Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 8274, 3 January 1888, Page 4

It will be noticed that the heading ‘ 1 Reuter’s Telegrams ” no longer appeal's above our cable news. The new arrangement made by the Directors of the United Press Association came into force with the new year, and at the same time the old agreement with Reuter’s Agency terminated. Henceforward our cable news will be furnished by the Press Association alone. Under the new arrangement provision has been made for a greatly extended and, it is hoped, improved service of cable messages, which will be specially collated at Sydney by the resident agent of the Association for the present Mr W. H. Atack, but ultimately Mr A. Fraser and transmitted to the New Zealand papers. While we trust that the new system may be the means of our being able to supply our readers with fuller and more detailed telegraphic news from other parts of the world, we cannot allow our long connection with Reuter’s Agency to close without paying a hearty and welldeserved tribute of praise to the great excellence of that service, its promptness in transmission of important intelligence, its studious fairness and freedom from political bias, and, above all, its admirable accuracy. Under the very able management of Mr Ernest Collins it has been all that could be desired within the limits which were accepted when that service was established. That different provisions are now deemed advisable is due to no shortcomings on the part of Reuter’s Agency, but to the enlarged requirements of the colonial press, which have rendered it more convenient to work the entire system of cable intelligence through a single agency under the entire control of the papers which use it. We trust,that the new service now inaugurated will prove in all respects satisfactory.

A mail for Europe, via Brindisi, clove to-day at 1.20, per the s.s. Tarawera. . The lovely weather yesterday tempted nearly everyone to go holiday-making. Prom midday till about 5 the main streets of the town were perfectly deserted, and the suburbs were absolutely denuded. With regard to the accident which happened to the boy Morris whilst skating on Saturday we were misinformed. The mishap happened at Bowie's rink in Lower Taranaki-street, and not at the Columbia rink, as previously stated The members of the Wesleyan body held a picnic at Petone yesterday, which was largely attended, about SOO people being present. The picnic passed off very successfully. An enjoyable picnic was also held by the Good Templars at McNab’s gardens, Hutt.

No little amusement was occasioned yesterday morning in the Batin Reserve by the gentleman known as The Whiffler,” who, with the legs of his trousers tucked up and his socks turned down, and a rabbit skin bung as an apron, made a very efficient burlesque of a Highlander’s dress. The “ Whiffler’a ” capers greatly amused the crowd, much to his evident satisfaction.

The ship Invercargill, which arrived in harbor yesterday morning from London, made the very quick passage of 77 days. She would hive been here even a few days sooner but for calms which were encountered off the New Zealand coast. Captain Muir, who is a well-known and popular skipper in Wellington, must be congratulated on having beaten the record of several years. We regret to have to announce the death of a well-known lady, an old settler arao :gst us, the wife of the eminent barrister, Mr W. T. L. Travers, who died at her residence yesterday morning. The deceased some time ago underwent a critical operation. For a time she progressed favorably, but lately she has gradually got weaker, and passed quietly away yesterday. She had been married some 46 years, and leaves a grownup family. Great sympathy is expressed all over town, in which we respectfully join, with Mr Travers in his great bereavement. Messrs R. Holliday and Co.’s stock was considerably damaged by water at the fire on Sunday morning. The water which was turned on to their building to avert the fire got through the roof, and flooded first the upper story, and (afterward the shop, spoiling the stock lo the extent of about £4OO. The stock was insured for £looo—£3oo in the Sun Fire office, £250 in the North German office, and £250 in the Phceaix Fire office. The shop fixtures were insured in the Colonial Fire Insurance office for £2OO. The upper story was occupied by Mrs Richardson, dressmaker, and she estimates the damage to her furniture, which was insured in the New Zealand insurance office for £l5O, at about £2O. The damage to Messrs Holliday and Co.’s stock is very great, owing to the fragile nature of the goods. Books, albums, photo-frames, and in fact every variety of beautiful article? have been in many instances quite ruined, and in nearly all much defaced.

The Union Company’s steamer Penguin ran an excursion to Picton and back yesterday, starting from the Queen’s Wharf a little after 8 a.tn., and returning at 10 last night. The trip to Picton and back is always a popular one, and this added to the fact that a large number of people were disappointed in the Wairarapa yesterday week (Boxing Daj) swelled the numbers, who toot advantage of yesterday’s trip to about 200. The Penguin'did the run across in about four hours, arriving at Picton shortly after mid-day, and left again on the return journey at 5 o’clock. A baud was prov;ded on board, and added to the attractions of the trip. A number of the passengers on the steamer’s arrival at Piston went up to Blenheim, and a great many of them witnessed the local regatta which was going on. The only drawback to an otherwise very enjoyable day was that both going and coming a fresh SW win 1 was blowing in the Strait, and a lumpy sea prevailed. In the harbor a nasty sea was running, and in consequence the number of marine excursionists was not as large as otherwise might have been the case. The" H ia and Mana ran to Somes Island, and the Dispatch, St. Kil la and Napier also plied for fares. The number q! passengers by all the boats, however, was under a thousand.

The Wanganui Chronicle says that Mr James Duigan retires from the literary control of the Herald, and that the editorial chair will be occupied this week by Mr Ballance. -

The New South Wales Minister of Mines said in the Assembly the other day that the subsidy this year for rabbit destruction would amount to between £400,000 and £500,000. Mr E. L, Jelliooe, the well-known solicitor, accompanied by Mrs Jellicoe, arrived here by the steamer Tarawera yesterday morning, after their recent trip to the Old Country. The brother of the lata Mr Adams, journalist, who died a few days ago, is now in town, and informs us that his brother’s age was 33, and his name in full was George Nathaniel John Adams. He was a native of Uplyme, in Devonshire. The woman Mrs Martin, who attempted to commit suicide at Evans Bay on Saturday afternoon by taking a dose of belladonna, is progresing very satisfactorily. She is pronounced to be out of danger, and her recovery is almost certain.

We have received a copy of a cookery book called “ Dainties,” bv Mrs Murdoch, and can heartily recommend it to all housewives. Their “lords and masters,” for whose beuetit it was written, ought to place a copy of the book in the hands of their wives or sisters, so that they may enjoy the appetising dishes the authoress has selected for them.

During the progress of the fire on Lambtonquay on Sunday morning a man named Edward Thompson was arrested by Sergeant Morice on a charge of stealing 50 cigars, value 10«, the property of Mr David McKinlay Orr, proprietor of the City Buffet Hotel. It seems that the accused had assisted iu getting the articles out of the burning building and had then attempted to make off with them. He was brought before the presiding justices (Messrs E. J. Wakefield and W, McGuire) at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, and fined £1 or in default 48 hours’ imprisonment.

Messrs E. J. Wakefield and W. McGuire, Justices, occupied the Bench at the sitting of the K.M, Court yesterday. Charles McCarthy, charged with having been drunk and disorderly in Adelaide-road on the Slat December, was fined 20a, or 48 hours’ imprisonment. Two first offenders for drunkenness were punished in the usual manner. Samuel T. Holmes was charged with having no visible means of support. Evidence having been given, the Bench sentenced the accused to two mouths’ imprisonment with hard labor. A little boy named William Chandler, charged with being a neglected child, was remanded until Wednesday, in order that the case might be dealt with by Mr H. S. Wardell, R.M.

Sir Algernon Cowell-Stepney, Bart., who arrived by the Tongariro on a visit to this Colony, is M.P, for the Caermarthen district. He was born in 1834, was educated at Eton, and is married to a daughter of Lord de Tabley, He was a clerk in the Foreign Office from 1852 to 1873, and accotnpaaied the Earl of Clarendon on a special mission at the coronation of the King of Prussia in 1861. He is a J.P. for the County of Caermarthen, and was appointed High Sheriff of that County in 1884. Ha represented Caermarthen in Parliament from 1876 to 1878, and was re-elected in 1886. Ho is a member of the Gladstone Liberal party, and supports specially the local option question. He is the eldest son of Colonel Sir John S. Cswell-Stepney. “The Cricket on the Hearth” was presented at the Opera House by Mr Leitch’s company last night. There was a very large audience. The performance wont off well, though one or two hitches in the stage management rather detracted from its success. Mr Leitch’s Caleb Plummer was a capable performance of a class of character in which he is seeu at his best. Miss Norton’s Bertha was very much better than any thing she has shown us before, and proved her an actress of considerable ability ; and Miss Brandon also deserves credit !or her Dot Perrybingle. The comedietta “ Bamboozling,” in which Mr Sydney was irresistibly funny, concluded the performance. The company conclude their Wellington season to-night with the same programme. The monster Catholic picnic, which has been arranged and promoted under the auspices of the Catholic Literary Society, and which had to be postponed from last Monday (Boxing Day) on account of the boisterous weather, was held at Belmont yesterday in Judd’s paddock, and was a most successful reunion. The first train which left town taking pleasure - seekers to Belmont had about 800 people aboard, and two other trains which left before mid-day swelled the numbers to about 2000. Arrived at the grounds there was no lack of amusements in the shape of sports of eve*y kind, which wore carried on vigorously throughout the day. The usual stereotyped programme of sports, customary at large gatherings of the kind, was, in this instance, not adhered to, the main object being the hearty enjoyment of the excursionists, and to this end the committee turned all their attention with the happiest results. A “popular" programme of sports was gone through, the principal item in which was a “Man’s Race, 220 yards.” There were five entries for this race, which was won by J. Mahony. There was no second prize. A refreshment stall was provided on the O round under Mr W. F. Ross, and was largely patronised. Advantage was taken of the splendid weather yesterday by a large section of the public to take a run into the country, and in consequence both the railway lines were largely patronised. On the Wellington and Wairarapa line about 5500 people travelled during the day—nearly 3000 outward, and 2500 inward. There were two large trains outward in the morning—one at 9.35, which took about 800 members of the Wesleyan body to a picnic at Petone ; and one at 10 am, which had an equal number aboard for the Catholio picnic at Belmont. In the evening one of the largest trains which has ever come into the station arrived from the Upper Hutt at 7.30. It consisted of 50 vehic'es, in which there were about 2000 passengers. On the Wellington and Manawatu line the traffic was also considerable although, in consequence of the frequent trains, no single train was very heavy. The through traffic to Longburn and stations beyond was as follows : —First class, 64 ; second class, 121. Local traffic—First class, 332 ; second class, 762. The largest train during the day was the Otaki race train, consisting of seven carriages and two vans. It left town at 9 a.m., and took about 300 passengers. On both lines trains were started punctually, and there was fortunately no mishap of any kind.

The aonual tea and eoiree in connection with the Municipal Fire Brigade was held at the DriPshed last night, and was a most successful affair. There was a large attendance, about 250 persons being present, and among the guests were several members of the Greytown Fire Brigade. The interior of the building, which had been decorated with flags, ferns, etc., presented a very pretty appearance, and reflected great credit on the management coaamittee, who had designed and carried out the decorations. The music for the dancing was supplied by Mr E. J. King’s string band, which gave every satisfaction. The following formed the Committee :—Captain Page, Foreman J. Adams, A. Dodsworth, Woodward, J. and W. Jenkins* E. Martin, 6. Taylor-, P. Kennedy, J, Ls Gros, Gillespie, and Hardcastle. The above, assisted by the energetic Secretary, Mr F. Kennedy, did all that was possible to make the gathering successful, aud their labors were amply rewarded. Refreshments were provided during the evening, and Mrs Page, Misses Lawrence (2), Hordham, and Page assisted in dispensing them. Several songs were sung during the evening by members of the Brigade and their friends. The proceeds were in aid, of the Accident Fund of the Brigade, and, as the affair was so successful, it is expected that the fund will be augmented, by a very considerable suta.

The general manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Mr D, L. Murdoch, is about to pay a visit to Europe on a well-earned holiday. In consequence of the holiday in town to day, the ordinary meeting of the Benevolent Institution will not be held until to-morrow afternoon. The Journal of Jurraprudenea for November now to hand contains two interesting papers discussing “ Suicide as a Crime ” and “The Impunity of Perjury.” The proprietors of the New Zealand Herald have evidently plenty of faith in the future of the C deny, and especially of Auckland. They have just ordered a second web printing machine from Messrs K. Hoe and Co., the well known machine makers of London and New York. This is the first one of the new invention made in London, and will not only print at an enormously rapid rate, but will fold the sheets ready for the post, cut them at the head, paste them together, and count them into dozens. Mr Horton, • ue of the proprietors of the- Herald, is now in London, and we understand he has shipped out some eight tons of new type by the Direct steamer for our northern contemporary.