HARBOUR BOARD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1261, 30 April 1896, Page 32

HARBOUR BOARD.

The Harbour Board met last week, when the chairman, Mr Gale, reported that the condition of the bank books was as follows : —Current account, credit balance, £391-1 Is Id; imprest wages account, credit balance, £3O. The amount on fixed deposit was £20,200. The sums required for payment were as follows: —Accounts and wages, £2585 Os 2d; progress on contracts, £732 4s 9J; salaries for April, £398 4s 3d : total, £3715 9s 2d.

Tho Chairman reported That the tender of Mr Edward Seagar for contract 83, hydraulic accumulator, for tho sum of £597, being the lowest, had been accepted, and tho agreement and bond signed, tho bondsmen being Messrs C. A. Briggs and J. J. Dudgeon. That the tender of Messrs AY. Cable and Co. for contract No. SI-, two wool-presses, for tho sum of £I3BB, had been accepted. That Messrs Cable and Co. had elected to deposit tho sum of £2OO in lieu of sureties, which sum had been accepted and placed on fixed deposit at the National Bank for six months. That the tenders of Messrs J. Duthio and Co., Limited, for tho supply of 120 tons of hoop steel and of one and a half tons of studs for the sum of £lOls 13s 9d had been accepted, tho bondsmen being Messrs N. Reid and William Cable. Tho seal of the Board was affixed to the agreements of contract in each of the above cases.

Tho Chairman further reported that tho seal of tho Board had been affixed to a foroshoro licenso to Messrs Nathan and Gorman for the, erection of a wharf at thoir dynamite store at Evans’ Bay (the plans having been received a 3 approved by the Governor in Council) and to tho lease to tho Wellington Meat Export Company, Limited, of sections at Waterloo quay.

By tho steamer Kaikoura, 12 eases of salmon ova were received from the AgentGeneral. The ova number 200,000. They have been obtained from tho Solway fishery, near Dumfries. The most elaborate and careful preparations were made for their conveyance. A special cool chamber was provided for the voyage, and three tons of ice supplied to keep them moist and cool during the passage through the tropics. However, three cases of tho ova porishod on the voyage out. It was at first intended by the Government to distribute the ova among the different acclimatisation societies in the Colony, but tho consignment, owing to its condition, will be handed to tin Wellington Society. The ova have thoroforo been sent to Masterton with a view to save as many live fry as possible, and then to distribute to the other societies. Messrs Zohrab and Co. report tho sale of Mr T. O’Leary’s interest in the .Star Hotel, Woodvillo, to Mr J. M. McKay, of Wanganui, and Mr J. O’Halloran’s interest in tho Kangitikei Hotel, Bulls, to Mr It. By rant, of Bulls, Rangitikoi. Mr Claude M. Banks, who was for many years in the stationery department of Messrs Lyon and Blair, and some time in the Wellington and Christchurch branches of Messrs Wbitcombo and Tombs, has started a business in Grey street as a wholesale and retail stationer, printer, engraver, bookbinder,

account book and rubber stamp manufacturer. Mr Banks is making a speciality of commercial and law stationerv in all its

branches, and as lie assisted with the orders while with Messrs Lyon and Blair, and personally attended to the Home ordering of the stationery, as well as to all tho stock manufactured by (he firm, and has spent some months getting an insight into several other large firms throughout tho Colony, his extensive and exceptional experience and knowledge of the business should enable him to give the utmost satisfaction.

The Chief Justice remarked last week that Magistrates’ Courts appear to bo conducted as if they were the House of Lords, and took too much notice of technicalities. Twenty-four Chinamen arrived from Sydney by the Wakatipu last week. Three are for Wellington and 21 tor Greymoutli. The Master oi IlioOhiro Jienevol nt Home desires to thank Mr Charles Jauion for a parcel of cloth.ng for the inmates, an 1 also Mr Charles Hill for a box of hats.

Tho monthly meeting of the Harbour Board last week lasted seven minutes. There is another large public body which might with advantage take a leaf out of tho Harbour Board’s book in regard to the method and despatch of its business.

The report of tho Commission into the charges made against the Government Printer was on Thursday sent to the Government for transmission to Itis Excellency the Governor. The nature of the findings of tho report has not yet been made known. The Commission has examined upwards of a hundred witnesses for and against the charges. The proceedings opened on Monday, 23rd Man h, and the Commission commenced to take evidence on tho 25th March. Since the last date they lnvo sat daily, taking evidence and preparing the report. The Finance Committee’s recommendations that the following increases of salary bn granted were cairied at the City Council meeting last week alter a sharp discussion : —Mr Tait, clerk in the Town Clerk’s office, from £,l2d to £l3O per annum : Mr Keefe, assistant ia the City Surveyor’s office, from £9O to £IOO per annum; Mr if. L. Godber, junior clerk in the Town Clerk’s office, from £52 to £(!() per annum; Mr A. E. Taylor, messenger, from -his to s)s per week, this to ho the maximum salary for the office. Councillor lfarcourt says that the cost of the holidays given to the employees of the City Council is about £250 annually. The second annual “social” of Court Lady Glasgow, A.0.F., was held last week in Thomas’ Ball, and was a great success. There were fully two hundred people present, and a very pleasant evening was spent, Songs w’ero contributed by Miss E. Stennott.

Mr A. Rose, and Mr J. AVal.-h, who was encored for both his comic songs. King's band supplied the music, and dancing was kept up till an early hour this morning. An

excellent slipper was sowed by Mr G. Mawsun, of Cuba street. Mr It. Wooleolt acted as.M.O. The committee who had the management of tint “ social ” are as follow : -Mrs Woolcott, Misses L. and M. Campbell, Higgins, Pudney, llarlcu and Harris, with Miss Naomi Aston, who was a most energetic secretary. The board of directors of the Wellington AYoollen Company met for the lirG, time in the new building on Saturday, and had the pleasant duty of declaring a dividend at the rate of (I per cent per annum.

Messrs J. If. Bothuno and Co, land and estate agents, report having sold by private contract that valuable freehold property on Lambtou quay, Wellington, together with the shop and dwellinghotisn erected thereon, wellknown as having been for many years in tho occupation of Airs AY. F. Ross, fruiterer, and situated between tho premises of tho Equitable Building Society and Air D. D. Hyde, hairdresser, it is understood the amount of the purchase money was about £2250, tho buyer being Mrs Arthur Warhurlon. Tho Customs duties collected at this port for the past week amounted to £829(5 13s lid, and the beer duty to £17(5 9s 3d.

The directors of the Wellington Opera House Company state in their annual report: —The income for the year shows a surplus of £(529 9s fid over expenditure, and the directors recommend that a dividend of I- per cent, he declared, absorbing tho sum of £5Bl -Is, the balance (Ll-8 5s sd) to be transferred to profit and loss account. The rotiringdireetors are Messrs Barber, Gale, Gilmer and Gasquoine, who, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election.

About half-past 11 o’clock on Saturday night two men walked into the shop of a Chinaman named Ah Pat, who keeps a fruit and grocery store at the oornvr of Webb and Hopper streets, an 1 asked for some fruit. AVhile lie was getting some paper one of the men struck him a severe blow on the head with a stick, knocking him down, and the other in the meantimo began to ransack the shop, taking about 30s out of the till. The men decamped as soon as they had secured the booty. Constable Cassia, of the Mount Cook Police Station, on hearing ol the assault, proceeded to the shop, where lie found the Chinaman suffering from a severe wound on the forehead. The constable took Ah Pat to Dr Aluekin’s, where the wound was dressed and stitched.

A letter was read at the usual meeting of the Executive of the Now Zealand Alliance from the Department of Justice to the effect that the G muniment had refused to go any further with the application for a new license lor Mangawoka. A large quantity of other businoss was transacted at the meeting, and it was agreed that papers on the following subjects be read at the Colonial Convention to bo held in Wellington during tho last week of June .—(I) “The Legislative Programme,” (2) “ Action rp. Parliamentary Candidates.” (3) “ Police Administration,” (1) “ Work to bo Done during the Year,” (5) “ Ho w to Vote at tho Option Foil.”

The newly-joined members of Ihe Welling- j ton Police Force who w- re recently recruited ] from amongst the eiv'lians are being put; i through a e-mrso of drill by Mounfe 1-( Amstable I I leather, i.f t.he Mount Cook '-'iati-iii, whose . experience as a non-commissioned officer in i the Hti-sars has thoroughly title I him for the task. The authorities would be well advised ! if they would also see that the recruits were ! also put in charge of an experienced police I officer and instructed in the duties which they will have to fulfil as constables. The tilth anniversary “ s-o'-ial ” of the Carpcntjrs and Joiner.)’ .Society was held last 1

eek in Thomas’ Hall, and was in every wav

a success. There were over two hundred people present. Songs were eontri uted by | Alesdames Snaddnn and Anderson, Miss ]•]. j Stennott, Messrs Watson, Spray and J. Walsh, who were loudly applauded. Dancing j took place to the strains of Cimino’s band I uni il early this morning, and capital relrcsh- | nients were provided bv Mr J. Skinner, of ! Cuba si rod. Messrs Carlow and Parkins | were the M’.-.C. Mr F. W. Scott made an I energetic secretary.

A special train to carry dynamite is to j leave Wellington Station for AVairnrapa I stations at 10 a.m. on Friday next, and eon- ! signors are to deliver dynamite at the Welj lingbon Goods Shed not later than 9.39 a ns. i that day. j The salary of the inspector for the Society } for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals litis > been increased to ..'2125 per year. At the meeting of the Society for tho Prevention of Cruelty to Animals last week tho inspector reported that lie had enquired into nine eases of cruelty sinco last meeting. Ho also reported that he had received a letter from Messrs C. Bamberg and i Co. requesting that any of their men

found ill-treating their horses should he at

I once reported and severely dealt with. A ! dona ,ion ol £1 Is was enclosed in the letter. I I he resignation ol Mr Trogcar was received I and accepted. The following subscriptions , worn received : —Per Mrs Lingard Air ! Walter Turnbull, £2 2s; Air T. 11. Hanna, £1 Is; Air’J’. Young, Ids; .Mr Caldwell, Os; ! Mrs Sharpe, Airs Adams, Mr 1). T. Stewart, | Air T. Atkinson, Airs J. Bannister, Mr R. W ilberfoss, 5s each ; Mr W. Ramsay, Misses i Kathleen and Marguerite Smith, 2s fid each. Per the inspector—Mr C. Bamberg, £1 Is ; | Air ,1. Lane and Mr F. B. Farmar, 10s ! (Id each; Mr A. Levy, 10s; Hume and Son, 7s fid.

A sample of mixed ore from Preservation Inlet, (dago, was on view in the Shepherds’ Arms Hotel, Tinakori road, on Friday, and attracted a considerable amount of attention. It contains gold from ldwt to lOdwt per ton, silver -Ihoz to elloz, besides copper, lead, zinc and iron. The lode, which is from 2ft to 3ft wide, occurs in a granite sample brought up for the .Museum by Mr McKay, Government Geologist, who has just returned from an extended lour in the South Island. Tho specimen weighs I'dlb.

Another pleasant evening was spoilt by the members of the Wellington branch of tho New Zealand Workers’ Union in the Forward Movement Hall last week. Addresses v.ere deliver d by .Messrs Mnlwoo and Munro. Mr J. Hague gave a pianoforte solo, and smigs and recitations wero contributed by Mrs Aluore, Miss Harvey, and Messrs R. Walker, Ulanehfield (2), it. Page, J. Johnstone, McLaren, Baker, Cunliif, Dark and Jones. A private entertainment took place on Monda;' night at St. Patrick’s College in honour of Dr Walters losial dav (Sunday). The enterta niuent was given by the students of tho College, as.-i t*“d by Fathers Mahoney, Ainsworth and Holley, who contributed songs Father Gnggan, assisted by Messrs F. Gormley and Baldwin, gave a number of splendid limelight views, which were loudly applauded. Tho sir ng mm mass hands of the Coliege also cont'-ibnL.a Violin solos were given by Masters W. Fitzgerald and F. Jo’Gibans, and a piano duet by Maslovs F-.-uik Murrell a:.d I Me omdd. The item which found most favour, and created much amusement,, was given by a gentleman who appeared in character, an 1 was desci'ih d as “ The Fat Contributor.” I’ho popular proprietress of that wellknown hotel, “The Oriental,” in Willis street, has recently made some extensive and acceptable additions to tho hotel, including a private liar, the on-

tranco to which is made by the taking in of the shop lately occupied as a jewellery establishment. The bar is fitted up in the most complete manner with couches, easy chairs, lounges, etc., and is admirably adapted to its requirements. Mrs Ormsbce lias long had the goodwill of the travelling public, and this extension of her promises must increase the already large business of the Oriental Hotel.