Company, who sent us the New York ‘ News Letter ’ yesterday. The thirteenth annual exhibition of the Otago Art Society will be opened on Friday, November 9. Pictures intended for exhibition require to be delivered before November 3, Our recent visitor, Mr William Westgurth, has published, in book form, his personal recollections of early Melbourne and Victoria. We shall note on a future occasion what he has to say.

Brown, Ewing, and Oq. invite the attention (see advertisement on third page) of intending visitors to Melbourne to their well-assorted stock of travelling trunks, rugs, bags, etc.— [Advt ]

Ravensbourno Salt Water Baths Company (Limited).; extraordinary general meeting of Council Chambers, Rothesay, on Wednesday evening, the 31st inst., to arrange for leasing of baths, etc. The fortnightly meeting of the Ivpnhoe Lodge, U. A.0.D., was bold at Albany street Hall last night; Arch-Druid Bro. Pizey presiding, Three new members were initiated, and the receipts amounted to over LlO,

Stimulated by the success of Gilbert Bock’s • two novelettes ‘ Colonists ’ and *By Passion Driven,’ several New Zealand writers have submitted manuscripts to the publishers of these works, and Messrs J. Wilkie and Co. ■ have made arrangements for the immediate issue of one story which is of novel construction and of peculiar interest at the present time. The merchants’ challenge ,cup, to be com-, peted for at the Dunedin Amatepr Athletic' Olub’s meetings this season, is on view in the, window of the Exchange Court Watch and Jewellery Depdt. The cup is valued at twenty-five guineas, and is a very handsome specimen of the silversmith’s work. It is twohandled, stands about fifteen inches high, and the Assign is both artistic and suitable for the purpose to which the prize is to be devoted. The closing meeting of the Literary and Debating Association in connection with the Eaikorai Church was held last evening in the 1 Good Templars’ Hall; the president of the Association (the Rev. R. M. Sutherland) in the | chair. A varied programme of songs, readings, i and recitations was given by the following :—; Mrs Walker, Misses Mpir, Justice, Laing, and. Alexander, Messrs Robertson, Donaldson, Molr, Wilson, J. Harlook, and S. Harlock. A violin, solo was given by Mr Richards, and Misses; Alexander and Laing played the aooompanl.' rnanls. There was an attendance of about 160,. anda yetp,of thanks to the various performers was proposed .by A. H. Ross,