NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 38, 21 January 1898, Page 19

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

His Excellency the Governor, the Countess of Kanfurly, and Captain Alexander (private secretary) hat a narrow escape from a serious accident on la*t Sunday. According to the Otago Bail \i Times, they were driving- in a buggy on Sunday afternoon in the neighbourhood of Queenstown, when one of the horses got his leg over the pole. This horse began to kick violently, and thi s alarmed the other. His Excellency bucceeded in stopping them, and Captain Alexander jumped out and held them whilst Lady Ranf urly got down. Lord Ranfurly then alighted and was helping Captain Alexander to unharness the horses, when the pair made a Budden plunge forward, knocked over the Governor, the hordes and buggy passing right over him. Fortunately, with the exception of a severe shaking, Lord Ranf urly was uninjured, but it >vas a mobt providential escape. Timely assistance in capturing the horses, which had broken away from the buggy, was rendered by the Rev. Mr. Mitchell, of Queenstown, who happened to pass shortly after the accident.

On Friday evening, January 7th, at Mr. Pain's residence, Westport, the Rev. Father Walbh, on behalf of the choir, presented Mr. A. P. O'Leary with a silver-mounted walking-stick as a mark of esteem, for the efficient manner in which he had carried out the duties of choirmaster during the past year. Mr. O'Leary suitably returned thanks.

The half-yearly meeting of the Blenheim branch of the H.A.C.B. Society was held at lodge-room on Tuesday, January 11. when the following oilicers were elected :— President, Bro. T. Keating ; vice-president, Bro. Joseph Morrison ; warden, Bro. M. Lydon ; guardian, Bro. M. Desmond ; treasurer, Bro. P. Meehan ; sick visitors, Bros. P. Meehan and M. Lydon ; auditors, Bro. ACurry and F. E. Morrison ; delegate, Bro. A. Curry ; secretary. BroT. O'Leary. Bro. A. Curry, P.P., installed the new officers into office. The Spcrts Committee of the above Society then transacted some important busings. Several important alterations were made in the programme for the St. Patrick's Day Sports. The committee, who intend keeping pace with the times, have included several

cycling races in their programme. A successful gathering may be confidently looked forward to.

During the week we have received from the following parcels of stamps for Father Kreymborg's mission : — Annie Dougherty (Gimmerburn), Marie Bournique (Ashburton), Mis. M. Sherlock (Waimangaroa), and R. Wilson (Dunedin).

The bush fires in the North have done a considerable amount of damage, especially in the Pahiatua, Feilding, and Woodville districts, where many of the settlers are practically ruined. From latest reports, steady rain has been falling, and the danger is now over. The whole coast line from Wanganui to Wellington has been one mass of flames, but fortunately the recent rain has stopped their progress. In Canterbury, also, destructive grass fires have taken place, and many settlers have lost considerably by them.

We beg to direct attention to the announcement made in our advertising columns that St. Patrick's College, Wellington, will be opened on Saturday, February 5, and that class- work is to be resumed on the following Monday.