Wellington News.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8618, 24 March 1897, Page 3

Wellington News.

(Per Press Association.)

Wellington, March 23. Dr Beattie, wh* has been assistant medical miperintcndent of the Lunatic Asylum at Seacliff, has been appointed to the charge of the Auckland Asylum in succession to Dr Fookes, who has been obliged to resign; on account of ill-health. Dr Greig, a resident of Wellington i'or some months, is to fill the vacancy at Seacliff; Dr Perry, of Timaru, is to assist Dr Hassell, medical superintendent in charge of the asylum in th« Wellington district, aud he will also act as relieving officer for the colony. '■ , . , A company has been formed, with enlarged capital, to take over and ■work the New Zealand Times from the present company, subject to the consent of the latters shaieholdois. Many thefts of bicycles have occured lately, not only from the streets, but from the iuterior of buildings. It is believed an organised gang are at work, who systematically ship them away to other parts of the colony and Australia. The promoters of the Sports Club, {or the use of members of the Athletic Clubs, again applied for a charter, and were refused. Nearly 300, members are ready to join, but the Premier in-, formed them that he had had a nunibej of applications for charters, and he could not grant one without grantin" all the application* in the Wellington district. The Hospital Board yesterday passed the estimates for the year. They refused £8740 for tho Wellington and Wairarapa Charitable Aid Board, but passed requisitions for £10,735, of which the local Benevolent Society • absorbs £6500. A discussion took place on the Taranaki Board's circular, suggesting that the whole cost should be thrown on the Consolidated Fund. Members were agreed that the cost was far too great, and that »ome» ■ thing ought to be done to prevent men deserting their families, Some thought the district* should be smaller, so that the control of the funds should be lnore effective. It was eventually decided to issue a circular inviting all Boards a* to hold a conference here to discuss wholo question. ' There is likely to bo an einbro^lio over tho Suburbs licensing election, us ballot papers are not printed in ftistjuct alphabetical sequence. TUctewperawa party claim tm* will specially affeut ' thpm, ft? they have issued tickets properly printed, and the effect will be misleading. A protest was sent to the Returning Officer, but he is alleged to have taken no notice of it, and legal proceedings are threatened,