WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2604, 10 February 1904, Page 29

WELLINGTON.

His Excellency the Governor has received a cablegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies stating that a pom-pom has been awarded to New Zealand as a memento of the capture of guns on February 3, 1902. There are 15 guns and 2500 rifles available for distribution among the colonies.

The remains of Mrs Margaret Christie, who had reached the advanced age of 101 years, were buried on the 26th. The deceased! had lived at Karori, a suburb of Wellington, for over 40 years.

Log fires around Eketahuna, fanned by a westerly wind, assumed serious proportions on Friday, and spread over a large area. Heavy rain at night, however, saved the situation. Many settlers are heavy losers of stock and grass.

At the luncheon on Fiiday on board the Westport Harbour Board's new dredge Rubi Seddon, the Pr3mier said he was convinced! when the dredge got to work the big colliers loading for the Admiralty, which have to leave Westport with half cargo and complete loading at Wellington, would be able to fill up and sail direct from Westport. Cable advico has been received stating that the Wellington Corporation loan o£ £300,000 for elects. 'o tramways and woo-d-paving ha<s been floated in Londpn at art average of £96.

The case relating to the Golden Grid, the managers of which were in December charged with conducting a seemingly respectable restaurant as a brothel, and oni the withdrawal of a plea of " Not guilty" were merely convicted by the magistrate (Dr M'Arthur) and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, was brought undee the notice of the Minister of Justice by a deputation of Wellington ministers, representative of various denominations. The ministers had previously passed a resolution, expressing regret at the magistrate's mode of dealing with the ease, and calling upon the Minister of Justice to take some notice of the matter. The deputation urged triab the conclusion of the magistrate was calculated to foster this sort of offence, and emphasised that this was not a puritanical l movement on the part of the ministers, bub that there wa3 a public feeling that justice had not bean done m the case. The reply of the Hon. Mr M'Gowan was that it would! be a serious act on his part to interfere with the magistrate in his administration of justice. On Saturday night heavy showers of ram fell in all parts of Pahiatua and checked the bush firee. On Monday morning the country was apparently clear of fiies. The lainfall has replenished the water supply tanks. Another .veeik"s diy weather would have produced a water famine in the borough. The Premier has accepted the presidency of the British Navy League in New Zealand.

Word has been received that two of the settlers, Messrs Northcroft and Winteringham, have been burnt out at Rakanui ; also that Warner's dairy plant and hay has been destroyed, and that a good deal of property has been destroyed in the back districts. The district lound Paihiatua is now fairly fre-e from fires.

A writ claiming £2000 damages has been served on the Union Steam. Ship Company, on account of the death of tho man Main-, who was killed while unloading cargo from the Mararoa.

The following are among the new justices of the peace appointed. — W. B. Anderson, North-East Valley ; John Bennetts. Roxburerh; Robert Cockburn, Roxburgh ; F. G. "Cray, West Harbour; A. J. M'llroy, Ophir ; John Thomson, Port Chalmers : C. B. Griffith, Orepuki ; G. M. Gunn, Marathon; W. Hall, Riversdale; J. Lowden. Mataura ; J. M'Pherpon, Balfour ; P M'Skimming, Stirling; J. Motley, Inchclutha; F. Taylor, Athol ; J. Rogers, Fairlight; W. H. Whittaker, Dipton. A fire at Wangauui on Fnday nighr destroyed three circus horses belonging to Wirth'= Circus.

Felix Tanner on Saturday night completed a 21-ciays' fast. Ho was reduced m weight and hia heart was somewhat weak, but h© was able,' after partaking of a little soda and njilk and olive oil, to proceed slowly to his home.

Tli& great success of tho Haarer? Exhibition continues. Tho receipts daily so far have averaged over £120. It is now proposed to extend the period of the p-xhibition The total receipts to date exceed £1000. A deputation waited on the Right Hon. tho Premier and the Hon. W. Hall-Jones on Monday in referc-nce tc the si 4 *« of Wairau Hospital, Blerheim. The deputation t-x-planied that the hospital building was very old, and was inconvenient and expensive to manage, it_ having beon condemned by thoi department as unfit for the purpose?: of a hospital, and that it was infested by bugs so badly that it was difficult to get nurse? and torvants to stay. One morning 33 bug 1 wore caught in a patient's bed. The Hospital Board had not funds to rebuild. The Premier replied that the repoits of the officers of the department bore out all that the deputation had said. He blamed the people interested for not bringing the matter under the notice of the Go\ eminent earlier. «o that provision could have been made on tho Estimates. Thp board had £800 mi hand. Ho suggested that the local bodies concerned should pro\ide £400. He believed a building could be erected foi £2500. Ho was prepared to recommend the Cabinet to "sote* tho difference betweeni £1200 and the £2500 if the board went to work at once.