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New Zealand Mail, Issue 770, 3 December 1886, Page 16

Constable John Burrows, who has been stationed in this city for the past six months, has been transferred to Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, for which place he left yesterday by the steamer Tekapo. Mr Thomas Gordon, chemist and druggist of Willis.street,has opened an establishment, which will be under his own supervision, at 63, Lambton Quay, next to the shop of Mr Hill, hatter.

The quarterly meeting of the Lambton Licensing Committee was held on Wednesday. Present—Messrs C. E. Willeston (in the chair), A. A. Barnett, and Hayes. The alteration of the name of Gilmer’s Family Hotel to “the Club Hotel” was approved. The temporary transfer of the Central Hotel license from the late VV. J. Scott to Mrs Ormabee was confirmed, as was also the transfer of the Pier Hotel license from Mr S. S. Downes to Mr J. L. Kimbell. It was decided that the thanks of the Committee to the police authorities for the manner in which they had furnished information should be recorded on the minutes. The news-room of the New Zealand Times was lighted for the first time with Hooker’s incandescent gas on Wednesday night, the fittings having been placed by Messrs Cameron and Plimmer. This office is the first in Wellington to give an order to the firm for the plant. So far as the experience of one night goes the light proved highly satisfactory, and in no place can it be better tested than in a printing office. Though a gale of wind was blowing, an unprotected light burned all night in a yard behind the office and was perfectly steady the whole time. We shall give a ’fuller notice of the system of lighting in next week’s Mail. A sale of plain needlework and fancy articles in aid of the building fund of the Vivian-street Baptist Church took place at the churehroom on Wednesday afternoon. The hall was tastefully decorated with flags and ferns, and the various stalls (of whioh there were six in number) were heavily weighted with choice articles. The Sunday School stall in particular deserves special mention. The various articles on this stall were worked by the scholars, none of whom is older than 15 years. The macrame work by the scholars was especially good. The business done at the sale was very brißk indeed, and the prooeeda should prove a very acceptable donation to the fund.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of »- copy of Mr W. K. Bishop’s Monthly TimeTable for Dt-cember.' In addition to theusual information it contains a time-table of trains between Wellington and New Plymouth.

The annual meeting of the Distriot Hospital Board was held on Wednesday.." Present—Messrs Danks, Taylor, Kebbell, and Williams. On the motion of Mr Taylor, seconded by Mr Kebbell, Mr Williams was elected Chairman for the ensuing year. The only other business brought before the meeting was the reading of the interim, statement, which stated that the receipts were £2595 8s 8d ; expenditure, £2230 15a ; leaving a balance in the bank of £364 12s 9d> The estimated liabilities to the end of March were set down at £2430, the amount required to pay the workiug expenses, salaries, &«. The Board then adjourned.

Arrangements are in active progress for the Church of England Congress which is tobe held at Wanganui early in January, according to the resolution of the Wellington Diocesan Synod. Several gentlemen have undertaken to furnish interesting papers on various appropriate subjects, and others will deliver addresses on prominent questions in relation to churchmanship. Ample facilities will be given for fall discussion. A considerable number of-visitors from Wellington and other parts of the Colony are expected to attend on the occasion, and as the railway will be open throughout, access to Wanganui will be very easy. The church people of Wanganui are making preparations for extending free hospitality to their expected guests, and the occasion is looked forward to as quite an event in Wanganui’s history. The annual statutory meeting of the United District Board was held on Wednesday afternoon. Present—Messrs Bunny, Taylor, Beetham, Danks, Kebbell, and Williams. The chief business before the meeting was the election of a chairman for the ensuing year. Mr Bunny, the retiring Chairman, proposed Mr Williams to fill the vacant seat. In doing so Mr Bunny remarked that the Chairman of the Board should reside in the city. Mr Taylor seconded, and Mr Williams was duly elected. The interim balancesheet was laid on the table It stated that the receipts were £2513 Is lid, and the balance at the bank £212 14s 7d. The estimated liabilities up to the end of March, 1887, were set down at £I3S7 15s, and the assets for the same period, including the Government subsidy, £1407 15s. A state, ment showing that the sum of £1387 15a was due by. the Wairarapa East and West County Councils ss their share of the liabilities on account of charitable aid for the period commencing Ist November, 1886, to the 31st March, 1887* was submitted by the Secretary. On the motion of Mr Taylor, seconded by Mr Beetham, it was decided to forward a copy of the statement to both The meeting then adjourned. The Town Hall Committee will present a report to the City Council to-day, the following being the most important parts:— The Committee are unanimously of opinion that the erection of municipal buildings and Town Hall would be a great public advantage —first, in supplying a large hall in a central position suitable for all purposes of a public character ; and, second, in affording better facilities for conducting the business of the city. Further, the Committee are of opinion that the capital city of the Colony shonld no longer be without its Town Hall, and they believe that the erection of a suitable building would not only be a great public convenience, but would materially assist to sustain the dignity of the Corporation and enhance the attractions of the city. The cost is estimated at about £15,000, and the Committee believe that the amount which would be derived from the letting of the hall and surplus offices would in a year or two pay the interest on the whole oost of erection. The Committee beg therefore to recommend that the City Solicitor be requested to report as to whether the Corporation can legally borrow the amount required for the purpose, and if the report be in the affirmative that the Finance Committee be instructed to take into consideration at once the question as to the best means of procuring the necessary funds. —John Coombe, Chairman.

Another “scene” occurred in the Resi. dent Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday during the hearing of the charge againßfc Williams of Btabbing the chief officer of the ship Timaru, Mr Jellicoe being again one of the actors. That gentleman appeared for the prisoner, and during the case alluded to Mr Bell, Crown Prosecutor, as “ostensibly appearing for th • Grown.” Mr Bell indignantly objected to such an insinuation as Mr Jellicoe had made, and assured the Court that he was appearing solely on behalf of the police. Mr Jellicoe then produced a letter signed “Bell, Gully, and Izard,” which had been sent to Messrs Jellicoe and Menteath in reference to a claim for wages brought by the accused against Captain Fullerton. Mr Jellicoe went on to say that thiß letter went to show that Mr Bell was solicitor for Captain Fullerton, and was acting on his behalf. Mr Bell emphatically denied such a statement, remarking that he was there in no private interests whatever, but simply as Crown Prosecutor. No other man in Wellington, he said, but Mr Jellicoe would have doubted his statement. His Worship remarked that Mr Jelli» coe should certainly have accepted Mr Bell’s assurance. Mr Jellicoe said he could not accept Mr Bell’s assurance—how could he in the face of the letter ? His Worship was surprised that after Mr Bell had given his assurance that he was only acting as Crown Prosecutor, any member of the Bar should. not accept such assurance. The argument lasted some time, and was rather warm while it did last. Subsequently Mr Jellicoe called Mr Bell as a witness, and cross-examined him rather severely as to the authorship of the letter. Mr Bell denied that he had written the letter, but stated that he had dictated it. Mr Jellicoe proceeded to further question Mr Bell, whqn his Worship said he did not know whether he was right in allowing such evidence. During the argument that ensued Mr Bell remarked that he was aware of almost all the business of his firm. Mr Jellicoe (jocularly) : I should be very sorry if my partner had to answer for all I did. His Worship (meaningly): So shonld I, Mr Jellicoe. The latter gentleman was again questioning Mr

Bell when his Worship said : Don’t answer the ’ question, Mr Bell, but resume your seat.

The Huia went off to the wreck of the Tui early Wednesday morning, but had to returnabout 2.30. p.m. on account of the strong N. W. wind. The divers succeeded in recovering a crate o f crockery and the Bteamer’s anchor. They also placed a chain under her stern. The steamer was to go off again as soon as the wind went down.

The Nelson Colonist gives the following account of feeding the sea lions, which Captain Fairchild brought up in the Hinemoa : Their peculiar and awkward movements have caused some surprise, but the agility with which they have caught fish thrown to them has caused greater. We learn that a seven-foot shark was caught near the French Pass, and was handed over to the sea lions, when the smaller of these held back, allowing the largest the honor of dealing with his sharkship. With its powerful teeth the sea lion seized the vulture of the deep, which in turn attempted to use its tail with terrible effect, but its assailant dodged the blow, and then seized the shark by the throat, and killed it almost instantly. The younger of the sea lions show signs that they might be easily tamed.

Mr Wardell, R.M., occupied the bench at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Thomas Steward was charged with using threatening language to and assaulting Thomas Murphy, bookseller. The evidence went to show that the plaintiff called at the defendant’s office for the purpose of getting a small account settled. The defendant did not feel disposed to settle the account, and requested the plaintiff to leave the place. This the plaintiff refused to do, and the defendant forcibly ejected him. Several witnesses were examined on both Bides. His Worship took a very lenient view of the matter, and fined the defendant 5s and costs. One first offender was dealt with in the usual wav. A case in which Mary Ann Walker sued Elizabeth Johnson for using threatening language was adjourned till next day. In civil cases, judgments for plaintiffs were given as follows : —"Wellington Loan Co. v B. A. Thompson, £SO and costs £4; Wellington Meat Co. v W. Galbraith, £2 6a 9d, with costs £1 7s ; G. Mee vA. M. Loasbv, £3 6a 4d, with coats 7s ; James Smith v H. F. Schoenburgh, £4 Os Id, costs 7s ; Harcourfc and Co. v S. M!anson, £92 11s, costa £5 9s ; same v James Gleeson, £2O 15s 9d, costs £1 19a ; C. Gamble v William Scott, £2 15s, costs 6s ; Te Aro Theatre Co. v A. Barlow, £47 10s, costs £3 12s ; W. E. Hall v S. E. Willhartt, £5, costs £1 7s ; J. B. Hutchinson v H. Reeves, £2 2s 6d, costs 6s.