NEW ZEALAND GENERAL

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 43, 27 October 1904, Page 20

NEW ZEALAND GENERAL

A very pleasant time was apent at St. Mary's Hall on Tuesday evening (says the ' Nelson Colonist '), when the Druids played the return cnbbage match against the rne.ni,bers of the Catholic Society, over sixty Dersonsi being present. The games were \ery interesting asml even, Uhe Society eventuality winning by 18 games to 17 secured by the Druids. Cheers and counter cheeis were given by the players. Refreshments were plentifully, supplied. The enly candidates in tlie junior division, "who secured honors at the recent examination of music m Wellington by Dr. Grescr (writes a correspondent), were Ethel Williams, aged 10 (who was accordr-a the gold medal ottered yearly by Mr. Myers), and Nellie Thomson, aged 10, both of whom are pupils of St. Francis Xayier's AuacUniy, Seat-own, and arc under the tuition of asUsa May Dug,gan, of Oanwu, a former pupil of St. Dominic's College, Dunedin. On t.he motion of Mr. Hogg a return was laid o;i the table of the House of Representatives showing the amounts, applied for the Advances- , to- Settlers office aii'd the amounts advanced respectively on Crown leaseholds and otn freehold properties since the office was established, as follows :— Authorised on freoholid securities on application— amount required £4,51 1,02.0 ; amount authorised £1,066,7,04/ A'utho-rised on lea c iehold securities!— Amount required £fi12,&32 ; authaiiscd £&55,516. The following pupils of the Sisters of Our La-iy of the Mission, Taranaki, passed the practical examinations, held by Mr. Graham Moore, examiner of the Royal Academy and ft'oyal College oi Music, Lo&tdon, at the Monastery of the Presentation, New Plymouth, October 15 :— Local centre (advanced grade), Amelia Smith, Alice Fischer, May Whitton ; higher division, Mary Dotan,, Bessie GodseTt, Iris Dixon (violin), Helen MiddeltorT (Qpunake Convent) ; lower division, Mary Bacjhelor, Kathfe' Bennett, Elsie Bennett, Mary O'Rorke, Johanna Fleming ; elementary, Mary Mo-rris (Opiunake Convant), Cissie Moroney, Rita Sole, Alice Scandalyn. UUe follosving is a list of Me successful candidates fronn the Sacred Heart?., Convent, Wanganui, at the musical .'examination utn'deo- the aus-pices of tihe Associated Board of the Royal Academy and Royal College of Music :— Local centre : Senior grade (hotaors), Dora Cactoll, 132 ; higher division, Annie Sullivam, 80 ; lower division (honors), Winifride Neylotn, 84 ; lower division ('pass') Emily Sullivan, 77 ; Lina Clalnhaim, 74 :, Eileen rerret% 72. E>leme.nt<asry division, Olive Olibeirg, 70 ; Pearl CJawood, 66. The toewlyniiisco'vered cave at Waitomo, near Hamilto|n, has been further explored. It is considered to be one of the greatest scenic wonders of New Zealand. The entrance is a natural arch in a perpendicular clifii, leadina into a chamber 200 yards loR?; ; thence a passage 6ft wide and 120 yards long leads into another wide floor, where there is a roaring torrent. Beyond

this are numerous stalactite tunnels leading into great white chambers full of all sorts of stalactite formations resembling fleeces of v*ool, statues, white terlaces, etc. Two chimneys, hundreds of feet high, lead up to the surface of the ground. This cave has hitherto been Known only to old Maoris. It will^now be opened to tourists. A Christchurch architect informed a Christchuroh reporter on Saturday that he believed next year would be an extraordinarily busy ore for the building trade. He said that, there was no manner of rimibt whatever that the present slight depression would soon pass away. One day last week, he added, his firm had taicen fresh business represent m^; £1 6,000. A fire broke oiut shortly before noon on Monday in the Grand Hotel, Ko^orua, and in less than half an hour the building was a mass of flames, being eventually destioyed, with many of its outbuildings. One invalid vvas taken out after the llames broke through the top storey. Mrs. Lees, wife ot the manager, threw her baby from the balcony to the onlookers, who caught it. Ceneral Buckle, a visitor, w%.s rescued by Mr. Lovegrove. Very litt,e was saved. '1 he nre was said to luwe originated in a small recess used by the porter. It will take about £10,0^00 to replace the building alone.