LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3647, 25 January 1899, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Masters Hamilton Redwood and C. Ghavannes, jun., were among the prizewinners in the Wellington Gun Club’s Handicap yesterday." By the steamer Pohorua, which passed through here yesterday from the South, a flock of 175 stud Lincoln rams, taken in at Oarnaru, were being transferred to Auckland. : : There are r umours in the air-that certain suspicious circumstances attach to tho recent Cuba street fire, and that - ,the Coroner will be invoked to hold an ‘ inquest. , ■ • • ■ . - . At; the Mount Police Station yester-day,'-’before Mr J. Kays. J.P., Martha Carton was convicted of drunkenness and fined 60s, or 14 days’ imprisonment in default. , ■ The favourite excursion steamer Duchess will. run to Day’s Bay at the usual hours to-day. There will also be a moonlight trip at 7,80 p.m., under the auspices of the; Foresters’ Band.

The Carterton police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a criminal assault alleged to have; been committed on a young lady residing at Dalcfield on Sunday evening last.

It has boon ascertained that tho working capacity of tho new Baldwin engines recently imported from America- is 140 tons, as against 80 tons which tho ordinary “V” engines are capable of draw- - ing. Owing to wot weather, no doubtj wool has not boon coming forward along ; the railways in the same quantity this year as it did last, and the returns for 10 months show' a great falling off in regard to that particular item. It is expected, however, that the deficiency will be more than made up during the - next few weeks. Tho -Wellington Cycling Club Jins asked the City Council for the use of the Basin Reserve on-Saturday, March 4th, but with a view of ascertaining wlietfier the ground will bo required ‘ by tho Csickot Association on that date, the Council has deferred giving an answer. From Messrs Hmfreville and Todd, of Victoria street, the agents for Lewis Berger and Sons* Limited, of London, manufacturers of colours, ■ paints and varnishes, w€» have received a desk blotter,which, for convenience of arrangement, is one of the best of tho kind in circulation, .. ,vv .

In addition to the soloists mentioned as singing in Hadynlsv'Mass on Snnday, at St. Joseph’s, Churchy-Miss NellieGallaghertook a portion of the soprano solos, and it. was Mr M. C. Rowe who took the tenor solos. Next Sunday • Gounod’s ‘ Mosso Solonnellc ” : will be given by the choir with full orchestra.’. . Mr Hyde, the Government Poultry Bkpurt,. who has been lecturing in the Wairarapa,, has returned to Wellington to consult Mr Ritchie 1 , Secretary of Agriculture, with a view of'fixing the location of a central depot. To-night ho will deliver an address at Mastorton ; on Thursday he will visit Ekotahuna; and later Pahiatua and Waipawa. \ • ; The recently-formed Porters’ Union has written to the City Council asking if it will recognise it, pointing out that the formation of .the.- union should result 1 in the work of porters being carried out irt a more satisfactory and orderly manner thilu at present., The letter ■ was . ■ received at the meeting of the Public Works Committee last night, but .no action was taken with regard to it. Tenders will probably be called tomorrow, for; a large Iron bridge, over The Awatore river, near’Blenheim—the only unbridged river between Picton and Invercargill. The stream has not a . bridge over it from source to mouth, and is one of tlio most treacherous and dangerous in the colony. The bridge to bo erected will be_ for road and railway traffic combined—railway above and read 1 traffic beneath. A woman named Elizabeth McKenna was taken to tho Hospital yesterday suffering from two severe, wounds on the head. In the afternoon a wharf labourer named Henry Clements was arrested by Constable Poland on a charge of having inflicted tho injuries, which are said to have been caused with a i tomahawk., Clements will appear to answer the charge at the Magistrate’s Court this morning. The Hon A. J; (kidman informed a “Times” reporter Inst evening that the remains of tho warship Buffalo, to which reference was made in theso columns yesterday morning, are lying on Buffalo, Beach in the centre of Mercury Bay. A .portion ,of tlio 'woodwork is stills-.remain-ing, but Mr Cadman doubts insufficient i will be found to ber'sound enough, to make a chair for the Mayor of Glenclg (South Australia), as proposed. Over five hours wore spent by Mr Korjiiy, S.M., . yesterday. in hearing evidence in the charges broughV against Captain Allman and Captain G/ von Schoen" of making false representations to enable Captain Jones to obtain a master’s coastal certificate. Captain Allman was committed to trial. Tim bearing of the charge against Captain von fcchcon will bo resumed to-raorrofr, after which the charge against Captain Jones will bo gone into. For some unaccountable "reason our farnjera are allowing tho profitable pig industry to go to wrack and ruin. The railway - returns show-that for the last 10 months 9000 fewer pigs have been , carried than during the same period last year. Tho sheep export industry, on tho other hand, continues to' “look up,” as indicated by The fact that 70,000 "more head have boon carried during tho last 10 months than during tho identical. 10 months of the previous year. Tho Public Works Department intends to provide a-■- special fire service for the Premier’s residence in Molesworth street, and has 1 asked the City Council to lay a 3iu water main for the purpose stated. When tho request came .before the Public Works Committee last night, Councillor ■ Smith said it was unfair to allow the water mains to bo tapped for private purposes. Councillor Luke suggested that the application should be granted provided a meter was placed at tho termination of the service. Finally, however, it was decided to recommend tho Council not to grant the request. , > A New Plymouth deputation has been impressing upon tho Commissioner of Crown Lands tho necessity of having a standard survey mad© of the ; Waitara West road district. It was complained that the old military road surveys had b.ocn made in a haphazard ‘ way during the war, and avero very inaccurate. The Commissioner said ho favoured a standard survey of the main sections of roads, and ho would forward the request of the .deputation to the Government with a recommendation. The work would entail a largo expense, and a Parliamentary vqto would be required for tho purpose. Sitting in civil jurisdiction yesterday, Mr Kenny, S.M., gave judgment for plaintiffs in the following cases:—Now Zealand Masonic Newspaper Company v. A. R. Barter, £1.12s 6d, costs Gs: XJmfrovil'o and Dodd v. A. Hausraann. £2G J7s\3d, costs £3 Is; W. Wiggins v. C. White, £2l 8s 6d, costs £1 10s; P. Moore v. A, H. Logan, £8 3s 6d. costs £1 6s Gd; Cook and Gray v. A. J. Gallichan, £7 10s, costs £1 os 6d; R! Auty v. J. "Wi Neorn, £9 lls lid, costs £1; J..T. Adams v. C. A, Deacon. £lll9s Gd, costs £1 16s 6d; Casey and Co. v. G. Bradley, os Id, costs 7s.

Mr J.’A. Ruddrck. Dairy Commission«r. has been asked to deliver an address at Carterton, and will probably consent. Constable Baker has been transferred from Wellington .to Darincvirke, for which place he leaves on Friday. The official re-opening of St. Thomas’ Church, Newtown, by Bishop Wallis, will take place this evening.

Several potty thefts from gardens and outhouses have been reported to the police recently, and: householders would do well to secure their belongings at night. A committee, consisting of the Mayor and Councillors Fullford, Newell and Sidey, has been appointed to deal with administration- of charitable aid within the Melrose Borough, i ■ ■ Tho Secretary of the Post Office has been advised that mails despatched from Melbourne, per R.M.S. Australia, on December 21st, arrived in London on January 511 st—one day early. A couple of youths, who arrived at Nelson recently .from London, were arrested on a charge of drunkenness. On being searched in the police cells one of them was found to have in his possession the sum of £l5B, ■ • The Conciliation Board was occupied all day yesterday in considering its decision in the moulders’ dispute-. ' -It will make its recommendations known in the jury-room 'of the Supreme Court at 11 o’clock - to-day. Terms have been arranged by the chairman of tho Harbour Board for floating locally the loan of £150,000 for harbour improvements, for which legislative sanction was given last session. The Board will be asked to confirm the proposed arrangement at its next meeting. It has been decided by the Melrose Borough Council to, in future, institute proceedings against persons who may bathe from the beach at Evans’ Bay, Island Bay, Kilbirnio and Obiro Bay. Notice boards are to bo erected at those localities conveying a notice of this intention. ■

On Tuesday evening next the Opera -House .will be opened for a short season bv Her Majojty’s Dramatic Comnany. The opening production is to be .Frank Harvey’s domestic comedy-drama, “ A Gilded Sin,” ror which the company carry scenery and effects specially procured for the piece. The prices of admission are at; popular rates. H.M.S. Mildura, the vessel appointed to succeed the Tauranga as . senior ship in New Zealand waters, is a'sister shin to that vessel. She fates as a thirdclass cruiser, is manned with eight, guns, and, forwtho greater part of tho time since she was launched in 1889 has been in commission in the Australian auxiliary .squadron. Her, registered tonnage is 2575, with 7600 horse-power;: and'at her trial she steamed 19. knots an hour. '

.Harry Brown; a cabman, waited upon the Public Works Committee last night and applied for a renewal of his license’ which was cancelled last vear, .on■■the recommendation of tho Inspector; of Hackney Carriages (Mr J. Doyle). Tho applicant comulained that Mr Doyle was biassed against him. JVIr Doyle strongly opposed the granting .of a renewal of tho license, and-the committee decided to refuse it. - ; - ■ ■

Shortly after. 9 o’clock last nikbt, a horse, driven by a fishmonger named W. Huroornbe, commenced to. kick while opposite the Exchange Hall. Huroornbe, who stuck to the rains, was in imminent peril of being injured; and had it not been for- the promptitude. of Constables 1 onkingsou and Corckery, who, with several passers-by, quickly • ran to the rescue and held tho animal, a serious accident would have resulted.

At the Wairarapa Lawn Tennis Cham-, pionship Mooting on Saturday and Monday Miss A. )W. Jackson, of the Hutt, boat Miss A. Jackson (Greytown), 60— j b tho final; Miss" M. RutherInrd (Carterton) beat Miss A. W. Jacks'? 11 ’ 68—48, .and won. Tho Ladies’ Single Handicap was . won by Miss M. Rntherifurd, GO, heating Mrs A. Casolberg, 66. In tho Combined; Doubles Handicap final, Mr and Miss M. Rnthorfurd beat Mr Donald and Miss F. Perry, 61—59. Rowley and Crump have yet to play off' the final round for the Championship Singles, and Rowley and r Bunting against Crump ana Donald in the Handicap Doubles. A sixteen hours’ trip from Day’s Bay to the ■ 'To Aro. foreshore was made by a well-known half-decker on a recent’ run. She left Day’s Bay at 7 o’clock on .Monday evening, but tho wind fellaway to a dead calm, and as tho tide was running strongly down the entrance, the .boat was carried out as far as the Heads, and tlioso on board say that had it not been for a providential southerly springing up ' they would most probably have ' been .ciuried.-to sea.. Luckily the breeze, though light, continued, enabling the yacht to reach her moorings at 10.30 o’clock yesterday morning, thus establishing a rceprd long passage for the trip across tho, harbour. ; ; a i 1

The Thorndon Swimming Club has asked the City Council for the use of the Thorndon baths for an aquatic carnival on a Saturday afternoon in February, and permission to make a charge of 6d, for admission, the club agreeing to give the Council 50 per cent. or the gross ■ takings. It is proposed to hold the 220yds Swimnjing Championship of New Zealand at these sports. A deputation, headed by Dr Newman, waited upon the Public Works Committee last night in support of the request, and the committee, on the motion of Councillor Luke, seconded by Councillor Willcston, decider! to. recommend ; the Council: to .grant the "application. Definite information has been received by the Salvation Army authorities' with regard to the long-looked-for visit of. General Booth, the commander-in-chief of tho organisation/ His first stoppingplace in, Australia will be at Albany, and from thence ho will; journey to Coolgardicj Adelaide and Hobart. After concluding his mission at the latter place, the General will come over to New Zealand, stopping at Invercargill, 1 Dunedin, and Christchurch in tho South, arriving at Wellington on March 29th. On that evening a gathering will bo held in the Opera House, when the visitor will give a. popular lecture, speaking on “ Some Lessons From My Life.” From here General Booth will proceed to Auckland, and there embark for Sydney, where,: on April 10th, ho will celebrate his seventieth birthday. '

Whether it is John’s'knowledge of the mysterious vagaries of the horse, or his unapproachable luck, is not certain, but his, success in his speculations on the totalisator are simply awe-inspiring. A feon of the Moon at the Foxton races on Monday amassed a small fortune. On tho first race, in; which the dividend was £22 7s, ho had two tickets. In tho next he had three tickets on the winning horse, which paid £8 11s. Then lie went one better, and had five tickets 'on the third race,; tho winner paying £l3 13s. He had thus won £l3O ds'for thq invest-' ment of £lO in three races. However, this Sort of thing began to pall, and he only troubled the totalisator payee once more in the four remaining races, when he had four tickets on a horse which returned him £S 18s pcr.tickot. Altogether Ah Luck won £174 17s. This is not the only instance. At the Wellington meeting a Chinese had "eight or nine tickets on Explosion in the .Racing Club Handicap. If this sort of thing continues, tho sporting public will not worry itself into a premature grave by seeking to ascertain what certain--'.alleged- ‘‘ knowing'"’ people arc investing their money on, but straight away follow 1 in the trail of the Celestial speculator.

The.number of patients in the Hospital is 110—63 males ami 47 females. The Wellington Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Society will bold its annual meeting on /Thursday atThom'W Rooms.

Tbeiadjoumed meeting of the Wellington Hospital contributors, for the purpose of electing one trustee,’will be held at the Council Chambers at 3.30 to-morrow.

A Holiness Convention,” led on by Colonel and Mrs Eslill, assisted by Major and Mrs BiikensJunv, will be field at the Salvation Army Citadel at 7.30 this evening. '

The Hospital Trustees met yesterday, Mr PH. Fraser (chairman) The tender of Messrs Kirkcaldie and Stains for the supply of- linoleum was accepted. X.t was decided to make a charge for the uSe of the “X rays” apparatus at the Hospital. Probationer Berry was promoted to be a nurse.

The attendance at the Brougham Hill School hds grown to such an extent duri-sg the past year that the principals have found, more room indispensable. There-, fore, extensive improvements are being made to the present building. 'When completed, it will bo a thoroughly wellequipped and first-class school. ;

The Mitchelltowu Brass Band has-been granted permission, to play on the Basin Reserve next Sunday and make,a collection in aid'of the band contest fund. Some opposition was shown to the application at the Public Works Committee last night. Councillor McGill remarked that it "was time tho Council put its foot down and prevented bands taking up collections on the reserve, as it debarred tho public from attending. ' There were plenty of other places, ho said, the baud could play in. Palmerston has:recently been stirred to its depths by a dispute arising out of pvotests made by Mr D Grant against certain awards made in tho pony class at the annual show! The matter was first, discussed at a* public meeting and then at successive big 1 meetings of the Society, the administrative capacity of the officials of which had been incidentally impugned. The culmination was a. vote of thanks and confidence in the president and committee, which was carried unanimously. Thirty-eight applications-—24 from Australia and 14 front Mew Zealand—have been received for the, position of captain of tho Fire Brigade in place of Captain Kemsley, at a salary of £250 per annum, with quarters. These have been referred to the committee already set up, consisting of tho Mayor, Councillors Izard, McGill, Smith and Devine, to consider. The committee will go through the applications and select three names for presentation to the Council. Their recommendation, however, will not be ready for Thursday’s meeting, of the Council.

THE-CABINET, r ' The/members of the Cabinet are by degrees reassembling in Wellington after the Christmas and Now Year holidays. 'Four Ministers are now in town, viz., the Hons W. Hall-Jones, A. J. Cadman, W.- O. Walker and T. Thompson. Of the absentees,. Mr Seddon is. on the West Coast, Mr McKenzie is at Hanmer Springs, and Mr Carroll is understood to be visiting his ''constituency. The Premier and Minister of Lands are expected to return to, town about the close of the present month, and/there will then ,bo several Cabinet sittingsto dispose of business' that has been accumulating. Possibly, the question of what representations! should bo made to the Imperial Government with regard to the future control of-Samoa will be among the important matters discussed by Ministers when, they meet., . , . . .f. WELLINGTON’S DEFECTIVE V l ,;-; STREETS. ;. h„. The question of street improvement is a.touchy one with City-Councillors. It brings them-all to their Teet. At the Public Works meeting last night a letter was read from Mr Thomas- Roskrugo, proprietor; of' Victoria, buildings, asking that Cornhill" street-, -p which runs off Manners street, should bo repaired. This request reminded-other/Councillors that they had similar grievances. Councillor Luke urged': tliat something should be done'to Normanby street. Another Councillor for the same ward heartily ! backed up the suggestion that the Newtown street should he attended to. Another Councillor ;■ I have got another street.” Councillor Smith : “ I have got seventeen streets.” i Councillor Fraser; “ But I have got seventy.” ’ft was finally agreed to defer consideration of rhese applications for street improvements until the- estimates, for the year were being dealt with. ,

NAVAL AFFAIRS. ■ 'H.M.S. Tauranga, after an absence of a few men tils, arrived in port from Napier at 2.30 yesterday afternoon, and as the vessel-is under'.orders to-proceed to Australian waters, it will. bo her last visit for some considerable time to come. As has boon already telegraphed, the warship. Royalist has received orders td proceed .to■ Samoa via Auckland and Fiji. The Tauranga is to be relieved on the Now -Zealand station by the Mildura, which passed Farewell Spit at’ 5 p.m.. yesterday, and. should be at anchor jn the stream early this morning. Capt-un Browne .will return to Sydney by the Tauranga, leaving lifer there to proceed to the Old Country.' Ho will bo succeeded on this station by Captain Leslie C. Stuart, who' was in Australian waters some years ago «as first lieutenant of H.M.S. Opal. Captain Stuart will command the Mildura, and is espcctcd to have already assumed his duties on that ship. The flagship Royal Arthur and several vessels of the squadron are at present at Hobart. H.M.S. Wallaroo, denying Sydney* on February 2nd, also proceeds to the Tasmanian capital. '