NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 49, 7 December 1899, Page 19

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

' A client of St. Anthony,' Charing Cross, has sent us 5s for the Very Rev. Father Lightheart's Maori mission.

Me John Joyce, late member for Lyttelton, and again a candidate for the seat, died suddenly on Friday night.

The Mayor of Napier, Mr. G. H. Swan, who has been re-elected, has occupied the civic chair of that town for fifteen years in succession — a record for the colonies.

It was asserted at a political meeting 1 in Wellington last week that three Chinese dealers in that city each imported on an average £400 worth of opium into Wellington -weekly.

The Premier etated in Auckland last week that for the firsi seven months of the present financial year the Government had a surplus of £218,000, although £100,000 was paid in old-age pensions^

Otjb Timaru correspondent writes : — A meeting was held in St. John's Hall on Tuesday last to make arrangements for the forming of a dramatic club in the parish. — Mr J. M. Hickson is the returning officer fpr the electoral district of Timaru.

In the Supreme Court, Wellington, on Tuesday, in the case of W. R. Linley 'J. Dr. Mackin, a claim of £1000 damages for alleged negligent treatment for an affection of the eye, the jury, after a few minutes' retirement, returned a verdict for defendant, with costs.

In consequence of Wednesday being a statutory holiday we have been obliged to go to press before the arrival of the morning mails on that day. Our correspondents whose communications reached this office on that morning will therefore understand why they have not received attention in this issue.

The Auckland Typographical Association has made a presentation of a purse of sovereigns to the Hon W. Jennings, M.L.C., in recognition of his services to the association. In responding, Mr Jennings acknowledged the compliment, and alluded to his twentyseven years' connection with the art of printing in Auckland and Dunedin.

The Old-Age Pensions scheme has been the means of saving £300 a year for the South Canterbury Aid Board, 26 cases having been taken off th 9 hands of the Board during the financial year that ended not long ago. During the year the ordinary expenditure of the Board was about £400 a month. The previous year it was £500 a month,

Sergeant-major Thomas M'Millan, of Wanganui, has received from the Imperial Government the silver medal for meritorious service. Sergeant-Major M'Millan paw a great deal of service in New Zealand during the native disturbances, during which time he was a member of the 18th Royal Irish, in which he held the position of colour-sergeant for some time.

The East Coast mail coach, which runs between Masterton and Castlepuint, owned snd driven by Sam Foreman, collided with a wool waggon on the road near lilairlogie last week. The whole concern was precipitated into a deep gully. The coach was smashed to atoms and one of the horses killed. Foreman miraculously escaped with a broken wribt. There were no passeDgsrs aboard.

At a large meeting of Waikato and Ngatimaniapoto Maori chic's held at Te Kuiti lately it was resolvei that the tax for the subsidy or salary of King Mahuta for the ensuing term of years be one shilling: per annum, payable by all native adults in the Maori kingdom ; and also that a fund to provide for " urgent public necessities ' be established, the annual contribution to be one •hilling, payable by all over 12 years of age.

Heavy floods on the West Coast on Saturday and Sunday did considerable damage. Portion of the Ocira Gorge road has been carried away, and the traffic with Christchurch is interrupted. The repairs will take some time. The county works are also damaged. Porti' n of one road has been carried away, stopping traffic, while bridges and culverts are also damaged. It is leared that there will be consic'erable damage done south, the rainfall having been very heavy.

Mb. L. Hanrahan presided at the last meeting of the Ashburton Catholic Literary Society, when there was a good attendance. The programme for the evening consisted of a debate, 'Prohibition r. Moderation.' Mr. M. J. Burgess ltd off the debate for the prohibitionists, and delivered a lengthy speech in which he dwelt; on the many advantages to be gained through prohibition, also pointing out the evils of drink. Mr. R J. Henry followed Mr. Burgess, and delivered a stirring appeal to members to beware of the results of prohibition. Sever.il n. embers contributed speeches in favour of the respective sides, and on a vote being taken the prohibitionists gained the verdict by a majority of one vote.

At the fortni 'htly meeting of St. Patrick's Branch of the Hibernian Societ/ (says our Christohurch correspondent) it was dedled to advocate the appointment of a paid organiser tor the bocie'y for a term of six months ; to prepare an address to Bishop Grimes, to be signed by ail the branches in Canterbury, asking him to use his influence with the clergy, by asking them to advocate the objects and aims of the society. The action of the D E. in vetoing tae meeting to be held in Dunedin next year, without first giving notice to tue branches, was adversely criticised. It was decided to ask the branches to send a delegate to Auckland to attend the A.M in 1900 The resignation of liro. C. Courteney as treasurer was accepted with regret, and a hearty vote of thanks accorded him for past services. Twenty pounds were handed to the trustees for investment. It was stated that only £10 of the £55 due to the sick fund at the beginning of the year were now owing, and that amount would be paid off at the end of this quarter. Se\eral candidates w^re propo; ; ed for membership, and two members were initiated into the Order.

When interviewing the returning officer regarding his nomination paper for the Invercarjrill seat, Mr. Hanan (says the Southland News') discovered that the nomination paper lodged by Mr. Kelly, officially filed by the returning officer, was informal. Now, Mr. Hanan, instead of keeping hia own counsel regarding 'the matter, at once informed Mr. Kelly of the defect. Needless to s»y, Mr Kelly expressed his gratitude for the chivalrous action, ani rectified the error. Had Mr. Hanan not informed ftlr. Kelly of the mistake in his nomination, then, as Mr. Hanan's nomination paper would have been the only valid one lodged, ha (Mr. Hanan) would have had to be declared duly elected member for Invercargill, without a contest. Mr. Hanan's action in this matter will receive the commendation of all honourable men and women.

The tramway about to be constructed in Wellington, with which it is intended to connect the city with what was formerly known as the Upland Fdrni, will be worked on a method which ia new to this Colony. The work will be done by balanced cars attached to each end of an iron cable travelling upon rollers at the surface of the prepared way, and extending round a pulley at the hill station. All possibility of accident will be eliminated by a system of automatic brakes. The cars will travel by gravitation on what is known as the water counter-balance system. There will be two reseivoirs, one at the Lambton Quay terminus and another located at the hill station. In order to draw the car up the plane from Lambton Quay the tank in the car at the hill station will be filled with water from the upper reservoir, while the tank in the car at Lambtou Quay will be emptied into the ' Lambton Quay reservoir. This process will be continued until the upper oar is heavy enough (some five tons weight) to overcome the lower bar, which the weight of the descending car will then cause to ascend.