Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 1905.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10304, 11 March 1905, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 1905.

Comnniissiioner Dinnie and Sergeant McKenzie returned from Tolaga Bay last evening, and left on an official visit to Te Karaka this morning.

The remains of tlie late Mrs Sievwright were laid to rest at Makaraka Cemetery this afternoon. The interment was private.

The Customs duties .collected at Gisborne during the past week amounted to £1322 4s lid, other receipts £73 9s 4d. making the large total of £1395 14s 3d.

Mr R.. G. Crawford, surgeon dentist of Auckland, is about to commence the practice of hi.? profession at Gisborne. He has engaged rooms m Mr W. Goods' buildings. , " .

Tlie school cadets of the district had a field day., ai.. Victoria Domain to-day, a number of military evolutions being performed m the presence of Colonel Loveday. Major Kinder was m command of the battalion.

By the s.s. Mamari, leaving Wellington to-day, Mr and Mrs Broaclhurst and family, of Waerenga-a-hika-, are passengers for London. Mr Broadliurst, who booked through Messrs Common, Shelton and Co., expects to be absent about 12 months.

The Hawke's Bay representative team for Auckland iis now practically complete, and will be fairly strong, not-withstanding that three ov four of the best will be unable to make the trip. Tlie team leaves Napier on the 21st inst'., plays Auckland from the 23rd to the 25th, and Poverty Bay on the 27th and 28th.

The Union Company's Haupiri, which makes her entry into the East Coast trade on Monday, is commanded by Captain Campbell, late master of the Herald. Captain Back&trom conies up on board as a passenger this trip, and takes the Haupiri over at Auckland, whilst \Captain Campbell goes off on holiday leave.

At the annual meeting of tlie Gisborne Rifle Cadets last evening the balance sheet showed the corps to be m a very satisfactory financial position. On March Ist, M 904, there was a- balance of £2 5s 9d,' and the total receipts during the year were £35 12s, making a total of £37 17 s 9d. The expenditure was £17 9s 9d, thus leaving the substantial credit balance of £20 Bs.

At their auction mart to-day Messrs Williams and Kettle offered for sale Mr R. Harper's equity of redemption m section 15, Wainui road (i-acre), and sections 220, 221 and 222, Iranui road, Kaiti (one acre each). There was a mortgage of £505 on the property and interest due, amounting to £45. Tlie property was put up m one lot, and/ the first bid for Mr Harper's interest was £300: The price quickly advanced to £400, at which figure it was secured by Mr F. Hall.

The Gisborne Fire Brigade's time m the disabled hose competition at Dunedin, won by Masterton m 75 3-5 sec, was 85 2-5 sec. Thames m the run-off for third position put up a fine record of 74 1-5 sec. In the .manual engine event, one man, won by Timaru m 62 4-5 sec, Superintendent Wildish, of Gisborne, did the work m 74 2-5 sec. In the baby rescue for two men Gisborne's time was 25 4-5 sec, that of the winners (New Plymouth) being 23 1-5 sec. In the manual engine for five men, won by Hawera m 44 1-5 sec, the local reps, occupied 64 215 sec.

Attention is directe.dl to the advertisement of the. Technical School, stating that the plumbing, class 'will .commence on Monday evening. In view of tlie probability of ' the Plumbers Registration Bill, mtrodticed' hi the last session of Parliament, becoming law, and also the near approach of the laying of water mains and! connections iiu Gisborne, when none but competent tradesmen will be allowed to do the work, it behoves all the young people engaged at the trade to qualify themselves, andl as the. opportunity is now offered them at a reasonable cost we hope to see a strong class formed and good work done.

Mr W. T. Guild arrived by the Victoria this morning to take charge of the Okitu butter factory, m place of Mr A. R. Valder, who lias accepted the appoint, ment as assistant instructor to the Hawkesbuay Agricultural College, New South Wales. Mr Guild comes .with very high credentials from Cihiristchurch.' He was manager for nine, years of the North Otago Dairy Company, and latterly was manager of the Canterbury Dairy Company, Chrisicluurch. Mr Guild's winter make of butter secured the .only two prizes open to factories at the last Dunedin winter show, thereby entitling him to the gold medal for the colony and to hold the 25---guinea cjup for 12 months.

After paradle last evening the Gisborne Cadets held their annual meeting, adjourning to Mrs Erskine's, where refreshments were dispensed. At the invitation of Captain JBeere, Colonel Loyeday was present, and gave the lads an interesting address on discipline and military duties generally. Tlie balance sheet was read and adopted. It was decided that m the event of the strength of the corps keeping up to go m for a new uniform. Colonel Loved'ay headedl-the subscription list for this purpose with a guinea. The members of the company are taking a keen interest m their work. Owing to the older ladls getting over the maximum age and dropping out there are a few vacancies, and anyone desirous of joining should make early application. '

At His Majesty's Theatre on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, the Wkitehouse Bioscope, and Variety Company -will make their first appearance m Gisborne. By means of the machine employed, the living pictures are run m continuous series, each of about a. quarter of an hour's deration, and no time is spent on stationary views. Among tlie special attractions are films illustrative of the methods of modern warfare m harbor limits, bombardments, the firing of milnes and submarines at work. , Trick and comic scenes are provided m full measure, and further variety is given by the performances of Kershaw,- -the conjuror and illusionist. Special rates of admission for childiren are announced. -

Following.^ iS; the list of visitors last week at the Hot Springs hotel, Morere : — Messrs C. A. Fehwick, F. Hackett, Harris, A. "H. Steele, J. -H. Gittos, -N. Redstone, A. ,R. Harding, William 1 Cooper, Vincent Pyke. J. Sherickin, H. Johnson, Steele, Mesdames Telford 1 , Old, William Cooper, Colebourne, Captain and Mrs Chrisp, Misses Witty .(2), Steele ,and Banks, Gisborne; Mrs R. A. Bygum, Parkhurst; Miss Mclntyre, Sydney; Mr S. Condon, Adelaide; Mrs.'D. E. O'Neill, Ohukaj Mrs Thomson: aiidi two -children, W.elUngton ; Miss Swarbrick and Mr Swarbrick, Tarewa ; Mesdames Poyzer, Gay and child, W. Coker andl child, Corkill, Misses N. McGowan, N. Mullins.E. M. Clifford; Father : Lepietre, Wairoa; Mr R. Boyd, Matawhero ; Mrs A. Popplewell, Pahiatu'a ; Dr. and Mrs Hyde, Clyde (Otago) ; Miss C. Steele, Auckland ; Dr. and Mrs DeLisle, Mrs Coker, Messrs Speedy (2), Napier ; Mr and Mrs G. T. Harvey, Petiane ; Mrs Ar E. Beckett, Mrs A. Steed 1 , Frasertown; Mr and Mrs F. E. Gaddum, Mahia; Misses Niven (2), Mr J. T. .Fitzgerald, : Te Arai ;- Mi-s R." H. Gaskin. Greymouth; Mrs W. H. Boult, Hawera ; Messrs Murphy and Irwin, jMangaohe ; Miss O'Conner, Nelson. The extensive line of shipping at present berthed* at the town wharf presents indisputable evidence as to the progress of the port. The berthing accommodation, whioh has been increased from time to time by the harbor authorities, has during the past few <la.vs. been taxed to its utmost capacity. Although the inner harbor has on previous occasions held a large number, of boats, the shipping now m port hol<te a record m tonnage. Last evening the net register of the shipping m the inner harbor totalled' close on 1000 tons, being made up as follows : Barquentine lima 318 tons, scow Ururoa 196 tons. . auxiliary schooner Kaeo 156 tons, auxiliary;, schooner Aotea ,89. tons, sepw Bravo 99 tons, schooner Awahui' 85 tons, s.s. Fanny "s6 lons. In' addition to this there was the large mosquito fleet of tenders and' lighters. Much difficulty has been experienced m providing, sufficient berths for handling the amount of cargo passing across the wharf. . Had this amount of "shipping accumulated during the height of the wool season, now- about over', i: a block' would!' 1 possibly ' have ensued. In addition . to • the above, two ocean-going .steamers were at an anchorage m thei outer harbor this m addition to the Huddart-Parker steamer, the registered! net tonnage being : Star of Ireland 2743 tonis, Rakaia 3660 ions,-, Victoria 1870, tons; a total of 8273 tons net.

Tiie Baby Show and competitions will be. held to-night at His Majesty's Theatre. A Press Association telegram from Suva to-day states that the s.«. Yaralla has gone m search for the s.s. Pilbarra.

Tlie combined! meeting of tlie County Council andl Railway League has been postponed to the 27th inst.

Tho late train will be delayed until after the performance of Baby Show and competitions to-night.

At the Crown lands sale at Napier the lease of section 8, block 8, Ntihaka, was secured by D. A. Mayo (unset £1 lO.s) at £5 10s.

Die Rice Dramatic Company produce "Unqle Tom's Cabin," dramatised by "the Rev. David Parry, at His Majesty's Theatre on the 20th inst.

The programme of the sports gathering to be held) at Te Karaka. on the diate of the opening of the railway to that township is published m another column.

It is stated that the s.s. Norge, which left the Bluff last week with a cargo of oats, cleared for Guam, is supposed to be boundi for Vladivostock.

The Rev. Father Calidll is about to leave on a trip to Great Britain. During his absence the Rev. Father O'Shea, of Buckle street, Wellington, will take cliarge of the Wairarapa "parish.

There are now 3414 men, including 179 artisans, engagedi on> co-operative works m New Zealand. Of these 1845 laborers and 1793 artisans are on railway and other works under the Public Works Department, and 1390 laborers are on road construction.

The Hastings correspondent of the Hawke's Bay Herald writes: '"Some of the. influential natives m this district are endeavoring to arrange for a visit of a team, of Hawke's Bay Maori footballers to Australia during tlie coming winter. They are meeting with good support, and it is practically a certainty that the trip will be made."

Attention is directed to nn announcement m another column that Mr Tisdall, the agent m, Persia and Turkish Arabia for the British and Foreign Bible Society, is about to visit this district, and to deliver his lectures, illustrated by limelight slides, at Waerenga-a-hika Coflege on Monday and Holy Trinity Schoolroom on Tuesday nights. The local auxiliary of the Society, learning that Mr Tisdlall was on furlough m New Zealand, invited him to pay this district a visit. The President, Mr C. A. DeLautour, will occupy the cfiair on Tuesday night.

Information has been received at Auckland that Mr Thomas Morrin arrived m Sydney <iv Friday week, and no steps were taken to enforce the warrant for alleged embezzlement- which, had been taken out against him- by the directors of the Wellington Park Stud Company, of which he was, until recently, managing director. The directors of the Company had decided that tliey would not incur further expense over bringing Mr Morrin to Auckland to answer the cliarge, and the police department, m the absence of instructions, took no action.

The conditions on which the subdivisions of tlie Moa Flat estate will be. offered to settlers (states the Lyttelton Times) are unique m the history of settlement m New Zealand. -They amount practically to the payment diuring the first five years of interest on the purchase money, and settlers will/ be supplied with sheep from the flock on the property jit 2s 6d per head below the current price. The improvements which the settlers will be called upon to effect will constitute the vendors' margin of security.

The bomb which killed the late Minister of the Interior was filled, not with dynamite, but with the burning tears of the mothers, sisters, wives and daughters of the men wliom he sent to the gallows or to die slowly m the prisons or m Siberia. Thus pleaded the lawyer Korobchevsky m defence of his client Suzonoff, charged with the murder of M. de Plehve, who Prince Kropotkiu, m the course of au article, ''Constitutional Agitation In Russia," m the Last number of tho Nineteenth Century, describes as the last hope — the last card of the autocracy.

Great mortality occurred'" m a. mob of sheep which arrived at Port Aliuriri from the country on Thursday evening for shipment to Canterbury (says the Napier Telegraph). On tl\e way m from Taradale, m spite of the drovers' efforts, the sheep greedily dfcink of the salt water m tlie inner harbor, and m the morning 28 of their number were found dead from the 'effects thus caused, 42 others were prostrated, and are not likely to recover, while many more which were affected were shipped along with the healthy ones to Lyttelbon m the Rakanoa, special men having to accompany the steamer to look after tlie sick animals.

The sale is announced! of the Union Company's cargo steamer Herald, which has been purchased by Captain Miles, of Tasmania, for an Eastern Company. Tlie Herald, which was built and engined by Pearce Bros., Dundee, m 1884, has a deadweight capacity of 642 tons. Her principal dimensions are — Length, 172 f t; beam, 28.2 ft; deptln of hold, 13.3 ft! tonnage, 573 gross ; 370 net. The vessel was previously owned by an Auckland syndicate, which comprised! the late Captain Jones andty Messrs Stone Bros. The Herald, prior to that, was running to the West Coast under the Brunner Coal Company's flag. She was purchased by the Union Company about four years ago. Report is current that the Union Company have also disposed of the cargo steamer Rotokino.

. Lovers of sensation m Wellington are to have the opportunity of sampling the thrilling delights of the water-chute. Charles Stephenson, of rowing fame, who is an expert boat and chute builder, .is at present m the oity, and is negotiating with a local company to erect a, "chute" m connection with one of its other enterprises. The "chute" consists of grades of staging with a fall of about one m three, terminating m a small lake or a large tank of "water. Flat-bottomed punts of peculiar constamction a.re hoisted by mechanical meams_to the top of the staging. Passengers take their seats, and tlie- punt slides down the incline at an enormous veloqity, which as brought to a termination by striking the waiter. The Wciter-chute is an established recreation m England, America, and Australia, and one is now thrilling the Auckland public m its leisure moments.

Anne, Countess of Seafield, who lias just joined the Auxiliary League' of the Salvation Army, is proud to be- known as tlie widow of a working man peer. In New Zealand m the eighties she shared 1 the main viteissitudies of her husband, the tenth Earl of Seafield'. "When liard times came to us m Oamaru," says the Dowager Countess, "and fair-weather friends deserted us, the poor and exiled son of an ancient race saw no disgrace m toiling with hfe hands to keep our home together. With a houseful of babie s at home, he couldl not afford to refuse work, however rough. He toiled as a navvy on the roadis, laying down tramlines, digging and fencing and rabbiting up-country, often sleeping m the open air or m a hen-house. For three whole weeks I have known him to be vainly seeking work, with a single sixpence m Ms pocket which- he dare not spend."

A recent. Wellington' nwriagta caused a great deal of surprise to 200 or so pa-os-pective guests, who found themselves deprived of all the excitement and joy that usually occur at "pretty" weddings. Tlie event was fixed for 'a date towards tlie end of the present month, and as the 'contracting parties, are well-known and popular m the capital oity, the- occasion was being looked forward to ati one that would be. a soqial function of, .some magnitude. The invitations had been issued, and all the customary arrangements were being made when 'the many friends of the parties were astounded by the news that the nwriage had taken place at the registrar's office. The explanation is alleged to be that.-whiUst still a prospective bride the lady was agivest at a recent fashionable wedding m Wellington, and was so appalled; at the thought that similar ceremonies would attend her own nuptials that she decided, and the bridegroom of course agreed,^ that m her. case the knot should De tied minus the pomp and circumstance of a, "fashionable wedding."

'Christchurch Truth reports that there is trouble amongst the co-operative laborers on the Waipara-Cheviot' railway works. It appears that a number of these men, hailing from Dunedin, -were to have been paid off. last Saturday, but owing, it is alleged, to the assistant engineer missing . the train, they were not paid, but were informed, before leaving the works that they ."-''would '.receive payment m town at 10 on Monday morning. They had to sleep out on Sunday night. On. presenting, themselves at the Public Works Office and asking for the money, they were informed that there was none for them.... The .meo. telegraphed that afternoon to the engineerin charge, putting the. position before him. The men, according to. Truth, are all alble-bodied and anxious for work, but they are disinclined to work any longer for the wages given them. They allege that they have worked on the North fsland'Main Trunk and the Otago Central, and never averaged 1 less . than 9s per day ; whereas on ■ the Cheviot line their average per day has been 6s lOd. They had to pay. 14s, per week for board, and: half of their earnings. were sent to their wives. With "constant .work they were unable to earnr anything beyond mere "tucker,"; as they (phrased it. All allege that the inspector under whom they worked, was far from competent, and fooled them by telling them first that the work they were on was contract work,^ and then that it was day : work; They estimate the work done'by them as worth 10s 6d per day. The men,' who iutended waiting on Mr T. E. Taylor, M:H:R.rtb put their grievances before him, stated that a number of other men, who came from the North Island Main Trunk works, and who are^ dissatisfied with the wages on the Cheviot works, intended leaving m a day or two.

No less than 300 men and 28 women were arraigned at the Magistrate's Court, Christchurch, last year for riding 'bicycles on footpaths.

The barque Invergaryy, which arrived at Wellington from. Liverpool this week, sailed 287 miles m one day, and for nine dhys averaged 250 miles.

The Premier told a pressman at Auckland that his liealth is first-rate, and) that he feels more like himself than ho has done for the past two or three years.

"There is something essentially pagan and' unwholesome m the pessimism that characterises most of Australian poetry," says Inspector Strachau, of the Marlborough Education Board.

Horse-dealers from the South Island report that the demand for horses has slackened off during the past month, and shipments from this island 1 have m consequence not been so successful.

A Dad thirteen years of age who has not passed a, single standard and" hardly knows his alphabet was before tlie. Dunedin Court last week m a truancy case. iie inispeqtor described it as the most shameful case he has ever heard of.

A Wellington firm ha» been advised from its London and Calcutta houses that the Russian and Indian linseed crops have thi year beeni a. failure, and that very high prices are ruling. Gisborne farmers, why dwi you give up linseed?

The. impression is so strong that nolicense will be carried at Invercargill" as the result of the- polls m November next that (says a Southern paper) even the local bookmakers are making wagers upon the contingency. Chew Chong, known as the "father of the dairy industry" m Taranaki, has been presented by the residents of Eltham with a purse of sovereigns. He is about to visit Ghana, after an absence of 40 years.

It is understood' tliat Messrs Lascelles Wardl and Laurie, wluom the New Zealand Government lias decided to send, to Calcutta and Sydney respectively to 'superintend! tlie sterilising of bones prior to shipment to this colony, will each receive a salary of £450 per annum.

A, large sea-lion recently took up its quarters near Jacks Point, Timaru, and provided an object of interest for dwellers m the locality. Its .strange appearance and menacing attitude when disturbed put to sudden, flight a party of young men who came across it unexpectedly while it was enjoying a sun bath on the beach.

Mr Geo. Throssel, ex-Premier of Western Australia, is about to tour New Zealand, i'n order to recuperate his broken health, which has caused him to retire from politics. He has been a member of the Western Australian Parliament ever since the country was given responsible government m 1890, and he succeeded Sir John Forrest as Premier.

It was reported m town on Monday (says the Dannevirke Advocate) that the passengers by tlie express from Napier had a somewhat alarming experience, owing to the excessive speed at which, the train came down the Matamau incline. The Westinghouse brake was unworkable, and the tra.ni had to depend on the ordinary brakes. The passengers received a considerable scare.

At a health lecture m Wanganui Dr. Greenwood showed m. an interesting and conclusive manner that the root of most human ills is defective teeth. Perfectly chewed food is the basis of a healthy body, and far more attention should be paid to the teeth, especially tlie grinders. He advised parents to take their children regularly to a dentist, which wis as important as their education.

In view of no-lilcense possibilities m New Zealand m the not far-distant future the following American joke may afford a useful hint to thirsty souls. 'T think," wrote a Maine man to a New York firm lately, "you would) sell more of the fountain pens if you made them to hold about a pint. The one that I bought does not hold one decent drink." Maine, of course, is a prohibition State.

A rather amusing incidfent happened on Saturday (says the Hawera Star). The Hon. J. Carroll, Native Minister, had arranged for a reserved carriage by the mail train frbni Wanganui. Just as he was about to enter the carriage two ladies got m, and. though they were solicited by numerous officials to move they refused to do so. The stationmaster declined to accept the responsibility of ejecting the fcidfes, and another carnage was added to the train for the Minister.

Writing to a Wellington friend, Mr J. Nevin Tait, well known' m dramatic circles, who was m Frankfort-on-Maftie m January, s ays he has been trying to secure Kubelik for Australia, and New Zealand, but the great virtuoso wants £10,000 before his violin will breathe sweetness into the antipodean atmosphere. He te a huge draw m Europe. Mr Tait mentions that Dolores is doing great things m Europe. .

Apropos the discussion at the Education Board meeting on Tuesday relative to corporal punishment, it is interesting (says the Napier Telegraph) to know Mr Dooly's opinion; on this subject. He says : "Whiniver I hear iv a big six-foot school teacher demandin' that he be allowed to wliale a thirty-two-inch .child I feel -like ask in' hrn up here to put on th' gloves with Jeffreys. Whin a Government or a man raysorts to blows it shows they're ayether afraid or have lost their tempers. An' there ye ar-ve." "Spare th' rod an' spile th' child," said Mr Hennessy. "Yes," said Mr Dooley, "but don't spare th' rod an' ye spile tli? rod, th'- child, an' th' child's father."

The Hon. J. M. Pratt, M.L.C., Victoria, who is now m Wellington, is astonished at the progress made by that city since hiis. first visit m 1876. Speaking at the opening of the Australian Widows' Fund building on Friday week, he said that when he first came to Wellington Lambton quay was the foreshore of the harbor, and from his room m the Empire hotel he saw the waters of the harbor lapping the beach. In. his stroll through the city on his present visit, "he had been able to find Lambton quay, but how changed it was ! In. 1876 the people were talking about reclaiming land from the sea. It had seemed 1 to him queer, but the people of Wellington had accomplished it. Ther had -driven back the sea, cut down the hills, and constructed fine buildings which) were not only the pride of the citizens, but the admiration of every visitor.

Referring to the alterations m the dining car arrangements upon the express trains. Sir Joseph Ward stated at Christchurch that it was proposed to do away with the existing care, and to replace them by more modern ones, m which tl>e seating and table arrangements would be much improved. The new cars would be similar to those running on tlie Rotorua line, which had; won general praise. It was not sought to make money from tbe dining cars, and the accommodation would be improved and the convenience and comfort of passengers studied m every way. With regard to tlie stations, it was proposed to do away /with the bars throughout the colony/and not to allow alcoholic stimulants to be dispensed upon railway property. Tlie tea rooms would be continued, but these would be let to suitable tenants from year to year, and would remain under the supervision of the officer of the Department.

Waipawa seems to be retrogressing to the state of Goldsmith's deserted village —judging by the statement of one of the .ministers* attending the Methodist Conference. Apropos of a recommendation, to the Conference tliat the married minister stationed at Waipawa.be withdrawn, the minister affected informed the Conference that during, his nine montlis' residence m Waipawa not tliree new families had come to the town, and there was not now a. single house or shop m course of erection. An indignant lay delegate rose to a point of order— "there Avas a shop being erected"— but the ministerial deponent explained that that shop was finished and done with, and that there was no building now m progress. Another delegate said the district was likely to go ahead as a result of the cutting ur> of the Mount Vernon estate and other properties m tlie neighborhood of Waipawa. Waipawa people are very indie-' nant at these remarks. ' S ArP'ir 0 "?? *<* d^orce, instituted by Mrs Alice Maud Milbourn (better known by her stage name, Mis Maud Beattv) Zu ih t g T °{! nd , of tl,e infidelity of fir &" d ' Milboum, was heard m the Supreme Court at Weillington by Mr Justice Cooper. Mr Watford, who appeared for the petitioner (the responden^did: not appear, and was not re presented by counsel), said the .respondent was the representative m New. Zealand for Gilby's gin. The parties were marwed at St. Peter's 'Church, Wellington, on the 15th July, 1899. For four months after the ma.rriage Mrs- Milburn continued under engagement : wtf h ' the Pollards, and then went to live with lier husband; they went to Sydney, and on returning to New Zealand he became very ill, and she returned to the stage. Afterwards, it was decided she shouJd go Home, arid. make a name for herself on the stage. Then she went to England, and secured an engagement at tha Drury Lane Theatre, but failing health necessitated her giving up her engagements. Tlie money from her husband stopped, and if. it had not been for her sister and brother she would not have been m a position to return - to the colony. She wrote to her husband; but gob mo reply from him, and on returning to the colony was unable to discover his whereabouts. She subsequently mob him m Sydney, and the admission he made led to her taking these proceedings. ; 'Evidence was given m support of counsel's statement, and a. decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute at the expiration of three montlis, costs being allowed on the lowest scale.;

Messrs Ghrisp and Son are landing today more pianos, three cures being opened, including a. magnificent Brinsmeadj for which they are sole agent*! also,, two high-class English pianos. Their niotto, advertised on page 4, is : "You may trust Clirisp and Son for pianos and organs.*

The Wellington Musical Union have instituted a sight-reading and voice production class.

While turning over tlie debris at the fire at Mr Wilson's residence, Woodville. recently, some boys' found a roll of notes and sovereigns amounting to £10 10s. The notes were only a litlte charred, and will be negotiable.

The deficiency m connection with the late exhibition is being variously estimated by the "man m tlie street," says the New Plymouth Herald, but it is understood that the audited 1 documents show the amount to be not far off of £1050.

While the swimming sports m connection with the Wellington Woollen Company's picnic at Day's Bay were m progress, one of the competitors, A. Ramsden, a son of the mill manager, was attacked by an octupus, but eventually regained tlie wharf.

The Westport Times -says : The coalmines luave been kept busy since the beginning of 1905, and, judging by tlie present demand for orders, there is every prospect of the output being maintained during the remainder of the year, at tlie end of which it is hoped a record wil! be established.

The Rev. L. M. Isitt is expected to return, to the colony from England m May next. The Methodist Conference lias attaclied him/ to the Christchurch South circuit, without pastoral charge. Tlie Rev. F. W. Isitt has again been attached to Wellington circuit, without pastoral charge.