THE New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1893.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1136, 8 December 1893, Page 22

THE New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1893.

We have just made arrangements for the issue as a supplement to the New Zealand Mail of a large shield containing photoengravings of all the members of the new House of Representatives. It will be the best thing of the kind ever issued in the Colony as a newspaper supplement, and will serve to familiarise the people with the forms and features of the gentlemen who are to make our laws for the next three years.

The Premier is in receipt of letters from several of the members of the House denying the report that they would allow the direct veto question to take precedence of party claims.

At the Police Court at Christchurch a youth named Geo. Oakley, charged with having posted a letter using a postage stamp which had been previously used and defaced, was fined £3 and costs, amounting altogether to £4 18s. °

The New Zealand Insurance Company, which has been established since 1859 and is recognised as the Premier Colonial Company, has an advertisement in this issue of interest to a great number of our readers. The Company is prepared to accept risks against loss by fire upon every description of property, and will insure merchandise, freight, &c., to and from all parts of the world. The Wellington office of the Company is situated at the corner of Lambton quay and Grey street, and is under the management of Mr Walter I. Bolam.

A telegram in another column reports that four town councillors of Onehunga, as well as the town clerk and the local fire brigade, were stated to have Resigned ill dudgeon at the advent to office of a lady as mayor. Apropos to this a gentleman has just arrived from Onehunga, who says some of the ladies there are prepared to contest the vacancies in the council. He cannot, however, speak as to the probability of women volunteering for fire brig'ade purposes, but it may be taken for granted that the town clerk’s billet will not go a-beg-gifig'-.

Mr J. C. Martin, R.M., presided over Wednesday’s sitting of the Magistrate’s Court. A man named Arthur Evans was charged with being drunk while in charge of a horse the previous day, and also with cruelly beating the horse. Mr Hindmarsh appeared for the accused, who was remanded until Saturday for the production of further evidence. Janies Shannon, charged with drunkenness, was remanded for 24 hours, as he was not yet sober, and a first offending inebriate was mulcted in the usual penalty. Mary Butler, charged with selling liquor at the Albion Hotel, to be consumed off the premises, to a child seven years of age, was ordered to pay 11s oosts. Bertram Mangin and Duncan King, for whom Mr Jellicoe appeared, were charged with assaulting Acting-Constable Arcus iu the execution of his duty on the 26th November. They were each fined 40s, with the alternative of seven days’ hard labour. Thomas White, alias Geo. Mollis, charged with vagrancy, was sentenced to three months’ hard labour. Mr Jellicoe appeared for the accused, but subsequently retired from the case. Mr Martin, R.M., sat as a Trust Commissioner in the Magistrate’s Courton Wednesday afternoon, and dealt with a number of cases.

The statutory meeting of the District Hospital Board was held on Wednesday in the Council Chamber. Present—Messrs H. D. Bell, H. Cook, C. T. Tatum, F. Bradey, R. C. Kirk, F. H. Fraser and J. Petherick. Mr Bell was elected chairman, on the motion of Mr Tatum, seconded by Mr Bradey. Mr L. L. Harris was re-elected treasurer, and the Chairman and Mr R. C. Kirk were appointed to sign cheques with him. It was stated that the Onslow Borough Council was 15 months in arrear with its contribution. The Chairman remarked that it would be necessary to take steps to recover the amount. The annual meeting of the United District Board was then held, the same gentlemen being present, with the exception of Messrs H. Cook and R. C. Kirk, and the addition of Mr R. Hare. Mr Bell was elected chairman, on the motion of Mr Fraser, seconded by Mr Petherick. Mr Bell was appointed treasurer, and Messrs Fraser and Petherick were appointed to sign cheques with him. Exceptionally heavy weather was experienced in the Straits on Tuesday night. The steamer Pukaki met the full force of the gale off Stephen’s Island. She was unable to make any headway and was obliged to shelter in Port Hardy for nine hours. The Takapuna also had a very rough passage from New Plymouth. A terrific sea was encountered, but the vessel behaved admirably. A mountainous sea was running at the heads. The usual entertainment given prior to the Christmas holidays by the young ladies attending St Mary’s Convent was held in the schoolroom on the 6th. There was a very large attendance of the parents and friends of the pupils, and a very pleasant evening was spent by all present. The programme consisted of a theatrical representation, entitled “ Beauty and the Beast,’ in which the various characters were taken by Misses Long, R. Moeller, Price, K. Gallagher, R. Sheridan, P. Grace, Condon, Sheath, Beck, White, M. Kennedy, Falconer, Shapter, M. Putnam, M. Vincent, C. Hodgins, E. Falconer, Whitaker, E. Price and Armstrong. An excellent musical programme was also gone througn. The entertainment was highly praiseworthy, and the nuns are to be congratulated on its success. The violinists, the pupils of Mr Mac Duff Boyd, showed signs of careful training, and the pianists and singers also reflected great credit on their instructors. Captain Leys, who mysteriously disappeared during the voyage of the Stormbird from Wellington to Wanganui, was about 55 years of age, and leaves a widow and family of four, two of whom are grown up. Captain Leys was last seen on the Storinbird about 1.30 on Friday morning, when the vessel was nearing the Wanganui bar. He was, however, not missed until the steward went to his room for the purpose of calling him for breakfast. It was thought that he had g - one to his home in Wanganui, and no anxiety was felt until later in the day, when one of his daughters came down to the steamer and enquired for him. The steamer was then thoroughly searched, but no trace of the missing man was found. Captain Leys had been at sea for nearly 45 years. He was in command of the old Wallabi for many years, and recently he had charge of the cable steamer Terranora. One of his sons is employed on the Marton Mercury. A young man of 25 years, William Sidney Fox, whilst felling the last tree of a large bushfelling contract near Gisborne, was struck by a bough and killed. At the monthly meeting of the Board of Governors of the Wellington College and Girls’ High School on Tuesday, primary scholarships entitling the holders to free tuition at the college until they reach the age of 16 were awarded to the following: — William Rothenberg, Mount Cook Boys’ School, 13 years 8 months; Edwin Frethey, Thorndon School, 131 years ; Lionel Friihauf, Te Aro School, 13 years 7 months ; Sidney Jacobs, 13 years 5 months. The chairman (Mr J. R. Blair) stated that Dr Henry had promised to give prizes for proficiency in shorthand. The meeting was attended by Messrs Blair (chairman), A. H. Miles, J. Young, Sir J. Hector and Rev J. Paterson.

Mr J. Murrell, the colonial manager of Huddart, Parker and Co.’s line of steamers, ha 9 secured offices in the Queen’s Chambers.

We have received the following letter from Mrs Jessie Fulton; of 56 Cambridge terrace Will yoil kindly allow me a sniall space in your paper to appeal to the Oliaritably-disposed on behalf of a poor woman who is left with a small family of five children, the baby dying for want of proper nourishment. The Benevolent Society has assisted her, and is still doing as far as it can, but it has so many cases to attend to. The poor woman is willing to work at anything she may chance to get. I do not think it would be too much in asking if we could get enough together to buy a mangle for hex*, that she might be able to earn something to help to support her little ones. I would also mention the little ones need clothing, and the children have not a bedstead to lie on. Should any of our benevolently-disposed call on me I will give them all particulars regarding the case. I will be pleased to receive any subsci’iptions oxx their behalf, and will you kindly receive anything, Mr Editor, sent to your office?” We shall be only too glad to accede to Mrs Fulton’s request.