NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 8, 21 February 1901, Page 20

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

Thk number of Chinese in the Colony at the end of last year was 3077. including 34 females. The contents of the current issue of the Triad aro varied and instructive, consisting of articles on music, art, and science. The depots at the four centres for the reception of poultry for export are now completed and have been placed in charge of experts engaged in Melbourne. jfHKareaoi coal known Lo exisL iv the We»tport Coal Company's property will, it is estimated, enable the present output to be maintained Uunng the next century. A isa/aar was held in Carterton last week in aid of the local Catholic church, with the result that £150 was raised in three nights. With this number of the N.Z. Tablet we issue an illustrated supplement containing a picture of the new Catholic Cathedral, Chnstchurch, the foundation stone of which was laid on Sunday, February 10. According to a message from Oamaru the weather is now perfect for the harvest, which is in full operation. The samples of new grain receivtd are excellent, and the yield is expected to be generally good. The Shaw. Savill, and Albion Company, the Tyser line, and the New Zealand Shipping Company have combined to establish regular steamer communication between New Zealand and South Africa. The first vessel , the Otarama, leaves the Colony about March •>. The Government have purchased :52 acres on the River Heath cote, near Christchurch, about two miles from town, for closer settlement purposes. The property was originally known as Packer's, but for some years has been owned by Mr. J. Freeman, confectioner. The price was £90 per acre. Good harvest weather has been enjoyed during the past week in Canterbury, and excellent progress has been made with securing the crops. Another fine week will see most of the grain safe. Notwithstanding the storms, birds, and Hessian fly, the yields are generally good. A report from Ashburton states that the crops in the district are now nearly all cut, and the large number of stacks already to be seen in all directions give evidence of the abundant harvest just reaped. In consequence of the fine weather of the past lew days a good deal of threshing from the stook is being done. When the delegates to the mpeting of the Hibernian Sooiety in Dunedia were passing: through Chris-tchurch a member of the local Fire Kritrade was killed whilst proceeding to a fire. The delegates, hearing that the deceased w.is a married ui<in, started a subscription I>r t tie wiwiw and family, with the result that a decent sum was c )llei:tf j d The eonsiriui a'ei.em of the act will be better appreciated when it is M.rei ti<it the idea originate! with the North island delegate*, who had no knowledge ot the deceased save that he met his death whilst in the discharge of his duty, and had left a widow and family unprovided tor. Thk 'servant girl question 1 is still at an acute st&ge in Wellington. A girl (says the Xeir Zealand 1 imet) who recently adverted for a situation in domestic service received over one hundred replies trom people anxious to become nrstresses of such a rara act as a young woman who really wanted a situation. On May 1.5 a bazaar will be opened at Amberley for the pur pose of liquidating the debt on the handsome new presbytery recently erected there. The bazaar will remain open for several evening". Active preparations are already in progress, under the guidance of Father Price and an energetic committee, and there is every promise of a great success. A conctrt and social (writes a Palinerston North correspondent) were held recently at Ashurst in aid of the fund for the erection of a new Catholic Church. The concert was arranged by Mr. V. IHllow, of Palmerston, and was carried out most successfully. The attendance was very large, about £30 being taken at the doors. The programme was as follow :— Overture, Mr. F. Mey rick's orchestra ; solo and chorus, ' Adeste Fideles,' Miss Flickey ; song, ' Evermore.' Mr. Dallow ; song, ' Kate O'Shea,' Miss Rush ; Irish jig, Mr. Peat (encored) ; song, ' The song that reached my heart,' Mi*s Hickey ; song, Mr. Hanley (encored) ; selection, oichestra ; duet, ' Friendship,' Misses McGrath ; hornpipe, Messrs. Roberts and Hurley ; song (comic), Mr. Pearson (encored) ; recitation, • The Captain's Colt,' Mr. L. Home ; gavotte dance (in Highland costume), four Palmerston ladies ; song, Mr. Peat (encored) ; song, Mr. Henley (encored). The accompaniments were played by Mr. Tombs. The Rev. Father Tymons presided. Mr. M. Folet, the genial and popular Clerk of the Magistrate's Court, Gore, who was recently married in Wellington, has been the recipient of a valuable wedding present from the legal fraternity in (iore. The proceedings were of an original and humorous character, Mr. Fol p y being formally arraigned ' that he clandestinely became a benedict at a distance of more than 50 miles from Gore without consulting the legal profession, which was contrary to the statute in that case made and provided.' After hearing the evidence and pronouncing the sentence of the court the judge (Mr. Poppelwell) wiched Mr. and Mrs. Foley every happiness in life. As solicitors practising in Gore they were all indebted to Mr. Foley for his courtesy and kind attention to their wants. He hoped Mr. Foley would be resident in Gore for many years, and that their associations together in the future would be as pleasant as they had been in the past. He then asked his acceptance of a silver tea service and set of carvers as a token of regard for him, and wished Mrs. Foley and himself a happy and long life together.

O/^fNTT" AA KR hill Xl Q C^C\ HOTJSK, LAND, ESTATE, FINANCIAL AND COMMISSION AGENTS AND OVVI If \J\J IYI IVI IIN OG \J\J., accountants .. DOWLING STREET, DUNEDIN Loans Negotiated. JUnta OollMted. Sub-Agents South British lusurano* Co.