WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13198, 3 February 1905, Page 3

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

(FKOU OBR OWN COKF.esfondpkt.) WELLINGTON, February 2. Tlie Rev, I'. W. Isitc, temperance reformer, returned from a South island tour to-day. He says the prospects of tlie Aolicense party tire very bright in Utago. From his point of view matters are most en- i couragmg general,}',"ana ho is satislieu with tho public sentiment in Chalmers, (Jlutha, and Mataura. Concerning Port Chalmers, ho is not so confident, ii.s close proximity to lJuuedin is considered more or less of an obstacle to the work of his party, and he is ot the opinion that the police are not so energetic in their endeavours to suppress abuses as they are elsewhere. Asked to say what wore the prospects for the next licensing poll, ill' isitt declined the rolo of prophet: ''I won't say what electorates wo shall win," he snid, " and it is rather foolish oil the part of tliosa of our way of thinking to indulge in p6sitiv« forecasts. At the same time, the activity and determination of the party and the public feeling as I have observed it are full of promise for the success of the cause." 'Die forthcoming visit of Father Hays will be of great value, he said, because lie ha 3 been enormously successful in Australia. jVIr Isitt says sly grogselling is still prevalent in Ashb'urton. "if I chose," he suid, " I could git a bottle- of whisky from Ashburlon in a. week from a source that is only a shorts distance from the pc;st office, and the Minister of Justice or the Commissioner of Police could do it as easily as I could if either of them chose. But it is not my business to detect sly grog-selling." Last evening, at the invitation of Lieu-tenant-colonel Camgbell, I had an opportunity of seeing the Wellington Naval Volunteers at drill at tho Mount Cook Barracks. Their performances were most interesting and most creditable. Lieutenantcolonel Webb inspected the work of tho different equacb in the lecture room and at the several guns, also the quartern. Then lis saw the whole company combined in battery work. This is done with moving targets, range-finder, and all service conditions. The engagements practised were repelling a running-past attack by an unprotected oruiser steaming 12 knots' and endeavouring to get past tho guns and lie inside the harbour; attacking the same cruiser as she tries to rim out again at 10 knots; and tho same two actions in respect of an armoured cruiser steaming in and out at 10 knots. This is the sort of attack that might bo attempted at Wellington Harbour, even with tho protection of forte and mines. Lieutenant-colonel Webb expressed himself highly pleased with the work done. The Wellington Navals during last year have had the advantage of greatly improved training facilities at. the barracks, devised chiefly by "Master Gunner Richardson. It is to be regretted, however, that with the present strength, of the navals we have not nearly enough men to man the forts with. two hardly half enough men. Mr W. Callajhan, who has been connected with the head office of the post and telegraph service for about- 25 years, leaves for the South Island shortly, having been promoted to lw ohiof clerk in the Timaru office of the service. Mr Callaghau is wellknown in the city, where he has lived since he was a boy. As a Ind lie distinguished himself by taking one of the earlier scholarship* as a pupil of the Thorudon School.

Mr G. S. Munro, acting-secretary for the Industries and Commerce Department, leaves for the South to-day on business romiectcd with the colony's representation of produce and manufactora? at the Indian and Colonial Exhibition, which is being held at the Crystal Palace, London, from May to October tliie year, Dr H. De Ronzi, who has been an invalid for a considerable time, left for London yesterday by the Kaikotira, He is accompanied by Mrs and Miss Do Renzi and nurse Chidgey. Tbe Government, yielding to representations made by the Auckland and Canterbury Fruit-growers' Associations, has proinifed to guarantee one penny net return 11 er pound on a shipment of apple* to England' this year.

Lady Onslow and party left Wellingtonbv the Mannwatu train this inorninj for the north. Thcr go to Auckland by" way of Taihape and, Taupo, and leave for England on the 20th February. Mr W. Dctfon Roebuck. of Leeds, England, nnd ;t Follow of the- Linniean Soeictv, is ill Wellinsrton. cn routo to Rotorua, via the Wanganui River.