NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 6, 8 February 1900, Page 19

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

The reading matter in the Triad for the current month is eli\ersified. and as u-ual instructive and entertaining.

Tfiehr arc 214 monthly, weekly, and daily newspapers published in the Colony, or about I to every 4000 persons.

Tiieiu: were 11 .r>7 persons employed in the various Government depirtmeiits of Now Zml wid n;i March ;'>l, IK9B. This would gne about one Civil Servant to eveiy 70 persons in the piipula'ion.

S] i vki.nu at Invercargill last week the Premier announced that the Government had decided to increase the volunteer force of the Colony by iMUu men. Rilles had been ordered, and they would be m a portion ti give three; rifie- to e\ery volunteer. The Government intended also to give every assist nice to rifl3 corps in out-of-the-way districts.

A coiiknspoND- nt writes to gay that a very impressive ceremony took place in the Cony-Tit of Mercy. Lyttelton, on January 11, when Mi:-s 1\ Thump-on, of Balelutha, was received as novice. The c<;emony was perform* d by the Very Rev. Father Le Menant des ChesnaiN. Y.G , who al-o delivered an appropriate discourse. Miss Thompson took in religion the name of Sister Mary Ignatius.

The Hon. J. G. Ward was tendered a banquet on Wednesday evening of last week ut Invercargill. There was a large attendance, about "idO persons beiug present inclading the Premier, the Minister for Lands, the Minister for Education, and several members of both^ Houses. The banquet was given as a mark of appreciation by Mr. Ward's constituents, and in celebration of his return to a seat in the Mini-try

Aaionu the casualties lately reporteel from the war (writes our Uamaru co/ respondent) is one of the North Otago Rifle-'. Mr. 11-irold Rooth. He was a fine young tellow, a general r.a\ouiit« in the mounted carps here, and amongst his fj iends and the youth generally of Oamaru. A memorial service was held foi him in the Anglican Church here on the Ith. and uni-\er-al sympathy is felt for his mother. Mrs. J. C. Cooke, and her liunly. The deceased was a nephew of Hon. U. Jones, M.L.C., proprietor of the Oamaru Mail.

Tm; lady supporters of Mr. O'Reg-ui (says the Jnamjahua Tniu •<) have decided to entertai'i him and Mrs. O'Regan at a social, o i which occasion our late member will be the re< ipiont oi' a presentation no,v beiug liberally subscribed to thioughout the elistrict As Mr. and Mrs. O'Regan purpose leaving the Coast, and probably the Colony, at an early date, the social now beit.g arranged will serve a double purpose, that of affording friends and well-wihhe'is an opportunity of testifying their appreciation of and bidding farewell to one who nas grown to manhood in their midst and who has in every way deserved well of this community.

Phiok to his departure from Kaikoura the Hey. Father Walsh was presented with ;vi address and a purse of sovereigns. The presentation took place in the Sacred Heart Schoolroom, when there was a largo attendance, Mr. W. Smith presiding. The ai dress was signcl on behalf of the Catholics of the district by Messrs. W. Smith, P. Keenan, and B. Maeklo. Reference was made in the address to the many sterling qualities of the recipient, and his zeal and energy as a priest The Rev. Father Walsh in replying said that the term* of the address were undeserved by him However, he felt deeply and sincerely thankful to them for their kindnpaq in the past- and their trenerous on the pre-ent occasion. He concluded by introducing his successor, the Rev Father (Joldun, whom, h''«iid hfhnd known fora, number of years. and the longer he knew him the higher he appreciated him.

Over a year ago the Royal Oak Hotel, Wellington, was burned to the ground, and now out of the dust and allies there lia- risen a magnificent building, which it is claimed is the premier hotel building in the Colony Containing three floor*, and presenting to three streets a solid front of masonry .",()() feet long and ."0 feet high, the new building (says the Xnr Zea'and Turn s) is at once a monument of the enterprise of its proprietor, Mr. Samuel (4 i liner. and a lasting testimony to the &kiil of its architect. Mr. J. ODea, of this city. Immense though the proportions of the building are, there is nowhere an aggressive corner inside which seems to want filling up Everywhere the best use has been made of all available space, and a feature which commends itself to all visitors i-« the admirable system of lighting 3 ml ventilation which has been provided for. In thvj daytime the daylight streams into every room and passage . in the nurht-time the whole building is ablaze with electricity. Thus, naturally, the admirable system of decoration, which is a leading characteristic of the Royal O.ik, is thrown into perspective in the most effective and striking way, and the observant visitor gains at first glance some insight iuto the labour and skill which have been exacted from an army of expert workmen to achieve the architectural perfection which is everywhere apparent. The" whole work has been carried out at a cost of about JC2">ooo, and Mr. ODea, who has already made a name for himself as a painstaking and successful architect, is to be highly complimented on this latest evidence of his taste and architectural skill.