NEWS JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue XIV, 1 October 1898, Page 439

NEWS JOTTINGS.

At another mass meeting held in Grey-street, Auckland, last Saturdaynight.in the interests of the AucklandTaranaki Railway League, a resolution was passed calling on Auckland and Taranaki M.H.R.'s to do their constitutional utmost to compel the Government to act justly towards this part of the colony and provide, without further delay, railway- communication between Auckland and Taranaki.

Mr D. D. Hyde, poultry expert, lectured in Hamilton on Thursday evening.

Inspector Emerson has managed to bring lhe native embroglio at Ruatoki in the Vriwera Country to a friendly and satisfactory conclusion, the natives having agreed, on his representations. to settle their dispute by law and abide by the decision of the magistrate.

The Wellington Star Boating Club opened their season last Saturday, favoured by most beautiful weather. There was a very large attendance of the public ami a good aquatic display. The Governor, who was present with Lady Ranfurly and a party from Government House, declared the season open in a short speech. Subsequently there was a four-oared race in which eight boats competed, a Wellington club crew being the winners.

The local bodies in the Taranaki district have been asked to subsidise the fund which the local Farmers’ Club is raising for the destruction of the small birds which render farmers’ lives unhappy. The Taranaki Acclimatisation Society has voted £lO to this fund.

An extra coach had to be put on the Napier route last week because of the number of tourists passing through Tan po.

For some time past the members of St. Andrew’s Church, Auckland, have been actively preparing for a bazaar and sale of work to be held in aid of the church renovation in the Choral Hall next month. The bazaar promises to one of the best held in Auckland for some time past, every effort having been put forth to make it a success in every way. It is to be formally opened at 2 o’clock on Thursday- the 6th of October, and will be open for three days. Besides the usual sale of work, there will be several side shows consisting of wax works, tableaux, shooting gallery, etc., which in themselves should prove a great attraction. The Spring Show of the Canterbury Horticultural Society, which was opened last. Friday, is reported to be the best ever held in Christchurch. The chief prizes were secured by Christchurch growers. Mr Cockayne exhibited a truly splendid collection of flowering shrubs, rare bulbs, wild da-ffiod'ils.. fri tillarias, Alpine plants (native and foreign) and 100 named varieties of daffodils. The Wellington Ladies’ Musical Society make their second appearance in Henry Smart's cantata 'King Rene's Daughter" on Wednesday evening next, at the Sydney-street Schoolroom. Mrs Alfred Levi again wielding the conductor’s baton. Last Sunday was “ Gift Sunday ” for the members of the Wesleyan chuiches at Devonport. Birkenhead, Takapuna, Northcote, Mayfield,and Lucas’Creek (Auckland), the object being the wiping out of a circuit debt of £6O. The response to the appeal has been most satisfactory, the total offertories for the day yielding the handsome sum of £9O.

A very- successful entertainment was given at Waitara in aid of St. John’s Church Fund, when several ladies and gentlemen connected with St. Mary’s Parish. New Plymouth, gave their assistance.

The Prince of Wales, freezing hulk, has returned to Picton, where she will remain till her services are required elsewhere. It was considered that the anchorage in Picton Harbour was more suitable and safer than Wellington, and as Captain Cummings’ family reside in Picton it is a more suitable arrangement for them. In the first match of the Onga Onga (Jun Club Mr H. Douglas came first and Mr .1. Sullivan was second. Mr Douglas also won the second match. Paterson and Co., Auckland, have just placed one of the new road cars manufactured by Cousins ami Atkin on the Lake Road running at the North Shore. This is the eighth registered road car running in Auckland, all having been built by Messrs Cousins and Atkin. By buying ten dozen tickets passengers may secure trips trom Devonport to Lake Takapuna ami back for ninejience, return fare. At the annual social given by the Star Football Club in New Plymouth on September 22 the senior elub was presented with the Union banner and the silver cup. donated by Mr F. W. Watts. The presentation was made by Capt. Capel. President of the Club, and responded to by Mr L. Allen, the captain of the team. Dr. Macfarlane has been visiting Napier and lecturing on medical mission work in China, and his addresses were full of interest. He is now in lhe South and intends visiting Auckland before leaving New Zealand.

Mrs D. B. Low, of Christchurch, gave a juvenile party for her little daughter last Wednesday afternoon and early evening in St. John’s Schoolroom, a sumptuous tea. followed by dancing and games till between nine and ten o’clock. About a hundred children were present and had a very happy time.

A concert in aid of St. Maiy’s, Auckland’ completion fund is announced to take place in St. Mary's parish hall, Parnell, on Thursday, 6th October, under the direction of Mr K. Leslie Hunt. Some of the leading amateurs will contribute to the programme. MrS. Jackson’s orchestra will also play selections.

Messrs Wood and Brothers have at length succeeded, after various attempts, in letting out Lake Ellesmere (Canterbury), through Ninety Mile Beach, into the sea.

The Wellington Spring Meeting of the Amateur Athletic Club is to be held on the Basin Reserve on the Prince of Wales’ Birthday.

Mr O. Samuel has been re-elected President of New Plymouth Cricket Club. Mr E. Lash was elected as the captain, and Mr S. Teed as vice-captain of the club.

There has been great jubilation in Onehunga over the passing of the Onehunga Cemetery Bill by the Legislative Council, and the Mayor (Dr. W. R. C. Erson) telegraphed his warmest congratulations to Sir Maurice O'Rorke for the great service he has rendered on behalf of the Bill, and the hearty thanks of the people of Onehunga to the Hon. Messrs Jennings, Twomey for all they had done to facilitate its progress through the Legislative Council. The Victoria Esplanade, which faces the beach near the railway station, New Plymouth, will be formally opened by the Mayor on October 13. A wave of trouble seems to be passing over Picton in the way of sickness and sudden death. A poor man, who left Point Dieffenbach for his home at Ongahau on Friday last in a small boat has not been seen or heard of since, though his oars were picked up in the Sound near Double Bay’. The man. whose name was John Landall, was married, and there are two children. It is supposed that the boat capsized in a squall off Watamonga. Upon the arrival of the P. and O. Company’s Britannia at London on her last voyage from Australia one of the stewards turned out to be the Hon. Charles Sinclair de Courcy, only’ brother of Baron Kingsale, premier baron of Ireland. Upon arriving he was apprised of the death of a relative who had left him a legacy worth £9OO per annum. The whom the Hon. Charles used to summon to breakfast and tiffin by blowing a bugle will be no doubt interested to hear of his good fortune. The choir of St. Peter's, Wellington, has put up on the southern chancel wall of the church a Iwaiitifully-in-scribed brass tablet to the memory of Mr Thomas Tallis Triinnell.