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New Zealand Mail, Issue 1510, 7 February 1901, Page 34

There is no truth in the report that Mr W. C. Buchanan intends contesting the Patea seat in the event of Mr George Hutchison’s resignation. Mr W. C. Buchanan, a candidate for the Wairarapa seat at the last general election, pleaded guilty at Carterton on the sth instant to a charge of failing to give a return of his expenses, and was fined £lO and costs by Mr W. P. James, S.M. Mr Adam Armstrong, Returning Officer, prosecuted. The Victoria Rebekah Ledge of Oddfellows met at the Oddfellows’ Hall Lambtcn Quay, on the sth inst. One candidate was initiated. The following resolution was passed : —“That this lodge laments the death of her Majesty Queen Victoria as that of a sovereign who throughout her glorious reign was pattern of all the womanly graces : and also declares its loyalty to her Majesty’s successor. King Edward VII”’

On the sth inst. the employees of the Wellington Racing Club assembled at the Club Hotel to make a presentation, to the club’s secretary, Mr H. M. Lyon, to mark the occasion of the first three days’ race meeting held at the Hutt. Mr H. McKenzie .occupied the chair, and on behalf of the racecourse staff presented the guest of the evening with a silver butter dish and pair of solid silver serviette rings, both suitably engraved. Mr Lyon replied in! appropriate terms, and a convivial evening was spent.

The committee appointed by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce for the purpose met on the sth instant and discussed the proposals submitted by the Government in reference to the grading of New Zealand hemp. On the motion of Mr John Holmes, it was decided that each member of the committee should be supplied with a copy of the letter furnished by the Government, and that an invitation be sent to Mr Fulton, the newly-appointed hemp grader, to attend a meeting of the committee to he held on Tuesday week at 3 o’clock. That old men and women without ties of relationship are more comfortable in the Ohiro Home than as recipients of outdoor relief is becoming recognised by the Benevolent Trustees. A lady, well known in charitable circles, approached the Trustees oh the sth with a plea for assistance for a frail old Frenchman, who, in spite of his long residence in New Zealand, had never become naturalised until recently, when he was persuaded tq take the step with a view of qualifying for an old age pension. It was pointed out that the case was prima facie a fit and proper one for the Home. The Trustees, however, promised to consider the application, and advise the applicant of the result in due course. There are seventeen cases on the register of persons receiving outdoor relief from the Trustees, and it has been decided to gradually draft them into the Home—partly for their own sakes and partly for the sake of economy in the expenditure of the subscribers’ money. Later in the afternoon, when an elderly woman, quite helpless, applied for a continuance of relief she was offered a place in the Home in lieu of assistance. She became very indignant; and left the Board-room with a threat of making the matter public.