NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XVI, Issue 2157, 17 March 1870, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

In the report of the Kaiapoi Resident Magistrates Court the perjury case ought to have read W. Barnard, jun. v John Wheeler. We beg to remind those interested in the re-building of St. Michael's Church that the adjourned meeting of collectors will be held in St Michael's schoolroom on Friday evening, at 7.30 p.m.

The Art Exhibitisn gave the fifth musical entertainment last evening the programme being contributed by the Philharmonic Society. Several choruses from " Samson " were given with some songs and part singing. The attendance was pretty good when the counter attractions are considered.

There was a capital house at the Theatre Royal last evening, when the last night's programme was repeated with even greater success than on the previous evening. This being St Patrick's night we are to have the great Irish drama of " Poul a Dhoul," and the burlesque of " The Bride of Abydoe."

We understand that it is the intention of Lieutenant-Colonel Packe, the officer commanding the district, to fix the date of firing for the district prizes about the commencement of next month, as more settled weather can then be depended upon.

The match on Saturday next on the U C C ground is to be North v South ; Hereford street being the dividing line. The following are the sides — North — Messrs Ootterill, Moore, Main waring, Stevens, Dickinson, Blakiston, Scott, Miles, Maeon, Odell, Williams, Lee, and Brittan. South—Messrs Alington, Reade, Harley, Fowler, Wood, Maples, Calvert, Farkeraon, Con dell, Souter, Hawdon, and Beauford.

Madame Carandini's concert included "The last rose of summer," which, it is needless to say, was delightfully given by Madame Carandini. Miss Roaina sang "II bacio," and with Miss Fannie, played some pieces on the pianoforte with admirable effect. "Alas those chimes" displayed Miss Fannie'e charming voice to the utmost, but as a piece, it is not particularly interesting. " Trust her not ,, concluded the programme, and we suppose the Misses Carandini sing this about as well as it is possible for it to be sung.

The Board of Conservators met yesterday at noon, at the Government Buildings. Present—Messrs Harman (chairman), Fisher, and Peacock. The Chairman reported that he

had arranged with Mr Palmer, of the Union Bank for an additionsl loan of £1000 for en months. Hβ also reported that the works now in progress were being earned out in a mo "t satisfactory manner, and that the effect of them upon the course of the river was most extraordinary, the water being diverted into mid channel. The Chairman said that the special business of the meeting was to consider the best means to be adopted for raising a loan. It had been proposed to raise a loan of £5000, say for a term of seven or ten years, and it would be for the Board to determine in what manner the loan should be raised and at what rate of interest. After a conversation it was resolved—" That the Board advertised for tenders for a loan to the amount of £4000, the term to be ten years, the rate of interest offered to be 7 per cent per annum, payable half-yearly, the debentures to be in the amount of £100 each with coupons attached. Tenders to be sent in within one month from the date of the advertisement." Accounts were passed to the amount of £250, being last year , * payment to the fivo members of the Board. Mr Crawford's salary (two months), £20; and the clerk's salary (three months), were also passed. The Board then adjourned.

A correspondent writing to the " Bruce Herald" from Glasgow, under date December 30th, says: —" Never since the year 1856 have New Zealand affairs been so little thought of as at the present time. While in some years we were accustomed to send you from this port alone ships every month —on some occaeions every three weeks—with full cargoes of goods and every berth filled up with a class of emigrants which would compare favorably with those who have gone to any other colony, now the scene is changed, and we can scarcely get a ship filled with goods in two months, and if we waited until her passenger berths were taken up, you would have but one vessel a year or so from this. Judging from the class of emigrants who have gone to Otago, as compared -with those who left for America, I have no hesitation in saying that something must be radically wrong with your affairs somewhere, otherwise how are we to account for the fact that for one emigrant that, now leaves Glasgow for New Zealand there are at least 500 for America. My impression ia that you do not give half encouragement to settlers who wish to occupy the land. While in America they can purchase land unequalled for fertility for a shilling an acre, they have to pay at least ten times that amount in Otago. A week or two ago one of Messrs P. Henderson and Co.'s vessels left for your port with only eighty-lhree passengers, and not a single cabin or second-cabin passenger amongst them. I happened to be on board a day or two before sailing, and met with one of the most intelligent and active emigration agents in Scotland, and who I understand does the largest business in that line. He informs mc that he expects that your colony will be erased out of the list of names of places suitable for emigration by and bye; and I can assure you he has no good word to say for your authorities in their management of your land."

The " Southern Oroes " Baye that two natives of the Fiji Islands, who arrived in the schooner Jeannie Duncan on Sunday from that place, hent upon seeing life in Auckland, paid a visit to the Prince of Wales Theatre in costume, which, however comfortable it might have been, considering the almost intense heat of the atmosphere of the theatre, was no way in keeping with the ordinary costume of visitors of the dress circle, to which part of the house the natives essayed to make their way, clothed simply in short breeches. The tickettaker, no doubt, considering that the appearance of two semi-naked savages under the circumstances was not advisable, refused to let them pass into the dress circle in such a state ; when two well-dressed men, who accompanied them, went to the nearest outfitters and purchased a couple of ehirte, which the darkies donned on the landing place. The men by whom they were accompanied, then paid a couple of guineas for a private box, into which the perty of four entered and remained during the evening, the natives seeming greatly to enjoy the performance, but with much apparent dissatisfaction at beiDg compelled to wear shirts. Whether they are. "great men" in their own country we know not, but they certainly found the best pkces in the theatre last evening at the rate of ten shillings per head, by which we should presume that they belong to the Upper Ten of Fiji.

Wβ learn from the "Argue" of the 7th inst. that three out of the five races for the championship of the pedestrian world took place on Saturday, in the presence of an exceedingly large number of spectators. There were from 15,000 to 18,000 within the enclosure. The gate money showed that 12,000 passed in, but tickets were also issued by the Melbourne Omnibus Company, whose vehicles were running to the ground during the day. The hill wae covered. The exhibition of pedeetrianism was one well worth seeing. It will be long before two such runners as Hewitt and Harris meet upon the Mel* bourne cricket ground. The Australian champion won tho 150 yards and the 200 yards races, but the 300 yards race ended in a dead heat. The time was excellent, and both men ran splendidly. A protest was entered by Harris against Hewitt respect* ing the third race, the allegation being that Hewitt had jostled him near the end of the race. There was great difference of opinion on the subject, but those who said they saw what Harris complained of spoke with great confidence. The protest was dismissed, the referee (Mr George Watson) being clear that no jostle took place. The races to be decided to-day are those at 100 yards and 440 yards but it has not been settled whether the dead heat for the 300 yards race shall be run off today or not. A large sum of money has already changed hands over the contest, the backers of the Englishman having been both numerous and heavy.

The news from the supposed gold fields at the Cape of Good Hope, eaye the "Argue," is etiU unsatisfactory, but at the Transvaal diamonds are being found in considerable numbers. One person is reported to hare picked up no less than eighty-five, most of them, however, being of small size. In the Far North there appears to have been much bloodshed amongst the native population. The Transvaal authorities, in order to punish the Mantatees and other refractory subject tribes, called in the aid of another tribe, the Amaswazi, who appear to have taken very summary vengeance upon the offending natives. The crime of the Mantatees has not been stated; but, eaye the "Natal Mercury," " the manner and extent of their j punishment are clear enough. Draconian treatment has been dealt out to them.

Their people stabbed, their huts burned, their cattle, women, and children captured ; such has been tho the fute of these now dispersed and extinguished people." In one inetance a schantz or village was surprised, and twothirds of tho Mantateeß occupying it were killed. In this affair, however, the Amaawnzi did not altogether escape, forty-three of thoir number being killed and forty desperately wounded. The Amaswazi force consisted of betweon 4000 and 5000 men.

It is stated in the "Sydney Morning Herald" that Messrs Hamburger Brothers, who by the last mail received their appointment as agents in New South Wales for the Suez Canal Company have received intelligence from their home partner, resident at Paris, that a French mail efeam company to run boats to Australia is about being started, the terminus of which is to be Sydney; and that the Messageries fmperiales will probably submit proposals to the Colonial Governments to carry mails, &c.

On arrival of the barque Nightingale from Western Australia yesterday, says the " Daily Times" of the 12th. Sergeant Mallard, in charge of the water police, boarded her, and after investigation found five men whom he believed to be convicts at large from that colony. The men had shipped at Iβ per month for their passage to Otago, a few hours previous to the vessel leaving Vasee, the agreement being made in a public house. As they could not show their freedom tickets they were arrested and taken to the lock-up, until further enquiry is made as to their antecedents.