Town and Country.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1032, 11 December 1891, Page 34

Town and Country.

The next sitting of the Bankruptcy Court will be held on tha second Monday in February next.

The installation of the newly.elected Mayor (Mr H. D. Bell) will take place in the Connell Chambers on Wednesday, the 16th inst., at noon. The foundation stone of the Public Library will be laid by the present Mayor (Mr A. W. Brown) before hia term of office expires, viz., 16th inst. The man Crawford, who was arrested last Friday on a suspicion of lunaoy, has been released, Drs Pollen and Rawson being satisfied of hia sanity. Alice Cook, of the Wadestown school, took part ia the Vere-Foster National Competition in writing some time ago, and the printed returns from England now show that her name appears thiid in the list of those securing honourable mention. On Monday the darkness was suggestive of pitch, and yet the electric light was turned off considerably before midnight. This ia not the first time the same thing has occurred during the last few nights, and those whom business or pleasure has taken abroad late in the evening have had to grope their way along the streets. Is it economy of the water, or was last night supposed to be moonlight ? There was a good attendance at St. John’s Christian Fellowship meeting on Sunday morning, when Mr W. Brown read an excellent paper on the subject of “ Jacob outwits Esau and obtains the birthright blessing.” A very interesting conversation among members followed, dealing principally with the characters of the two brothers. Next Sunday the subject for consideration is “ Jacob’s Vision at Bethel,” and will be introduced by Mr A. Munro. With the exception of a few details the plans for the Te Aro Railway Extension are almost completed, and tenders for the carrying out of the work will be shortly invited. The new section commences at the Thorndon terminus and terminates at the Corporation yards in Clyde quay, being a total length of 1 mile 15 chains. The contract will include the formation, platelaying works and platforms, but the erection of the station buildings, at the end of Tory street, will stand over for a subsequent contract.

R. W, Holmes, who has for many years occupied the position of Resident Engineer in Wellington, Is being removed to Hunterville to take charge of the works in connection with the southern end of the North Island Main Trunk Railway. His position in Wellington will be taken by Mr G. L. Cook, who has been occupying the Hunterville post, and the office at Palmerston North will be closed. The Resident Engineer at Westport is about to remove by order to Auckland, where he will be next in rank to Mr Vickerman, Resident Engineer for the Northern districts. A bazaar in aid of the building fund of the Courtenay place Congregational Church concluded on Monday at the Exchange Hall. The stallholders were Mesdames Powell, F. G. Watly, Lewis, Levy, Elliott, Kranse, Thorley, C. Russell, and Kelly, and Misses Metcalf, aDd M. Metcalf. - The refreshment Btall was presided over by Mrs Rountree and Mrs Russell, and the flower stall by Mrs Tonka and Miss Allen, Miss Russell taking charge of the Christmas tree. Music was provided by an efficient band, the piano being lent by the Dresden Piano Company. Business was brisk throughout, the remaining stock being successfully disposed of at auction by Mr A. W. Brown, Mayor of Wellington, in the evening.

A meeting of the Benevolent Trustees was held at Queen’s Chambers on Monday afternoon for the purpose of electing five representatives from ten local bodies. The only Trustees present were Messrs G. Beetham, representing tha Wairarapa North County Council and the Masterton and Carterton Borough Council, and Mr Richard Mothes, representing the Petone Borough Council. The following Trustees were elected :—Mr W. Booth, Masterton and Carterton Borough Councils ; Mr W. H. Beetham, Wairarapa North County Council; Mr G. M. Kebbell, Horowhenua County Council ; Mr John Collins, Melrose Borough Council; and Mr R. Mothes, Petone Borough Council.

funeral of the late Mr John Knowles took place on Saturday afternoon, and was name ous’y nttended. Mr W. W. Knowles and the Rev F. Knowles, sou and brother of the deceased, were the chief mourners, and amongst those who followed were the ohieis of nearly all the Government departments. Ihe Rev W. M. Fell was the officiating min’ster at the grave, where the members of the Bowen street Church sang the wellknown hymn, “Jesus Lover of My Soul,” in compliance with the .special request expressed by the deceased before hia death. The coffin was literally covered with wreaths sent by hia many friends as a last token of their affection. The Rev G. J. Allen referred to the late Mr Knowles in his sei mou at yesterday morning’s sarvica at the Bowen street Church, of which the deceased was a founder, and at whioh he has for many years been a worshipper.

«J|Another of the few remaining pioneer settlers has just passed away at the ripe old age of 85, namely Mrs Whitehouse, who arrived in Wellington on the 22nd of May, 1841, and landed at Pipitea Point on the 25th May with her husband, Mr John Whitehouse. Shortly after thair arrival Mr Whitehouso with his family settled on the Porirua road, and tnrned his hand to farming, taking a farm near the old Halfway House. After 10 years in this pursuit Mr Whitehouse met with an accident, which caused his death. Mrs Whitehouse was thus left with a family of four sons and one daughter. One of these is settled in Tasmania ; Mr T. Whitehouse of Cuba street, Wellington, is the second : Mr William Whitehouse, of Ingelwood, is the third ; and Mr John Whitehouse, of Porirua, Is the fourth son. Mrs Jillett, who is the only daughter, has had the care of her mother for many years, and until the last she was nursed by her with the most unceasing love,

The traffic returns of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway for the week end ‘"8 28th, 1891, was £1613 11b lid, and for the corresponding week in the P revl °“® Jfg' £1604 15a Sd, showing an increase of ios Sd A t a meeting of the Typographical Society od Satorday evening a resolution was passed expressing confidence m <ihe Government and accepting Mr McLean aa the Ministerial candidate for the representation of Wellington.

Mr R. H. J. Reeves, M.H.R., received the following wire last Friday from SLister Tor Defence:-* 1 It is impossible £ me to be in Wellington before arrival of Grafton on Wednesday next. lam far well yet. bnt will endeavour to leave Greymonth for Wellington next Monday.—R. JSkd^doh.” Th« new organ for the Congregational The instrument will be formally opened by Mr RParker at a recital to be given on Monday, 21st met.

Tnflnenza still continues to harass the looM police force. Eleven Wellington and two country constables are _at P reao “‘ Riifferine from this epidemic ; and as constabfes have had to be ont of town to take the place of . the * country brethren, the result is that there are fifteen men short in the oity.

At the next meeting of the City Council Councillor Vogel will move That ifa suitable site can be obtained a public sea bath with a minimum charge f°»-/ d mission be erected at the Thorndon end o. at a cost, if possible, not exceeding £ > (21 that a committee be appointed to car y out the above resolution. ’*

The concert given on Friday in aid of the Kilbirnie Cricket Club in the local schoolroom, was well attended. A good programme was presented, m whioh tie following took part Messrs R. Smith, G. Monteith, E. J. Gormley. S. Dick, M. Lewis, D. Calder and G. Philpott. Mr G. Barlow presided at the piano. The members of the Baptist persuasion are enlarging their hordera. The .present church building in Vivian street is to be utilised as a schoolroom, and shifted to a Bite which has been bought for the purpose. While a larger and more durable tabernaole will be erected in Vivian street.

Mr Isaac Selby, who formerly toured New Zealand as a Freethought lecturer, but who now travels as a Christian evangelist, addressed a crowded audience m the Opera House on Sunday on “ Christ the Contemporary of all Ages, or was Jesus Christ Man, Myth, or God ?” Mr A. F. Turner presided, and the lecturer had a very attentive audience. A valuable assortment of prizes, to be competed for by the employes of the Wellington Co-operative 'Bus Co “P any Christmas Day, at Newtown Park, has been provided, the donors including several prominent tradesmen. In addition a large quantity of toys for distribution among the children has been received. Altogether the affair promises to be a conspicuous success. Mr J. Comyne Matheson, of the New York Life Insurance Company, was, on the 26th November, at Picton, married bo Miss Jenkins, the daughter of Mr Geo Thomas Jenkins, recently of Dunedin. The ceremony was performed at the residence of the bride’s father by the Rev Mr Allsworth, Presbyterian Minister, immediately after which the happy pair left by the Rotorua for Wellington.

Inspector Thomson received information on Saturday from Constable Baskerville, of Pabautanui, of the narrow escape from drowning of a boy seven years of age, the son oLa fisherman at Paramata. He fell into Porirua Bay, and was carried down about 200 yards, bnt was rescued by a fisherman named Lima; and by bis unwearying exertions restored to consciousness. He is now in as good health as before the accident.

We are pleased to once more chronicle * the success of a Wellington College boy. John Carmichael Smith, the son of the late Dr Smith, of Greytown, who, aftei a suecessfnl termination to bis medical studies m Edinburgh, returns this month duly qualified. We believe it is his intention to take up ms late father’s practice in the Wairarapa. He has bad three years at the Dunedm University and School of Medicine in Edinburgn, where, in his first term, ,he took two firstclas3 certificates, and in his second the silver medal, coming next the gold medallist. At the meeting of the Public Works Committee on Monday a letter was received from Messrs George Thomas and Co., asking the Council to remove the cart stand in front of their now premises, on the ground that it impedes the traffic to their building, and prevents customers from getting their fruit and other goods away from the building m a convenient manner. The committee decided to instruct the Inspector to bring np a report at the next meeting of the Council as to a new site for the stand. Messrs R. Hannah and Turnbu'l, jun., architect, waited upon the Public Works Committee onMcDday in reference t o a new building which is being erected for the former Portion of the building, which faces Lambton quay, it is proposed to build in brick, and it is intended to erect the part facing the Terrace of wood. The depute, tion asked the Committee 1o woivo the provisions of the by-laws in this case, so as to allow of the buildmg being partly of wood and partly of brick. The Committee decided to recommend the Council that as the buildiDg was in No. 1 district it had -no power to grant the request.

We have received a blotting pad from the Royal Insurance Company, very serviceable and handy. It is accompanied by an almanac very full of information of a useful kind. The local agents for the Shaw Savill and Albion Co. have been advised that the R M.S. Doric left Rio on the evening of the 6th. Her cargo of frozen meat was reported to be in good condition. Twelve thousand young trout wenre liberated in the Paikokariki stream on Tuesday by Mr Ayson, curator of the Masterton hatcheries. Ten thousand were also liberated in the Hutt River. Mr W. H. Lovin’s promised donation of £IOOO to"the fund for purchasing books for the Free Public Library was paid to the City Treasurer on Monday, as was also th £SO promised by Mr E. Pearce. The third of a series of interesting lectures on the English language was given on Tuesday before the Aloysian Society, in St Hall, by Mr J. H. Kirby There was a large attendance of the members and their friends. . The following are the latest additions to the Telephone Exchange :—Messrs C- Lamberg. St. Hill street; S. and W. Mackay, Lambton quay; M. O. Rigarlsford, Molesworth street f United Insurance Company, Hunter street. The Chief Justice will sit on Monday nex to deal with the case of Herbert Ayres who at the recent criminal sessions pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering, and who was remanded for the report of the Probation Officer.

A special meeting of the Builders Association was held on Tuesday at the Exchange Buildings, to consider the Government conditions of contract, Mr Russell (presiden ) being in the chair. Only five clauses were dealt with, and the meeting tnen adjourned until next week, when further consideration will be given to the matter. The following missing friends are enquired for in Lloyd’s weekly of Nove “ b^ / , Arthur Tilby, late ol Mma road, 9 ld Kent road, London, was last heard of in Auckland about 1882. His brothers Ernest and Hemyiu Queensland ask. Edward Bunker on April 27. 1376, resided at Henderson s mill, Auckland. Sister Marie aHcs. George Robert Badlow. in 1859 went from Maidstone to the Cape, and in 1862 was going to New Zealand. Sister Mary seeks new.

Shortly before 5 o’olock on Tuesday morning a shed on the South Road, Eawtown, containing a quantity of dressed flax and machinery, was almost totally destroyed by fire. The flax and machinery, the greater portion of which was destroyed, was owned bv Mr J. L. Morrison, of Lambton quay. The material and plant were ln ®“' e {L.£| r LIOO in the South British office. The building is uninsured. The origin of the fire is not known. For some three months past the Ladies’ Sewing Party in connection with St. James Presbyterian Church, Adelaide road (Rev W. Shirer, pastor), have been busily at work making materials for » sale ° f work in aid of the Manse Fund. The sale came off at the church on Tuesday afternoon, and proved a great success. The useful articl provided met with a ready sale, while a refreshment stall also did good business. The result should prove most satisfactory to all concerned. Mr Isaac Selby lectured on Tuesday to a large audience in Wesley Church upon his change of belief from Atheism to Christianity, and what he learnt on the way. Mr R. Wright presided. Mr Selby spoke f ° r an hour® the following being the heads of hie. discourse :-Why I assail Secularism other sceptics who have recanted and why, one world at a time not enough, Secularism an ignominious failure, utility as the test of morality, Christianity the friend of the allv of progress, the companion ot enemy of priestcraft, dloubts and difficulties met by primitive and P ra °t* oa Christianity. For close on three-quarters of an hour afterwards the lecturer was engaged answering questions bearing upon antecedents, and the objections he had previously urged against Christianity moat of the questioners being freethinkers. The Trustees of the Benevolent Society held their usual weekly meeting on Tuesday afternoon. Present-Rev H. Van Staveren (chairman), Messrs R. Mothea - t u o Collins. A letter was received from tne Town Clerk announcing that Mr Wflieaton had been elected to represent the City Council on the Board. Mr Mothos Mayorelect of Petone, who occupied his seat for the first time, was formally welcomed by the Chairman. The Secretary reported the result of the election held on Monday aft;e ■ noon. A widow who complained that she was unable to work owing to ill-health attended, and asked for assistance, lhe Trustees granted rations for the w°man an her child until the end of the month. Another widow in ill-health was allowed 3s a week and rations. Several other deserving oases were relieved. The ration orders and board and lodging lists having been gone through, the Trustees adjourned.