WELLINGTON GOSSIP,

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2089, 15 January 1908, Page 3

WELLINGTON GOSSIP,

Special to Times. WELLINGTON, Jan. LI. There has been another warm day. and the air is heavy with smoke from the surrounding bush tiros. If a strong north-west wind should spring up a great deal .of damage will he done, Us there are many incipient tires in the country districts. There has been scarcely a breath of wind all day, and tho harbor and distant hills made a perfect picture in the setting sun. The weather is really too line, and heavy rain would put thousands of pounds into the pockets of farmers in the AYellington district.

Last night- tho Wainui-o-mata water main burst, and the city was for somo hours without an adequate high pressure water supply, only the Knrori reservoir, which is getting low, being available for the whole of the city. This afternoon the break was repaired, hilt in view, of a long spell of dry weather householders are warned to be very careful, and garden watering .is absolutely prohibited. A number of people, including several well-known citizens, have been summoned for hosing their gardens under cover of night. Passengers by the express from Napier to AYellington yesterday, says tho “Post-,” found tho view from the carriage windows more interesting than novels or magazines. From Paltiatua right down to Upper Hutt' the whole country, except at rare intervals, appeared to be on fire. Coining up the Rimutaka incline the train crawled -slowly past fires, Which raced up tho dry grass on the hill-sides. North of Kaitoko a large firo was seen to the west, and another very extensive blaze was makin- its way through the hush to the west of that locality. At Mungaroa and Upper Hutt it was the same. • Tho fire, which was eating its way through the standing bush to the last of tlm railway line, some distance north of Upper Hutt, on Saturday, had been exanguished, but tho scorched and icopper-colored trees plainly marked its iirogrcss. Most of.tho “burns” in tho Wellington district will, from the graziers’ point of view, be beneficial.

The directors of tho Patent Slip Co. have issued a circular to shareholders instructing them that tho Union Steamship Co. has obtained an option over 90 per cent, of the shares -at £4 10s per shire. .Each shareholder is asked whether lie is prepared to sell his holding at that price, while it is pointed out that tho directors themselves have under their control a sufficient number of shares to cover the option. Air. F. Bruce, receiver of inland rovenuo at Napier is to retire from office on compensation as from Ist April next. Air. T. E. Shirley of tho Napier Post Offico is also to go on the retired list.

The Rev. Simpson and Miss Simpson of AA’orcheater, England, leave to-morrow for tho AVest Coast.. They will journey overland to Christchurch. ' Air. AIL Diuuie, Commissioner of Police, who broke his leg some Aveoks ago on the Kelburne bowling'green, resumed work at his office to-day. Air. G. Troup, of tho Railway Department, who had a severe illness, is now making a good recovery. After a spell at the seaside, ho may take a trip, to the Old Country. Employees of the General Post and Telegraph Department throughout the'Dominion have shown tlieir regard for the lat© Mr. Thos. Rose, formerly Assistant Secretary and Inspector, by erecting over his gravo at Karori a- very handsome memorial monument in grey Aberdeen granite.. Funds have also been subscribed for a monument to tho memory of the late Air. Gray, Secretary ‘to Post anil Telegraph Department.