MAINLY ABOUT PEOPLE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1200, 1 March 1895, Page 18

MAINLY ABOUT PEOPLE.

The Victorian Cabinet lias decided to retire Mr H. H. Hayter, Government Statist and Assistant Registrar-General, and Mr R. L. J. Ellery, Government Astronomer, on pension.

Mr E. T. Sayers,. who for the last four years has held the position of accountant to Messrs Cailile arid McLean, solicitors, Napier, has accepted the appointment of managing clerk to Mr W. B. Edwards, Wellington.

The Minister of Education proposes next month to visit a number of the Native schools in this island. He will be accompanied by Mr Kirk, of the Native School Department. ,",: '

The Excelsior Lodge of Druids have presented Mr A. Orr with a P.A. diploma. Bro. W. Lepper, P.A., in making the presentation, spoke in terms of high praise of the honourable position Mr Orr had occupied as a Druid in Wellington. Mr Orr suitably replied wishing the Lodge every prosperity in the future. The diploma was enclosed' in a very handsome frame, subscribed for jointly by the memIbars of the Excelsior and Pacific Lodges.

Among the passengers'by the s.s. Talune last week who, we.are glad to state, "has returned froiif his trip to England corapletely ' restored* to health. During his absence he has visited the great clinical schools of Vienna, Berlin and .Paris, besides which he has taken the ■degree of M.p. .'at Glasgow University, -where he formerly;graduated as M.B. and CM., and has won,the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh.

Sir Robert Stout is to address the electors of Wellington at the Opera House on Monday,. 11th March, at 8 p.m.

The Chief Justice of England has resigned his membership in the Jockey Club.

The Prince of Wales, at the formal opening, of the additions to the United Service Institute, reinarked that both services had shown -equal heroism and devotion to the country in the historic past.

Sir" George Dibbsi-in,_an aldress to his constituents, challenged Mr Reid, the present Premier of New South Wales, to repeal the Protection tariff arid impose a land tax. \. u ■''.>■.'■? '

Sir J. P. Abbott, of. New South Wales, "who has just returned/from a brief visit to New Zealarid, thinks ;the general view of affairs in this Colony somewhat gloomy.

Mr A. A. Lelievre,of Hastings, has been married to Miss Milly Lee, daughter of Mr G. E. Lee, solicitor. 1

Mr Crowther.'M.H.R., addressed his constituents last week, and received a vote of thanks and confidence.

Among the. passengers-by the Ruapehu, which left for;?London yesterday week, was Mr T. Nicholson, who is taking the Pantascope of New Zealand to England.

A pilot's license has been granted to Captain Butt, of Wellington, for the New Zealand coast. ,

The new Corporation Baths at Wanganui were opened last week by the Mayor, Mr F. R. Jackson, who took a header into the water.

News from !West-Africa reports that the natives of Akshaw beheaded the English sub-agent of .the Niger Company, and captured the native clerk.

It is believed that t fte Queen lias formally sanctioned an Order of Merit to be conferred on literary men of distinction with in the British Empire.

The Order will be7divided into three classes, the highest grade to be confined to 24 members, second to 100, and the third to 250. > .:■■/'' '.:';

Mr W. IT. Montgomery, M.H.R., addressed his constituents at Akaroa, and received a vote of thanks and confidence.

The members of the Lybtelton Hearts of Oak Lodge of Druids have presented their secretary, Bro.W.T. Barnes, with a handsome gold chain and pendant.

The Rev. F. Seth-Smith, of Oamaru, is leaving for England.

Mr F. Battley, of Auckland, is retiring from the service of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company after a period of 28 years.

The captain and ma.te of ;r the barque Japan, which puib into are down with somekTncl of low; lever, while the crew are suffering from scurvy,.principally from drinking fead water.

The Hon Mr, Carroll left on Friday morning on a visii} to : Otaki.

The Hon MrCadman had to face a pile of accumulated correspondence on his return to Wellington, the other day. No less than 230 letters awaited ; him. He is still wearily plodding. through them, but the imperious, demands of departmental business do not afford him much time for the purpose.

The Rev. W.C. Water 3, Incumbent of St. Peter's Church, returned on Friday from Nelson, where, he has been attending the meeting of the General Synod.

Sergeants* Kelly and Bernard, of the Auckland police, have been transferred to Wellington. Constable Bishop has been

transferred from Wellington to Palmerston North.

Mr A. D. Crawford has been elected to fill a vacancy on the Seatoun Road Board.

The Official Assignee has returned from Napier, where he effected a transfer of the Deputy-Assigneeship to Mr Montague Lascelles, auctioneer, Mr Jardine, who has up till lately acted as Deputy-Assignee at Napier, having left on a trip to England. Gunner E. J. Whitehouse has been transferred from the Permanent Artillery to the Police Force. The Prince of Wales has gone to the Riviera district for the sake of his health. He is suffering from the effects of a severe chill. The call of the Rev J. K. Mclntyre to the North Dunedin Presbyterian Church has been sustained. ( Baron De Berg, a specialist on brain surgery, who has had charge of a large hospital in St. Petersburg, and who was appointed by the Russian Government to ' ascertain the effect on the body of ar' bullet adopted for the Russian army, has for the last few days been staying in Auckland. He comes to the colonies accredited by the Russian Government, and during his stay has visited both the hospital and asylum. He has met a number of gentlemen here interested in the treatment of the sick and insane.

Mrs Patrick Campbell, who played Paula in the " Second Mrs Tanqueray " when the play first appeared in London, is a most charming woman off the stage as well as on. She comes of a cultured family, of which she is the most accomplished member. A strain of Italian blood which flows in her veins accounts, perhaps, for her dark hair and soft, musical voice, and as well for a certain lightness and piquancy that are foreign to most Englishwomen.

:. The Hastings Knights of Labour have resolved to ask Mr Pirani, M.H.R., to address a meeting .on the aims and objects of the organisation..

Mr C. E. Beetham, of Pahiatua, intends starting a Romney stud flock on his property at Mangatainoka.

Placke, who has swum Rangitoto Channel, swam across the Auckland harbour a few days ago, taking 57min to do the distance, a little over two miles.

A Feilding resident, Mr William Wood, died on Friday from inflammation, brought about by his drinking cold water whilst in a heated condition a few days ago\

Mr William Andrew, who for some time past has been telegraphist at the Bulls Post Office, is to be transferred to the office at Wariganui. Mr Burgess, from South Dunedin, will take up the duties at the Bulls Office.

' The Lyttelton Times shows that a cooperative workman, about whom a great fuss was made because he was paid .£22 for one month, received the money as a final payment for work of an extremely dangerous character —the removal of a slip at a point at which he was exposed to the constant risk of meeting falling earth and pieces of rock. For this hazardous duty the precise amount he Was paid was equal to lis l£d per working day. ,„ ~

:- Two Queensland ladies—Mrs Lilly and Mrs Greggs—have had the honour of being the first ladies to scale the highest point of the Remarkables. — Walcatipu Mail.

The Khedive has assured Lord Cromer that he will not make any changes in the Egyptian Ministry.

Mr Lloyd Osbourne, the stepson of the late Mr R. L. Stevenson, and his collaborates in some of his works, has written, for private circulation among his friends at a distance, an interesting and pathetic ae count of the death of the distinguished novelist, his funeral and the mourning of his devoted Samoan friends and dependants for their lost chief. The Melbourne Argus, which makes some extracts from this memorial little volume, quotes the following:—" He wrote hard all that morning of the last day; his half-finished book, ' Hermiston,' he judged the best he had ever written, and the sense of successful effort made him buoyant and happy as nothing else could. In the afternoon the mail fell to be answered; not business correspondence—for this was left till later —but replies to the long, kindly, letters of distant friends, received but two days since, and still bright in memory. At sunset he came downstairs,' rallied his wife v about the forebodings she could not shake off; talked of a lecturing tour to America that he was eager to make,' as he was now so well,' and played a game at cards with her to drive away her: melancholy. He said he was hungry; begged her assistance to help him make a salad for the evening meal, and to enhance the little feast, he brought up a bottle of old Burgundy from the cellar. He was helping his wife on the verandah and gaily talking, when suddenly he put his hands to his head and cried out, ' What's that?' Then he asked quickly, 'Do I look strange?' Even as he did so he fell on his knees beside her. He was helped into the great h all, between his wife and his body-servant, Sosimo losing consciousness instantly, as he lay back in the armchair that had once been his grandfather's. Little time was lost in bringing the doctors —Anderson, of the man-of-war, and his friend Dr Funk. They looked at him and shook their heads ; they laboured strenuously and left nothing undone. But he had passed the bounds of human skill. He had grown so well and strong that his

| wasted lungs were unable to bear the strain of returning health. The dying man lay back in the chair, breathing heavily, his family about him frenzied with grief as they realised all hope was passed. The dozen and more Samoans that formed part of the little clan of which he was chief sate in a wide semicircle on the floor, their reverent, troubled, sor-row-stricken faces all fixed upon their dying master. Some knelt on one knee to be instantly ready for any command that might Ibe laid upon them. A narrow bed was brought into the centre of the room, the master was gently laid upon it, his head supported by a rest, the gift of Shelley's son. Slower and slower grew his respiration, wider the interval between the long, deep breaths. The Rev Mr Clarke was now come, an old and valued friend, who knelt and prayed as the life ebbed away. He died at 10 minutes past 8 on Monday evening, the 3rd December, in the 4<sfch year of his age. The great Union Jack that flew over the house was hauled down, and laid over the fit shroud for a loyal Scotsman."

Lord Brassey sails for Melbourne in July, in his yacht, the Sunbeam. " v "'-'Captain Hunter-Blair, formerly Aide-de-Camp to Lord Glasgow, has been selected for an adjutancy in the Third Gordon Highlanders. One day lately a rumour flew over Melbourne that the Queen was dead! The rumour had much precision of detail. Her Majesty, it ran, had been struck down cyan apoplectic fit, and the news was posted in the Exchange, and for a short time was widely believed.

Before leaving for Victoria on Monday, the Hon J. * Gavan Duffy, PostmasterGeneral of Victoria, wired to the Premier thanking him cordially for the kindness shown him by the Government during, his visit to New Zealand. Mr Duffy also sent his acknowledgments of the courtesy of the Railway Department. Captain Edwin returned by the Hinemoa on Monday. , --■■.'"". One of the gentlemen who was a passenger by the Hinemoa on her recent island trip informs us that the party which went by her was so well equipped with oilskins, sea boots, etc., and other paraphernalia suited for heavy weather, that when he went on board and surveyed his fellow - passengers' equipment he was at first inclined to believe that an excursion to the South Pole was in contemplation. His Excellency the Governor was quite at home, and greatly enjoyed the trip. " Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown." The Kaiser, addressing the Branden-burgers, spoke of the thorny nature of his office. He ridiculed Utopian scheines for benefiting a nation, and said that no class could claim special privileges at the cost of others. President Kruger, of the Transvaal Republic, has presented the Pope with a diamond weighing 971 carats, said to -have, no equal in the world. The regulations for the first election of members of the University College Council for the middle district of New Zealand are gazetted. The narration of Sir J. P. Abbott's experiences at a race meeting in a New Zealand town where the sale of intoxicating liquors was prohibited is either a piece of pure invention or a specimen of wild exaggeration.— Lyttelton, Times.

"An ex-member of the Y.M.M."—whatever that is—writes to the Otago Daily Times conveying the information that in religious matters Wellington as a whole is far behind other New Zealand towns, and somewhat resembles the Grecian capital of old. G-rubb, McNeill and Todd (the C.I.M. missionary) all passed through the same experience there, he adds —cold indifference and lack of spiritual life,. » The wife of Captain Withers, of the British India Steam Navigation .Company, has obtained a divorce from her husband on the ground of his adultery with Lady Eugenia Mary Core, with whom he lived at Geneva. It is believed that Leo Tolstoi was the author of the recent manifesto issued by the People's Party condemning the Czar's declaration in favour of maintaining an autocracy. . , . -Lady Glasgow and family leave Rotorua for . Auckland on Saturday, accompanied by Captains Clayton and Preston, A.D.C.'s. The Chief Justice left for the South last Tuesday night in Order to attend the session of the University Senate at Christchurch. His Excellency the Governor and party returned to Wellington on Monday by the Hinemoa, after a trip to the islands on the South and East Coast of New Zealand. The Hinemoa left here on January 15th, and after visiting the various lighthouses on the West Coast, called in at the Bluff for Lord Glasgow and party. Stewart Island, the Snares, Auckland, Campbell, Antipodes, Bounty and the Chatham islands were then visited. Among those on board were Major Elliot, Dr Collins, Professor Parker, Sir James Hector, Sir Arthur Douglas, Captain Edwin, Messrs Denniston, Jennings and Youall. Bad weather was experienced during the voyage, and the steamer had to be hove-to frequently, about six days being I thus lost. The visit to the Macquarie Island had to be abandoned. A series of j deep-sea soundings were taken during ihe I trip. On visiting Campbell Island it was

found that several cases stored in the depot had been broken into, and a small boathouse, in which was stored a quantity of goods, had been entered, and several articles, such as boots, blankets, shirts.

&c, taken away. A case of medicine and some food were also removed, and the thief had taken the precaution of placing the empty cases behind the others so as not to arrest attention. The dep6ts at the other places visited were found in good order. Since leaving Wellington the Hinemoa steamed close on 3800 miles.

The Hinemoa left during the week for Onehunga with His Excellency the Governor. From Onehunga she will proceed to G-reymouth and bring on the Premier and his family to Wellington. As the Hinemoa will be light on her trip to Greymouth she will probably delight the hearts of the inhabitants by going alongside the wharf there. It has hitherto been a sore point with them that Captain Fairchild for prudential reasons would not do so. Hence much heartburning on the part of the local authorities, who are sensitive on the score of their harbour.

Li Hung Chang has returned to Pekin, arid been graciously received by the Emperor.

When retiring after having had an audience with the Emperor, Li Hung Chang declared that his life was always at his master's disposal.

M. de Staal, Russian Ambassador in London, succeeds the late M. de Giers as Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The Premier is to lay the foundation stone of the Wanganui Hospital on the 14th March.

Mr John Joyce, M.H.K., has been elected chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board.

Mr C. E. Nicholas, for 14 years postmaster at Bulls, and who before that was in charge of the Feilding Post Office, has been promoted to the charge of the Waimate office in the South Island. He will be succeeded at Bulls by Mr C. "Li. White, of Whangaroa, Auckland.

Eouiller Bey, Secretary-General at the Court of the Khedive, is believed to have instigated Abbas in his attitude of hostility towards English rule.

The Dunstan Times, for the last year or so in charge of Mr R. JPyke, has been sold to Mr R. S. Gilkisson, of the Colonial Bank, Cromwell, who has resigned his position there to undertake the management of his new venture.

Mr J. R. Montague was the only candidate nominated for the vacancy in the No. 2 Ward in the Palmerston Borough Council.

Father Golden has been appointed to assist Father Patterson in the Oroua and Manawatu Districts.

Mr Ben Tillett writes to the London Daily Chronicle strongly denouncing' the treatment of the labourers at the London Docks. They are, he says, losing all the slight advantages they won during the dock dispute.

Major Gascoyne, S.M., who has been stationed at the Chatham Islands during the past three and a half years, arrived in Wellington in the Hinemoa on Monday, accompanied by Mrs Gascoyne. He will remain in New Zealand until the next trip of the Kahu to the Islands in Ipril. The Major, during his sojourn at the remote islands, has won the esteem and confidence of the islanders, Native and European, and has well earned a respite from duty in such distant quarters. Major and Mrs Gascoyne left Wellington for Nelson on Wednesday.