SOCIETY ON DITS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XI, 12 March 1898, Page 322

SOCIETY ON DITS.

THATHis Excellency the Governor, with the Counters of Ranfurly, Captain Alexander, and a small party are again in Christchurch, having much enjoyed their trip south. The weather was all that could be desired. An excursion was made by the gentlemen of the party to Ball Hutt and the Tasman glacier. His Excellency’s visit to Kangiora last week, was very well arranged. The Mayor, Mr C. T. Jennings, the councillors, and some of the citizens meeting the Governor at the Station. Mr Scott’s Junction Hotel was selected as the luncheon rendezvous, and plans were duly laid on the due inspection by Lord Ranfurly of the most interesting sights in the neighbourhood. That Mr W. Wood, eldest son of Mr W. Wood of the Napier High School, is to lie congratulated on having passed his final solicitor’s examination ; and that Mr Brydon Glendinning, also of the High School, goes Home next month to study medicine at London University. That Mount Egmont has been a very popular resort during the past month, all the routes to the top being availed of. The mountain house on the evening of February 26th was crammed with visitors, a large number of them successfully ascending to the top of the mountain next morning. The smoke from the bush fires prevent any extensive view of the surrounding country from being obtained. That Pieton continues to carry oft’ the palm for a fine-weather record. That at the Inglewood Sports on March 3rd, Mr Patterson played on bagpipes which had been used by the present owner’s grandfather at the battle of Waterloo. That the Polo Sports in Bulls were extremely suecesful. Mrs Walter Johnston, in a dainty black and white silk gown, gave the afternoon tea. The Messrs Keiller, of Roumai, finished up the gaiety with a good dance. That the crews chosen to represent Picton in the Championship Regatta, have started to train for that event. Fredericks—stroke for the crews and one of last year’s champion pairs, has lieen suffering from blood poison in his foot, and was unable to start sooner. That an old Napier High School boy, Mr H. Murphy, son of Mr J. J. Murphy, of Woodville, is to be congratulated on having secured the position of Professor of Civil Law at the University of Jena. No Englishman has held this post before during the last centurv. That Mr Cooper, a member of the Hawke’s Bay Lawn Tennis Club, has offered a gold medal as a prize for the Men’s Handicap Singles. This tournament is to be played off very shortly, and the entrance fee paid by the men is to increase the value of the prize for the combined doubles. That it is understood in Wellington that Mr Jellicoe intends to make application to be heard before the Cabinet on behalf of the condemned man Philpott, as soon as the death sentence passed upon the Silverstream murderer comes before the ministers. The trial has caused considerable stir in Wellington, and the Court was crowded daily during the trial. That the Nelson Harmonic Society resumed practice last week after the usual summer vacation. Schubert’s ‘ Song of Miriam ’ and a small work of Mr Maughan Barnett’s will form the programme of the next concert That Mr W. R. Jourdain, of Napier, an enthusiastic cyclist, has been on a tour to nearly all the most important places in the North Island. He started for this trip on the sth of February’ and has traversed nearly 600 miles during that time. That Miss M. Philpotts returned to Picton, from Blenheim on Saturday evening. That on Friday and Friday night about an inch of rain, or 100 tons to the acre, fell in Auckland. That the Hon. J. G. Ward was in New Plymouth on March 2nd, and was the guest of Mr Samuel. During the afternoon Sir Ward visited the petroleum works at Moturoa That the ladies of Napier as well as the men are beginning to take an interest in Ixtwling, and that an exciting though perhaps rather an erratic game was played by them last Saturday. Some of those who took part were the Misses Crerar (2), Macfarlane, Newman, Faulkner, ami Dean. That numerous bicycling teasand picnics have l>een given in Wellington for the officers of H.M.s. Tauranga and Torch, many of whom are keen cyclists. That the Bowen prize of the New Zealand Univerity, one of the greatest honours that the students can obtain, has lieen awarded to Mr John t'aughley, third master at the Napier District School.

That the Christchurch Musical Union are making rapid progress with the rehearsals of Mr Hill’s cantata, “ Hinemoa,” and the concert will be given early in April. It is thought Mr Hill may be present to hear his work produced. That Dr. Millington has decided to leave Picton and return to the West Coast where he has many friends who are desirous of welcoming him among them again. Dr. and Mrs Millington will be a loss to Picton where they entered into all social matters and assisted all charitable purposes. That a wail goes up from the one Picton University student regarding the loss of the examination papers. No doubt the solitary wail will join others elsewhere, and one prolonged howl will greet the careless one, to whom is due the fact that the papers were on the Mataura at all. Last year the examiner was killed and this year the papers are wrecked, and ‘ ’e don’t know where*e are.’ Neither do the stndents.