NEWS JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue XXVII, 31 December 1898, Page 857

NEWS JOTTINGS.

The Hawke's Bay Amateur Athletic Club held their sports on Saturday. December 17th. at the Napier Recreation Ground. The meeting did not attract so many spectators as had been expected, but still there was a fair attendance. and the competitors were fortunate in having a fine day for their sports. The weather has been so changeable lately that it is not to be depended on at all. The Costume Race was won by C. Saxhy, and F. McVay was second. In the One Mile Bicycle Handicap E. H. Taylor was the winner. A. F. Bowman won the Long Jump. W. Jourdain the Five Mile Bicycle Handicap. W. Reid the Officials’ Race, T. I). Baker the Ladies' Bracelet. The winner of the 300 Yards Championship was C. L. St. Hill, and A. F. Bowman came second. There wore several other races, some of which caused great excitement. In the 120 Yards Hurdles, however, only two men started, and as one fell this race was bereft of interest.

Picton strawberries have been plentiful and extra good this season. Large quantities have been disposed of to Blenheim buyers. The members of the Star Boating Club in Wellington were recently photographed in front of the Club-house to enable Mr Edward Pearce, the late President!, to take the photograph home to England with him as a souvenir of his long connection with the Club.

The Napier Volunteers have been in camp for a week in a paddock on the outskirts of the town, together with some of the Hastings Volunteers, who are encamped with them, and have been working hard at drill and the various military manoeuvres. Colonel Newell has been visiting the camp and inspecting the volunteers and was pleased with the way in whieh they admitted themselves.

It is said that the strange fish which frequents the French Pass and goes out to meet the steamers regularly was seen by- the three young ladies who were in Picton lately. ‘Seeing's believing,’ they said. Till they' saw for themselves they thought New Zealanders were like Americans—an inventive people. Now they know better.

Christchurch people have been calling out for rain and have received a truly tropical deluge in the shape of a very heavy thunderstorm. In the suburbs hailstones the size of walnuts were reported. The Woodside School suffered severely—out of sixty windows only four remained whole after the storm had passed. The mailman at View Hill was somewhat injured about the head by the heavy hailstones.

At the Helping Hand Picnic of 1898 arrangements were made for conveying two thousand people by rail from Auckland to the Henderson Bush.

It is proposed to have a special chaplain for the Anglican services at the Auckland Hospital ami Gaol, Lunatic Asylum and Costley Home for the Aged Poor, ami annual subscriptions towards his stipend are earnestly solicited. There are many people, surely, who could easily spare .£ 1 or more per annum for such a desirable object. Subscriptions and donations will be received at the Diocesan Office, Auckland, by Mr W. S. Cochrane. A complimentary concert was given to Miss Hulse on Friday evening in the Theatre Royal, as she is leaving New Plymouth shortly, in recognition of her services given so freely and willingly in musical matters. The programme was an excellent one. and was well carried out. and when the first half was over Mr Mac-

Diarmid took the opportunity of presenting to Miss Haise with an address a purse of sovereigns and a silver entree dish from the proceeds of the concert. Mrs A. Goldwater giving al the same time a beautiful bouquet. Mrs Evans also presented a silver hot water can from the members of the Liederkranzchen. The next presentation was by Mr A. E. A. Clark, on behalf of the New Plymouth Opera Club, and it consisted of a second silver entree dish. Miss Teed also giving Miss Haise a bouquet. Mr J. Paul, on behalf of Miss Haise's pupils presented another handsome piece of plate, which took the form of it silver coalscuttle sugar basin, Mrs Paul presenting at the same time a dainty basket of Howers. Mr J. B. Roy. on behalf of Miss Haise, thanked those present.

On Sunday afternoon, in St. Mary's schoolroom. New Plymouth. Miss Haise, on account of her giving up her class in the school, as she is to be married shortly to Mr D. Long, of the Bank of New Zealand. Wellington, was presented with a silver cake dish from the teachers.

The Misses Percival (2), England, and Allen (2). Picton, spent a few days visiting the Marlborough goldfields last week. They were the first ladies to go down the new shaft at King Solomon's Mines at Cullensville. They afterwards proceeded by coach to Havelock, thence to the Wakamarina, where they saw the dredging operations of several companies. They also visited a flaxmill on the way. amt Messrs Brownlee's sawmill at Blackball. The English ladies were very much pleased with their novel experiences. and especially with their drive round Mahakipawa to Havelock, which they thought excitingly dangerous. The direct steamer Waimate. and the White Star liner lonic, both arrived in Picton on Friday, and berthed comfortably alongside the wharf, the Waimate to take on board a considerable number of bales of wool, and the lonic to relieve the freezing hulk Edwin Fox of her frozen mutton amounting to over 12,01)0 earcases. The lonic also took other produce on board, but was unable t o finish loading owing to the heavy rain which set in on Saturday afternoon. The Premier will be the only member of the Cabinet in Wellington during the Christinas holidays, all the other Ministers having left for their respective homes to spend Christinas with their families.

1 have just received a copy of the Christmas number of that ably conducted English journal 'The Gentlewoman,’ and have been very much interested in it, for the Christmas number of 'The Gentlewoman' for 1898 shows quite a new departure in English journalism—a departure that cannot fail to recommend itself to colonial readers. Sinee the time when the Diamond Jubilee gave it such a tilip. the great idea of Imperial unity has been growing and spreading at a tremendous rate in the Mother Country ami the colonies, and all true British hearts rejoice in the fact ami gladly welcome every fresh medium for still further promoting the development of the bonds of sympathy between old England and her many flourishing daughter-lands scattered over the globe. This Christmas number of 'The Gentlewoman' will certainly do its share in furthering this deeply-de-sired rapproachement, for it has been designed with the view of bringing colonial talent in literature ami art before the British public, and is written ami illustrated throughout by colonial writers ami artists belonging to various parts of the Empire. The idea is very good and original, and has received, us it deserved, the strong approbation of all the many men of light ami leading whose opinion was sought on the subject. The way in whieh the idea has been carried out reflects great credit on ‘The Gentlewoman,' and we have here before us in its Christmas number a series of beautifully illustrated and interesting short stories, depicting the various phases of life in different quarters of the Empire, by such well known writers as Flora Annie Steel and Ethel Turner. To still more enhance the value of this capital number, the supplement given away with it is a delicately toned painting on satin, entitled ‘A Moonlight Melody," which is a really most exquisite little thing of its kind, and would of itself amply repay the purchase of a copy of ‘The Gentlewoman's' Christmas number.