Wellington Items

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3443, 24 February 1890, Page 2

Wellington Items

(Fron\ Our Own Correspondent.)

The Corporation employees are engaged repairing the side walk on Lambton Quay; certainly nono too soon, as the asphalt was worn into holes in many places, and an accident might have occurred which would cost more than repairs, How is it that these asphalt paths break up so early ?

Is it tho fault of the workmen or tho material ?

The Wellington Rowing Club is again to the front, Having won fresh laurels at the Lake Forsyth Regatta, tli6y return with an unbeaten record, and deserve every credit for their splendid sucoess, The prizes won are tho Uhampion. Fours, tho Senior Double Sculls, £SO in stakes, besides other trophies. Sharpers still seem to practise the old, old coutidence trick with as much success as ever. Gentlemen of this

craft seem particularly busy in Wellington of late, and several most impudent swindles have occurred. The latest case that has been made public took place last week, when a flux mill hand from Foxton, en route for the West Coast,.was victimised to th« extent of thirty shillings by two fellows who represented that as they were going the same journey, they had better combine, as by so doing tickets could be obtained at a lower rato, This was agreed to by our simple friend, who parted guilelessly the amount required, and, strange to relate, ho has not sinco seon or heard of the" ily" ones. How people can be taken in by such flimsy pretences is really astonishing, more especially as in nearly every case the sharper is a ■perfect stranger to the person placing " confidence,"

In connection with the dispute at the Wellington Woollen Company's Mills, Mr T. K, Macdcnald and

several of the directors paid a visit on Wednesday' afternoon to Petone, Mr Macdonald addressing those present. In the course of his speech, he asked if anyono of Ilia hearers could name a case of sweating oj wage cutting at the Mills, Ho assured the employees that the Directors were anxious to find out the trouble. He ridiculed the idea of a

local Union, but said the Directors would support a general union of the Mills of the Colony. Mr Macdonald concluded a very able address by putting a question to those present. It was: "Are you going to support the Directors of this Company, and refuse to join a local Union, until a general union of the operatives of the Mills throughout the Colony is formed 1" On calling for a show of hands, nearly all tho sterner sex voted in favor of tho resolution, but most of the women and girls were against it. A good deal of chaffing and merriment went on amongst tho women, and it was noticeable that while the men present were singularly silent, the' members of the fair sex were not at all baokward in making remarks, and putting questions to the speaker, a certain Miss McKenzie particularly distinguishing herself. Thirty of the girls received notice that they were to be called out last night, and lrnve in coiisequence given a week's notice to the managor. In celebration of the new Union, a monster dance was held at the Petone Drill Hall last night, tho takings to bo applied to Union purposes,

The Makuri-Puketoi laud sale on Thursday showed the strong interest taken in lands available in the FortyMile Bush, For the thirtyono sectiais offered, there were 286 applicants —being an average of nearly ten applicants for each section. This speaks well' for the reputation of the land in that district, Mr Tallis Trimnell, tha new organist at St. Peter's Ajiglican Church, Willis Street, is very highly spoken of, and is already quite a favorite.

The parishioners consider theinaelves lucky in seeming the services of an orgHiiiat ofsucii ability. Tbo Fire Brigade Demonstration, wliicb is 10 tiko place sliortly in Wellington,- bids fair to bo a very big success. Teams from nil parts of tho Colony are t;oing to compete, and as soi'iß valuablo prizes are offered for the leading events, it is not to be wondered at.