CITY ITEMS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1163, 15 June 1894, Page 30

CITY ITEMS.

' The late Mr W. J. S. Strange-Mure was buried yesterday week in tho Bolton street cemetery. The funeral cortege included a number of members of the Wellington Rowing Club, while the Government Life Insurance Department staff (on which deceased's father is employed) was also well represented. Wroaths were placed on the coffin from the Government Life Insurance staff, officers and members of the Wellington Rowing Club, and the staff of the School of Design (of which tho yom# man was a pupil). Four of deceased's comrades in the Rowing Club — Messrs J. E. Gamble, W. Simm, C. Hooke and A. M. Burns acted as pall-bearers. The burial service was conducted by the Rev Mr Pritt.

Court Sir G. Bowon, A.0.F., met on Monday for the nomination of officers, with the following result:—C.R., Bro. Grantham ; S.C.R., Bros. Malbergh and Emeny; S.W., Bros. Rose, Brannigan and Edwards; J.W., Bros. Worth, Brannigan and Edwards ; secretary, Bro, P. Fauvel, P.D.C.R.; treasurer, P.C.R. H. Birch; assistant-secretary, P.D.C.R. W. H. Dob■a*; Senior Beadle, Bro Hedwicke; Junior B«adle, Bro. Brannigan. One new member was initiated. Mr W. H. Jaguiery wrote thanking the Court for its expression of sympathy on the death of his father, who" was a member of the order. Tho receipts art the meeting were about During the trial of W. C. Prior on Monday for forgery, a teller of tho Bank of New . Zealand gave evidence a 3 to selling two cheque forms to a man whom he believed to be the prisoner, upon receiving his assurance that he was a customer of the bank. The witness said he marked the date upon the block whence the cheque forms were torn off, but upon being asked if ho could produce the block, he was not at all sure He could do so, as he was undor the impression it had been burnt. It was tho custom to destroy these blocks. Thereupon the Chief Justice remarked, "That is to say, you expect your customers to keep their blocks, but you do not keep yours." To this observation tho witness had no reply ready. At a later stage of the case, the witness returned with the cheque block, and produced it in corroboration of his statement that he had taken two cheques out of it either on the 29 th or 30th of April. He thought it was tho 29th, but was not able to swear to it.

On Monday the only witness examined in the Hackett case was subjected to crossexamination as to floating spirits at seances, trance, writing, automatic and material mediums, their powers, and what they were supposed to do when under control. He said that on one occasion the spirit of a departed Native took control of Hackett, and questions were answered in the Maori language. He could not judge very well as to their correctness, as he only knew a few Maori phrases, but he thought they were all right at the time. Subsequently, however, he ascertained that Hackett had been ever here from the other side only a few months. The new 3000 candle-power lamp recently erected in the Parliamentary grounds was alight for the first time Monday night, and illuminated brilliantly the whole of the neighbourhood. It could be seen very brightly as far off as the New Zealand Times offices. The Government Buildings were also lit by electricity. It transpired during the trial of Prior at the Supreme Court on Monday that Mr Nicholas Reid (ono of the witnesses in the case) had gone to the Foxton district. Just after Mr Wilford had started to address the jury and to comment on the absence of any direct evidence that the signature to the " Turnbull" cheque had not been written by Mr Reid, His Honor remarked that it was most improper for the case to have been brought on in the absence of Mr Reid, who, if he knew it was coming on, had grossly misconducted himself in leaving town. As Mr Reid was not there to show that he did not sign the cheque bearing the name of W. and G. Turnbull and Co., or that ho did not authorise any person to sign it, ho would direct the jury to leave out of their consideration the " Turnbull " chequo except in so far as they might wish to see whether the handwriting on it resembled the handwriting' on the other cheque, which the prisoner was now charged with having forged. A fresh panel of common jurors was sworn in at the Supreme Court on Monday morning. James King, jeweller, failed to answer to his name, and a fine of 403 was imposed for non-attendance, subject to MiKing's ability to show sufficient cause for hia absence. Several jurors were excused from service upon various grounds. There was a crowded audience at the

Skating Rink on the Bth, when a "social " was given under tho auspices of the League of the Cros3. Vocal items were contributed by Mrs Taylor, Misses McKeegan and Maekay, and Messrs R. P. Johnson, llaybittle, Hall and Coltman. Miss C. Kearsley was accompanist. An. orchestra played an

overture, Mr J. Kearsley conducting. ! Dancing was indulged in for a eouplo of hours, Messrs Fleming, Davis and Kolcroft I acting as M's.C. J A witness called in tho cheating at play I case heard at the Supremo Court last week said that ho had not known what the little game of Yankee grab was, but knew what it was now ; that was to say he had made enquiries regarding it since ho had been subpoenaed to give evidence. Another witness, who was asked about his knowledge of Yankee grab, said he had seen it played but had never tried his hand at it. Ho lived at Palmerston North. "And, perhaps," said counsel, " they don't play tho gamo at Palmerston North ?" " Oh, yes they do," replied witness in such an emphatic manner as to draw a laugh from those present. The largo Wesleyan schoolroom in Taranaki street was filled to overflowing on the Bth, tho attraction being a lecture delivered by Mr G. M. Yerex on "Tho Land of the Maple." The Rev W. Baumber presided. Tho lecturer, who was thoroughly at home with his subject, gave a vivid and entertaining description of some of the many wonderful points of interest in Canada, taking his hearers up tho St. Lawrence River through Quebec, Montreal, Toronto, to tho Falls of Niagara, across tho Rocky Mountains and the prairies to Vancouver and back homo to New Zealand, illustrating his lecturo with limelight views, mostly from kodak snapshots taken by him on his travels. In comparing various social reforms as between New Zealand and Canada tho lecturer instanced tho vexed question of the control of the liquor traffic in tho latter country, stating that at a plebiscite taken early this year in tho Provlnco of Ontario tho voting had been three to ono in favour of total Prohibition, in Nova Scotia and Manitoba four to ono, and in Prince Edward Island ten to one. During tho evening several musical selections were given. A collection was taken up in aid of the library funds. Mr J. H. Helliwell worked tho lantern for tho views. A vote of thanks to Mr Yerox for his very able address, proposed by Mr Benbow, was heartily given. At tho conclusion of their ordinary business last week, the City Council went into committee, and on resuming the committee recommended, " That the sum of .£SOO bo paid over to the Benevolent Institution as a contribution towards tho relief works for the unemployed." The recommendation 1 was agreed to, Councillor Petherick being tho only dissentient. The Drainago Engineer reported to the City Council last week as follows :—-Since the date of my last progress report Messrs Fraser and Morley have made good progress with their contract for tho construction of the stormwater culvert from Murphy street to Moturoa street, and the work will probably bo finished in about three weeks' time. The stormwater sewer down Taranaki street is almost completed, and tho greater part of tho old wooden box has boon taken out and tho spaco filled in solid. Tho pipe s«wer in Taranaki street has been laid as far as tin culvert has been finished, and all tho houses connected therewith. For the present this sewage has to bo taken into the Taranaki street culvert at Courtenay place, but will ultimately be connectod with ono of the ejector stations. Laying it at this time will, however, obviate the necessity of breaking up the stroet again. The Mitchelltown sower is now completed, as is also the Taitville sewer, with tho exception of about 6 or 7 chains. Also pipe sowers have been laid in Hoppor street, Hankey street, Arlington street, North avenue, South avenue, Webb street, Evelyn place, Tonks' grove, Cuba street and Abel Smith street. Plans are completed for the continuation of the Tinakori road stream culvert from Hobson street to the sea; the specification is nearly ready, and in about a week I shall be ready to advertise this contract. Tho details of the tunnel and the specification are in hand. No arrangement has yet been come to with Mr Crawford as to the terms upon which his consent will be given to the route of the outfall sewer, but as the line has been altered to avoid any interference with the township laid out by him in Lyell Bay, no further alteration of the route will be made, and I am having tho line pegged out and the final levels taken. So soon as this is done I shall proceed with the contract drawings and specification. The number of men employed directly on tho works, exclusive of office staff, at the present time is 102. Tho total amount expended up to date, including all office and other expenses, is .£12,890. A vote of thanks was last week passed to Mr 11. M. Lyon by the stewards of tho United Hunt Club for the valuable services rendered by him when acting in the capacity of secretary to their last Steeplechase Meeting. Councillor Fraser is to move at the next meeting of the City Council:—-" That the Government be requested to keep the telegraph posts free from advertisements, in view of the by-law passed by the Council, which forbids tho placing of advertisements on tho electric light posts." Councillor Anderson will also move—" That each side of Turnbull street, Thorndon, be asphalted tho ordinary width." Mr D. Sladden, secretary of tlie Wellington Meat Export Company, has written to the City Council, speaking in terms of great praise of the services rendered by the Fire Brigade at the recent fire at Ngahauranga, and stating that the Board would meet in a few days, when he had no doubt they would express their recognition of the services rendered in a substantial manner. Thcro was considerable discussion at the Supremo Court during the progress of the cheating at play case. Various expositions were vouchsafed as to. the odds and evens, what was in favour of backer and banker, and calculations given oi the chances of each, not forgetting tho off chance. The problems put to witnesses were of an abstruse and complicated character to some of.them not understanding mathematical calculations. At any rate, they seemed to

bo aware of tho fact that games of chance generally resulted in it being a case of banker and broker. Wo regret to announce the death of Mrs Pollen, wife of Dr Pollen, which occurred at her residence about 11 o'clock last Thursday morning. The deceased lady, who had been suffering for some time, was 10 years of age. She was tho daughter of the late Mr Patrick Bourke, of Napier. Mrs Pollen was secretary of the Girls' Friendly Society for some time, and had interested herself in many other charitable matters. Dr Pollen will have sincere and widespread sympathy in his affliction.