TOWN & COUNTRY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 957, 4 July 1890, Page 20

TOWN & COUNTRY.

The total area of Crown lands sold taw tbo Ist April np till Wednesday l a ,t 19,294 acres 2 roods 32 perches, at am udm price of £16,046 6s iua. With reference to the Benuia Kawep* un case, the legal gentlemen eilu that no information hak yet been reoeiv e j? the Colony about the result of the anneii! 1 the Privy Council. Tho House spent the usual edifying Th„l day evening in the discussion of B Us, w |,js have occupied the attention of members f* many sessloas, and are still many hundrsi of miles away from legislative existent Mtjor Steward got a second reading of tb Dog Kegistration Bill after-the usual proted from tho Native members, who Bee daneen in the future for the domestic knri of th«b compatriots’ kaingas ; and there was the in. variable heroic encounter between si George Grey and some members of theleJ profession over the Law Practitioners Bill Sir George was successful on the seoonj reading, and subsequently also baat thi opposition on a motion to give his Bill pri. oedence when it is committed on the 10th d July. A very enjoyable children’s concert w»i{ held last night week in St John’s Schoolrooy in aid of the Free Public Library, given uudJ the auspices of tho Indopendeut Ord'jr $ Keohabites. A choir of about 100 voic«* very creditably snug a number of glejj The overture, “ Mathei’s valse,” .d capitally played by Master B. Eash.’ Son« were given by Miss Billman, Messrs Bill.] man and C. King. Mrs J. Helyer acted J pianist, and Mr Phil Bennot as organist] while Mr F. Billman conducted. The coiaJ mitteo arc to be complimented upon the! excellent tj sining of tho choir, whioh reJ fleeted great credit upon the painstaking iust-uctor. There was a large attendance and a good sum should be available for thl library fund. The chairman of the Harbour Board rei ported to the memberß of tho Board at the! special meeting held yesterday week a deputation, renresentiDg tbo engine fi ing firms in the city, had waited upon him! the previous day to complain of the action'd the Board in letting the contract for th)! construction of the new wool press to |i Christchurch firm, when a local firm had' tendered at the same figure. The matter! was dismissed in committee, and it w«' recommended, on the Beard resuming, till the acceptance of toudera for tho wooiprea be postponed pending tho consideration of i motion of which Mr Potherick had giver notice, “That the tenders for weo'preii received at last meeting be reconsidered, and the resolution then arrived at lie re. scinded.” This iecommendation was put fe the Board and agreed to. A publio trial and exhibition of si improved refrigerating and freezing nppi, ratus, the invention of Mr Loftue Perkins, of Gray’s Inn road, County of Middlesex London, took place yesterday week at the works of Mr J. E. Hayes, Lambtoi quay. The refrigerating agent employed ie the machine is a solution of ammonia, which is contained in a wrought iron vessel outside the cooling chamber. On the application ol heat to this vossel tho ammonia fs drives off and conducted through pipes to a Minilu wrought iron vessel in tho interior of the cooling chamber, where it is condensed toi liquid by its own pressure. When thii stage lias been reached tho exterior vessel is cooled, or allowed to cool spontaneously, when, the pressure being thus reduced, tin liquified ammonia in the interior vessel vaporises and is gradually re-absorbed inti the outer vessel, producing, during ihs process of vaporisation, an intense degis of cold in the cooling chamber. The speoii! improvement consists iu healing tS ammoniacal solution by means of a system of hot water pipes so arranged that ovst. heating is avoided and couseqneufc liability to explosion entirely prevented, and, tb liquids being contained in hermetically sealed pipes, no waste occurs, and tb apparatus may bo worked indefinitely at M further cost than tho small amount of heal necessary to keep it going.

A tneetinf/ of creditors in the bankrupt estate of Walter Brown, engineer, Welling' .ton, was held yesterday week before tbi Official Assignee, Mr C. C. Graham. Tin bankrupt was represented by Mr Tripp, rf Messrs Chapman, Fitz Gerald, and Tiipp. The principal creditors are as follow W. Muir, £3l 19s 6d ; H M. Haying £7O 3s 6d ; R. Pyesmith, £l2 7s 9d ; How well, Clark, and Co., (Leeds,' England), £433 14s 6d ; Robey and Co. (Lincoln, W| land), £361 4s la ; R, Py«stuitJ», £193056d; Sellg and Co. (London), £144 12a 6d ; Robsrt' son and Co., £SO 4s Sd ; De Urelle and Co. (London), £39 5s lid; Egan and Ca (Cincinnati, U.S.A,), £34 7s 7d ; United Asbestos Company (Londoo), £34 *J| 2il ; A. anri T, Burt { nn*din), CT 16s 6i ; City Council; £24 12s ftiii T. Ballinger, £2t 91 ; J. J. Curt's, £$ Ilf. Wilson and Ri.haidson, £llo<7'l| Liehtband (Christchurch). £lO I2b 6a ;J B. Daltrm, £lO 6s ; Wellington-M» nawstu fif'H wav Company, £22 ?8 1 i . ; Koi (Opunaltfl £22; Johnston and Co., £2O 14s fid ; HughMi (New Plymouth), £26 0s 2d ; CoW (Opunake), £10; W. McLean (Sltlfil ton), £26 10s ; Newman Bros. (Opuuaktl £l6 2b 2d ; G. Maxwell (OpanaMi £325 9< 9>l ; J. Nathan and Co. £lsol Colonial Bank, £lls 10s Id; W. C. Obsk held, £36 12s 6d ; Wi’kins and ft"*™ £32 10s 6d ; J Hav, £1613 lls3d; 7Nathan and Co . ‘2OO ; E. T. Say*"' £SO 13s lid ; J uningt'iQ (Opo ni| t l|, l i £ ; >o The other oei.ta are al l under The lubiliMt a are Atr-tdouQ at £3752 tiie wlio'e being unsc' U'ed, hut the slubtot considers his assets will more than disbO'* them. He sets down Lis stock in-trade »!• value of £ISOO 7s 3d ; book debts, £260 » lOd ; furniture, £100; amonnt of judgoW* recorded against W. R. York, £3500 ;i*™ property, £1782 7sßd; total, £7144 3s» This shows a surplus asset of £3391 There was a largo attendance of credit' present, but it was found necessary tow journ the meeting for a week, Mr Tr»vf being instructed in the meantime to inqo ll * fully ihto tho affairs of the estate.

Sir Robert Stout was a passenger by the uteamer Rotorua, which arrived from Lyttel* ton on Sunday. A patient named Hugh Hurley, who has been in the Hospital since 1884, died on Sunday from heart disease. Copies of the Bills before the House affecting labour questions will be forwarded to all the trade organisations in the Colony for their consideration. At present there are 295 students attending the School of Design. One hundred and .-if "*•" inrlnofpiiil a>'<?n.v flt.nHpnkn mujr v»iv.“*w. «>« 1 - — 4 and the remainder are teachers in the service of the Education Board. Last year the total number of students on the roll was 231, and the large increase this year may be regarded as ample testimony of the fact that the Sohool is doing good work. jg The Australasian Association of Science, which meets a few months hence in Christchurch, will be very largely attended by "scientific men from all part 3 of Australia 'and several from England, among whom, it is hoped, will be the great botanist, Sir Joseph Hooker, who wrote a book on the Flora of New Zealand. A series of excursions are planned, one of which is a trip to the top of Ruapehu, iu the Wellington distriat. The Secretary of the Typographical Association notifies the public of the arrangement whioh the proprietor of this journal has made with the Association. It is unnecessary for us to say anything farther about the matter, except that, as he intimates, henceforth the New Zealand Times, like the principal leading papers of the Colony, will be carried on under Association rules, as far as its compositors are concerned. At last night week’s meeting of the Council, a letter was read from Dr Lemon, superintendent of the Telegraph Department, stating that it was now twelve months since he had sent in his account for services rendered in connection with the electric lighting of the city. Councillor Petherick wished to be informed what the amount due to Dr Lemon was, and the clerk replied it was £52 10s. The further consideration of the matter was left for the Public Works Committee to deal with. At the Central Police Station on Friday afternoon a presentation of a silver-mounted Malacca |oane and a silver-mounted pipe, both suitably inscribed, was made to Mr D. O’Rourke, who has for many years occupied the position of court-orderly, and who has been appointed bailiff of the Napier Resident Magistrate’s Court. The presentation was made by Constable McGill, watohhouse keeper, who referred to the popularity whioh Mr O’Rourke had gained for himself. Mr O’Rourke suitably replied. He took his departure for Napier last night. We have to acknowledge reoeipt from the author, Mr Alexander Bathgate, of Dunedin, son of the late Hon J. Bathgate, M.L.C., of a copy of a volume of poems, entitled “ Far South Fanoies.” The work has a preface by Mr Douglas Sladen, who edits the volume, and will be remembered as the editor of “Australian Ballads,” the first published collection of poetry by Australian authors. So far as a somewhat hurried glance through theoo “ Far South Fancies,” has enabled us to form an opinion, it would appear that Mr Bathgate has produced some excellent verse with the true ring of poetio inspiration in it, and ha 3 done good service to this Colony by his masterly description of its beautiful scenery, and his poems founded on the Maori legendary lore. The members of the Harbour Board held » special meeting yesterday week for the purpose of considering several matters in connection with the Hunter street endowment leases. There were present—the Chairman (Captain Rose), Messrs Pearce, Petheriok, Booth, Speedy, Heaton and the Mayor. The Board at'onoe went into committee. On resuming, it wan • reported that, a letter having been received from Mr T. K, Macdonald, the Committee recommended that its further consideration be postponed to a special meeting to be held that day week; also that the sale of the lease of the Queen’s Bond site advertised for the Ist July be withdrawn from auction. Both recommendations were put to the Board and agreed to. It was also reported that the Board, as requested by the Secretary of the Willie MoLaren Salvage Company, agree under suitable conditions to the hire of the small dredge for the purpose of removing the coal from the wreok. This recommendation was also agreed to. The monthly meeting of the Standing Committee of the Wellington Diocesan Synod was held last week. Present—The Most Rev the Primate (in the chair), Vcd. Archdeacon Fanoourt, Rev J. Jones, Mr C. P, Powles, Mr J. W. A. Marchant, and Mr C. Rous Marten. A ietter waß read from Colonel Gorton stating that if the £25 a year granted by the Synod toward house rent for the curate of Bulls could be depended on for a term of years a parsonage would be erected by means of debentures, the £25 going toward interest and sinking fund After some discussion the Secretary was directed to'reply that the Standing Cnm. mittee would recommend this to the Synod, and saw no reason to doubt that the allowance would be continued as desired. The Secretary reported that since last meeting £217 had been received, and £167 expended. The stipends owing to the end of the last quarter amounted to £545, against whioh there were parochial assessments due to the amount of £548. It was stated that the financial position was better by £l5O than at the same time last year.

We understand that the Happy Valley Meat Company are again the successful tenderers for the Hoepital meat supplies. The eighth annual show of the Wellington Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Association will be held on the 24th, 25th, and 26th of T

Saturday last being the 52nd anniversary of the ooronation of He: Majesty the Queen, the Royal standard was hoisted at the Government Hotise flagstaff.

The steamer Hauroto, whioh left for Sydney last week, had cs board about 1500 tons ’of colonial produce. She took about 100 tons of cargo from Wellington. She also carried a large number of passengers. The traffic leturns of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway for the week ending 21st June,!jlß9o, amounted to £lll6 12s 9d, and for the corresponding period of - last year £1369 2s, showing a decrease of £252 9s 3d. Detective Campbell has received instrnctions to proceed to Christchurch, and his plaoe here will be filled by Detective Neill. During Mr Campbell’s stay in Wellington he has proved himself an efficient officer, and was extremely popular amongst the other members of the police force.

Information was reoeived by the police yesterday week that a man named William Sparkes, formerly of Wellington,, had been arrested in Sydney, on a obarge of deserting his wife. Constable Madden left for Sydney by the Hauroto for the purpose of bringing Sparkes back to New Zealand. At St Peter’s Churoh on Sunday, it being the Dedication Festival of the Churoh, processional and recessional hymns were sung marning and evening. The anthem was “The Lord is loving” (Garrett). At the close of the evening service Mr Tallis Trimnell (who presided at the organ) played the following selection of sacred music : Air and chorus, “ Inflammatus ” (“ Stabat Mater”), Rossini; canzone in A-minor, Guilmant; “ Marohe cortege” (“Queen of Sheba”), Gounod.

At St. Paul’s pro-Cathedral on Sunday (it being the festival of St. Peter) there was a full choral celebration at mid-day. The Kyrie, Credo, Sursum, Sanctus, Gloria in Exoelsis were sung to Dykes’ beautiful service in F—the exquisite Credo being particularly impressive ; the Offertory Sentences to Barnby’s Festal Setting; and the Nnnc Dimittis as a Recessional to the Second Parisian Tone. Sir John Stainers’ celebrated " Sevenfold Amen ” was sung after the Consecration and Benediction, and appropriate sacramental hymns pianissimo by the choir during the actual administration. The Most Rev the Primate officiated as celebrant, and the Rev Canon Howell as deacon. Mr R. Parker presided at the organ.

An interesting feature of the service at St Paul’s pro-Cathedral on Sunday was tho first performance of a new “service,' composed to the “Magnificat” and “Nunc Dimittis,” by Mr Robert Parker, the organist of the ohnrch. It is a very bright, telling, and mueicianly service, thoroughly in the modern enolesiastieal style, with a good deal of the unison and octave work, which is always so effective. The key is E-major, with a boldly contrasted episode in G. The setting is melodious and flowing throughout, the composer never having sacrificed beauty to that affected originality which so often now-a-days degenerates into mere eccentricity. “ Parker in E ” is a very acceptable addition to the repertory of good ohurch mnsic.

The pictures now on exhibition at the office of the Academy of Fine Arts, No. 3, Grey street, have attracted many visitors during the past week, and we are informed that the tickets aro poing off well. We are afraid that it is not widely known that the object of this raffle is to provide money for the future picture gallery of Wellington. The Government has granted a fine site near the Supreme Court, and the academy has to build within a certain time or it loses its grant. It is whispered that an idea is on foot to combine the Picture Gallery and Public Library, although as yet the officials of both bodies express themselves unaware of any such notion. The academy has already some funds in hand, which, if added to those subscribed for the library, would very much augment the amount.

During Mr Henry Yarley’s mission in Wellington the receipts amounted to £l6l Ms 9d, and the expenditure (including a donation of £52 10s to Mr Varley), to £156 18s 6d. The balance of £4 16s 3d will be spent in meetings of oonverts, literature to be circulated among seamen, &c. The Wellington Acclimatisation Society have taken to date from the rivers and streams 44,000 brown trout ova, 42,000 Loch Leven, and 117,000 Foutiualis. The spawning season is said to be a very straggling one, and the curator reports that the bulk of the fish have not yet come up from the sea.

The police received information on Satur. day morning that an old man named William Loft fell dead at tho door of his residence in Sydney street. Deceased had been ailing for a long time, and was under treatment by Dr Grace, who gave a certificate that death resultod from heart disease. Under these oircumstanoes the District Coroner, Mr Robinson, has decided that an inquest is not necessary.

The result of the local option poll of tLe Onslow Licensing District on Saturday was in favour of an increase iu the number of licenses, the voting being as follows :—ln favour of publicans’ licenses being increased, 59 ; against an increase, 36. There were 47 votes in favour of an increase in the number of wine licenses, and 42 against an increase. The poll was a very lively one, a good deal of interest being manifested in it. Mr D. D. Cameron acted as returning officer. On Saturday afternoon a baker's trap, the property of Mr Mackey, of Clyde quay, came to grief on Lambton quay through colliding with a drag belonging to Mr J. Lane, and' driven by F. Buck. The cart was driven by John O’Donnell, who left a lad named Louis Reay in charge while he ?vas attending to his oustomers. The trap was oaught by the wheel and wrenohed round, but not with sufficient force to overthrow it. The horse fell against the kerbing and injured one of its hind legs, while the trap was considerably damaged. An instructive, and, at the same time, enjoyable afternoon was spent at the scientific ramble of the Congregational Social Institute, held at Lyall Bay on Sntnrday afternoon. There was a good attendance of members present. Mr T. W. Kirk, under whose direction the ramble took place, ably expounded to those present the various habits and peculiarities of fish life, which included varieties of star-fish; sea anemonies, crabs, etc. It has been decided to farther discuss the subject next Thursday evening in the Schoolroom, Bowen street.

The fact that in all probability this colony will abandon the San Francisco mail service if the United States Government discontinue their subsidy has been cabled by the Government to the Agent-General, with instructions to ascertain whether the British Government will continue to pay the cost of transit from San Francisco to London as hitherto, if the contract can be renewed ; or, in the event of this not being arranged, whether the Imperial Govern ment will pay for carriage of mails to this colony by the Direct service, New Zealand pa; ing the homeward carriage. The city Volunteer corps and Garrison Band paraded at the Volunteer Driilshed on Sunday morning for the purpose of attrnd ing Divine service at St. Peter’s Church The number on parade was as follows : Wellington Naval Artillery (70), under Cap. tain Duncan and Lieutenants Hislop and Campbell; D Battery Artillery (28), under Sergeant-Major Robinson; City Rifles and Guards (45), under Captain Collins ; Garrison Band (23), under Bandmaster Herd The staff was Colonel Butts and Major Loveday. Owing to the absence of SergeantMajor Bel!, who is at present unwell, Sergeant - Major Robinson was the commander of the oarade.

Two of the Tramway horses bolted at Newtown on Sunday while the driver 4 1 guard were changing Haem from one ena of the oar to the other, preparatory to making the return trip townward. The driver held on to his reins manfully, as did also the guard to the swingle-tree, but, one of the horses starting kicking, the guard bad to drop the bars. This frightened the animals still further, and they dragged the reins, which were wet and slippery, through the driver’s fingers. Fortunately the horses fell before they had gone very far, and before they had done any injury to either human beings or themselves, a ring and a buckle or so broken in the harness being all the damage done. The horses were taken back, and the car proceeded on its trip as if nothing had happened.

We learn that the office of the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society at Wellington will ip future be the chief office for New Zealand. Mr T. Jaques Martin, the general manager, is at present in Welling, ton on a tour of inspection of the. New Zealand branch, inaugurating the change. The Government have received a telegram from the Agent-General supplying the information that the owner of the celebrated painting “ The Adoration of the Magi,” which attracted so much attention at tho recent. Dunedin Exhibition, has presented the picture to the Dunedin Art Gallery. The painting is by Mr J. R. Herbert, R. A., and it is a matter for congratulation that such a valuable work is to be retained in the Colony.

Tho Auckland Star says An old and very well known Auckland resident arrived from Sydney by the steamer Monowai in the person of Mr Lachlan McGowan, actor and theatrical impressario. Mr McGowan has been absent from this city for a considerable time past on a business trip round the Australian colonies. He only remains here until Friday, when he leaves for Wellington on business matters.

A cable message of Monday morning states that the British Government intend to cede the Island of Maria to Germany, as well as Heligoland. There are Beveral islands bearing the name of Maria. One is in the Low Archipelago in the South Pacific, another is in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and a third off the Tasmanian coast. It is doubtful if it is any of the three above mentioned that is referred to in the cable meß3age, as none of them is of any speoial value to Germany. The largest of the three is the one in the Low Archipelago. Probably there is another Maria Island, but it is not marked iu any of the maps at our disposal. The City Licensing Committee held their adjourned annual meeting on Monday to conaider the question of granting a license for the Pier Hotel. There were present— Messrs Willeston (in the chair), Fraser, and Hayes. The clerk (Mr J. E. Ames) stated that Mr J. Bertie had applied for a license for the hotel. Inspector Thomson,. who represented the police, offered no objeotion, and the Committee decided to grant Mr Bertie’s application. The clerk was instructed to notify the Government that Mr Saunders’ seat on the Committee had become vacant through his absence from meetings. This was all the business, and the Committee then adjourned.

Mr H. W. Robinson (Distriot Coroner) held an inquest at the Hospital on Monday morning upon the body of Olive Maria Jensen, who died in the Asylum on Snnday, Mr W. E. Tyson was chosen foremau of the jury. From the evidence of Dr Rowand, Medical Superintendent at the Asylum, it appears the deceassd was admitted to the institution oa February 10, 1884, from the Napier Asylum. The doctor stated that deceased was suffering from inflammation of the lungs, brought on by a chill. It is not known whether she has any relations in the Colony. The jury returned a verdicc in accordance with the medical testimony that death was dne to inflammation of the lung 3. History repeats itself ! When Hanlan, hitherto unconquered, was defeated by Beach in. 1884, he was not satisfied, and tried again, only to be beaten once more. His fellow townsman, O’Connor, having been unsuccessful against Stansbury, talked about a foul and was giver, another chance, with the result that on Monday he got the very baddest of pad beatings. It is pretty evident that the Australian scullers are, and have been for some years, of a higher class than 'those of England and America. Gaudaur made a brave show against Beach in 1886* but Hanlan, Teemer and O’Connor have all failed when pitted against Australians. England’s best sculler, Bubear, finds a match in Brown, a colonial second-rater; and O’Connor, having proved his superiority to all the other American and Canadian oarsmen, has been beaten easily by Searle and Stousbnry, and probably would be unsuccessful against either Kemp or McLean. On Sunday evening, at the Masonic Hall, Boulcott street, Sir Robert Stout, under commission from the Grand Orient of France, formally opened a Masonic Lodge under that Constitution. This is the first lodge opened under this jurisdiction in this Colony. There were some twenty-three brethren present, and the ceremony was most impressive. The officers of the new lodge are as follow :—WM., Bro Sir Robert Stout; S.W., Bro the Hon John Ballance ; J. W., Bro J. D. Wrigglesworth ; Orator, Bro Walter Hill ; Secretary, Bro W. B. Hudson ; 1.G., Bro Willis, of Wanganui. A candidate was proposed for initiation, and it was stated that a large accession of members was expected shortly. We understand that the rules of the Grand Orient of Franoe required the lodge to be opened in the month of June, and as Sir Robert Stout only arrived from tho SnnMi on Sunday morniag, ana the iodse room was engaged oa Monday evening, there was no alternative but for the ceremony to take place on Snnday night. During the last two Sundays the Rev Mr Ward has delivered, in the Webb street Churoh, singularly interesting discourses on the religion of Shakespeare. Mr Ward quoted largely from the works of the great dramatist, and showed that his teachings were identical with the leading ideas of Christianity, namely, God. The incarnation, the atonement ; man, his spirituality, moral accountability, moral corruption, free agency, conscience, his duty to God, society, and himself, were oil touched on. Mr Ward said Shakespeare seldom shirked an * opportunity for the utterance of instructive or moral maxim. He was the educator of his audiences. He always vindicated the justice of God’s providence. Mr Ward held that Bible truths permeate Shakespeare’s productions, and shape Some of his grande-t thoughts, and gave an Orient splendour to some cf hi* sublimest creations ; that Christianity was worthy of the highest genius, appreciated by the highest genius, and useful to the highest genius ; and that the Bible demanded the honest and reverent study of the biuhoat class of mind.

The beer duty returns for the port of Wellington for last month were £433 4s sd, as against £366 12s Id for June. 18i9. The beer duty collected daring the preceding month of this year amounted to £556 0s Bd.

During the six months which ended on Monday, the Official Assignee managed 32 bankrupt estates, being a decrease of eight compared with the same period of last yeai\ During last month only two bankruptcies occurred.

Mr George Woodward reports the follow* ing additional donations towards the funds of the Free Public Library T. W. Lewis, £1 is; M. E. Porter and" Co., £1 Is; Captain S. C. Anderson, £1 Is ; Friend (cash), 10s. The Secretary of the Fund acknowledges the receipt of £1 11s from Air M. Maakey and employes. The circumstance of the Chairman of the Onslow Licensing Committee ref raining from giving reasons why Mr Michael Hodgins’ application for a new license was refused on Monday is to be made the subject of lurther litigation. Mr Skerrett intends to apply for a mandamus compelling the Committee to state their reasons for the refusal.

The annual shew of the Wairarapa and East Coast Pastoral and Agricultural Association will be held at Carterton on the 30th of October, and entries close on the 18th of that month. The catalogue provides, as usual, for an extensive show of horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, implements, vehicles’ and produce, and there will also ba leaping and shearing matches. Mr Edward W. Dorset is the Secretary. The Star Gymnastic Club tendered a benefit at the Princess Theatre on Monday to Mr James Waters, whom a recent severe accident has incapacitated. The performance consisted of a vocal and instrumental eonoert, acrobatic displays by the clever Star Gymnasts, feats of strength, stepdancing, &o. Subsequently a dance was held, at which Mr H. Boecker acted aa M.C. The entertainment was a successful one altogether, and the secretary, Mr W. G. Brett, is to be commended for the excellence of the management. A meeting of shareholders of the Alasonic Hall Company was held in the Masonic Hall, Boulcott street, on Monday night, when the following were elected directors for the current year :—Messrs S. Brown, H. J. H. Eliott, Jno. Young, Russell, A. Lindsay", Fownes, and W. B. Hudson. A resolution was passed making the holders of ten shares eligible for the directorate instead of twenty shares as was previously the case. The newlyeleeted members will hold a meeting shortly, and we understand they are sanguine that some 400 or 500 shares will be taken up within the next three months.

The Customs’ duties collected at this poit during the month which ended on Monday amounted to £16,667 14s 7d. For the corresponding month of last year the returns amounted to £19,577 Is 6d. In the previous month of this year (May) the sum received was £24,077 2s lid. The details of last month were :—Spirits in bulk, £2917 7s ; spirits in case, £2092 16s ; cigars, cigarettes’ and snuff, £722 19s 2d ; tobacco, £3109 Is ; wine (sparkling), £52 Is ; wine (Australian), £ll9 15s : wines (other kinds), £350 6s 9d : ale and beer, £303 4s 6d ; tea, £1036 5a ; coffee, chocolate, cocoa, and chicory, £3lB 2s 6d ; sugars, molasses, and treacle, £412 11s lid ; glucose, £lB 13s 4d ; opium, £112; goods by weight, £1424 J9s 9d ; ad vaiorem, £2124 Is lOd ; other duties, £1064 7s 9d ; primage, £489 2s Id.

A meeting of the Wellington Branch of the Irish National League took plaoe in the Marist Brothers’ Sohool, Boulcott street, on Monday night, the President (J. J. Devine) iu the chair. A letter was read from Air D. R. Lawlor, who had been elected secretary at the last half-yearly meeting, declining to act, thereupon the meeting were unanimous in requesting Mr J. O’Dea to continue the duties of secretary. Mr Lawlor’s resignation wag accepted. On the motion of Air Fleming, seconded by Mr Walsh, it was resolved that a grand social gathering of the League and its supporters be held on the 14th instant. A committee of ladies will be appointed to assist in carrying out the arrangements in connection with this proposed grand sooial entertainment. After some routine business had been gone through, including the receiving of subscriptions, the meeting broke up.

The Newtown firebeil rang out an alarm about 10.30 o’clock on Monday morning, and the available members of the local branch of the Fire Brigade very smartly had the reel out, and were on their way to the scene of the fire, evidenced by dense volumes of smoke iu the direction of Island Bay. Qia arrival at the scene it was found that a sixroomed cottage in Herald street, on the high ground beyond Russell terrace and Waripori street was in flames, and the building was gutted before the fire was extinguished. The cottage was the residence and property of Mr James Phillips, a collector for the Singer Sewing Machine Company, and it was insured in the National office for £l5O. We understand that the cause of the fire was a burning log of firewood falling out of the grata and igniting a sheet whioh was hung up to air in front of the fireplaoe, and it is said that a cockatoo in the kitchen gave the alarm by its vigorous screaming out in alarm at the unusual bonfire in its vicinity.

“ Football Skits ” is the title of a little volume of caricatures by a local artist, whose full signature is “W.K.” The alleged sfeita are excellently done, and the publication altogether is a lively one of special iuterest to persons who are interested in tho humorous phases of football.

Owing to tho recent severe illness of Bro. H. Thompson, Grand Master N.Z.0., the meeting of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, lixed to taka place here on the 21st instant, has been postponed to the 2Sth instant. We are informed that Mr Thompson has been at death’s door with fever and inflammation of the lungs, but is now on the fair road to recovery.

The beer duty co'lected last mouth for the whole of the Golony amounted to £3SSO 17s 3d, the principal ports contributing as follows Dunedin, £944 183 Sd; Christchurch, £862 10s 3d ; Auckland, £S22 15s 6d ; Wellington, £433 4s sd. For the same month of last year the sum received was £3377 10s Id. The return for the quarter is £12,897 11s 9d, as against £12,147 6s 3d for the corresponding period of last year. During last month the Customs duties collected in tho Colony amounted to £102,7G9 4s sd, as against £95,G47 9s 5d for tho corresponding month of last year. In the previous month (May) the returns amounted to £127,165 2a Id. Last mouth the four principal ports contributed as follows : —Dunedin. £27,428 183 101 ; Auckland. £24,006 9a ltd; Chr<stchurch, £14,252 Is sd; Wellington, £16,667 14s 7(1. The collections for the quarter which ended ou Monday amounted to £356,208 11s, as against £324,755 193 lid for the corresponding period of last year.

From the enthusiasm evinced at the meeting of the Hutt residents held on Tuesday in the Mechanics’ Institute and Library there appears every reason for supposing that the establishment will again meet with the support it deserves. It may be stated that the building in question was erected as long ago a 3 1555, and contains now about 1400 volumes, many of them being very valuable. Though the building has been so long in existence, it is in a good state of preservation, but sadly wants a coat of paint on the outside to make it presentable. The inside, however, could be mads comfortable enough with very little expense. A report of what took place at Tuesday's mee'ing will be found elsewhere.

During the quarter ending on Monday last tho sum of £623 11s 6d was received at the Magistrate’s Court for civil and criminal fees, applications for publicans’ licenses, etc. During the period mentioned 357 civil cases were heard, and of these 297 were for claims under £2O ; 42 for claims between £2O and £SO ; and IS for sums ranging from £SO to £IOO. Three hundred and eightyfour criminal cases were heard during the quarter. Sixty.five cases were dismissed for want of evidence, and 40 were dismissed on their merits. Summary convictions were recorded in 199 instances, and in seven cases the persons accused were committed for trial. The remaining 73 cases were otherwise dealt with.

The usual weekly meeting of the Benevolent Society Trustees was held at the Queen’s Chambers on Tuesday afternoon, when there were present—Rev H. Van Staveren (chairman), Messrs J. E. Smith, C. E. Willeston, J. Collins, and G. M. Kebbell. A large number of cases were dealt with, and among them was the case of a coloured seaman, who, not being a union man or British subject, other sailors objected to sail with him, and he had to go ashore and become a destitute person. The man had come from Montevideo in the Parsee, and thought he would get work here, with the result that the institution had to relieve him. The secretary was instructed to ask the Unions whether they would advance a sum to help cases of men who did not belong to the Unions, or if they were to be thrown upon public charity. A round robin from the men at the boardinghouse was referred to the chairman to deal with. Accounts to the amount of £162 3s 6d were passed for payment, and the Trustees adjourned.

At the fortnightly meeting of the Hospital Trustees, held in the City Council offices on Tuesday, there were present—Messrs F. H. Fraser (Chairman), J. Collins, G. Allen, R. C. Kirk, G. M. Kebbell, C. W. Willeston, J. Taylor, Dr Newman, M.8.R., and the Rev Van Staveren. After the confirmation of the minutes of the previous meeting Dr Newman moved, in accordance with notice given by him, that the clause in contracts allowing contractors tor yearly supply to give one month’s notice of discontinuance, be struck out. In doing so he contented himself with calling at. tontion to the fact that a recent contract had been thrown up in this way, entailing greater cost on the Truatees, and stated that a yearly contract should, in his opinion, be held for the period for which it is taken. The Rev Van Staveren seconded the motion, which was carried without further discussion. Salaries to the amount of £lB4 17s were passed for payment. The state of the road leading from the Hospital gate, which had been alluded to at a previous meeting, was again the subject of some discussion, and it was resolved to patch the road up for the present at a small cost. A transfer of a lease from Phelps to Andrew Lang was agreed to, and the surrender of a Talavera terrace lease, held by tho late Mr Masters, of Greymouth, was accented. It was decided th.nt certain furnishing required should be obtained by the Steward. A return was laid on ins table setting forth the comparative figures for Juno, ISB9, and the same month this year, from which it appeared that tho total numbers treated were 171 and ISI respectively, while those discharged were— June, ISS9 : Cured, 55 ; relieved, 7 ; died, 4 ; total, 66 Juue, 1890: Cured,. 62; relieved, 3 ; unrelieved, 3 ; died, G ; total, 74. There are now 107 patients in the institution.