NEWS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2432, 11 February 1895, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Customs duties collected at this port last week amounted to .£5014 Os 9d, and the boor duty to £l3l 2s. The following are the latest additions to tho Telephone Exchange :—Bank of New. Zealand Estates Company; A. J.George, Parish street; J. McGowan, Potone; Queree, 21, Pino street; Tandy, Vivian street; C. W. Turner, Waterloo quay. A very pleasant picnic was held at Lowry Bay on Saturday under the auspices of the local committee of the Public Service Association., Punctually at 2 p.m., the s.s. Duco, with fully 250 picnickers on. board, proceeded to tho Bay, and as they were favoured by fine weather, a very pleasant afternoon was spent. There was a plentiful supply of hot water and milk, and everything possible was done for tho enjoyment and comfort of tho visitors. The committee deserve great credit for the energetic manner in which they have catered for the amusement of tho members of tho Association this season.

Complaints loud and long, and .with plenty of reason, were heard last night from those who were unfortunate enough to have to wade in the streets, and to pick their steps in the darkness. Though Wellington was visited by a flood, and several inches of water lay in many of the main thoroughfares, the electric lights in the streets were out, and as "the moon was quite obscured the state of affairs for the hapless pedestrian may bo imagined. It is high time that some better understanding was arrived at as to the lighting of the streets, so that the lamps may not bo left in darkness when their assistance is most required. The s.s. Takapuna is to run on a moonlight excursion to-morrow night for tho benefit of the funds of the Sailors’ Rest. As the authorities of the Rest gave up the proceeds of a previous excursion to the Wairarapa Relief Pond, there will no doubt be a good attendance. Jupp’s band will probably bo in attendance^

Mr j. C. Martin, S.M., presided at Saturday’s sitting of the Magistrate’s Court. Two first-offending drunkards were fined the usual amount, and Florence O’Donoghuo was fined £l, or four days’ imprisonment in default, for having been drunk and disorderly. John Burke O’Brien* who had just come out of gaol after serving a short sentence for drunkenness* again appeared on a similar charge, and was given the option of at once leaving the town or going to prison for three months; He decided to leave the town. Charles Tayler* a farmer, charged with failing to support his wife, consented to an order being made against hiui for the payment of 15s a week. A charge against P. Fleming of failing to support his wife and six children Was dismissed;

The yachts Mascotte and Pastime, which composed at the Anniversary Regatta, reached Lyttelton from Wellington at 4 p.m. yesterday-..

Constable Churchill, Of the. Syddoy Constabulary, dOwn to Wellington from Napier on Saturday night, having in his custody a man named James King, whom he is taking back to Sydney on a charge of stealing a portmanteau from the Union S.S. Company’s wharf there. Notwithstanding the very unfavourable weather yesterday there were good congregations at the mission services conducted by tho Rev T. Cook at the Wesley Church, Taranaki street. The afternoon service, which was for women only, was well attended. The mission will bo continued this evening. The Rose Dramatic Company gave the final performance of their season in the Opera House on Saturday evening. There was a largo attendance, and the programme of the previous night was successfully repeated-..

The third heats Of the Arawa Sailing Club's races for the 18ft and 14ft boats was not finished oh Saturday, tia tho wind dropped ahd tho oohrsa , could not in consequence b'e completed within tho limited time’, 6 o’clock. Tho heats will consequently he resailed next Saturday, which will make the date of tho race for the halfraters a Saturday later. The first practice of the Liederkranz is to take place at tho Art Gallery on Wednesday next, from 3 to 5 p.m. The Dorcas meetings of tho Wellington Ladies’ Christian Association are to re-com-mence on Thursday next, 14th inst. The Association appeal to the charitable for gifts of second-hand clothing, A public meeting of those interested in the establishment of a Scenery Preservation Society at Wellington, on lines similar to those Adopted at Taranaki, Nelson and Dunedin, is td Be hold at. No. 10 Boom, Exchange Buildings; on Wednesday next, at 8 p.nb The Lower Mouse of tho Austrian Reiohsrath on 10th November passed tho Arniy Bill fixing tho number of men to be recruited this year by a large majority. A resolution was proposed by Herr Soheicher calling upon the Government to bring before the friendly Powers, in a fitting manner, the idea of a general disarmament, and the establishment of an International Court of Arbitration. This, reports the Daily News, was rejected after some debate, in the course of which the Austrian Minister of War said that the present enormous armaments were an evil of tho time, but Austria could not take the initiative against it. One thing was certain, that Austria was not at tho head of the movement which conduced to these colossal armaments, and would hail with satisfaction any ending of the present gigantic burdens and ceaseless arming imposed on tho States of Europe.

An accident of a serious nature which occurred to a young man named Wise, who lives with his parents in Coromandel street, was reported on Saturday morning. It appears that he was passing a shooting gallery in Manners street when a bullet from a gun entered his thigh. Dr Chappie extracted the bullet, ahd the young man is now out of danger.

George Thomas and Co. are to sell to-day, at 2.30 p.m., at their rooms, Customhouse quay, the leases for 42 yearn of 13 quartcr-aoro sections adjoining the Wellington Athletio Park Company’s Grounds, Newtown, and 14 building sections in Aro street, To Aro. The quarter-acre sections in Newtown command the finest panoramic views in the city. Tho Aro street sections are within 12 minutes’ walk of the General Post Office.

Laory and Co. are to sell stage scenery and furniture at 2 o’clock to-day. Laery and Co. sell fruit at 9 o’clock to* day.

Taine and Co. ’s stock sale at the Upper Hutt, advertised for to-morrow, has been postponed. George Thomas and Co. are to sell at 3.30 o’clock to-day freehold allotments in Wordsworth street. On one of tho allotments is a well built residence of eight rooms. An advertisement elsewhere gives further information.

Tenders aro called by the Melrose Borough Council for repairs to tho Farmhouse at Brooklyn.

Tho insurance offices aro to be closed at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, for the law-insurance cricket match, .

Townsend and Paul sell fruit to-day at 9 a.m.

Townsend and Paul soli 300 sacks chaff at 11 o’clock to-morrow.

George Thomas and Co. sell 50 bales cornsacks at 11 o’clock on Wednesday.