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New Zealand Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8008, 12 February 1887, Page 2

•‘Asmodeua’” items will be found on the jourth page. There was a very large audience at the Opera House lost night to hear the Fisk Jubilee Singers. The programme was well carried out, and the singing elicted frequent applause and numerous encores. It will be seen by the telegraphic news Sublished this morning that the Auckland ;ugby Union have decided to present to the Benevolent Institution the money returned by the Wellington Union.

The Wellington City Rifles and Tborndon Rifles had their usual weekly drill at the Drillahed last night. The Thorndon company mastered 35 men, and were under the command of Captain-Maginnity and Lieut. Williams.. The Wellington City Rifles did not have so good a muster, there being only 26 privates, upder tho command of Captain Tait and Lieut. Tatum. Both companies were instructed by Staff-Sergeant Bell in the new guard and picket drill. We are informed that Mr Kirkoaldie (late of Kirkoaldie and Stains), a gentleman wellknown in commercial oiroles and widely respected by all classes of the community in this oity, intends to leave with bis family for England by the E.M.S. Ruapehu, which starts on the 10th of next month. Mr Kirkoaldie intends placing his children at school, and will probably reside in England till their education is finished. He has found a purchaser for his house and property in in the person of Mr George Beetham, M.H.R.

Thomas E. Shiel was charged before Mr Wardell, 8.M., yesterday with failing to obey an order of the Court compelling him to contribute toward his mother’s support. The defendant stated that his mother was in receipt of L 5 per month, beside which she earned money dressmaking. His Worship, on hearing this statement, suggested that the defendant should pay some money into Court, and then the ease might be adjourned, and Mrs Shiel summoned, calling upon her to show cause why the present order should not be varied. The defendant acted as was suggested by (his Worship, and deposited 10s in the Court, and the oase.waa adjourned for a fortnight. 7

A heat of the Wellington Club Fonr was rowed last evening between the following crewsßridson (stroke), Maokay (3), Murdoch (2), Stevens (bow), J. Rickman (cox) Armstrong (stroke), Hebbert (3), Andrews (2), Crease (bow), J. Tripe (cox). The course was from Point Jerningham to Meek’s baths, .Bridaon’s crew soon assumed the lead, and won comfortably by about five lengths. Mr J. W. Kilner acted as starter, and Mr J. W. Rickman as judge. The final heat for the Club Fours will take place on Monday evening next at 5.30, Bridsbn’s crew meeting the following:—W. Ballinger (stroke); Waters (3), Pe.theriok (2), and Stoddart (bow). Entries for the Hayes’ Fours close bn Monday next. The building •of the new Girls’ High School at the comer of Fipitea and Moturoastreets is being rapidly proceeded with. Already all the timber needed to go on with is on the ground, the piles have been driven, and the framework of the building laid down. A six-foot corrugated iron fence has been erected round the site, and openings have been left for two sets of large gates, one at the main entrance leading from Moturoa-street, and the other leading from Pipitea-streot, which will be the side entrance. Each set will consist of a pair of gates and a wiokot. In order that the building may be quite dry, and, free from any dampness arising from the ground, it has been decided to lay a concrete floor undernsath. Mr Scouilar, of Messrs Scoullar and Archibald (the contractors for the bnilding), is personally superintending the work, and judging by the rate at which it is being pushed on, it should be completed well within the contract time, which is about six months..

Messrs Williamson, Garner, and Musgrove’s company are playing to vary pood business in Christchurch, where they are producing " Jim the Penman,” “ Hazel Kirko,” ‘‘Betsy," and other pieces. The company is undoubtedly the strongest as an all-round one that has ever visited Hew Zealand, for it comprises, amongst others, Messrs G. S. Titberadga (probably the beat aotor we have in the colonies), 6. W. Anson (of London repute), Maltby, and Prank Cates; Miss Agees Thomas, Mias Emma Fischer, and Miss Annie Taylor. The pieces played are the very best and newest, not one of - them, wo believe, having ever been played in Wellington before. "Jim tbe Penman ” in which the company opens at the Opera House on Friday night, is a drama by Sir Charles Young, and like inanypther successful works, it has a peculiar history. Sir Charles had written several plays, but none of them had been received with ravor by managers. " Jim the Penman,” however, rya? played priyately, and caused such an impression • that it was accepted by « management and became a grejt attraction. A parallel .case may bo found in Hugh Conway’s novels*CalledHack. Poverty and Sufpemko.—'Twas.dragged down with debt, poverty, and suffering for years, caused by a sick family and large bills for doctoring, which did them no good. I was completely discouraged, until one year ago, by the advice of my pastor, I procured Plop Bitters and commenced their use, and in one month wo were all well, and none of os have seen a siok day since; and I want to say to all poor men, yon can keep your families well a year with American Co.’s Hop Bitters for less than one doctor’s will. cost. I know it,”—A Working

George Smith, clerk, has filed a declaration of insolvency.

The police cells were unoccupied up to a late hour last night. The Kilbirnie baths will bs permanently opened this afternoon.

Sir Robert Stout, accompanied by his private secretary, left for Dunedin by the Rotorua yesterday. The plant of the Patea Oil and Fibre Company has been sold for £165. It cost £I4OO and has never been unpacked. Dr and Mrs Hassell were passengers to Sydney by the steamer Tarawera last evening, where the doctor takes a brief holiday. The gallows to be used in the execution of Caffrey and Penn was put on board the Tarawera, which left for Auckland yesterday evening. The arrangements made by the Presbyterian Assembly for to-morrow's services in thus district are published in our advertising column,'.

Mr E. H. Goldsmith, who was nominated as a candidate on the Te Aro and Cook Licensing Committees, has retired from the emotion.

The New Plymouth fireman arrived by the Manawatu train last night en route for Dunedin, to attend the Fire Brigade demonstration there.

The annual cricket match Crown Lands, Native, Defence, and Survey, Departments, and the Public Works and Railway Departments, will be played on Wednesday next. The Hospital Steward acknowledges with thanks the receipt of oid linen from Mrs Phillips, Abel Smith-street, and Hiss G. L. Augarde: illustrated papers from Mr W. S. Reid,

A meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of Deznetri Garbes, a fish hawker, was cbnvened for yesterday, but lapsed for want of a quorum. The bankrupt’s liabilities are set down at £155 7s 3d.

The Rangitikei Advocate says that Messrs Death sent 1000 sheep to Wellington from Marton by special train, consigned to the Gear Meat Co. The sheep are intended for freezing purposes. The following candidates were nominated yesterday for the Lower Hutt Licensing Committee: —Messrs C. W. Brown, W. J. Livingston, W. S. Milne, J. R. Ransom, S. Smith, and J, Wilkins,

The Hibernian Band will hold a concert at the Athenaeum om Thursday night. The Band has assisted at many public affairs in the city, and their concert, the funds from which are for the purpose o£ purchasing new uniforms, will no doubt be well patronised. The Manawatu bridge had a narrow escape from destruction by lire on Some driftwood near the bridge had been set o 1 tire, and, had it not been for the promptness of a gentleman in the locality, a serious fire would probably have happened. In the course of his address at Feilding, Mr Macarthur, M.H. R, was asked whether he would support the BillMrFisher proposes to introduce, prohibiting brewers from own* ing public houses. Mr Macarthur said he would not pledge himself until he saw the Bill,

The action, G. S. Graham v. the Island Bay Park Company, was set down for further hearing before Mr Wardeli, R.M., yesterday, but on the. case being called on, Mr Gully, who appeared for the plaintiff, iqfci* mated to his Worship that the case had been settled out of Court. The coaches between Palmerston and Woodville have latterly been crowded to the utmost of their carrying capacity, a sure proof (says the Times) that the passenger traffio between Napier and Wellington is now almost entirely diverted from the dangerous and tedious Bimutaka line.

Political feeling would appear to run high at Feilding, for, according to the Star, the Mayor and Borough Councillors are to be asked, by means of a petition now being signed, to resign, on the ground that they recently appointed a dog tax collector who is not a ratepayer. The annual treat to the Thorndon School children took place yesterday at Somes Island. Between 400 and 600 children went out by the s.s. Maua (she making two trips), accompanied by Mr Mowbray and several of the teachers. The children returned to town about 6 o’clock after a most enjoyable outing. Owing to Mr Middleton, counsel for the prosecutionjin W. R. Waters’ case, having met with an accident on Thursday, the farther hearing of the base has been adjourned until next Friday. The accused appeared before the Court yesterday afternoon and was formally remanded, bail beiug renewed in the same amount as before.

Argument by counsel in the esse of Brown t. the Wellington and Manawatu Bailway Company was heard before Mr Wardell, R.M., yesterday. The action is for the recovery of £75 for the loss of three horses, owned by plaintiff, and alleged to have been killed by the negligence of the defendant Company. His Worship reserved Judgment. The Bev G. B. Monro, moderator of the Presbyterian .Assembly, before the proceedInga terminated at the conversazione last night, said he would like to say a word, although it would come before the Assembly, in reference to the very long and accurate reports of the sittings of the Assembly which had appeared in the newspapers. The reports, he said, reflected very great credit on the newspapers of the city, Mrs Henrjr Wood; whose death, at the age of 67 years, is announced in this morning’s cable news, was one of the moat prolific and successful of modern fiction writers, though her works will not, perhaps, take high rank. The most popular novel was “ East Lynne,” which has had an enormous sale, has been freely dramatised, and is as well known in English-speaking countries as any novel. Of her other works the most notable were "Mrs Halliburton’s Troubles,” “Within the Maze,”and “Boland Yorke.”

Mr Christie, of Dunedin, has a long letter on New Zealand affairs in the Banffshire Journal of the 21st December, and writes most hopefully of the prospects of the Colony. Among other matters he calls attention to the existence of an undeveloped and inexhaustible mine of wealth in the sea all along the seaboard of New Zealand. Mr Christie thinks that capitalists in Scotland of fishing proclivities might emigrate hither and develop an industry which would greatly reward both them and the Colony.

A Supreme Court summons was last week served on Mr Twomey, of the Temuka Leader, calling on him to appear in Christchurch on the 16th of March next to show cause why a writ of attachment should not be issued against him, for having commented on the libel action now pending between Messrs Ivess and Kerr, The Leader does not seem to be at all impressed by the solemnity of the matter, and comically refers to the summons as "a terror-striking affair covering six sheets of foolscap.” . In addressing the audience at the conversazione at St.John’s Schoolroom last night the Rev Mr Fergnsaon, of Invercargill, said that the best part of the population were drawn to Wellington. If a good lawyer started practice in Auckland he was drawn to Wellington; and the same with a good engineer at Dunedin, a good schoolmaster at Napier, a good surveyor at Christchurch, and so on. The place being the seat of Go.verament was of course the main reason why they were drawn here. If asked to describe Wellington he would say it was a great oity crashed between great hills, with large Government Buildings and houses tumbled gable end on to the street, However, when they had so many eminent people settled here they ought to be a good community, and he believed they were.

The chief of the New South Wales Babbit Department, in a report recently presented, states that an examination of, the various reports furnished discloses that 6,028,783 acres were inspected, of which 5,068,602 acres are stated to bo more or less infested with rabbits. The area inspected comprises, in addition ; to tbe large ’ pastoral holdings, a number of selections and. homestead leases, and the work necessitated travelling to the extent of 19,997 miles. The inspectors report that on 215 blocks rabbits-are decreasing, 126 increasing, 294 stationary; the balance inspected being at present apparently clean. The number of men employed in ihe work of destruction was 2212 ; and although tbe total was nearly sufficient, many runs showed signs of being neglected, and evidence was not wanting that little trouble was taken to distribute the labor over the various blocks in snob a manner as to have the whole area worked in syaiematio manner. The number of skins and carcases reported to have been destroyed daring the month is 724,477, an exceptionally large number; but the ’ bulk of them were obtained in a part of the colony which embraces baf a triSe <jf the country which is rabbit-infested.