SOCIETY ON DITS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue VIII, 20 August 1898, Page 244

SOCIETY ON DITS.

That His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by Miss Julius, daughter of Bishop Julius, of Christchurch, and attended by Captain Alexander, A.D.C., paid an otlieial visit to the Wellington prisons on Saturday last. The Minister of Justice (the Hon. T. Thompson), Colonel Hume, Inspector of Prisons, and the Gaoler (Mr P. Garvey) met His Excellency at the Terrace Gaol, and showed them all over the institutions.

That the Devonport Borough Council (Auckland) are making some improvements in Church-street, which should certainly' add to the attractive appearance of the place.

That the numerous friends of Mrs Tabart (Opawa) are much pleased at the improvement, in her health, and a trip to Australia is contemplated for her, when Mr Tabart and one of her daughters will accompany her.

That the decorations at the ‘musicale’ at Government House on Saturday consisted principally of artistic-ally-arranged masses of gorse, placed among drooping ferns and palms, the yellow wall jxiper forming a. most charming background to the whole.

That the decree of the railway authorities to run (starting from December Ist) through trains between Wellington and New Plymouth four days per week instead of two days as a.t present will be a great boon to the public. There .will also be a corresponding increase in the steamer service between Onehunga and New Plymouth. That a skeleton has been found on the ranges above the elevation, near Picton. The jiolice are making inquiries regarding the matter, and will bring the bones into Picton, for burial.

That the authorities of the Auckland University' have announced that a Gillies’ Scholarship of £5O per annum, tenable for three years, is open for competition.

That a well-to-do and much respected tradesman of Picton intends to light up his premises with electricity. The. dynamo will be worked by' water, of which there is an abundant supply in the town. Possibly Mr Cragg’s venture may be the thin edge of the wedge for lighting up the town.

That in the lately-formed Provincial Electoral Committee, the present Government of New Zealand has an enemy' whose raison d’etre is to bring about the downfall of the (loverment. That Colonel Pole-Penton, Commander of the Forces, opened the new Wellington Garrison Officers’ Club on Friday evening, at the Drillshed. Col. Newall and a very large attendance of officers were present, and Colonel Pole Penton in declaring the club open, dwelt at some length on the many' advantages to be derived from the formation of such a club, which promises to be a great success in. every respect. The. club-room is comfortably furnished, and is to be open for officers on Monday.

That one of the members for Auckland city, Mr Crowther, may be said to have heaped coals of fire on the head of the Premier when, after the latter had given him a severe ‘blowing up’ for his attack on the Master and Apprentice Bill, he went and voted with the Premier for its second reading. Or was Mr Crowther’s conduct on this occasion a striking example of the convincing powers of Mr Seddon’s eloquence?

That it reflects great credit on the Ladies' Committee and on everyone else who helped to get up the powder and patch ball in aid of the Auckland

Ladies’ Benevolent Society Convalescent Fund, that the ball itself was such a success, and that the sum of money which it has gathered for the fund is of such resjieetable dimensions, being estimated at about £24.

That New Zealand ladies will be interested to learn that at the drawing*room tea given by Mrs Mackay-Mac-kenzie in honour of the. presentation at Buckingham Palace of Miss Ida Macdonald, daughter of Mrs Earl, of Auckland, the lion. Mrs Orr-Ewing (nee Lady Augusta. Boyle) was present, and looking charming in a train of a rich jaiine duchesse satin, lined with pale heliotrope satin, trimmed with tine Flemish point lace, and light and dark heliotrope chiffon bows; petticoat and corsage of the )>a.lest dove grey duchesse satin, veiled with net,

embroidered in silver sequins and belie ribbons, finished off round the waist in a floral design of silver; the corsage was tastefully trimmed with silk poppies in mauve and yellow. Headdress, Court plume and lappets; ornaments, diamonds. That owing to scarcity of feed there is a big mortality among cattle in the Rangitikei district. That the Canterbury Rowing Club intends holding a dance in its boat shed next month.

That the Vicar of Picton is of opinion that, vestrymen will only attend meetings when there’s a. row on. Some of the ladies present at the annual meeting of parishioners suggested the advisability of starting a row for the purpose of making the men attend to their business.

That a new railway carriage for the Picton-Blenheim line arrived by the Tutanekai last week, and was put on the rails on Saturday last.

That the Havelock Town Board (Marlborough) is not, as children phrase it, ‘speaks’ with the Pelorus Road Board since the latter Board has declared, and in print too, that the former Board has made a deliberate attempt to rob the Pelorus Road Board.

That Miss E. Graham, daughter of Mr Graham, M.H.R. for Nelson, has received a permanent appointment at. the Girls’ School in place of the temporary one as assistant mistress she has recently been holding. That the Museum at Wanganui is to be enlarged.

That in the match played at Gisborne the Petane golfers were defeated by the Gisborne players by 45 points to 26. The Hawke’s Bay team were also defeated in their " match against Poverty Bay. The game between Gisborne and Petane was played whilst rain was falling heavily, but this in no way discouraged the competitors.

That the Union Steamship Company are to see what they can do in the matter of cheapening fares and freights in reference to the Auckland Exhibition and that the Northern Steamship Company intend to offer every inducement ’ for residents of Thames, Taurangn, East Coast and Northern districts to visit Auckland during the Exhibition. That the new village settlement in the Heathcote Valley (Canterbury) seem to be getting on rapidly’ with its building and farming operations.

That us the weather was so wet there were very few people at the meet of the Hawke’s Bay Hounds at Frimley on Saturday. That the Mayor of Onehunga (Dr. W. R. C. Erson) is to be complimented on his public-spirited energy which has enabled him, despite his onerous and multifarious duties, to organise a rifle corps in Onehunga. That it is likely that there will soon be established in Wellington a branch of some sisterhood which, in addition to talcing charge of a home for indigent old people, will confine itself wholly to the work of comforting the sick and helping the needy.

That the Auckland Exhibition Buildings are getting on apace. The machinery court is quite finished and the grandstand and No. 2 court nearly so, while courts Nos. 3 and 4 are well in hand. That a ball held at Danevirke in the Town Hall after the Woodlands Hunt Club’s Sports, was one of the most successful ever given there. The ballroom was effectively decorated with ferns, flags, and pictures of the chase; the music was inspiriting and the floor in good condition for dancing. A great many people were present both at the dance and at the sports which took place during the day. The latter were watched with great interest, and included hurdle races, tilting a.t the ring, orange races (in which the riders Carried plates of oranges, the Ladies’ Bracelet, and many other competitions. That a. great, number of Wellington people have gone to Christchurch for the race week there, anil also many country people have passed through on their way South.

That, much regret was felt throughout. Coromandel on account of the death of Mr ('. McCormick, who, for more than twenty years, was fore-

man of works for the Coromandel County. He came to New Zealand in 1863 mid has hail much experience on New Zealand goldfields.

That Parliament House, Wellington, had a narrow escape from being bumed down last week, the catastrophe only being prevented by the timely discovery' and extinction of the fire, which, through some defect in a fireplace, had broken out beneath the flooring of the room occupied by the Minister for Education. That Mr John Vale, who some time ago was lecturing in Auckland on Prohibition, has been giving most, enthusiastic descriptions of New Zealand on his his return to Melbourne. Apparently, in his opinion, our country and climate are everything that could be desired, and we ourselves are a first-class people, full of the milk of human kindness as well as of social and intellectual vigour.

That the entertainment to be held in Auckland on Wednesday, 17th, for the benefit of the Greenwood family, promises a first-class and numerous variety of very attractive elements.

That the chemists of Wellington are endeavouring to get exempted from serving on juries.

That the Northern Company’s steamer Wellington arriving at Auckland from Wha.nga.rei early on Friday morning just missed, in the thick weather, colliding with the barquent.ine May, which was anchored off the North Head. The May had been forced to put into Auckland Harbour on her voyage from Whangaroa to Sydney because the stormy weather she had met with had made her spring a leak.

That arrangements are being made for the annual Floral Fete in the Recreation Grounds, New Plymouth, on November 9th.

That a Bachelors’ Ball was held at Te Ante, Hawke’s Bay', the other evening and proved to be a most enjoyable one. Dancing was kept up with great spirit, to the accompaniment of good music.

That a suggestion has recently been made to the effect that the totalisator tax should be employed to subsidise agricultural and pastoral associations with a view to improving the breed of horses.

That a tangi was held by the Maoris of Porangahau, Hawke’s Bay, in celebration of the anniversary of the death of a Maori princess, Rawhinia, and that this feast lasted for a week. Cakes were made, in which were enclosed the Princelss’ jewellery, and these were cut up and handed to the people present ait the tangi. That. it. is likely that 'fountains will be erected before the summer--following the suggestion of the Mayor (Dr. W. It. C. Erson) —-throughout the Borough of Onehunga (Auckland) for the convenience of the whole town.

That on Wednesday a ‘Musical Evening,’ which was much enjoyed by those present, Was held at Napier in St. Augustine’s Schoolroom, and a welcome was given to the Rev. H. E. Taylor. Several vocal solos were contributed and selections were played on the mandolin, piano, and guitar. That the little magazine, which the Students’ Association of the Auckland University' College has started as the organ for the publication of its opinions and feelings ‘on all questions concerning the interests of the students and the honour of the University,’ is a. very sensible and broadminded production, judging from its first number, and should help largely in the formation of a strong and elevating esprit, de corps among the students.

That at a. meeting of the Hastings Rifle Company lately Mr W. E. Beck was made lieutenant.

That, a football match was played recently' between Pahiatun and Woodville, and that the former won by 21 points to 9. Pahiatua footballers are most successful and have not. been beaten once this season.

Thfcit the Wellington Acclimatisation Society' has accepted the offer of a noted Indian sportsman, Sir Edward Buck, to assist in procuring such varieties of Indian game as would be likely to easily acclimatise in New Zealand.