SOCIETY ON DITS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue V, 30 July 1898, Page 147

SOCIETY ON DITS.

That a shooting party, in one day, recently shot 13 wallabies in the bush gullies round about Waimate, South Canterbury. That the entries for the Auckland Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Association’s show are particularly good this year.

That a perfect skeleton of a man, with a large skull, supposed to be that of a Maori, has been dug up by some workmen at Napier in the Goldsmith Road. At the place .where it was found there is said to have once been deep water, and near it was the land-ing-place for troops during the Maori war. The skeleton was doubled up into the position in which the Maoris usually bury their dead. There has been a golf club started at Nelson, numbering over thirty members as yet It is to be known as the Nelson Golf Club. The committee consists of Messrs E. F. Cooke, J. F. Dundas, H. Robinson and J. Sharp, jun., with Mr C. King as hon. secretary and treasurer.

That the ball lately given by the bachelors of Tai Tapu, Canterbury, was a very enjoyable affair. That diphtheria and measles are still keeping the public schools closed in Ashburton.

That a bridge is to be erected across the Whangarei River.

That at Miss Winterbourne’s annual assembly, held in the Drillshed, Kaiapoi, there was a very large attendance and everything went off particularly well.

That a Caledonian Society' has sprung up in Pahiatua, Palmerston North.

That the Kahanga and Savage Clubs, Dunedin, are to join together to give an ‘open’ night, which promises some flavour of novelty. That the increase in the number of vagrant lads in Auckland, who scoff at their parents’ authority, and in a lesser degree at that of the police, should afford the citizens a subject for gravest reflection. That Mrs Mellsopp, of Palmerston North, a former lady principal of the Wanganui Girls’ College, is to be nominated for a seat on the Wanganui Education Board at the next election.

That the Palmerston North Bowling Club recommend that the Single Rink Tournament should be held next year at New Plymouth as a compliment to Mr Paid, the ‘father’ of bowling in Taranaki. That the Timaru Gymkhana, held in aid of the Cricket Club, went off very well in spite of the tempestuous weather.

That the newly completed business premises of the Tonson Garlick Company' (Limited) are among the finest buildiiigs in the colony. That if Parnell, Auckland, persists in having a regatta of its own this year its sister suburb, Ponsonby, will be sure to follow suit, and the result will be that the success of the Auckland Regatta will be very seriously interfered with. In order to make the Auckland Regatta equal, if not excel, its reputation in the past, the suburbs should join in with it and not set up rival regattas of their own. Union is strength.

That in Hawke's Bay they have been having weather mild enough to bring out the blossom of small fruits. That New Zealand bred rams are finding- favour in the sight of breeders in the Argentine, and it seems as if there is going to be a demand for them from that quarter.

That the residents of Brick Bay, Auckland, are going to subscribe largely towards the erection of a long wharf, which they are sore’y in want of.

That St. Thomas' Church, Wellington. is getting a new pipe organ so constructed that if desired additions can easily be made to it.

That the high price of land in the neighbourhood of Auckland rather stands in the way of that city getting an experimental farm established near it; but that if it should get the farm an Agricultural College might not impossibly be established in conjunction with the farm later on.

That the dance recently given by Mr and Mrs Grundy, of Wellington, at their residence, Stoneleigh House, Hawker - street, in honour of their eldest daughter's birthday, was a very eharming and enjoyable function. That the natives in the Hastings district have taken enthusiastically to golf.

That the ladies of New Zealand will soon be enabled to taste the patriotic pleasure of wearing non-imported ostrich feathers if the industry which Messrs L. D. Nathan and Co. have started at their ostrich farm, Whitford Park. Wairoa South, attains the proportions it promises to attain. Experts speak in the highest terms of the appearance of the feathers grown, prepared and dyed at Whitford Park. Their first-rate quality, combined with their low price, is sure to secure' a very rapid sale for them.

That the social held in the Fitzroy Hall. New Plymouth, on Tuesday evening in aid of the funds of the Associated Sports Ground, was largelyattended. Much credit is due to Mrs Taunton and the Ladies' Committee, and the duties of masters of ceremonies were carried out by Messrs Foote and E. Humphries. On the following evening a most successful children’s dance was held. That some of the Premier's admissions contain a delightful mixture of frankness and naivete; for example, he told the House lately that he liked to please the majority because the majority- must rule. That Mr and Mrs Basil Hewitt and family, who have been staying in Cambridge for some months, returned to their home at Waimai last week.

That on Saturday evening a successful Children’s Bazaar and Exhibition of Dolls was held in St. Augustine's Schoolroom at Napier. It was presided over by the Misses Faulknor and Hooper. That the Auckland Rifle Battalion may probably get two rapid - firing Maxim guns to complete their equipment.

That the graves of the soldiers who lost their lives during the Maori rebellion, which are in the New Plymouth Cemetery, have been put into a thorough state of repair. That during- the strong easterly gale which blew last week the Union Company’s steamer Omapere had a very rough passage from Westport to Auckland, getting her deck fittings smashed, and her saloon, engine-room, etc., flooded by the heavy seas that were constantly breaking over her. That influenza is rife in Picton again. It breaks out with the mimosa blossom regularly once a year. That no pains had been spared to make the Volunteer Social, by which the Lyttelton Navals recently celebrated their anniversary, a great success, and so it was undoubtedly pronounced to be by all who attended it.

That, under the conduetorship of Professor Schmitt, the Auckland Exhibition Choir commenced last Thursday their practice of Sullivan's ‘Golden Legend.’

That the 29th of July is the anniversary of the wreck of the Tasmania. The steerage stewardess on that occasion hardly received (through her own modesty) her just meed of praise. One of the saloon passengers states that her unselfish behaviour surpassed that of everyone else. She even managed to provide her passengers with a most welcome cup of tea before they left the sinking steamer. Such heroism deserves recognition, even though it be somewhat tardy.

That the Bazaar to be held In New Plymouth in August in aid of the funds of St. Mary’s Church will take the form of a Japanese Fair, when the Theatre Roval will be suitably decorated. and the ladies will appear iin Japanese costumes. Mr 11. M. Didsbury will look after the variety entertainment and Mr D. Teed, jun.. the dramatic portion of the show. The Indies forming the committee are Mesdames Standish (President), Cliff, Dockrill. Mills. Stanford. W. 11. Skinner, and F. L. Webster.

That the moral condition of Christchurch must stand in desperate need of improvement when its liishop feels called upon to make the statement that people in Christchurch will grovel to wealth even when embodied in the person of an arrant blackguard. That volunteering is certainly coming into fashion again in this colony, for the Defence Department has lately been almost, if not quite, inundated with offers of service from proposed volunteer corps. That the Government Entomologist, Captain Broun, purposes dealing very strictly with the importers of scaleinfected fruit.

That the members of the Hastings Liedertufel held their first practice on a recent Wednesday evening, and that it passed'off successfully. That Miss Calvert’s (Christchurch) recent fancy dress dance was well attended and proved itself a very enjoyable affair. That H.M.s. Tauranga arrived in I’icton on Monday afternoon. She will remain about ten days. That the Auckland ladies are seriously addressing themselves to the business of finding funds for the purchase of the colours which they have undertaken to present to the Auckland Infantry Battalion. That Mr Richard Reynolds, of Trecarne, Cambridge, has returned to his home after an absence of some eight months in Mexico and England.

That if Mr Seddon’s efforts can achieve it the Local Government Bill will be passed this session. That the Wellington Post Office buildings are at last getting that hydraulic lift for which there was such need.

That some of the Australian press are of opinion that before New Zealand tries any more experimental legislation it should wait and see how the dose it has already had is going to agree with it. That Mr Payton has been re-elected President of the Auckland Society of Arts.

That Mrs Gregg’s beautiful residence at Mahakipawa, Picton, was totally destroyed by fire on Friday evening. Mr and Mrs Gregg were at dinner when they noticed a peculiar noise, and going out into the hall, found the whole of the house upstairs in a blaze. A fire had been left in the drawing-room. Mrs Gregg’s loss is very great, everything being burned —heirlooms and other valuables. That those entertainmjentte styled ‘lnglesides,’ which are held under the auspices of the Ashburton Caledonian Society, are earning the reputation of being most successful in every way. That the distribution of prizes for the Woodville District School took place recently, and was held in the Drill-shed. Miss Barkwith, a pupil teacher who is leaving, received a presentation consisting of gifts from the pupils and teachers and an illuminated address in which were expressed regret at her departure and good wishes for her future happiness. That they are starting a bacon factory at Ohaupo. That there is a horrible tale going the round of the newspapers of how New Zealand school inspectors may be hood winked by an artful conspiracy between teachers and scholars.

That Mr Dignan, the Mayor of Auckland, who is now in Wellington, is battling- on behalf of his City Council against the Auckland Electric Lighting Bill, which, it is believed, would seriously hamper the Council were it to pass.

That it is a pity that modest and generous donors, such as the gentleman who the other day, under the veil of anonymity, gave the Mayor of Wellington £lOO for the benefit of the young, form so rare a species of the genus homo in this colony and elsewhere.

That Mrs Bankart, of Parnell, Auckland, gave a most enjoyable euchre party last week.

That. Mr Duthie, M.H.R., Wellington, in agitating for the reduction of the taxation of the people, should scarcely fail to obtain a New Zealand-wide popularity. That, they are making considerable additions and alterations to the buildings of St. John's College, Tamaki, Auckland.

That it would lie interesting to discover the precise amount of ambiguity indicated by the words of Dr. Grace, of Wellington, when, the other night in the House, he warmly thanked God that the Ministry did not yet exercise the prerogative of merey.

That Mr Jamieson and Mr Boyle, of the Hauraki mine, Coromandel, had a most marvellous escape from death in the mine last Thursday. That the ball to be given by the officers of the Auckland Volunteer Corps on Friday, September 16th, is to be called the Garrison At Home.

That Mrs William Thornton of Maungakawa, is away on a visit at Wa nganui. That there are still thirty voices wanted to bring the Auckland Exhibition choir up to its desired strength of 200.

That, the Auckland Women’s Political League is interesting itself in the extension of the North Island Main Trunk Railway. That the Hibernian Band, conducted by Mr F. Hale, rendered a. musical programme on the new rotunda in Seymour Square, Blenheim, last Sunday afternoon. The day was exquisitely fine, and the pleasing sounds attracted a very large number of persons.

That one of our Stipendiary Magistrates gives it as his opinion that farmers are quite justified in destroying dogs caught in the act of worrying any kind of live stock.

That it certainly gives us some idea of the large scale on which the Union Steamship Co. carries on its business when we learn that in Wellington alone its annual expenditure is over £150,000.

That Miss Wilford, the lady golf champion, is going to Dunedin some time before the Championship meeting.