TOWN & COUNTRY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 878, 28 December 1888, Page 20

TOWN & COUNTRY.

At a meeting of the United District Charitable Aid Board last week resolutions requesting the Government to intercept subsidies due to defaulting local bodies were adopted, and it was decided to request that three-fourths of the amount be paid forthwith and the- balance in February. A payment Of £SOO to the Benevolent institution, with Bnbsidy thereon, was authorised. The liabilities in the bankrupt estate of William B. Gibbs, insurance agent, are set down at £330.03 6d, and the assets at £142 10s 6d. The prinoipal creditors are : —The United Importers' Company, £lOl 5s ; C. J. Toxward, £66 5s ; Curtis Bros. (Nelson), £3O ; W. W. Coppins (Motueka), £25 ; A. Curtis, £2O 18s 6d ; A. A. Barnett, £2O ; proprietors Nelson Evening Mail, £l7 0s 6d ; proprietors Nelson Colonist, £l2. At the presentation of prizes in connection with Mount Cook Boys’ School yesterday week, Mr W. H. Jackson, who has occupied the position of assistant teacher at the school for a number of years, and who has been promoted to the position of headmaster of tha Masterton School, was presented with a gold looket by Mr Hardy, headmaster, on behalf of the teachers of the school, also with a silver inkstand by the sixth standard boys. Both gifts were suitably acknowledged by Mr Jackson. Mr C. Bary, third master at Newtown sobool, who Is about to be married, was yesterday week presented with a handsome tea service and a pair of vases, by the members of the School Committee, as a wedding gift. Mr Bary was also presented with a biscuit box by the teachers of the school. The presentations were made at the conclu’. sion of tho distribution of prizes at the "Newtown School yesterday morning. After the holidays Mr Bary will take charge of the Fanatahanni School, to which position he has been promoted by the Education Board. [Mr Duthie intimated to the Harbour Board, at the close of the meeting yesterday week, that he had resigned the chairmanship, in consequence of his mayoralty. In doing so he took the opportunity of thanking the Board and its staff for the assistance it had given him ; and on. the motion ,of Mr W. Booth, seconded by Mr Edward Pearce, a hearty vote of thanks was given to Mr Duthie for the able manner in which he had carried out the duties of his office. Mr Booth then moved, and Mr Wheeler seconded, the appointment for the remainder of the term—up to February next—of .Captain Rose as chairman. This being carried, the Chairman.elect took the chair and briefly expressed bis sense of the honour the Board had done him, and his intention to do all in his power to satisfactorily fulfil the office. _ As Mr Duthie was an" elected member,' an election will have to be held to fill the vacancy. This was authorised, and it was decided to apply to the Council for the use of the Council Chambers as an election booth. In consequence of the election of lay re- • presentatives of the Wellington and Hutt districts in the General Synod (which meets at Dunedin on the . 6th February) having lapsed through the non-attendance., of electors, the appointment devolved on the Diocesan Standing Committee, and Ibis was dealt with at yesterday week’s meeting. For the City of Wellington it was proposed to re-elect the sitting members, Messrs C. Rous M arten and F. do J. Clere, but Mr Reus Marten (who has represented Wellington continuously for twelve years past) expressed his regret that he could not be absent from Wellington so long as would be necessary, for his attendance to be of any service to the diocese. He therefore declined' to be re-elected. Messrs C. P. Powles and K. Wilson were asked io stand but also pleaded inability. Ultimately it was decided to appoint Mr Cl6re and Mr G. Allen tq represent the pity, and Mr W. F. Chessman wap nominated for the Hutt and Wairarapa district. The returning officer reported that Mr H. C. Field had been re-elected for Wanganui. The four lay representatives of Wellington will therefore be Messrs F- do J. Clere, ,G. Allen, W. F. Cheesman, and ET. C. Field. The stntenjent of assets and liabilities in the estate of William Clark, draper, a bankrupt, shows a deficiency of £1877 2s 6d, the liabilities being £12,377 15s lid and the assets £10,500 9s 9d. The principal unsecured creditors are Edwards; Bennett and Co. (Christchurch), £641 lie 2d ; J. E. Nathan and Co., £6Ol 2s 4d ; W. McArthur and Co. (Auckland), £457 12s 5d ; Bing, Harris and Co. (Dunedin), £457 4s Id; Edmondson, Warmington and Co,, £419 19s 5d ; Ross and Glendinning (Dunedin), £391 la ; Mackay, Logan, Steen and Co. (Auckland), £373 8s 6d ; Butterworth Bros. (Dunedin), £261 17s Id; Kaiapoi Woollen Co., £146 12s lid ; H. Olney and Co. (Christchurch), £B3 15s 7d ; Whittem, Nicholson and Co., £43 15s ; M. Murdoch, £3B ; Blundell Bros , £37 9s 3d ; New Zealand Times, £l2 6s Bd. Of the secured creditors the Wellington Trust and Loan Company are secured for £SOO by a first charge on the lease of shop and premises ; and Turnbull and Smith are secured by a second charge on the premises. Clarkson and Son, Christ, church, £IOOO, hold security over a house in Woolcombe-street; and the Union Bank, £486 7s 4d, over bills for collection, estimated to produce that amount. The assets' ape as follow:—Stock-in-trade, £5500; book debts, eßtiipated to produce £1400; bills, estimated itb produce £1640 ; cash In hand, £lO6 9s 9d ; unexpired risk of insurance, £SO; property, consisting of business premises, 10 acres of land at Carnarvon, and 25 shares in the Wellington and Manawatn Railway Company, £1654.

The city of Auckland has been very gay during the holidays, no fewer than seven man-of-war being anchored in the harbour.

The officers of the Postmaster-General’s department have forwarded us a neatly gotrip card with their Christmas greetings and best Wishes for the New Year. We cordially return them the same compliment. A Cable message haß been received by the Bishop of Wellington from Bishop Abraham, stating that the Rev W. C. Waters has accepted the position of incumbent of St Peter’s Parish. The new incumbent is expected to arrive in Wellington about Maroh; THe New Zealand Shipping Cdiripany’s vessels in harbour had their flags at half-iHaat yesterday week as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Sir William Pearce, who was a Direotor of the Company, and who died in London on the 18th inst.

The Shaw-Savill calendar for the coming year is a thoroughly artistio effort. The steamers Tainui and lonic are pourtrayed Undersoil and steam,.and occupy the greater part Cf the picture: There is the usual letterprdss calendar arid names df agencies: .We tinder stand. that .the civii sdtiofa brought by Mr Benjamin Pepper, saddler, df Otaki, against Constable Et. W: Carr, of the. local police force, in which the sum of £2OO waS claimed as damages for false imprisonment; has been compromised bj the defendant paying the plaintiff £25 and the costs incurred. Messrs Chapman and Fitz Gerald were retained by the plaintiff and Mr C. E. Bnnny on behalf of the defendant.

(Information was asked by Mr Seaton at the Harbour Board meeting yesterday week with eSpeot td thd cost of the hydraulic plant, excluding the 85-ton Crane. The Secretary Said the arriount dlready expended was £13,600, arid it was estiriiated that abdrit £7OO more would be . Wanted. The. total cdsfc ■vfroUld be about £,14,300: and his original ostiniate was £13,720: There hrid beCn additions, ' however, and the primage duty, arid there was a deficiency, of £275 in his estimate df the cost of ereotlon.

By our telegrams this week it wiil be seeii that the Earl of. Kintore has been appointed Gtivernor df Sod.tH Australia. Algerndri Sawkiiis Thomond Keith Falconer, who aits in the House of Lords as |Lord Kintore, is the ninth earl of that name. He was born in 1852, and succeeded to the title in 1880. He is a member of the Privy Counoil, was a Lord-in- Wai ting in 1885-6, and was appointed Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard in 1886. He is LienteDant of the Aberdeenshire Highlanders. He married a daughter of the present Duke of Manchester. He receives £I2OO a year Government pay. His private estate is computed at .25,433 acres, and his rent roll at £29,551.

A ptibiic trial of William Cowan’S invention entitled " Improvements in apparatus for the measurement of liquids,” took place at the works of Mr J, E. Hayes, Lambtonqttay, yesterday weak. The apparatus, which is entirely automatic in its action, seems to be perfectly reliable for the purpose for which it is intended. There are two receptaoles for the liquid, each holding half a gallon, which fill and empty themselves automatically,' each gallon passing through being faithfully reoorded on a dial in front. The precision with which the apparatus performed its work elicited some very complimentary expression of opinion from the onlookers. '

Au interesting gathering-took plaoe at the Post Office Hotel Friday evening, when the members of the Excelsior Lodge of Druidi and a number of visitors from other lodges assembled to bid farewell to Bro. W. K. Bishop, Past District President, who is leaving for Australia, and who has played a prominent part in the affairs of the Order of Drnids of Wellington and the North Island for the past ten years. There was a good attendance, and the Chair was occupied by Bro. Wm. McLean, Past Aroh, Bro. C. Haslam,, Past Arch, being the vice-chairman. After the usual loyal toasts and those of the * Grand Lodge and Board of Directors ” and " Kindred Societies ” and “ Sister Lodges ” had been honoured, the Chairman gave the toast of the evening, “ Health and Prosperity to Bro. Bishop in his new sphere of labour.” The Chairman dwelt-at some length oh the many services rendered to the Order in Wellington by Bro. Bishop. The toast was drank in hampers, and was suitably responded to. A valedictory address was then presented to Bro. Bishop, who, in responding, expressed his deep regret at severing his connection with the Order, and he promised to continue the same interest in their welfare in Australia as he had taken daring his sojourn in New Zealand, During the evening a number of songs and musical selections were given, Bro. G. Percy presiding at the piano.

Sir James Prendergast'(Cfiief Jdstioe) returned from Napier by the Te Anau Oil Sdriday, and Mr Justice .Richmond from Blenhem by the Kanieri on Saturday. Constable Dunn, of Gisborne, was a pasaenger by the Te Anau, which arrived on Sunday. Constable Dunn brings exhibits for analysis in connection with the recent rimrders at Gisborne. The officers of the Wellington and ManaWarn Railway Company and the officers of r the Accountant's Department of the New Zealand Railway send ns the season’s greetings, which we cordially reciprocate. The nomination of candidates for the Vacancy, on the Harbour Board, cause by the resignation of Mr J. Duthie, will take place at the Council Chambers on the 2nd January. The election will take plaoe on the 16th January. We learn that there is a great probability of the Poneke football team making a tour of the Colony next season. Efforts are now beiog made, we understand, to arrange matches with the principal clubs in the North and South Island. It is intended that thri trip Shall be made about Easter. The Teiegfdph Office was open to the public fdr the redeipt and despatch of tele* grains on Christtflas Day, the 2isth, and Boxing Day; the 26th December, 1888. The Telephone Exchange remained open continuously except between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Christmas Day. Although there was a considerable exodus of citizens to other parts during the holidays, there was an extra number of visitors in town. On Saturday the trains on both railways were orowded with country people visiting town, and every steamer arriving on Saturday and Sunday brought great number's Of pas&engers; It i 8 riot generally known, sSyS the Wellington correspondent of the Auckland Herald; that Mr Balfour, the present Chief Secretary for Ireland, is the proprietor of an estate of forir thousand acres in the Wairarapa district: This estate is riow offered for sale at a very Considerable sum iu excess of the amount that would have been accepted for it three years ago; Several steamers which left oil Saturday night taking excursionists for Nelson and other ports were well patronised. The Mawhera for Nelson took about 170 passengers, and the Koranui, whioh left for West Coast, also took a large number. The latter vessel took a party, including several members of the Star Boating Club, who intend to cruise iu the Sounds daring the holidays. The crews from the Star Boating and Weilington Rowing Club, who are to compete at the Nelson Regatta, also left by tho Mawhera, taking their boats in the same Steamer. The Wanaka, which sailed Sunday morning for Lyttelton, took 90 excursionists.

About a dozen gentlemen attended a meeting held at the Chamber of Commerce last night week to consider the advisableness of holding a dog show iri Wellington. Mr Moate was voted to the chair. Apologies for non-attendance were received from a number of gentlemen interested in the matter. The Chairman explained fully the conditions, &c., under which it was proposed to hold the show, and on the motion of Mr Morris, it was decided that the gentlemen present shonld form themselves into a committee, with power to add to their number, for the purpose of arranging for a dog show to be held in March. Mr Morris was appointed Secretary and Mr R. Triggs treasurer, and arrangements were made with respect to schedule, canvassing for prizes, &c. The feeling of the meeting was very enthusiastic on the matter, and a very substantial amount was guaranteed in the room, and a number of special prizes promised. At the Wellington Bowling Club’s green on Monday the Challenge Match between the Civil Service and the other members of the Club was played, resulting in a win for the latter by 21 points. The scores were as follows :—Rink No. I—Messrs Gray, Hume, McGregor, and Crombie (skip) against Messrs Riley, Haybittle, Campbell, and J, C. McKerrow (skip). Mr McKerrow, 21 ; Mr Crombie, 20. Rink No. 2—Messrs Edwin, Blackett, Hialop, and Eliott (ship), played Messrs Lambert, K. Wilson, McGlashan, and Masketl (skip),’ Mr Maskell winning by 21 to 11. Rink No. 3—Messrs Flanagan, Cooper, Barron, and Fergus played Messrs Whitehouse, Barraud, Letham, and Scoullar, Mr Scoullar winning by 21 to 11. The total of the three rinks is therefore— Civii Service, 42; Town, 63. The other rink played on consisted of Messrs J. Blundell, Shortt, McGregor, and Gasquoine (skip) against Messrs Duthie, Mitohell, Mitchelson, and Flyger (skip), Mr Gsbqnoine’s team winning by 21 to 8. The green was rather soft from the recent rain. A musical and dramatic entertainment was given by the senior pupils of the Mariat Brothera’ School last week, on the ocoasion of the annual “breaking - up” for the Christmas vacation. The school was very tastefully decorated for the occasion, and a crowded audience was present. A three, act drama entitled, “ Martyrdom of St Cecilia ” was performed, and was followed ■ by a highly amusing farce called “Meserism.” In both pieces the boys acted with much intelligence, and were loudly applauded. The school ohoir sang several glees in the intervals, _ and Masters Charles Cimino gave a violin solo, and Max Eller a song, both of which were mnoh appreciated. Miss O’Driscoll presided at the piano during the evening. Prior to the prize distribution Master G. Bell read an address to the Very Rev Father McNamara, thanking him for presiding, and for his encouragement to the school and pupils, and, after Father McNamara had suitably acknowledged the compliment, three hearty oheers were given for him by the boys, and the gathering dispersed.

The s.S. Mntiapauri arrived at the Bluff on Monday,’ from Melbourne, with 93 saloon arid 70 atoara'go passeri!ger& f The Wellington titid ManaWstu' Railway on Friday, Saturday, and Monday’ took 500 passengers through to Palmerston Nc’rShr,' and brought about the same number through to Wellington.

A man named John Jeffcott, a patient at the Lunatic Asylum, died on Monday, aged ’45 years. At an inquest held by Mr Robin* son, R.M., on the same day, a verdict of death from natural causes was returned.

The Medical Superintendent of the Lunatio Asylum desires to acknowledge, With fehrinfes, the receipt of. £2 from Mr William DawsOrt, £l Is from Mr R. H. Govett, £1 Is from a friend (for the patieuts’ recreation fund), and one dozen neokties from Messrs Davis and Clnter for the Christmas tree.

The vessels in port had- their flags at half-mast on Monday last as » mark of respect to the memory of Captain John Walker Stevenson, an old employri of the Union Steam Ship Company, who died at his residenoo, Bouleott-street, on Saturday, and whose funeral took plaoe on Monday morning.

Mr H. Rawson’s yacht Girola, which left here at 10 o'clock on Sunday morning for a pleasure cruiso in the Sounds, made a quick passage across, arriviug at Tory Channel at 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Fine weather and a pleasant cruise Was anticipated. She is not expected back before the end of next week.

An undesignedly comic effect was produced in the Christmas service at St. Peter’s Church on Christmas Day by the hymn, “Christians awake, salnte the happy morn,” being Btruck up at half-past 12 in the afternoon ! The general feeling was that, if the ooDgregation had not awakened and sainted the happy morn until the afternoon, they might as well have remained asleep all day. Tile fact must surely have been Overlooked that this hymn is intended for a Christmas Eve midnight service or for a very early mattins, and is Utterly unsuited to a midday service.

The quantity of wool, flax, and tallow loaded at the Railway Wharf for export to England during the presenb wool season up to date shows a large inorease on the previous season. The amount exported from the Railway Wharf in 1887 was 7523 bales wool, 16 bales flax, and 260 tons tallow, while up to the 15th December of thiß season there have been 12,355 bales wool, 4592 bales flax, 937 tons tallow, and 378 tons sundries shipped for export at the Railway Wharf. There are several reasons which may account for the increase, one being that the season is earlier this year than it has been, and the wool clip is heavier than in past years.

The Wellington -Municipal Fire Brigade will hold their eighth annual promenade concert and dance at the Drillshed on New Year’s Night. ' Gray’s Private Band will be in attendance, whioh is sufficient guarantee that the music will be of the very best class, Before the concert and dance a grand torch* light procession will leave ■ the station in Manners-street and maroh to the Drillshed. Great preparations are being made to make the procession one of the most successful affairs of the kind over held in the city. The proceeds of the concert and danoe will be in aid of the Brigade’s funds. As has been been the oustom in former years, the Drillshed will be handsomely decorated for the occasion.

Another mysterious fire broke out on Tuesday morning about 4 o’clock in the house in Adelaide-road owned by Mr Riggs, whioh was burned some weeks ago. It appears that for some time past carpenters have been at work repairing the house, and it was so far finished that Mr Rigg and his family were thinking of moving into it on Thursday next. The carpenters left off work on Monday night at the usual hour, leaving their tools in one of the rooms. At that time everything was safe, and the house was carefully looked up. Yesterday morning about 4 o’clock several young men who were proceeding home noticed smoke issuing from the house. They immediately gave an alarm to the Newtown Fire Brigade, who were quiokly on the scene and quickly put the fire out. The carpenters’tools, to the value of about £lO, were destroyed, and other damage done to the building, estimated at about £2O. The carpenter engaged on the building, Mr F. W. Leden, had a “carpenter's risk ” of £l5O on the house.

A rather peculiar accident occurred at the Basin Reserve on Tuesday afternoon, whioh fortunately was unattended with any serious consequences. A young man named Frederick Waters, manager of Mr Fitehett’s farm at Ohiro, was riding along Adelaideroad when his horse bolted. On reaching the Basin Reserve the animal, instead of turning to the right or left, made direct for the fence which surrounds the ground. The jump—a rather formidable one—was safely negotiated, and the horse and rider landed amongst the trees on the other side. The young man escaped without injury, but the horse sustained several severe cuts about the legs and other parts of the body. After a little trouble the horse was got on its ''eet and taken away. There were a large number of people on the Reserve at the time watching the cricket match, and the accident created quite a sensation, especially amongst those who were in the vicinity of the spot where the horse came over. It was certainly a marvellous escape from a serious if not fatal acoident. Monsieur Taine on the Beauty of English Ladies. —The point whioh seems particularly to have impressed itself upon the mind of this brilliant French writer, with respect to ‘English beauties,’ is the ‘dazzling purity of their complexions.’ Doubtless, nature has richly endowed our countrywomen in this respect, but art has done no less, in supplying such an exquisite preparation as Rowlands’ Kalydor, which so far aids nature as to remove freckles, tan, sunburn, prickly beat, redness and roughness of the skin, produces a pure and delicate complexion, and has a most soothing and purify, lug effect on the skin during the heat and dust of summer or cold and damp of winter. Ask chemists for Rowlands’ Kalydor.