THE New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1900.

New Zealand Mail, 15 February 1900, Page 28

THE New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1900.

The Agent-General has been instructed'to watch the passage of the Federal Constitution Act- by the Imperial Parliament on behalf of the New Zealand Government-.

The Government has decided to ask for further information from Australia before relaxing the regulations for the medical examination of vessels arriving from New South Wales.

The new classes at the Wellington Technical School established this year are. making satisfactory progress, and all other sections of the school are well up to last year’s standard numerically. It is proposed shortly to hold an exhibition of a- number of very excellent decorative examples received by the Director (Air A. D. Riley) from various English firms. Mr C. E. Adams, late of the engineering school, Canterbury College, has been appointed ■<> give a course of lectures on •‘steam”, in connection with-the mechani cal section of the school. .Miss. Williams, the newly-appointed instructress of Domestic Economy, has been making inquiries at the various schools in the Hutt and Manawatu districts, with regard to the commencement of her classes in connection witli primary schools, and is engaged in getting together her appliances lor the prosecution of the work preparatory to opening classes at the schools in those districts. There are still a few vacancies for the - evening cookery classes at the school.

The third series of wool sales under the auspices of the Wellington Wool Brokers’ Association is to be held in the -Art Gallery, Whitmore street, on Thursday, loth February.

It has been decided by Cabinet that manual instruction, to include the teaching of cai-pentei’ing, blacksmitliing and similar handicrafts, shall be introduced into- the native scnools of the colony. The Cabinet has allocated the sum of £2OOO for the- Makohine Viaduct, and a similar sum has been set aside for the construction of the line between Kawakawa and Poro-o-1 arao tunnels. Now that the Patents Office has been removed to the Government Printing Office, arrangements are being carried out to increase the accommodation of the Justice Department by including a portion of the old Patent Office in the Records Department. Accommodation will also be provided; for Air Davies, Native Interpreter to the Justice Department. “The New Zealand Domestic Cookery Book” is the title of a little brochure published by Airs R. D. Harman and Airs A. Gardner, of Christchurch, from whom we have received a. copy! The ladies who have compiled the work are by no means without skill in the art of cookery. Aire Harman has an English reputation and is at present teacher of cookery at the Girls’ High School, Christchurch; while Airs Gardner is principal of the Domestic Instruction School iu the same city. The book is not without errata, but these are carefully annotated. It is well printed and ought to be a useful work in any household.

The Ministerial party had a novel experience when proceeding to Wyndliam the other day. On arrival at Edendale, it was found that the vehicles intended to convey them to their destination had no covers on them, and as it was railing very heavily, the Hon J. G. Ward, who was one of the number, conferred with the local officers, and decided to adopt the experiment of going to Wyndliam, a distance of three and a half miles, without the use of engine, horses or shank’s pony. The reserved carriage was uncoupled, placed upon tiie _ Wyndliam section, and, as the grade is a falling one, the carriage, which received a “kick” from the engine, went its way with a slight wind adding to its momentum. Probably this is the most modern substitute for the motor car that exists in the colony, and. at all events, seems to show that the resources of the Railway Department- under the new regime are unlimited. The party made a triumphal entrance into the station, and. on the brake being applied by the surfaceman in charge, three hearty cheers were given for the Aiinister of Railways.

Under the supervision of Captain Johnson, two boats belonging to the Harbour Board were out on Tuesday, dragging near the scene of the recent sad yachting accident in an effort to recover the yacht Spray and the bodies of the drowned youths. Air G. F. Bishop and Air Percy A\ bittern, the uncle and brother respectively of two of the victims, assisted in the quest. After some labour, the yacht was found and raised to the surface .; but no trace of the bodies .was got. Examination showed that none of the sheets had been made fast, as erroneously reported in some newspapers, and none of the occupants of the yacht had been in. any way entangled in the gear. These facts may afford melancholy, satisfaction, as proving that the deceased lads had not been guilty of the reckless practice of fastening the main sheet while sailing in squally weather. The capsizing ot the yacht is. in fact, shown to have been due to no lack of precaution or foresight. In Captain Johnson’s opinion, it would be futile to continue the search for the bodies, and the attempt to recover them will probably he abandoned. In general, when drowning accidents take place in the harbour at a distance from shore, the bodies of the victims are carried to sea by the current, and this is*doubtiess wliat has occurred in the present case. The annual wayzgoose of the Goveriqment Printing Office was held at Day’s Bay on Tuesday, but as rain began to fall soon after midday, and continued throughout the afternoon, the outing was robbed of a great deal of enjoyment. The picnickers left for the bay in the Duchess at 9 a.m. While crossing the harbour, Air Alarks recited! “ The Absent-minded Beggar,” and as the result £1 14s was collected among those on board. A luncheon provided by the committee was served up in excellent style at the pavilion at 1 p.m., when the toasts of “The Queen,” the Government Printer (Air John Alackay) and the overseers (Messrs J. Burns and J. J. Gamble) were proposed, and duly responded to. A long programme of sports were got off during the day, but owing to the miserable climatic conditions, the interest therein was greatly minimised. The following committee were responsible for the general arrangements :—Alessrs W. P. AlcGirr (chairman), P. Riddick, W. C. Millar, D. Joslin, G. Purdy. J.. AI. Johnson, G. AV. Houchen, C. Campbell, J. Counahnn. AV. Weaver, A. Burns. AV. Kerr, W. Naughton, .T. W. Hall, E. J. Widen. V. O’Brien, R. Withmgton. R. J. Carswell, G. H. Garnham, AV. Jolly. The liandicappers were Alessrs R. G. Carswell, G. W. Houchen, E. J. Wiffen, G. White and the judges Alessrs J. Alackay, j. Burns, J. J. Gamble, B. Wilson, J. F. Rodgers, G. Tattle and W. Franklyn. The duties of starter were performed by Air A. Burns and Air W. Hutchings was secretary.

Aliss Ada Briggs, who has just passed the solicitor’s general knowledge * and matriculation examinations, is a pupil of the Brougham Hill School.

Captain G. Von Schoen, __ formerly teacher of navigation in Wellington, left Sydney recently for Vancouver, where he intends to settle down. Air Av. J. Bolt, secretary of the Taieri and Peninsula Alilk Supply Co., of Dunedin, is a passenger by the s.s. Aotea for England, where he will visit the London and other markets in the interests of the company.

Air Baigent, chief steward of the Papanui, who is leaving the employ of the New Zealand Shipping Company alter many years’ service, to enter into business in the colony, has been presented by his late staff with a handsome marble clock as evidence of their esteem.

Arrangements are being made by the Government for the purchase of a suitable boat for dredging purposes, and it is expected that within a few weeks dredging operations will be commenced. They will be carried out under the supervision of Air Arson, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, but the locality has not yet been decided upon.

Air AI. A." O’Callaghan, chief of the dairying service of New South AVaies, passed through AYelliiigton- from Sydney yesterday on his way to Christchurch. Air O’Callaghan is merely on a pleasure trip through the colony, but he intends to learn what lie can of the conditions under which New Zealand dairymen work, and see something of our leading butter and cheese factories. An excellent season, Air O’Callaghan informs us, is being experienced by New South Wales dairymen.