TOWN & COUNTRY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 826, 30 December 1887, Page 20

TOWN & COUNTRY.

The Harbor Board decided yesterday week that Monday, 26th instant, and January 2nd only, should be observed as holidays on the wharf.

After his visit to Wellington Admiral ■ Fairfax will proceed direct to Sydney for the celebration on the 26th of next month.. He purposes returning to New Zealand fcfceei the middle of February, after the Centennial • festivities have concluded in New South - Wales, and it is expected that he will be accompanied on that occasion by Sir Henry - Loch, the Governor of Victoria.

Marquis and Marchioness of Drogheda - arrived from Auckland yesterday week by the' mid-day train from Palmerston, and will- ! remain here until Monday, during which time they will be the guests of his Excellency the Governor. The Marquis and Marchioness witnessed the performance at the Opera House last evening week in company with his Excellency and suite.

TYe are pleased to learn that the Telegraph Department have made a decided and muchwanted improvement in the method of work, ing the Newtown and Te Aro bureaus of the telephone exchange. Hitherto these branches have been worked on a single wire, much to the inconvenience of the public. By using a separate wire to each bureau this trouble will be removed.

At the annual presentation of prizes in connection with the Marist Brothers’ School last week it was stated that the following had contributed to the prize fund:—Hia Grace Archbishop Redwood, the Very Rev Fathers McNamara, S.M., V.G., and Sauzeau, S.M., V.P., Rev Fathers Kerrigan, Moore, Lane (Hutt), and Power, Mrs Sharp, Hon Dr Grace, Drs Cahill and. King, Messrs Whittakerßros., Crombie, O’Brien, Duignan, Garvey, O’Meara, Devine, Cumin, Burke, Scanlan and Coogan. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company held their first wool sale of the season yesterday afternoon week. There was a good attendance of buyers, and competition was brisk for almost every lot. Good crossbreds in light condition sold well, prices ranging from 7d to Bd. Ordinarycrossbreds were also in good demand, and realized from 6d to 7d. The catalogue did not contain many merino lots, but those offered were quitted at satisfactory prices. A quantity of skins was submitted after tbe wool had been disposed of, competition for the various lots being animated throughout. The prices ranged from to 4£d per lb, according to quality and rendition. Their next wool sale will be held early in January.

The Hospital Steward acknowledges with thanks the receipts of contributions for the Christmas Tree, comprising articles of clothing for adults and children, toys in great variety, picture books, scrap books, pictures, and Christmas cards ; also, fruit, lollies, and cordials from the following ladies and gentlemen, viz., Mackey Bros. (Lambton-quay), W. H. Thompson, Lyon and Blair, J. McColl, Miss Rose, Peter Garbes (Cuba-street), J. E. Janson (Cuba-street), Veitch and Allen (Torystreet), J. L. Bacon (Tory-street). Miss Dora and Winuie Stevens (Kent-terraee), Mrs D. Curie (Hokitika), J. Birrell, Joseph Nathan (Grey-street), R. Hannah (Lambton-quay). Periodicals have been received from Mrs L Griffen (College-street) and Mr George Brad- . ford (Taranaki-street ), and flowers from the Moles worth-street Wesleyan Sunday School,. A passage between Mr Macarthur and SirV Julius Vogel in the House last night week was - . distinctly lively while it lasted. Sir Julius .., Vogel, replyiug to a speech made by M». Macarthur, said that gentleman had-on one . occasion offered to support him. Mr Mac-.-,, arthur interrupted the leader of the Opposi- \ tion with a vigorous denial; and Sir Julius-,, who, at times, has remarkable ideas about Parliamentary procedure, “ called him ~to . order.” A sharp fire of statement and denial > culminated in an appeal to the Chairman, whose ruling Sir Julius Vogel disputed, asking at the same time why he did not receive the same consideration as other members. The Chairman replied that lio-was... there to deal out even-handed justice to all. Mr Macarthur said lie never made any-such promise ; anyone wire knew him would know that such a thing was impossible- Sir Jul'us Vogel reiterated his statement, and said another member of the late Government, who was not then present, could corroborate him. Once again Mr- Macarthur denied that he had ever said- any: such thing, and there .. the matter dropped.. " The monthly, meeting of tho*. HarborBoard was held in the Board office yesterday week, . there-being present—Messrs, Dutbie . (chairman), Bearce, Wheeler, Petherick,. Chew, Booth, and Captain Williams. The Cbairman stated that tbe. current! account at.the bank was £2918 Id, and.fixed deposit £7,9, SOO. Accounts and wages ; amounting.to £.1763 0s ss, and oajaries £4ilj amounting in all to £2174 11s, were passed ‘ for payment;. On the recommendation of- tha. , Wharves and Accounts Committee it was-, decided that a foreshore license for a boat-., shed, on , Clyde-quay 'should be issued to Mi-.,-J. Mclvirdy, provided that the, conditions,of? the Harbors Act as to the - deposit ei? plans, and,their approval by the Governor be com--plied, with. Authority was given, to- the., Engineer to expend £SO oa. WaterMo-qpay:,. south: oi the woolshed, v in laying drains, and forming the surfaee. The* Wharves, and. Accounts Committee reported-, that the site of the wreck..of. the Eli Whitney had been examined, by the, diver, and. that no obstruction new existedand that the Marine Department had approved the removal of the wreck buoy. Blaus and -specifications for tholoundation of the 10-ton crane to be erected at the outer, tee of the. Queen’s Wharf, the estimated cost of which was £330, were laid on the table hy the Engineer, and authority was given to hitn to call for tenders. The Chairman stated that the Inspector of Police had agreed that the police should take cognisance of, and prosecute in cases of breaches of the Harbor Board by-laws. It was de«, ■ cided that the seal of the Board should be. affixed to, the appointment of Sergeant Morice as prosecutor. The Chairman stated that the Marine Department had approved, the new by-law relating to the appointment of pilots. The Boar J then went into QomrqitljeQ to te^defs,

We have received from Mr J. A. Hanoox, ■chemist, of Manners-street, one of his really handsome presentation almanacs, containing -a most seasonable motto surrounded with a lovely wreath of flowers. Legal proceedings are being taken by the Education Board against the Committee of ■the Raiwaiwai School in consequence of the. summary action of the latter in having closed the school for a fortnight recently without authority.

. A guard named Benney, employed on the Government railway, met with an unfortunate accident at the Upper Hutt on Monday morning. It appears that in getting off a carriage he fell to the ground and broke his leg just above the ankle. He was brought to town by the next train and was attended by Dr Gillon. The choristers of St. Paul’s Church gave a most successful entertainment at the churchroom, Tinakori-road, last night week, under the conduotorship of Mr Robert Parker,choirmaster. A well-arranged programme, including Christmas carols, glees, songs, &0., was gone through, and was heartily enjoyed by the audience, whose applause was unstinted.

At the next oivil sittings of the Supreme Court a claim for £2OO damages by William Jonathan Taylor against Patrick Monaghan, of Karori, will be heard. The plaintiff, who is a commission agent, was engaged at the recent Hutt County Council election as deputy returning officer at Karori, and the defendant, who was defeated at that election, is said to have attributed his non-success to the returning officer having tampered with the ballot box. Mr W. B. Edwards has been retained by the plaintiff. Mr W. Ferguson, Engineer to the Har"bor Board, submitted a report at the meeting of the Board yesterday week, recommending that it was desirable that the portion of the Queen’s Wharf that formed the outer tee of the original wharf in 1862 should be redecked and strengthened by the substitution of main beams for the joists at. present existing, of which many are perished ; and also that the extension built by the Provincial Government to the middle tee should be redecked. He suggested that the work ■should be carried out on the conclusion of the present wool season, at a cose not exceeding £llsO, by day labor. He did not think it was a work that could very well be let by contract with advantage to the Board, and he therefore sought permission to order the necessary timber. The work, he pointed out, would involve the removal of shed D, which he proposed should be sold by auction. The shed to be erected in its place should be constructed so as to give more room between it and No. 4 berth, and it would be about sft wider than the present one. The portion of the wharf he proposed to deal with was structurally the weakest, and was at times severely tried by the heavy weights which crossed it, and the joisting had become so bad ' that it was difficult to find a solid part in some places to spike the planks down to. The recommendations were agreed to by the Board.

Dairy farmers all over the Colony are com plaining of the present low prices obtained ior their products in the local markets, and many of them are trying the experiment of shipping Home butter and cheese to see if an export trade can be dene, but as a rule there is, and has been, a want of knowledge in this country regarding the exact requirements of Home and foreign markets. To remedy this and to supply the fullest and latest Information on the subject, the proprietor of the New Zealand Mail has made arrangements with a gentleman who is an expert on dairy produce to write a series of ‘articles in the weekly Mail upon the subject. The first article appeared last week, and was an introductory one. The article this week deals with the butter trade,“How to make it pay.” These articles are plainly written, and give practical and detailed information which should be of the greatest value to'dairy farmers. They are written up to date, and show the exact requirements of the English and foreign markets, with valuable hints how to prepare and ship produce in a profitable way. These special articles will extend over several weeks and will touch upon butter, bacon, cheese, fruit, vegetables, and other country produce, and show how the Colony can be benefited by a profitable export trade in such goods.

A very enjoyable concert was given yesterday evening week at the Wesley Schoolroom by Mr C. D. Mackintosh, the well-known instrumentalist and teacher. It was attended by a very large and enthusiastic audience. The feabare of the concert was the extraordinary versatility of talent and variety of accomplishment exhibited by Mr Mackintosh himself, who not only came out as a very excellent performer on five different instru ments, bnt as a vocalist beside. On the pianoforte Mr Mackintosh played R6nd Favarger’s florid fantasia on Rossini's “Guillaume Tell;” on the flute he performed Dubois' difficult variations on “ Home, Sweet Home ; ” with the cornet he contributed a selection of airs from Bellinis' opera “Beatrice di Tenda;” on the sarrusophone, he played an original theme by W. Bright; and on the clarinet he executed Mohr’s second “ Air Varie.” In all cases these were admirably played and elicited vociferous encores. Sir Mackintosh also sang (with Mrs Mackintosh) a pleasing duet, by Badia, and accompanied several songs with taßte and judgment. One of his pupils, Miss Edith Gibbs, accompanied him in his instrumental pieces with much excellence of touch and taste ; and two others, Miss Gillbanks and Mr Ellison, acquitted themselves very satisfactorily in vocal efforts, the latter being encored. Mr Mackintosh’s pupils certainly do great credit to his instructions. Mrs Mackintosh, beside singing in three duets, gave “Ora pro Nobis ” (Piccolomini) so charmingly as to elicit a determined redemand. The entertainment altogether was a most successful ■one.

Unpleasant as the weather was on Sunday the Christmas services in the various churches were very well : attended. Details of the services are given elsewhere.

Wo are requested to state that Messrs W. M. Maskell, J.P., and Wm. M. feagrave were contributors to the prize fund of the Marist Brothers’ School. , The monster Catholic pionio, which was to have taken place at Belmont on Monday, had to be postponed till next Monday (New Year’s Day) on account of the threatening weather.

A carpenter named Thomas Sorenan was admitted to the Hospital on Christmas Day, suffering from the effects of a fall from a horse. He was not seriously injured, and was released from the institution next day. The Garrison Band Picnic at the Lower Hutt on Monday passed off very.successfully. There was a good attendance, and the outing was very much enjoyed. The Salvation Army also held their annual picnic at Petone the same day. The gathering was well attended.

We beg to acknowledge receipt of a copy of the Hawkes Bay Almanack and Directory for 1888, from the publishers, Dinwiddie, Walker and Co., Napier. The almanack is very neatly got up, and as a work of reference to the Hawkes Bay district is invaluable.. ■

\The firm of Connolly and Hermann, photographers, have recently taken some photographs of the Xarifa and Pet, and several local yachts, and also of the Naval outters, which are capital pictures and worthy of special notice. They were taken by the instantaneous process, and are very creditable specimens of this branch of the photographic art. The Taranaki News regrets to hear that the New Zealand Frozen Meat and Storage Company have instructed their manager at Waitara to diecontinue purchasing butter in this district. The quantity that has been exported from Taranaki through the Company during the last 12 months has been very considerable, and no doubt the sudden cessation of their buying will be a severe blow to the butter industry. t

Mr Dranafield has received the following letter from the Secretary of the New Zealand Protection Association at Christchurch : "J. Dranafield, Esq , Wellington. Sir- At a meeting of the New Zealand Protection Association the following resolution was carried unanimously, and I was instructed to forward the same to you : ‘ That a hearty vote of c ngratulation be tendered to Mr J. Dransfield for so ably advocating the cause of Protection through the pres?, and expressing a hope that he will continue doing f A ) W SO.

A gentleman of this town, says the Taranaki Herald—a great admirer of the good old Maori Chief Matu, of Puniho, for his sterling good qualities —forwarded him about a month ago a copy of Mr Hood’s novelette of “The Sunken Island,” by a native linguist who could translate the words. The venerable chief was delighted with the rendering of the legend, and stated that he had heard the whole of it told a hundred time 3 over when a child. No higher tribute could be paid to the writer than this.

Alarge attendance was present at St Peters Church last Friday evening, when the choir, under Mr H. West, gave a capital programme of choice items, including a number of favorite old Christmas carols. A collection was made in aid of the choir fund. The programme was as follows :—Carol, “ A Virgin most pure” (Gilbert) ; solo, “Arm, arm, ye brave” (Handel), Mr Henderson ; carol, “The manger throne” (Steggall)” solo, “ I know that my Redeemer liveth ; (Handel), Mies Gowland; organ solo ; carol, “From far away” (Dykes); recitation and solo, “But Thou didst not leave” (Handel), Mr A. P. Ma-on ; carol, “Sleep Holy Babe” (Dykes); organ solo; solos, “He shall feed His flock,” “Come unto Him” (Handel), Miss Osborne and Miss Stanford; carol, “What child is this ” (Old English) ; solo, “Lord lead me in Thy righteousness'’ (Cherubini), Miss Osborne; carol, “Cradle song of the Blessed Virgin ” (Barnby).

It is rumored that the trip of tho ss Pukaki to Melbourne with coal was not an unqualified success, for it is stated that the coals shipped were notof the best quality that could have been shipped from the Grey River, .and that in consequence the trip will not be repeated just at present. We hope these rumors are not strictly correct, for, in the inaugurating trip of a large coal cargo, unless the quality of the coals is of the highest class, it is. apt to create a bad impression on the other side, and the Melbourne people would certainly be very cautious in granting any meed of praise to a second or * thirdclass Greymouth coal. If a large export coal trade is to be done, and surely there is room for it, shippers should have been very determined in sending coals of the highest class procurable, and in the Grey district there is coal that will bear comparison with any other coal in the world. On Sunday, Admiral Fairfax, Mrs Fairfax, and the Admiral’s private secretary attended St Paul's Church, Auckland, says the Bell. During the service a blusjacket, who had evidently been driving out and partaken of too muoh salmon, entered the church and stood for a minute amazed at the strange surroundings. At this moment Admiral Fairfax happened to catch sight of the man, and far quicker than it takes to write this, he had him by the arm and escorted him outside, delivering him into -the hands of the attendant constable, who in this way got the first work he had ever had during a pretty considerable servioe of duty at this ohureh. Another instance of the proverb that “ Everything comes to him who waits.” Howeve.*, the constable took his prey down to that delectable abode popularly denominated “ chokey.” When we state that the man went peaceably and mistook the attendant constable for one of his own officers in a brand new suit of clothes, our readers may judge that he was drunk indeed. To-day he was sent on board his Bhip in custody of a corporal’s guard.. But the incident tends to show Admiral Fairfax’s energy, and gives one an insight into his character. Instead of calling in the constable he ran the man out himself.

The proprietors bf the Illustrated London News are about to start a colonial edition, to be published ,in Sydney. The Gazette Extraordinary, published last Friday afternoon, officially prorogues the General Assembly until Thursday, the 2nd day of February. Jubilee sovereigns are getting quite common in Wellington. We hear of ono retail grocer in town who took five of themever his counter in the ordinary way of business on Christmas Eve.

The Harbor Board have received the following tenders for contract No. 4 (for rails for hydraulic traversers) : —S. Luke and Sons (aocepted), £346 Os 9d ; W. Crabtree and Sons (declined), £389; W. Cable and Co., £436 4s 7d; E. Seagar, £452 6s 2d. Engineer's estimate, £350.

The North Otago Times states that Messrs A. and T. Burt have completed the work of fitting np the refrigerating maohine taken from the ship Lyttelton, wrecked at Timaru, and a satisfactory run has been made. This will enable the New Zealand Refrigerating Company to Btore 11,000 carcases at Oamaru. -

The Premier left for Nelson on Saturday by the as Charles Edward to spend his Christmas with his family. Sir F. Whitaker and Mr Mitchelson went North by the morning train last Friday on the Wellington and Manawatu line with the same object, and Messrs Stevens, Hislop, and Fergus went South by the Hawea, having a similar purpose in view.

The female employes in ssveral oE the large tailoring establishments in Auckland, have leased the premises used as workrooms, and will carry on their work by contract. They will thus evade the Act, for there is nothing to prevent a female working as many hours as she likes on her own account... This only shows the folly of passing such ridiculous Acts as our sapient legislators are continually doing. The boisterous weather which prevailed on Monday precluded all idea of excursions on the water. The Wairarapa, which was to have left for Picton had to be put off, as scarcely 50 excursionists turned up. In the harbor thei breakers which were rolling in looked anything but inviting, and the Mana, which made one trip during the day, was the only boat venturesome enough to seek pleasure in the form of a trip across to Lowry Bay.

A miraculous escape from a serious, if not fatal, accident occurred at the Government Railway Station on Monday. As the 6.11 p.m. train was coming into the station a small boy, whose name could not be ascertained, either fell or jumped off the car he was riding on, and fell between the carriage and the platform. His perilous position was ob served by Mr Donne, station mas ter, who, with great promptitude, rushed to the edge of the platform and pulled the boy from almost under the wheels of the carriage. A number of members of both Houses left Wellington tor their homes last Friday. By the Tarawera, which sailed for Auckland via East Coast ports last Friday evening, the following members were booked as passengers:—Mr Graham, M.H.R., Dr Pollen and Mr Chamberlain, M.L.O.’s. Sir George Whitmore was also a passenger by the same steamer. The following were booked by the Hawba, which sailed for Lyttelton in the evening :—Messrs Perceval, Allen, Duncan, Pratt, McGregor, Guinness, Fergus, and Hislop. In the far West of New South Wales, says a contemporary, rabbiting seems to be a rabbit road to wealth. The bonus paid per scalp ranges from 3d to Is, and the men earn from £3 to £lO per week at the game. The rabbiters grow rich as the squatters grow poor. It is a common experience to meet a rabbiter driving to his work in his own buggy and pair. In fact, the most of the carriage folk in that part are rabbiters. At Wilcannia recently, a rabbiter entered an hotel and called for a sixpenny drink. In liquidation thereof he planked down a oheque for £1,070 odd, and demanded the change. The man also gave the most gorgeous champagne supper Wilcannia has witnessed this season. Many men in New South Wales thus bless the rabbit as heartily as hundreds curse it.

Over 2000 persons travelled on the Government railway line on Monday. About 800 went out by the first ordinary train to the Lower Hutt. The excursionists to the Wairarapa numbered about 400. In the afternoon a large number of passengers were taken out to various picnics, about 750 going to the Garrison Band picnic at the Lower Hutt, and 250 to the Salvation Army gathering at Petone. The in train from the Wairarapa brought down about 200 passengers, who were taken back by the evening train. The trains were run to time, and. the staff, as usual, discharged their duties in a satisfactory manner. On the Wellington-Mana-watu line about 800 persons were conveyed. The majority of these were taken out by the 1.50 train to the various picnicking resorts along the line. Punctuality was observed m despatching the trains, and the arrangements were satisfactorily carried out. Some facts lately publishfed in The Times by Canon Taylor with regard to the results of missionary enterprise in various parts of the world will, says the Argus, come as a surprise to most people. According to Canon Taylor, the reports of the Church Missionary Society in India show that 841 missionaries, employed at a cost of £48,296 19s Id, made last year only 297 converts. The record for the four countries of Persia, Palestine, Arabia and Egypt is still worse. Here the sole result of the labors of 109 missionaries and an expenditure of £11,804 9s 6d was the conversion of one Moslem girl in the ophanage of Jerusalem, of whom it was stated “that she is easily influenced, and requires constant guidance.” In Ceylon 347 agents made 207 converts at a cost of £10,138 17s 6d. In Mid-China, 71 agents made 63 converts at a cost of £8917 13s 8d ; and in South China 148 agents made 297 converts at a cost of £7448 4a lid. The prioe of a convert is thus seen to vary in different parts from a little over £25 to the virtually prohibitive figure £11,804 9s 6d. Even the former is a tolerably substantial sum ; but with regard to the latter, there will be many persons probably prepared to endorse the canon a tentative suggestion that the money might be more profitably devoted to other objects.,

Yesterday was the 78th birthday of the veteran statesman, Mr W. E. Gladstone.

According to the New York Tribune the Rev C. H. Spurgeon is credited with having declined an offer of 90,000d0l for 100 lectures to.be delivered in the United States.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Drogheda, who had been the guests of his Excellency the Governor for the past few days, were passengers by the steamer Wairarapa, which left for Melbourne, via Southern ports and Hobart, on Tuesday afternoon. At a smoking concert. —Herr Professor : “ Yon haf a remargaply bowerful foice, my vrent!” Basso : “ Yes. Do yon think it will fill St James’ Hall’" Herr Professor : “ Fill St Chames’ Hall ? Aeh, my vrent, it vill not only fill St Chames’ Hall it vill embty it.”

We are glad to hear that Mr Ballance has so far recovered ae to be in a condition for removal from his residence in Bowen-street to the house of his father-in-law, Mr Anderson. The change of abode was made on Monday. Mr Ballance, though better, is still very weak. It may interest the numerous residents of Wellington who still retain pleasant recollections of Miss Alice May (Mrs G. B. Allen) and the excellent opera company of which she was the “star,” to learn that the Christmas anthem sung at St Peter’s Church on Sunday last was the composition of that lady’s husband, Mr G. B. Allen, who acted as musical director of the company during its New Zealand tour. A pleasing little ceremony took place at St. Peter's Church after the Christmas evening service. It consisted in the presentation of prizes to the six choir boys who had been most regular in their attendance. The fortunate half-dozen choristers were A. Bethune, B. Gale, F. Gale, S. Gilmer, Herbert Morrah, and F. Ashbolt. The prizes were presented by Mrs F. C. Binns with a few appropriate remarks, and were received with evident gratification by the youngsters. Both railway lines were well patronised on Tuesday. About 800 passengers were oonveyed on the Manawatu line to the several stations as far as Paremata, whilst about 120 through passengers to Wanganui and New Plymouth were also carried. The Government line carried a good number of passengers during the day. On both lines the trains were run to time, and the arrangements gave every satisfaction. The Maypole dancers who recently added so much to the attractions of the St Peter’s Village Fair went with their friends forjan outing on Tuesday to Somes Island. The party, to the number of about 200 people, mustered on the Queen’s Wharf, and were conveyed to the island in the Dispatch. Here games were organised, Mr R. P. Johnston taking the initiative. After a very enjoyable day the party returned to town shortly after 5 p.m.

Our cable messages this week inform us of the death of Captain Bence, of the s.s. Coptic, which has just reached Plymouth from this Colony. The Coptic left this port on Saturday, November 12, for London, via Rio and Plymouth, with a large cargo and a good number of passengers. At the time of the vessel’s leaving there were no symptoms of any serious illness in Captain Bence, and those who wished him a prosperous voyage, when bidding him good-bye on the Queen’s Wharf, had no doubt they would see him again on the return trip. He was a very popular skipper and a thorough seaman.

The death is announced in English papers of Mr G. B. Burley, solicitor, Old Post-office Chambers, Bristol, in his 78th year. Deceased was agent for the New Zea'and Company some 45 years ago, and took a deep interest in the Colony up to the time of his decease. Through his advice a great number of good settlers came to all parts of New Zealand. He was an old member of the Incorporated Law Society, Founder of the Mid-Somerset Benefit Building Society, and in 1862 founded the Bristol and South Wales Railway Waggon Company. Mr Burley was about the oldest practising solicitor in Bristol.

A “ bolt ” which started in Ingestre-street, and continued down Willis-street into Lambton quay on Tuesday afternoon, created some excitement while it lasted. The runaway horse belonged to Mr H. Smith, the chimney sweep, and waß brought up in Lam.bton-quay, opposite the Star Hotel. Fortunately beyond some temporary damage to the cart, the result was not serious. A narrow escape from a serious accident occurred near Bute-street shortly after the horse started. A little girl who was wheeling a perambulator with a child in it had only time to snatch the child out and get out of the way when the runaway struck the perambulator and turned it over. The Hibernian Society’s Picnic, which had to be postponed from laßt Monday (Boxing Day) on account of the weather, was held on Tuesday at Somes Island, and passed off very successfully. The members of the Society metjat 9 o’clock in the morning at the bottom of . Cambridge Terrace, and inarched to the Queen’s Wharf headed by their band under Mr J. L. Dean. Go the wbarf they were met by large numbers of their friends, and the whole party, numbering over 2000, were taken over to the island in the steamers St. Kilda, Maori, and Dispatch, The baud performed several selections during tho day; and various games were indulged in which helped to make the outing a most,, enjoyable one. The pionio was under the management of the following committee :—Messrs J. Currie, E. Kerrigan, M. Bohan, E. Daly, G. Bradley, C. Hickey, M. Mack ay, J. Scanlon, J. MoLoughlan, and P. Maroney (secretary), and the party returned to town about 6 o’clock.