TOWN AND COUNTRY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIX, Issue 3002, 14 December 1896, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

On page four to-day will be found an article of an interesting character on the firm of Lewis Berger and Sons and their , manufactures, some “Turf Topics,” and “Hints on Pig Farming.” On page one is published a letter from Mrs Jossio Fulton, appealing for help for poor families, and tho details of the cricket fixtures of Saturday. The moonlight excursion on Saturday night by steamer Corinna was fairly well patronised. Japp’s band was on board, and played several selections, which considerably , enhanced-the enjoyment of the excursionists. The money realised by the excursion is to go towards the funds of the Exhibition Regatta. -

The Bey T. H. Sprott preached, yesterday morning at, St, Paul’s pro-Cathodral, and in the evening the sermon was by tho Rov C. H. Tisdall, the service being conducted by tho Rov A. C. Hoggins. There was a crowded congregation. Tho offertories wore in aid of the Diocesan Pension Fund. : A seaman .named Ashdown on the Government steamer Hiuemoa had one of his arms crashed when-tho steamer was at Farewell Spit. Ho was engaged in stowing a winch in a boat when it slipped and crushed his arm against tho thwarts. No bones wero broken, and it is expected that the man will be able to resume work in a week.

The public attended largely at tho Clifton Studio, Willis street, on Saturday, when Mr Whifeobouso’s kinctoscopo was on exhibition. Tho scenes are wonderful, and tho entertainment thoy afford is moat enjoyable. According to scientists tho eye can receive only forty-two distinct impressions in a second. Accordingly when photographs aro re-pro-duced at the rata of forty-six a second, to the human eye continuous motion is at once secured. The kinotoscope is well worth a visit.

There is nothing fresh, to chronicle with reference to the wrecked barquentine Del* mica. When the Southern Cross passed the wreck on Saturday afternoon, it was in very much tho same position as when last tho Kabu The officers of tbe Star of New Zealand, which arrived from Napier yesterday afternoon, report, that though their steamer was same distance from the land, tho wreck was plainly visible, and tbe vessel’s foresail and foretopsail could be seen bellying out in tho breeze. The enquiry commences this afternoon before Mr Greenfield, 8.M., and Captains Bate and Von Schocn, Nautical Assessors,

" The Technical School will oloso for the holidays on Thursday, 17th inst. No leas than ten sobered and doubtless repentant inebriates will face the Bench at tho Lower Court this morning.

The woman Annie Fodder, Who attempted to out her throat on Thursday,and was taken to the Hospital, is progressing favourably. Tho attempt to raise the barque Coromandel ou Saturday morning resulted in the vessel being heeled over a few feet nearer to the wharf.

The recont fire on the barque Alice makes the sixth that has takea place on various vessels in Wellington harbour in ■ the last fow years. The local examinations of the 11 candidates for practical plumbing took place in the ” plumbers’ shop” at tho back of the Exhibition ou daturd.y.

The merabersof the Wellington Cash Cycling Club yesterday entertained the Cycling visitors to Wellington, A trip, Was made to McNab’s gardens, and, the afternoon being fine, a pleasant time was spent. At tho last meeting of the Wellington Political Society seven now members were elected. Those interested iu this society's movements aro requested to look out for future advertisements in the New Zealand Times.

At tho Magistrate’s Court on Saturday, two inebriates named George Harris and Joseph MoEvoy were ordcredjto pay 15S. each, or iu default 48 hours’ imprisonment, for failing to steer clear of Mr A. B. Pownall’a window in the course of their wanderings on tho previous evening.

At tho Magistrate’s Court on Saturday moruiug four first offenders wore fined qs each, or in default tho usual 21 hours’ incarceration, for drunkenness, and one previous offender named W. Ryan Was fined 10a, or 43 hoars’ imprisonment, tor a similar offence. As a marine rSaorl, Day’s Bay has secured a firm hold on the citizens of Wellington. Evidence of this is given by the large number of people who go across whenever an excursion takes place. The steamers yesterday and on Saturday wore, as usual, very extensively patronised. Tho following numbers of entries have been received for the City and Guilds of London Institute examinations which take place in May next -. —Practical plumbing, 16; theoretical plumbing, 20 i engineering, 4; carpentry and joinery, 2; briokworkand masonry, 2; telegraphy and telephony, 4.’ In another column Mrs Jessie Fulton makes an appeal on behalf of the poor, which wo feel sure will bo liberally responded to by those who have the moans. Many a home may be brightened and cheered at this season by tho exercise of that Charity for which tho citizens of Wellington are noted throughout the Colony.

A largo quantity of tho flax that was damaged by fire and water on the barque Alice on Friday night was discharged on Saturday afternoon. The vessel is believed to bo insured for about 10,000dols, and tho cargo is insured in the China Traders and South British Insurance offices for .£OOOO. About 50 bales of tho flax wore destroyed.

Miss Margaret C. Boss, Taita, is dux this year at tho Girls’ High School. Tho competitors were Miss Ross and Mias Annio Tasker, and tho competition was very keen. Miss Cora Hickson, the dux of last year, stood aside this year. -These throe girls have done remarkably good work in all subjects, and the lady principal states that their influence over the whole school has been very beneficial.

Teaching appliances are badly wanted for tho botanical classes at tho Girls’ High School; Mr T. VV. Kirk, the examiner in science, remarks that tho making of bricks without straw is child’s play compared with teaching without proper appliances. The herbarium, diagrams, &c., of which the staff had had the use for some time wiil ahortly bo required by the owners, and besides those appliances a couple of small microscopes are needed, and each pupil, says Mr Kirk, should supply herself with a small pocket lens, A valuable young horse, Kentucky Wilkes, Imported recently from Christchurch, had to bo shot in Courtenay place on Friday. It appears that ho had just, boon broken in, and was tied up by a bridle outside the blacksmith’s shop of Mr H. Woods. The animal took fright, broke away, and dashed down tho street at a gallop, running into an express. Ho got his off fore leg in the wheel of the vehicle, and If was very badly fractured above tho knee. Destruction was at once decided upon, and Mr Woods shot tho animal. Its value Was assessed at about £SO. There was keen competition at the Girls* High School this year for the four senior scholarships given by the Board of Governors. The chief rivals wore all holders of scholarships won on the Education Board’s examinations. The winner of the Governors’ senior scholarships in order of merit arc I—Mias Mabel Reid, Miss Harriet Jenkins, Miss Maria Hitchcock and Miss Lena Van Staveron. Of those who did not succeed, Mias Alice Robinson deserves special praise. Miss Hamilton states that the girls named are, with Miss Annie Tasker and Miss Margaret Koas, tho moat capable Education Board scholars ever received in tho Girls’ High School. The Rev P. Hales preached at tho Church of Christ last evening, arid took for his subject tile 23rd chapter of Isaiah, 3rd verso, 11 He was woUnded for our transgressions.” After speaking of tho certainty of siil wounding tho spirits as well as tho bodies of those Who came in doritaot with it, Mr Hales went on to speak of the various forms of sin, of whioh.be exhorted his hearers to beware. He concluded by showing how Christ had been wounded for the sins of the whole of humanity, how He bad lived a life of suffering and died an awfdl death, and how it Was only right and fair and honest for them to accept Him and not be ashamed to confess Him as their Master, as some slight return for His great Work. Tho fortnightly meeting of the Bakers’ Union was held on Saturday evening at tho Trades Hall, Mr Andrew Collins, president, in the chair. After routine business, the nomination of officers was received. Mr Andrew Collins Was unanimously re-elected president for the seventh time amidst applause. A resolution was passed instructing the secretary to write to Mr George Fisher congratulating him on his success in the general elections; t 5 Mr John Hutcheson, the Labour candidate, congratulating him on heading tho poll, and to Mr Charles Wilson, also congratulating him on the number of votes he polled, hoping that he would at some future date be a candidate, and promising him every support.

The proposed absorption of the business of the Mutual Assurance Society of Victoria by the National Mutual Life Association has now. boon carried out, the meetings of the mem* bers of the two societies held in Melbourne on Friday last having adopted the resolutions necessary to give effect to the proposal. On the 3 >th instant the business of the Mutual Society of Victoria will be transferred to the National Mutual, and the revenue of the latter will thereby be increased from -8280,000 to -£430,000, and the invested funds from .£1,700,000 to .£2,600,000. Such a largo accession of business will necessarily bo of great advantage to the National Mutual, and the members of’the transferred Society will benefit by thus having their assurances taken over by such a prosperous institution. On Christmas night Mr John Fuller, the eminent and popular tenor vocalist, is to open at tho Opera House with his “New Myriorama Company,*’ an entertainment similar to, though an improvement on, Snazelle’a “Music, Song and Story,” and. which was so popular boro on his visit some years back. Mr John Fuller was boro last with tho Misses Albu, and will bo remonr berhd as a tenor of exceptionally clear quality and extensive compass Ho has boon on tour with his company, having travelled during tho last two years to tho principal centres of Australasia, for tho past six-, months playing to crowded houses in Auckland. He has taken tho Opoa House for Christmas night, and has engaged the Exchange Hall for a short season, commencing on Boxing Night. Mr Mac Duff Boyd’s Christmas concert tonight at the Gallery of Fine Arts will be interesting to musicians and music-loving people generally, Mr Boyd will play Ernst’s famous “Elegie,” and Alard's arrangement of “ Trovatore,” both of which solos were played by him at the great Kontski concerts. Ho will also, with Miss Ritchey, play in Do Beriot’s and Osborne’s setting of “ William Tell,” for violin and piano, and also in a trio with his pupils, C, Cimino and VV. Pronso. Miss Sheen (pupil of Madame Cope) will sing “With Verdure Clad” and “At My Window.” Mrs Boyd and the Misses FownaU, Johnson and Mr F. S. Pope will assist Mias Barber (pupil of Mr R. Parker) will share the accompaniments with Miss Ritchey. We congratulate Mr Boyd on his programme, and also on bis having the assistance ofjthoae whoso names appear on it. Tho concert is given under tho patronage of tho Hon. John McKenzie and hia colleagues.

On Saturday evening a mooting of those interested in forming an association of the survivors of those who were under fire in the New Zealand War was bold at Mr Holroyd Boero’a office. A very fair attendance was tho result, and tho list of members will soon contain a larger number of names than was at first expected. Mr Trogear took the chair, and explained the object of tho meeting. Xt was desirable, he said, that an association should he formed to allow those, who had. shared tho dangers and excitements of warfare in New Zealand, 30 and more ye irs ago, to meet together once a year to renew old friendship's, and keep alive the spirit of comradeship. Tho formation of the association was moved by Mr Lingard, and seconded by Mr F. Stevens. A temporary committee was sot up to consider tho practical carrying out of tho idea, and to report to a future general meeting. It is hoped that similar societies will bo farmed in other centres of tho North Island, and federate with tho veterans here. Mr Trogear consented to act as secretary for tho present, and to receive tho names of those willing to join, bat only men on tho Government list of recipients of the war medal are eligible as members.