MISCELLANEOUS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1510, 7 February 1901, Page 60

MISCELLANEOUS

A special summoned meeting of Court Sir George Grey was held on the 29th, the C. R., Bro. W. Ogier, presiding. Immediately on the opening of the court P.C.R. Bro G. Key moved an expression of loyalty and sympathy on the death of the Queen. The motion was carried in silence, and the court was draped. The notice of motion to appoint medical officers ft r friendly societies only was carried with one dissentient. One candidate was proposed and one initiated.

At the meeting of the Wellington Hospital Trustees on the 29th there were present: Hon F. H. Fraser (chairman), Messrs J. Dailies, O. M. Luke. R. C. Kirk and G. Webb. The chairman, as a mark of respect to the memory ot th*| Queen, moved that the meeting be adjourned, and that any business ready necessary to be done be transactrd by the House Committee in the meantime. Mr Kirk seconded the motion, which was, carried. On the motion of Mr Luke, seconded by Mr Webb, it was resolved that a letter of condolence be sent to his Excellency the Governor. The present position of the works in connection with the Kelburne Tramway is that No. 1 tunnel (from Lambton quay) is finished with the exception the plastering of the concrete. No. 2 tunnel (under Clifton terrace) is half finished, and No. 3 tunnel (near Kelburne Park) is two-thirds finished. The viaduct at Kelburne Park is practically finished, the hand-railing has Set to bo completed. The Botanical Gardens viaduct is now in hand; that over Botanical" road has still to be built. Three or four n.'fpiths will elapse, before the part of the contract above referred to is out of hand. The company has placed in England an order for the engine, and alsC for a Cradock rope. Mr J. E. Fulton the engineer, is now preparing designs for the engine-house and for cars, pulleys and other gear. All the rails and fastenings are on the ground. The line will not he ready for traffic for nearly six months. The Kelburne-Karcri load which runs from the head of the tramway line to the Karori tunnel, will be ready for traffic in about three months, including the Karori viaduct, a structure 56 feet high. A novel application occupied the attention of the Benevolent Trustees on the. 29th. The applicant, who has been a well-contented and cheerful inmate of the Ohiro Home for the last seven years, was a man evidently well over middle age. He is rather deaf, and un. til lately had had had eyesight. Recently he underwent an operation at the Hospital, which had the effect of greatly improving his sight. As he said, after an active life, he had been very despondent during his retirement at the Home, but the partial recovery of his eyesight fired him with new hopes of independence. Would the Trustees forego their claim on his old age pension due on the Ist of February ? It was pointed ot t that for the Trustees to waive their claim on an. applicant’s pension money would be to establish a precedent which others" would not fail to take advantage of to the ultimate disadvantage of the Home. The trustees, however, decided to offer him 7s a week for four weeks while he was engaged looking for employment. When the Trustees’ decision was communicated to the man he replied - that he “would take their offer into consideration, and let them know.”

Captain Kingsmill has succeeded Captain Baynes in the command of H.M.S. Mildura.

Mrs Kingsmill, wife of the captain of H.M.S. Mildura, arrived in Wellington by the s.s. Taravera on the 29th

Tills year the Church of England Waifs and Strays Society will celebrate its twentieth anniversary, and, in view of that event-, the Bishop of London ha« issued a circular letter to direct the attention of church people generally tv the work the society has accomplished, and to the urgent need for extending its operations. During the last twenty years the society has provided homes for 7800 children, of whom 5000 are known to he supporting themselves respectably.

A meeting of the Wellington Halfholiday Committee was held at the City Council Chambers on the 29th, when there were present : Messrs J. G. W. Aitken (Mayor of Wellington), J. Smith (City Council), M. Murdoch (City Council), G. Frost (Mayor of Melrose) land W. Cook (Johiisouville Town Board). On the motion of Mr Aitken, seconded by Mr Frost, it was resolved,. -without discussion, that Wednesday afternoon be the weekly half-holiday in Wellington and suburbs for 1901, as it was in the preceding year.

Dr McArthur, S.M., presided over the sitting of the Magistrate’s Court on the 29th instant. Thomas Jones pleaded guilty to a charge of having stolen a hose, the property of some person unknown. There were twenty-three previous convictions for theft- against accused, and he was sent to gaol, for three months’ hard labour. James Wylie -appeared on remand, charged with having assaulted James Haslem. The complainant- did not press the charge, and stated his willingness to accept ai? apology. That course was adopted, de. fendant-being; ordered to pay i6s costs. Two first offenders were convicted of drunkenness and then discharged.

The following pupils of Wellington College Avere (successful at the recent University examinations : —Junior scholarship, J. A. Brailsford, P. W. Robertson ; “credit” passes, E. E. Rigg, R. M. Watson. Medical preliminary, if. A. Wedde, C. H. Crump, R. Stout. Matriculation, Rh W. Cook, H. R. Barrett, P.C. Hay, G. W. Gamble, J. F. Randerson, P. Monaghan, 11. R. Mason, W. R. Parkinson, T. D. Hall, F. J. Beechey, M. W. Sprot-t, B. J. Jacobs, A. G. Cridland, A. V. Halsd, H. Linklater, J. Hutton, C. C. Smyth, L. ADenton, G. H. Wolters, G. T." Withers G. R. Hutcheson G. D. Davis, F C. Norton.

English papers of December 22ml state that the death took place on the previous day, at his residence in Belfast, of Mr Vere Foster, the wellknown Irish philanthropist, in his eiMitysecond year. Mr Foster,, who was the second son of Sir Augustus Farter, Bart, British Minister in 1819 to Denmark’ was some years in -the-'diplomatic service. During the Irish famine in 1847 he and his brother organised relief coremittees all over the country and saved thousands from starvation. ‘ lie afterwards devoted his life to emigration legislation, Irish national education, and improved schoolhouse accommodation Mr Foster was also the author of an assisted emigration seheme for females about 25,000 Irish girls being assisted after the distress in 1867, chiefly out of hi-; own purse. His *well-known series of writing, drawing, and painting books is still in use in Irish national schools throughout the country,, and in many ether parts of the world. -.-- ; >.