Untitled

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1179, 5 October 1894, Page 22

By the s.s. Tarawera, which arrived on Friday last, the New Zealand Times Company imported two new jobbing machines. These, which are by Messrs Payne and Sons, contain all the latest improvements, and are the only ones of the hind in New Zealand. About half-past eleven o’clock on Tuesday morning a fire broke out in a fourroomed cottage in Tinakori road, owned and occupied by Mr John Dignan, carter for Messrs Thomas and Co. Despite the fact that a strong wind was blowing, the Fire Brigade prevented the fire spreading to the adjoining properties, but the place was gutted and most of the furniture destroyed. During the progress of the fire, Captain Kemsley was informed that a quantity of gunpowder, belonging to one of Mr Dignan’s sons, was in the attic. The captain at once went into the attic, and found a half-pound flask of powder, which he removed, and which was all the powder on the premises. No one was in the house when the fire broke out, and Mrs Dignan states that when she left shortly before it was discovered only a small quantity of coal was burning in the kitchen stove. The building was insured for <£2oo, and the furniture for <£so in the New Zealand office. At the meeting of the. Hospital Trustees on Tuesday morning an interesting return, compiled from Dr MacGregor’s annual report, was presented by the house steward (Mr Wilkes). The average cost of maintenance in the Hospital during the year ending March, 1893, was 3s 10fd per head per day, but the next twelve months it was only 3s s£d, a reduction of sld, or Hid less than Auckland, and 3fd less than Dunedin and Christchurch. The cost last year was 3Jd per day less than ever it had been at Wellington Hospital. At the Wellington Hospital last year there were 1038 more out-patients than at any other similar in-

stitution in the Colony, and 1616 more visits were paid. Daring the three months ended September 30th, 1123 civil cases for sums under £2O were heard in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court, 118 for =£2o and under =£so, and 34 of .£SO and upwards, making a total of 1275. The number of civil and judgment summonses issued during the quarter was 1375. Of criminal cases, 532 persons were taken into custody or summoned, of Avhom 62 were discharged for want of evidence or prosecution, 71 were dismissed on the merits, 362 were summarily convicted, 14 were committed for trial, and 23 otherwise dealt with. The amount of civil fees paid in stamps was £716 2s; criminal fees paid in stamps, £45 4s; criminal fines paid in stamps, £l7B 15s, making a total of £940 Is. '

Dr MacGregor has written to the Trustees of the Benevolent Institution representing that it is the universal experience of all English-speaking countries that under no circumstances is it advisable to board out dependent children with persons who are themselves recipients of charitable aid. “ It would," added the writer, “ be a great relief to me if the Board would as soon as possible determine to prohibit this baneful practice, or nip it in the bud if it has not received their sanction." The secretary stdted that. there were two cases such as those mentioned, one of which had been recommended by the Ladies’ Christian Association, and the other was a case where a change was undesirable. The Trustees decided to acknowledge the letter, and to state that the matter would receive their attention.

The Hospital Trustees met on Tuesday 5 present—Messrs F. H. Fraser (chairman), G. Allen, C. E. W. Willeston, L. L. Harris, J. Collins, J. Danks. The tender of Messrs Lyon and Blair for printing was accepted. Nurse Crease having resigned her position at the Hospital, Nurse Leslie was elected to fill her place. It was decided that the Chairman should get an estimate of the cost of lighting the surgery room with electricity. Mr Gaby (secretary) presented a report on the gas fittings and mains at the Hospital, in which he recommended that the gas stoves used for boiling purposes in the ward kitchens should be renewed, and that the gas burners should be overhauled, and some of them replaced. The pressure was poor in some places, and in the Hill Ward the nurses had to use candles. It was decided that the stoves and burners should be overhauled, and new ones put in where necessaiy, and also that the Gas Company should be requested to lay down new mains.

The London Chamber of Commerce gave a banquet to Senator Wilson, who was prominent in the efforts to pass the American Tariff Bill. Mr Wilson said the Americans had discovered that infant industries supported-by a tariff never became selfsupporting, but always more and more clamorous for assistance.

The Wellington Hibernian Society celebrated their 19th anniversary by a concert and “social" in Thomas’ Hall on Tuesday, large number of tickets had been sold, and there was a good attendance of members and their friends. The concert opened with an overture by Mr S. Cimino’s orchestra, after which songs were sung by Miss H. Sullivan and Mr W. F. Young, Mr W. Scanlon gave two recitations, “ Fontenoy ’’ and “ Sentenced to Death," in capital style, and Master C. Cimino played a violin solo. The hall was' then cleared for dancing, and, the floor being in capital condition, this pastime was kept up until an early hour this morning. Mr F. J. Lessington acted as M.C., and capital music was supplied by Mr Cimino’s orchestra. The room had been very prettily decorated by a number of willing workers, and a plentiful supply of refreshments was provided. The Committee, who deserve every credit for the excellent arrangements made, was composed of the following members of the Society: —Bros. J. Stratford (president), F. J. Lessington (vice-pre-sident), S. Kelleher, J. Byi*ne, E. Carrigan, H. G. Houldsworth, O. T. MacManaway, P. Carmody, W. Brady, D. Ryan, M. Gleeson, R. Robinson, D. McLoughlin, W. F. Scanlon, J. Carroll, P. D. Hoskins, J. Patton, J. Lessington, W. Gleeson, J. Hyland, M. Bohan (treasurer) and W. J. Grant (secretary). Mrs Besant has sailed from Sydney for Auckland. The slaughter for the fourth time in succession of the Shop Hours Bill by the Legislative Council makes it interesting to see that the half-holiday movement has spread to so remote a place as the Orkney Islands. The following is an advertisement in the Orkney Herald, of July 11th last: mongers, booksellers, and watchmakers of Stromness beg to intimate to the general public that their respective places of business will- be closed every Thursday, at 2 p.m., during the months of July, August and September.” In the Orkney . Herald of July 18, the following paragraph appears : —“The grocers, ironmongers, booksellers, and watchmakers of Stromness inaugurated a weekly half-holiday in connection with their respective businesses, on Thursday last.. The hour agreed on was 2 p.m., and sharp at that time the shutters went on, and doors were locked, and this was the case, with one or two exceptions, from one end of the town to the other." We have received from Messrs Harcourt and Co., Lambton quay, the Register and Property Investors’ Guide, which, as usual, contains a very. comprehensive list of properties for sale in town and country. The quarterly communication of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand is to be held in the Masonic Hall, Christchurch, on Wednesday, October 31st.

There are; at present 79, inmates in the Benevolent Home—6o males apd 19 females. The average cost of the inmates per head per day during ti(i@ past month was 9d, including master and matron's salary.