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Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1830, 29 December 1875, Page 2

The steamer Hauraki will leave Auckland for the Thames at 11.30 a.m. on Friday next and return from the Thames at six o'clock in the evening.

Great disappointment will be jfelt by the public at the non-arrival of Mademoiselle lima de Murska by the Hero to-day. A letter to her agent states that " Mr, Anderson (the pianist) has been seriously ill, and is still sick and unable to travel; the doctor says that to travel in the sea would kill him." Under the circumstances she had nO option but to postpone her visit, there being no other pianist available in Sydney who could replace him. Mademoiselle de Murska, who expresses deep regret, states that she intends, now proceeding to Melbourne/and making Auckland from Dunedin, as there will be no steamer between Sydney and this port for a month. We refer our readers to the advertisement in our columns. ... - V Sir George Grey, accompanied by Mr Mitchell, proceeded to the Thames to-day to contest the election for that district.

The United New Zealand Men Servant's Association will hold a general meeting this evening at the British Hotel, for business, of importance. "Fair Play" writes: "Sir, -Seeing an advertisement in your paper signed G. W. Owen, inviting tenders for half-yearly supplies for destitute children's home, could you, Mr Editor, inform me who it is that opens and decides on the successful tenderer rWe believe -.the committee decide.—

A severe accident oscurred to Detective Jeffrey this morning, which it is to be feared will lay him by for some time. Between two and three o'clock as Jeffrey was proceeding hastily to the scene of tho fire in West Queen-street, he stepped on some hard substance, probably a stone, which turned his foot on one side, causing a severe sprain of the ankle. He limped back aa well as he could, and has had medical advice ; his ankle is very much swollen and is in great pain, still it is hoped that t_ ith attention and due rest, this active and useful officer may soon be able to resume his necessary duties.

An inquest was held to-day at the Whau Lunatic Asylum before Dr Goldsbro', on the body of a labourer named Philip Callan, aged 42 years, son of Mr Callan, of the North Shore. The deceased was admitted to the Asylum on the 25th of October, 1874, and had occasionally from that date been subjected to epileptic convulsions which completely prostrated him. On the 17th inst., he had a very severe fit from which he never recovered. He died on the night of the 27th. Dr Aicken made a post mortem examination of the body, and shewed that insanity and death were the results of Callam's epileptic fits. The jury formed a verdict accordingly.

So many tickets for the A.O.F. ball on Friday next have been taken up that it has been found necessary to engage the Choral Hall instead of the Lome screet Hall as at first intended. The affair promises to be a great success.

Between two and three o'clock this morning the ominous tones of the iirc-bell were heard ringing by hundreds of citizens, who leaped out of bed for the purpose of ascertaining the locality of the bursting flames. It was soon discovered that the fire was in the dangerous locality of West Queen-street, and at the shop of Mr Dingwall, grocer, whose general store is at the corner of Albertstreet. The firo was firs, discovered by Mrs Dingwall, who had been awakened from her nocturnal slumbers by smoke which nearly filled her room. She immediately raised the cry of fire, when a person ran to the fire-bell and alarmed the city. In a few minutes Sergeant O'Connor and several constables arrived, and with Mr. Crowther and his men were soon actively engaged with buckets in the suppression of the lire. Fortunately there was a ready supply of water at hand, as the standpipe was within a few yards of the house. Mr. Superintendent Hughes and members of the Fire Brigade were speedily orj the spot with a hose-reel, and in the space of ten minutes from the time of the outbreak all danger was past. It is supposed that the fire was the result of leaving hot a.hes unextinguished in a wooden bucket in a kitchen, thus shewing the necessity of seeing to these matters before retiring to rest.

In consequence of a paragraph which appeared in the Star respecting tho indigent circumstances of Mr Ingham, the committee of the Templar Saturday Nights Entertainments having found the statement to be true, have determined to give the proceeds of tho next concert for Mr Ingham's benefit. An excellent programme will be prepared for the occasion, including a character song by the celebrated Melbourne comic, Air Hilzmger.

A new service of song will be given this evening at the Wellesley-street Baptist Chapel, entitled " Joseph," being past-ages from Scripture, illustrative of the principal events and vicissitudes in the life of that remarkable young man. The proceeds will bo devoted to the funds for increasing the Sunday-school library.

A steam engine, destined for a mill at Kaipara, was being dragged up the wharf this morning when the chains slipped, and the unwieldy piece of "machinery, which weighed about eight tons, stuck fast. After some hours' labour with screw-jacks and other appliances, the inert mass was again put in motion.

We have received from Mr Meek a lithographed copy of the Commodore Goodenough memorial prepared by him and exhibited at the Artists Exhibition. The lithograph is a very exact imitation of the original pen and ink sketch, which has been so universally admired.

Tho Auckland Scottish volunteers will meet on Friday night at eleven o'clock at the lire-boll, Grey-street, for the purpose of seeing tho old year out and welcoming tho new one in with appropriate strains of music.

Tho members of the Auckland Naval Brigade, will gather to-morrow at eve for parade ; they will meet at the boat shed at half-past six, for these men are exact and as firm as bricks. Their object of meeting is not for sport, but the Thames navais up from the wharf to escort, and to wish them a happy new year and joy, under command of Captain Le Hoy.

At Onehunga this morning a few residents interested in the election of a General Government representative, tried to bring out a candidate, but in vain. And ere the hour of nomination drew nigh, we are informed tbat an enegetic gentleman so far went beyond the bounds of prudence as to offer the magnificent reward of five (pounds to the man who would- venture into the field against Mr. O'Rorke, but even this tempting bait* was not swallowed, -and the Government supporters, hiding their diminutive heads behind the window-biinds, peeped.

A remarkable bolt occurred about three o'clock this afternoon. A young man named John Dawson was in charge of a young horse of a lively disposition. He left her for a few seconds by the railway station, when all in a moment the animal started at full speed, and strange to say, was not stopped until arrested by Mr Minot, opposite Mr Arthur's auction mart. Several children in Custom-house-street narowly escaped being run over, the only accident however, was the breaking the shaft of William Gregory's Newton Express, which the driver promised to put into repair.