NEWS JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXII, Issue III, 21 January 1899, Page 81

NEWS JOTTINGS.

Fears are entertained in South Africa that the bubonic plague may be introduced there. A gentleman writing from Johannesburg states that one case had been brought into the country, and the consequences were more feare l than small pox, or almost any other disease.

It is said that the Earl and Countess of Seafield intend to settle in Sydney after another month or so in New Zealand.

The many friends of Mrs Albert Kaye will regret to hear of the death of her sister (Mrs Hall), who a little more than three years ago came over from Adelaide on a long visit for her health and received benefit for a time. A handsome plain marble tombstone has been placed over the grave of the late Mr ( harles Hulke, in the Karori Cemetery. Wellington, by the children of the Newtown school and some of his old friends. A simple inscription testifies that the stone has been erected to his memory ‘by a few friends.’

A very pleasant gathering of a few members of the Girls’ Boating Club took place at the residence of Mrs J. C. Palmer. Gloucester-street, Christchurch. on Friday afternoon for tea. A novelty in Christchurch will be the course of lectures to be delivered by Mrs Cunnington, the first to be given the first week in next month. ‘The Leading Men of Leading Nations’ will he the subject, and anyone attending may expect to hear many interesting items condensed into a couple of hours which some of us are far too indolent to seek out for ourselves.

After all the fuss over the diminished amount of the Auckland Military Tournament Funds the money has been eventually handed over to the Queen’s Statue Committee, who are, consequently, jubilant over the result. Surgeon-Lieut. Colonel Dawson proposed that the money be thus disposed of, and though half the meeting sup|>orted the needs of the furnishing of the Children's Hospital, the Chairman (Lieut.-Colonel. Hanks) gave his casting vote in favour of the statue. The latter has received most liberal treatment, being carried five in the steamer from England in five cases, and allowed free storage by the Harbour Board until the due time comes for its erection, the Board also remitting wharf charges. Such loyalty deserves notice. Fruit farmers are complaining of the low prices they are getting for fresh fruit and poultry. The extraordinary and most unwarranted statement of Rev. Dr. Hosking at the meeting of the Temperance Convention of the Auckland Prohibition Council held last week has caused many people to make some severe strictures about the intemperate remarks of this class of lecturers and speakers. Dr. Hosking said: ‘lf there are any Anglicans present, I would like them to remember what I am going to say now if they forget the rest. If the Bishops of rhe Church of England are like some of their Curates they are a drunken lot. We have, not a thousand miles from Auckland, clergymen of the Church of England who are picked up drunk and carried home by their parishioners.’ Dr. Hosking said further that these men were given another chance, and allowed to preach. If such a. thing happened in the Methodist. Church the minister would not be allowed to occupy the pulpit the next Sunday. Two cyclists rode from Invercargill to Picton last week. They found the roads so bad in places that they were forced to tramp for many weary miles. The Mayor of Picton proclaimed Tuesday afternoon, the 10th January, a public holiday in honour of the visit of His Excellency the Governor to the port.

The members of the Napier Wanderers’ Bicycle Club have decided to postponetheir sports and gymkhana, which were to have been held on January 28th, until the Ist of March.

It is now quite possible that Devonport and Lake Takapuna will have the benefit of an electric tramway service almost as soon as Auckland. Mr Paid Hansen has written to Mr W. J. Napier from London stating he is satisfactorily proceeding with arrangements for proceeding with his arrangements for the underwriting of the necessary capital (£55,000). It is said, however, that Messrs Hansen and Napier have in view a much larger enterprise, the capital whereof will be £400,000. Though the Pieton Cricket Club has lost some of its best cricketers in the persons of Mr Riddell, Mr Andrews and others, it is still to the fore in a winning game. A match played on Nelson Square on Saturday between the Koromiko and Picton clubs resulted in a win for the latter. Next Saturday, in Wellington, the first. General Synod of the Roman Catholic Church in New Zealand will be held. Archbishop Redwood will preside. Bishop Verdon. Dean Burke, of Invercargill, and Father Murphy represent Otago, whilst from Auckland are His Lordship Dr. Lenihan. the Very Rev. Dean O’Reilly (the Bishop’s nominee), the Very Rev. Dr. Egan, 0.5.8. (representing his Order), the Very Rev. Father Lighea.rt (representing the Fathers of St. Joseph), and Father Gillam of the Sacred Heart, Ponsonby (representing the priests of the Auckland diocese).

It is sincerely hoped that, the New Zealand Government will be able to secure the complete moa’s egg which was found last month in the well-hole of the dredge on the Molyneux. At present it has Iveen Imught by one of

Rothschild’s agents for his famous collection.

Mrs S. Von Stunner, wife of the President of the Parnell Bowling Green, gave an At Home on the lawn last Saturday. The weather was by no means favourable.

Dr. and Mrs Kenny have been entertaining their numerous friends during the past week prior to their lea.ving Hamilton. Dr. Kenny has been appointed medical superintendent at the Sanatorium, Rotorua, and will be taking up his new duties at the end of January. They will be much missed in Hamilton.

Dr. Kenny entertained about forty of his gentlemen friends one evening last week at a card and musical party and supper. A most enjoyable time was spent. The following evening Mrs Kenny gave an impromptu dance to her young friends. Though the rain came down heavily, which kept a good many away a great number of guests were present, and spent a delightful evening.

Mrs De Courcey, Drury, gave a very pleasant euchre party on Friday evening in Hamilton. There were nine tables. The fortunate prize-winners were the Misses F. and H. Graham.

The At Home of Captain Browne and officers of H.M.s. Tauranga, for which invitations had been issued for the!Bth,hashad to be indefinitely postponed on account of sailing orders for the 16th. This is somewhat of a disappointment to the would-be guests.

A town clock to strike the hours and quarters of the hour, is to be placed in a tower the Government intend to erect on the Government Buildings in New Plymouth. The cost will be met by public subscriptions subsidised by the Borough Council and Genera] Government.

A very curious halo was observed round the sun on Thursday between eleven and one o’clock in Auckland. It was said to be due to thie existing prisms of ice floating in the air, or to the diffraction off Tight by small globules of fog in the air. Broken weather was foretold by the learned after this halo, and the event justified the prognostication.