NEWS JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue XII, 17 September 1898, Page 376

NEWS JOTTINGS.

While the alterations at St. Andrew’s Church, Auckland, are being carried out the services will be conducted in the Choral Hall. It is expected that it will l>e some weeks before these alterations and renovations will be completed. The annual show of the New Zealand Collie Club.which contains 200 entries. ami is stated on good authority to l>e an exceedingly fine collection of collies, was opened at Wellington on Friday afternoon by the Premier. The club’s silver challenge collar for the Ivest dog of either sex was awarded to Mr J. Horrax. while Mrs Stubbs’ St. Cecilia took the Herdwick challenge clock.

The foundation stone of the new Wesleyan Church at Eketahuna was laid by the Rev. W. G. Parsonson, of Napier, on September 1, and other clergymen from the surrounding district were present at the ceremony.

H.M.s. Torch left Wellington for Pieton. Kaikoura. and Lyttelton on Monday last, and will probably return to Wellington again early in October. The butchers, farmers, and graziers in the Thames. Ohinemuri. Coromandel. and surrounding districts are presenting through Mr McGowan. M.H.R.. a petition praying for compensation in consequence of the strict supervision which is now being exercised in connection with the slaughter of cattle for human food. His Excellency the Governor and Lady Ranfurly paid their promised official visit to Stratford on September 7, and were received by the newlyelected Mayor of the newly-created borough, Mr H. M. Liardet, and his wife, the County Council Chairman, Mr .1. Mackay, and wife, and Mr McGuire, M.H.R. The town was prettilydecorated for the occasion, and the populace of the place turned out in holiday attire to give the vice-regal party a fitting reception. The school children in full force and the local Town Band were in attendance to render the National Anthem, after which three hearty cheers for His Excellency and Lady Ranfurly were given. The Town Clerk (Mr T. Harry Penn) then read an address of welcome. which the Mayor afterwards presented to the Governor, who, having replied to it, was introduced to the principal inhabitants of the place. His Excellency was then entertained at luncheon, after which the viceregal party left by special train for Hawera.

On Thursday evening the Auckland City Council was presented by Dr. F. W. King and Mr Jackson, on behalf of the Albert la nd Settlers’ Association, with an elegantly framed photograph of the settlers themselves, many of whom have been prominent Auckland citizens for years. The presentation was made on Thursday, the Sth September, because that day was the anniversary of the arrival of the first vessel bearing Albertland settlers to New- Zealand.

There has been a resuscitation of the New Plymouth Chamber of Com-

A consignment of Tasmanian black epossums was recently lilterated at Paikakariki. with the hope of their thriving there, as their acclimatisation. if successful,would prove a valuable asset, their skins being much prized by the London furriers. The Knox Church congregation (Parnell. Auckland) are going to spend £2OOO in building a church in Hobson Park Avenue, where they have lately acquired a site. On Thursday the Women’s First Aid Class met in St. Mary’s Schoolroom. New Pit mouth, for some further instructions from Dr. Hutchinson before the close of the lectures, and to ask his acceptance of a handsome umbrella for his kindly services. It was presented by Miss Govett. and on the silver mounting was the inscription: ‘Presenteil to Dr. llutchnson by the W.F.A.A.C., lt>9B.’ The doctor, in re-

turn, expressed the pleasure it gave him to assist in so good a work, and hoped they would all continue the studies they had begun. During the afternoon, tea and cake were partaken of. provided by the members. The annual ball tendered by the ladies of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in aid of the building fund took place in St. Benedict’s Hall last Wednesday night. It was very largely attended, and was pronounced a great success by ail present. The ladies committee carried out all the arrangements for the dance in an excellent manner, and the duties of M.C. were well performed by Messrs Noonon. Martin, ami Callan. An excellent supper was provided by the ladies of the parish, the tables being decorated with flowers and ferns. Marriage's band provided the musie. and dancing was continued until a late hour.

Decisive steps have been taken to give shape to the Bay of Plenty district Jubilee memorial to the Queen bv the recent purchase, by the Bay of Plenty Charitable Aid Board, of the Yorkshire Grey premises to serve as the nucleus of a cottage hospital for the district. The Yorkshire Grey Hotel, the building purchased, together with the three-quarters of an acre of land in which it stands, is large and roomy, and the situation is an extremely healthy one. The Board have the funds in hand to pay for the site, and will annually save the sum (elose on £400) that at present has to go to outside hospitals. This sum. it is expected, will almost pay the cost of maintenance when once the cottage hospital is properly completed and equipped. The Building Committee of the Auckland Exhibition are at present considering whether it would be advisable or feasible to erect another grandstand capable of holding 2000 people over the present one: also, whether it would be advisable to erect another annexe, since it is reported that the applications are already much in excess of the space available in the Exhibition buildings.

Satisfactory arrangements have been made with Herr Schimtt and Mr Arthur Towsey with regard to the conducting of the Auckland Exhibition concerts.

Mr Duthie. of Wellington, gave a dinner to the members of the Opposition on Saturday evening. The Auckland Exhibition buildings are now almost completely- built, and three of the courts are ready- to be handed over by Mr White, the contractor. to the Exhibition authorities. Most of the other courts are close on completion, and it is expected that the bicvele track will be finished in two or three weeks.

The Christchurch Chamber of Commerce has been asked To appoint a*special sectional committee to carry on, in the interests of the trade, the work which was to have been undertaken by the projected New Zealand Frozen Meat Trade Association, the formation of which has fallen through. The newlv formed Legal Association (Auckland) held its usual fortnightlymeeting last Friday, when it was resolved to change the name of the Association to the Auckland Law Institute. Dr. McArthur was in the ehair, and Mr Ng.ita read a paper on ‘Dying Declarations,’ the various points of which were subjected to a very complete discusison by Messrs Theo. Cooper, J. R. Reed, McVeagh, Graham. Gregory, Baume, Bruce, and Drs. MacArthur and McGregor.

Of the legacy of £lOOO bequeathed by the late Mr Louis Ehrenfried for charitable purposes, £5OO was paid over some time ago for the benefit of distressed Jews. Within the last few days the deceased gentleman’s nephew and residuary legatee, Mr Arthur Myers, ami the proving executor. Mr William Coleman, distributed the remaining £5OO amongst the following institutions, viz.:—The hospital. Thames: the Ladies’ Benevolent Society. Thames; the Jubilee Institute for the Blind. Auckland; St. Mary’s Orphanage for Girls. Ponsonby; the Takapuna Orphanage for Boys; the Little Sisters of the Poor. Auckland: the Salvation Army Prison Gate Brigade Home. Auckland; and the Door of Hope Home for Friendless and Fallen Women. Auckland.

The scenery for the ‘Pirates of Penzance’ to be performed in Picton has till been painted by Mr G. Morris, of the Union Company’s office, during his spare moments. Some local epitaphs,

which would have added to the interest of the play, have been wiped out, owing to personal feeling in the matter.

The Blenheim Gleaners’ Union and Sowers' Band held a Sale of Work at the Church of the Nativity SundaySchool last Wednesday, which was well attended. Mesdames Cresswell and Craven, superintended the Spring Creek Stall, and the Blenheim Stalls were managed by Mesdames White, Moore, McKenzie, Norgrove and others. Mesdames Blackburn. Brewster, W. Sowman and Howard served the refreshments, ami Mrs Duckworth was general superintendent. The process of ‘weeding out’ has already brought the one hundred applicants for the Wellington City engincership down to 30. all English and Australian.

One hundred tons of coals and seventy pairs of blankets have been distributed by the Christchurch CityCouncil during the winter. Erysipelas, chicken pox, scarlet fever and the inevitable, influenza have all at the same time quartered themselves uninvited upon the good people of Coromandel and the hospital there is quite full.