TOWN AND COUNTRY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIX, Issue 3004, 16 December 1896, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

On our first page to-day “will b© found reports of Supreme Court judgments and proceedings in tbe Divorce Court, correspondents’ letters from Stratford and Wanganui. On our fourth page will be found correspondence and other m itter ol interest. Tbe platform of tbe Feilding railway station is being lengthened. There are at present ST inmates in the Benevolent Homo. The people of Mangatainoka are establishing a library and reading-room. Tlio lady’s bicycle, tbo first prize in the Convent Bazaar art union, was won by Miss Berendt. of Kumara. A donitJou of 10s baa been received from Mrs i.eicjsAlor towards the Christmas funds of the Benevolent Institution. Three well-known local business men secured no loss than 2G large trout while fishing in the Hutt river on Monday last. C. Paulsen Las been fined JHO and costs at Danevirko for exploding dynamite in the 'Mangatera stream for the purpose of hiding trout. Tbo attention of farmers and others is directed to the advertisement of A. G. Taue and Co. upon the top of this page. It is we 1 worth perusal. As there was not a quorum present the meeting of the Dairy Regulations committee convened for yesterday afternoon was adjourned for one month. The Marist Brothers from Auckland and Greymouth have arrived in Wellington, ihe anzmal rytrciv*. ct tbs bagms tomorrow, and lasts eight days. Owing to the wet weather, the second lecture on Political Economy, to be given by tbe Uev Hoggins, in St. Peter’s Schoolroom, last night, was postponed till Thursday even-

ing. While getting o2 a tramoar in Lambton quay yesterday afternoon, Mr Wm. Mobray was accidentally jostled by another passenger, with the result that he fell and broke his collar-bone.

The Supreme Court sits at II o clock this morning, when two divorce oases, Shirley v. Shirley, the wife’s petition, and Walker v. Walker, also the wife’s petition, will be heard before Mr Justice Edwards. A man named James Campbell was brought before Mr Ureenfield yesterday on a charge ot larceny. He stole two coats and one pair ot trousers, and admitted the fact. A sentence of one month’s imprisonment was imposed. The Supreme Court will bo closed, os far as the hearing of oases is concerned, from the 20th instant to the 31at of January. The officers ot the Court will be allowed holidays from tbe 24 th instant to the 3rd of January inclusive.

The plant ordered by the Hawera Gas Company has all tbe latest modern improvements, and will bo so constructed as to be easily enlarged and modified to suit any further im-. provements that may be provod.of value m the near future. A fire broke out in tho packing department of tho preserving works at Ngalmuranga yesterday morning, but was extinguished before any great amount ot damage was done. Tbe sum of -£j should cover the amount of ttjo damage. Cannibalism as practised among fish is one of the sights of the Exhibition, The trout turned into the fountain have spanned, and the goldfish are eating the young trout. In revenge the old trout are eating the goldfish. The I'iVV of compensation,

Tbo five crossbred two-tooth.owos shown bv Mr Monteith senr., nt the last Woodvillo Show, and awarded first prize, have beeq shorn with the result that their fleeces averaged Wilbs, which at sevenpouee per lb will return eleven shillings and twopence per head.

The annual report of the Pahiatua Athletic Society showa that the operations ot the Society for the past season iiava UPP W a b f° successful as could bs desired ; still, notwithstanding fadverse circumstances, the dome and credit aide of the balance-sheet will just about balance.

The Hospital authorities acknowledge with thanks the receipt of tho following farther donations tovarfl* the Christmas fund for the Snt S ~?r ß f, it. Williams, d£2s, Mrs Crease, .81 Is; Lqdy Skut. XI Is; Mr E. Morris, jun., 10s 6d; Rfl7 B? •?» * Hon B. Pharazyn,

The prospects of the dairy industry in Ctago and Southland are better now than at any other time tor the past two years. Mr James Sawers report? that all the season a cheese has been sold for export $o London at a price which will leave the supplier? qf milk 3d per gallon profit Mr L. J. Lohr, the well-known theatrical asronte is suing the owner of the City iia-11, Dan akin, for £125 damages for alleged breach of agrporaont in closing the hall against the Godfrey Company. He also claims £OS as special damage for the loss ot the benefit he was advertised to bays on the evening of the 28th November. Wo have to acknowledge redeipt of three tasteful and useful calendars-a wall, table and blotter—from Messrs Laery and Co., agents for the Eoyal Exchange Assurance Company, and one each from Messrs James Moßwan and Co., of London, .Sydney and Melbourne, and the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, Limited.

James Shore, who was some time ago arrested in connection with the Petone murder, b 4 whom the Grand Jury found no true* toil, appeared before Mr Greenfield, S.M., yeptefday, when he was charged with drunkenness and uu 9 g obscene language. He W 99 w od 3 3 °d .*¥? ,9 rst charge, and sentenoed to 43 hours- imprisonment on the second. The evolutions of the figures displayed by that marvellous little nlaohine, the Kinetoseooe. still continue to attract a considerable number of patrons at the Clifton Galleries, in Willis street. The entertainment is supplemented by a very fine phonograph, and the items ffjysn can be hoard more loudly and clearly than is jjßj.mUy the case with those instruments."

Yesterday the Benevolent Trustf?? wore waited on by two ladies with regard to rendering aesjefanoo to the family of a poor widow at present dyipg in the Hospital. The ladies asked for ojotblng gnd boots, ihe Trustees decided to at onoo grant the necessary assistance, and the inembers of the press were ashed to raukg & special appeal to the publfo towards the supppit ql these two poor cU'ldren.

Among the many appeals yinch foe Benevolent Trustees found it necessary to make at yesterday’s meeting was one for money in order to pay off a mortgage for whioh the mortgagee was pressing for payment on a section next the Benevolent Home. The chairman said ho foljb fifrg foe people of Wellington would only have fo foe urgent need of the money to ooipe forward and help the Trustees to retain the land.

A meeting of the Benevolent Trustees was, held in the offices of the secretary yesterday afternoon. Present —Rev H. Van Stavoron (in the chair), Messrs R. Mothos, G. H. Beylis, G. T.' Browne an d T. W. Mackenzie. The secretary reported font ho had looked into certain cases of poverty, and the notion taken fay him'was pphehl Jpr foe Trustees. One man was granted k fryo passage to Greymouth where he had i-olstjp.us, JJjd throe other caaoa wore enquired into, cue iygqjan being granted 48 per week for the ensuing iao<itq, That touch s{ humanity whioh makes the world kind toward tJ)° Salvation Amy was felt by the folks who yesterday wore in the neighbourhood of tho Paulino Rescue Homo. Soma- of the lassos had seen an intoxicated woman reeling about tho streets of tho city, and, getting an express, they took her in charge, not to the colls, bat, for gat'd keeping and recovery, to the Home, In tho morning, instead, of having to face the S.M. and company, she will bo kindly treated and spoken to by a humane matron, and in her gratitude she should bless the Army and its work. An extraordinary' mistake is made in the Christmas number of the Canterbury Times, where it is slated that at . the end of 1891 there was a sum of to the credit of depositors in tho Post Office Savings Bank. This is an unexplainable mistake, as tho official returns show that tho total amount at the end of standing to tho credit of depositors was 310',879, opd this bad increased in 1895 to i3,895,543,'whi1e in private savings banks alone thb deposits standing to the credit of depositors at the end of 1891 was £725,153.

What looked like a cas < for tho Cruelty to Animals Society was an i loidcnt which drew a big crowd of onlookers in Upper Tory street yesterday afternoon. A fine draught horse was drawing a load of timber when the animal suddenly slipped and f O H at fuß length under the shafts. Willing hands soon came to forcibly hold the horsn down, and thus saved it from itself, whilst others unloaded the dray, took off the harness, and E ailed away the shafts, and immediately the ores jumped UP, shook itself, and seemed none the worse fop thfl mishap.

■ {Two petitions to the Pahifona Magistrate’s Court against the Pahiatna County election (reports the Eiaminerl have boen docided by Mr Hutchison, S.M., who held that both petitions must be sustained in so far as the election in the Makari and -Puketoi ridings ate concerned, on the ground that the statutory notice ot the election in those ridings was not given. The mistake was on inadvertent one, and one which was remediable if the appropriate steps had bo fin _ taken in time. He, therefore, would not inflict costs upon the Returning Officer, bat thought he ought to pay the aotual cost of appointing the court—namely, 335, • The total number of arrivals at New Zealand porta for the year ending November Slat, 1896, are Adults, 1668 ; children, 227 ; males, 1271; females, 624 ; or 1895 persona, as against 1888 for last year, made np as follows Adults. 1703: children, 183 ; males, 1314 1 females, 572. The departures from the Colony this year were:—Adults, 703; children, 106; males, 540; females, 274; or a total of 814, as against 834 for last year, made, up of adults, 751; children, 83 ; males, 563 ; females, 266. From these figures it will he seen that tho total number ot arrivals has exceeded that of 1895 by 9, while the departures in 1595 exceeded those of this year by 20.

•At the meeting of foe Benevolent Trustees yesterday, the chairman (the Bey H. Van Stayeren) mode im urgent appeal to the charitably-disposed of the oity for help in the way of gifts ot Christmas-eatables, io , for the poor, many of whom .are in dire need. He thought he baj only 'to ‘make the appeal to those in affluence to' have it Immediately answered. Mr A- G. Johnson (the seere-ary of foe institution) will receive donations for this purpose at b'S office. Mr Van Staveren mentioned that Mr k. R:-1). Codder, proprietor of H|o City Buffet Hole 1 , bad premise Ito give his n-mil gift of iJ.jris.iun i>u Idln.'s t. ion 'f» lilies, and that Barber and Co, butchers, Lamhton qn-w, had also given a promise to supply joints of me it to 103 families Tickets for these kind gifts oan be obtained from Mr Johnson after Wednesday next. Mr F. Booth has promised to print thesj tickets free of charge, ' „.

The ■Wellington Art Club will meet this evening at the usual time and The subject will be “ Sunrise, or Shipping Model.”

The annual meeting of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts is to be held in the Gallery of Fine Arts on Tuesday next, at 5 p.m. The entries for the sports to be held at Masterton on New Years Day close on Saturday. A sum of £ss will bo given in money prizes for foot races and open handicaps. The appropriation of .£SOO for the Wellington Telephone Exchange (mentioned in yesterday’s Tikes) is to be expended in the erection of another brick building of the size of that now in use.

Mr 3. C. Cooper, who purchased tho wrecked barquentin© Delmira a guinea, will leave for Te Kauban Point in the first steamer going up the East Coast, to save all that is possible, Mr Field’s Lower Hutfc Election Committee will wind up matters at a meeting to bo held at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lower Hutt, tonight. Tho Lower Hutt Hen’s Committee will meet at Casey’s Hotel, Lower Hutt, tomorrow night. Final arrangements were yesterday at a meeting at tho Exchange Buildings for the farewell concert to Mr A. F. Hill, to take place at tho Exhibition Buildings. There is certain to be a crowded audience. A party from Government House will be present.

Special excursion tickets at reduced rates will be issued by the WelUnglon-ilanawatu Railway Company for the Christmas and New Year holidays from Wellington and Johnsonville to stations on tho Napier-Taranakx section of the Government line.

Tho City Rifles will hold a competition for C class trophy at the cadet range on Saturday next, also a competition for A and B class trophies on Monday morning, conditions 200 and 600 yards. Ammunition will be supplied at the Drillshed on Friday, at 8 p.m. The Festival Choral Society hold a highly successful rehearsal at Thomas’ Hall last night of “The Golden Legend,” to be given by the Society on Thursday. Mr Robert Parker conducted. Everything promises well for a record performance, Some doubts having been entertained as to the validity of tho Wallace election, oil ao* count of the successful candidate being a public school teacher, legal advice was obtained in Wellington. This (aa3 T s tho Otago Daily Times) is to the effect that a teacher may become a member of Parliament without resigning hia position.

A most enthusiastic meeting of Mr A. D. Willis’ supporters was held in Wanganui •last week. In the course of his remarks Mr Willis urged the Liberals not to be discouraged by their recent defeat, which had been largely brought about by misrepresentation and intimidation, but to let that_ result servo as a. valuable lesson to them in the future. He felt satisfied that tho defeat of the Liberal Party in Wanganui was only temporary, and that it would result in closing up their ranks and hardening their members to secure a future victory.

Mr B. Bead, who has acted as treasurer of the Bival Cricket Club for the past four ■ years, was presented last night by the mom- 1 hers of the olnb with a handsome marble clock suitably inscribed. Mr R.H. Hayes, 1 who made the presentation, eulogised the many services that Mr Hoad had rendered to i his club, and in a short and pithy speech i wished Mr Bead and his bride long life and prosperity. Mr Bead’s health was then drank in bumpers. Mr Bead suitably replied,- and the remainder of the evening was spent in a convivial manner. The usual weekly meeting of the Women’s Political League was held last evening in No. 0 room, Exchange Buildings, Mrs Soddon (president) in the chair. Now members were elected and several nominations wore received. The following resolution was brought forward by Mrs Soddon “ That there be recorded on the minutes of the League tbs appreciation of its president of the splendid work done by the whole of the members of the League during the late election.” This was accordingly done. The following resolution was then carried unanimously :—“ That the secretary write to the successful Liberal candidates of the city electorate congratulating them upon their victory; also to convey to Mr Wilson the League’s approbation of his efforts and expressing the hops that he will at the first opportunity again become a candidate ; and, further, that the successful Liberal candidates throughout the Colony bo written to and felicitated upon their success in the late straggle.” At the Stipendiary Magistrate’s Court yesterday judgments Went as follows: Commercial Agency y. S. Koim, £G 4s 7d, costs £1 5s Gd; same v. S. Hill, £5 ss, costs £l.is Gd; Cook and Gray v. G. Colay, £3 t9s Cd, costs £1 13s; Mrs Percy v. M. Williamson, £1 costs 8s ; M. Ilownham v. G.. Johnston, £l’ 15s Bd, costs Gs; John Duthie v. John Fraser, £l6 14s Id, costs £2 11s ; Collier Twp-Speed Cycling Company, v. W. H. Do Lgoy Eyans, £5, ' coats £1 9a Gd; same v, S, T, Wright, £5, costs £1 9s Gd; Commercial Agonoy V- B, b, Hornblqw, £1 18s 4d, costs Ga ; Mercantile Association v. J. Eterovaux, £3 IGs Bd, costa 12s •, same V. G. Harris, £1 15s Gd, 0.-sts Gs ; Commercial Agency V. A. Whiley, £3 13s, costs 19a. H. Bl’ Housefley v. J. .Watson, £1 17s on a judgment summons i t 9 be, paid forthwith, or three days’ imprisonment. Commercial Agency v. G, Marshall, IGb 6dj to be paid forthwith, or nine days. Chaa. Tylsr y. M. George, £ls 2s 9d ; judgment for m - Wobberloy. v. C. MoMastor, J made for ,£lO i 6s, or a month’s imprisonment, I The banquet given to Mr H. A. Field, M.H.E., by his Upper Hutt supporters last night was a great succour. Ahaut 10J electors, including a large sprinkling ot ladies, sat down to an excellent spread. i to the Oddfellows’Hall. Mr George Brown I I ’presided, and was supported on his right by the gu’estof the evening, and the Hon the Proicier, and bri his loft was DJIr Williams, the secretary of Mr Fluid's committee. After I honouring Ifer Jfajesty, the Chairman pro- . posed the toast of tha §venn}g, the member for Otaki. Mr Field, in responding, i dwelt upon the good work which had : been done by bis committees, and the good , spirit, with few exceptions, which had characterised the election. In replying to the toast of the “ Government,’ the Peewier ’ expressed himself as more than satisfied with ’ ! the result of the elections, and stated that, ■; while regretting the Joss of several loyal 1 friends and supporters, ’ tbs Government 1 came back with an excellent and’■eosotete party and a substantial majority. Other toasts 1 proposed were “ The) Visitors,” responded to 1 by Mr W. H- Field; “ The Bar, ” responded ■ to by Mr B. Stafford ( “ The Agricultural and Pastoral Interests/’ responqed t<? by Mr . Alexander McCulloch ; and“ r Tho Lad se, ; and others contributed songs, and a very i pleasant gathering broke BP at midnight , with ■ Apld li?.pk Syne.’? au<J . God davo the > Queen. ’ ,