The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954)(about) |
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Monday 26 January 1885
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LAUNCESTON.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
Friday.
Besides to internal improvements to the Launceston Hospital recently pointed out, it is proposed to effect considerable im- provements in the boundaries of the institu- tion. At present the rear of the hospital looks out upon a steep and ugly bank of yellow clay, along the top of which runs Little Mulgrave-street - seldom, if ever, used. If the consent of the Municipal Council can be obtained, this useless street will be improved off the face of the township, and the present steep bank will be sloped gra- dually up to the other side of the existing street, and sown with grass. A finish will be given to the work, and any possible land slip prevented by a neat stone retaining wall running along the bottom. Some time since it was proposed to remove some of the wretched fencing at present around the in- stitution and place a galvanised iron fence along the side line in Howick-street, and a low stone wall and light iron picket fence, along the front in Charles-street. In view of this, the Municipal Council represented that if the junction of the two streets was made a curve instead of a right angle, it would considerably improve the locality, and they would place an ornamental fountain upon the piece of ground given to them. To do this would entail an extra expenditure of £65, in making the walls and rounding the comer, and this the council is not at present inclined to pay, though it would vastly improve the streets.
The management of hospitals by boards may be more expensive to the State than the old system of making them branches of a Government department, but the public have the satisfaction of knowing that if the cost is greater the efficiency, the order, the cleanliness, the comfort of those institutions has shown a vast improvement upon the old regime. The Launceston Hospital is not only scrupulously clean and, in spite of many requirements and facilities, a model of good order, but is cheerful and bright with flowers and simple decorations, testifying that the refinement which accompanies woman wherever she goes has followed her into the hospital.
The signboards and verandahs erected by shopkeepers have been interfered with lately, and several prosecutions have taken place. According to the special clause under which proceedings are taken, these supposed obstacles to a free circulation of air must be approved of by the town surveyor, whose taste or judgment, not being a fixed quantity, cannot fail to cause annoyance. In some cases it has been sufficient to paint out the name placed on the obstruction, or to refrain from painting it. Surely the clause was not designed to operate against sign boards per se. It would be far better for the Municipal Council to frame a by-law definitely setting forth what height, size, and character of verandah or sign-board will be allowed, and then to give notice to those having any not conformable to this by-law to alter or remove them. The present system of picking out the sections hap- hazard is ridiculous, if not unjust.
A Court of Revision for the electoral dis- tricts of Tamar and Launceston was held this morning at the Town Hall. The lists submitted were approved of, and the Court adjourned till Tuesday next at 11 o'clock, to go through the polling-lists.
The retail drapers are forming an associa-
tion of employers to act together for the common interest. The shopkeepers imagine they have one or two grievances that call for a union to successfully grapple with. They will endeavour to fix the holidays that shall be observed, and to arrange that none others shall be granted, and to settle the hour at which retail shops shall close, for, although it is pretty general to close at 6 p.m., many of the minor shops remain open two or three hours later. There is no weekly half holiday in Launceston among the retail establishments, and any attempt to reduce
the number of general holidays or extend the ordinary working hours will eventually lead to an assistants' association, or to a union of the employees for their common interest.
The annual meeting of parishioners at- tending Holy Trinity Church took place this evening in the church vestry, the Rev. Archdeacon Hales in the chair. The ac- counts showed an increase of £86 in the receipts, though there was a slight falling off under the head of collections. After paying £220, balance of cost for pro- viding new seats, the new year commenced with a debit balance of £22. The statement of accounts and the statement of the build- ing fund were adopted. The chairman said he had made a suggestion at the last meeting for the establishment of a vestry, which he was sorry had not bean adopted. He found they worked very well in New Zealand and Melbourne. The incumbent nominated Mr. F. Belstead as his churchwar- den, and Messrs. D. Ritchie and H. Weedon were elected by the meeting as parishioners' churchwardens. Mr. Belstead said he ac- cepted the position willingly, but he thought it would be wise for one of the church- wardens to retire each year, so that a larger number of the congregation would become acquainted with the requirements of the church. A vote of thanks was passed to the wardens for duties done in the past year. Mr. Cleminshaw brought under the notice of the meeting the desirableness of having a church at Invermay. The Archdeacon said he had already thought over the matter, and would be glad if the churchwardens would take it up. On the motion of Mr. Belstead, Messrs. Cleminshaw, Weedon, and the mover were appointed a committee to in- quire into and report upon an eligible site for the erection of a mission church and Sunday school at Invermay.
The annual meeting of seatholders in Trinity Church was held last night, Arch- deacon Hales in the chair. The receipts showed a total of £885 13s. 9d., and expen- diture £908 18s. 8d. The amount to the credit of the building fund is £805. Mr. F. Belstead was appointed minister's warden ; Messrs. D. Ritchie and H. Weedon, wardens for the congregation ; and Messrs. J. S. Cleminshaw, F. Richards, A. Fowler, and J. C. Bowden, sidesmen.
Mr. William Field's Wonga has been scratched for all T.T.C. engagements.
The annual meeting of the Northern Hor- ticultural Society was held at the Brisbane Hotel this evening, the president Mr. W. T. Bell, occupying the chair. A very satis- factory report was read by the secretary, Mr. James Steer, and the treasurer, F. Stan- field, submitted a statement showing a credit balance of £8 11s. 6d. The report and balance-sheet were adopted, and the old officers and committee were re-elected for the year. After the conclusion of the busi- ness, the members adjourned to another room, where a supper had been laid out, and an agreeable social hour or two was spent.
This evening a drawing-room entertain- ment took place at the Oddfellows' Hall, in aid of the Building Fund of St. Paul's Sun- day school. The entertainment, which was provided by lady and gentlemen amateurs, comprised two comediettas and some concert items, and the whole was performed in a highly creditable manner; the acting of Messrs. Binney and Gilmore created a great deal of amusement, and the ladies did very well. In the concert Mrs. Douglas Chambers, Miss Wigmore, and Messrs. Gilmore and Cato took part. The first named was en- cored for Benmenthalo's "I awake and
dream," and as an encore gave " I keep my
faded violets." There was a numerous and select audience, and the entertainment was highly appreciated.
A guard on the Launceston and Western Railwlay line, named H. J. Quarrie, met with a severe accident this morning at Long- ford, where the trains pass one another. He was standing on the step of one train, and did not notice the approach of the other, which inflicted an ugly scalp wound in the back of his head. The wound was sown up by Dr. Bingham Crowther, and the man
returned to his own home.
Mr. Wm. Hartnoll, jun., has received a reply to the petition forwarded by him on
behalf of the inhabitants of Galvin Town for a pillar post-receiver. The Treasurer states that a temporary receiver will be obtained from Sydney immediately and steps taken to obtain information from parties resident in the colony prepared and wishing to supply pillar letter-receivers, to be made in
Tasmania.
A Court Revision for the electoral districts of North, South, and Central Launceston was held at the Council-chamber, Town Hall, yesterday. The lists, as submitted, were approved of, and the Court adjourned until Tuesday next. Much care has been taken in revising the roll. In Central Laun- ceston 910 names have been struck off, 235 added, and 343 new; total, 1,017. South, 719 struck off, 213 added, 400 new; total, 906. North, 823 struck off, 135 added, 353 new ; total, 981.
Saturday.
In this utilitarian age the question of what to do with our paupers frequently sug- gests itself to politicans and reviewers, and various suggestions have been made, including the famous one of turning them into candles. If there is any ability or power which could be made to serve the general purposes of human progress locked up in a pauper asylum, it is an outrage upon political economy. Yet such is the case at the Invalid Depot here, for one of
the inmates at the annual feast the other night displayed an ability in rounding off phrases, paying neat compliments, and warming up platitudes that would put to shame any members of our Legislature and rival the Attorney-General at his best. This old fellow deserved to be placed with Cato, John Quincy Adams, and Gladstone as one of the old men eloquent. In thanking the ladies and gentlemen who had so kindly provided the entertainment, this white-
haired emeritus gave evidence of qualities, that properly applied in a neighbouring colony would earn him £300 a year at
least.
The anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns was celebrated in Launceston last
night by a few ladies and gentlemen hailing from Scotland, or tracing their origin back
to the land of the mountain and torrent. The celebration was arranged by the Burns Club, which was recently inaugurated here, and it was decided that it should be of a semi-private nature. The Masonic Hall was taken, and a ball and a supper arranged for in preference to the usual dinner, as being more acceptable to the ladies who desired to take part. A goodly number assembled, and prior to the supper the "Memory of Burns " was proposed, in a warm eulogy of the national poet, by the secretary, Mr. R. Wolfe. Messrs. Kirkham and Edmund then sang "Rantin' Robin," followed by the ap- plause of the whole assembly. After a capital supper, dancing was resumed, and kept up till 5.30 this morning, when the company departed ," nae that fou " but merry, and wishing for a repetition of such gatherings much oftener than the Burns birthday would bring round. During the evening several of the ladies and gentlemen provided some national music and songs to still further heighten the enthusiasm of the meeting.
At the police court this morning Captain Steward, of the ship Irby, proceeded against Everet Fardeil and Henry Dunn, seamen, for absenting themselves from the ship. Mr. Josiah Powell appeared for the complainant. It appeared that the two men were desirous of going ashore after the vessel had been anchored in the river for a week, and stated that they wished to see a magistrate. The mate offered to take them to a magistrate at Rosevears, but they desired to come on to Launceston. This was refused, as the cap- tain stated the ship would be at Launceston in a few days. The men then left the ship, and came to Launceston, reporting them- selves at the police station, as they wished to see a magistrate. The next day they were arrested, as deserters. The Police Magistrate thought the men had been dealt very hardly with in not having been brought before a magistrate when they de- sired it, particularly as the ship was at anchor ; still they had broken the law, and he would have to impose a slight punish- ment upon them. The men were fined two days' pay and costs, and ordered to go back
to work.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a young man named Charles Dawson, a clerk lately in the employ of W. T. Bell and Co., on a charge of stealing £50 of the moneys of his employers. Up to the pre- sent nothing has been heard of him since yesterday afternoon, but it is supposed he is still in the colony. Errors in the books have been discovered pointing to defalcations amounting to nearly £500, but Dawson is only charged with the larceny of £50.
A trial of reapers and binders took place this afternoon at Inveresk Park, where a stiff crop of oats intended for hay was operated upon by three representative
machines-- the Buckeye, Wood, and Deering. A large number of people interested in agri- culture or the working of such machines had gathered in the field, and every opportunity was given to all to see the operation of each machine. The crop was a very unfavourable one to work upon, as it was exceedingly heavy, some of the stalks being more like sugar-cane than hay. The horses, too, were not the best for such work. Still the machines showed what a wonderful advance has been made upon the sickle, and in most cases turned out the bundles neatly cut and securely fastened with a regularity that de- fied improvement. The Deering machine appeared to work best and with least hitch, but with proper horses and everything in trim it would be hard to judge between it and the Buckeye.
[By ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.]
Sunday.
The Minister of Lands returned to Laun- ceston at 7 o'clock on Saturday evening from Scottsdale, and to-morrow morning he in- tends meeting Mr. Griffith, the Premier of Queensland, at the Western railway station as he returns from Longford, and has ar- ranged to give Mr. Griffith and party a few hours' drive in the vicinity of Launceston, in order that they may visit the various points of interest that can be seen during their stay. The Minister of Lands will davote a few hours to public business to- morrow, and return to the capital by the
express,
The Hon. Graham Berry arrived from Hobart in Saturday's train, and, accom- panied by Mrs. Berry, drove to Dr. Stewart's, where they remain during their stay in Laun-
ceston. To-day Mr. and Mrs. Berry was entertained by the Hon. John Scott, and afterwards driven to Corra Linn.
The representatives of the T.R.C. who have entered for the Ladies' Purse left for Hobart on Saturday, taking their gig with
them.
The Natone made a pleasure excursion to Rosevears this afternoon, a large number of persons going in her. It was reported that a religious service was to be held on board by a well-known and highly-respected clergy- man, but nothing of the sort took place. This will be the last trip for the present, as the Natone will be required on Sundays to meet the steamer from Melbourne, which will arrive on Sunday for some time to
come.
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