LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4441, 22 August 1901, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A sum is to b e placed on the Supplementary Estimates for improvements at the Terraco Gaol.

The Wellington Fresh Food and Ico Company Limited, has declared a divlddncf of 5 per cent, upon the past year s operations. Tho Wairarapa Farmers’ Co-operative Association will carry on business at the old Fire Brigade Station m Manners street. Tho damage to the association s stock is estimated at £2OOO. Argument was heard hy Mr Justice Edwards in tho Supremo Court yesterday on the findings of the jury in the case of Doyle v. the New Zealand Candle Company. His Honor reserved judgment. Excavations am being made for the new brick schoolhouse which is to be erected 0 n Clifton terrace to replace the one recently burned down. The spoil is being used for reclamation purposes on Customhouse quay. The work of restoring the W.F.O.Abuilding, partially destroyed by Tuesday’s fire, is to be proceeded with at once. Messrs Chatfield and Schwartz, architects, were engaged yesterday in assessing the damage done to the building, on behalf 0 f the owner (Mr Jacob Joseph) and the insurance companies. At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Caledonian Societies’ Association yesterday the ’’New Zealand Times” was appointed the official organ of the association for this island. Mr R. C. Bruce (president of the Wanganui Caledonian Socioties),who supported the proposal, paid a high compliment to our sporting and athletic contributor “ Advance.”

Tho Department is being provided with temporary accommodation in the same building as tho Labour Department —on tho floor above Jenkinson’s bicycle factory, Customhouse quay. Captain Blackburne is now at tho head office of the Marino Department, and tho Government Electrician has been provided with an office in the Departmental Buildings. After visiting various centres in the South Island, Mr M. H. Browne, one of tho organising inspectors of tho Education Department, returned to Wellington yesterday. Mr Browne has been in consultation with school teachers in regard to getting the provisions of tho Manual and Technical Instruction Act taken advantage of. especially in connection with infant classes. He has found a general desire that the Act should be put into operation. The damage to the census papers through the fire of Tuesday is not nearly so great as at first reported. Only the papers at which the clerks were working on the day before the fire, and which had been loft on the tables, were affected, and then only the top sheets were* damaged by water, and those not irreparably. The great bulk of the papers were stored on shelves which were set against the two side walls of the room, and those were dry, except in instances. Attempts to influence witnesses or manufacture evidence have been testified to during the current criminal sittings of tho Supremo Court. In one case there was a conviction for an attempt to dissuade a witness from giving evidence. In another case, it was stated that a witness was asked to go back upon her previous testimony. It is rumoured that in a third cas e there was nn attempt to make evidence for the defence. In each case in connection with which these attempts wore made they were foiled, and convictions were obtained. People with a greater capaoity for wonder than of energy to make inquiry have often been puzzled by the legend ‘'F.P., loft,” which in Wellington so often appears on the fences alongside of footpaths. It was explained in the Legislative Council yesterday by the Hon W. M. Bolt that the mystic letters referred to fire-plugs. Incidentally, he objected to tho big block letters which were used in Wellington on these placards, He thought there was a great lack of neatness and of sense of fitness in the Wellington Civic .Fathers when they put up such large and unlovely placards when one a fifth part of the size would do as well, and look much better. If such a placard were placed up in Dunedin, said Mi- Bolt, tho persons responsible would he laughed out of public life.

Tho usual quarterly meeting St the Wellington Acclimatisation Society will bo held on Wednesday next.

According to the Minister of Lands, all tho Crown lands in Auckland, Taranaki and Wellington which are ready for settlement are now open for selection. The Minister of Justice, in answer to representations from Mr McGuire, intenclH to have a report as to the condition of the Stipendiary Magistrate a Courthouse at Munaia. A combination Q f Maori singers is visiting Wellington, and will, at the Salvation Array Citadel, Vivian street, on Sunday, give an original programme of music. On Monday night they will dance hakas and pois. Tho number of men employed on the Makobine Viaduct at the present time is niu'-tysix. Thu Minister for Public Works says that ho sees no reason to alter his belief that trains will be running over the viaduct during the course of tho coming summer. Notwithstanding the enormous quantity of water pumped on to the Wairarapa Farmers’ Co-operative Association’s building on Tuesday morning, the police found it necessary to summon aid from tho fire brigade to extinguish a blaze which hurst out again in the top story about 8 o’clock yesterday morning. Tho steamer Takapnna, with the San Francisco mail on hoard, reached "Wellington at 2.30 this morning. The Tarawera, which had been delayed for the mail, immediately shipped the Southern portions, and then sailed for Lyttelton. The Marlborough and Nelson mailbags will be despatched by the Rotorua to-day.

The work of upholstering the seats m the second-class carriages on Government railways is going o n as rapidly as circumstances permit; Up to the present time 237 carriages have been so dealt with. The work has not proceeded so quickly as might have been desired, because it is not possible to take a large number of the cars oil the lines at one time.

Tho Hon J; Carroll explains that the delay in bringing the Native Land Administration Act into force is due to the fact that suitable men for appointment to the Boards cannot b« discovered in a day. An amending Bill which is intended to make the Act more workable is to be introduced this session, and the Minister hopes to have the Boards appointed and the Act in force at an early dateAn announcement was made by the Mayor that Ibe committee which is acting for tho City Council in London hopes to have an electrical engineer for Wellington engaged by the end of this month. The duty of that engineer, said Ml* Aitken* would bo to iustal the electrio tramway system in the city. It had been deemed advisable, h<j added, to engage an expert, in order- that the installation might be carried out without mistakes. A donation of five guineas has been made to the Accident and Recreation Fund of the Wellington Fire Brigade by Messrs Nelson, Moate and Co., as an appreciation of the brigade’s efforts in saving the firm's bonded store, at the rear of the W.F.O.A. building, from damage during Tuesday’s fire. In a letter to the Superintendent accompanying the donation, Mr Nelson says;—“lt appeared that nothing could save our bond. _ That it should not even be damaged is, in itself, ample proof of your brigade’s efficiency.” Residents of Oriental Bay are complaining of the state of tho main road at the big quarry near the kerosene bond, owing to the frequent passage of drays heavily laden with metal in that vicinity. In order to cross the road to the seashore with any degree of cleanliness a retrogression to the Clyde quay end of the road is necessary. One of the city’s most popular and enjoyable walks is thus rendered impassable. Either the road requires draining, or it should be re-formed with a sufficient crown to throw oft any surplus water. At last year’s dinner of the Yorkshire Society, one of the members, Mr Chnrle 3 Wilson, lamented the absence of parkin. A lady living in Bishopsthorpe road, York, read an account of the dinner, which was copied into the “Leed s Mercury” from the “New Zealand Mail.” She determined that the same omission should not occur at the next annual gathering. Accordingly, she forwarded a cako of parkin to the president of the society, the Rev J. C. Andrew. Last night this was handed by the president to Mr Wilson, amid laughter and applause.

The Druids’ Hall was well filled last night, when the annual ball of the Wellington Cycle Volunteer Corps took place. The device of the crossed rifles and crossed bayonets on a cycle wheel was in evidence at each end of the room, and some, excellent decorating effects were obtained by flags and other drapings. The official set was composed of Lieutenant-Colonel Collins and Mrs Hutson, Captain Harcourt and Mrs Slinu, Captain Hutson and Miss Laurenson, Lieutenant Slinn and Miss Yeomans. Minifie’s orchestra provided the music for tho dancing. The arrangements were made by a committee, which was formed of Captain Hutson, Lieutenant? Slinn, Privates Burgess and Julian, with Colour-Sergeant Fountain as hon secretary. The annual ball of the Wellington section of the Permanent Artillery was held in the Sydney street schoolroom last night, there being over 100 couples in attendance. Among the guests were the Right Hon R. J. Seddon, Colonel Penton, Major Owen, Captains Hughes and Duncan, Lieutenant-Commander 8011, Lieutenants Cooper and Biss and the Misses Seddon and Coombes. The hall was tastefully relieved with hunting and with arms and accoutrements, the warlike aspect being in a measure minimised by intorlinings of greenery and floral decorations. King’s orchestra provided excellent dance music. The arrangements for the ball were made by a committee- which consisted of Bombardier Thomson and Gunners Spence, Wade, Killery, Hunter, O’Brien, Roberts, McTiguo and Quirke, with Bombardier Woybourno as secretary.

Tho following tenders were received for various works by the Wellington Harbour Board: —Contract No. 107 for tho construction of store “H,” Waterloo quay— Engineer’s estimate, £11,650; W. and C. Johnson, £10,620 (informal); Allen Maguire, £12,166 8s 9d (accepted); John McLean and Son. £12,436 11s 3d (declined): Donald McLean, £14,672 (declined); James Russell, £14,675 7s (declined). Contract No. 108 for the supply of twenty-two hydraulic jiggers—Engineer's estimate. £1027; Messrs S. Luke and Co., (accepted); Edward Soagar, £IOSB (declined) ; Messrs J. J- Niven and Co., £1252 (declined). Contract No. 109, for the construction of two mooring buoys— Engineer’s estimate, £300; Messrs S. Luke and Co., Limited, £349 (accepted); Messrs Robertson and Co.. £350 (declined); Edward Seagar, £390 (declined); Messrs J. J. Niven and Co., £420 (declined). Contract No. 110, for the supply of 10,000 loads of filling to th e Board’s reclamations—Mr Timothy Hayes, £625 (accepted); William Wilson. £266 13s 4d (declined); D. Andrews, £687 9s lOd (declined); Patrick Minogue, £750 (declined).

His Majesty’s veterans will hold ;; smoke concert at the Druids’ Hull or, September 9th (Sebastopol Day). The proceeds will ba devoted to the benevolent fundA reference to the native race was made at the Yorkshire Society’s dinner ia.st night. The Premier subsequently said that a couple of days ago he received a communication from Hone Toia, who was the chief of those natives who created a disturbance north of Auckland .some time ago. The message was to the following effect: We deeply regret tho trouble we gave. Wo are pleased and delighted to have had a visit from the .son of our King. And by way of making some atonement, and wishing to prove our sincerity and our gratitude, will you offer to his Majesty from our people a company who will go to any part of the world to fight for tho King,” Mr Soddon said he had taken the first opportunity of making the offer known to tho public. Tho Premier, speaking at the Yorkshire Society’s dinner last night, said he was inclined to think there was rather too muoh sport in New Zealand. He would prefer to see our young men pay leas attention to sport, and go in more for self-improvement. While saying this, be had to admit that our young men had always responded well when they heard the call of duty.