LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3260, 18 October 1897, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A report of tho meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union and shooting matches will be found on our back page. About 15ft of the chimney at tho Electrical Syndicate’s lighting station is to be removed, owing to a fracture about 15ft from tbe lop, caused by the recent earthquake. At the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday the two men Wylie and Jeffsrd, who were arrested on charges of being rogues and vagabonds, were remanded until Wednesday alternoon. Bail was allowed. Tho Picton Bowing Club has decided to order a clinker racing boat from Mr Norton, of Wellington. It has also been resolved to obtain a four-oared racing boat from Mr Melbourne. Tho promises in Mastorton recently occupied by t he Wairarapa Farmers* Co-opera-tive Association as a drapery store have been sold through the agency of Messrs Lowes and loms, and are (the Wairarapa Star says) to be converted into a hotel at a cost of ,£3OOO. The directors of the Wellington Woollen Company declared a dividend of 4 per cent, for tho half-year, making per cent, for the year, and, in addition to writing off .£3OOO for depreciation of plant and premises, have placed £2OOO to the reserve fond, and carried a substantial amount .forward. The dividend for the previous year was 7 per cent. A meeting of the employees of the Gear Company at Ngahauranga was held on Saturday night to consider the Eight Hours Bill as applying to their calling. Objection was taken to the Bill, and it was decided to promote a petition among tbo employees urging that freezing companies should be exempted from the provisions of the BUI, and to ask Mr O. Wilson, M.H.B , to present the petition to the Premier and also to introduce a deputation to him on Wednesday. Another meeting is to be held to-night at Ngahauranga to farther consider the BUI. A serious accident was narrowly averted at the run of amateur cyclists on Saturday afternoon. As the procession was proceed- . ing along the Queen’s Drive at Lyell’s Bay a horse and dog.cart, in which were seated two young ladies, had to be passed. After about half a dozen .cyclists had passed the horse suddenly took fright and bolted, the | step of the dog-cart catching in one machine and breaking; it up. Before the horse bai gone twenty yards a young man pluckily dashed ’at the reins and succeeded in stopping the excited animal. If the horse had succeeded in getting away the result would undoubtedly Lave. been serious, as there were a large number of cyclists to pass before it could get clear, the j row being only about 3l)ft wide. (

The Invercargill borough intends to raise a loan of £SOOO.

The finance Committee of tho Seddou Reception Committee is to meet thi- afternoon to pass accounts.

A sale of work in aid of tho funds of St. Matthew's Vicarage at Mastertou is expected to realise about £SO.

A number of sacred selections wore played by tbu Salvation Army Band on the Basin Ko-ervw yesterday aiternoon. Messrs K. W. Mills and C). hive given a trophy to the Pioton Rowing uiub Uo a p.l/A to be offered for club-racing, Entries for the old boys* races in connection with the Wellington Collove sports; to be held at the ' 'ollege ground on Friday, 2Jth met., clo'.e on Monday next.

Mia Harris, speaker, gave aiiolh r aJare»b at tile Criterion lu«a*rc’ftst uigiu., when uiete was a large audience, v»ho listened b her with evoryattention.

Members of the Wellington Orchestral Society are reminded that fall practices are now necessary, as the next concert of tne / Society is fixed for Tu .sdiy, 2Gth last. 1 A loud and long alarm was rung out by I the Central Fire Brigade Station cell at H • o’clock on Saturday night, the cause being a ohimuey of a house in Woodward street catching on fire.

A man named Edgar J. Davis was arrested on Saturday by Constable O’HaUoran, charged with obtaining £22 13s by false pretences from Mrs Ellen Palmer, wife ot tho licensee of the Huntervillo Hotel, on August 22nd last.

Dress circle seats for the to be given by the members of the Wellington Physical andfrainiug Sahool and Gymnasium in the Opera House on Monday and Tuesday, November Ist dud 2nd, can be reserved at Mr J. D, Barnett’s, Lambton quay. Fifteen hundred natives have arrived at Papawai (Wairarapa) from all parts of the colony to discuss land law grievances, &3. A groat many Maoris arc still expected at the mooting place. The Convention will open this week and will continue for some time. Our readers are reminded of the organ recital to be given this, evening in St Joseph’s Church, Buckle street, by Mr Robert Parker, Madame Carlton is to sing My Beloved Spake” and “Inflammatus. A collection is to be made in aid of the organ. The members of the Petone Womens Christian Association entertained between 20 and 30 girls of the township at a “ social on Friday night. Several songs were given, Miss Woods playing the accompaniments. A girls’ sewing class has now baen formed amongst the girls at Fetcno.

Two cyclists on. tho Hutt road collided yesday afternoon, with rather damaging results to riders and machines. Jurisa, a well-known local rider, and, Mr Calvert, a Dunedin solicitor, were the parties concerned, and the former sustained the mo-it injury, bomg somewhat out about the head, but nob seriously. Two Wellington telegraph officers, Messrs Allan and Mo eod, drew Ambecito in Tattereall's consultation on tho Caulfield Cup. On receipt of the intimation they cabled over laying the owner £IOOO if he started hia colt and won. Amberite secured the coveted prize, and the lucky pair will net about each. Two young men named JToIm H. Thomas and Jolm Doran wri ; e arrested early yesterday morning charged with assaulting Annie Olsen, who is employed in the Poet Office. The woman who is in . posees-sion of a police whistle, sounded it, and on Constable Thompson coming up to her, she placed the men under arrest for assaulting her. While a young boy named Geary was walking along Manners street on Saturday night, a horse which was passing by became frao*. tious, and rearing up knocked the |lad down. He sustained a severe out on the calf of the left leg, but luckily not a serious one. Constable F. O’Connell took the boy to his home ia Cuba street, whore he was attended to by Dr Pollen. We have to acknowledge receipt from 1 Messrs Cook and Son of a copy of their Australasian sailing list, a neat little pamphlet published by them at various periods during the year, giving full lists of sailings and fares by all the different linos to London and Europe. To passengers intending taking a trip Home this tailing list is invaluable, and we understand it is distributed gratis* Mr A. F. Turner preached at tho Church of Christ last night to a large congregation. The Apostles, he pointed out, were commissioned to go out into the world aad preach the Gosgol to every creature: but God could not save a single individual against that individual’s will, or unless ho gave bis will to God. A lantern lecture on “ Armenia ” is to be given at the church on Wednesday evening by Mr Albert Lud* brook. There was a large attendance at the exhibition of the Kennel and Collie Clubs on Saturday, and the fine show was the subject of mjich praise. Tho excellent collection of dog medicines sent by Mr W. C. Fitz Gerald, chemist, attracted much attention. It is notified by advertisement in another column that the art union will not be drawn till the first week in November, as the returns from country agents will not be in, and town agents will therefore continue to sell tickets to the 31st October. Tho “ladies* evening” to bo given in aid of St. Andrew*s Dorcas on Friday night in the Exchange Hall will be, as the advertisement shows, as unique and novel as those of : former years. The first part consists of an up-to-date libretto by Mr H. B. Bridge, which serves to introduce a number of appropriate songs, dances and choruses by Mesdauies Mac Duff Boyd, Wilson, Misses Parsons, Newton, Watson, Lotbam, Groig, Holmes, Tripe and Honnab. Part 3 consists of nm amusing burlesque orchestra (with apologies from tho ladies to tho Wellington Orchestral Society and other musicians). Scats may be reserved at the Dresden.

The following tenders were received by the Seatoun Road Board for road contraats at Watts Peninsula, viz. :—No. 1 contract, from Evans Bay through tho hill to the sheep • yards, including concrete culvert — Lyons and Paly (accepted), £1331 Is ; Burke, £1570 5i ; Andrews and Wilson, £1596 5s ; C. Lamberg, £1733 lie Id ; C. O’Connor and Co., .£2-314 15a 4d. No. 2 contract, from the Chinamen’s garden over tho Seatoun hill to Becrehaven Lyons and Daly (accepted), £579 10s 10d ; 0. Lamberg, £032 4s 6d; Duggan and Hickey, £642 3s 2d ; Burke, £767 19a 7d ; O. O’Connor and Co , £Bl2 Os Id. No. 3 contract, from Hearn and Williams’ store to Karaka Bay—Purnell and Sweeney (accepted), £77 lls j Duggan and Hickey, £93 11)8.

“ Held by tbe Enemy” was witnessed on Saturday night by an appreciative audience, who followed tbe play with eager interest, and at the close of the exciting third act the principals were loudly called before the curtain, Miss Maud Appleton receiving two very handsome bouquets. The performance was generally the best yet given by tbe company. Mr Inman was a manly Colonel Prescott, and Mr T. E. Leonard was excellent as the war correspondent Mr 'lhomas Bean, while Mr Harry Hodson played creditably as the old negro Rufus. Mias Alice May gave a pretty character sketch of the vivacious Susan McCceery, and tho quaint love-making between Susan and tho war correspondent was one of the best scenes in the play. His Excellency the Governor and a party from Government House were present.

At the invitation of the Premier a large number of people assembled in tha Primitive Methodist Sohoflroom on Saturday night to witness a limelight display, principally of views taken by Mr Walter Burke, of tho General Post Office, who accompanied the Premier’s party to San Francisco as mail agent. The views were of a very artistic and intensely interesting character, being descriptive of the islands touched at on the way, their peoples and scenery, snapshots on board, street scenes in Sau Francisco (where the paves are “ like our riverbeds ”), &o. A number of photographs taken by Mr Crow, tho Premier’s private secretary, were also ’reproduced. Finally some highly-coloured pictures depicting the Jubilee procession were exhibited. Mr Seddon took the opportunity during the evening of thanking Mr Burke and those who had contributed to a most pleasurable evening. The Bov D. O’Donnell preached both morning and evening at Wesley Church, Taranaki street, vesterday. In the morning he took for his subject “ Christ’s Witnesses,” and preached an eloquent sermon. In the evening the large church was packed, and the subject chosen by the preacher was “ A Chrltian defined.” AlChristian, he said, was one who was possessed of the spirit of Christ, and in fact, had ChrUt himself in his heart. The presence of Christ showed in his daily actions. Ho exhorted those who were •Christians only in name to become Christians iu deed. Tho fact of having their names oa the Church roll, ;or the profession of Christianity, was by no maans enough. Ho pointed out that - if tho employer and his employee took Christianity into their daily life the labour question woul I be solved. The services will be continued every evening this week, and tbero will be Bible readings every afternoon after Tuesday,

It would bo as well for the operators at the Telephone Exchange to remember that it is unreasonable to expect subscribers to at once comply with the regulations formed concurreutly with the introduction- of tbo multiple ewiteh-board. Force of habit will necessarily bo responsible for occasional laps?s on the part of subscribers, and this ought not to provoke the anger or impertiuence of the operators, who, after all, aro onlythe servants of the subscribers. These observations arc made in consequence of the exceedingly impudent manner in which one gentleman was addressed by a clerk of the Exchange on Saturday evening because the former inadvertently kept him waiting for about tho sixteenth part of a minute. The delay in establishing a connection last night was painful—to subscribers, but we doubt not the new arrangement will bo satisfactory when subscribers and operators are fully seized of all the intricacies. Mr If illiam Coupor, a director of the African Association (Limited), who,with his wife, is making a pleasure tour round the world, is at present in Wellington. Heinteuda making a stay of a few weeks in this colony. The Company with which Mr Couper is connected trades with the West African Coast in palm oil and other similar products of the coast. Speaking of Africa to a Tuns representative, Mr Conper drew a very strong comparison between the unhealthy west coast on which very few white mon could live and the southeastern portion of the great continent. He desezibed Natal as one of the finest portions of Africa, tho land being rich and the climate warm enough to grow semi-tropical plants, but he added, “we would give anything there for the fine fresh breezes which blow here. I have only been in this country a day or two, but it seems the finest country in the world. Mr Conper was greatly struck with the large mills of the Colonial Sugar Befining-Com-party, which he visited at Fiji, and over | which be was kindly shown by; Mr Bannister (brother of Mr B E. Bauni ter, c»f Wei-, Jiugt r n). .Hundreds n f coolies (import'd labourers) are employed at this great mill, | which Mr Coupor describes as a mass of } maehincty. The mill turns out about 12,000 j tons of sugar a year. The manufacture of | sugar la one of the staple products of Fiji, {

The grower of the very fine sample of early potatoes sent to ibis office the other day should have been stated as Mr W. Warrant, of Tory street, Fetene.

The first of Mr Mac Duff Boyd’s subscript tion concerts will be given in Thomas* Hall to-night. The principal feature will ho the concerted items, Welch haVo been well reparsed.

The Perrlers continue tb play to crowded houses In the country districts, in Carterton on Thursday night the hall filled e'6 rapidly that the performance had to blast ft quarter of an hour before the hsual time. The Perriefa are obliged to miss Masterton on this trip, tut they hope to play there at the beginning of Novembe**, on their way to Napier. The quarterly general meeting of the Wellington Typographical Union was held in the Exchange Buildings on Saturday night, Mr H. K. Yanpy (present) >n the chair. There were about 7U members present The report of the Typographical Conference recently held in Wellington was ordered to bo printed, and a special meeting of the Union will

shortly be hold to cons’der the report- Mr W. A. G Skinner was elected to fill tbe

vacancy in the vice-presidency; and Mr D. McKenzie was appointed to represent the Union on the Boaid of Management, vice Mr Skinner, elected vice-president A motion by Mr A. N. Hawthorne, That the Union secede from the Trades Council, was withdrawn after some discussion, in the course of Which the proposal was unanimously condemned.

Notices to consignees by the steamer lonic, ship Wellington and barque Beeohwood appear in another column.

Messrs Francis Sidey and Co. soil, in their rooms to-morrow afternoon, a largo library of books, including some very old works, Maori and New Zealand books, also some old and carious pictures. Messrs Finn, Chisholm and Co. sell pigs this morning. Mr W, F. Shottt Sella, this afternoon at his rooms, the whole of a gentleman’s household furniture.

Messrs George Thomas and Co. sell 100 cases San Francisco onions at their rooms this morning.