CITY ITEMS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1316, 20 May 1897, Page 35

CITY ITEMS.

The new police station in Manners street is to be erected by co-operative labour. The Church of England services oonductod by the RevE. H. Spencer on Sunday in the Oddfellows' Hall were well attended. -jtY7o acknowledge receipt of a copy of Fair Play, devoted to athletics and football in Wellington. " Look after the pence and the pounds willtake care of themselves." A Chinaman was arrested last week for stealing <£2 10s lid, the property of another Chinaman. Included in the amount were 186 pennies. Mr A. P. Turner preached on Sunday at the Church of Christ, choosing as his subject the rite of baptism. On Sunday evening next Mr Turner will exchange pulpits with the Rev C. Dtllaston, of the Vivian street Baptist Church. " With the admirable system of national education now in force," said the Rev James Paterson at St. John's Church on Sunday ''and tho staffs of vfell-troined teachers in the schools, there is no excuse for thd children of the colony not being well educated. The education was easily gained and wa3 of incalculable benefit in after life." The Empire Tea Company, Wellington, of which Messrs W. and G. Turnbull and Co. are the proprietors, have decided to offer two priz33 of the value of JB2O and J2lO for the first and second best original designs for a tea show card. The competition is confined to registered students of the Technical Schools of New Zealand. The liberality and enterprise thus displayed by Messrs W. and G. TurnbuU and Co. to the Technical Schools of New Zealand will no doubt result in a fine collection of designs being sent In. Mr Kenny, S.M., made a remark in Cour on Friday with which all persons who have besn witnesses in cases heard at tho Magistrate's Court will cordially agree. Mr Wili'ord had asked that all witnesses in a case being heard should be ordered out of Court, when it was requested that the female witnesses shouldbe allowed to remain. Mr Wilford said it was essential that all should leave the Court. Mr Kenny then said it was a pity that proper accommodation for waiting witnesses was not provided. There was no room for them to go into where thero was any comfort —a fire for instance. As it was, witnesses had to wait about the draughty corridors. There was, of course, tho bailiff's room, but that was almost as bad as the corridors.

Tho Yorkshire Society held their monthly meeting last week, the "Tykes" mustering in greater force than usual at the Trocadero. The formal business consisted only of confirming the minutes of the previous mseting and electing one new member, but tho extra time thus afforded for enjoyment was \ taken full advantage of. The harmony consisted of music, vocal and instrumental, and such singing could only be heard at a meeting of Yorkshiremen pathetic, comic, patriotic and sentimental, each being well represented. Mr J. H. Helliwell was again to the fore with a more than usually interesting budget of county news. In the absence of the vice-presidents, Mr Elockton, senr., occupied the chair. The result of the Catholic "social," held last week in the Skating Rink, must be very gratifying to the promoters. There were between 500 and 600 people in the Rink. The Excelsior Minstrels provided the first part of the evening's entertainment, and succeeded in amusing the large audience. Sentimental songs were given by H. Grimstone, A. Pedder and E. Perry, a descriptive song by J. Mulcahy and a solo on the bones by E. Hindley. The " end men," Tom Hall, Percy Jefferies, Will Russell and Ted Craig, provided the comic element, and also perpetrated numerous alleged jokes. The minstrel portion of tho programme was brought to a close by a double song and dance by A. Craig and P. Jefferies. Dancing was then indulged in, St. Mary's Brass Band supplying the music. Plentiful refreshments were provided by the ladies of the parish. The duties of M.'sC. were carried out by Messrs Holcroft, North and Robinson. I The authorities of St. Patrick's College : annually submit two scholarships to the value of 40 guineas each for competition. The scholarships are tenable for two years, and are open to pupils attending the Catholic schools of the colony. Candidates must be under 16 years of age, and must gain over 40 per cent, of marks on any subject. The following is the programme : —Christian doctrine —Butler's large catechism complete. Grammar —Accidence and syntax, parsing, grammatical, analysis, letter-writing and composition. English author —" L'Allegro and It Pensoroso " (Milton). Geography General notions of geography (physical and political), Africa in outline, Europe and New Zealand in detail. History—English history, general events with dates from 1485 to 1837. Irish history— Daunt's. The period between 1659 and ISB2. Arithmetic —Simple and compound rules, vulgar and decimal fractions, practice, proportion, simple and compound interest, discount. Euclid —Book I. Text only. Algebra—Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division. On Sunday, services in connection with tho •anniversary of St. John's Presbyterian Church were held. In the morning the Rev James Paterson preached. The church, was filled to overflowing, a good portion of the congregation being children. Mr Paterson j took for his text tho sth chapter of Deuteron- i oray. 29th verso. Eo first drew a picture of - an ideal home with a perfect home lii'e, a j state of affairs which ho said could only be j realised by the help of Christianity. Ho spoke of the influences and joys and duties of such a home, and contrasted it with a home whore there was no such Christianity. It was, he said, beyond, all question which home was tho best. Mere hollow profession of religion without any reality in it would, ho said, simply disgust the younger members of the family with religion. It was important that tho religion should be sincere, and it was necessary that parents should bavo deep humility, piety, submissiveness and love in their hearts to make homo life bright and happy. Then there would be comfort, l>fia.ee and happiness in the home. After referring to the proper way to train up and teach the children, Mr Paterson went on to advise the young men in their habits of life and manner of seeking enjoyment, and besought them to early recognise their duties and responsibilities. He advised the parents in getting their children on in life to also get them on in Christianity, and concluded by exhorting thorn, to send their children to tho Sunday-schools as a means to ; that end. In the afternoon a ehildrou'a j service was held, when tho Rev C. Dallasion j gave an address entitled " New Things." There was a large attendance oL' children. S In the evening tho Rev James Paterson again preached, on " The Valuo of Lii'e." There | was a good attendance. Collections were i taken up at all the services in aid of the j Sunday-schdhls,

It is probable that the fleet of yachta in Wellington harbour is likely to be increased by the addition of a schooner of 20 tons. A woman named- Jane Ashby was committed to the Lunatic Asylum on Monday, Drs Scanlon and Hislop certifying that she was of unsound mind. The membership-list of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club still increases. Three more gentlemen are up for election, making a total of 16 in a fortnight. A witness speaking at the Court of Arbitration on Monday, said there was only one man in Wellington who was not a member of the Typographical Union. At Monday's meeting of the Wellington Publio Works Committae, it was agreed to accept the tender of Messrs A. and T. Burt to supply the hot salt water bath at Thorndon baths for .£ls. Five tenders received by the_ Wellington City Council for the construction, of three steel compressed air receivers for the Wellington sewerage scheme have been referred to the Drainage Engineers. The Wellington Woollen Company proposes to add shortly a , brisk wing to its premises on the reclaimed land. Power was sought in the meantime to erect a temporary building of corrugated iron, with a wooden framework, as a dining-room] for the e'lnployeesj since there is no room in the main building. At its meeting on Monday, however, the Public Works Committee recommended that the application for a, permit for the temporary structure be not granted. On the arrival of the Wakatipu from South on Saturday a lady placed some o? her luggage on the wharf, and left her husband in charge of it while she returned to the steamer. When she came back she discovered that a small hand-bag containing a gold brooch set With stones, valued at .£3, and some other articles, had been stolen. She at once informed the police, and yesterday afternoon Chief Detective Campbell arrested a young man named Ernest West on the charge of having committed the theft. A meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of Michael Tracy, bootmaker, was held on Monday before Mr Ashcroi't, Official Assignee. The bankrupt, in his statement, attributed his position principally to slackness of trade, bad debts and illness in his family. Examined on oath, the bankrupt stated that the debt owing to his son was for money lent to him to enable him to meet his debts. He had called a private meeting of his creditors, and they requested him to file. It was decided that the stock-sheets should be revised and tenders called for the stock ; and that £3 be allowed the bankrupt and 25s to his sion for services rendered since the bankruptcy. The meeting was adjourned sine die. It appears from the remarks of several members of the Acclimatisation Society at their meeting on Monday that the result of opening the last shooting season of native game prior to that of imported game was disastrous to the interests of licensed sportsmen. While the latter were waiting for the season to open the pot-hunters in search of pot-luck killed or frightened all the game in the different districts, so that the bags of the legitimate sportsmen when their time came were very small. It is suggested that if the opening of the native and imported game seasons was mado concurrent it would be a desideratum, as not only would the whole shooting community be placed on one footing, but the presence of the licensed gunner would be some sort of a check on his unlicensed brother. The following aro the winners of the principal prizes in the Wellington Rowing Club's art union : —lst prize, piano—Miss M. A. Dive, Hawera ; 2nd, lady's Humber bicycleMr J". Burke, Wellington ; 3rd, Singer sewing machine—Mr W. H. Fielder, Wellington ; 4th, wager sculling boat —Mr J. O. Bidwiil, Feathorston; sth, gentleman's Humber bicycle Mrs M. A. Eead, Wellington; 10th, silver tea and coffee service Mr George White, Wellington; 20th, gentleman's Humbor bicycle —Mr Maunsell, Branceoeth; 30th, oil painting Mr E. Ledez, Newtown. The other prizes were distributed throughout the colony as fellows -—Grey town, Newman, Opaki, Waverley, Pahiatua, Lyttelton, Stratford, Napier, Christchurch, .Palmerston North and Nelson. Prize 23 (ticket 2844), prize 28 (ticket 6140), and prize 4i (ticket 17,228) are still unclaimed.

During the sitting o£ the Arbitration Court on Monday, Mr Cock took occasion to ask, although he had been made a party to the dispute by his own particular wish, and therefore did not question the particular jurisdiction of the Court, whether —there being an Industrial District in Nelson —he was rightly called before the Court at Wellington. He had no particular objection, but it might bo of importance in other cases affecting Nelson. His Honor said he was not quite prepared to answer, as he did not know the question waa going to arise. Mr Cock said he only wished His Honor to make some remark in the course of his judgment. They had a Conciliation Board in the Nelson Industrial District. His Honor said it seemed to him that ho might bo called at cither place, as ho (Mr Cock; carried on his business partly in Wellington. Mr Cock said the men lived in Nelson and were placed on the articles in Nelson, and the business in Nelson was not on all fours with the business in Wellington. His Honor said that would make a, difference. Mr Cock said the case should bo heard in tho community which it affected. Ho wished to know, in ease of his failing to attend at Wellington, if he could be fined because he did not appear. His Honor expressed the opinion that it would be a hardship, but he would not like to give a decision without hearing argument. The annual presentation of prizes in connection with the Wellington Amateur Swimming Club took place at the Trocadero on Monday. There was a large attendance of members and their friends. Sir Robert Stout, president of the New Zealand Swimming Association, presented the prizes won during the season. The following is the list of prize winners : —G. Butler, P. C. Crabb, C. Kelly, F. Flaun, F. Wilton, G. S. Hill, F. Pullen, K. Wighton, G. Said, G. A. Wilkes, G. Bell, J. T. Gunn, H. Davis. A number of musical items wore contributed during the ovening by the following members: —Messrs E. J. Fleming, T. Evans, A. Laurenson, It. Wighton, A. Smith and C. 8011. Mr S. L. Partridge presided at the piano. Tho captain, Mr T. Evans, on behalf of the members, presented tho secretary, Mr E. J. Fleming, with a handsome gold pendant, suitably inscribed, as a token of their appreciation of his services since the formation of the club. Mr S. L. Partridge reviewed tho doings of the club during tho pastjseason and congratulated tho members on tlie big advance made in. swimming generally. Sir It. Stout spoke strongly irt favour of a central swimming bath. Mr '£■• Shields (vice-presi-dent) also spoke as to the advantages of a central bath.

In reply to the application of tho WelHrgto'n Scenery Preservation Society, that the City Council should subsidise tho soeiet >V. subscriptions to the extent of £ J«"'.ir £, the" City Solicitor (Mr T. F._ Martin >, advises that the Council cannot, without express statutory authority.(hand over any oi'ud funds to a private society. &a Monday afternoon* Mr Charles Wilson, M.H.B.- for Wellington Suburbs, waited upo;\ the Postmaster-General, the Hon Mr'.WsJks*. and urged the erection of a post office xp Newtown. Mr Wilson emoted population an\i other statistics in support of his conteafci'.ir that Newtown should have a separate S'/A properly-equipped post office, &**•& laid tt»o whole question before the Minister at sor.o length. The Postmaster - b'euernl b ;-= promised "Mr Wilson that, the matter »lvOi ; have his careful consideration. The Yogcltown schoolroom was crammed tc? the doors last week when the Brooklyn and *ogeltown supporters of Mr Charles Wilson, M.H.R., held a " social " in Ms honour. Tho schoolroom had been most; tastefully decorated. - The new member for the Suburb.-, accompanied by Mrs Wilsds/arrived about 3 o'clock, and was most cordially .eseoived. My Thomas Carmichael occupied the ehair, ar.-A briefly introduced the new member. Mc Wilson made la, brief and very happy speech „ in which he expressed the satisfaction with which he had learnt that members of his opponent's committee were present that evening'.. He (Mr Wilson) did not wish to say any hard things against bis opponent, and thought, that now the battle was over all heart-burn-ings and ill-feeling on either side should be dropped. The spirit of true Liberalism van a cheerful recognition of the right of freedom of individual'political opinion. For his ovm part he had not the slightest ill-feeliag' against any of his opponents, although tho light had been, as they knew, a hot one. and some rather hard things had been said and written about him (the speaker). A lengthy programme was then gone through, vocal items being contributed by Messrs. M.. Corliss, W. Lightfoot, J". Barnett, B. Taylor. A. Sinclair, T. Barnett, J. Burrell anclG, Smith, recitations by Messrs Corliss and A. Blockloy, a sailor's hornpipe by Air S.'Day the entertainment closing with a very funny and an extremely clever dance by Mr T. Delaney. After the concert the rooms were cleared, and an excellent supper, for which the caterer was Mr Mawson, of Cuba street, was done ample justice to. Dancing was then commenced, and was continued until an early hour this morning. Before leaving Mr Wilson thanked the committee and all present for the compliment they had paid him, and congratulated all concerned upon tho excellence of tho arrangements. Mr and Mrs Wilson were loudly cheered on leaving for town. Tho " social'" was the greatest success of tho kind ever held in the district, and a most enjoyablo evening was spent by all.