WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7544, 29 October 1902, Page 3

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

[From Otr» Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Oct. 29. The. Commandant of the Forces, after successfully dodging the bullets and shells of the Boers in South Africa, was placed hors de combat on Monday while indulging in the more peaceful pastime of cricket. General Babington, who is an enthusiastic cricketer, failed to stop a hurricane return ball, which struck him behind the ear, inflicting a nasty injury. He had to take an enforced rest yesterday. It is reported in shipping circles that the New Zealand Shipping Company has sold its ateameo Otarama t<\ foreign owners. A novel sight was presented to the officers of the steamer Ilimutaka during her voyage from the Bluff to Napier. At 11 p.m v when between Cape Saunders and The Nuggets, a number of seafbirds took complete possession of the forward part of the upper deck, and several of them found their way into the captain's cabin. The little visitors were apparently dazed by the electric light. A midshipman of the vessel essayed to capture one of the largest birds, but only got an unexpectedly nasty nip for !his pains. The Wellington Ratepayers' Association intends to again urge the City Council to avail itself of the services of Colonel Turretini, the European hydraulic expert, to re►port on the utilisation of the Hutt River for generating electrical power for. the propulsion of the city trams.