NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 45, 8 November 1900, Page 17

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

At a sale of city property in Wellington on Tuesday a section. having a frontage of ttft to Lambton Quay, realieed £122 per foot. Six Maxim guns of the newest pattern have just been landed in \\ ellington, McNab's gardens, a favorite resort of Wellington people, was sold last week for £5000, not £1000 as was reported in the Dunedin papers.

Mr J. C. \\ asox. formerly member for Ashburton in the New Zealand House of Representatives, won the election for the Orkney seat in the llouse of Commons by a majority of 40

It is said that Lord Ranfurly, the Premier, and the PoßtmasterGeneral will represent the Colony at the inauguration of the Australian Commonwealth, which will take place on January 1, The entries for the Canterbury A. and P. Show, which ia bsinj? heid this week, eclipse all previous records in cattle, howee, pies, and industrial exhibits. The total entries are 4391, against 3850 last year.

M k. A\ . S. R j;t i), who had occupied the position of Solicitor-General l->r a number of years, terminated his connection with the Civil Service last week. He has retired on a pension of £500 a year Dr litchett, parliamentary law draftsman, succeeds him

Ihk Commissioner of Police has raised Sub- Inspector Macdonell, of Greymouth, formerly of Wellington, to the rank of inspector He will remain in charge of the Greymouth district. bergeant Mack, of Christchurch, formerly of Napier, has been promoted to a sub-inspectorship.

„. The , rou r, h weather experienced in the early part of last week did considerable damage in various parts of the Colony It proved disastrous to lambing flocks on the hill stations in Canterbury In the Ashburton back country reports state that nearly all the lambs are dead, and it is feared that the mortality among flocks in other districts is very heavy.

A shocking accident occurred at the Christehuroh Exhibition on Monday when a boy named Andrew Burns, 16 years of age who wan engaged in looking after the Mitchell scroll flourmill had one of his arms wrenched off. The lad was attempting to run a band over a shaft wheel when the machinery was in motion, and hie arm was caught by the belting and twisted round the shaft until it was completely wrenched off.

Tuc Governor has received the following telegram from the General of Communications, dated Capetown. 30th ult -—'Australian, which left Capetown for Sydney on October 26, has on board Lieutenant-Colonel Somerville, Lieutenant Collins and 1257 Private Baghurnt, of the New Zealand Contingent.' Lieutenant Col'r s is son of Lieutenant-Colonel Collins, of Wellington and was w utiLded at the battle of Ottoshoop. '

The Waikaia correspondent of the Southern Standard writes ■— ' The old age pensioners of Waikaia have forwarded an illuminated address to Mr. Seddon expressing their gratitude to him for having been mainly instrumental in getting the Pension Act passed. The work was intrusted to the nuns in the Convent at Gore who executed it in first-olass style. I* is really a work of art and in every way worthy of the Premier's acceptance.

The Minister of Justice (the Hon. Mr. M'Gowan) has in hand details of a scheme for employing prisoners in planting B orne of the barren areas in various parts of the Colony. The idea is to select a number of short-sentence men who have a record for good behaviour, and employ them for the remainder of their terms in reforestry work. A trial of the system will be made at Rotorna where there is a large area of land which has been found suitable for tree planting.

On Sunday (writes the Auckland correspondent of the Otaao Daily Times) a beautiful tablet was unveiled in St. Patrick's Cathedral to perpetuate the memory of thelate Monsignor M Donald, parish priest of Panmure, who died last year. By his death and that of the late Very Rev. Father O'Hara, of Ofcahuhu, the Catholic community Buffered an irreparable loss. Both these esteemed priests labored in the diocese for over 40 years, and the only one of the old regime living is the Very Rev. Monsignor Paul, VG.. who has been parish priest at Onehunga for over 42 years.

Speaking at the Presbyterian Synod in Dunedin on Wednesday the Rev. Dr. Waddell said it was < the duty of the Church of to-day to secure the children for the CliuiUi of U-uiuirow. Tic -va" satisfied the Church had not fully understood, or attempted its duty in this direction m tfce past. Id had ouly beeu duuc upp.au* My by a Church which, at any rate, they did not regard as wholly evangelical—the Roman Catholic Church. This was the only Church that Beemed to understand the signi fiance of getting hold of its children. We had only to look at the provisions made for them in the churches and schools.'

IT has been suggested (says the New Zealand 7im«) that Mr. Seddon's Cabinet should be called ' The Musical Ministry.' At the banquet of the Drivers' Union on Tuesday night the Hons. J. G. Ward, J. Carroll, and T. Duncan raised their voices in song instead of contributing speeches. An apology was received from the Hon. C. Mills for his absence, and it was suggested ' that he had not yet had time to get up to ministerial concert pitch, and was away rehearsing.' The surprise of the evening was Mr. Duncan's swinging many-versed Irish song, with a chorus. It provoked tremendous applause, and threatens to outdo in popularity even the Premier's ' Wearing- o' the Green.'

Many people will learn with regret (says the Wairavaj>a Daily Times) that the Rev. Father Osborne, who has been residing in Masterton for a period of two years, during which time he act. d as assistant to Very Rev. Dean McKenna, is about returning to the Old Country, from which he came to New Zealand for the benefit of his health. His many friends and acquaintances, while regretting his departure from a district in which he has made himself so popular, will be glad to learn that his health has much benefited by his sojourn in New Zealand. Father Oaborne's place will be taken by Father Hehir, who is just out from Home, and the former will take his final departure from Masterton in a few weeks" time.

Recently I mentioned (writes the London correspondent of the Otafjo Daily Timr.s) that Mr. M. J. McMahon, the New Zealand artist, who ia now studying in London, had succeeded in placing with a good firm of publishers a novel written by his brother, Mr. T. McMahon. He now tells me that certain difficulties arose subsequently between him, as his brother's agent, and the publishing firm, which resulted in his withdrawing the novel from them and offering it to Messrs. Fisher Unwin and Co., by whom it was almost immediately accepted on equally satisfactory terms. I notice, by the way, that a short poem by Mr T. McM.ihon appeired in the London Hun last Wednesday evening, and that Mr. M. J. McMahon is referred in very complimentary terms as a promising artist by another London paper.

Returns published by the Defence d-n-irtment, Wellington. dated October 26, show that 71 officers and 172'} men constitute the full strength of the various contingents sent from New Zealand to South Africa. Of these three officers and .'<!• men have died or been killed. Five officers and 86 men have been invalided home. One officer and II men have been discharged. One hundred and fortytwo men have joined the police. One man has been dismissed. The death list shows the first contingent to have lost Vi men ; the second, 10 ; third. 2 officers and 12 men , fourth, one officer and four men. The fifth had no death so far. The present strength of the contingents is 60 officers and 11-10 men. The estimate includes invalids on their way home. Of the men who joined the police, _'.'! belonged to the first contingent, 50 to the second, and G'J to the third.

Ocr Timaru correspondent writes ; — The following pupils from the Convent of the Sacred Heart passed the recent practical examinations held by Mr. Stewart Macpherson, examiner tor the Associated Board of the Royal Academy and the Royal College of Music — Senior grade — Eileen Dennehy ; Junior grade — Olive Larnach, Nellie Wall. Lower division — Maggie Burns, Essie Bruce : Elementary division — Mary Geaney (honors), Gertrude Clark, Madge Paecell, Frances Clarke. The last-named pupil was taught by Mm Maude Blanford, and the others by Miss E. McGuinness." The result is exceedingly satisfactory, as out of the nine pupils presented from the convent there was not a single failure — a well-merited testimonial to the teachers. The senior pass was gained by a pupil of 1.) years of age.

TpE railway carriages whi"h are bnng made in America for the Government lines of this Colony will be on what is known as the 'bird-cage' principe, but various improvements arc ben g introduced that will make the lot of passengers much more comfortable than at present. The second ehv-s accommodation is to be equal to that now provided for lu-^t-ohss passengers. The first class cars will be beautifully fitted up. One compartment in each will be for ladies only, and in each carnage there are to be two lavatories —one for each sex. Every second class carriage will also have a couple of lavatories. Sixty-three cars have been ordered and «ome of them are expected to arrive in a month or two. The Railway Department has been advised that excellent progress is. also being made with the building of the powerful locomotives hich it has ordered from the Baldwin Works, Philadelphia, for use in various parts of the Colony. Twenty-two engines are under order, and the whole of them are expected to arrive in January.

The ' old boys ' of St. Patrick's College, Wellington, will read with pride how nobly a former student -ed his men against the Boers at Ottoshoop. Trooper Rusden of the Fourth Contingent

(Wellington Section), in n, lelter published in the Nao Zealand J im<:s says —We were mounted, Bob Collins in command, and went down the hillside, over rocks, through trees, and across the nat at full gallop. As soon as the Boers saw us coming they turned their fire on to us and the bullets fell like hail around us. We raised the cry < Come on, New Zealand,' and rode like the very devil. We were lucky enough to reach the toot of the hill without a man or a horse being struck. Arriving there, wo dismounted and climbed the hill ; the Boers retre ited about 2<H) yards to a ridge, and the firing was fa.st and furious on both sides. Shortly after this, about "> p.m., Bob Collins was shot through the wrist. It was now getting dusk, and, the Boers retreating, the firing ceabed for the night. We retired to our horses ami lay down to sleep.

Tun Canterbury ,TvV.;w fV>uhih'or, wa« opened on Thursday by hi« Excellency the Governor. The Right Hon. the Premier, and the lions. Walker and Ward were present. Speeches were delivered by the President of the Industrial Association. Lord Ranfurly the i rernier, ami the Mayer of Christchurch. Although a large number of victors had arrived in Christchurch for the ceremony, still it fell short of that which wa.s anticipated. In all there are over 8000 exhibits, including 500 drawings and paintings, :-T,O specimens of writing and illuminating, 300 of photography. 2Sn of carving and modelling, i»00 of needlework, and 1<« essays for the prize competition. Two collections of coins are valued at £ 1 50. and a fine display is made of South African curios. It has been decided that the Jubilee memorial shall take the form of a bronze statue of her Majesty the Queen, to be erected in Christchurch. Upon the four sides, of the stone pedestal will be raised figures, representative of the pioneers ; the industries of the province ; Canterbury, in her Jubilee year, sending forth her sons to fight for the Empire : and the names of the Canterbury 'boys' who have fallen in South Africa Another memorial of the Jubilee of the province is the Agricultural and Industrial Hall, Manchester street, where the Exhibition is being held. It has been erected at a cost, including the money paid for the site, of £2.'.,u00.