NEWS AND NOTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 30 May 1901, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

The. addresses of counsel before the Midland Railway Commission will begin next Tuesday. The estates of 23 deceased persons were placed under the charge of the Public Trustee during the month of April.

The Railway Department has been advised that the Rakaia, Gothic, and other steamers arc bringing 234 wagons required for the Hurunui-BlufE line. It is expected that the final dividend of a little over a shilling per share will be paid to Colonial Bank shareholders within six weeks. The final liquidation steps have been delayed owing to the Southland estate occupying the attention of the Court.

In Chambers on Thursday morning, at Wellington, before the Chief Justice, the hearing of the ease of Thomson’s Bullock Creek Gold Dredging Company v. Thomson and others, a claim for £llOO damages, was fixed for oth August, before a special jury of twelve. No time has been lost in getting out the Rotomahana’s boilers, a fortnight only having elapsed since the work was started and completed—a bit of work creditable to all concerned. The shells of the old boiler (says the Dunedin Star) appear to be in good order, but the inner workings are very weak in places. The framework of the vessel is said to be in first-class condition. It is understood that the new boilers are coming out in the Waikato, and not in the new steamer Ruapehu, as chartered to foreigners for one trip.

The new Maor. mceting-housc at Porirua, ‘which was opened last week with great ceremony, is a well-built structure, the inside measurements being 50ft by 23ft. All the ornamentation, inside and out, is in the Maori style, and was executed by P. H. Porehau, of Otaki. The carving over the door represents Pare Tuwhariti and her sons, and that over the window llawiri Puaha, the father of Waitohi, a Ngatitoa chief who was present at the opening. Above and in front of the door arc representations of Marangai and Toa Kangatira. The interior of the house is decorated with large coloured photographs and paintings of famous Ngatitoa warriors, Rangihaeata, Tameha tc Rauparaha (son of the better known Tc Eauparaha), Topiora, Pehi and Hohcpa tc Mahengia. The Post says, the two scows Warrior and Ngaru sailed under somewhat peculiar circumstances. Their nominal destination is Greymoutb. If however, on reaching the fairway a fair wind is mot with, tney will shape their course for Kaipara. The latter reached here yesterday.

Amendments to the Mining Regulations are published in this week’s Gazette. Mr Nathaniel Topp, a Liverpool merchant, has ‘‘in tho interests of humanity,” sent a cheque for £IOO to the Liverpool Post which will be paid to the command-

ing officer of a company or squadron which succeeds in capturing De Wet. Mr Topp, formerly gave £SO to the British soldier who first entered Mafeking at the relief.

Having secured the services of a lady who has gained her experience in some of the best houses in Melbourne, Messrs McKay and Son have much pleasure in drawing attention to their millinery department, which is now' one of the most complete in Greymouth. We guarantee all orders entrusted to this department to give satisfaction. A complete stock of Mackintoshes, Jackets, Capes, Underclothing and Corsets, just to hand. —Advt.

The action of the Dunedin Stock Ex' change in withdrawing a number of mining companies from their list because the directors refuse to be mulcted in an annual fee of £1 Is is causing a good deal of adverse comment among mining share investors. It is alleged by the companies referred to that, having contributed to the Exchange an entrance fee of five guineas, they are entitled to'be kept on the list without further payment) and that the action of the members of thß Dunedin Exchange will simply result in curtailment of business, which will be felt in a pecuniary way by the brokers concerned in the Exchange more than by the companies referred to. Mr A. B. Barclay, junior member for Dunedin is again in hot water, says the Dunedin correspondent of the Bruce Herald. I thought he would have learnt a lesson after his pro-Boer attitude, which got him into serious trouble, but he has written to the Star, with reference to the visit of the Duke of York, pointing out that His ‘Royal Highness is only an ordinary man, and Parliament is supreme and not Royalty. As a punishment it is reported the Government supporters intend to report Mr Barclay to King Richard for his injudicious letter, and as Mr Barclay undoubtedly owes bis election to the influence of Mr Seddon, it will be interesting to watch events. The Press Wellington correspondent telegraphs:—The reputation of Wellington common jurors will not be enhanced by the proceedings at the current criminal sittings of the Supreme Court. There have been five instances of disagreement by juries. “I am afraid somebody must be contumacious,” was the remark made by Mr Justice Edwards, when he discharged one jury who could not agree.

The Duke of Cornwall, heir to the throne of England, has (says the “Manawatu Standard”) two private secretaries. The Prince of Wales, now King Edward had the same number. The Right Hon. R. J Seddon, Premier of Now Zealand, commands no less than five private secretaries—a difference.

Mr Hudson, whoso appointment as General Manager of the Tasmanian Railways as notified by cable recently, will fill the vacancy caused by Mr Back’s acceptance of the position of general manager of a large mining and railway company in North Queensland, the salary of which is £ISOO a year. The salary of the General Manager of Railways in Tasmania is £IOOO per annum.

The Hot Lakes “Chronicle” has the following Some time ago we pointed out the necessity for getting some form of a lift of a simple construction to allow invalids to be placed in and taken out of the baths. The authorities in Wellington have sent a traveller with lifting gear able to lift 25 tons. Perhaps the idea is to pick up the baths and take it to the invalid, but we are afraid the ground about the baths is not solid enough to carry the weight of the machinery.

Dissatisfaction is expressed at the way in which the Napier Harbour Board is carrying out the Western Spit protective works. It is alleged that although the Marine Engineer (Mr Hales) recommended the use of 10-ton blocks of concrete the Board is only .laying down blocks weighing four tons each. At a public meeting of citizens it was decided to protest to the Board against t}io present method, and also ask the Government to get the Marine Engineer to revisit the works.

The fifty-seven successful applicants for sections in the Hatuma settlement represent, with their wives and families, altogether 178 people. There are two families of ten, two of nine, one of eight, four of seven, two of six, six of five, others with less, while there are several whose declaration forms stated they had “ matrimonial intentions."

The Federation Commission, which began its sitings in Wellington towards the end of February, and has since visited various parts of the colony and toured Australia, has completed its labours and sent its report to the Government. Before rising from its final sitting, complimentary references were made by members to the work done by the Chairman (Hon. Colonel Pitt, M. L. C.), the Secretary (Mr Morris Fox), and the official reporter (Mr W. H. Russell). The members of the Commission have returned to their homes.

The Minister for Agriculture (Hon. T. Duncan) explained to a deputation of retail butchers, who waited upon him, that until the re-erection of municipal abattoirs the Government officials would insist on the utmost cleanliness being observed by the owners of private slaughter-houses.

Some noteworthy coincidencees: The day on which the First Contingent left Wellington for active service in South Africa was the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, and of Admiral Lord Nelson’s victory. The dinner to be given on the visit of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, to the naval and military veterans, together with the returned troopers from the South African War, is fixed for the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, the great and final victory of the Duke of Wellington, and it so happened that the gathering will take place in Wellington, so named after the famous Field Marshal and Commander-in-Chief. WADE’S WORM PIGS are more effective and not unpleasant; most children thrive after taking them. Price 1/-

WADE’S TEETHING POWDERS for babies are soothing, reduce fever and prevent blotches. Price If-