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New Zealand Mail, Issue 870, 2 November 1888, Page 31

Another excellent praotice in preparation for the Musical Festival took place Monday evening, when two hours and a quarter were devoted to hard work at choiuses in “Israel," “Elijah,” and “The Golden Legend,” A large proportion of the time being spent in perfecting various details in the more difficult movements. Mr Rous Marten conducted (in the absenoe of. Mr Parker), and Mrs Matthews, Miss Williams and Miss Hamerton presided successively at the piano. It was announced that an afternoon practice for soprano and contralto voices only will bo held at St John’s Schoolroom to-morrow, at 3 p.m., the practice usually held at a private house on Wednesdays being postponed. What a picture that is which the Daily News’ Odessa correspondent gives of the Russian convict steamer which is now on her way to Sagbalien with 460 convicts on board, 160 of whom are murderers. The convicts are herded together in batches in ironbarred cages 25ft to 40ft long. The following detail for the preservation o( discipline is sorp ew hat gruesome reading Immediately outside the cages and attached to the under part of the deck overhead is a steampipe connected with the ship’s boilers. ' Into these pipes are fitted screw nozzles at intervals of twelve feet. The object ,of the* steam pipe is to suppress any dangerous outbreak among the inmates of the cage. By means of a short hose, specially made to resist the steam-heat, quickly attached to one of the steam pipe nozzles, the turbulent convicts are readily quieted or parboiled. Strong water jets have been found next to useless in allaying, these occasional tumults. The use of boiling water as a means of restoring discipline is Dot unknown in the English service, but it has seldom been so systematically provided for us as at NijniNovgorod.

The 'choir and congregation of the Taranaki-street Wesley Church entertained Miss Randell, the late leading soprano of the choir, at a social reunion Monday night, in the schoolroom adjoining the church, prior to her departure for Australia. There was a large attendance of the congregation, and the Rev W, Lee presided. The Chairman, on behalf of the committee who organised the complimentary concert recently given in the Theatre Royal for Miss Rnndell’s benefit, handed her a purse containing the proceeds of the concert, amounting to £54. Mr W. Moxham, on behalf of the trustees of the church, asked Miss Randell’s acceptance of a . purse from the trustees and congregation, containing £34 ; after whioh, Mr C. D, Mackintosh pre sented her with a very handsome diamond brooch, which was enclosed in an artistic case, as a souvenir from the ohoir. The various gifts were accompanied by the most flattering encomiums on Miss Randeli’s ability as a singer and her ever-ready generosity to devote her talents in forwarding every good work. Mr George Tiller, on behalf of Miss Randell, returned thanks to the various donors for their generous presents, and said that he had no doubt that she would prize the gifts far more for the good feeling whioh they proved to exist toward her from 4111 classes of the community than for their intrinsic value. During the evening the choir, under Mr Mackintosh, gave a number of selections, all of which were much appreciated.