WELLINGTON NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13832, 20 February 1907, Page 3

WELLINGTON NOTES

(Faoii Our Owk Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, February 18. A fino meteor was observed here this evening in tho western sky. Lieutenant Herd, of the local Garrison Band, is dissatisfied with tho judging at the recent contest. He cannot understand how tlio judge came to place his band as ho did._ "Most of our leading conductors," said Mr Herd, '' expressed their great surpriso at tho band not being placed higher a-ftcr tho good performances given." On tho other hand, some members of the Auckland Garrison Band' with whom 1 conversed to-day say that the judging was in excellent hands, and that no fault coulil bo found with it. • >

There is ouito a flutter of excitement here oyer the demands of the Servant Girls Tjnion. The other evening a servant girl, who came homo late, told her mistress that now tho had a union they would make their mistresses " sit. up." She was told that she coSikl pack np and go. Today a, large number of. notices were served on mistresses. The mistressbs aro urged to agreo to Ihe demands oj the union. They aro asked to "sign tho accompanying agreement," and are told that l\v doing so tlipy will "obviate the tinpleasantness of appearing personally' or by agent, beforo the Conciliation Board or Arbitration Court." This is regarded as an unwise threat, and so far as j"cun learn nearly all tho mistresses here will take no notico of the demand. Tiie i|iiestion of whether the mistress or the husband (who pays (lie wages) is tho person to be cited before the board or the court has yet to be decided. More than one lawyer to whom I put the question has stated that tlio union is making a. mistake in indiscriminately notifying the mistresses.

WELLINGTON, February 19. At the annual meeting of (lie New Zealand Academy of' Art it was announced that Mrs S. A. Rhodes hail presented to Ihe academy for the Public Art Gallery a picture by Leader valued at 600 guineas, now in the Exhibition.

The Marino Department has decided to erect a depot for castaways on Big King Island, the largest of the Three Kings, The work is to be carried out by the Ilinemoa during the next fortnight. On Sunday night the police raided some Chinese houses, and made seizures of small quantities of opium. Prosecutions will follow.

The Tutanekai has gone lo Queen Charlotte Sound for llio purpose of laving a cable for telephonic use. Afterwards she will lay ,i cable across the French Pass. The latler will be of great assistance to shipping passing through Cook Strait.

Three of the firemen from the steamer Pskaia., who were landed here suffering severely from the effects of coal gas some months ago. are still at the hospital, and a eotiplo of (Item are scarcely able to move about yet. Originally there, were six at the institution, but. one recovered sufficiently to disappear, and two were taken back to Great Britain. The New Zealand Shipping Company is making arrangements to have the three remaining patients returned to their homes in the United Kingdom. They will probably have passages on the Tongaviro.

Runert Kcllow. 15 years of a 2"-\ wns found fruiltv of an unnatural offence. He was remanded for sentence, Judge Cooner w'-diimr to consult with the Chief Justice. Letters of naturalisation have been granted during the month to S2 foreigners. Amount those wbn=" applications were granted were three Chinamen. The tender of Kel»!l and Son (Grey-

mouth), at £2319, has been accepted for tho erection of & new ward at the IJnkitika Hospital.

For a. post office at Cambridge the tender of W. (I. Cure, at £2694, has boon accepted.

Application has been mado for the cancellation of the registration of the New Zealand Federated ilasler Tailors' Industrial Association of Employers of Christchurch.

The lender of J. Driimnie.v, of Alexandra (£562) has been accepted for', the erection of the postmaster's residence at Arrow-town. The other tenderers weie:— P. A. Lyders, £626; Rhode?. Watson, and Son, £659; Robert Orr, £661; Wates and Smyth, £736.