OUR LETTER HOME.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1247, 23 January 1896, Page 41

OUR LETTER HOME.

Ne\y Zealand Majl Office, Wellington, January 22. The Christmas ,and New Year’s holi* days, and their accompanying junketings and jollities, have passed away, and we are now well into the new year, a year which it is the wish of all will bring us a greatly increased prosperity. J ust before Christmas we had some very heavy weather, but for the holidays the elements were most favourable, and picnics and pleasure excursions generally were the rule all over the colony. On Boxing Day and New Year’s Day a number of important race meetings were held, at which the attendance was well up to the average, also a number of athletic gatherings to which allusion is made later on.

Retail bqsines3 was reported as being very brisk about Christmas time, although there ayere perhaps less country people in towq than uspal, owing to shearing operations in rpany districts not having been concluded, the wet vyeather having been a.cause of much (lelay and annoyance to the settlers*.

rfhe enormous increase in the trade of the port of Wellington were well exemplified by some statistics laid before the Wellington Harbour Board at their last meeting, held on the 16th inst., when it waa pointed out by Mr T. Gale, the Chairman, that the aggregate tonnage of vessels, inwards and outwards, for the year was no less than 1,044,046, Mr Gale pointed out that we had reason to be proud of our port seeing, with such a small population, tha tonnage should be over % million, 'whilst the tonnage foc ( Greater London with its popuHtibn of ‘ ; ! ■■ - - ■ -1- - • - 1

5,633,338 was only 14£ millions. Although there was a decrease of 51 vessels in the arrivals (total, 2233) during the year, there was an increase in tonnage of 18,038. The revenue from pilotage, port charges, and harbour master’s fees was .£6526, an increase of £506 over last year. The total goods handled o%erthe Wellington wharves (inwards and transhipment, foreign, colonial and coastal) was 180,409 tons, an increase of 7398 tons; total goods handled over wharves outwards (foreign, colonial and coastal) was 49454 tons, an increase of 1657 tons. There was a slight decrease in wool shipments, but this, it was pointed out, was due t-j delays in shearing. In frozen meat, too, there was aslight decrease, accasioned, no doubt, by the increase of boiling down, which resulted, ho.vever, in an increase in tallow.

Enormous warehouses are now being erected by the Board, and the facilities for the quick despatch of vessels, and handling of cargo generally, are now, so i> is agreed by all shipmasters visiting Wellington, superior to those possessed by any other port in Australasia. Much of the credit due for this satisfactory state of affairs is due to the Board’s Engineer and Secretary, Mr W. Ferguson, whose salary has just been raised to £IOOO a year.

The wool clip is said to have been most satisfactory, both as regards quantity and qualit} 7 , and as latest advices from London report the Home market as being very firm the increase in returns to the pastoralists will be marked, and must eventually tend to an increase of prospects throughout the colony.

In political events, the result of the Midland Railway Arbitration must take first place. As reported in our last letter, the two arbitrators, Sir Charles Lilley, of Queensland, and Sir Bruce Burnside, of Ceylon, retired from tbe case, and left for their respective homes, the hearing of the case, and the decision thereon, being left in the hands of the Hon. E. Blake, Q.C., M.P., formerly a Canadian statesman of high rank, and now a prominent member of the British House of Commons. Mr Blake, who was the umpire agreed to by both parties, heard the case, and has now given his decision, and left for the Old Country. The result of the decision was a victory for the New Zealand Government on almost every point which have been in dispute.

Before leaving for London Mr Blake, whose interest in the Home Rule cause is well known, delivered a most interesting address, at the Opera House, on the history of the Irish agitation for national self government. There was a very large attendance, and the address wa3 voted one of the most eloquent and able ever delivered in this city. A substantial sum has been subscribed by local sympathisers with the Home Rule cause in assistance of the funds of the Irish Parliamentary Party.

Sir Westby Perceval’s term of olfice as Agent-General having expired, the Hon. W, P. Reeves, Minister of Education and Labour, has been appointed as his successor. Mr Reeves has left for London, hi 3 departure being much regretted by the various labour organisations, several of whom have passed resolutions expressing the gratitude of the workers towards the honourable gentleman for his long and arduous exertions in the interest of labour. The New Zealand Educational Institute has qlso. passed resolutions testifying to the warm interest Mr took in all matters concerning education, and thanking him for the kindness and consideration he had displayed as Minister for Education towarcls members of the teaching profession.

The acceptance by Mr Reeves of the position of Agent-General has, of course, necessitated a vacancy in the representation of Christchurch, for which constituency Mr Reeves topped the poll at the two last elections. Within a few days the honourable gentleman's departure, no fewer than four candidates were announced. These were Mr John Lee Scott, a member of the firm of Scott Bros., engineers and locomotive makers, Messrs Chas. Lewis, T. Taylor, and R. M. Taylor. Mr Scott announced himself in the Government interest. Mr Lewis is, it is understood, the chosen of the Opposition Party, and will receive the support of a political body, somewhat grand’loou&ntiy entitled “ The National Association." Mr T, Taylor is the champion of the Prohibitionists, and. Mr,R. M. Taylor, who formerly sjyij as a. Liberal for the Sydenham constituency,' is‘running it is as an iude-

pendent. A few days ago, however, it was announced that Mr Scott had retired, owing to the fact that his brother being about to leave the colony for a time, he, Mr J. Scott, would not be able to take up a public position.

Mr Reeves’ portfolio of Labour has been temporarily assumed by the Hon. the Premier. Owing to the departure of Mr Reeves, and the acceptance by Sir Patrick Buckley of a Supreme Court Judgeship, there are now to vacancies in the Cabinet, and nob unnaturally there has been a good deal of discussion as to who will be the new Ministers. Up to the time of writing the selection cf the Government had nob been announced.

Two very serious shipping disasters have occurred since our last letter was despatched. On Christmas morning considerable sensation was caused in town by the news that the barque Grassmere, of 440 tons, bound from Newcastle, N.S.W., to Wellington, had run ashore near Cape Terawhiti. The news proved to be correct, the barque having struck on a sunken rock about two miles oft’ the mainland whilst running before a very strong N.W. breeze. As it was seen there was no chance of saving the vessel the officers and crew' took to the boats, which were picked up in the Straits by the cablerepairing steamer, Terranora. The wrecked vessel speedily went to pieces. At the enquiry which followed Captain Morrison, who was a part owner of the vessel, and who estimates his loss at £ISOO, had his certificate returned. The mate, Mr Killingpack, also had his certificate returned. The captain, however, was ordered to pay the costs of enquiry, having been, so the Court held, guilty of a grave error of judgment in not, in the first place, laying a course sufficiently to the South, and in not summoning all hands and devoting his attention to the steering. The mate was blamed for altering the ship's course without reference to the master, but inasmuch as the master was on deck before the vessel avas in actual danger, the Court could not hold that the mate’s conduct was the cause of the casualty.

A second, and even more deplorable, disaster occurred on the evening of Wednesday, the Bth inst., when the fine iron barque Halcione, of 870 tons, owned by the Snaw, Savill, and Albion Company, and commanded by Captain Boorman, who has been for many years in the service of the Company. The Halcione had had a fine weather trip out from London of 90 days, and all went well until the the Bth, when she sighted Wellington Heads. A storm, however, was raging, and, despite all efforts of captain and crew, the vessel went ashore on the rocks before sail could be shortened. All on board escaped safely, some in a boat winch reached Wellington early on Thursday morning, the 9th inst., the others a little later on reaching Pencarrow Lighthouse. The ship’s papers were saved, but all the personal effects of the officers and crew were lost. An inquiry was field on the 15th, when the Court decided that the casualty was caused by accident through stress of weather, without any neglect or default on the part of the the crew. The certificates of the master and mate would be returned, and the costs of the inquiry would be paid by the Marine Department*

Theholidays wero unfortunately marked, aa usual, by several fatal drowning accidents. But the most tragic of all fatalaties of this nature which have occurred since we last wrote took place o.n the 11th inst in the Ivaipara IJarbour, north of Auckland, when no fewer than ten lives were lost through the capsizing of a boat. Most of the persons who thus met an untimely death were quite young, and a most painful sensation was created in Auckland,, where moat of the deceased were well known, upon the arrival of the sad news. The accident wasnotable for the superb heroism displayed by the only survivor, a young man named Edwards. The party had been out on a fishing excursion, and the boat capsized at the mouth of the Hoteo river, when Hie party were returning. Edwards, who is a, good swimmer, made a most nohist effort to save his companions, triad of whom he succeeded on getting- in turn on to the bottom of the capsized boat, only to, them washed off again by the se?v Eventually Edwards got a l\ttia hoy named Armstrong on hyv back, and swam two miles, when, the poor lad was washed off; and drowned, Edwards then made for the beach, where, exhausted by hia ehoris, ho lay semi-unconscious iex some time. When he had recovered he made for the nearest settlement, having on hia way to

swim across a river estuary half a mila wide, and the sad news was made known.

The Women’s Institute has held itss inaugural meeting at Wellington during the month, a very able and sensible address being delivered on the occasion, by Mrs R. J. Seddon, the much-esteemed wife of the Premier. The object of the Institute are to educate the women of the colony on political and social problems, and generally to work for the good of the community. There are now four separate organisations of this character in Wellington alone.

Another interesting function was the inaugural banquet of the recently-formed Yorkshire Society of New Zealand, which took place at the Trocadero, Wellington, on the 15th inst. The banquet was presided over by the Rev J. C. Andrew, and among the guests were the Hon the Premier, Sir Robert Stout, Mr John Duthie, M.H.R., His Worship the Mayor and the President of the Caledonian. Society. A full report of the affair, which was a great success, will be found in another column.

The annual Chess Conference was held at Wanganui during the holiday season, the number of competitors being much larger thau on any previous occasion of: the kind. After several days’ play, tha result of the championship games was announced to be —W. Meldrurn, 10 points ; P. Pleasants, SI points ; C. Hookham, 8 points. The champion, Mr Meldrurn, is a barrister and solicitor, formerly a resident of Auckland,but now in practice at Hunterville. Mr Meldrurn has only been playing in match games for three years. Mr F. Pleasants, the second prize winner, is a young Rangitikei farmer, only 24 years of age, and Mr C. Hookham is an ex-champion who edits the chesii column of a South Island weekly paper.

The Lawn Tennis Championship Meetwas held during the month at Wellington, which city has provided the champion for the year in the person of Mr H. Parker, son of Mr R. Parker, the wellknown local musician. Mr J. R. Hooper, of Auckland, won the second prize. The Ladies’ Championship was won by Miss Nunnely, of Wellington, Mias Lean, ot: Christchurch, being second.

Cricketing circles have been enlivened by the presenco in the Colony of a team from New South Wales, allusion to whom was made in our last. The visitors defeated a Wellington team by no fewer than 226 runs, but an intercolonial match. Christchurch, New South Wales v. New Zealand, resulted in a victory for the home team by 142 runs.

Our athletes have also been busily engaged. At the annual Amateur Athletic Championship Meeting, held at Christchurch on Boxing Day, Canterbury won the banner with 53 points, Dunedin being next with 38. On January 2nd and 4th the first Australasian Amateur Athletic Meeting was held at Christchurch, when, in addition to competitors from all over this Colony, there were also present athletes from Victoria, New South Wales and other colonies. The weather on tha second day, unfortunately, was most unpropitiou3, so strong a gale blowing that in the bicycle events more than on# competitor was actually blown off hsa machine. The premiership prize was secured by New Zealand.

On Boxing Day the Nelson Regatta was held, when the Wellington Rowing Club secured three events, and on New Pear's Day the Lyttelton Regatta attracted an immense crowd, no fewer than 18,00(1 people being estimated to have been present.

Mr hi. D. Hoben, the of the founders of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, of which body he has been forsome years a most energetic secretary, has left for Sydney, having accepted a position on the literary staff of the Daily Telegraph of that city.

In the way of amusemei)ls we have> been, aa usual, well catered for. The Wellington Amateur Operatic Society have produced Gilbert, and Sullivan's opera of “ Princess Ida," and Weffingtonians have at present the choice between Mr Bland Holt’s excellent dramatic company, at the. Opera House, or the circus of Messrs Fitzgerald Brothers.’

The obituary for the month includes Mr A. Milne, an old Rangitikei identity, who arrived in Wellington by the Lady Nugent in 1840; Mr W. F. Downes, manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Wanganui ; Mr Donald Ross, an old and much respected resident of the same

town; and Mrs M. Russell, who for 31 yearsf

past has resided in Wellington. Mrs Russell passed away on the sth, at the residence of her son-in-law, Mr H. J. Blow, of the Public Works Department.