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New Zealand Mail, Issue 746, 18 June 1886, Page 16

A concert and dance were given on Wednesday night at the Drilbbed in aid of the funds of the Garrison Bind. There w >ea good attendance, and a pleasant evening was spent. Dancing was kept up till early next morning. A man named Adam Miller wa3 seized with an epileptic fit while walking down Taranakistreet on Wednesday. He was taken to Mr G. Luke’s coßchbailder’a shop. A constable was on the scene, who immediately’ sent for medical help, as the man was ia a dangerous condition. Dr Collins, on arrival, ordered Miller’s lemovr.l to the Hospital at once. Miller will be remembered as being brought uo at the Resident Magistrate's Court a short time ago on a charge c£ lunacy.

No cable messages came, through from Australia yesterday morning either for Reuter or the Press Association.

The Union S.S. Co, notify that the berthing list of the s.s. Triumph, which is laid on for the Kimberley, closes at noon on Saturday, before which time applications must bo made and deposits paid. We understand that Messrs Fitzherbert and Devine, solicitors, have taken proceedings, at the instance of Mary Ann Woodley, licensee of the Bank Hotel, against George Leslie, commission agent, for allegod slander in connection with statements made concerning the respectability of certain females staying at the hotel. Damages are laid at £SOO. The long-pending action in reference to the serious charges made against Mr Richards, schoolmaster at the Lower Hutt, by Messrs T. Caveihiil and Peter Speedy, at a meeting of householders held some two months ago, has at length taken definite form. Writs were served on Messrs Caverill aud Speedy yesterday for alleged slander, damages are being laid in each case at £SCO. Messrs Bell, Gully and Izard are acting on behalf of Mr Richards, and we understand that Mr Travers has been retained by Messrs Caverhill and Speedy. We have to direct the City Council’s attention to the dangerous state of the new cutting into Upper Tinakori-road. The late rains loosened the sides and one or two “ slips ” occurred, and were subsequently cleared away by the contractor. Now there is another, hanging by a mere thread, lhat may come away at any moment, and if it falls on a passing pedestrian death or serious maiming must ensure. The side of the cutting looks very insecure, and will not be safe until it has been sloped back (battered) more. We warn pedestrians to keep away from, the footpath when passing through the cutting. In asking a question on Wednesday as to whether the Government iutended to have a seismologist sent out from Home to report on the recent volcanic disturbances, Mr M. J. S. Mackenzie alluded to Tarawera, as a mountain that had probably been quiescent for a thousand years. Mr Guinness immediately rose to a point of order, and hoped he should have an opportunity of replying to the debatable matter introduced. “ What is the debateable matter?” asked the Speaker. “ Why, that Tarawera has been extinct for a thousand years,” replied Mr Guinness, amidst laughter. “ Well, Sir,” said Mr Mackenzie, before continuing his reference to the question, “ I don’t think the House need fear any arguments the hou member will introduce on that subject.”

The adjourned annual meeting of the LambLambton Licensing Bench was heldonV/ednesday. Present —Messrs C. E. W. Willeston (chairman), G. Fisher, and A. A. Barnett. The business for which the meeting was called was the hearing of an application for a liceuse by -Jame3 Madden for Barrett’s Hotel, Lambton-quay. Mr Ames (clerk) read the resolution passed last year, which stated that unless (he house was rebuilt the license would riot be renewed. Mr Fisher said that had not been done, and if owners of property took it upon themselves to ignore resolutions of the Committee his vote would be recorded against a renewal of their licenses when the applications again came up. He thought the house was one which should not exist in the centre of the city. The brick frontage was only a screen, and nothing else. Mr Wil’eston endorsed Mr Fisher’s remarks. Mr A. A. Barnett expressed his disappointment at what had been done. The intention of the Committee was that the work should be of a more permanent character. Houses should be rendered as free as possible from the danger of fire. He thought in this case a dhprsition had been shown to meet the views of the Committee, and he wa3 inclined to grant the application. Mr Fisher said it had been an instruction from the Committee that unless the inferior portion of the house was re-bnilt the license would not be renewed. H-j had been over the house, aad found it had been papered and painted, but that was noi# carrying out the instruction. He felt convinced that Mr Madden bad done all he could, but the owner had failed to d-> what was required. He moved that if the house ia not. re built before the next annual meeting, the license.bc not renewed. This was carried, and Mr Madden’s application granted, with an extension to 11 o’clock.

Before the business for which the Lambton Licensing Bench was cailed together on Wednesday was brought on, Mr A. A. Barnett complained that a temporary license had been granted a few days ago to Mrs Smith for the Commercial Hotel, Willis street, nolwithing that at the last annual meeting a license had been granted to Mr Guilford. He was aware that the Chairman and one member of the Bench could grant a temporary license, but he thought a little courtesy should have been shown him by giving him and other members notice. He did not approve of women taking action in a large business like that of hotels independent of their husbands, and had he been consulted he should not have agreed to the transfer. He also understood that tha Inspector of Police was not communicated with on the matter, ana he considered that au informality. Mr Wiile3tou Bakl Mr Barnett was making a mountain out of a molehill. He had agreed to the application after ascertaining that there was no objection to Mrs Smith holding a temporary license. Mr Ames pointed out that Mr Guilford only held a permit from the previous licensee, Mr Flaherty, and that permit had been transferred to Mrs Smith. Mr Willeston said if he bad heard anything about Mrs Smith he would not have signed the transfer. Mr Barnett would like to° know what the Inspector of Police bad to say. Mr Shearman said Mr Smith had while in the Post Office Hotel been twice charged with Sunday trading, aud had defied the police by keeping people on watch. He (Mr Shearman) would have done all he could to oppose the license being granted to Mrs Smith, as she must have been cognizant of what went on in too Post Office Hotel. Mr Fisher asked if they were not a day behind the fair. Mr Barnett said, tee public had been taken by surprise. Mr Fisher said the Married Women’s Property Act provided for women gomg into bu-iuesa on tneir own account. Mr Barnett understood the Act allowed widows or single women to take up licenses, but it was undesirable to allow married women acting independently of their husbands to do sc. Ha wishca it to be recorded that, the temporary been granted, he disapproved, cf it. Tae matter then dropped.

The only criminal business transacted at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday was the fining of two first offenders 5s for drunkenness.

The total population of the Australasian Colonies, as estimated by the Government Statist of Victoria, was at the end of 1885 3,370,524, against an estimated population of 3,233,041 at the end of 1884, making an increase of 137,483 for the year.

The adjourned annual meeting of the Thorndon Licensing Bench was held at the City Council Chambers yesterday. Present— Messrs G. Fisher (chairman), W. F. Parsons and C. T. Richardson. An apology for nonattendance was received from Mr E. H. Goldsmith. The business before the Bench was the hearing of an application by John Murphy for a license for a new house to be called the Railway Hotel, Pipitea Point. Petitions for and against the issue of a licenss were put in, 103 householders being in favor of the applicant, 44 against. The police reported that the house was not required. Mr Gaily appeared for Mr Murphy, aad submitted that the only point to be considered by the Committee was whether the accommodation to be afforded was reasonably required. In view of the early completion of the Wellington and Mianawatu line and the close proximity of the terminal station, and the nearness of the Government railway station, he contended that increased hotel accommodation in the locality was required for the travelling public, and also for people residing in the vicinity. The poll taken some time ago indicated that the inhabitants were ic favor of au increase in the number of licensed houses. Mr Murphy was eminently qualified for carrying on the business of a respectable hotel, and had recently been instrumental in ridding the neighborhood of a serious social pest. The house was substantially built and properly furnished. Inspector Shearman said the police had nothing to say beyond that the house was not required. With regard to the removal of loose women from the locality, the police had taken action before Mr Murphy moved in the matter. The police considered Mr Murphy a suitable person to carry on the business of hotelkeeper. Mr G. Allen, as one of those who had signed the petition against the granting of a license, said there was no personal objection to the man, but he and others who lived in the immediate vicinity thought the house was not required, and could have got hundreds of other signatures in the neighborhood if they had considered it necessary. The local option poll taken some time ago had shown, he believed, a majority of one only in favor of an increase in the number of bouses. The Chairman said as far as external evidence was concerned, the Committee considered all the circumstances were ia favor of the applicant. It bad been shown by cases of sly grog selling ia the neighborhood that there was some necessity for an hotel. Mr Murphy’s action with regard to the removal of loose characters was also in his favor, and no exception could be taken to the accommodation offered. The Committee, however, thought the house was a little in advance of the time when it would be required, and had unanimously resolved not to grant the license this year. At the same time they wished to indicate that, if they were re elected next year, they would be prepared to grant a license to the applicant.

The Fine Arts Association’s conversazione at the Museum on W ednesday wa3 attended by a very large number of people, and passed off very successfully. The statuary and pictures, &c., were mostly place 1 ia the lecture-room, bat owing to the number of exhibits wall space for some of them had to be found in the galleries and the main hall. Considsring the youth of the Association the display was a highly creditable one, but a great deal of the effect was due to the extraneous aid afforded by friends, who placed at the disposal of the Association a large number of oil paintings, water colors, photographs, and engravings, imported from the Old World. Some of Mr Gully’s fine landscapes and view 3 of New Zealand lake scenery were exhibited by Mr Travels, and Mr C. D. Barraud showed a very large number of sketches from the Hot Lakes district, all of which attracted great interest on account of the recent volcanic disturbances in that region. There were some thirty sketches ia all of Taupo and adjoining country, the Terraces and all the other places of note being depicted. Mr Barraud also exhibited a large number of South Island and Rio de Janiero views. Amongst the oil paintings was a portrait executed by Miss Sperry, which we understand will be shortly disposed of by art union for the benefit of the Wellington Old Men’s Home. The portrait is that of a Wellington celebrity. There were many other exhibits by local artiste, showing more or less merit, but the bulk of the pictures came from abroad.. Mr Toxward forwarded a fine collection of photographs and engravings, principally or buildings well-known for their great architectural beauty, together with a number of albums containing figures and sketches. Oil paintings were exhibited by Mesdam-iS McDoucall and C. W. Richmond, Messrs Grady, E. Brandon, H. F. Logan, Wrigg'eswertb, and others, including one of the Assumption of the Blessed "Virgin, seat from St Mary’s Convent. Water colors were sent by Messrs T. K. Macdonald, Butts, E. Brandon, Riley, Kirk, and others, beside these mentioned above. The Wellington Microscopical Society lorwarded about a cloz -n instruments, by means of wbicn a number of interesting natural wonders were exhibited. Miss E. Trahair-Osborne, a vocalist of considerable ability, who has recently arrived from England, sang the cavatina (for basfi), “ Vi ravsiso,” from Bellini’s “La S mnambula,” e ' O Bay of Dublin (Lady Dufferin), aud “ St. Cecilia’s Reverie ’’ (C. S. Thomas), with piano and ’cello accompaniment. The building is hardly suited for an exhibition of vocal talent, but the laoy amply demonstrated her possession of a rich, cultivated mezzo-soprano voice, which cannot fail to be heard to great advantage under more favorable circumstances. She was accompanied by Master S. J. King in tha first two pieces, and by herself and the composer in the third and last. Mr h. J. King 3 band played some pleasing selections during the evening, and light refreshment was supclied bv the Association in the lecture room. The halls and galleries of the Museum were crowded throughout, and locomotion was at times rather difficult, but despite this thing passed off most pleasantly.

A baker in England, having reduced his price a halfpenny on a certain size of loaf, was notified by a miller that no more flour would be sold him by the ring to which the miller belongs. Mr William Price has purchased the Industrial Gazette from Messrs Edwards and Gieen, and intends introducing several new features, which he expects will prove interesting to the industrial, agricultural, and pastoral interests of the Colony. Mr Price is an old journalist, and in his hands the Gazette will probably attain even a wider circulation than has hitherto been the case. The following tenders have been received b 7 the Public Works Department for the bridge, with approaches, over Waitahu river (left- hand branch of Inangahua) contracts : Accepted—R. Cochrane, Reefton, £3815 Declined —Oxley and Coehrane, Reefton, £4242; S, Garven, Westport, £4845 ; J. Coates, Dunedin, £4853 ; G. M. Fraser, Greymouth, £4917 ; M. O’Connor, Greymouth, £4963 ; T. Kelly, Twelfth Mile, £5129 ; Howard and Cross, Westport, £5208 ; J. Maher, Hokitika, £5237 ; E. J. T. Price, Hokitika, £5389 ; Watkins and Grieve, Reefton, £0067 ; Bowater and Co,, Reefton, £5666 ; DlcLean and Sons, Wellington, £5958. In view of the large amount of interest being taken in Wellington in the study of phonography, it is proposed to start a Shorthand Writers’ Association. Mr Draffio, Secretary of the Wellington Young Men’s Christian Association, who has .taken the matter up, and is himself an efficient teacher of the art, having been for many years engaged in it, has written to Mr Tole, Minister of Justice, asking that gentleman to preside at a meeting to be called to inaugurate the Association. Mr Tole has expressed bis willingness to preside, and a meeting will probable be called in the course of a few days. Considering the demand for shorthand writers in commercial houses and the impetus likely to be given to the art by the appointment of shorthand reporters for the Supreme Courts—which is probably a matter to be left undecided for only a shore period—the establishment of such an A ssociation cannot fail to be productive of much good. Skinny Men—“ Well’s Health Renewer,” restores health and vigor, cures Dyspepsia, Impotence, Debility. JNew Zealand Drug Company, General Agents. 1