TOWN AND COUNTRY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIX, Issue 3007, 19 December 1896, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

References tojthe breaking up of some of the city schools and correspondence will be found on our fourth page to-day. We have to acknowledge reoblpt from the Bogiatrar-Qonoral’s office of another section Of the statistical works in connection with the census.

A largo number of the Wanganui Collegiate School boys arrived by the express last night, the school hvvihg broken up yesterday morning-

The candid admission was made by k vehicle driver at tho Stipend! try Magistrate 8 Court yesterday that it was only human nature for him to be biassed ag vinst the oity trams.

Messrs FTihUre, Parker and Co. have an advertisement in this issue announcing that tho s.a. Tasmania will make an excursion tc Pioton on Now Year’s Day, leaving Queen’s Wharf at 8 a.m., anl Picton Wharf On return at 5 p.m.

The Postal authorities MA Advised that tho Alameda, with thS British mails of 28th November, left San Francisco on December' 10th; aftd the Mariposa, with tho colonial mails of 28ih November, arrived at San Francisco on 17th December. Both vessels are up to time-table date. There wore half a dozen maintenance evses sot for hearing at the S.M. Court yesterday, but only one was determined, John Stratford, against whom au order was made some time ago for the support of his mother, being ordered to pay «£l2 5s duo for arrears, or go to gaol for two months.

A separation order was yesterday granted by tho S.M. on the application of the wife of Alexander McDonald, on tho ground of persistent cruelty and interference in her business arrangements, to her monetary dctrimontMr Young appeared for the applicant, who was given custody of her three children. The Akaroa Mail hoars that sorno locvl people have resolved to start a crayfish factory, and as tho fish are peculiarly plontffulin that locality it believes they *iU,<W well. The new enterprise should bo a good thing in giving constant employment of a lucrative character to a good in my fisher* mad.

the C6uucil 6f the New Zealand Academy of FiAe Arts ia their annual report states that at the annual exhibition in July last, 200 pictures, &c., wore'oxhibited, and 32 pictures of tho value of JU43 woro sold for cash and disposed of by auction. Tho balance-sheet bhows thxt the not overdraft had been reduced to £216 12s 4d. It is proposed to hold the next exhibition about tho end of July next.

Tho secretary of the Benevolent Institution has received through Mr C. P. Powles a sum of £1 from “ A,” and £2 Ca 6d from Mr Mark Maxtoa, collected at tho Exhibition. Mr X. C. Williams has promised to give 12 lambs and six sheep, to be divided between the Home for tho Aged Needy and tho Benevolent Home for use as required. Mr P, Cavanagh, of Kaiwarra, has promised to deliver five gallons of milk at the Homo for the Aged Needy on Christmas morning.

A trap accident occurred near Kaiwarra last night, which happily was not attended by serious consequences. Mr T. D. Thompson, of Wainui-o-mata, accompanied by a man named Duagin, was driving along the road, when the horse shied at an approaching train. Both men got Out of the trap, and before they could stop tho animal it had got up a bank,, the trap being capsized. The men escaped without injury, and little damage was done to the vehicle.

A vfOffiah witness at tho lower Court yesterday laid particular stress on the fact of a constable, who was off duty one night, losing his goloshes during a row. The laughed. Called Ift, flnbtuor case arising out ot th% na’AiS blatter, sho gave b.sc testimony) feht did not leave tho box before informing the Bench about tlldsG goloshes again. Why the footwear of the force should attract more attention than that of any other class of a community was nob explained.

The story told by a iVOiflifi At Oefirb yGstor l day irt regard to the life she wis led by her liilsbaad was ildt a Srefy fiafamilar duo t 6 judicial oars. The husbafid hid boon on the down-grade for years* treated her very badly And called hdeabotfimablo names iA front of Others. His conduct was intolerable. , She had gOt a maintenance Order agaifist llini ; Also a prohibition order* p-Ad An order Audor the Married WciAoA’s Property Protection; i*ot. NOiV she wanted a poparation order* NoedlOaa to say tho defendant did Aot Appear. . Mr udacDuff Boyd has decided, at the in*. vitAtion of the nlAsidal people of Feilding, MartCn did Patea, to visit those towns with A select concert party during tho holidays. There is also a likelihood of Mr Boyd giving concerts at Hawera, Stratford and Wanganui. The party will consist of Miss Sheen. Mies Ritchey, Mrs Boyd, Mr St. LaWrenOo Toner and Mr MaoDaff Boyd. With the Help 6f the best local talcdt at each of the towns Visited, -vVC shduld say that tho trip will not AAly be pleasant to our Wellington musicians, but that the concerts will pirdve delightfAl to oAr country coAsinfc, The .following', ffdtd the Denniaton Coalffiinelra’ lodAStrial Union of Workers, has forwarded to the Hon the Premier “Hon B. J. Seddon. Sir, —Allow mo on behalf of our Union to offer you bearby eoAgratulatlons on . the victory ol the. Liberal Party at the recent general olsotioQ. t The jeftinesfc prayer this Union,ip.that you,may be. I |pi rea to load your party on to e&liiovo more victories in tho form of legislation for the advancement and well-being of the people of New Zealand. Again wishing you every success in your next term of office, I am, respectfully yours, James Patze.” ' At tbo Opera House on Christmas night Mr John Fuller’s Now Myrlorama Company will hold tho boards-. Mr JobA Fuller, well known throughout the Australasian colonics as a -tfenor roealiat of exceptional power, brings With him a very strong company, the entertainment pleasing everybody and being, above all things, refined. “The Myriorama,” the pictorial part of the' show, besides illustrating song© and recitations, will consist on Christmas Night of “ A Day In and Around Windsor Castle” and “Interesting Places in English. History.” Mr Fuller will sing “Tho Holy City, “Ora Pro Nobis ” and “Deeper and Deeper Still.” The company appears'at the Exchange Hall on Boxing Night for a short season only. In the Supreme Court yostorday, Mr Justice Edwards hoard the case of P. F, M. Burrows and F. Turnbull v. H. B. Bawson, dentist, claim £9O 3s 3d, balance of money due as architects’ foes. The plaintiffs stated that they were engaged by defendant to prepare designs for alterations to defendant’s promises on Wellington terrace, and to do. some work in connection with a cottage at Soatoun, the foes for which amount© i to £163 6s 9d. Of this amount £73 3s 6d had boon paid, and tho balance was still owing. Dr Findlay appeared for tho plaintiffs and Mr Gully for the defendant. After hearing evidence and argument, the special jury which Was empanelled brought in a verdict foe the* defendant, for Whom judgment was entered. Costs wore allowed on the lowest scale and allowance made-for A special jury. - From Messrs Huddart, Parker and Co. wo acknowledge the receipt of the seventeenth animal report of the British Columbia Board of Trade. It is pridfced in' book form, and Contains a large number Of illustrations of , the various industries Of British Columbia. The report records the interesting fact that a great Improvement has taken place in the trade and commerce of tho province during the -past twelve months. The baUsos which have led to this desired revival Are referred to in detail. The value of the odtpiit of minerals, .dthec tho.fi deal,-increased from 1894 to 18m5 bv About £751,813. The fisheries Of British Columbia are described as probably th,e richest in tho world. Although only £400,000 is invested in them, the exports under this head during the fiscal year ending June, 1895, amounted to about £553,900. -The increase In the number of cases of salmon padked .was 73,024. The catoh of 64 schooners engaged in sealing was 70,739 skins, as against a catch of 91,474 skins by 53 schooners in the previous year. Satisfactory crops of all kinds of agricultural produce were raised in British Columbia last year, and the area under cultivation was larger than previously.

The condition of the Wellington tram lines, and the liability of the proprietor for an accident that occurred at the Corner of Grey street at the end of October last, when a 04* and a cab collided, was the subject of invest!gatiofi yesterday, Oliver Somerville suing’ Archibald Half for Jii 4 damages. Mr Longhnin, plaintiff's solicitor, said the collision tfas caused through defendant’s negli-. gened in having the line in a bad state of repair at the corner mentioned, and, further, through hla driver going round at other than a walking pace, contrary to the by-lawa, the fast pace being necessitated owing to the car, which went off the lino, being five minutes latoi ’ Air Martin, for defend mfc, sail it was not the amount involved, bub it w is on principle that the’ claim, wia contested. There seemed to Ke a prevailing .impression everywhere that in cases of accident tin tram proprietor should be liable for damages. He contended, after evidence,' that negligence had not been proved. There £ad been a case decided, ho boVovel, in which it was held that a breach of'borough by-lawa was .not necessarily an element in an action in which there was negligence .alleged. In hia evideuce the driver of the tramcar said the oar went off the line through a stone. Other witnesses were called for the defence, and Mr Greenfield held negligence was proved, giving judgment for £slßs, with co<t* <£l 2*. witnesses* expenses £2 83, and solicitor’s fea in. 6a. • What was alleged to bo the outcome of an animated argument between husband and wife upon election personalities and abstract politics generally was considered at the Lower Court yesterday. It was a treblebarrelled case, which was prolific of some hard swearing, Blblitsally, much glib obscenity, threatening language and striking exemplifications of the cold-stone fact that the course of neighbourly friendship never did run smoothly. It appears that about a week* before the election Mr Henry Harness, of i Lewisville terrace, was discussing rival candidates over the supper mutton shortly after midnight with the front door open. The oratorical family effort must have boon conducted in a very load tone, because Constable Baker swore yesterday that he was awakened from sleep two doors off, and got up to ascertain the cause of the row. He aiso swore that Harness used a groat amount of obscene language towards him, not only on Harness’ own premises, but on the footpath. This was strenuously denied, and as the police witnesses, residents of the locality, did s not appear to be very unanimous, the case was dismissed. Then William Hook was charged with using obscene language later on in the night (or morning) in the same street, the trouble being caused over Harness' row. This case was dismissed also. The thirl information, laid bv Mrs J. Harness, was against Constable Baker for threatening language, it being alleged that he had told one of the parties to. ** Come out. and he would 4 baton J him, and arrest him.” This charge shared the fate of the others, the Magistrate saying it was tramped up. Mr T, M. Wilford appeared for defendant* in the two first and for complainant in tho latter case.

There will be excursions to Day’s Baybßh this aft jrno,>a an I to-morrow, as por advertisement.

“Is the Young Man Safe?” will be the subject of Mr F. Hales’ discourse in the Church of Christ to-morrow night. The Aorangi Lodge of Oddfellows hold their hilf-yearly meeting on Tuesday evenin', when the election of officers takes place. Messrs Neal ani Close, of Napier, who have sold out to Messrs Kirkoxldio and Stuns, have been in partnership since 18133. The theme of the sermon at the Catholic Aposto io Church, Webb street, to-morrow evening is said to bo one of spool*! interest to the Christian coifununity.

: Mr Justice Edwards has reserved judgment in the case in which Annie Unkrugo and Klw.irl Lt. Uoskruge claimed diaVijos from M. Ryan i»nd P. IT. Watty for alleged misroproseut&fcidi ii conuebtioh with the sale of the Piotba Terminus Hotel.

The Catholics of Thorndon have decided to hold their annual picnic at Belmont on New Year’s' Day. The _ committee have secured special privileges in the way of railway fares, and passengers will be landed at the picnic ground. An efficient band has been engaged for dancing, and all kinds of sports will bo indulged in. The committee are working hard to make the outing a source of pleasure to old and young. Wo are unable to find apace in to-day’s issue for a description of the new wing which has just been added to the D.I C. warehouse, but will give a detailed notice later. However, it suffices it to say that, like every enterprise, undertaken by this successful company, the additions are in ©very respect creditable to the firm, . This latest improvement makes the Wellington branch of the D I.C. one of the finest retail warehouses in the .colonies. The new premises will bo thrown open to the public to-day. The Hon R. J. Soddon has received the following resolution passed by, the - nited Canterbury Liberal ElectVra*. Association i—“tJOelAg that the recent general election has for the third time returned to power a good working majority of Liberals, and that the whole of the late Ministry have again won their respective seats by largo numbers, the UnitodCantorbury Liberal Electors’ Association moat cordially and unanimously desire to congratulate the Premier and his Ministry on the splendid victory gained.—H. B. Kirk, president; J. Joyce, hon secretary,’’ Pollard’s Opera Company, after au absence of some eight months, will arrive fro.m the. South to-morrow, by the s.s. Flora, and will enjoy a well-earned rest of a week. They ,will renew acquaintance with a local audience on Boxing Night, the opening attraction being Pianquette’s melodious work “ Rip Van Winkle.” This is the latest addition to the already extensive repertoire of the company, and the critics of the southern cities have been unanimous in. declaring that It is the best thing Mr Pollard has yet given us, , fcvorything used in the production is entirely new, and has been made in the Colony. Mr W, L. Williams, the well-known scenic artist, has been brought specially from Sydney, and for weeks has boon at work painting for this one opera. Wo ace promised a series of stage pictures and some novel mechanical effects that will prove a revelation to theatre-goers. The Opera House will be lit throughout with the electric light. This will not only make it cool, but it will give the stage-manager an opportunity of producing some marvellous effects. The box plan will be opened «*n Monday at Holliday’s.