NEWS JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXII, Issue VI, 11 February 1899, Page 180

NEWS JOTTINGS.

His Excellency the Governor seems to have enjoyed Queen’s weather during his official visits throughout the colony. On the West Coast he had, of course. West Coast weather; that is, slightly damp. He speaks highly of the beautiful scenery and natural resources of the country. Lord Ranfurly will leave Wellington on March 4th for the following places:—Kawhia, Helensville, Dargaville, Hokianga, Mongonui, Whangaroa, Kawakawa, Russell, Whangarei, Gisborne, Hick’s Pay, Opotiki. Whakatane, Coromandel, and Thames. While at the Bay of Islands he will attend the large native gathering to be held at Waitangi. Having completed the round of New Zealand proper. His Excellency will visit the Pacific dependency, Cook Islands, in a man-of-war. the trip lasting three weeks. Picton looked quite as busy as some of the larger ports when the Waikare, the Tarawera, the Tutanekai, the Haupiri, the Moa. and the local steam launches were plying about at the same time on a recent Saturday.

The Waipawa volunteers have been camping out and working hard at their drill. While they were in camp Sergeant Major Dewar, of Napier, visited Waipawa, and on the Sunday there was a church parade.

Mr Anderson, of Wellington, has now definitely decided to begin Technical Classes in Napier, and they will be a great boon to the place. They will commence some time this month, and will open with an exhibition of Mr Anderson’s pictures. Mr Hill, of Napier, the well-known school inspector, has for a long time been making strenuous efforts to inaugurate the classes, and they will no doubt meet with great success. They will include classes for drawing, painting. wood carving, carpentry, etc., and are sure to be well attended.

An unfortunate accident happened on Thursday evening to Mr W. E. Outhwaite, of Auckland. He had been attending the performance of the Harry Rickards Company, and was crossing Wellesley-street from the Opera House, when, passing behind a tram car, he was caught by an omnibus coming down the hill. He fell, and a wheel passing over one of his legs fractured it. Mr Outhwaite was conveyed to the residence of Dr. Pabst in that street, and is getting on fairly well. He suffers from paralysis of his lower limbs, and has to use crutches.

Williamson-Woods’ Dramatic company has been playing for a short season in New Plymouth.

The president and committee of the Blenheim Bowling Club closed the green on Saturday afternoon as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Mr J. M. Hutcheson, who was the oldest player in .New Zealand.

The united Sunday Schools of New Plymouth held their annual picnic at Bell Block last Thursday afternoon, and, being excellent weaiher, it passed off very successfully. The old mill known as the Union Mill of New Plymouth is shortly to disappear, the Crown Dairy Company having decided to demolish it.

The Druids’ Grand Lodge of the North Island of New Zealand is holding a meeting in Auckland. Before proceeding to business pleasure was obtained by a Sunday excursion in the Waitemata harbour, thus setting !: good example to all the young Druids. The Taranaki volunteers, who have been holding an encampment in the New Plymouth Recreation Ground, attended a church parade and were marched to St. Mary’s Church on January 29th. The Rev. F. G. Evans conducted the service.

The Taranaki Annual Regatta was held last Thursday afternoon at Waitara. and being perfect weather the attendance was very large, visitors being present from all parts of the district.

A handsome silver cruetstand was presented to Mr R. Vercoe, late battery manager at the Monowai Gold Mining Company’s crushing plant. Waiomo, on his departure from that place.

The Italian warship Etna, under Capitano di Vajcello, Cavallare Gioyanni Giovello, commander, and with 320 officers and men, arrived in Auckland Harbour from Fiji on Saturday afternoon. No one seemed officially ready to welcome the visitor, who fe.'t her way carefullv up the Waitemata with a sounding lead, and then courteously inquired what were the rules of the port, her commander wishing to fall in with them to the best of his ability. Some business men wished to board her, but this was not allowed bv those in charge of the vessel until the harbour authorities had been communicated with. The proper salutes between the warship and the Fort Cautley batteries were fired on Sunday morning, and in the afternoon the Italian Consul, Mr Robert Rose, and the Mayor, Mr D. Goldie, took the commander and officers for a drive. Our defences seemed to interest the visitors. Will Auckland courtesy admit these strangers into Fort Cautley? r R. Monk, M.H.R., member for Waitemata, says that the Hon. A. J. Cadman considers £lO per acre far too high for workman homes along the Kaipara (Auckland railway, as proposed by Mr Bollard, member for Eden. The Government has some land at Henderson belonging to the Globo Assets Company which would be suitable for the purpose. On Saturday afternoon, on the s.s. Duco, which was conveying the Wellington Navals to their summer eamp at Mahanga Bay, a presentation was made to Dr. Albert Martin, on the occasion of his marriage. The presentation. which consisted of a handsome piece of silver plate, was made by Lieut. Com. Campbell on behalf of the corps, who made flattering reference to Surgeon Martin's valuable services to the corps during his many years’ connection with it. Surgeon Martin having suitably replied? his health was enthusiastically drunk, by the whole company.

The Red Cross Society of England has. through its secretary, Mr James E. Yokes, informed the secretary (Mrs E. Nicol) of the Women’s Branch of the New Zealand Natives’ Association that it is not necessary to affiiliate the Auckland Red (Toss Brigade with any English Society. Mr Vokes says it would be advisable to obtain official recognition from the New Zealand Government, as this would be essential to the efficiency of the service in case of war. Unfortunately for these brave ladies the Defence Act, New Zealand, does not at present admit of the enrolment of such a corps; the Premier, indeed, proposed that this patriotic Red Cross Nursing Brigade should expend its energies on nursing the ordinary sick people around them. The poor are always with us, and it is not heroic to nurse them. But wounded soldiers, and wounded moreover in defence of their homes, how nice to nurse them!

The Provincial Council of the Roman Catholic Church has closed its season at Wellington. On Sunday High Mass was celebrated at St. Joseph’s Church, Buckle-street, Bishop Simes officiating; and the decrees of the Council will be duly forwarded to His Holiness the Pope for approval.

His Excellency the Governor, the Countess of Ranfurly and party had a pleasant trip to Christchurch last week from their West Coast visit. They left Castle Hill in the morning and had a special coach to Springfield, under Mr Cassidy’s care, and escorted by Mounted Constable Barrett. After lunching at the Springfield Hotel the party went on in a special carriage by the afternoon train to Christchurch. Lord Ranfurly, with Capt. Alexander, was driven to the Christchurch Club, and punctually at 8.30 p.m. attended the annual meeting of the St. John Ambulance Association and presented the certificates. Lady Ranfurly, Lady Constance Knox, and Lord Northland went straight to Lyttelton and left by the Rotomahana that night for Wellington. The Governor attended service at the Cathedral on Sunday morning, and on Monday visited the Addington railway workshops, Sunnyside Asylum, and in the evening was present at the Sydenham Rifles concert, where some of the best local amateurs performed. His Excellency left for Wellington on Tuesday night. The pyrotecnie display when the Waikare visited Picton during the Sounds excursion was the best ever seen in that town, which can boast of having had some good fireworks in days gone by.