LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3331, 13 January 1898, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Some interesting information concerning the Klondike goldfields and a report of yesterday’s sitting of the Magistrate’s Conrt will be found on the back page.

A public meeting will probably be convened by the Wellington Agricultural and Pastoral Association executive, in order that the question of holding the annual show nearer the city than at Petone may be discussed. Tho quantity of butter exported from New Zealand to London this season will be larger probably than that of last season, but the prices are ruling Sa or 6s lower, though the quality remains fully as good as before.

The Coromandel Hospital Board is indebted to tho Auckland Hospital Board to the extent of over JSaOO, and members have not the faintest idea how they are going to meet the liability, their banking account having become exhausted.

No greater evidence could be given os to the popularity of Day’s Bay as a holiday resort than the fact that the Duchess left the Ferry Jetty yesterday afternoon wish a large complement of passengers, in the face of a howling northerly gale. It is stated that a large number of Wellington licensed victuallers recognising how necessary it is to subscribe to the law relating to ciunday olosing—have determined, so far as in them lies, to bring about a total cassation of business on that day. A meeting of the Women’s Democratic Society was held last evening at Mrs Tasker’s residence. The nomination of officers was postponed for a fortnight, and section No. 7 of the platform was amended in the direction of recognising the Liberal Party, instead of nether side as heretofore. Folly 23 delegates from various parts of the colony are expected to arrive in Wellington shortly after Easter to take part in the meeting of the National Connell of Women. Miss Benjamin, barrister and solicitor, of Dunedin, will read a paper on “ Laws Relating to Women and Children,” and Mrs Sievwright a treatise on 11 Parental Control,”

The boisterous weather yesterday afternoon and in the evening detracted considerably from the comfort of the infantry corps encamped at Newtown Park. Last night, however, a good deal of serviceable drill was indulged in, guard forma:ions receiving most attention. A large muster is anticipated to-morrow evening for the inspection parade Lieutenant-Colonell Newall.

Mr W. F. Sinclair, the Molesworth street stablekeeper. played an important part in connection with the three weddings which were celebrated in this city yesterday. He was called upon to provide the carriages for caoh party. As the weddings took place at the same hour, a large number of horses and drivers were required. Mr .Sinclair had to turn out no fewer than 10 drivers and 23 horses. It speaks well for the management of his stahies that he was ab;eto give complete satisfaction to his patrons. At a meeting of the Socialist League, held last night at the Forward Movement Hall, Mr A. Monro was elected Inn secretary and Mr D. McLaren treasurer of the organisation. Committees to take up the propagandist, legislative, municipal, social and other branches of the work were formed, and a number of new members enrolled. It was decided to meet in future in a room at tho Exchange Buildings on the first Wednesday of each month. Several enquiries from different parts of the country with a view to forming branehesof the League were reported. Cases of wealthy tramps who trudge through tho country with deposit receipts for large sums ot money have often been recorded, but there has rarely been such an instance as that reported from Trentham (Victoria). A notable character named Patrick Hotter, Known as tho “ wealthy swagman,” was arrested on a charge of indecent behaviour, and on being searched was found to have upon him, secreted amonget a mass of lags which he osrriesjleposit receipts representing £345 snd £6 iu cash. Re was fined £5 odd. which be paid very much against his will. The preliminary programme for the Championship Regatta at Dunedin on March 25th has been drafted as follows Champion Sculls, Champion Fours, Champion > Double Sculls, Champion Pairs, Ladies Plate (clinkers, open to those not competing m the championships), Maiden Pours (clinkers), Junior Fours (best and best), Otago Plate Fours (for junior oarsmen, olinkers), .Tumor Pairs (in association boats). Maiden Doable Senile in association boat«), Maiden Pairs, Junior Double Sonlla. It has been decided to reqn £ t the patronage of His Excellency the Gov e mnr and Countess ot Banfuriy, the members of the Ministry, the Speakers and members of both Houses of Parliament, the Mayor nd Dunedin City Council, and the ohaimsan and members of the Otago HarboUj Board *t the regatta. '

The shareholders of the Roaring Meg Sluicing and Hydraulic Power Company are to meet at th* offices in Ballance street at 11 a.ra. on the 28th met.

Mr J. Graham announces in our advertising columns that be will resume his lectures on the Tabernacle, which were discontinued on account of the holidays

It is notified by advertisement elsewhere that the office of the Australian Widows* Fund Life Assurance Society is at the Phoenix Assurance Company’s Building. No. 6, Customhouse quay. A scheme for stocking the "oast rivers with fish has been laid before the Acclimatisation Society at Hokitika by Mr K Ajson, superintendent of the W, l:ing*on Society’s ponds at Masterton.

The police have so far not succeeded in re* capturing the man Frank O’Neill, who escaped from the Foxfc *n police lock-up tae other evening. The district is beiug scoured in every direction for him.

It is understood that steps are to be taken to advance a motion with reference to the reorganisation of ha engineer’s department* which has for a-.ne time past remained near the foot of th’* Wellington City Council’s agenda paper. A meeting of the ratepayers of Karori Borough is convened by the Mayor (Mr Bulkley), to be held on Monday evening, 17th inst.,atihe Parochial Hall, Karori. to_ discuss the proposal of the Borough Council to raise a special loan of

The roll of payers of dues who are entitled to vote in the Harbour Board election will be open for inspection at the Board’s office from the 15th to the 20th inst. inclusive. A special meeting of the Board is to be held on the 27th inst. to consider objections to the list. . r

The annual meeting of the Wellington Typographical Union is to be held on Saturday evening, at 8 o’c’ock, in No. 5 room, Exchange Buildings. A summary of the business appears in another column. Fines for non-attendance will be enforced. The organ which it was announced during last month was to bs given away by the Dresden Piano Company was yesterday afternoon allotted to Mr Holdcroft, of Stratford. A number of clients were preso t, and Messrs Walla and Aro-Smith oared for the interests of the country clients. The Masterton Daily Times says that, notwithstanding the drought, there will be a fair yield of cereals in the Wairarapa this season. The general report is ; well-filled heads but too short straw to harvest properly. Oats have not done as well as wheat, but on the whole, taking it “ by and large,” there is not much reason for complaint. There is a marked absence of blight in the crops. The monthly meeting of the Yorkshire Society, held last evening at the Trooadero, was of a very interesting character. The ‘‘budget” of Yorkshire news, presented by Mr J. H. Helliwell, resolved itself into a highly instructive lecture, and was deservedly applauded. Mr Bold presided at the piano, he and other members rendering several songs excellently. Mr C. R. Briggs gave a short “ bit ” from “ Tom Treddlehoyle,” and altogether a very pleasant evening was spent. Mr H. Flockton, vice-president, was in the chair, there were about 40 members present, and, as usual, some new members were elected.

The majority of the Chinese who have started laundry operations in Wellington have so far tailed to make a success of the business, and several have had to abandon it for the fruit trade or market gardening. In like manner, the furniture trade, upon which a limited number of Chinese have already entered, does not appear to offer a field of rich profit for the Asiatic, whose efforts to oompete with the “ played-out Caucasian *' in this line of industry have not been rewarded with phenomenal success in this city. The European customer apparently is not above straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel. He draws the line at having his clothes washed or his furniture made by John Chinaman, but he is quite content to eat his fruit and vegetables.

At the adjourned quarterly meeting of the Loyal Antipodean Lodge, 1.0.0 F., M.U , held last evening, P.G.M. C. Smithson, of the North Canterbury District, and P.P G.M. Bro. B. M Griffiths attended, and were received with lodge honours. Both officers gave a resume of matters dealing with Oddfellowship in the Southern province,-and, at the request of the lodge, the former installed the following officers for the ensuing six months G.M., Bro. A. H. Smith; N.G., Bro. P. Watkins ; V.G., Bro. N. Seddon ; RS , Bro. J. J. McGrath. It was resolved to present P.G. Bro. G. Parkins with a framed emblem. Bro. Beharrell was appointed Lecture Master, vice Bro. J. M. Wilson, who received a vote of thanks for past services. Three candidates were proposed for initiation and two elected.

An aeoident attended the preliminaries in connection with Mr Herbert Shortt’s wedding yesterday which all but turned the joyful event into one of mourning. Mr Shortt’s horse drove a splinter into its fetlock, which inoapaoited it. Ho therefore borrowed a horse for the purpose of bringing into town numerous presents left at the Hntt. On passing Ngahauranga gorge a sudden gust of wind caught the gig behind, pushing it forward and throwing the horse on its knees, and sending the contents of the vehicle on to the road. A little fellow, Master Eddie Shortt, who was carrying a choice vase, to prevent its being broken, landed on his chest. The vase broke his fall, but was smashed into fragments. Mr Herbert Shortt held on to the horse. Finally he landed on its back, his lower garments literally torn off. The escape of the occupants of the gig was miraculous.

Mrs Fearne, of the Fancy Goods and Art Emporium, No. 3, Mannei’i street, notifies that she is an importer of wools, arrasenes, silks, canvas point lace, braids, macrame twine, pompoms, cords, Briggs’ transfers. Lessons are given in fancy work alnd painting. „ _ 1 The' Wellington and Manawatu Railway Comr pany will submit for sale, by public auction, about tbs middle of February, a block of rich land at Shannon, suitable for dairying purposes, subdivided into small sections. Applications are called by the Education Board by advertisement in another column lor certain appointments. Messrs Wollermann and Co. are sole agents for Sanderson’s “ Scotch,’* from the original blenders of wbiskv. The half-yearly sale at the Economic is to open to-day, and should attract crowds of buyers. Prize-winners at the Caledonian Society’s gathering on New Year’s Day may obtain their winnings on application to the bon. secretary, Mr Jas. B. Speed. Messrs A. G. Taino and Co. are to sell the household furniture and effects of Mr L. Coupland, at No. 11, Hawkestone street, to-morrow. A summary of the goods appears in another column.