CITY ITEMS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1160, 25 May 1894, Page 36

CITY ITEMS.

We have to acknowledge tho receipt of £l2 7s Gd from the proprietors of the Evening Post, the amount received at their office in aid of the fund of the widow and children of the late Mr Alfred King.

A shipment of Ruinalt champagne, just landed by Messrs Castendyk and Focke, caused some comment on the wharf owing to the fact that tho wine is all carefully packed in charcoal. This method is adopted by shippers of high-class champagnes as it has been found to keep the wine in excellent condition in any temperature. Mr John Webb, a carpenter, living at the northern end of the city, informs us that he was coming into town about daylight yesterday week, when, in passing along the avenue of trees in Fitzherbert terrace, he perceived a respectably-dressed woman lying by the side of one of the trees, where she had evidently spent the night. As he passed by she accosted him, saying she was fainting with hunger. Mr Webb says he entered into conversation with her, and ascertained that she was utterly destitute, and very much disinclined to make application for public charity. She said she had been burnt out at Blenheim, and had come to Wellington in the hope of getting employment in charing or washing. Being a stranger in the place, and without friends, she had not succeeded, and, having no money, she had taken refuge among the trees. Our informant says he gave her a little money to procure food, and before parting with her told her to meet him again last night, and he would try in the meantime to find some means of relieving her necessities. This appointment she did not keep, but our informant is convinced of the woman’s distress and thorough respectability, and thinks her reluctance to accept charity deterred her from meeting him again. A most successful sale by auction of furniture belonging to Mr J. H. Kitchen was held in Thomas’ Hall yesterday week. The hall was crowded with buyers, and bidding proceeded briskly throughout the sale. Mr F. W. Haybittle acted as auctioneer. Excellent prices were realised, the oak diningroom suite fetching the handsome sum of £IOO, the drawingroom suite went to £lO, the bedroom suite to £36, and the library suite to £35, tho total amount realised being about £7OO. The total number of lots was 320, and the sale lasted about 41 hours. Tho erection of the new Government Life Insurance building is proceeding at a rapid rate. If the fine weather continues the roofing will be finished in a few days, and the work of laying the tiles will then be commenced. Mr Barrett is carrying out the carving work with considerable effect.

iThe arc lamp which is to be erected in the Parliament grounds will be mounted on a handsome iron post which was imported by the Gulcher Company along with the lamp. There will be two steps of cement, which, with the post, will give the Lamp an elevation of about 20 feet. The iron post, which is fluted like a Corinthian column, is so constructed that by touching a spring a flight of stops is thrown out by means of which the caretaker can ascend to renew the carbon, which will burn for 32 hours, and will require to bo replaced every third day. The lamp, along with the post and electric cable, are now on the ground and will be fitted up at once.

The Wellington Rood Hand, under the conductorship of Bandmaster Foster, gave a most enjoyable concert in the Basin Reserve on Sunday afternoon, in aid of tho Home for the Aged Needy. The following comprised the sum total of the collection : —.£'3 3s Gd, in threepenny pieces ; .£2 19s, in sixpences ; .£1 Is, in shillings; one twoshilling piece ; 7s 8d in coppers, and 2.jd in halfpence: total, .£7 13s 4.Jd. The Sunday school anniversary services in connection with St. John’s Presbyterian Church were held on Sunday. A picked choir of nearly 400 children sang a number of hymns and anthems at tho services in a manner reflecting great credit on themselves and on the training of Mr W. Hopkirk, the conductor. The Rev J. Paterson preached at the morning service, in the afternoon interesting addresses were given by Messrs J. Reith and F. H. Fraser, and the preacher in tho evening was the Rev R. J. Murray. Mr Peterson presided at tho organ. Largo congregations attended at each service, and the collections during tho day amounted to about .£35. The next meeting of the City Council will bo held on Monday evening of next week.

It has been decided by the Public Works Committee to recommend that tho necessary steps bo taken to cause tho removal of a dilapidated house in Wingfield street.