TOWN & COUNTRY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 933, 17 January 1890, Page 20

TOWN & COUNTRY.

The Late ex-Empress.— On Jan. 9 the German flag was flying half-mast high at the German Consulate,; the Occidental Hotel, and other places, out of respect to the memory of the Dowager Empress Augusta of Germany.

Jubilee Contribution. nounced at Monday night’s meeting of the Jubilee Committee that, a donation of £1 la from Mr J. TV Maxwell, and £1 from Mr P Hume, in aid of the celebration fund, had been receiA'ed. Ministerial. —The Ministers at present in Wellington (Messrs Mitchelson, Richardson, Fergus and Rnssell) met in Cabinet yesterday week at 11 a.tn., and sat; till 1 p.m. After an hour’s adjournment for luncheon the Cabinet resumed, and continued till 5.30 p.m.. The business was confined to routine work relating to departmental matters which had fallen behind during the holidays, and during Ministers’ absence from town.

Mayoral Reception. —The Mayoress, Mrs Charles Johnston, held her first official reception yesterday afternoon week at her residence, Hobson street. Fortunately the broken weather of the forenoon cleared up, and the occasion thus favoured a very largo number of tlje citizens flocked to do honour to the wife of him they had placed at the head of Wellington society for the offioial term. It was a very pleasant social gathering, and the fair hostess made everyone heartily welcome. More to follow was the generally expressed wish. His Worship the Mayor was present part of the time. Crick ht for the Blind.— A correspondent of The Standard publishes an account of some cricket matches which has in it something of the pathetic as well as curious. The matches are played by the students of the College for the B ind at Worcester, who use a wicker ball with a bell in it, and are guided entirely by ear. Behind the stumps a wicketkeeper claps his hands, and the bowlers, guided by ear only, sometimes hit the wicket three times out of six. Tbe batting is usually inferior, the hall being heard only when it touches the ground ; but one lad often makes 70 runs off his own bat. An experiment was tried of a match after dark between tbe blind cricketers and some friends who could see, and, of course, the latter were nowhere. One realises the perpetual darkness of tbe blind from that little incident in a most painful way ; it is so unbroken, that new powers develop themselves in the remaining senses.

Free Public Library.— A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Free Public Library was held in the Counoil Chambers yesterday afternoon week. Mr J. Duthie was elected permanent Chairman of the Committee. The receipt of a donation of £IOO in aid of the Library from Mr N. W. Levin was announced. Mr J. R. Blair asked whether the Jubilee Art Union was being carried out uuder the auspices of the Committee. The Chairman replied to the effect that the Committee had nothing to do with it. It was decided to send a letter to the City Council asking them to communicate with the authorities of public libraries in several of the large towns for information as to the constitution of public libraries, etc. Mr Hawkins announced that he would make a donation of twelve folio volumes to the library. A vote of thanks haviug been passed to the Chairman, the meeting terminated. The following additional subscriptions toward the fund have been received Sir Jas. Prendergast, £2O; Dr Henry, £5 ss; Dr Fell, £5 ; J. C. Harris, £2 2s ; F. Cohen, £2 23 ; M. Ziman, £1 Is ; H; Davenport and Son, £1 Is; D. Hall, £1; Independent Order of Rechabites, £lO 10s ; Mr J. E, Fitz Gerald, £5 ss: Mr James Gear, £5 ; Mrs J. Ling, £2 2s; J. G. Pascoe, 10s ;Dr Collins, £5 ss. Interesting to Fruit Growers. —Mr A. F. Spawn, cf Melbourne, who is now travelling through this Colony, is a gentle, man whom fruit growers, and indeed all who are concerned in that industry, will find it to their interest to know. This firm is established in Melbourne, and has attained a colonial celebrity in connection with the production and marketing of fruit. Mr Spawn himself is/; a very smart American, with his business at his fingers’ ends, and in possession of all the latest improvements connected with it. He brings to this Colony many new ideas, which will be found of the utmost importance to country settlers who are disposed to make a little money by orcharding. Fruit growing in New Zealand is so far ouly a very crude industry, but it is unquestionable that we have the material for making a great deal more of it, and experienced men who almost make a science of the business are able to assist us in doing that. Mr Spawn, who arrived on Monday, is making a sort of flying tour of the Colony. He has with him a few samples of fruit and vegetables grown and preserved by him in Melbourne, all of a description much superior to the leather dried apples and the sickly tinned fruit which is commonly purveyed in the Colony. The process by which these articles are preserved is of Mr Spawn’s own invention, a machine called an evaporator being used. It takes only a few hours to complete this method, and the fruit or vegetables, as the ease may be, retain all their original flavour and virtues. Mr Spawn also has numerous labour-saving oontrivances used in the industry, some paring machines being marvels of ingenuity and simplicity. This firm pay special attention to the manner of putting up fruit for the market, with a view to making it attractive and preserving it. A number of crates, buckets, etc., used with this object iu view are among his collection, and are very well worth inspection. Mr Spawn exhibited bis samples to the Minister of Agriculture, the Acting-Premier, Sir James Hector, Mr J. McKerrow, Mr W. T. L. Travers, and several other gentlemen, who agreed m Certifying to the excellence of the little exhibition, Mr Spawn proceeded to Napier on Tuesday, q,nd vyiU probably stay m Wellington a day or two when be comes bouth again shortly.

Sudden Death. ceived by Inspector Thomson on Monday from Sergeant Price, the officer in charge at Mas ter ton, that a widow named Mary Auu Beid died suddenly at her residence at Knripuni that afternoon.

Remarkable Steel Projectiles. —The Scientific American saj's : At the Paris Exhibition the firm of Holtzer showed a shell which pierced a steel plate 10 inches thick and landed entire without a flaw SOO yards, or nearly half a mile, distant from the target. Only the point of the shell was lightly distorted. The Parcels Post. —With the exception of New South Wales and Queensland, all the Australian colonies have joined with New Zealand in the new parcels post delivery. The minimum rate to be charged is Is 2d p r 21b, with 7d per lb additional over 21b and up to 111 b ; 4d per lb extra to be charged to YVestern Australia.

Federal Conference. —As the Premier has returned to Mew Zealand, the idea of his being one of the representatives ot this Colony at the Federal Conference, which will meet in M- lbourne on tbe 4th prox., is virtually abandoned, as it is not thought that he will be able to make another sea journey so soon. Two of the New Zealand Ministers will attend the Conference, and it is rumoured that Captain Russfll will be one of them, but it is not yet settled. The Premier. —Sir Harry Atkinson arrived at the Bluff by the Te Anau on Mon day. He was met by the Minister of Education, and came on to Dunedin by train. Mr Kdony (the New South Wales Cbief Commissioner of Railways), Mr McMillan, Mr Gould, and other Australian politicians were also of the party. The Premier telegraphed to his colleagues that he was in very good health, and expected to be in Wellington by Friday. A Press Association telegiam received states that “Sir Harry Atkinson considers he is now on a fair road to complete recovery.”

Depression of the Woollen Trade in the United States. — The position of the woollen trade in the United States haß lately given risen to great anxiety. Bankruptcies have occurred so frequently that a special meeting of the Woollen Manufacturers' Union was held last month to discuss the situation. The bad state of the trade is attributed to the revised tariff of 1883. Some idea of the present condition or things may be obtained from the recent bankruptcy returns. During the present year forty-six firms have failed, the capital ir volved being £1,384,000 ; the total for the whole of last year was thirty - five failures, involving £496,000. Besides these, seveu wool brokers have failed, with liabilities of £353,200, against six in 1888 with liabilities of £56,400. —financial Chronicle. A Serious Fire.— The Great Amphitheatre of the Ecole de Medicine, Paris, was completely destroyed by fire on October 8. A few minutes after the departure of the members of the Sanitary and Surgical Congress, who had been holding their sitting there, the hall porter noticed a dense cloud of smoke in the passage leading to the amphitheatre. He at once gave the alarm, and all the personnel of the establishment did their utmost to extinguish the flames, but completely The firemen speedily arrived, bnt the fire had gained such a hold that they were obliged to confine their efforts to protecting the.other parts of of the Ecole de Medicine, and the amphitheatre was burned out. After an hour’s exertions all danger of the fire spreading to the valuable library and other buildings had disappeared. The pecuniary loss is estimated at about 30,000 f. Men-of-War Anchorages. —The Broad Arrow, the Home naval and military organ, referring to the measures recently adopted at the principal 1 ports of these colonies, defining an anchorage ground for foreign men-of-war and laying down conditions under which men may be landed, Bays that they are usual in many foreign countries, but have hitherto nob been adopted in English ports. “ The colonies in question are putting restrictions on foreign men-of-war, and compelling them to remain at outer anchorages. We should consider this sort of thing ill-advised, and denoting either a certain offioiousness and timorousness which have a spice of anti-English in them. We may be right or wrong in the freedom we accord to foreigners of all sorts to know all about our strength and to make free übs of our ports, but we ought not to change our policy by a aide wind.” Significant. —At the meeting held in London to celebrate the centenary of Pear’s soap manufactory, Mr Barratt, the managing partner of the firm, while responding fto the toast of the evening, spoke as follows about the advertising As to the advertising in connection with their business, he might tell them that they had always been Increasing in that direction, and he hoped they always would. They had now attained the expenditure of upward of one hundred thousand pounds per antmm ; and he thought that might be considered a fair contribution on the part of one firm toward the support of the press of this country. Moreover, by these extensive operations they had stimulated activity on the part of other houses, not only here but in America and Australia. He noted each year a large accession to the army of advertisers. For one hundred thousand pounds he would tell them what they got —They got a circulation of twenty millions per day, going into the house of everybody in England, America, and Australia, where they had branch houses, compelling the firm to keep their Btores open day and night in order to keep paoe with the trade. If, to use a figure of speech, they knocked at a man’s door 365 times a year it would be very odd if they did not persuade him to buy a tablet of Pears’ soap ; and it was just there where they made their profits. For their one hundred thousand pounds a year they attracted the attention of a hundred millions of English-speaking people.

An Ordination. —At St. Peter’s Church, Melbourne, on the Sunday before Christmas, Mr Lyttelton Fitz Gerald (a son of Mr J. E. Fitz Gerald, of this city) was admitted to Holy Orders by the Right Reverend the Bishop of Melbourne. Sir Julius Vogel. — A theory has been put forward that Sir Julius Vogel’s intention with respect to New Zealand is that ho has an idea of contesting the New Plymouth seat in the House, having previously impressed the good people of that district with a high sense of their producing power. Now Alive. issued by the Jubilee Committee to all exMayors “now alive” of the city of Wellington to join in the procession the day of celebration. A wag has suggested that invitations might be extonded to the other side of Styx, ami if one or two from thence did turn up it would lend very great and additional interest to the occasion. A Liberal Gift, —Mr H. J. Freeman, watchmaker of Manners-street, has presented the Jubilee Committee with six handsome silver medals, three go'd scarf pins, and three silver thimbles to be competed for at the Jubilee sports. The medals, which are really very fine specimens of the silversmith’s art. were received by the Committee on Monday, and were the subject of general admiration. Meeting of Creditors. —A meeting of creditors in the estate of Peter Elutson, contractor and merchant, was held in the Official Assignee’s office on Monday morning. There were fifteen creditors present, and Mr C. C. Graham (Official Assignee) presided. Mr Haselden represented one of the creditors (0. M. Brooks, of Mauriceville), and Mr Travers appeared for the debtor. The Official Assignee stated that the debtor had not filed a statement showing the cause of his bankrUDtcy, but he bad informed him that his position was due to the extreme competition in trade and low pricea ruling. He had found himßelf unable to meet his engagements, and he had therefore decided to throw himself upon the creditors. In reply to a question, the debtor said he was Dot in a position to make any offer. The Official Assignee stated that if the stock realised the amount of the valuation the estate would pay about 20s in the £. On the motion of Mr G. Norbury, eeoonded by Mr L>. C Gasquoine (Grey- Valley Coal Company), it was decided that tenders should be called for the stock in trade and working plant on the usual terms, viz,, onefourth cash and approved bills at three months for the balance. Messrs Hutohen and Cable were appointed to approve the bills. On the motion of Mr A. Young, seconded by Mr J. Smith, it was decided that the bankrupt should be allowed to retain his furniture over and above the statutory value, amounting to about £4O. Mr A. Young moved that the creditors offer no opposition to the debtor obtaining his discharge. Mr Norbury and Mr Haselden suggested that they should wait for a week or so before passing such a resolution. Mr Young agreed to withdraw his motion, The meeting then adjourned until Monday next at 2.30 p.m. Annual Meetings of Contributors. —A meeting of contributors to the Societ3 T for the Relief of the Aged iSeedy was held in Queen’s Chambers yesterday afternoon week, in terms of the Act, for the purpose of electing two trustees. Mr H. S. Wardell presided. The retiring trustees were Mr S. Hanks, who, it was stated, felt compelled to resign on account of ill-health, and Mr Willeston, who had been elected by the trustees during the year to fill a vacancy. On the motion of Rev Mr Van Staveren, seconded by Mr W. Ferguson, Messrs C. E. W. Willeston and Mr J. Danks were elected trustees. Regret was expressed by the Chairman, by Mr Van Staveren personally and on behalf of the trustees,'that Mr S. Hanks, who had worked so energetically in founding the Home, and who had since taken bo warm au interest in its working, should find himself unable to continue giving his services to the institution. The Chairman explained to the contributors that the Home was working very satisfactorily. It was' built and furnished out of funds in band, so that there was no debt upon it. It was maintained by subscriptions, to which was added Government subsidy, and by the interest on the bequest of £2OOO by the late Mr J. Burne. Some subscribers had thought they should have been asked for their votes in the admission of inmates, but the trustees had from time to time, as they found funds available, notified that they would receive a certain number of inmates, and on no occasion had more than the number been nominated, so that there was no cause to put the matter to the vote of subscribers. He made this explanation toshow subscribers thattheir claims to vote had not been neglected, but that there had been nothing hitherto to submit to them. A vote of thanks having been awarded to the Chairman, the meeting adjourned.—The annual meeting of the contributors to theLadieß’ Christian Association was held in the Association’s rooms yesterday afternoon week, for the purpose of electiog two trustees. The Rev W. J. Habeas presided. The retiring trustees, Mesdames Hart and ,Hrew, were re-elected, and the meeting adjourned.—The annual statutory meetings of the contributors to the Benevolent Institution and the Hospital, for the election of trustees, were to have been held yesterday, but as there was not a quorum present both meetings were adjourned, in accordance with the statute, for a fortnight. The contributors to the Benevolent Institution were to have met in the Queen’s Chambers, and the Hospital contributors in the Corporation Buildings.

H.M.S. Orlando. H.M.S. Orlando, which has the AustralianGoveruors on board, arrived at Port Chalmers on Sunday afternoon. The Rimutaka also arrived at Port Chalmers late in the afternoon. InqUesT. —Mr Hi \V. Robinson (district Coroner) held an ibquost at the hospital last evening week on the body of Arthtir Crosby, 1 a patient who died iu the Usyluifi that morning. After hearing evidence the jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes. Children’s Jubilee Music. —The first practice by the children of the various pieces to be sung on Jubilee Hay was held in St. John’s schoolroom, Bixon-street, under the leadership of Mr F. Billman. There was large attendance of youngsters, who took a great interest in the proceedings, Poisoned in a Brain. —One of the Corporation labourers who has recently suffered an illness caused by poisoning while he was employed in a drain, has made a claim on the Corporation for the amount of his medical expenses- The account has been referred to the Public Works Committee. The Jubilee Procession. Councillor Fraser suggested at the.-Qity Council meeting last week that former Mayors of the cicv—Messrs Dransneld, A. W. Brown, S. Brown, Fisher, and Hutchison —be invited to join'with the Council in the procession on Jubilee Day. The Council decided to take part in the procession, and Councillor Fraser’s suggestion, having.' been put in the form of a motion, was also agreed to. ®Tiie New Photography.— -Messrs Wriggleaworth aud Biuns are receiving satisfactory evidence of public appreciation of their Matt-Opal type process. It is very much in request, and when the Marquis of Downshire was here he sat for his portrait at the above firm’s studio, and subsequently wrote to them as follows:—“I have received copies done by your process (the Matt Opal type), and am very pleased with them. I think great praise is due to you for making such a step in the art of photography, and I feel quite sure your process will meet with the success it deserves.—Your3, etc., DownSHIRE.” An Improved Pump. — A public trial of a novel kind of pumD took place at the works of Mr J. E. Hayes,'Lambton-quay, yesterday week. The improved pump is the invention of Mr James Davie*, of Wedneabury, County of Stafford, England, and is quite a new departure from anything of the kind we have seen. The working of the pump depends on the rolling action of a disc or plate enolosed in a cylinder, formed of a short portion of a hollow sphere, the ends of which are in the form of cones. The disc is, in fact, the only moving part in the pump, and plays the part of the ordinary piston and valves in a V9ry simple manner, the mere rolling motion before noticed causing a continuous stream of water to be drawn in at the inlet and propelled with considerable force from the outlet. An Interesting Compilation. —We have received the official hand-book of the Colony of Victoria, by the courtesy of the Hon. G. D. Langridge, M.P., president of the Royal for the Victorian and New Zealand Exhibition. It is indeed a handbook, and of the first water, being full of the most valuable information and beautiful engravings, describing and depicting the principal objects of interest in VTelbourne and the provincial towns. It also contains muoh information about the resources of Victoria, the progress of industries, &o. Some of the engravings are superlatively good, notably the Eastern Market, the Church of England Cathederal. Ballarat, Wilson Hall University, and the International Exhibition. The railway offices and station, Spencer-street, are also very striking. aud particularly the plan of the city. The publication conveys a better idea of Victoria and its resources than anything we have ever perused. Not the least taking of its engravings is that of a selector’s homestead. We can heartily commend the book to the public. ' An Exciting Trip. —The passengers on board the s.s. Grafton, which arrived from the West Coast yesterday week, had rather an exciting time of it. In addition to severe weather in crossing the Strait, an unpleasant experience took place. A passenger states that several gentlemen slept on the lounges in the social hall on deck, and at about 3 a.m. the sleep of one of them was disturbed by a rude shaking from a man, who said he was “Jack the Ripper,” and that if the passeuger did not keep quiet he would have his brains smashed out. The passenger in question, it is needless to say, kept very quiet condition, awaiting events. Several other gentlemen in the social hall were awakened in a similar manner by the man, who afterward took off hia coat and vest and walked excitedly up and down the hall for some time, muttering audibly to himself. A little later on he left the Bocial hall and soon returned with a stick, which he held in a threatening manner over the head of one of the half sleepy passengers, who had attempted to change his position. At this point another of the passengers Bprang upon the man unawares and held him by the neck, but without much avail, for the man slipped away and rolled under the table. Some little excitement then took place, which ended in the man getting knocked down and being secured. He became very violent, and the captain had him locked up for safety in the smokingroom. On the arrival of the Grafton in port Dr Collins was sent for, who pronounced the mau to be suffering from nervous excitement. He was removod by a friend to private apartments in the city, where every care and attention was paid him. The unfortunate man has had muoh mental worry of late, and his mind is fairly unhinged, but it is expected that a few days’ reßt will restore him to his normal condition.

The Mayor. The Mayor sifill attend daily at his office in the Council Chambers dt Halfpast 12, at which time he will be glad to meet any ratepayers desirous of seeing him on public business. The Price of the New Cemetf.ry. The price asked by Messrs Joseph and Wright for the cemetery site at Islaud Bay, which the Council have agreed to take, te £55 per acre; The Size of the piece of land in question is 27 acres; Marine Retreat lloteL. —The leasehold interest of the Marine Retreat Hotel, litone; was offered at auction by Messrs Noble Campbell and Co. last week. Mr Nathaniel Valentine was the purchaser, the price being £750, which, as the property is subject to a mortgage of about £IOSO, represents £IBOO. Foresters’ Art Union. —The winners of the first four prices in the Foreste.s’ Art Union were—First priiie, suite of furniture, Mr W. King, Hopper-street j second prirte, pair of statuettes, Mr W: B. Robinson. Vivian-street : third prize, tea aervide, Mrs S. Williams, Molesworth-street ; fourth prize, lamp, Mrs Staples, Kilbirnie. Railway Returns. —The railway returns for the four-weekly period ended December 7th, shows total receipts or £79,881 for ISO 9 miles open, as against £73,G23f0r 1777 miles in the corresponding periol of litet yeai?. The expenditure was £52,G59, _ as aigainst £46,660 last year. An increase is shown iu the revenue of the Auckland, Napier, Wtellington, Wanganui, Hurunui-Blufl, Westport, and Picton sections, and a decrease in the other sections. DoGS,AII persons having in their possession dogs, wolves, or ether taxable animals, are notified that the annual registration fee of 10s per head is now due. The season of the year has now arrived when the Dog Registrar, hard-heartod and iron-nerved, goes forth into the highways and byways with a money bag slnug over his shoulder and a gun in his right hand to collect dog tax. Such of the community, therefore, as value their dogs, and wish to keep them alive instead of stuffed, are warned that they must register them. Fire—A small cottage situated at the rear of the residence of Sergt, Ready, of the local police force, in Johu-street, and occupied by a Miss M. Maloney, was discovered on fire a few minutes before 10 o’clock Sunday night. A man named William Aisher, who resides in John-streeb, first observed the fire through one of the windows of hio house, and he at once gave the alarm to Constable Redican, who was on duty in the neighbourhood. The constable, on reaching the cottage, broke open the front door, which wa3 locked, and with the aid of a bucket or two of water extinguished the flames. Mias Maloney, who is an invalid, and under the care of the Benevolent Institution, had left the cottage shortly before the alarm was given, for Sergt, Ready's, leaving a candle burning, and it is supposed that the fire was caused by the flames of the candle reaching the window curtains. A few pounds will cover the damage done. An alarm was given hy the city firebells, and the brigade attended with their customary alacrity, but their services were fortunately not needed. The cottage, which is owned by Sergt. Ready, is uninsured.

Bankruptcy. —The statement of assets and liabilities filed by Peter Hutson, contractor and merchant, shows au estimated surplus of £SS3 13s 3d. The total debts amount to £I3OB 7s 2d, and the assets are estimated at £IS9I 19s sd, namely, stock-in-trade, £330 ; plant, £BO ; book debts, £780; cash in hand, £26 10s 5d ; furniture (over the statutory allowance of £25). £SO ; and surplus from securities, £605 9s. T< e unsecured creditors for amounts over £lO are as follow:—J. Wilson and Co., Auckland, £215 8s ; G. Maslen, £l3O 33 Sd ; A. Young, £BB 153 7d ; Grey Valley Coal Company, £170; D. M. Brooks, Mauriceville, £B3 18s 3d; E. W. Mills and Co., £S4 0s 2d; F. Hill, £B6 Is ; G. Norbury. £79 8s lOd ; L. Adams, Christchurch, £56 13s ; .R. O. Clark, Auckland, £59; Cable and Co., £31153; Smith Bros., £34 3a Get ; G. Luke, £25; Duchie aud Co., £27 14s fid; Ballinger Bros., £2l 0s 5d ; W. and G. Turnbull and Co., £l9 16s 6d ; Waddell, McLeod, and Weir, £l2 3s 10d ; Blundell Bros., £l6 17s 5d ; Harbour Board, £l2 18s 2d. The secured creditors are for £1354 lls, and the value of the securities is set down as £1960. The creditors who are secured are as follow : A. Young, £IOOO, over a corporation lease in Waring Taylor-street, with warehouse and store; valued at £I3SO ; F. M. Ollivier, £ll4 ss, and National Bank, £240 6s, over a section in Tasman-street, with dwelling and workshop, valued at £SBO.

Returning Thinks.— -Mr J- Stannhrd,- of Jobnsonville (who, it will be remembered, vritb a severe accident about a moutn ago) de'ar/es to return his sincere thanks to the friends WeFe so kind to him in his misfortune. Band Contest.—Tab ««y bWe are, we understand, in steady prsubiete fo t the brass band contest which is to take plsob shortly. All the local bands are likely to be engaged,afid theite is a probability that the Master ton Band will also Sompsfce. Picnic. —The children of St Mark’s _Sunday School held their attUtiftl picnic at Crofton ofi tfridSy.- the party, which, m eluding children, friends, and teachcY?, numbered over 500, went out to Crofton between 9 and 10 a.m. Although the day was rather unpleasant, the picnic’ vfas a very enjoyable one. Sport-3 and other amunements Were provided for the pupils, and the picnickers returned to town ac 6 o’clock, after a capital day’3 outiDg. A Difficulty Removed. —We are glad to learii that ail difficulty in the way the children attending some of the city State sc’noo.B taking part in the Jubilee procession have been removed. At a meeting of the Children’s Committee, held Friday night, re* presentativea of all the Sohool Committees in the city were present, and all expressed their intention of doing what they could to tnafefl tbs procession a success. Arrangements Wele mSde with reapect to refreshffiients, and other bUsliless of a routine nature was attended to.

Improvement in VoltalC Battery Plates. -An improved process in the mariu^ factiire of peroxide Of lead plates, or what ia known is “ litliaoode,” for use in voltaic batteries, was exhibited at the wo’trwr of Mr .J, E. Hayes on Friday afternoon, The invention, which ia patented in this Cl any by Mr D. G. Fitz Gerald, of Brixton, County of Surrey, England, consists in the production of dense, yet porous, coherent, and self-supporting plates, convertible into peroxido of lead, by mixing monoxide of lead with an insoluble salt of the same metal, such as the sulphate. The plates so formed “ set ” in a short time, and are then superficially peroxidised by immersion in a hot solution of chloride of magnesia. This superficial peroxidation causes the plates to become conducive of electricity, and they are then wholly converted into peroxide by electrolysis. The Jubilee Procession.— The Procession Sub-Comm ttee have decided to recommend that the order of the procession on Jubilee Day shall be as follows: (1) City day sc oola, (2) country day schools ; (3) Catholic day schools ; (4) Sunday schools of all denominations ; (51 old settlers whose ariival was between 1840 and 1865 ; (6) the Mayor, City Council, and Harbour Board ; (7) the General Committee; (S) private citizens ; (9) unassociated trades ; (10) Maoris ; (11) associated trades in alphabetical order; (12) Fire Brigade; (13) Friendly Societies ;(14) private carts. The Committes have decided to recommend that the routes to be taken by the procession should be as follows-. —Morning—From the Government Buildings along Lambton-quay, Willis, Manners, Cuba, Vivian, Tory, and Buckle-streets, into the Basin Reserve. Evening—Froru the Armed Constabulary Barracks at Mount Cook along Arthur, Cuba, Manners, and Willis-ntreets, and Lambtonquay, dispersing opposite the Government Buildings. Mr Isaac Clark will be recommended as chief marshal. Messrs Jackson and Whitfield’s tender for the supply of torches at 9s 6d per doz*n has been accepted by the Committee.

Criminal Returns. —The return of the cases dealt with in the Magistrate’s Court during the past year show that 48 persons were convicted of common assault. In the previous year there were 37 convictions for thi3 offence. There were 80 convictions for larceny, as against 71 for 188 S. Fifty persons were convicted as destitute, while in the previous year the number was 56. The by-law cases for the year numbered 254, and convictions were obtained in 203. In the previous year there were 239 convictions. Five hundred and thirty inebriates were brought before the Court, and of these 496 were convicted. This is an increase on the previous year, when 396 persons were taken into custody for drunkenness, 353 of them being punished. Forty-one persons weie punished for using indecent language, as against 33 for 1888. The number of persons convicted of lunacy was 47 ; as against 40 for the preceding twelve months. Sixty-six persons were punished for vagrancy, the number during the previous year being 65. Twenty-five conviotions were obtained in cases of using abusive or threatening language, aud 24 persons were punished for assau ting the police.

Withdrawn. —We are requested; by Mcr G. D. Mackintosh to state that ho has withdrawn frond the secretaryship of the GrandJnbileS Anniversary Art Union Gift Coneest Association, Slesinger’sMeddtnes.— Mr S. SlesingerV rheumatic balsam awd horse, cattle, and dog medicines, have a world-wide fame, and are being largely used in this Colony. Mr SMsingor cautions the public against imitations, and announces that Mr Ayerß, of this city, 13 authorised to sell his medicines. Promotion. —Constable Harnett, who has been stationed at the Lower Hutt for severaa years, has fitted promoted to the rank or sergeant in the constabulary force at t alea. for which place be leaVsrs a few days lienee. His position at the SntS will be filled vy Constable O’Connor, who is »t present-' in ■ Master ton.

BaEe. A 50-acre section in the Okato (Taranaki) district was offered for sals byauction by Messrs J. H. Rethune and Co, on Monday aftexnoon, and was eventua.ly sold to Mr C. Felthara for £3O. The Railway Hotel and leasehold property at Pipitea, which was to have been offered by the same firm, has been withdrawn from sale tor the present. The General Election.—Mr ° Roberts, President of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition Commission, is spokere of as a likely candidate for the Taiori seat at the next gensrad election. It is said thatMr Fulton, who has represented the distriet; so long, will nob seek re-election, but vvould not be indisposed to accept a seat in the Legislative Council. OiiEsE,— The chess tournament was concluded at Christchurch on Saturday afternoon. Mr Barnes (Wellington), having defeated Mr Siedebcrg (Christchurch), was-, left U plsif off with Mr Hookhatn for tiio championship, £aerk having won three and * half games. After ifSVevai hours play, Mr Barnes resigned, and Mf Eookham was consequently adjudged the winner. The Governors and the Jubilee.—The Governors of New Zealand and New South; Wales and Admiral Lord Charles Scott wiii. arrive iu Wellington by H.M.S. Orlando on the 21st instant for the Jubilee ctde orations. As an Auckland telegram states that the party will be present at the festivities m that city also, their Excellencies have evidently decided to impartially patronisa both celebrations.

Only One Smit£i.—-“Ho who in fihi&i world would rise,” hays »n unknoYm American poet, “must cither bust or advertise.” An incident which occurred in a street ia the suburbs of this city yesterday demonstrates the fame that judicious advertising confers upon a person. A gentleman was looking about for a person -who resided in the locality and in a house formerly occupied by one Smith. Two small boys, arriving on the scene, hoops in hand, weie consulted, but without avail. A happy ideastruck the inquirer. “Do you know where Mr Smith lives 1” he asked ; and youngsters replied, simultaneously and with alacrity, "Te Aro House.” They oouldn t conceive of any other Smith. Adventures of a Canoeist. Sbsne anxiety was felt in town on Monday as to the> safety of Dr F. Wallace Mackenzie, who left town on Satuiday morning for a dayV excursion in a Rob Roy canoe. As he did not return on Sunday or during yesterday morning, it was feared that Dr. Mackenzie might have met with an accident, but yesterday evening he returned, having come in by cab from the Hutt. It appears that he reached Days Bsy at about noon on Saturday, went ashore, and, after taking a rest, proceeded to Portaguese Joe Bay, where he camped all night. On Sunday morning he made a start for home, but on getting as far as Somea Island he deemed it prudent to return, on account of the fresh wind that was blowing at the time. He accordingly returned to the bay, packed his traps up, pitched his tent, aud camped for the night. He walked round to the Hutt next morning, procured a cab, and came into town in the afternoor* It is the doctor’s custom on leaving home to provide himself with a tent in case of hn y emergency. He states that he could have come home on Sunday afternoon, had it not been for the fear of getting a drenching. The “ Army ” and the Jubilee Procession.—The question whether or not the Salvation Army should be asked to take part in the Jubilee procession formed the subject of a rather animated discussion at Monday’s meeting of the Jubilee Committee. Mr Crichton, the secretary of the Procession Committee, said it had been suggested to him that the Army should bo asked to assist in the celebration, and he wished to know the opinion of th 3 meeting on the matter. Mr J. Petherick strongly objected to the religious element being introduced into the procession. Eventually it was decided not to entertain the suggestion. Mr Trevor then moved that the Army Band should be asked to assist in the procession, Mr R. P. Johnson seconding the proposal. Mr J. Petherick repeated his objections, ood asserted that he would nob walk in the precession if the Army Band took part iu it. A lengthy discussion followed, during which Mr C. F. Worth said it would be a disgrace to the city if any section of the community was debarred from taking part iu the celebration. It was remarked thab if the Army wished to take part in the procession as private individuals they could do so. Several speakers pointed out that the various Sunday schools had been asked to assist in the procession, and Mr R. Hunter, with considerable warmth, said that nob ona word was uttered about the religious question until “this despised body” was uieationed. If Mr Petherick thought that the members of the Army would tear off their badges to take part in the procession, he was very much mistaken. They would be truo to their colours. He agreed with Mr Worth thab it would be a disgrace to the community if such a body as the Salvation Army were excluded for the reasons given. Mr Petherick thought that if the religious element was introduced the affair would be a failure. Afber further discussion the motion that the baud should be asked to take part in tho proceedings was carried oa a ehov? of kandu,

Mauakipawa. —Ourcorrespondont writes : ' The Hibernians are on good gold. Nearly all the diggers have returned to tkoir reclaims. Mr Newman has been prospecting on Mr Cawte’s property, but met with no success. He certainly found gold, but not in payable quantities.

Big Train. —The down train from the Maaawatu on Tuesday w.vs one of the largest that has ever travelled on the line. It Drought down between 40 and 50 wagon loads of stock for Messrs Freeman R. Jackson and. Co.’s sale at Johnaonville, and nearly 300 passengers, many of whom Were ea route to the Dunedin Exhibition.

Education Board Eductions. —The nominations of candidates by the various School Committees to fill the vacancies on the Education Board, caused by the reiiiement of Messrs Bunny, Buchanan, and Fraser by the effluxion of time, will close at the end of the present month. The three members mentioned will, no doubt, offer themselves for re-election. The result of the election will not be known until the middle of March.

Hospital Expenditure. — The expenses incurred in connection with the Hospital during last year amounted to £7317 11a 3d. 'The principal items were—Piovisions, £2070 17s lid ; salaries and wag -s, £223S 5s Sd ; drugs and surgery, £7lO 12s 4d ; fuel and light, £596 11s Sd; repairs, additions, and furniture, £SBO Is 7d ; washing, £3lO 16s 6d. The total amount received from in and out-door patients and for private nursing during the year was £IOB7 6s Bd. The number of in-patients treated was 828, and out-patients 1630.

Accident.—-A man named Christopher Hansen met with a painful accident on Tuesday afternoon while engaged in removing *onie large iron girders at Messrs Sargood Sou and Ewen’s new premises on the reclaimed land. It appears that one of the girders rolled on to tbs man’s leg, and jambed it. He was immediately extricated by his fellow workmen, and his injured leg wa3 attended to by Dr Grace, who happened to be passing when the accident occurred. Hanaen’a leg was severely bruised, but he will probably be able to resume his work in a few days.

Reports. The Government have received two report* from Mr J. Blackett, their consulting engineer in England. The first is on »n adaptation by Messrs Merryweather of the steam fire engine to hydraulic sluicing. Mr Blackett thinks this is likely to be of service on goldfields. The other report deals with Lubrig’s goldwashing process, which is used for cleaning coal. It is principally of service in poor thin seams, but Mr Blackett doe 3 not consider it would be of any use where the coal is clean, as in the West Coast colleries.

The Late Me Allison. —Mr Allison, whose death in America recently is announced in this week’s cable news, waa a well known and leading figure in the Australian theatrical world. He wa3 for some years a partner with Mr George Rignold, and the latter gentleman’s last tour of New Zealand with “ Called Back,” “My Partner,” and other plays, was one of the firm’s venture, another being Mr Harry Rickards’ tour about three years ago. At the time of liia death Mr Allison was making arrangements for producing American novelties in Australia.

The Little Foxes. —An explanation of the arrival in New Zealand of certain little grey foxes is now obtainable. It appears that the Government wrote to Mr Creighton, their agent in San Francisco, asking him to inquire mto and report upon the efficacy of the interesting foxes Mr Creighton, zealous man, at once engaged an agent to go out into the wilderness and take the little fox from his native hole. This was done, and the foxes were shipped to New Zealand just before Mr Creighton received telegraphic instructions not to send them. Such for the present is the history of “ the little grey foxes.”

Benevoient Society Trustees. —The usual weekly meeting of the Trustees of the Benevolent Institution was held at the Queen’s Chambers on Tuesday afternoon, there being present the Rev H. Van Sfcaveren (chairman), Messrs Willeston, Smith, Monaghan and Kebbell. A number of deserving cases were relieved, and the usual weekly allowances were passed. It was stated that since la3t meeting two per. sons iu receipt of relief from toe Society had died. A communication was received from the Ladies’ Christian Association stating that the annual tea meeting given to the orphans would be held in the Association’s rooms at 4 p.m. on the 13th February, and inviting the Trustees to be present. An account amounting to £1 10s W 33 passed for payment. Some further business of a routine character having been transacted, the Trustees adjourned.

Children’s Jubilee Sports. —A meeting of the Children’s Amußoment Committee was held at the Exchange Buildings Tuesday night, Mr Petberick presiding. The Terrace School Committee heing unable to make arrangements for the children to take parr, in the procession, a sub-committee was appointed to take steps to ensure that; those children should not he excluded. A good deal of routine work was done. The Sports’ Committee submitted a report reoommending that the children should compete according to age, namely, between 8 and 10 years, 10 and 12, 12 and 14, and 14 and 16 years. For each division the Committee recommended that the events should he as follow : —Boys—Hundred yards race ; sack race, 50yda ; wheelbarrow race, 50yds ; three-legged race, 100yds ; backward race, 50yds ; with an egg-and-spoon race for boys over 12 years. Girle—Hundred yards race, three.armed race, 50yds ; skipping, double .skipping, and running skipping (the girls to provide their own ropes). The Committee recommended that all town entries should be made through the school committees and close on the 20th instant ; entries from country schools to he marie to the secretary ; alno, that the Mayoress be asked to present the prizes on the ground at the conclusion of the sports. This report was adopted. The next meeting will be held on Saturd&3’ evening.

Wool Sale. —The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, in conjunction with Messrs Levin and Co., will hold a wool Bale at the Company’s new stores on Mon* day, the 27th insfc. North Island Trunk Railway.—The Native Minister and Colonial Secretary will visit th 3 rout 9 of the North Island Main Trunk Railway ill a few Weeks. They will be accompanied by several members of the House-

Legal Proceedings. The Hospital Trustees decided at thc-ir meeting on Tuesday to instruct their solicitor (Mr W. H. Quick) to take legal proceedings against the Union Steamship Company for the recovery of the amount owing for treatment of tbe Company’s employ 03 in the Hospital.

Money on* Exhibit. —A local bookmaker and tobacconist exhibited in his shop window on Tuesday a hundred and fifty sovereigns on a plate. The novelty of the display attracted large numbers of spectators. many of whom, regarding it as a proof of the exhibitors’ ability to wager over the coming Island Bay Meeting, have made up their minds to acquire a few of the Cains on that occasion.

ES The New CEMetery. Messrs Bell, Gully, and Izard (acting on behalf of Mr W. B. Edwaids) have written to the City Council stating that their client will bring au action for damages against the Corporation if they carry out the idea of opening a cemetery at,lsland Bay onland proposedto be purchased frern Messrs Joseph and Wright, on the ground that the use of the land as a cemetery would result in the pollution of a stream which runs through his (Mr Edwards’) property. The letter will be considered at the meeting of the Public Works Committee oil Monday next.

The Chatham Islands. —From a private letter received from the Chatham Islands we learn that the dog tax difficulty, which recently necessitated the assistance of extra constables, has not 1 yet been lettled. The ringleaders among the Natives who refused to pay the tax were sent to Lyttelton, and paid up when they got there. The othtr Natives, however, still decline to “ part, ’ and the Government will have to send a fresh force down to the Islands if they want to collect the tax. The Christmas holidays were celebrated with due ceremony and festivity on the Islands. Bakers’ Union. -The interest of the journeymen bakers in the welfare of their Union does not neem to diminish, judging by the large attendance at their usual meeting on Saturday night—the President in the chair. A large amount of business was transacted, that of any interest to the pubiic being that it was decided that every journeyman baker should march in the Jubilee procession behind their trolly in white shirts, white caps and aprons ; also, the President was authorised to furnish a fair list of employers to the Federated Trades’ Council by next Friday night for the purpose of publication when the Council deems it advisable. Exhibition oe Pianos. —The announcement that a free pianoforte recital would be given iu the Exchange Hall on Saturday evening attracted a very large attendance. Messrs T. Kennedy Macdonald and Co., the agents for the Mignon, Roniseh, and Wilmer pianos had a great display of those instruments, the excellences of which were well displayed by the pianist, Mr Barlow, who discoursed music for a couple of hours upon the various pianos on view. The audience were evidently well pleased with the evening’s entertainment, aud no doubt Messrs Mac douald an 1 Co. are the same, as we understand a number of pianos were booked as the result.

A Unique Letter. A Wairarapa paper publishes tro following ns a verbatim copy of a letter written by a Valley resident : - “Dear Mary. I now take the pleasure of wrighting a few lines to you hoping it will find you well as it leaves us all at present. Dear Mary mother said that you got to stay were you are she is going to vvright up to gorge and see if he can get a place for you. Mother sa d that you must not go and stay with a, monri womon if you did no one would speak to you. Dearmary annie sent mothera pound up I have just finished wrighting armies letter. Mrs sharke’s baby has got a nap-ies on its nech and it is broke the poor little thing is so bad, we got a letter to from gorge he has been bad the baby can crole all about all over the shop. I have to make hast and go up the road you must wrighfc your letters a bit planer, that is all i have .got to say at presant. so good by kissesxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx M.other s fid if you stop after this month you got to have seven shillings a week so you must ask mr •”

A Jubilee Difficulty.—The Children’s Amusements Sub-Committee, appointed by the Jubilee Committee, have found themselves face to face with a difficulty in arranging the procession of school children, which is to form a feature of the Jubilee celebrations. It is stated that the Terrace aud Thorndon School Committees do not see their way, seeing that Jubilee Day comes within the holiday season, when pupils and teachers a: e away from school, to assembling the children for the procession. Last week a deputation from the eub-committee, con. sisting n? the Rsv ,T. Still and "‘Messrs W. Miller, T. Clapharn, and G. Tiller, waited on the City Council, and urged that body < •:> give them official assistance io ensuring the success of the procession. The Rev Mr Still explained that the uib-commitfcee thought the difficulty was a 1: tie hit exaggerated by the school commit'i': 3 named, for the authorities of the other s•. ools professed tfmir ability to give every stance. It was of importance that the qu e- lion should be settled at once, because if some of the day schools stood aloof the proo ssion wculd have to be arranged on the Sunday Gcboo! basis, which was undesirable. It was reso'ved, on the motion of Council! .r Brand oh, that the Town Clerk be instruct*d to write t.o the chairmen of the several school committees asking them to gi-'-t • distance to the public committee in tuscmbliiig the school children f or the pro--1 w.'in, irs order that no cfToit may he spared to make tbe public celt bratiou a suecess. The Mayor also promised to personally interview the chairmen of school committees on the subject.