GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 6699, 6 October 1882, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

Two new mining claims in the Reefton district have been named the Sir Garnet Wolaeley and Sir Archibald Alison respectively.

The Masterton Park Trustees have decided to lay down the oval in grass, as the first step towards making it available for public recreation.

On the application of Mr Sievwrisht, Mr C. A. De Hauteur, M.H.R., was recently admitted by his Honor Mr Justice Richmond, under the new Haw Practitioners Ac-, as a barrister and solicitor for the colony. Mr John Haughton, late Corporation Overseer, has been presented, on his retirement from that position, with a handsome gold watch and chain, and a eulogistic address from the employees of the Corporation. The watch and chain were obtained from Messrs Hittlejohn and Son, of Lambton-quay. Mr J. H. Wallace, under instructions from the Postmaster-General, recently submitted to public auction the old Telegraph Buildiogs, Custom House-quay. There was only a limited attendance of buyers, and the lots were dis posed of, comparatively apetking, for au old song. Hot 1, the buildings fac.ng Custom House-quay, fell to Mr O, W. Clayton, for £IOO ; and Hot 2, the iron building at the rear, to Mr McDowell, for £4fi. The first lot has to be removed from the ground by th9th proximo. A petition from 32 old soldiers regarding their claims to grants of land in New Zealand was sent to the Prince of Wales from Wanganui by the last ’.Frisco mail. The “ Herald ** says that, “ Though the petition will not produce any results iu the way of redress, it may attract notice, and gain for the old soldiers a rehearing iu the colony,” There is no doubt the old soldiers have equitable claims, and we hope they will never rest until they are fairly considered.

The work of erecting the new cylinder bridge over the Rangitikei River has now been begun in earnest. The “ Manawatu Times *' reports that last week a start was made to put down the first set of cylinders. The work is expected to take a long time. An altertiou has been made in the original plan in which it was intended there should be 60 feet spans. Instead of this there will be one 120 feet span over the main water. By this means there will be no obstruction to the wator, which will be a great advantage. The Public Petitions Committee report in the case of Mrs E. McColl, the widow of the late librarian of the Parliamentary Buildings, who petitioned the Legislature for a further gratuity than one year’s salary, that was formerly granted her i—” That the Committee are of opinion that a further sum of £SO should be granted Mrs McColl as a compassionate allowance.’’

The Registrar-General's report on the vital statistics for the month of August last shows the following results in regard to the principal sowns of the colony :—Births, 496 ; deaths, 164. The births show an increase of 38 on the returns for July, and the deaths an increase of 27. Of the deaths during August, males contributed 100, females 64. Sixty-six of the deaths were of children under five years of age, being 40 24 per cent, of the whole number ; 39 of these were children under one year of age. In Wellington, during August, the births numbered 75, and the deaths 30, the latter being in the proportion of 1 40 to the 1000 of population. In the case of W. E. Cross, of Masterton who was prosecuted tor having a portion of a still in his possession, and who was put to £ls expense in defending himself, and in whose favor W. H. Beetham and 100 others petitioned the Assembly to causa the money to be refunded to him, the Public Petitions Committee found “ That if an average payment of three shillings each was made by the petitioners, as a practical illustration of their sympathy, Mr Cross would be refunded his costs without the necessity of an appeal to the sympathy of the House, aod the Committee recommend the petitioners to adopt that means of redress. 1 '

What would have only very recently been considered an almost impossible piece of machinery has just been introduced into Wellington by Messrs \V. and J. Staples, boot aod shoe manufacturers, Ghnznee-street. This consists of a Blake's patent sole sewing machine. The ingenious implement is actually capable of sewing boot and shoe soles on to the uppers to the number of two or three hundred pairs per day, and is easily worked by one man. It can be wrought either by hand or steals power. The importance of these patents brought into a new colony, where labor is necessarily scarce and dear, cannot well be overrated.

The contractor for the Thorndon end of the West Coast Kailway has lost no time in commencing operations. Already he has put about twenty-five navvies on who, during the past few days, have “ put a face ” upon the hill where the tunnel will penetrate. The works are assuming considerable proportions, contractors stores and a blacksmith’s forgs have been erected, and the scene of operations within the next week or two will doubtless prove an animated one, Mr Joseph Sanders, the contractor, intends putting on a large number of men shortly, and the works will then assume the proportions of a railway navvy’s village. We learn that the parents and friends of the pupils attending the Terrace Scho d have subscribed about £4O for the purchase of new magio lantern slides and scientific apparatus, ordered by the School Committee, and to enlarge the accommodation for the school museum. Through the iofluence of Mr Macredie, the Secretary, the boys of the school have been supplied with a double set of first-class cricketing material tor use during the coming season.

Mr 0. W. Clayton, contractor, met with a serious accident early on the moi ningof Sept. 29. It will be remembered that Mr Clayton was the purchaser of the old Telegraph Office on Custom House-quay, and during the last few days a number of men have been engaged in pulling it down under his direction. At about 9 o’clock yesterday morning five men were engaged pulliog down the lower wall cf the building facing the Quay, at the Panamastreet corner, aud Mr Clayton was, as usual, directing their operations. The men were trying to pull the wall down with a rope, aud Mr Clayton was helping them from the footpath, when the mass of woodwork suddenly fell upon him. As it weighed more than a ton, be was of cour-e rendered insensible. He was soon extricated and taken to the Pier Hotel, where Dr. Diver and Dr. Hutchinson attended him with little loss of time. When his medical attendants thought it safe to remove him, he was placed on a stretcher and taken to his residence, in Collegestreet, where he now lies in a precarious condition, though hopes are entertained that he may survive. Hs is suffering from concussion of the spine. The action cannot be satisfactorily accounted for, though it is believed by many that the rope used by the workmen was unequal to the strain upon it and broke, allowing the wall to fall. One or two persons who were standing near Mr Clayton bad rather narrow escapes. The Colonial Analyst his submitted to the Colonial Secretary analysis of tinned provisions made at Christchurch, whereof appeared in a recent “ Gazette.’’ The samples and makers’ names are as follow *.— Mackerel (fresh), J. T. Morton, Dondon ; herring (fresh), J. T. Morton, London ; oysters, J. Kensett and Co,; sardines ; lobster, J. T. Morton ; sa'mon, Colombia River Packing Company ; apple jam, J. Thompson, Christchurch ; damsou jam, C. E. Knight, Hobart ; raspberry jam. Peacock ; marmalade, J. Keiller and Sons ; preserved peaches, T. J. Myer and Co.; preserved plums, Peacock. Of these, all the tins except the apple jam, damh .in jam, raspberry jam, and preserved plums were soldered on the outside, but in only one case was a trace of lead found in any of the samples, and this only where a portion was in contact with the solder of the can. The sample was preserved peaches. The analyst, Mr A. W. Bickerton, in his report lurther says : “ The general contents, when farther tested, gave not a trace. In one or two eases, lead was apparently found in the tin c mting, bat farther examination showed that this was due to the fact that the solder had run as a thin film into the tin surface. In no case did the true tin surface contain lead. In none of the samples examined were any loose lumps of solder found, yet, from my own experience, I know that lumps of folder are very frequently found in tinned provisions, and in such cases any acid contents—such as fruit—would be almost certain, in tins, to become contaminated with the lead. The method of soldering on the outside, which is now being adopted, is certainly much the sa r eit mode of fastening the tins, and prevents even the liability of lead contamination.; j

Mr J. G. Wilson, President of the Wanganui A. and P. Association, h<s signified his intention of giving the usual President’s Price at the show to be held next month. The young man Francis Tattersall, » new arrival in the colony, who celebrated his advent by riding-over a little girl and breaking her-leg, was sued in the Resident Magistrate s Court recently,‘by tW father of the sufferer, for £3O damages. It wifi be remembered that he had already been mulcted in £5 for fmious riding, and £lO for using obscene language on the occasion referred to. His Worship now gave judgment for £ls. The cost of the jollifi. cation thus amounts to £BO, not counting costs ot Court, which were allowed in each in* stance..

Mr McDowell, who is an active member of the Salvage Corps, had a narrow escape from serious injury during the fire on the 26th Sept. He was at Messrs Holliday & Co.’a, with other members of the corps, saving goods, when a jet of water was thrown on to the dome which lights the back part of the premises, and the large panes of glass iu it were instantly shivered. Mr McDowell at this moment was standing underneath, and one of the piece* of glass iu falling grazed him on the chaek and hand—luckily without farther mishap than some slight scratches. The first ordinary general meeting of the members of the Central Club (Limited) was held at the Club-room on Saturday, Sept. 23rd. Mr Luckie iu the chair. There was a full attendance of members. A satisfactory report and balance-sheet were presented and passed, and the discussion that took place revealed a determination on the part of the members to maintain the Club upon a thoroughly business basis. Cordial votes of thanks were tendered the Directors, the Secretary, and Mr G. Graham, the first Chairman of the Club, and the meeting terminated. The finishing touches appear to have been now given to the extensive alterations carried out by Mr Plimmer at the Albert Hotel, and public requirements, present and prospective, are very fully provided for at this central place of entertainment. Possibly, to the critical eye, the architectural design of the original building has not been much improved by the extension just made, but, beyond doubt, the internal accommodation provided is very good indeed ; and the Albert, or “ Plimmar’s Hotel,” as it is now named, will compare favorably with any other establishment of the kind in city or district. The members ot the Wellington Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society held a meeting on the 21st September, whan a fine array of spring flowers and vegetables was exhibited. The chief exhibitors were Messrs P. Cooper A. McKay, W. Jay, P. Murray, D. Wilkinson, W. Heighten, and W. H. Taylor. The moat noteworthy features were a grand cineraria, brought by Mr Jay from the consarva tory of T. K. Macdonald, Esq. (the plant was ot very large proportions and well grown); an enormous plant of white primula, brought by Mr Heighten, and the property of Joseph Burns, Esq. ; a superior collection of cut blooms of cineraria, brought by Mr Taylor from the conservatory of Sir James Prendergast; fine collection of cut flowers, brought by Mr McKay and Mr Cooper, and some colosssal asparagus grown at the Hutt by Mr Cooper. A fine collection of pansies brought by Mr Durnett, excited considerable surprise at this early season.

The inquest on the body of the little girl Gertrude Windsor, who was killed in Grantroad recently, resulted in a verdict to the effect that the deceased was accidentally killed by being ran over by a cart. No blame was attached to the driver of the cart—a boy named William Barnacle, fifteen years old—who was present iii custody. The lad stated that he had been driving since ha was ten years old. The Coroner remarked that the law made it necessary tor carts to be licensed, but he thought it a matter of far greater importance that the drivers should be competent persons. The foreman of the jury expressed surprise that there were not more accidents of the kind, as so many young children were allowed to play about the streets.

A very large audience assembled at the Athenaeum Hull on Sept. 20, when Mr W. H. Warren, representing the National Mutual Life Association of Australasia, delivered an essay on the “ Writings of Charles Dickens.” The chair was occupied by Dr. Newman, who in a short speech introduced the lecturer, referring to him as a gentleman who thoroughly loved and appreciated Dickens. Mr Warren, who was well received, commenced by referring to the great effect Dickens’ writings had had in advancing the social well-being of his fellow-creatures. He then proceeded to read from several of his works, including the 41 Pickwick Papers,” “ Oliver Twist,” the “ Mudfog Reports,” “ Barnaby Rndge, “David Oopperfield,” and “ Dombey and Son,” also taking advantage of the opportunity afforded him of addressing his audience briefly on the subject of “Life Insurance.” Mr Warren is an excellent reader, and last evening he kept his hearers thoroughly amused for over an hour and a-half.

A special meeting of the Hutt County Council was held Monday, Sept. 215, to discuss a proposal made by the Wellington-Manawatu Railway Comp my, that they might be allowed to remove the Kaiwarra to'.lg ite a distance of XOOftto facilitate work in connection with the construction of the railway line. The members present were—Messrs Speedy (Chairman), Taylor, Perkins, Chew, Monaghan, Mason, and Smith. The Company was represented by Mr Wallace, Secretary, aud Mr Higginson, Engineer, aud Mr W. T. L. Travers, who is Solicitor for both the Council and the Company. After considerable di.cussion, it was resolved that the Council’s Engineer should prepare specifications showing the Company’s requirements, and that the Council’s Solicitor should prepare an agreement under which the Council could grant the request of the Company, whilst, at the same time, indemnifying itself. The meeting then adjourned until Thursday, October 5. A banquet in connection with the presentation of Association long-service medals to members of the Municipal Fire Brigade was given at the Brigade Station, Manners-street, Sept. 20th. The chair was occupied by Mr G. Fisher, Mayor, who was supported by C&ntaia Shannon of the Salvage Corps, Captain • Asher of the Fire Escape Corps, Superintendent Whitford, and Mr Greenfield. Theta was a large attendance of members of the corps, the only other gentlemen present being the representatives of the Press. The cateiiag had bean entrusted to Mr G. Harris, of La übtoo-quay, who bad laid the tables in a very sumptuous manner, and ample justice was done to the good things provided. The tables having been cleared, and the loyal toasts having beSu duly honored, Captain Shannon proposed “ The Mayor and Corporation,” c mpling with it the name of Mr Greenfi-ld. In doing so he taid he could speak for the Mayor, though for the Corporation he hardly knew what to say. He had known the Mayor for some lime, and had known him to be consistent. He could only speak in the highest terms of praise of him, for he had attended to the duties of his office in an able and mint uu-selfi-h manner. Judging him by what ho knew he should give him his support during his candidature at the Mayoral election, though be would say this, that if any other citizen of ability and "integrity came forward he should support him, as he held the very decide! opinion that the office should only be hel l by one man until another of equal ability could ba found who was willing to undertake the duties apertaining to it. '1 he Mayor and Councillor Greenfield briefly replied, the former giving the assurance that be had no intention of making monopoly of the office, which should be open to all who hard the necessary ability. Mr Greenfield proposed “The United Fire Brigade Association of New Zea’and,’’ mentioning the Municipal Fire Brigade, which ha described as one of the most efficient in the colony. He coupled the toast with the name of Superintendent Whiteford, who,returned thanks, saying that the Association was still in its infancy. The Mayor then prope-std the toastof the evening, namely, “ The Municipal Fire Brigade," after which the medals were presented to the following, amidst loud applause : Superintendent \Fhrteford, foreman Wilson, Foreman Adams, Branchman Woolcott, Branchman Lawrence, and members McCaulay, Murray, Burbush, and Gardiner. In making the presentation the Mayor said he noticed that the first-named bad been in the service for seventeen years, Foreman Wilson standing next with eleven years, the least term among the nine being five years. The medals, it should be said, are of very neat design, and each has been engraved with the name < f its wearer. Foreman Wilson proposed “The Fire and Salvage Gorp-'.’’ In replying. Captain Shannon said he almost envied the owners of the medals when he thought how long they had served. He could, however, say that it gave him the greatest pleasure to see the membersoftha corps in practice, or in their performance of their duties. He considered it a very great honor to be connected with the corps. Several o er toasts, including that of “The Fire Escape Corps ’’ (responded to by Captain Asher), were aleo proposed, aod the party did cot bre up till a late boor.

■■ iAconsigmient of New Zealand cheese recently realised ISd’per pound in Brisbaoe. The appropriations for the year are as follow : Consolidated fund, £4,569,590 ; ' public works, £1,810,184 ; total, £3,379,774. ~,,Tbe “New. Zealand Herald” states that ’there' is a downright dearth of laborers in Auckland at present. It has been decided to re-open the Eism Reserve to the public on the Prince of Wales’ Birthday, on ’ Which occasion the athletes of ■ the city will make display of their prowes*. f ■ Messrs Croskery, Hannah, and Wiggins i •' have each made donation of five guineas to the Salvage Corps in recognition of the able • manner.in which duty was performed during ■ • the fire on Tuesday night. . During the service at the Wellington Synagogue on Thursday (thsFeastof the Tabernacle), the Bev. H. Van Staveren preached a special thanksgiving sermon for the success of the British arms in Egypt and the termination of the war. The “Manawatu Herald”- notes that Mr

' !( Francia London, acting for a Christchurch firm,!has arranged with Messrs'Freeman and ' j • iWylds, of Kairakan Mills, to deliver 100,000 ft • ■ of totara timber at the Timara breakwater, the order to be completed within three months. '■ . Messrs Edward Pearce and John Dnthie have been appointed to act as a Board of Advice, for the Mutual Fire and Marine Insurance Company'of New Zealand. The new Company is to be'congratulated upon having

, , obtained their services. •' * ' Cable, messages from Australia for New ' - ‘ Zealand are now-counted and-charged for "under the rules of the St. 1 Petersburg OonvenThemavitiufn length of a single word -IT will bh ‘fixed: at -ten. letters, any - additional letters being charged for as extra words at the rate of ten letters to a'word. Figures will be counted-at the. rate of three figures to a word. “ The, employes of Tbos. Ballinger, plumber, *.*, challenged the employed? -of .Mr -T. E. Hayes, ■' . plumber; to a friendly game of cricket, in Beach’s paddock On-the £3rdSept. ..Thegame was playpd in the presence of a large number ' ’ -of'both' parties, ' among whom -Were* fed good ‘number of • the fair; sex, and ’ -,f.i resultedviii’ ■a : ’victory for the Wellington TXhmbing Works by two runs and six wickets, r Dr. : Johnston, .Coroner, took Jus, departure, en route for Great Britain,; by the, s.s. Wanakn, early last month., jt is’undeiatood that he will - not stay therei' He fa acoom-’ panied by Airs Johnston, and two, of , their 11 children. The trip bag beed,'undertaken : on 1 : account of the 1 very precarions.'state of health of the former. Their irmOy'frifends'will; wish 1 them a 1 safe and sjfeedy.return. ! " ‘Mr'J. W/-Tattoojeto’!chemist at Nelson, i. 41 writes to the'“Colonist.’; .that:haihas in his » Vi: nosf e-slon specimens of ochre,.found at Takaka, of excellent quality, superior .to what is generally imported, with rich warmth of color ■ry.-raud-good body,, also..possessing good drying ■" qualities andfree from lime. He is persuaded that,' after trial, the" trade’ will give a preference.to this New "Zealand ,ochre over the imported article. Nelson painters express them- . , selves as thoroughly , well pleased ; with the pigments obtained from,the lakaka ochre 1 ' ' beds. - -- ■ i , ' j At Messrs Bethune and Cp.’s. recent sale of landed property, company.shares; Ad.; thei following prices were realised‘for the principal lines Part section 17, and, dwelling, in Maa- ' ” terton, £320 (M r R.' M. half-share in /section ’966; City hf Wellington, r:! £7O (Mr G. Capper); part section, 21, Greytown, £SO (Mr Izard). ■ Thirty shares in the Wellington Gas Company realised 'an average , : of £lO 5s per share, and) 115 New Zealand Shipping Company shares realised £4 15s ■ each.. • ■ ■ , . , The Manawatu Farmers’ Club has performed the “happy:despatch.”,: It was an-institution which started. wUh every 'promise of success, and its failure, after a brief tenure of life,‘is ‘ : " all the more remarkable, because It existed id one of the best agricultural districts in New Zealand. : The final meeting of the club was held at Sanson, on Saturday, the 2nd instant. The “Advocate” says there were twenty-five members of the club, and only eleven had paid their subscriptions. The bank-book showed a credit balance of £6 6a 9d. In the “Field” of the 24th June last appears the following item of news:—“Hares and rabbits’in; New Zealand.—Three guns killed .500,000 rabbits in three months in New Zealand.” The “ Field ” appears to have not ’ thought it worth-while to go into any arithmetical 'calculation on the subject, or it would have seen how little rest, either by day or night, the three : guns would have had.; In round numbers it means 1800 rabbits per gun per day for three months. : For “ guns ” read “runs,” and the wonderment ceases. Native names of places in New Zealand puzzle not only new arrivals, but often old ■ residents. It is open to doubt, however, . ’ whether anything more puzzling in the Maori tongue can be found than the announcement made by an up-country paper in Victoria. It prints, under the title, the announcement that it is circulated in Tungamah, Mulwala, Bandalong, Peeohelba, Bowej a, Boomahnoomoonah Pelluebla, Burramine, Yabba Yabba, Youanmite, Dnnbulbalane, Naringaningalook, Tbaranbegga, Katamatite, Boosey, Karrabumet, Waggarandall, Katandra, Youarang, Cobram, &o. ‘ - The Mount Ida “Chronicle’ says:—We understand that preparations are being made to light the house on Sir F. D, Bell’s Shag Valley Estate with the electric light, the power being supplied by a large water-wheel, from which insulated wires are to run to the residence in question. We are also informed that Mr Binnle, the patentee of the new gas, has been invited to furnish specifications for the ' supply of gas to Mr A. D. Bell’s large chemical * and electrical laboratory on the same estate, both for lighting purposes and for use in the 1 furnaces. The results in both cases will be of -i much interest. - . J:( A meeting was held on a recent evening, atthe Post OfSoa Hotel; for tbe purpose of making arrangements for holding a day’s races at Island Bay. There was a numerous attendance. It was. decided to hold the meeting on Saturday, the‘2nd. December, being two days after the Hutt Spring Meeting, in order to givethelosing 7-' 'homes at that meeting a show of making them expenses, or the winners of increasing their winnings. Forty guineas were subscribed in T the room. The following were appointed as office-bearers ;—President, J. F. E. Wright, Esq.; stewards, Messrs J. B. Hayes, A. Young, l i p. Franklyn, El Davies, E. W. Jefferd ; starter, Mr John Staples ; judge, Mr O. Kohn ; clerk of course, Mr J. Smith ; hon. secretary, Mr E. H, Goldsmith. It appears that the blue-gum leaves are remarkable for their peculiar dyeing as well as their curative qualities. A gentleman in New Plymouth was recently afflicted with a severe cold, and he drank copious draughts of the infusion of Hue-gum leaves, i He was (says the “Taianaki Herald”) certainly cured of his cold, but, to his utter astonishment, the hair of his head assumed a ' decidedly green color, which,; to say the, least ' of it, renders his appearance' veiy peculiar. Ho attributes this strange occurrence to the gum leaves, but he states that the fact of his being cured of a malady is full compensation for the slight inconvenience of having his hair dyed green. , The Napier " Telegraph,” referring to the projected meat refrigerating works at that ■ port, states that amongst the shareholders and promoters of this Company there are a number of Hawke’s Bay gentlemen at present residing in England, comprising amongst; others the Hon. H. R. Bussell, Mr A. S. Birch, Mr J. A’Deane, Mr C. Nairn, Mr Purvis Russell, Mr H. H. Bridge', Mr F. D. Rich, Mr T. Tanner, and Mr J. Chambers. We also hear that the Hon. J. Johnston, of Wellington, is connected with the Company.' Arrangements , ■■have already been completed with Shaw, SaviH aud Co. and the New. Zealand Shipping ’ Company for the conveyance of frozen meat. It is understood that the slaughter-yards are to be erected in some central part of the dis. trict in proximity with the railway, and that tbe depot for the freezing and storage of the meat will be at the port. About two years ago a small company was formed by a few residents at Featherston for the purpose of prospecting for coal on Mr Barton’s estate, at FernsiJe, small pieces of coal having been found and brought into the township .on several occasions: The; venture fell through in consequence of the Company not having sufficient means to continue prospecting, aud also from not being sure they were working in the right spot, although theta was every indication of coal being near, small pieces being continually found in the mass of fire-clay they were working in. Dr.' Hector expressed opinion that the place where prospecting was carried on was only a slip, and that it would be necessary to go further back into the range to find the’ seam. Since that ■ time nothing has been done to further develop it, but a proposition has been made to organise , a company with sufficient means to thoroughly prospect the locality. Our Featherston correspondent states that the seam of clay wherein the*-first prospecting operations were “ carried out extends all along the foot of the ranges from the bed of the Tauherenikau river into Featherston ;.and that, by the use of a boring apparatus, no doubt before long coal in pay able quantities would be discovered.

The Wellington Philharmonic Society has now in rehearsal Balfe’s “ Mazeppa,” and are progressing most satisfactorily. Mr Thomas Turnbull, architect, has been entrusted with the preparation of the necessary plans for the alterations in the Parliamentary Buildings, and ‘will get them ready with all po Bible expedition, so that the work may be commenced without delay.

A man named John Gordon, aged 79, died at the Mount View Asylum recently. He had been suffering from erysipelas, which was the immediate cause of death. The u-ual formal inquest will be held to-day. , One million seven hundred and fifty thousand acres of Crown lands will shortly be open for pastoral lease in the Provincial District of Otago in runs that will carry 20,000 sheep or 4000 head of cattle. ) I It is notified in last week’s “ Gazette ’ that his Excellency the Administrator of Goveiu-m-nt has appointed Joseph Henry, Esq , M.R.C.S. Irel., to be a Public Vaccinator under ths Public Health Act, 1876, for the Wellington district Mr William Ellerslie Wallace died suddenly at Otaki on September 29. E e was the eldest son of the late Mr John Wallace, and brother to Mr J. H. Wallace, of this cit/. Ho was one of the pioneer New Zealand Company settlers, having arrived in the colony in 1840, in the ship Glenbervie. We understand that negotiations made through Mr J. Sheehad, M.H.R., for construction ot the Thames and Te Aroha railway line, on the same concessions as those granted to the Tauranga line, are all but completed. The funds will be found by English capitalists, and the undertaking will be carried out under favoring circumstance!. The Kaiwarra Rifles competed, on Sept. 23, for : Lieutenant Cameron’s medal and other prizes at ranges 400, 500, and 600 yards. The following are the highest scorers Private Hand- 1 , 42 ; Private Storey, 40 ; Private Holford, 38 ; Private Coleman, 36 It is notified in a recent “ Gazette” that the Roman Catholic cemeteries within the Diocese of Wei ington have been brought under the operation of the Cemeteries Management Act, 1877. The diocese comprises the Provincial Districts of Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury, and Westland.

Mr J. G f Holds worth, as Commissioner appointed to dscide" claims, made from, through, or-under the New Zealand C hnpany, bas decided that’ J. W. Roberta and Gsorge Hunter, as trustees and executors of the will of Robert Jenkins, deceased, are entitled to a Crown grant f.-r section No. 1, Evan,’ B ly district. : The following persons have been appointed Registrars of Marriages and of Births and Deaths, and also Vaccination Inspectors : John Grubb, Napier ; David Aitken Wright, Hastings ; William Rathbone, Waipawa ; John Bagge. Misterton ; Francis Long, Patea ; Samuel Gsnrge Stnnton, Waverley ; Garland William Wood, Wanganui ; James Beattie, Feilding ; Charles John Hill, Sanson ; Samuel Marsdeu Baker, Foxton ; Theodore Minet Lawlor, Picton. The traffic returns of the Wellington railway for tbe foar weeks ending 19ih August last show receipts £2717 2s lOd, as compared with £2440,5s 9d received in the corresponding • period last year. The railway working account of the entire lines of the colony ishow that op 1344 miles open for traffic the receipts for the four weeks named ware £59,793 18s Id, and expenditure £43,339 19s 7d., For the corresponding period in last year, the amounts were £59,013 8s lOd, and £38,488 9s 4d respectively. What has teen described to ns as the largest casting ever made in Wellington, was turned out a few days ago at Messrs Robertson and Co.’s Pliwiix Foundry. Its was over five and a half tons, and it wiil form a portion of one of two wool dumping presses to be erected for the Harbor Board, on the reclaimed land, near the Railway Wharf. Messrs Robertson and Co. have the contract for the two presses, and tho work is being ably carried out under tbe supervision ot Mr W. Thompson, foreman. The casting turned out on Saturday appeared to be perfect aud without a fl iw.

Twenty-six tbon?ahd trout ova arrived per steamer Riugarooma, from Dunedin, a fortnight ago, to the order of the Wellington and Wanganui Acclimatisation Societies. The local portion consists of 20,00*1, half of which were, taken - by. Mr George ■ Denton to the hatching-boxes of the Society, the other half being-forwarded to the Wairarapa by the late train, under the cate, of'Mr Rutherfurd, who attended to receive. The Wanganui consignment was forwarded to its destination by the Huia. The ova arrived in excellent condition, and only eight of those which were placed m the local boxea ; were found dead, though it is, of course, not to be expected that the whole of the remainder will batch out. The young fish will be placed in the Hutt river and in some of the smaller streams in the neighboihood of the city. The bulk of the Wairarapa portion will be distributed amongst the numerous tributaries of the Ruamahanga. News baa been received by the Government that Dr. George W. Grabbam, the newly-ap-pointed Inspector of Lunatic Asylums for the colony, left England, on the 7th of Sep‘., by the Orient steamer Austral. Though not by any means an ©ld man—being 45 years of age Dr. Grabham comes to us with the highest testimonials. He occupied the position of De-puty-Superintendent of the Surrey Asylum for six years, and that of Superintendent at Earlswood —facts which should go far to prove that he possesses qualifications of a very high degree, as well as experience. It would also appear that he did not apply for the office for the sake of the salary that was offered, but that, being possessed of independent means, he had made up his mind to settle in New Zealand, and to invest his capital in Such a man shenld prove not only an efficient officer, but also a most desirable addition to the list of settlers in the colony. We regret to notice the death, at the age of 63 years, of Mr Charles A, Vallanoe, which occurred at his residence, near Mastertoo, on the 29 th of September. Mr Vallauce arrived in Wellington in 1840, and therefore shared in all the hardships against which the first settlers had to contend. He resided near Wellington till about 1865, when he removed to Kaumingi, a station some 15 miles from Masterton, of which he was part owner. In 1875 he removed to bis late, residence, where he has resided ever since. He was one among the must energetic of the eaily settlers, and Stirling qualities earned him the respect of all who knew him. Though for many, years in very indifferent health, he took an active interest in all local matters. He was a Justice of the Peace, a Past Master of the local Masonic Lodge, and for some time held the office of Pre-ident of the Wairarapa Agricultuial and. Pastoral Society. He leaves several sons and daughters, all of whom are, however, beyond the age of childhood. His demise will be regretted throughout the provincial district. The boy Wm. Barnacle, who had been under remand on the charge of having caused the death of a little girl named Gertrude Windsor, was brought up at the Resident Magistrates Court recently and discharged, as, in the face of the verdict of the Coronet’s jury which absolved him from blame, the police have decided not to proceed with the charge. It will be remembered that at the inquest the evidence was not entirely satisfactory on one or two material points. The medical testimony showed that the cause of death was dislocation of the neck, while it was also proved that the deceased got up and ran a short distance after the horse and cart passed over her. Emily Windsor deposed that she placed the injured child in a perambulator, and then ran to fetch Mrs Clapham, while that lady was certain that when she came out, the child was lying on its back on the grass beside the perambulator. A juryman suggested at the inquest that the child might have dislocated its neck by falling from the perambulator, and this view is borne out by the fact that a person who was not examined at the inquest, now asserts that she saw the deceased fall from the perambulator on to her head, and then roll over on to her back. ' A building which, in the early days of Wellington, was one of the most prominent in the city is now being demo.ished, to make room for a structure which will be more in accordance with the times. We allude to the “ Old House at Home" in Boulcott-street at the foot of J acob's Ladder, which has for some years past beau known as Mason’s boardinghouse. Formerly, itwas licensed under the name of the Queen’s Hotel, and it held the first rank until Osgood’s aore modern Empire displaced it. The manner in which the house was built is, to say the least, peculiar. The uprights used were exceedingly »eab, but they, as well as all the joists, were strengthened by bands of iron, which were also supposed to be of service in case of heavy earthquakes. What was known as the octagon room was built entirely of iron, and the frame, which has only just been taken down, looks like that of a large conservatory, for jthich it is excellently adapted. ’ All the totara used in the building has been found to be perfectly sound, while other woods are eaten up with dry rot. Many an old settler will miss the familiar building, which was by no means unsightly, although it boro many a mark of age and decay.; . r-v : - ;v-