WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2425, 5 September 1900, Page 17

WELLINGTON.

The representative of Bell's match factory , in .Wellington states that the works here and at Cavbrsham will continue operations wnder the revised tariff, but lie thinks it is questionable if the duties are sufficient to enable the companies to compete with Belgian matches, large orders ior which a>re out.

- Mr Ronayne has received a telegram from tii3 Cape Railway department asking him to. quote a price per ton for the best New Zealand coal, the same as supplied to the navy, delivered ait Capetown ; what cargo cculd arrive, and the quantity per month, for use on the railway. Mr Ronayne has &cnt copies of the message to the officials of the New Zealand coal companies, and asked them to supply the necessary quotations. Bessie Fleming, licensee of the railway refieshment rooms* at Aramoho, , was fined at Wanganui £5 and costs (17s) for selling liquor to ai child under 13,' who said thai phe wanted it for her mother, who was ill ' •

The- Conciliation Board have reported that they are unable to bring about a settlement in the tailors' dispute, and that they do not offer any recommendations. " The death is announced of Mr F. B. Chalmers, an old colonist, who arrived in Tasmania 50 years ago, and- came 'to Lyttelton in the early sixties. He was the first white man to go overland from Christchurch to „ Nelson. For "the past 28 years he had .resided at Fernyhurst, near Masterton.

A ■wharf labourer named J. Holmes, a married man, was the victim of a particularly savage assault at Wellington. He went into the Panama Hotel with a friend, both being somewhat under the influence of liquor at the time, and a dispute occurred over payment for drinks with another man, whose name is at present unknown. On going outside this man knocked Holmes's legs from under him, and kicked him savagely in various parts of the body, finishing up Avith .a blow which gashed the skull badly, and reduced him to unconsciousness. The assailant escaped in the darkness.

A woman named Mary Henderson, described as a herbalist, has been arrested on a charge of performing an illegal operation on a young girl, who is in so critical a condition that her depositions have been taken. Mrs Mary Henderson was charged at Wellington on Monday with performing an illegal operation on Winifred Luke, 18 years of age, and was remanded till Monday, in consequence of the critical condition of the girl.

. When the police arrested Mrs Hendei':Son two other girls were found in the bouse, o*lie of whom had to be sent to the hospital. A quantity of correspondence of an incriminating nature was seized, implicating residents of the city, which may lead to further developments. The girl who is the subject of the charge is not expected to recover.