GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 8270, 29 December 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

GENERAL NEWS.

Two very old settlers, viz,, Mr and Mrs Henry Stilling, of the Lower Hutt, passed away at their residence during the past week, the former at the ripe old age of 7S, and his wife at 70, Mr Stilling came to the Colony with his wife in 1845, and .settled at the Lower Hutt, where they resided till their death. Mr Stilling’s death occurred about 8 p.m. on Sunday, and Mrs Stilling expired about 5 the following evening.

Mr Arthur Gibbs, who is a very old mem- ! bar of the Star Boating Club, and is at prei sent Treasurer of tho Club, has been i the recipient of a very handsome testimonial from the members. The presentation was made to him in honor of his recent marriage, and consisted of a large marble clock, which was suitably inscribed, and a china breakfast service. Mr Fitz Gerald, captain of tho Club, presented the testimonial in a very , happy speech, and Mr Gibbs responded in ' appropriate language. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Mr Gibbs received quite an ovation from the members present. There was a great crowd of visitors on board the s.s. Kaikoura on Sunday afternoon. Amongst them were a couple of well-dressed Maoris, who speedily became objects of interest to the numerous steerage passengers. A group of new chum young men were criticising the Natives, and one of their number, who evidently thought no small beer of himself and his knowledge of_ the Native race, addressed one of the Maoris in that half-broken English which Britishers think necessary to address foreigners in, when the Maori said to him, “ You are a new chum, I believe ? ” “ Yes,” said the youth. “Then,”said the Maori, “where on earth did you learn to speak such horribly bad English?” The youth blushed at being spoken so correctly to by a Native, and retired to the obscurity of the forecastle.

The new steel screw steamer which has just been built by Messrs Cable and Co. in Messrs W. R. Williams and Co.’s yard, Courtenay-place, is now nearly ready for launching, and was hauled down to the waterside on VVednesday very successfully. Her dimensions in round numbers are—Length, 80ft; depth in hold, Oft; beam, 16ft; and net register, 50 tons. Her engines, which were specially brought out for her in the Wainui, are 25-horse-power. The new boat is to be called the Ahuriri. She has been sold to Messrs Kinross and Co., of Napier, and is to take up the trade of the Sir Donald, which was lost near Gisborne during a heavy gale. She is intended principally for carrying cargo, wool, &c., to and from the stations between Castle Point, Napier, and Tauranga. Tiie Wellington Milkmen’s Association hold its fouith annual picnic at Island Bay on Tuesday. The weather was all that could be desired, and the number of visitors on the ground was very large. The awarding of prizes for tho best-dressed vehicles was performed Before the procession left town, and insulted as follows Best-dressed turn-out horse and cart (prize, £2) —J. Roadley_(of the Excelsior Dairy Company); 2nd prize, G. Harnish (of the Trentham Dairy, Tory-street). Best turn-out, horse and trap—Messrs J. and A, Hall (of Karori-ioad); 2nd prize, P. Wootten. Best-dressed horse in harness (prize, £l—-M. Goss, Karori; 2nd prize, C. S, Greaves, Newtown. Best-dressed horse and rider—>G. Harnish (Trentham Dairy); 2nd prize, W. H. Bromley (Karori) ; 3rd prize, T. Monahan (White-street). The pro. cession, as it left town, was headed by the Garrison Baud. The picnic was on the whole very successful. The 11.M.5. Kaikoura, which was ex. peeked here on Saturday morning, did not arrive till 3,20 in the afternoon, in consequence of adverse weather from Hobart. She brought, beside a full complement of saloon and cabin passengers, 248 immigrants for all New Zealand ports. The passage has been a vox’y enjoyable one, during which concerts, dances, and sports (both for the cabin passengers and for the steerage passengers and immigrants) were got up with great success. Crossing the Line, Father Neptune came aboard, to the great delight of those who had not previously met the sturdy sea veteran. Perhaps the event of the voyage, however, was a plain and fancy dress ball which was given, and which was largely attended by the passengers. The variety and beauty of fancy costumes worn by the ladies on this occasion is said to have been very picturesque, and altogether the dance was not the least pleasant feature of a very pleasant voyage. The monthly liquor bill which was brought up at the meeting of the Hospital Trustees on Tuesday afternoon showed that for the month of November twelve patients consumed 177 pints of spirits, wines and malt liquors, or about 14? pints for each. In the corresponding month last year fifteen patients consumed 123 pints spirits, wines, and malt liquors, or about 84 pints for each person. Mr Kebbell said he objected to tho regularly recurring bill for old men. He thought that tho old men should not get an allowance of spirits and malt liquors except in cases of illness. The Uenevolent Institution did not make any such allowance to old men who were boarded out by them, and he did not think it should be dona at the Hospital. Mr McKenzie did not think the doctor's treatment should bo interfered with without consulting him. Tho Chairman said the custom had been established years ago of giving this allowance, but for the past two or three years none of the doctors would take the credit of having ordered it. After some further discussion Mr Kebbell proposed a resolution, which was seconded by Mr Speedy, and carried, “ That in future wines, spirits, and malt liqonrs, be administered to the old men under medical supervision only.” A christening, quite unique in its sur. roundings and remarkable in its accessories (says the Dunedin Herald), took place on Sunday last (December 4th) at Swift Creek, when Mary Grace, infant (daughter of Mr James Finlay, and Christopher Francis, infant son of Mr Guinan, received the mystic rite of baptism at the bands of the Rev Mr Rothwell, Wesleyan minister, tho water used on the occasion having been brought from the far off river Jordan, and the vessel into which it was poured was from “the street which is called straight” in the ancient city of Damascus. It is not presumed that the water itself possessed any special virtue other than its sacred associations in having come from the selfsame river in which Jesus Christ was Himself baptised, and possibly touched the very stones on the banks of that fast flowing river where He Himself stood when He went do ■ n to partake of that rite. For tho first-born son of the Prince of Wales water was taken from the River Jordan by the Prince some 3000 miles, but these children of Heriot probably are the first in New Zealand to have been so favored. In this instance the water was brought by a lady (Mrs Miles Coverdale Bellamy) who has lived long in the East, and live times made a tour of the Holy Land, and who has carried with her through Asia, Europe, Africa, and to New Zealand these mementoes of a land d ar to all hearts. We wish the Heriot little ones a hearty “God speed ” and a blessing on their whole lives.

The anniversary services of the St. Johh’s Presbyterian Church, Dixon-atreet, were held on Sunday, the Rev J. G. Patterson, of Napier, officiating morning and evening, and also at the children’s service at 3 o’clock. Thera was a large attendance at each of the services, and in the evening the Church was quite crowded. In the morning, the rev gentleman preached from the text, Matthew, 25 and 18—“ He that received one talent went and digged in the earth and hid his Lord’s money.” The scope of the discourse was to show the folly and siu of those who do not devote their time, their means, and their lives to useful and noble purposes in the service of God, and for the good of humanity. The text from which the rev gentleman spoke in the evening was John 12 and 19—“ The Pharasees, therefore, said amongst themselves, perceive ye how ye prevail nothing. Behold ! the world is gone after him.” The rev gentleman began his discourse by quoting the answer of an ancient Christian to a pagan, who asked, “ What is the Gallilean carpenter doing now ?” The answer was, •* He’s making a coffin fordead Heathenism.” From that the preacher proceeded to expatiate on the achievements of Christianity in the past, its progress in the present, and its triumphs in the future. The collections at the services amounted to over £42. Thera was a full choir both morning and evening, and Mr England presided at the organ. The music on both occasions was of a special nature, and was well executed, A beautiful anthem was sung in the evening, ‘ ‘ Arise ! Shine.” About 600 children, with their teachers and friends, assembled at the afternoon service.

The Gear Meat Company are to be con. gratulated that the success of their business warrants them in declaring a dividend of 16 per cent. Mr Charles Edward Matthews, who passed hia final examination in September last, was admitted to the practice of the law by his Honor the Chief Justice in Chambers yesterday, on the motion of Mr John Sinclair, barrister. We understand that Mr Matthews intends to practice his profession in Wellington. Hia articles were served under the well-known Auckland firm of Russell and Devore.

One of the heaviest earth-slips that has happened on the Wellington and Masterton Railway line for a considerable time occurred early on Tuesday morning, about three-quar-ters of a mile this side of the Summit. The recent heavy rains had undermined the bank at the place where the slip occurred, and about 1000 tons of earth fell across the line, completely obstructing all traffic. The up and down trains on Tuesday morning were delayed about half an hour while the passengers and luggage were being transferred from one train to another ; and the through train was an hour late in arriving in town Tuesday evening. On the news of the mishap reaching town, Mr Dawson, the Traffic Manager, at once left by a “special,” and a large gang of workmen went to work clearing, and by Wednesday night the line was open again. “How not to make the railways pay ” is splendidly illustrated on the local line, says the Manawatu Daily Times, and a deal of real ingenuity is displayed in connection with the matter. Sensible men would almost refuse to believe that heavy goods vans which arrive here from Wellington with freight are sent back empty, while other trucks are provided to go by the same train with freight from here. Several of the heavy vans of the Railway Company (weighing 7J tons each) have recently been sent back "empty from Palmerston, while the same train has borne with it Government trucks loaded with wool, for the conveyance of which to Wellington the vans might have been utilised with very great advantage. Aud this process is just reversed at the other end of the line, the Government trucks coming back empty. And -till some wonder why the railways do not pay.