LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4319, 30 March 1901, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho next ordinary meeting of the City Council will ho held on Thursday, the litii April. The .staff of tho Lands and Survey Dopartincut have subscribed £8 3s towards tho Cueeu’s .Statue Fund, which brings the total amount received to date up to £ll2l. Os -Id. The Mini- ter of Education, accotn. panied li,v the .Minister of Lauda, will to-day visit Levin in oonnwtion with (lie estahlislmip.nt of an industrial school in ihat district. The Railway Department is replacing the Bess enter .steel axles, piston-rods, etc., of tho Fell engines, used on tiro , Rimutaha incline, with others of nickel steel, specially nrado in Sheffield. Tho Mayor of Wellington has been authorised by the City Council to convene a meet lug of delegates of local authorities who Imvo been advised that they will bo called upon to contribute toward:; tho cost of tho new bridge at Lower Hiitt. A man named James Wilson, aged twcuty-scvcu. »u engineer by trade, was arrested last night, charged with stealing property to tho val'-m of £5 belonging to Mis--. Moeller, on tho 2nd mat., also property belonging to Mr W. L. Scott, on January 26th. ‘‘Tlio Cruflsiou’’ is to he sung at St. Paul’s Pre-Cathedral to-morrow night, and on Tuesday evening Bach’s Passion music is to bo performed, under the direction of Mr Robert Parker. Tho so- I foists will bo Madamo Carlton, Dr FylTo and Mr John Pronse. A. special meeting of the New Zealand University Sonite will be held on .Saturday next, 6th pros., in the Mu. I scum Library. The main, business will be ( tho consideration of the reports of the English examiner on tho various degree examinations, of which cabled advice was received some weeks ago. Some ■other matters will also bo dealt with. Th(., new gymnasium of the Wellington Physical Training School will bo ready for the commencement of classes on Monday. A full table of hours and fees is published in, another column, f-huulow developing movements will be introduced, and now mass exercises have been specially arranged to suit the ago, -..sex and .strength of the individual nioiuwirs of the various classes.

inuring the second spell of the OrouaRangitikei polo match at Miramar yesterday, Messrs Keiller (Rangitikei) and J. Strang (Oroua) charged a,t the ball, and their ponies collided. Mr Strang's pony was knocked down, and, rolling over its rider, broke his left arm above tho elbow. Mr Strang walked off th. 0 field, and tho injured limb was sob by Dr James, who happened to be tin the ground.

Our Carterton correspondent writes ; Of the two typhoid patients—mother and sou—who wore removed to the Greytown Hospital last week, it is gratifying to state that yesterday the mother took ni, turn for the. hotter. Tho lad had not, up to that time, reached the most critical stage.—At the annual meeting qf tho Carterton Football Club—last season’s champions—McKenzie and Armstrong were elected captain and vice-captain respectively. The prospects of the club are good. Tho forwards of tho senior fifteen average six feet in height.

There was a largo attendance of members of tho Wellington Bowling Club last night at a smoke concert given at the club rooms by the directors “to the Now Zealand, representative team visiting England. Mr William Muir presided, and among, tho guests were Mc-srJ Donnie (New Plymouth) and Paul (Wanganui). The various toasts were interspersed with a capital programme of music and recitations. The - ' Wellington representatives, Messrs Thomas, Roskruae, Thomas . Ballinger, ,J. J, Reich and Peter Drummond, were made the recipients of hearty farewells from their follow-members.

Dr McArthur, S.M., presided at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, when a lad! of seventeen, named Alexander Me. Kay, was son tone d to seven days’ imprisonment for stealing ss, tho property of Mrs Curran, at the'Terminus Hotel. The same lad, for stealing 2s 6d belonging to Patrick Griffin, also of the Terminus Hotel, received another sentence of seven days’ imprisonment. Another ladi of about tho same age, named! Patrick Williams, for stealing two sheets of copper, value ss, tho property of Thomas G. Peterson, received 1 a similar .sentence, A young man named! John Haughton was remanded till the 4th prox. on a charge of forging a request for the delivery of goods purporting to bo signed by the Rev H. L. Blamires.

“A Student of Spencer” writes as followsA paragraph in yesterday’s “Times” rejferriiig to Mr Herbert Spencer implies that air Spencer’s revision of his system of philosophy has been carried no further than his “First Principles." This is incorrect, as a revised’ end enlarged edition of '‘The Principles of Biology" was issued about two rears ago. Tho flr.it three volumes of the philosophy have now teen revised, and tho remaining seven, being of more recent , date, aro'not in great need of revision. However, students- of tho philosophy still , none for a new edition of tho “Principles of Psychology,” upon the preparation of which Mr Spencer has for sonic tiftio past been supposed to be. engaged. ..... ,

'Hie readiest indication. Tof the capacity of the officials of a department hovt iug dailv and intimate relations with the pubiio may be found in the attention of that department to details af. lectin" the public convenience. "ho Po'A and Telegraph Department, which is justly noted for its activity rn tins direction,, is issuing to-day two sets or booklets priced at one shilling and a hnlf-peuhv niici two* shillings 3Ji<l sixpence half-pcsuiy respectively. The one contains twelve penny stamps in sheets of six stamps each, carefully protected by waxed paper, and the other thirty stamps similarly protected. Each booklet which contains much useful xnforma- ’ exactly fits into,tile watch-pocket, and will no doubt supply a public want.

31V Goroham has been appointed secretary of tho Municipal Progressive Association.

Tho City Council has granted on auctioneer’s license to Air W. P. Lcvien, of the firm of Levien, Shallcrass and Co. The- Chief Health Officer has written to the City Council, commending it for steps taken to keep down the number of rats, and also for having tho plague hospital in readiness for an emergency. At a special mooting of the City Council last night,-a motion was carried confirming the resolution passed by the (donned oil tho Ist instant with re. .spcct to tho abolition of wards in the city.

The election of Mayor and Councillors for Wellington will take place on the 24th April. The voters’ roll will be closed on tire fourteenth day preceding the election. Up tv that time claims for enrolment may bo put in, to go on the supplementary roll. Twenty-two locomotives for tho Now Zealand Government Railways are expected to reach the colony towards the end of next month, by tin*' steamer Ecchnana. Ten will- ho landed at Lyttelton, and twelve at Wellirrgton, two of the latter being; for the West Coast of the South Island.

Lady Dorothy Guthorno-llardy (daughter of Lord Glasgow), Mrs T. C. Williams and Miss Williams visited the Home for the Aged Needy on Wednesday. As Lady Dorothy was leaving for England in the steamer Rimutaka on tho following day, the old people wished her a pleasant voyage. Many of them remembered her well. Airs Williams presented the women inmates with comforts for tho approaching, winter. At a special meeting of the Wellington Woollen Company last night tho special resolutions passed at the meeting hold an the-12th. hist, were formally confirmed. The Hon C. J. Johnston announced that the directors had authorised tho payment of an interim dividend at the rate of 8 per sent, per annum, or 4 per cent, for the six months. Tho dividend would be' payable immediately after the Ist of the mouth. A veto of thanks to tho chairman cio.sod the meeting.

Good progress is being made at tho Pet-one railway workshops with tho equipment of rolling stock with tho AVc-.stinghouse brake. The brake* wTI not come into use on tho Wellington-Napier-New Plymouth section until tho new locomotives have arrived from America and receive their fittings. In Consequence of the press of traffic, it is impossible to withdraw locomotives from running for tho period which would be necessary for their equipment, Messrs Hatrick and Co., of Wanganui, will this Easter be able, with tho fine river fleet of tourist steamers they now have at their disposal, to run a daily sendee to Pipiriki, and the upper roaches some twenty miles beyond that point. The’steamers will, as advertised. run from .Wanganui on Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Sunday Monday and Tuesday, the sth to the 9th of April, returning on tho following days. The trip to the upper roaches embraces all the best of the beautiful scenery on the river. The trip can only be made by Messrs, Hatrick and Co.’s special tourist steadier Ohura.

A deputation appointed by a public meeting waited upon the City Council Inst night and presented a, petition signed by several hundred persons in favour of extending the Municipal Tramways to the west end of Aro street The petition was supported in speeches made by various members of the deputation, one of whom called special attention to the large number of persons who went to the Karori Cemetery by way of Polhill Gully. It was decided to> refer the petition to the Tramway Committee. A petition from residents of Cuba {street and Manners streets on the question of tho proposed tramway extension was referred to the same committee. ‘

Perfect weather favoured the garden party which took place yesterday in aid of the Levin Memorial and Alexandra Hon ms. Tho fete was held in Mers Levin's grounds, Tinakori road, and was very numerously attended. In tlm bright sunshine of tho afternoon, the beautiful gardens' looked at their best As over seven hundred tickets wer=> sold, and a considerable sum of money taken pt the gates, .the financial result of the garden party will be satisfactory. Among the i promoters of the fete, Lady Stout.. Mrs Izard and Mrs Fitz Gerald wore prominent. The committee members worked very energetically. Tea was served in a marquee kindly lent by Mr B. G. Knight. The caterer was Mr G. Mawso-n, and tho tea and cakes wore handed round by ladies, whose voluntary services vyere much appreciated.- Mrs A. D. Riley presided over tho sweet stall. A Punch and Judv show, run by Mr C. H. Izard, and Mr "Wynne Beere, provided amusement for the young folk ,as well as for somo of their seniors.

Gardening is probably one of the most profitable, healthful and pleasure, giving of all pursuits. There are many of Wellington who- would giv e much to indulge a desire to keep a garden, which tho exigencies of the city deny. However, what little space is available is well tended, and an ungenerous soil has been cultivated in many places so as to produce many worthy blooms. With a view to encouraging a. love of gardening in town and country, the proprietors of the “New Zealand Mail ” have arranged with Mr George Cooper, F.R.H.S., to contribute a column to their weekly publication, in which hints to amateurs will be inserted, the work for the current week sketched, and information given in the various branches -of - horticulture.. By this means, it is hoped, a new interest will bo imparted to the operations of those interested in the cultivation of vegetables, fruit and flowers. Subscribers to. the “Mail” will no doubt' duly appreciate and act upon the instructions, of Mr Cooper, who is so well qualified to write on all matters of horticultural moment. ‘

A story has. drifted across the seas about a ruffian, whoso brutality had caused him to- be kicked out oof the Queensland labour trade, and Who, starting as a trader about the islands, and hearing that . there was a very, young man "in authority somewhere on the Now Guinea coast, thought it a favourable place to trade. _ Very soon tho air became tainted with rumours of his brutality. It was reported that he had a playful way of punishing or cowing his native crew by holding a firestick to their abdomens, .until they fainted from the torture. In what oilier wav* lie transgressed is - not. known, but tho young Englishman (wo think it, must have been a New Zealander)in authority pryved equal to the occasion, as the vessel- was seized and condemned, and her, late master is now compelled to exert, himself withered “hard- labour,”: with- the fear of restricted diet and shot-drill being imposed upon him if ho should relax his exertions. .Generally'' the Ne-mosis.-tiuit overtakes’ s-udtrv t ibrutos takes the* Jrorni of being reported bv- thc native crew oh arrival"of. .the- .vessel—' “He drown; , ho fall into sea and drown”—-with uo_ details. In the • above-mentioned iuci- | dent there is.au. unusual variety, and I not pleasing one, ; : 1 ' ’ ; -

A cony of the issue of the London “Dailv ‘Mail” of the 31st December, ]<)00-ltho “Golden Daily Mail,” published to commemorates tho dawn of the twentieth - century—was last nightpresented to the City Council by Airs W. H. P. Barber. Tho interesting publication will bo sent to the Public Library.

The eleventh game in the match between Air Alason (chess champion of New Zealand) and Air Barnes (ex-champion) was played last night at tho Working .Men’s (Tub. Mr Mason, opening with a R. U y Lopez, soon developed a strong attack, which led to Air Barnes’s resignation at tho twenty-ninth move. The match now stands —the champion five wins and Air Barnes three. The remaining games have been drawn.