TOWN & COUNTRY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 914, 6 September 1889, Page 20

TOWN & COUNTRY.

Melbourne Exhibition,— We have to acknowledge receipt from Sir James Hector of a copy of the Executive Commissioners’ report on the Centennial Exhibition at Mel. bourne. Mahakipawa. Our Havelock correspondent writes :—“Tho returns for Hast week so far as are known are as follow : Greig and party, lOoz ; Whalers, 30oz f.:,. Prospectors, 290 z ; Waipi, 8oz; Wairarapa, . ■ lOoz—in addition to the 40oz already received, making a total of 1270 z. Fire at Manaia. —lnformation was received by Inspector Thomson last night week to the effect that a four-roomed cottage at Manaia, owned by John King and occupied by a man named Potter, had been burnt down at 6 o’clock that night. The building was uninsured but the furniture is insured in the Colonial office for £ .50. The origin of the fire is unknown. Poultry at Wanganui. —At the poultry show at Wanganui, Mr R. E. Bannister, of this city, was a successful competitor, winning the championship and gold medal for the best light Brahma cock in the sho w. lie also took first aud special prizes in white leghorns in both classes, also in cartridge cochin henß, as well as several second prizes in other classes. Te Aro Foreshore. —Tenders for the formation of a sloping batter along the To Aro foreshore were considered at the special meeting of the Harbour Board last week. Alternate tenders had been called for carrying out the work in bluestone, quarry stone, and bluestone and pitching same. After consideration, the Board decided to recommend the City Council, which body is to bear half the cost of construction, to accent the lowest tender for carrying out the work iu quarry stone. Commendable Work.— We are glad to hear of the establishment in Welling, ton of another benevolent association, entitled the Thorndon Dorcas Society. It already numbers over 100 members, with a fund amounting to over £IOO. The society has quite a number of cases on hand, and it is doing good work in the cause of benevolence. We understand that an ap. plication made to the Government for a subsidy on tho same footing as other benevolent institutions met with an unfavourable response. Perhaps the Government will reconsider this decision if the society conforms to certain set rules. The Pilot Service. —A special meeting of the Harbour Board was held yesterday Week for the purpose of considering a report from the committee of the Board appointed to deal with the question of the pilot service. The members present were Captain Rose (chairman!, Messrs Pearce, Booth, Cook, Speedy, Heaton, Petlieriek, and the Mayor. On the motion" of the Chairman the Board decided to go into c mmittee to consider the matter. On resuming, about an hour and a half afterward, the Chairman announced that the Committee’s report had been agreed to. The Committee's recommendations were—That applications be invited byadvertisement for a pilot, experienced in berthing and hauling large steamers, at a salary of £3OO per annum ; that Pilot Shilling be stationed at Worser Bay at a salary of £2OO per annum and a house ; and that the harbourmaster be directed to select a coxswain, svho shall be licensed to act as a second pilot, stationed at the heads, at a salary of £l3O per annum and a house. Result of a Dream. —During the hear, ing of the perjury cases iu connection with the evidence given in the Chamis trial at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday week, the celebrated dream of the witness Elf Low was referred to. Low admitted being upset very much on discovering the articles found by him, and said this condition was the result of a dream he had had more than once recently. He had, he said, dreamt that he went out to the scene of the murder, and his dream conveyed to him the belief that if he made a search in some ruins on the property he would find the articles with which the murder had been committed. His nocturnal presentiment was not realised, but he was still far from satisfied in his own mind that the articles of which he dreamt were not still there. It is rather singular that the result of what is claimed by the principal party to be an unfulfilled dream should have resulted in the discovery of the shot-pouch, knife and sheath, the subject of so much discus, sion in the local Court. A Ballast Ground. —At yesterday week’s meeting of the Harbour Board a letter was read from Messrs Levin aud Co. stating that the ship Blair Drummond, which arrived from Auckland on Wednesday, had between 300 or 400 tons of surplus sand ballast which had to be discharged before the vessel could commence loading for London, and as they had been unsuccessful in their efforts to dispose of the ballast, they asked for the authority and permission of the Board to be allowed to throw it overboard at any suitable place the Harbourmaster might direct. In connection with this matter a communication was read from the agents of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company and New Zealand Shipping Company, in which they stated that it was expected that during the coming wool season a large number of vessels would be arriving in ballast, and they therefore petitioned, aB the representatives of two of the largest Companies trading to the port, that a ballast-ground (the same as is provided at other ports) be set apart by instruction of the Harbourmaster. The Chairman (Captain Rose) explained to the Board that some time ago the Board had applied to the Marine Department for a place to deposit silt, and the north end of Somes Island was selected. It was pointed out that the Board had no authority to give permission for ballast to be deposited anywhere in the harbour. After 'bothe discussion, 1 ’ however, -it was. deolded that the Board, in this instance, should offer jhb objection to the BlairDrtimmobd depdsitiug her ballast at the north efid of Someo Island, and that the Harbourmaster should be entrusted to bring up a "report at the next ordinary meeting of the Board as to the most suitable site fer a ballast-ground,

.. Railway Glide.— Bishop’s Bradshaw and Railway Guide for the current month is to hand. The Land Question.— Sir George Grey addressed a public meeting in the Exchange Hall on Saturday night oh the land question. Export of Horses. —The s.'s. Bothwell Castle, which left on Tuesday for Calcutta, has on board 350 horses and four head of cattle. Of this number 230 were shipped here. Pigs in Clover. —We have received f om Mr G. W. Hutton a veritable home amusement termed “Pigs in Clover.” It is so easy to do until it is tried, and excessively fidiculous to buots THdRNDON Waßd.—Mr Herbert ,J. Williams announces to the ratepayers of Thoriidon Ward that private business will prevent him from offering himself as a candidate for that ward at the next municipal elections. The Pilot-Boat Disaster.—A subscription list in aid of the families of the men drowned through the pilot-boat dissster has been opened at the New Zealand Times office. We hope to see it soon filled up. Bradshaw’s Glide. -“ Bradshaw’s Railway Guide for September is now tc> hand; Mr C. Callie, who is now the proprietor, has introduced several alterations in this work. One is its reduction to sixpence, and the addition of wholesale prices current. Melrose Borough Council. —A meeting of the Melrose Borough Council was held at noon last Friday, for the purpose oE confirming and attesting the burgess roll. There were present—The Mayor, and Councillors Cdllins, BrUnskill, Fear, Kershaw, and Baylißs. The roll haying beefi diily signed, the meeting adjourned. Another Tea Steamer. —Advices have been received that the China Steam Navigation Company despatched, on the 24th of last month, the steamer Hang-chow for Auckland direct. She has on board for Auckland 225 tons of tea, sugar, rice, &o. ; 600 tons for Wellington ; 300 for Lyttelton ; and 800 for Dunedin. , She is expected to reach Auckland about the 18th instant. Lunacy. —James. Fairlie, who finished a short term of imprisonment on Monday morn* s, ing for drunkenness, was handed over to the 1 police on suspicion of lunacy. Fairlie was ‘ subsequently brought before Mr H. W. j Robinson, R.M., and remanded till the 10th j instant, in order to ascertain whether the } man's drinking bout was the'cause of his I strange behaviour. A Letter of Condolence. —Mrs Simms, widow of the late Pilot Simms, has received the following letter of condolence from his Excellency the Governor : Government House, Wellington, 27th August, 1839. Madam —I am desired by his Excellency the Governor to write and say how sorry he was to hear of the sad accident by which your husband lost his life, and to express his deep sympathy with you in your bereavement.—Yours truly, Riversdale Walkond. Mrs T. Simms. Customs Revenue. —The Customs revenue collected last month, with the exception of the port of Tauranga (the returns for which are not yet in), amounted to £142,688 Is 3d, the four principal ports contributing a 3 follow : -Dunedin, £38,692 Is 9d ; Auckland, £37,674 4s 9d ; Wellington, £23,560 16s 9d ; Lyttelton and Christchurch, £23,100 3s Id. For the same month of last year the sum collected was £136,625 19a 7d. For the previous month of this year the sum received was £126,015 15s 2d. De Quincey’s Grave.— Mr.Mackay writes to' a Home paper as follows :—“ I am sorry to see the following items of news : —* It is almost thirty years since De Quincey died, and his last resting place, in the West Churchyard at Edinburgh, under the shadow of the Castle Rock, and mark ad by a plain weather-stained mural tablet, is known to comparatively few, and from its utterly neglected condition is seemingly cared for by no one.’ The mural tablet is nob weather-Btained and his grave is not utterly neglected, but well cared for by some loving hand or other. When in Edinburgh I almost always visit his grave, and only on Thursday, May 23rd last, I was there, and as the birds sang about in the grounds, the trees rustled, and the sun shoue, I could hardly think of him sleeping in a more lovely spot, save it might be along with Wordsworth and Hartley Coleridge in the churchyard at Grasmere.”

sNtfLlsa Mail.—The usual weekly mail from. Europ'd,' Via Brindisi, Melbourne, and Bluff, reached Wellington on' Tuesday.CItY Reserves.— At’ Monday's. nieeting of the Public Works Committee it Was decided to offer a reward of £2 for the convictiofi of any person damaging trees in the oity reserves. ThoMdos Esplanade. The Public Works Committee of the City Council have decided to ask the Council to pay for the fixing of the seats on the Thorndon Espla-

nade. ® The Thistle Hotel,— We learn that Mr P. O’Shea, formerly of the Branch and City Hotels, has become the purchaser of the Thistle Hotel, Mulgrave-street, the sale being negotiated by A. G. Smith and Co.; brokers; Deputation.— A depjutatidii waited oh the Public Works Committee night asking them not to dispose of the land in front of Allan-street, on the Te Aro foreshore. The Committee decided to ask the Council not to part with the land at present. Beer Duty. —The beer duty collections last month amounted to £4096 9s 6d, as against £3623 4s 6d for the same month of last year: The amount received at the four principal ports Was ds follows i— Qhrist* church, £949 Is lid; Auckland, £856 3s Id; Dunedin, £852 8s 5d ; Wellington, £494 16s 3d. Fire in Te Aro. —The firebells gave an alarm of fire shortly after 4 o’clock on September 2. The fiie was.discovered on the premises of Messrs Luke and Sons, iron founders, which are situate near the Fire Brigado Station in Manners-street. Th 6 Brigade, lindor Acting-Captain Adams, were quickly dn the scene, and, owing ta a good pressure of water, the fire Was soon got under. It appears that the last persons to leave the shop were two men, who were working in the pattern shop up to 5 o’clock on Saturday, Aug. 31, and they state that when they left everything was safe, and to all appearances there was no sign of any fire. It is surmised that a tramp may have found

his way through the door and up into tho loft through a trap door, and may have been i smoking and dropped a match on to the 1 floor, which lighted the shavings and thus ‘ caused the conflagration. The fire has been Imost disastrous to Messrs Luke and Sous, as they have lost hundreds of patterns, including ) those made in connection with the building ■> of the s.s. Maitai, and in addition to these, ‘ patterns for all kinds of kitchen ranges, railings, engines, etc. Messrs Luke and Sons entertain the belief that the fire was accidentally caused by some tramp who slept in the shop, or else they have been the victims of a malicious person who wilfully fired the premises. The building, plant, etc., were insured in the South British Office for £SOO, and a settlement was arrived at before noon on September 2, whereby the office paid the sum of £335 in liquidation of all claims. This amount was accepted by Messrs Luke and Sons, and is an instance of particularly prompt payment. Mr Parker’s Concert. —Mr R. Parker’s tenth annual concert attracted a large audience on August 29 at the Theatre Royal, the dress circle being crowded. A fall orchestra, under the leadership of Mr Mac Duff Boyd, oonsistedof five first and six second violins, two violas, two violoncellos, one double bass, two flutes, one oboe, two clarionets, two bassoons, two horns, two cornets, and drums. The Orpheus Glee Club of eight tenors and nine basses rendered valuable assistance. The programme submitted was a choice one, and contained some of the finest gems of musical literature. The following were the items presented : —Overture (orchestra), “ Son and stranger ” (Mendeissohn); chorus, male voices, “ Thou earnest here to the land, O friend” (Mendelssohn); the Orpheus Glee Club; romance, “Quando a te lieta” (from “Faust’), Miss Williams, with violoncello obbligato by Mr A. Hamerfcon; song, “The Erl-King ” (Schubert), Mr J. Prouse; song, “Tears, idle tears,” Lady Campbell; symphony in F-major No. „ 8 (Beethoven), the orchestra; g ees, “ Evening,” “The miller's daughter,” the Orpheus Glee Club ; song, “Bid me discourse,” Miss Grady; concerto for violin and orchestra, “Andante and finale” (Mendelssohn), Mr Mac Duff Boyd ; song, “Three fishers went sailing,” Mrs Webb ; orchestral suite, “Language of the flowers” i(Cowen) ; barcarolle, “ On the waters,” Lady Campbell ; part-Bong, “The young musicians,” the Orpheus Glee Club ; song (with violin obbligato), “ From far away,” Mrs Levin and Mr Mac Duff Boyd; song (with orchestral accompaniment), “ I am a rover bold and gay,” Mr F. V. Waters; overture, “La clemeaza da tito,” the orchestra.

Traffic Returns. —The traffic returns of the Wellington Manawatu Railway for the week ending 24th August amounted to £looll3s lOd. For the corresponding week last year the - amount was £923 9s Bd, the in'cjfeasO being £7B 4a 2d„ The liMb GattAllN Hansby.—f he, widow and family of the lath Gaptaia Hansby having been reduced in circfsmsca'n'cha, owing to the sudden loss they have sustained,' subscription lists have been opened in Sydney v?ith a view of relieving their distress. The ijni'Crr B'.S. , Co. and Mr J. C. Fllis, of Sydney, are rccsivhrg- subscriptions. Inquest. —Mr H. W. Roßiteson (District Coroner) conducted an inquest at fch'ef Caledonian Hotel on August 31st into the circumstances connected with the death of a ohild aged two years and seven months, Whose parents reside in Alfred-street, off Ade'laid!e-road. Mr M. J. Brennan was appointed forerfiait of the jury.. The evidence of Dr Tripe, who whs called in to attend the deceased.; Was' to’ the effect that fcha child had died of doavuldiohe'. The jiiry returned a verdict in accordance With! the medical testimony. Customs Duties.— The amount of Customs duties collected at the port of Wellington last month amounted to £23,560 16s 9d« For the previouo month (July) the amount was £25,916 l?s 3d, and for August last year the amodnt was £21,689 17s Bd. The several items for last month werd &S follow : Spirits, £5082 Is 3d ; cigdrSj cigarettes, and snuff, £532 10s; tobacco, £3OIB 4s 6d ; wines, £612 15s 2d ; ale and beer, £485 5s ; tea, £1946 7s 3d ; coffee, chicory, cocoa, and chocolate, £B7 10s 3d ; sugar, molasses, and treacle, £l7l 15s 3d ; opium, £144. Goods by weight, £2563 16s 5d ; ad valorem, £7273 183 7d ; other duties, £867 13s sd, The beer duty for the month amounted to £494 16s 3d. Mysterious Disappearance. —Some sensation is caused in the Foxton district by the disappearance of a man named Bamber, who ha 3 been employed by Mr Durand, the Foxton representative of an Auckland firm. Bamber, who is a married man, has been engaged in hawking drapery around the district, his mode of travelling being to ride one horse and lead another with a pack. On Saturday, the 17th August, he was at Shannon, and as he was desirous of getting back to Foxton, he left his pack-horse, with the rest of the property, in care of Mr Bradley, of the Shannon Hotel, and started ou horseback on his way home. He was last seen crossing the ferry at Shannon, and there all trace of him is lost. In the evening the horse was left with Mr Bradcock by a youth as Mr Durand’s horse, but Mr Bradcock is unfortunately unable to identify the person who left the animal with him. There are no financial or other private reasons why Bamber should be missiug,' and the affair is shrouded in mystery. A Dangeroos Mine. — In his evidence before the West Coast Coalfields Committee, Sir James Hector said of the Brunner mine : —“I have always looked with suspicion on the working of that mine. It will require very great care in dealing with any of the supports to the roof. To take an extreme case, it resembles a ship shored up and leady for launching, as there is a great weight and sheering strain from the hilltop. If a slip occurred the Grey River might be suddenly dammed back, but afterwards would force its way through and do serious damage. v . This mine requires to be very carefully watched, for, unless the abandoned workings are regularly inspected, which is not a very easy or safe thing to do, no one would know what is going on. The tendency of this bearing-down motion would be to crush the pillars. The floor Ido not think would give way, but the roof would go by fracture. It is a hard gritty sandstone, and, if it go 5 at all, it will go by fracture, and not by settling,' as in the case of a shale roof. But the peculiar danger is in the sheer, oblique and pushing-forward motion.” A Mysterious Animal.— Our Pitone correspondent informs us that some alarm has existed in that district during the past week over the appearance of a Btrange animal on the roads and paddocks. A settler’s wife a few evening ago, when fetching the cows m at milking time, noticed her dog was uneasy in his mind, and was making shy advances toward a log lying in the paddock. Presently a mysterious animal arose from behind the log, and standing on its hind legs, pawed the air with its fore feet. The woman describes the animal as a bear, but mentions that it had a long tail. Several children attending the Horokiwi School have reported seeing a Btrange animal in the road at times. Some three or four years ago Mr Nat Valentine, then keeping an hotel in Pitone, imported from Australia a native bear and an oppossum. The latter died shortly after its arrival, and the bear was found dead some months later on, so that it is difficult to account for the “ bear ” now reported to have been seen. From all accounts the animal appears to be a quiet one, and no damage to live stock is reported. Several shooting parties are out ou the warpath, aud it is possible that some ardent sportsman will ere long solve the mystery of the Pitone “black bear.”

Pbtkcipa'L' Rainy.— Prlaoipal and Mrs Rainy left- fo* Auckland by the 8,8. -Vana*-a same night. School of Design. —first grade' examinations for the whole of the Wellington!’ educational district commenced on Ttfeaday, There are over 2000 candidates. Benevolent Society Trustees. —The usifai weekly meeting of the Benevolent Society TrilsSses, which was to have been held on Tuesday afternoon, did not take place owing to 1 the Absence' of A quorum.. A Mild Season. —As a proof of tho extraordinary mildness of the present season, fine ripe strawberries are seen in as seedsman a shop in Christchurch. They were' grown cut of doors in tho Sumner-road, ChristchurclT. The Weather.— After promising all Tuesday, heavy rain set in at an early hour next morning, and continued & fairly good downpour till 9 am. It was very acceptable, as farmers and gardeners all over the district were badly off for water. Rain fell heavily on Tuesday in Nelson, Greymonth and tika.Property Sals. —Messrs J. H. Befchune add Go/,- sold at auction on Tuesday, by order of the DibceSaii' Trustees, section No. 35, Tukapu District, Forinta, containing 107$ acres, for £207 15s, the purchaser being Mr F Brady. The well kno\|n Bijou Nursery, Alicetown, Lower Hutt, containing 3 acres, 1 rood, 19 perches, the property of Mr F, Cooper, was also submitted, but as the bidding did cot reach tho reserve price £llOO, it las withdrawn, and is now for private sale bjf the’ auctioneers'.Municipal Election.— The tiemiflSi'i? 0 of candidates for the four vacant seats in the City Council took place on Tuesday aiter* noon. There will be a contest for tbs vacancies in each ward, with the exception of Lambtou, Mr L. L. Harris (the retiring Councillor) being returned for that seat without opposition. The nominations for the other Wards are as follow : —Thorndon — George Anderson and Charles Hayward Iziard ;Te Aro Ward—J. H. Heaton and James Petherick ; Cook Ward—A. Wilson and C. F. Worth. The elections Will take place on Thursday, the 12th instant. Nominations were also received for the vacant seats in the Melrose Borough Council, but the retiring Councillor for each of the three wards was elected without opposition, and consequently there will b 3 no election. The retiring Councillors were— Ohiro Ward—J. Collins ; Island Bay Ward —G. 'H. B. Bayliss ; Kilbimie Ward—W. Kershaw. Presbyterian Meeting. —The annual meeting of the Presbytery of Wellington was held at St John s Church Tuesday night. The Rev Mr Shirer (moderator) presided, and the following ministers were present—Rev C. S. Ogg, J. K. Elliott, D. Fulton, J. Paterson, A. Thompson, C. Murray, and the following elders—H. Davidson, J. McLean, E. Feist, G. Mcllvide, and T. McKenzie. A communication was read from Colonel Hume, Inspector of Prisons, proposing to allow service to be conducted ou Sunday afternoons to the Presbyterian prisoners in the gaol. It was decided to take no action for the present. A circular was read from the Rev G. B. Munro, convener of the com mittee on the state of religion and morals, and requesting the ministers to preach on the subject of family religion, and to hold evening meetings. It was resolved to act ou the suggestion. A call in favour of Mr James Lynburn, from the congregation of Waihensa, was laid on the table, and on the motion of the Rev J. Paterson, was sustained, and the ordination of Mr Lynburn was fixed for the Bth October. The meeting then closed with prayer. Public Works Committee. —The full report of the Public Works Committee, that was to be considered at last night’s meeting of the City Council, is as follows : —Tbe Committee beg to recommend—That the tender of Messrs T. K. Macdonald and Co. for sale of tbe leases of the sections of land on Te Aro foreshore at l-20th per cent. (Is per £100) on the amount of the first year's rent of the sections sold, be accepted. The other tenders received were a 3 follow :—Harcourt and Co., 6d per £IOO, and an offer to pay £lO for the privilege of selling the leases ; Townsend and Paul, J per cent. ; Laery and Co., $ per cent. ; J. R. Montague, $ per cent. ; Baker Bros., J per cent. ; George Thomas and Co., 1 per cent. ; D. Asher, 1 per cent. ; Noble Campbell and Co., 2$ per cent. That tender No. 1 of Mr P. Scally for construction of the face-wall on the Te Aro foreshore be accepted, the Harbour Board having decided in favour of the work being done with stoue equal in quality to the best obtainable at the Oriental Bay quarry. The cost of the work, as already arranged, to be borne by the City Council and the Harbour Board in equal shares. That the Corporation bear the cast of fixing the seats provided by Mr George Woodward for the Thorndon Esplanade. That a drain be laid in Hughstreet. That the request of Messrs S. Luke and Sons f«sr permission to cross the re. claimed land opposite- their premises, in order to launch a new steamer, be granted on condition that no damage be done to the roadway or breastwork. That a reward of £2 be offered for such evidence as will lead to the conviction of any persons found damaging trees, shrubs or seats in the Basin Reserve, Cambridge-terrace Avenue, or any other of the city reserves. That two months’ sick leave on half-pay be granted to John Gregory, who lately broke his arm while in the service of the Corporation. That accounts amounting to £284 0s 7d be passed for payment.