NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 42, 18 October 1900, Page 18

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

Last week Mr. John Dunne, of Balclutha, received a memento of the South African war from his son Mr. William F. Dunne, a member of the Second New Zealand Contingent, in the shape of a bunch of violets picked in ex- President Kruger's garden at Pretoria. The little flowers looked particularly fresh, considering- the long journey they had come. A Press Association message from Wellington states that St. Mary's Convent presented 39 candidates at the musical examination — nine more than last year. All of them have passed, and 12 took honors. Of three pupils the examiner spoke in terms of the highest praise. Miss Connell, who secured the gold medal last year, leaves for Europe in December for further musical training. The London correspondent of the Otago Dally Timeshe&tß that a novel by Mr. Thomas MacMahon, descriptive of life on the New Zealand goldfields, has just been accepted by the well-known London publishers, M>s«rs. Hotaco Marshall, who have formed a very high opinion of it, and intend bringing it out without delay. I believe that Mr. Ma^Mahon was a frequent contributor to various New Zealand and Australian journals. Mr. MacMahon is well known on the West Coast, and was for some time a resident of Wellington. In the House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon it was decided by 35 votes to 27 to disagree with the amendment made by the Legislative Council in the Private Industrial Schools Inspection Bill. The following is the division list : — Ayes (35). — Messrs. E. Gk Allen, Bennet, Bollard, Carncross, Carroll, Duncan, Field, Fisher, Flatman, A. L. D. Fraser, Grilfedder, Hall, Hall-Jonea, Heke, Houston, Kaihau, Lawry, MGovvan, M'G-uire, M'Lachlan, Mills, Morrison, O'Meara, Palmer, Parata, Pere, W. R. Russell, Seddon, Smith, Stevens, Steward, Symes, Ward, Willis, Witheford. Noes (27). — Mes*m. Arnold, Atkinson, Barclay, Buddo, Collins, Ell, Fowlds, W. Fraser, Graham, Guinness, Hardy. Herries, Hogg, Hornsby, J. Hutcheson, Lang, Laurenson, T. Mackenzie, M'Nab, Meredith, Millar, Pirani, Rhodes, G. W. Russell, Tanner, R. Thompson. J. W. Thomson. The Premier, Captain Russell, and Mr. Palmer were appointed managers to draw up reasons for disagreeing. The London correspondent of the Dunedin Star, writing on August 31, says : — Among the New Zealanders who have paid a visit to your London offices this week is Mr. Thomas Dwan, J.P., of Wellington. Mr. Dwan left Auckland for 'Frisco by the Moana early in June, and found in the Californian capital much good fellowship among the pressmen. He stayed in 'Frisco a couple of weeks, and before he left was made a member of the Geographical Society of California — an honor which, I believe, has fallen to only one New Ztalander previously, named ' King Dick.' Travelling by way of Chicago. Philadelphia, and New York, Mr. Dwan took passage for the Old Country by the Lucania. He landed at Queenstown, spent a fortnight sampling the town and country life of Ireland, and finally struck the metropolis on August 16. A couple of days' rest in London sufficed, and then he went to Paris," did the Exhibition, and visited Versailles, Rouen, Dieppe, and many other intei eating places within easy rail oi: the capital. Whilst in Paris Mr. Dwan made a big effort to obtain a ticket of admission to the court at Milan during the trial of Bresci, the assassin of King Humbert, but the Italian representative could not oblige. Only 100 reporters were, the wires informed him, to be admitted to the court, and all available tickets had been already disposed of. Headed off thus, Mr. Dwan returned to London. He proposes to remain in England for a couple of months touring in various directions, and will then probably go out to the Cape to spend a few weeks doing the places made interesting by the war. Mr. Dwan has during, hia wanderings gathered data for a series of free lectures which he proposes to deliver in New Zealand on his return.

The Wellington City Council have determined to borrow £60,000 for street improvement.

A shipment of maize consisting of upwards of 1800 sacka, was forwarded to Sydney from Gisborne on thei last voyage of the Mararoa.

News has come from the Chatham Islands that nine Maoris were drowned there last month whilst mutton-birding at one of the neighboring islands.

The fruit gardens in the Teviot and Coal Creek districts are looking exceedingly well just now, and fruitgrowers, as far as they can at present judge, anticipate a bountiful crop, equal if not greater than previous seasons.

Mr. Seffebn, late editor of the TaranaJu Herald, who is one of the oldest journalists in New Zealand, is reported to bo dangerously ill. The Hon. W. T. Jennings, M.L.C., a near relative to Mr. Seffern, has been hastily summoned from Wellington to New Plymouth on account of that gentleman's condition.

' Although you have been freed from your debts by the Bankruptcy Court,' said District Judge Kettle in Masterton la->t week in discharging a bankrupt, ' you must remember that you still owe money, and this fact should be kept before your conscience.' The debtor promised that his conscience would be duly consulted.

A fatal accident occurred on Saturday afternoon at a football match between the suburban teams, Kingsland and Mount Albert, Auckland. During the play a young man named Walter Chatwin came into violent collision with another player. Chatwin immediately ran off the field, and fell down in an unconscious state. Medical aid was summoned, but Chatwin died in 20 minutes from the effects of the shock.

The Premier has received the following cablegram from the Agent General : — ' Assured by the Imperial Post Office that on the Ist January the postage will be reduced to Id the }oz each way between New Zealand and all parts of the British Empire included in the penny scheme. Steps will be taken to notify the change to all British possessions concerned, as well as the Postal Union in due time.'

The Very Rev. Father Dawson, late of St. Mary's Cathedral, Wellington, New Zealand (says the Catholic Times), has been appointed to the charge of the church at Ditton, diocese of Liverpool, which the Jesuit Fathers some time ago handed over to the Bishop. Father Dawson formerly worked in this diouese. His health failing, he went to New Zealand. We are glad to be able to state that his health has been fully restored and that he returns full of vigor.

It is understood that the Wellington City Council have completed arrangements for the purchase of the Miramar estate, subject to the consent of the ratepayers. A similar proposal was made some years ago, during: Mr. Dell's mayoralty, but it was rejected by the ratepayers. The esrtafe comprises .'i peninsula ox which the forts are situated, near the heads, ami is aspirated from Wellington by Evans' Bay. It is proposed to out the greater portion of the estate into building allotments, and eventually to extend the electric tram service to the locality.

In connection with the running of the new San Francisco service every three weeks, and the cancelling of the present contract after the departure from Auckland of tao Mariposa on the 29th inst. and the arrival of the Moana at Sydney about the 28th. there will be no outward despatch via San Francisco in November. Arrangements will be made to ensure a close connection with either the Federal or the Vancouver f ervioe next mouth. The Vancouver mail will leave Sydney on November 7. The regular running of the new San Francisco service is expected to begin on December 8.

An appeal for subscriptions from the Carmelite Fathers, South Melbourne, to enable them to pay off the debt oa their Church of Our Lady of Mount Carincl. appears in this issue. In writing ro the Very Rev. Prior KeJly some time a?o his Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne said : — ' Your mission at Port Melbourne, without the least fault or neglect on your part, is burdened with a very heavy debt. You are about to appeal to the clergy and people of the Archdiocese to help you to discharge the debt, at least in part;, and to preserve untarnished both personal and corporate honor. I wish you every success in your appeal, aud I recommeud ie to the generosity of the faithful.'

It will be rememberel (writes our Napier correspondent) that on April lfi (Good Friday), 180S, a disastrous iloo-i was experienced in this district, and that 10 leadiag residents of this town lost their lives whilsc endeavoring to save the people of Clive on that memorable night. The citizeus of Napier have not proved unmindful of sucha heroic .sacrifice. A sp'e'idid monument. 3i> feet high, st aiding 1 on a base 19 feet wide, erected on the Marine Parade, was unveiled on the 6th of last month in their honor. It is not too muca to say that for design and finish this beautiful memorial would do credit to any city in the Australasi.m colonies The speakers on the occasion were his Worship the Mayor (H. G. Swan), the Very Rev. Dean Grogan and Dean Hovell. and Bishop William*. The monument is quite an ornament co the town and reflects gr^ac credit on the Mayor and Corporation.

Dr. Mackin of Wellington, (says a London correspondent) is back again in London, looking the picture of health, after a month's delightful touring in Ireland with hid wife, which was unfortunately brought to a close by the receipt of the news of his mother's death, at the ripe old age of 81. To outline the doctor's tour would be ito list the names of almost e\ery place of importance twist Giant's Causeway and Cape Ckar, but he seems to have enjoyed Dublin and environs and Killarney more than any other place. The scenery around Killarney charmed him, but, in his view, is not to be compared with some of the New Zealand West Coast bits —

a statement I have heard from other patriotic colonists. A dissappointment to the doctor was the almost entire absence of the beggars who until recently were the plagues of Killarney. Dr. Mackin is now hard at work at the West London Hospital, the post graduate course at which draws medicos from all parts of the world. He spends the morning studying there, and in the afternoons visits the big London institutions, where many a valuable wrinkle in medicine and surgery is to be picked up by those who know the way to go about it.

In the Legislative Council on Thursday (says the New Zealand Times), the Hon. Dr. Grace made an effort to pecure the status of convent schools like St. Joseph's, Wellington, by moving the recommittal of the Private Industrial Schools Regulation and Industrial Schools Aot Amendment Bill for the purpose of reinstating- the words 'as aforesaid,' which were deleted on the previous day. As will be seen from a full report elsewhere, Dr. Grace made an excellent speech, by which he demonstrated the unreasonableness of the proposal contained in the Bill, and pointed out the hardships that would follow the passage of the Bill. St. Joseph's Orphanage, of Wellington, aud kindred institutions for the upbringing 1 of orphau girls would be sacrificed. This was needless, as it waa generally admitted that these institutions were doing- admirable and praiseworthy work. Dr. Grace was of opinion that the Bill would do an injury to the cause of these children. Hon. Colonel Pitt, Twomey, Reeves, Jones, Bowen and Bonar concurred in heaping encomiums on the work of convent schools. Hon. 0. C. Bowen said Magistrates were always glad to take advantage of sending children, espeoially girl 5 ", to these places. The State, however, had, he said, no right to hand anyone over to the control of any person or institution who was not under the control of the State. Dr. Grace's motion was lost on a division by one vote.

The Very Rev. Dean Mahoney announces that the following new appointments have been made to the staff of St. Mary's Industrial School. Nelfion : — Master and matron (salary £150 per annum) : Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald, at present attendants at Sea View Asylum, Hokitika. They have testimonials of a high order of merit and efficiency from the superintendent. Mr Gribben, the medical officers and the Mayor of Hokitika. Assistant masters (£75 a year each) : Mr. W. L. Beech, at present assistant teacher at the Obiro State school, Wellington ; and Mr. F. J. Mulvihill, at present teaaher at the Thames. The former has testimonials from the Inspectors, head teachers, and school committees, Wellington ; the latter has testimonials from clerical and lay gentleman at Thimes. Farm manager (£IOO a year) : Mr. D. Hi^ht, at present foreman for Mr. David McMillan, * Beechcroft,' Southbridge, Canterbury, Mr. Hight, ha* excellent credentials from past and present employers. Gardener (£75 a year) : M.r. P. O'Brien, formerly of Charleston. A female cook (at £40 a year) : Miss Rowlands, of Dunedin, at present cook at Benevolent Home, Caversham, where she has had five years' experience. Three female servants (each at £30 a year) have also b>-*en appointed. The positions of farm hands, tailor, and baker will be filled by past inmates of the school. Free board and lodging is provided in each case. The new staff took over the management on Monday last.

A very enjoyable social gathering was held at the Sea View Asylum last evening (snys the Most Caaxt Time.y, October 9) when the Superintendent and attendants with a few friends asa^ mbled in the large hall of the institution to bid farewell to Mr. W. Fitzgerald and hid wife on the eve or' their departure for Nelson to take up the duties of master and matron of the Stoke Orphanage. Mr. Gribben, Superintendent, in a few chosen words ruade known the reason of toe assembly and in bidding Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald farewell eulogise I their services and characters while under his control ana in wishing them God speed expressed his confidence in their ability to cany out their new duties. Dr. Macandrew and Messrs. Sellars, M'Culloch and Hanrahan al.-o spoke in the highest terms of Mr. Fitzgerald who had been so long associated with them, thus showing the goo 1 fellowship wnich has existed amongst them. Mr. Downey, chief aUendajnt, on behalf of himself and colleagues, presented Mr. Fitzgerald with a suitable present by which to remember his old comrades at Hea View. Mr. Fitzgerald, on behalf of himself and Mrs. Fitzgerald thanked one and all for their kindness and good wished aud expressed his determination to do his duty in his new pphere and said if he would be half as successful as he was at Sea View he would be satisfied. A very pleasant evening interspersed with songd and dauces and a nice little supper prepared by the lady attendants was brought t"> a conclusion by the singing of 4 Auld Lang Syne ' and the giving of three hearty cheers for Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald.