LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 3955, 22 January 1900, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Miss Francis’s Kindergarten and Upper School, Clifton terrace, will re-open to-morrow. A ’ deputation in connection with the proposal to send a third contingent to South Africa will wait on the Mai’, 01 , M the City Council Chambers at 10 o clock to-morrow morning.

Tbo hearing of the case Harcourt and Co. v. W. C. Fitz Gerald, a claim for commission, was finished in the s Court on Saturday, and MrW. R. Haselden, S.M., reserved judgment. At the next meeting oi the Melrose Borough Council, Councillor Highet will move, “That the City Council be asked to enforce by-law 45 or an amendment thereof, so as to co-operate with th s Council in regulating the breadth of the tyres of the wheels of vehicles. A Cabinet meeting will be held this morning, when it is understood the question of appointing an additional Minister will bo finally dealt with. It is fully expected, that Mr James McGowan, M.H.R. for Thames, will enter tie ■Cabinet As Minister for Mmos, free from all restrictions or condit ions whatevei - The annual retreat of ;ihe Homan Catholic clergy of' the Archdiocese ft Wellington is now being held at St. I atrick’s College. Practical sympathy has been manifested by the 'fathers _towaids the erection of a cathedral in Wellington. At a meeting presided over by the Yen. Archdeacon .Dovoy, the sum of £2OOO was subscribed. This large donation should materially lighten th eburd on and give zest to the further prosecution by Archbishop Redwood of collecting the necessary amount. At the:monthly meeting of the United Dairymen’s Union, the president (Mr AP. Hope) being in the chair, it was decided that the first annual picnic should he held at Day’s Bay about ths middle of February. The following gentlemen were, appointed a . sports committee— Messrs Russell, Matthews, Fitchett, Cooper, Jepsen, Wilson and Greaves, with the president and secretary, ihe president, secretary and treasurer were empowered to procure trophies for the various races. Mr W. R. Haselden, 8.M.,.. presided at the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday morning. Three first offenders ivere lined 5s each, or the nsua! alternative. Henry Hamden, who pleaded guilty to a charge of theft of a pair of cycle wheels, a saddle and a pair of handles, value £5, the property of some person unknown, was remanded 1 to the 26th instv Sarah Aldridge was convicted of stealing property to the .value of 30s belonging to. Elizabeth Martin, and remanded till to-day for sentence. G. W. Dayraott, who appeared very much depressed, was charged with attempting to commit suicide on the s.s. Aotea, of which vessel he was cook. After hearing the evidence of the ship’s surgeon, the accused was further, remanded to the 26th for medical treatment. ,

The Summer School at Nelson opened with a devotional meeting led by Mr Long, of Auckland. Next a conference was held on “How to Strengthen the Missionary Department of the Christian Union,” the university section being conducted by Mr McYfilliaui and the secondary schools section by Mr A. Crump. This -was followed oy Mr Sallmon’s Bibleclass, where the study of the life of Paul was begun. The leader dealt with Pauls early days, and pointed out how peculiarly his environment fitted him to become the Apostle of the Gentiles; and how in every individual case a man’s circumstances are intended, to fit him or his own place in the world. At the public meeting in the evening, Miss J. Hunter-Brown and Rev P. J. Kemothorn spoke on “Principles and Helps in Deciding on Life-work.” The former said the first thing was to choose your Master, and the next to find out tthe work Ho designed for you. Vfednesdh/s session began witli a devotional meeting led by Mr Mawson, of Otago, followed by a conference on the organisaton of a Christian Union, led by Sir McWilliara and Mr Fraser respectively in the two sections. The Bible reading on the ‘ Life of Paul ” was then continued by. Mr Sallmon. On Tuesday afternoon the delegates and friends had a* pleasant picnic up the Maitai. On Wednesday afternoon a cricket match was played between gown ai\d town, resulting in a win for the latter by five wickets.

The send-off of the second contingent has been, the occasion of many happy re-unions of old friends in Wellington. A typical instance of these meetings came 1 under notice at the_ “Times” office. A pressman from Christchurch -haa “dropped in” to pay his respects, uiid while he was there a well-known M.L.C. from Auckland also “happened along. The*two were introduced by friend as plain Messrs So-and-so.' i'hen with a- desire for closer acquaintance the Christchurch gentleman inquired it his, new friend was a brother of the doctor in the City of the Plains. “No; he is the M.L.C. from Auckland “Whati” exclaimed the visiter, “is it you, Bill?” “By George, is that you, George?” cried the other. And then it transpired that the two strangers aus introduced had been old office ‘ chums in Dunedin twenty-five years ago, and had not met during sM the intervening years. It was no wonder lha„ tliey failed to recognise each other by. them surnames, for in that space of time one had developed, from a- slim youth into a gentleman with a "corporation and a bald head, while the other was “as grey as a rat.” As they were leaving the “Times” office they -m----countered a- Dunodin prcssinflii, filso ■on a visit to Wellington, who remember’d vividly the events of a quarter of a century ago in the southern capital. It may be readily imagined that the three thus strangely thrown together spent a busy and a happy hour discussing the events of the “good old times” they had known in the southern city.

Much interest is being taken by polo players in llio match 'A ollington v. Hawke's Be v, which is to bo played at Miramar on Tuesday afternoon, Uic local men being slightly the _ iavountes. Games will he played at Miramar between Hawke’s Bay and Oroua represoutativos on Thursday, an d Wellington and Uroua players on Saturday. The large .steamer Knight Templar was ye:;( or lay " brown open to llio nilb'-e ;it .jr'.'voiS ((liny, (Kid visitocl o.'- •' considerable number of people. L.'coolie crew did (|iiito a thriving trade in selling ci'imnnml ■■ and <:vn los to ti.o visitors. " -Mind i- admiration wa pressed at the condition of the /css.-i tlie eogine-ionm especially being model or cleanliness and order. The train arrangements in connection wit it Saturday's demonstration were, on tho whole, excellent on both lines. Large demands wore made hy tho public on tho carriage accommodation available, and some inconvenience was caused by overcrowding, but the trains, on tho whole, ran well to time, and without accident, a fact upon winch both tho officials and tho management of both linos may bo congratulated. A largo attendance of sporting men is t expected on tho old show., grounds, Pe'tonc, to-morrow, where the ,£l5O handicap of tiio Wellington Provincial Pigeon and Gun Club is to bo shot off. Prominent shots from different parts of tho colony have entered to compete for this valuable prize, and it is expected that a well-fought contest will ensue. ’.I ho traps have been specially arranged to ensure fairness all round, and special facilities will bo given to visitors to enjoy the spoil. Tho Public Works Committee of tho Melrose Borough Council will make the following recommendations at the meeting of tho" Council on Tuesday : —“That tho Brooklyn Streets Committee bo requested to hold a conference with representatives of tho Ohiro District Ratepayers’ Association with a view of fixing the responsibility for the construction and maintenance of the Brooklyn streets; that tho night-soil contractor bo lined the Full penalty provided for wrenches of his contract ; that an application lor permission to make a track on tho side of Maida Vale. Rosoncath, ‘be not granted ; I hat the fishermen at island" Bay be given three months’ notice to remove their huts from the Esplanade in terms of their agreement; that a committee consisting of the Mayor and Councillors Foster, Keene and Walter bo set up to consider and report on an application for concessions for tramway construction to Island Bay; that proceedings bo taken against a propertyowner at Island' Buy for burying horses on or near the Esplanade