Miscellaneous.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1037, 15 January 1892, Page 41

Miscellaneous.

A meeting was held in Baker Bros, auction room yesterday week of persons interested in the approaching visit of Kev W J. Mayers (who will be accompanied by several of the lads rescued from off the Btreets), the representative of Dr Barnardo a well known homes for outcast and destitute Children. The object of the meeting was to forth a committee to make the necessary arrangements for holding public meetings during the visit. The following Commute were unanimously nominated :—Kev3 J. rv Elliott, J. J. Lewiß, C. Dalleston, G. J. Allen, Messrs J. G. W. Aitken, C. A. Baker, L. Halliwell, D. Puid'e, D. JV. Virtue, W. R. E. Brown, W. Holdsworth, J. Ilotfc, B. Snow, J. Kitchen, C. Cook, S. Ccstall. with power to add. Mr Snow was appointed secretary, Mr C. A. Baker corresponding secretary, and Mr Coatall treasurer. It was decided to endeavour _to engage the Opera House for the evening

The first meeting of the Trades and L/abou Council after the holidays was held yesterday week, Mr J. Rigg (president) being m th« ohair. The committee appointed to war upon the unaffiliated Unions with a view t< inducing them to affiliate with the Council presented a satisfactory report. The Bpeoia Settlement scheme was considered, and r was decided to appoint a committee Of hvi to prepare a report on the scheme. Account* amounting to £22 13s 8d were passed foi payment. A notification wa3 received fron Ms J. R. Macdonald, organiser cf tin Australian Shearers’ Union, Btating that hi had entered upon hia duties, and he woulc be in Wellington shortly. During the four weekly period ending sth December, 1891, the revenue of thi Government railways throughout tin Colony was £81,336 as against £83,459 foi the corresponding period last year, and th« expenditure was £54,273 as againsl £52,747. Of the revenue the North Islanc lines contributed £30.234 as againsl £2B 790, and the South Island £51,102, at against £54,668. Of the expenditure, fch« North Island absorbed £20,135, as againsl £l7 164 ; and the South Island £34,107, af against £35,583. The proportion of expen diture to revenue, as compared with tb« same monthlastyear,on the various lines was as follows North Island—Kawakawa, 72 0^

On the occasion of the recent marriage of Mr W. B. Hudson, the Secretary of the Government Life Insurance Department, the officers of the department resolved to present him with a substantial indication of their personal esteem in celebration and remembrance of the event. This took the form of a handsome polished oak cabinet or canteen, containing a complete set of table silver and cutlery ; together with a rich Bilver cruet stand and table napkin rings; hand.p.inted dessert service in fine china, and a case of silver dessert knives and forks. The whole formed a choioeand valuable gift. The articles were presented to Mr Hudson In the head office on Friday afternoon, in the presence of the staff. Mr Bichardson, the Commissioner, made the presentation on behalf of the donors, who included the officers at both the head office and the

meeting on the Sunday Mr Mayeis would be here, vfhicb it Was stated would probably be on the tilth inst. It was further resolved that the following be invited to preside at the week Dight meetings : H'S Honor Chief Justice Prendergast, Judge Richmond, hi 3 Worship the Mayor.

Frank Stevens, a well-known and highly esteemed member of the literary staff of the Evening Press, left Wellington on Thursday for Western Australia to tak6 up a position in the Public Works Department of that Colony. Mr Stevens has been connected with our evening contemporary for the last five years, and the regard in which he is held by his fellow scribes was evidenced some time ago by their election of him to the post of secretary of the Wellington branch of the Institute of Journalists. Mr Stevens has also taken a warm interest in vachtiuand he will be missed therefore in aquatic° circles as well as by bis press confreres. We but express tbe general sentiment of his friends when we wish him the bast of luck in his new sphere of activity.

ir -76 51 ; Whangarei, 99*67 —69'61 ; Auck. iy land, 63-40—65 03; Napier-Taranaki, 66 74 ie —75*05 ; Wellington, 67 71 -68-87- South it Island—JETurunui-Bluff, 65’00—63'64 ; Grey:o mouth, SS-89—58-97 ; Westport, 42*88 1, 58 96 ; Nelson, 87*15—138-26 ; PictOD, 86*48 al 100 22. On the Wellington section the it number of passengers carried was 36,701, r e against 36,200 ; and tko revenue £6618, is against £6852 >r The suggestion made by the Auckland 31 Liberal Association that Bir Ceorge Grey 16 should be nominated Governor of New Zea--16 land, was considered at last week’s meeting d of the Trades and Labour Counoii, and thq. following rraolntion was passed, That the „ Council cannot see its way at present to o express an op.niou as to the advisahleness | e of appointing Sir George Grey Governor of , r the Colony. e At the Land Board offices yesterday week, jt the undermentioned runs were sold by d auction to Augustin Stempa, farmer, Upper it Plain, Masterton, at the following prices ,s Run No. 26, Block XV., M-kimiki, 27 acres, e sold at the upset annual rental, £1 0s 3d ; It Run No. 27, Block LI., Tiffin, 120 acres, is upset anuual rental, £4 10s, sold at £6 ss. i- The lands were disposed of on pastoral lease ,e for a term of ten years, and subject to the ,s provisions contained in The Land Act, 1885, 4 relating to the sale of runs.

branches. He spoke in high terms of Mr Hudson's ability, and of the excellent feeling which prevailed towards him in the office, of which this tribute was a cordial and spontaneous manifestation. Mr Hudson suitably responded on behalf of himself and his wife, the toast of whose health was, with his own, very cordially .received. (Jake and wine were handed round'; and a general congratulation closed a pleasant and complimentary ceremonial. Mr Chappie, the oify rate collector, reminds ratepayers that the second instalment of rates is now due. The general regulations.for exhibitors at the World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1892, and the circular issued by the Treasury at Washington governing the free importation of articles for exhibition, are published in yesterday week’s Gazette.

The total number of remission certificates sanctioned under The Naval and Military Settlers and Volunteers Land Act, 1891, is 178.-

The traffic return of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway for the week, 2nd January, 1892, amounted to £IB7B Os Bd, and for the corresponding week in the previous year, £lBOl Os Bd, showing an increase of £77.

The Hospital Trustees have received nine tenders for the erection of a building to be used as a laundry, and six tenders for the supply of machinery for the laundry. The names of the tenderers and the amounts of their tenders will not be disolosed until the next meeting of the Trustees,

Test edmpetitions to enable the oom mibtee of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club to select representatives for the Champion Meeting will be held on Monday and Tuesday, the 18th and 19th inst., at 6.30 p.m. Entries close on Friday, the loth.

Employers of labour are reminded of the fact that the Factories Act, IS9I, came into force on the Ist inst, and that the fees noted in the schedule to the Act aio payable on or before the 31st inst. Copies of the Aot can be obtained from all booksellers or post free for one shilling from the Government Printer, Wellington. The Oamaru Harbour Board’s dredge has been hired'ffiy the Public Works Department for the purpose of dredging the mou h of the New Plymouth Harbour. About six months, it is estimated, will be required to complete the work, and the £3OOO voted by Parliament last session for the improvement of the harbour will suffice to keep the dredge at work for that period.

A buggy accident, fortunately unattended by serious consequences, occurred on Friday afternoon on the Island Bay road. The vehicle belonged to Mr Bachman, of Hayman and Co., and was being driven by his hired boy. By some means the horse took fright, and assumed command of affairs, with the result, so far as we can gather, that Mrs Lschman was thrown out, but not injured. The trap, however, was damaged considerably before the horse was secured.

A committee meeting of the W. A. A and C.C. was held Friday eveningattheOooidental Hotel. It was decided to hold test competitions to select representatives for the coming Championship meeting at Christchurch in February. It was also resolved to get as many entries as possible for the Palmerston North sports on 22nd January next, and to send the competitors as a team to represent the Club The general routiue business of the Club concluded the meeting.

A meeting of the lessees and tbe Natives respecting tbe confirmed leases of the North Island will be held at Patea on the 2CLh inst. There will bo present the Colonial Treasurer, as head of the Public Trust Office, from which the lands are hold, tbe Attorney General (the Hon P. Buckley), and the Public Trustee (Mr Warburton), and the meeting will be held for the purpose of arranging, if possible, terms mutually satisfactory to the parties interested, and for the solving of a long outstanding difficulty. ijd- A meeting of the Boys’ Institute Committee was held on Friday at which plans for the building to-be erected on the site in Victoria street granted by the City Oounoil were approved. The committee still require some £2OO to make up the amount the building is to cost, but in order that the Institute may be ready for the next winter a start is to be made at once, and the committee trußt that the balance will be forthcoming as the building progresses. As tenders are to be called for this month, those subscribers who have not yet in the amount of their promised subscriptions are requested to kindly forward them to the Treasurer, Mr Sidney G. Martin, or to any member of the corhmlttee, and further subscriptions are invited towards the balance of the money required. Mr W. Crichton was elected a member of the committee.

The Committee of the Kennel Club met on Friday night in the Club Hotel, Mr W. R. Morris presiding, and fcransaoted a good deal of business, connected chiefly vvitb the approaching show. Messrs Morris, lianson, Rogers, and Rogan were deputed to assist Mr’ H. N. Watson in judging certain classes, and Messrs J. O, Arson, D. D. Hyde, M. J. Brookes, and Hackworth were elected as new members. A request by the New Zea’and Kennel Club to alter _the designation of the Wellington Kennel Club to “Deg” Club was not entertained, and Messrs St Hill and Rogan were appointed delegates to the New Zealand Kennel Club. It was mentioned that Mr H. Gully (vice* president) bad promised a guinea for a special prize, and it was agreed to exhibit all the special prizes in Messrs Davis and Clater’s window. The Secretary has received letters from representatives of the Club in various parts of the Colony, promising exhibits, and there is every promise of a most successful show.

The Tekapo, which arrived from Sydney on Sunday night, brought 130 passengers.

The following local amateurs have been entered by the Wellington Athletic Asaociation to compete at the approaching sports at Palmerston North J. M. King. 100yds ; p. G. Hey wood, bicycle races; C. J. Cooper, half-mile and sprints ; N. L. Gurr, 100yds to half mile and bicycle races; R. Goer, hurdles and jumping ; and H. Batger, hurdles. Messrs S. Saunders (sprints), b. J. Tripe (sprints), and K. .V. Hume (sprints) have also entered, We take the following from the Ham-' burger Pachrichten, of the 22nd November, 1891 :—‘Copenhagen, 20th November. As the Royal Danish Consulate in Wellington, New Zealand, is vacated through the sudden death of the Consul, E. J. Toxward, the Ministerium of Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen, call upon residents of Wellington, who wish to fill the post, to forward their applications on or before the Ist April, 1892, to the Ministerium of Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen.’

The R.M.S. lonic arrived from London, via the usual way ports, at 8.30 Sunday night, after a passage of 43d 4h Bmin, her actual steaming time being 42d 10b 38min. She brought 54 saloon, 22 second, and 99 third class passengers for New Zealand. Her mail consisted of 9 packages of mails and 39 boxes parcels post. The voyage was an exceptionally fine one, and the usual entertainments, dances, &o , were frequently held. She has a number of pheasants and partridges on board.

Mr F. J. Lessington, for some years past accountant at the Grey Valley Coal Co., was the recipient on Saturday evening or a handsome tea urn, presented by the employes of the Company as a mark of esteem in anticipation of his marriage to Miss Randall, sister of the known vocalist. The health of Mr Lessington and his future bride was heart ly drunk, and Mr Lessmgton In a neat spaeoh acknowledged the compliment.

A remarkable instance of sudden death occurred on board the as. Wakatu on Saturday evening. A wharf labourer named John Hugh Action Fitz Gerald O’Neill was working with the mate in the hold of that vessel, and at a quarter to 6 work was buspended and they went on deck. Being told by the mate, Mr Hall, to cover the hatches, O’Neill turned to do so, but immediately fell to the deck. He was picked up and Dr Henry was sent for, but on his arrival he pronounced the man to be dead. Mr H. W. Robinson,' district corener, held an inquest on the body at the Morgue on Sunday, when Dr Tripe, who had made a post mortem examination, and Dr Henry depoaed that death was due to heart disease of long standing, and a verdict was returned accordingly. The deceased, who was 55 years of age, lived at the Steamboat Restaurant with his wife and son-in-law.

beg to acknowledge receipt of a neatly-bound little volume of poems by Mrs Laura Goalen, which Messrs Brown, Thomson and Co. have just iisued from the press. The authoress calls them

A few wild flowers that scarce can bear the strain That ties them in a knot, So frail their texture, delicate their gram ; And yet with perfume fraught. We have rapidly skimmed this booklet of verse, and find that it displays poetic talent of no mean order. Mrs Goalen has the true artistic perception and the faculty of giving expression to her reflection in tuneful numbers Her lyre seems strung to a minor key, and a plaintive strain pervades the larger portion of her verse, but “The Gileadite’s War Song” and “A Toast show that ohe is not fettered to one particular style. The poems are distinctly above the average, and tbe volume will well repay perusal. We cordially felicitate Mrs Goalen upon her skill and taste in versification.

following appeared on the sth inst. in the London letter of the Auckland Evening Star : —The promising career at the English bar of Mr Percy E. Baldwin, the second son of tbe proprietor of the New Zealand Times, has, to his intense chagrin, been temporarily cut short by our detestable English climate. Mr Baldwin, who, you may remember, took two first-class scholar sbiDS at the Temple, has, since he was called, been “ devilling ” on very good terms with one of the leading Chance* y juniors. His prospects could hardly have been better, and it was a bitter disappoint, meat to him whenj after a brief illness, the doctor ordered him home to New Zealand by the first steamer. Mr Baldwin leaves m a few days. Whether, when his health Is fully restored, the young barrister will return and continue to qualify for the lucrative Chancery practice, which time and his exceptional abilities should certainly evoke, or whether be will make a fresh start in New Zealand, I have not heard. Probabilities, however, favour tne latter supposition, as I hear the threads of a Chancery praotica once dropped are difficult to pick up again. Since Captain Baldwin became proprietor of the New Zealand Times his second son has acted as London correspondent for that journal. He does not care for journalistic work, and. has always frankly grudged the time which it occupied, and which in bis view could have been much better employed. Nevertheless, to please his father, Mr Baldwin agreed to lay hia beloved law books aside for certain evenings in the week and to descend to ADglo-Colonial trivialities. How conscientiously the distasteful work was done you all know. Young Baldwin represents “ the best and highest stamp of fin. as siecle youth.”

Applications for several appointments as masters and teachers, under the Education Board, are invited up to the 23rd instant. Mr William Deane, late of Enmore, Sydney, has left something more £9OOO to the British and Foreign Bible Society. A sum of £28,000 is to be equally divided between that society, the Church Missionary Society, and the Church Pastoral Aid Society. Tbe election for the seats on the Harbonr Board take place on the Sth February next. The retiring members are —Messrs J. Peth* eriek and J. Jack, representing the citizens; Captain Rose, payers of dues ; Mr J. H. Cock, Chamber of Commerce ; Mr U. Speedy, Hutb County Council ; and Mr Booth, Wairarapa County Councils. It is understood that all will offer themselves for re-election.

Thera was a slight disturbance as the Manapouri was leaving tho wha>f for the South on Monday evening. A man named Blake went up to Captain Strang and struck him, at the same time asking him in an excited tone whether he know where the “ Magnetic point ” was. He was immediately taken into custody by Constable Murphy, who was on duty at the tune, and will be charged with being a lunatic at large.

Mr Purvis, Chief Engineer of the lonic, brought out to the Wellington Acclimatization Society two English partridge!, two Hungarian partridges, two cock English pheasants, four hen EogU3h pheasants, one eock golden pheasant, and two hen golden pheasants. They were sent up to the aviarv, Masterton, by the afternoon train on Monday. Tae attempt to bring out lobsters for the Otago Acclimatization Society failed, the whole number, about 20, dying in the tropics. A new commercial firm has comm p nced business in Washington.. M r e refer to Messrs Philips and Pike, indent agents and brokers, who have taken centrally s’tuated offices in the splendid building of the National Mutual Insurance Company, CustomHouse street. Bith members of tho firm are well and favourably known in business circles. Mr Sydney Philips was for many years in the employ of the influential Auckland firm of L. D. Nathan and Co., and lately has been the New Zealand representative of the well known Melbourne firm, Lange and ThoDeman. Mr J. A. Pike was for some years with Messrs Sclanrlers and Co., ef Nelson, and has for some time past represented the Melbourne firm of James Service and Co., whose agency the new firm will retain. In a citcular which they have sent out the firm state that they will also act as agents for S. Smith and Son, proprietors of the celebrated Yalumba vineyards in South Australia (whoso matured wines have been reported on in the highest term 3 by the faculty), and for Williams, Brown and Co., of San Francisco, and as indent agents for Wills’ tobacco and cigarettes, Melor’a sauce, and for Middleton, Kirkpatrick and Barr’s cream of tartar, acids, c- e.. They intend to confine.their operations strictly to acting as representatives of leading manufacturers, with a view to introducing their commodities to the merchants of the Colony. Presiding at the annual meeting of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company on the 17th inst., Mr Robert Stewart naturally had to make reference to Mr Ba’.lance’s Land Tax BiU. After detailing the various exigencies met in the course of the past season by the Company, and commenting on the expansion of tbe frozen meat trade, he said : “In connection with the future of our freehold lands in New Zealandl come now to refer to tbe new system of taxation lately imposed upon the Colony. t , . It is at present impossible to say exactly to what extent the enactment will affect the Company, but we imagine it will cost us quite £6OOO per annum extra. The main plea under which Government introduced the graduated land tax is that much of the best land is held and locked up by companies and others who are content with 5 per cent to the exclusion of small farmers. The Government, however, cannot accuse us of holding land in this manner, for we are the largest -ellers in tho Colony, and have sold 112.570 r.creß to 837 settlers. Neither can the Government blame os for allowing our lands to lie idle, as we not only work our estates in the most approved manner, which costs us at lc-aet £120,000 per annum in wages, &c., but we go out of oar way to introduce any new business to the Colony. As examples, this Company was the first to introduce longwoolled sheep, polled cattle, the factory system of batter and cheese making, and the frozen meat industry. The Company paid full prices for all their lands, and there can be no denying that the money spent and the enterprise shown by this corporation has been most beneficial to the Colony, and our system of contract grain cropping has in its.slf proved a good field for the winning of capital by men who started with empty pockets, and who have afterwards been able to purchase land from it and prosper on it.”