WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2467, 26 June 1901, Page 20

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

(Feom Otjb Own Cobeesfondent.) WELLINGTON, June 6.

Mr Philip Nathan, of this city, is to receive the honorary bronze medal of the Royal Humane Society of Australasia for saving the life of a little child that wandered on to the- polo ground while a game was in progress at the last tournament here. I was myself an eye-witness of the gallant deed, of which I telegraphed you particulars at the time. The polo ponies were coming down at a gallop, and were almost on top of the child, when Mr Nathan dashed in and saved it, one pony jumping him as he bent down over the child. Mr John Duthie. speaking at the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce yesterday, remarked upon the unfair omission of the Borough of Petono from the population rehirns for Wellington and suburbs. If that were done, the population of the congeries of boroughs that make up Wellington would be 53,072, as against 44,44-3 in 1896. A shock of earthquake, accompanied by a considerable rumbling noise, startled people here shortly after 1 o'clock this afternoon. Houses shook and crockery rattled ominously, yet the seismometer at the museum recorded but little motion. The opinion of the average citizen is that there must be something wrong with the seismometer. Certainly there was nothing wrong with the earthquake. The U.S. Brooklyn has been thrown open to the public, many of whom visited her today. On Friday and Saturday the puplic will be again admitted. The vessel is to be elaborately prepared and decorated for Rearadmiral Remey's party on Saturday. At night there i? to be dancing on deck, and the warship will be a blaze of electric light. June 7. The stay of the United States flagship Brooklyn in Port Nicholson has been marked by a succession of festivities ashore and afloat. The admiral, captain, and officers yesterday entertained a large party of visitors at a reception, at which there was dancing. Invitations were tendered to legislators, 2>ublic officers, leading citizens, and members of social and other clubs. The afternoon was calm and enjoyable. Two pleasant hours were spent by those who accepted the hospitality of Uncle Sam's representatives. The ship's decks were decorated for the occasion. To-day the Brooklyn was oppn_ to all in the morning and afternoon, and the harbour steamers were crowded on every trip they made to her. The weather was perfect for the excursions. The general request made to members of the crew was that they would point out the marks of the hits which the Brooklyn received in the actions in which she took part during the Spanish -American war. The mixed character of the ship's company, which includes negroes and Chinese, seemed to cause surprise among the visitors, and was put down ao an item to the credit of the capacity of the United States authorities for airanging things apparently difficult. The earnings of members of the Wellington Conciliation Board are just now not falling far short of six guineas per week each. Still the list of references to the Arbitration Court goes on increasing. It is reported that the Counties Bill to be introduced by the Government next session has the defect of not going far enough in the direction of the abolition of town and road districts. The congregation at th& Sacred Heart Church this morning were told pretty plainly from the pulpit that if the King took the coronation oath in an unaltered form it ! would be an insult to the Roman Catholics of hi? Empire. June 9. There is not a single Government institution in the colony to which epileptics may be sent. If they are sent to an asylum they are, in the course of a few weeks, discharged, on the grounds that they are not insane. To keep them in their homes means untold trouble to their parents. Mother Mary Joseph, who is conducting a home for incurables in Buckle street, has in the short time which has elapsed since the place was established had an incredibly large number of applications for the admission of epilep- , tioa. gbg i» jyiable to comj^ with the

reque-ts, and it is not at all likely that epileptics will be admitted to the Yietona Home for Incurables, which it is proposed shortly to establish here. The matter is one which' the Go\ eminent might well consider when current excitement is over. The exodus of C4overnment officer? to Auckland in anticipation of the royal visit is depleting the departmental buildings*. Half of the Ministers and quite a large number of under-secretaries and others holding executive positions have turned the keys in their doors. It is probable that district health officers for the Health department will be appointed in the course of a month or so. If something is not done the Minister of Public Health may have to answer some pointed questions when the House meets, for there are those who have not forgotten the promises so freely given that the department was to be made one worthy of the name without delay. June 12. Offensive barracking at football matches is not confined to Wellington. At the last meeting of the Management Committee of the "Wanganui Rugby Union six persons were reported for making remarks to a referee and undesirable tongue-pla->- generally at a recent match. Iv the discussion which took place the opinion was unanimously expressed that "barracking" at some matches lately had been conspicuoiisly offensive, and that severe measures would have to be taken in the matter. It was resolved in regard to one man, who h«d been twice warned by the officials, that he be warned off all grounds under the control of the union during the union's pleasure, and that the New Zealand Union be notified. With respect to the other five persona mentioned, it vva? decided that a letter should be written to each, severely cautioning and warning them against a repetition of the offence. The Masterton Borough Council has received a letter from the Department of Public Health stating that unavoidable delay had occurred in appointing district health officers, but that such appointments would be made at an early date. June 14-. During the 12 months of the operation? of the Salvation Army's Workmen's Hotel ia Wellington a large number of destitute men were helped. The total number of beds supplied was 15,04-8, of which 916 were paid for by labour done. The number of meals supplied was 21,14-0, of which 1629 were "worked out." A painful case came before MrW. R. Easelden. S.M., to-day, when two little welldressed girls were charged Avith being found in company with prostitutes. The police's evidence was very revolting, one of the girls having been found in a Chinese brothel in Eaining street. The magistrate committed one of Hie girls to the Industrial School, and stated that it would be the best place for the other also, but the evidence was not sufficiently strong to send her there. At this week's meeting of the Trades and Labour Council a lively discussion v/as held upon the following motion: — "That the council disapprove of the action of Messrs Collins and Naughton (two of the council's delegates to the last Trades Council Co-n-fprence) in voting against Government employees being brought under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act." On a division the motion was lost. There are good grounds for believing that the Hon. John M'Kenzie and the Hon. J. G. Ward will get equal recognition p.t the forthcoming distribution of honours to New Zealanders. Mr A. K. S Mackenzie, son of Mr Scobie Mackenzie, was to-day admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court by Mr Justice Edwards. June 15. Tt is now a considerable time since the regulations under ihe Manual and Technical Instruction Act were gazetted. There is, however, a surprising amount of ignorance among teachers on the siibjeet of the statute. Inquiries by the departmental officers have disclosed the fact that some teachers do not know of the existence of the regulations, not to mention their purport. This state of affairs shows that the passage of legislation is only one step towards progress. The next r.tep is to have the r>flVct of the legislation made clear in a popular manner to those concerned. In a summary note on the increase in the number of suicides, the '' Church Chronicle," which is the official organ for the Anglican diocese of Wellington, says: — "It is urged that a strict observance by the clergy of the Rubric as to the burial of suicides, irrespective of the verdicts of coroners' juries, would have considerable effect in deepening the sense of the guilt of the act and changing its frequency. The matter is one of great perplexity, and it is plain that any clergyman endeavouring to carry out this direction, unless justified by some fresh pronouncement of high authority, would place himself in a por.-tion not only painful to himself but questionably defensible."