WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 6, 1 June 1888, Page 15

WELLINGTO N.

(From onr own Correspondent.)

May 18. We are experiencing miserable weather here, it having rained almost unceasingly for the past fortnight. The principal streets are consequently in a fearful state, and the City Council has, at last, been compelled to make some attempt at improvement. The new steam roller is employed rolling the streets at night, to the great danger of belated horsemen and drivers of vehicles.

A sensation was caused here last week, by an item of news published in one of the local papers, to the effect that the Government had received a cablegram from the Imperial authorities, stating that war was imminent, and giving instructions as to the coarse to be pursued should war be declared. In the House, Messrs. O'Callagoan and Fulton asked whether any such message had been received, and were answered in the negative. Rumours that war had been declared, however, were again circulated in the lobbies on Saturday and yesterday.

At a meeting held this morning in connection with Mr, Vincent Pyke's Roman Catholic Bill, at which eight members were present, it was decided to amend the title of the Bill to " The Private Schools Bill," on account of the Bill being made to provide for all schools having an average attendance of 100, receiving half capitation. The distribution of prizes in connection with the Wellington Bowing Club was made by Miss Jervois on Saturday afternoon. On the conclusion of the affair, Miss Jervois was presented with a large photo, of the winners of the Jervois Fours. Since the re-organising of the Club the Wellingtons have been very successful, winning all the prin* cipal events of the Wanganof and. Star Club's regatta. A great deal of the success which has attended the Club is doe to the interest taken in it ny Mr. Joseph Saunders, the well-knoirn contractor. The members of the Sacred Heart Society have been actively engaged rehearsing " The Hidden (iem," which it is intended to play in the Marist Brothers' school on Friday evening. The proceeds are to be devoted to providing for the poor of Wellington. His Grace Archbishop Bedwbod (as I suppose you have learnt by telegram) left here on Saturday week for Rome. He was accompanied by the Rev. Father Patterson, of Palmerston North. It was given out in the churches here that his Grace would be absent about six months, and on making enquiries I found that he had gone Home on business connected with the diocese, and would probably arrive in Some in time to be present at the canonisation of Pire Chanel.

The Rev. Father Ginaty, of Christchurch, has been here all last week collecting funds in aid of the Magdalene Asylum. He intends to make a collection all up the West Coast. The monthly meeting of the local branch of the National League was held laßt Monday in the Christian Brothers' School. As Mr. J. J. Crofts has resigned the secretaryship of the League, Mr. D. O'SulUvan was elected to fill the position. There were many expressions of regret at Mr. Crofts' retirement and a vote of thanks for his past services was carried unanimously. It was stated that nearly £100 had been collected and in order to farther augment the funds it was decided to give an entertainment, and a committee was appointed to make all necessary arrangements:

St. Patrick's Collega football team is still unbeaten. Since my last letter they have played two clubs— the Orientals, whom they defeated by 14 points to nil, aud tha Wellingtons, (one of the, strongest junior teams in the city) which they also defeated by three points to nil. They have now defeated the Athletics, Orientals, Wellingtons, Wanganui College and have drawn with the Wellington College; On Saturday the play of A. Mcllroy (Dunedin), and McMahon (Christchurch), and Sheedy (Greymouth), was much admired. McMabon also played wiih the Ponekes, (the crack team of New Zealand) as threequarter against Palmerston North, and obtained a try in the second spell. The match was won by the Ponekes by tea points to nil.