SOCIETY ON DITS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue XIII, 24 September 1898, Page 320

SOCIETY ON DITS.

That it is a. pity that all New Zealand townships are not as Masterton in the matter of public endowments. When Masterton was laid out. some of the sections were set apart as public endowments, and these are now bringing in a yearly revenue of about £ 1000, which has enabled the people to indulge in the establishment of an opera house and library and other municipal luxuries.

That the Mount Eden Rifle Range, Auckland, will be likely closed altogether. as the new rifles (Martini-En-fields) increase the danger of the firing practice there. Consideration is being given to a suitable site for a new range. That a social club is to be started at Devonport. Auckland, which is to be fitted up with chess and reading rooms and a good billiard table and no bar.

That subscriptions, limited to 2/6, are being asked for towards erecting a headstone to the memory of the late S. J. Macalister, erstwhile Chief-Post-master. Blenheim, in the Blenheim Cemetery.

That the Premier has invited Mahuta. the Maori King, son of the late Tawhaio, to Wellington with a view to his accepting a seat in the Legislative Council, to which proceeding Mahuta himself and the younger portion of the Kingites are quite agreeable, it appears, but some of the older men are not.

That the North Shore Native Regatta and Aquatic Carnival, to be held next Christmas, during the Auckland Exhibition, promises to be a very attractive and novel affair. A number of Maori brass bands from the Waikato, Ka.ipa.ra. and Rotorua will lapresent and take part in the proceedings. and Maori canoes and large crews will come to Auckland from the Lower Waikato and the Bay of Islands, two being expected from the latter locality. The committee propose to feed the Maoris during their stay at the North Shore, and to provide accommodation for them in the Calliope Dock reserve, where it is intended that a miniature Maori village of whares built with uikau, manuka, etc., shall be established during the stay of the natives. It is intended to give prizes up to £25 for the best Maori whares. The use of the Admiralty Reserve is to be obtained if possible as a place from which to view the canoe and rowing races. It has been decided to place a race on the programme for the 'Patiki' class of cen-tre-board yachts, first prize £5; and it. is also proposed to offer a challenge cup for competition by yachts, the class of yachts and the conditions to be fixed by the Sailing Committee, •fhe Waikato Maori competitors are to l>e brought to the regatta free of cost. The total prize money offered by the committee for the three days’ sports is £ 534.

A number of Australian miners, whom the R.M.s. Aorangi has brought to Wellington on their way back disillusioned from the Klondike goldfields speak in the most emphatically discouraging way of those goldfields, and strongly advise no man to dream of seeking fortune there.

That the Picton amateurs are coming to Blenheim next Thursday to repeat the performance of ‘The Pirates of Penzance.’ The proceeds are to go to the Blenheim Hospital. That the Old Age Pensions Bill does not seem to grow in favour in the House the more the members look into it.

That there has been friction in the Port Nicholson Yacht- Club which has led to the withdrawal from the Club of nearly all the owners of the thirdclass yachts.

That the Auckland Cycling Club are to hold cycling and athletic sports in the Exhibition grounds. That Picton people hope that Mr Dobbie will start another opera practice. There is some talk of ‘Pinafore’ being taken up.

That on Wednesday afternoon Mr W. J. Guerin, editor and manager of the ‘Daily News,’ New Plymouth, presented to Mr J. McKenzie, who has severed his connection with that office, a handsome inkstand and escritoire from the members of the staff.

That Mrs Tolhurst, of Wellington, gave a very enjoyable little dance on Tuesday night.

That the fame of the Picton ‘Pirates’ was such that Dr. Cleghorn asked them to perform in Blenheim for the benefit of the Blenheim Hospital. All the little Company's expenses are guaranteed by the genial doctor, and they journey up by train on Thursday next to make their debut there. That Mrs Boult, of New Plymouth, is giving a plain and fancy dress ball next month in the Theatre Royal. That Mr Kronfield. South Sea Merchant, of Auckland, is prepared, if the Exhibition authorities will grant him 200 feet of free floor space, to introduce, at his own expense, a novel and attractive feature into the Exhibition. This will take the form of exhibits of Samoan products and curiosities, with some fair Samoan maidens in attendance.

That everyone is looking forward to the Auckland Garrison 'At Home,’ to be held in the Choral Hall on the 29th of this month, which promises to be the great social event of the season in Auckland.

That the Young Men’s Debating Society, New Plymouth, will hold an ‘At Home' next week.

That a good deal of interest in the Auckland Exhibition is being shown in Wellington. Christchurch, and Dunedin. and while it is on there is likely to be a large number of visitors from the South to the city on the Waitemata. There are to be valuable and representative exhibits from leading business firms in the chief Southern cities sent to the Exhibition.

That Mr Cheek's Picton pupils have passed well in their musical examinations. Miss Edith McCormick has passed the Senior Trinity College examination. Misses L. Fuller. E. Lloyd, E. Dobbie. and A. Dobbie the Intermediate Pass.

That people in Auckland should look closely at the change they accept, as a good deal of spurious silver coins seem to have been put in circulation of late—principally half-crowns. That the exhibition given by the Waipawa Gymnasium Club on a recent Friday evening went off very successfully. There was a large audience and the spectators were much interested in all the various performances on parallel and horizontal bars, as well as in the dumb-bell and Indian club exercises. Mr Tricklebank, the instructor of the Gymnasium Club, was afterwards presented with a medal from the members as a recognition of the capable way in which he had trained them. The exhibition was followed by a dance, which was much enjoyed by everyone.

That in the opinion of the retiring Chairman of the New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, the people of New Plymouth can get no reduction of shipping freights while the harbour is in its present condition, and if it deteriorates still further they will have to make up their minds to put up with smaller steamers and higher freights.

That the programme of the Military Tournament which it is proposed to hold in connection with the Auckland Exhibition, should be drawn up without loss of time in order that Southern competitors may learn all necessary details, and be able to suitably qualify themselves for the events in which they wish to take part. That Island Bay, Wellington, will know its hermit, no more. His cave is to be blocked up. and he himself, when he recovers from the illness which at present keeps him in the Wellington Hospital, is to be granted a passage to his friends in Queensland, by the trustees of the Benevolent Institution.

That during the coming summer the boys of Canterbury, skilled in the use of the sling, will be able to make amusement and pecuniary profit walk hand in hand, for, in addition to the usual payment of 3d per dozen for small birds' heads, the Levels County Council are going to give a bonus to the boys who bring in the largest number of them. That the Duke of Manchester, who will soon be in our colony, is the possessor of an unusually fine baritone voice, and has also a very highly cultivated musical taste.

That Mr Robertshaw. Registrar of Births. Deaths, and Marriages, in Picton, states that since he was appointed about thirteen weeks ago the deathrate has averaged one per week. Two or three of the old men at the hospital have helped to swell the rate.