Wellington Notes

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 25, 15 September 1894, Page 9

Wellington Notes

[From our own Correspondent.] Wellington, Sept. 10,

Colonel Fox, over whose case and resignation such a fuss was made, has accepted the appointment of Military Adviser to the Government at a salary of £6OO per annum. It will be remembered that the officer in question wrote a somewhat strong letter in resigning his last position as commandant, and someone let a newspaper have the contents before it had been dealt with by the Government. There was a commission of enquiry, which had a vague sort of ending, and now all is settled. All’s well that ends well

The very-much-hawked about bishopric of the capital of New - ealand has at last been filled. The Rev. F. Wallis, who was proproctor of Gain’s College, Cambridge, in 1882, and then sent Daisy Hopkins to the spinning house, has accepted the charge of the See. His action re the spinning house caused the issue of a writ for £IOOO damages by the incarcerated one ; but a verdict was given for the defendant. It is with many a sigh of relief- over the thought that a bishop has at last been found that the members of the church are awaiting his arrival.

Butter manufacture continues to take a firm hold in various parts of the colony, and promises to, in the near future, assume one of the most prominent places in the industries of the colony. New and extended spheres seem to almost daily open themseives, and the possibilities of this branch of New Zealand produce cannot bs over-estimated. The other colonies are on tr e alert, and this should awaken our farmers to the importance of immediate action in firmly establishing factories throughout the length and breadth of the and. An 'anti-Chinese movement seems to be taking root here. The encroachments made by tne “ child,- like and bland ” Asiatic in this city is enough to awaken, at the least, feelings of uneasiness in the minds of those who are interested in the future of the place or its people. From small beginnings in the way of market gardens and pole and baskets the Chow-Chows rose to more gardens, horses and carts, and a small army of workers, until they now command the whole vegetable supply of the city and suburbs. Any Europeans purveying vegetables almost invariably derive their supplies from the Ah Sin fraternity. Following this up the heathen worked from his gardens, horses, carts, poles and baskets into a few shops to begin with' —principally for the sale of cabbagee, collywullow, palluslip, lertucee, etc.— and gradually increasing his shops began to seize the fruit trade (which he now pretty well controls) and has a shop in nearly every city ,atreet, and half-a-dozen in some of the busiest. In addition to this he has extended his enterprises to general groceries, ham, bacon, etc., with a little hardware occasionally have been encroached upon, until the almond-eyed non-taxpayer is now running many trades for all he is worth. His celibatic proclivities, his exceedingly economical food’, supply, his general habits, all prevent his contributing to the revenue of the place, as those he is in competition with have to. His general morality is more than questionable, and his ordinary use except in turning out cheap vegetables of a quality below mediocrity, is hardly in evidence. The heathen now, it would appear, is taking steps to enter into the cabinet-making industry, and very naturally a stir is being made to shorten his tether. The Trades Unions should see to this before it is too late. Immediate legislation is necessary over the question for the simple reason that the influx of John in the cities is assuming large and dangerous proportions and threatens the creation of a most alarming evil which, if it once takes root, will be ineradicable.

Many of the friends of that yeteran politician, Sir George Grey, will read with pleasure that he proposes to winter in the south of Europe. There is no one in New Zealand who will grudge the G. O. M. his

well-earned holiday from gubernatorial and parliamentary life with its thousand", and on© cares and worries, and the peace which bis absence from sessional strife at the present time brings should be fully appreciated. 3ome of his friends in Auckland, where hisis a name to be conjured with, rejoice in their representative’s enjoyment, more esjlidr-; cially as he has not forgotten them while ah Home in the matter of more valuable present tations to their library—for which be hate done so much; but some of the practical ones don't quite like being partly disfrart. chised, and think that as the next is tl» second session of the existing Parliament*, and their trusted third of their representatives has missed the whole of the presentsession, he should have made some provision to prevent such partial disfranchisement. Se eral shipments of men to undertakeshearing in Australia, where the troubles are causing much agitation, from Wellington, have been made through local agents of the Pastoralists’ Association on the other side. Those who have gone over have in manycases met with some rough treatment, and,.fenspeak mildly, slightly inhospitable receptions! some have returned and letters received here slate that a number have sought other occupations in Australia. Much adverse comment has been indulged in over the action of those who were thoughtless enough to enter on a field where a large dispute —which must sooner or later be settled—was at its height, and although the outrage committed through . this unfortunate trouble are indefensible, the of those instumental in sending men from this, colony, as has been done, is freely and inmost instances severly commented upon. The present term of our present Agentgeneral will ere long expire, and there is a probability of his being asked to acceptanother term of office. New Zealand has seldom, if ever, had the good fortune to possess so energetic, hardworking, successful, and popular a representative in London as Sir W. B. Perceval has proved to be, and it would be with, extreme difficulty, if within the bounds of possibility, that the selection of a successor who could equal the present holder of the office could be made.

The city has had a plethora of amusements: of all sorts and conditions for months past. Sessional gaieties of a more or less general character, theatres, concerts ad lib, skating carnivals, lectures,, almost ad nauseum, interprovincial and intercolonial football matches, and’ of course, some of the sittings, of the House* Madame Belle Cole and her talented company did well, and now we have the only Walter Bently, with that pleasantest of managers, Manfred Rose, catering for our epicurean tastes. Mr Bentley opened witb “ The Silver King,” and did very good business all through the week. Last night (Sunday) he lectured on “ The church anct the stage,” with Sir Robert Stout in the chair* and drew a large house. There was a collection in aid of the hospital. The athletic event of the season was the football match played on Saturday between, the visiting New South Wales team and a fifteen of Wellington. Notwithstanding a. drizzle and a southerly wind there must have been over 3000 people on the ground. The scores were, after a hotly contested and wellplayed game Wellington, 9 points; New South Wales, 5 points.