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New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 8268, 27 December 1887, Page 4

The Post Office will be open this morning from 9 till 10 for the des atch of business.

Unpleasant as the weather was on Sunday the Christmas services in the various churches were very well attended. Details of the services were given in Saturday morning’s issue of this journal. The Columbia Skating Rink was well patronised yesterday morning and afternoon. On Thursday evening another polo match will take place. Sometime next week — probably Tuesday—a match is to take place between the representatives of the local papers. The first prize will bo a pair of Raymond all-clamp skates. The Hibernian Society’s picnic, previously announced to take place yesterday, was postponed until this morning, in consequence of yesterday’s weather in the early part of the day looking so threatening. The first boat is announced to leave the wharf for Somes Island at half-past 9 this morning, and other boats will follow at intervals. Should the day turn out fine this popular picnic is sure to be well patronised.

The boisterous weather which prevailed yesterday precluded all idea of excursions on the water. The Wairarapa, which was to have left for Picton had to be put -off, as scarcely 50 excursionists turned up. In the harbor the) breakers which were rolling in looked anything but inviting, and the Mana, which made one trip during the day, was the only boat venturesome enough to seek pleasure in the form of a trip across to Lowry Bay. A miraculous escape from a serious, if not fatal, accident occurred at the Government Railway Station last evening. As the 6.11 train was coming into the station a small boy, whose name c mid not be ascertained, either fell or jumped off the car he was riding on, and fell between the carriage and the platform. His perilous position was ob served by Mr Donne, stationmaster, who, with great promptitude, rushed to fh'a edge of the platform and polled the boy from almost under the wheels of the carriage. Over 2000 persons travelled on the Government railway line yesterday. About 600 went out by the first ordinary train to the Lower Hutt. The excursionists to the Wairarapa numbered about 400. In the afternoon a large number of passengers were taken out to various picnics, about 750 going to the Garrison Band picnio at the Lower Hutt, and 250 to the Salvation Army gathering at Petone. The in train from the Wairarapa brought down about 200 passengers, who wore' taken back by the evening train. The trains were run to time, and the staff, as usual, discharged their duties in a satisfactory manner. On the Wellington-Mana-watu line about 800 persona were conveyed. The majority of these were taken out by the 1.50 train to the various picnicking resorts along the line. Punctuality was observed in despatching the trains, and the arrangements were satisfactorily carried out. Mr E. W. Morrah, J.P., presided at the sitting of the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning. William Martin, charged with being drunk while in charge of a horse and cart in Lambton Quay, was fined £l, or 48 hours’ imprisonment. Three first offenders for drunkenness were dealt with in the usual manner. Richard Fitzgerald, charged with stealing a silver watch and chain from the person of James Stewart, was remanded until this morning. Charles Davis, John Donovan, John Jones, and James McQniu, charged with assaulting Henry Knight, were remanded until Wednesday. Davis was also charged with assaulting Albert Knight, and Jones and MoQuin with having no lawful means of support, all of which charges were remanded until Wednesday. A charge against John Moore for having assaulted Thomas Hanley, third engineer of the steamer Ashleigh Brook, with a knife, with intent to do grievous bodily harm, was withdrawn at the request of the prosecutor. John Igoe was charged with having no visible means of support. The offence being proved, the accused was sent to prison for two months.. We regret to have to announce that; another well-known name has been added to the long list of those who have lately joined the great majority. We refer to the late Mr W. H. Thompson, perhaps better known as “Zulu” Thompson, who died at his residence in Dixon-street last evening about 5 o’clock. Mr Thompson had been confined to hia room for the last five months suffering from diabetes, and the last week or so he gradually got worse and sank last night under his sufferings. He was 46 years of age, and leaves a widow and one daughter about seven years of age. Mr Thompson first came out to the Australian colonies as lecturer to a panorama of the American war somewhere about 1835. He travelled all over the world with that and his succeeding show, the Zulu war, visiting Great Britain, Canada, the United States, South Africa, India, China, Japan and the Australian colonies. In the “show" line few men were better known or more universally liked than poor “Zulu” With a natural genial bonhomie he made friends whereever he travelled, and no call waa ever made for his help in cases of brother professionals in need of assistance but what a generous response was given. Mr Thompson was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and had, we believe, affiliated with one of the local lodges. Thg funeral will sake place on Wednesday,

We are requested to state that Messrs W. M. Maskell, J.P., aad Wm, M. Seagrave were contributors to the prize fund of the Marist Brothers’ Schooi.

All Volunteers who are taking part in the military display in the drama of “ Human Nature” this evening are requested to be at the stage door at 1 o’clock sharp. The monster Catholic picnic, which was to have taken place at Belmont yesterday, had to be postponed till next Monday (New Year's Day) on account of the threatening weather yesterday morning. The picnic under the auspices of the Hibernian Society, which was to have taken place at Somes Island yesterday, was postponed until to day, in consequence of the boisterous weather.

A carpenter named Thomas Sorenatt was admitted to the Hospital on Christmas Day, suffering from the effects of a fall from a horse. He was not seriously injured, and was released from the institution yesterday.

The Garrison Band Picnic at the Lower Hutt yesterday passed off very successfully. There was a good attendance, and the outing was very much enjoyed. The Salvation Army also held their animal picnic at Petone yesterday. The gathering was well attended.

We beg to acknowledge receipt of a copy of the Hawkes Bay Almanack and Directory for ISBS, from the publishers, Dinwiddle, Walker and Co., Napier. The almanack is very neatly got np, and as a work of reference to the Hawkes Bay district is invaluable.

A guard named Benney, employed on the Government railway, met with an unfortunate accident at the Upper Hutt yesterday morning, it appears that in getting off a carriage he fell to the ground and broke his leg just above the ankle. He was brought to town by the next train and was attended by Dr Gillon. The firm of Connolly and Hermann, photographers, have recently taken some photographs of the Xarifa and Pet, and several local yachts, and also of the Naval cutters, which are capital pictures and worthy of special notice. They were taken by the ins'antaneous process, and are very creditable specimens of this branch of the photographic art. James Gosling was fined 10s, or in default 48 hoars’ imprisonment, at the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Saturday morning. The alternative, however, was altered to 24 hours at the request of Sergeant Mo rice, in order that Gosling might eat his Christmas goose out of gaol. A first offender was fine 15s. The presiding Justices were Messrs Maokay and W. Marten. The Taranaki News regrets to hear that the New Zealand Frozen Meat and Storage Company have instructed their manager at Waitara to discontinue purchasing butter in this district. The quntity that has been exported from Taranaki through the Company during the last 12 months has been very considerable, and no doubt the sudden cessation of their buying will be a severe blow to the butter industry. It was reported to the police last night that a man named Richard Douglas Morgan had been missing since Christmas morning from the Star Hotel, where he had been lodging for about three months. The mis sing man is a Welshman, and is about 47 years of age. He is about sft GJiu in height, slender built, has dark hair turning grey, whiskers and moustache. When last seen he was dresssd ic a “pepper and salt” tweed coat and vest, and blue serge trousers. Mr Dransfield has received the following letter from the Secretary of the New Zealand Protection Association at Christchurch : - “J. Dransfield, Esq , Wellington. Sir—At a meeting of the New Zealand Protection Association the following resolution was carried unanimously, and I was instructed to forward the same to you : ‘ That a hearty vote of c ngratulution bo tendered to Mr J. Dransfield for so ably advocating the cause of Protection through the press, and expressing a hope that he will continue doing

A serious accideot occurred about 5 o’clock last evening to Mr George Adams, a member of the Hansard staff- Mr Adams is the owner of some properly at the back of the Wellington Club, and he obtained a permit to burn gome gorse on it yesterday. Finding that the fire had obtained too great a hold he hastened to put it out, and was in the act of getting through a fence at the top of a very high bank to obtain a hose for that purpose, when the fence gave way and be tell a distance of about fifty feet. The accident was observed from the windows of the Club and he was taken inside, where Dr Collins promptly attended to his injuries, he having been sent for at once. The fall was a very serious one, bat the precise nature of the in* juries sustained has not yet been ascertained. Meanwhile he is not to be removed from the Club. A week before Mr Leitch’a visit to Gisborne, where he had been frequently solicited to bring his company, an article appeared in a weekly journal charging, in effect, the people of the town with wasting the money which was due to their creditors in going to the theatre when a travelling company is making a stay there, and the article stated that, should this occur again— Mr Leitoh’s company was then announced to appear in Gisborne—they (the proprietors of the journal) would publish the names of all the people who occupied front seats. The consequence was that when MrLeitoh and his company appeared, the front seats were on each night, with the exception of some half-a-dozen bold and presumably out-of debt persons, empty. It is needless to say. that in this journal there had been notheatrical advertisements inserted.

It is rumored that the trip of the ss Pukaki to Melbourne with coal was nol an unqualified success, for it is stated that.the coals shipped were notof the best quality, that could have been shipped from the Grey River, and that in consequence the- trip will not be repeated just at present. We hope these rumors are not strictly correct, for, in the inaugurating trip of a large coal cargo, unless the quality of the coals is of the highest class, it is, apt to create & bad impression on the othesside, and the Melbourne people would certainly be very cautious in granting any meed of praise to a second or thirdclass Greymouth coal. If a. largo export coal trade is to be done, and surely there is room for it, shippers should have been very determined in sending coals, el the highest class procurable, and in the Grey district there is coal that will bearrOftcaparison with any other coal in the worlds On Sunday, Admiral Fairfax, Mrs Fair_ fax, and the Admiral’s private secretary at- , tended St Paul's''Churchy. Auckland, says the Bell. During the. service a bluejacket, who had evidently been, driving out and partaken of too much salmon, entered the, church and . stood for a minute amazed at the strange surroundings. At this moment Admiral Fairfax happened to catch of the mam and far quicker than it takes to write this, he had him by the arm and escorted him outside, delivering him into the- hands of the attendant constable, who in. this way. got the first work he had ever had, during a pretty considerable service of duty at this ohnrch. Another instance of the proverb that “ Everything comes to him who waits." Howevfe?, the constable took his prey down %o that delectable, abode popularly denominated “ ohekey," When we state that the man went peaceably and mistook the attendant constable for one of his own officers in a brand new salt of clothes, our readers may judge that he was drunk : indeed. To-day he was sent on board his ship in custody of a corporal’s guard. _ Bat the incident tends to show Admiral Fairfax’s energy, and gives one an insight into I his character. Instead of calling in the constable he ran the man out himself.

Tea, Coffee, and Sugar. —Alexander Munra, although he givea the best value in every article in the grocery trade, givea hip. principal attention to excel in the most portaut Kticl»=.taa, coffee, and sugar.

The North Otago Times states that Messrs A. and T. Burt have complsted the work of fitting np the refrigerating machine taken from the ship Lyttelton, wrecked at Timaru, and a satisfactory run has been made. This will enable the New Zealand Refrigerating Company to store 11,000 carcases at Oatnaru.

The female employes in ssveral of the large tailoring establishments in Auckland, have leased the premises used as workrooms, and will carry on their work by contract. They will thus evade the Act, for' there- is nothing to prevent a female working as many hoars as she likes on her own account. Tbiaonly shows the folly of passing such ridiculous Acts as our sapient legislators are continually doing. A gentleman of this town, says the' Taranaki Herald—a great admirer of tho> good old Maori Chief Mata, of Puniho, for his sterling good qualities—forwarded him about a month ago a copy of Mr Hood’s novelette of “ The Sunken Island,” by anative linguist who could translate the words. The venerable chief was delighted with the rendering of the legend, and stated that he had heard the whole of it told a hundred times over when a child. No higher tribute could be paid to the writer than this.

Mr George Lsitoh’s company began a return sea .on at the Opera House last night before a holiday audience, which packed the theatre in every part. “ Human Nature ” had been announced, but unforeseen difficulties prevented this piece being played. In consequence of the heavy weather that had been experienced between Gisborne and Wellington, considerable damage had been, done to one of the principal scenes used in the play, and Mr Leitch, being unable to obtain mechanical assistance in Wellingtonyesterday to repair the damage, had to postpone the production of the drama. “ Harbor Lights ” and “ Bamboozling ” were substituted, the former piece being curtailed considerably.