MISCELLANEOUS. [From April 1 to May 3.]

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3961, 3 May 1870, Page 7

MISCELLANEOUS. [From April 1 to May 3.]

His Honor the S'-ioerinten'lant has been elected to represent Mangonui in the General Assembly. His Excellency the Governor, his Honor the Superintendent, the Colonial Treasurer and Postmaster-General, the Native and Defence Minister, a number of members of the House of Representatives and Provincial Council, and most of the leading merchants ; of Auckland, were amongst the visitors to the ' Wonga Wonga on April 2, and joined in the hearty drinking of a f ew toasts of well-wishing to the new mail route, its contractor (Mr. Hall), and Captain Beal, to whom the openning of the service has been entrusted. Mr. Vogel reminded the guests that the late Mr. Crosbie Ward was the first tn New Zealand to declare publicly the conviction that a line of steamers to San Francisco would become a necessity for New Zealand, and that Auckland wonld have to be the port of call. On April 13, a stalwart native, with hair grizzly and grey, stalked into the shop of Mr. Symmids, hairdresser,, Lower Queenstreet, and for the small sum of half a sovereign had his grey hairs convei'ted into glossy black. So much for ciyihsation. His Excellency the Governor, the Hon. T)McLean, Captain Pitt, Captain Young, and H. S. McKellar (Collector of Customs), were passengers by the Colonial Government p.s. f Luna,' which vessel sailed on Tuesday, April 19, for Russell. The delightful weather which continued throughout Monday made the holidaykoepiug on Easter Mouday almost unmixed enjoyment — somewhere about 1,000 excursionists being oonveyed on board three steamers, to and from Kawau. R^hop Patteson, accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Rico, arrived on April 25 in the Mission schooner 'Southern Cross,' from Norfolk Island. We regret to learn that Bishop Pdtteson has been lately suffering from, severe indisposition. A contract has been entered into for the construction of a line of telegraph from Tauranga to Taupo. The work, which will rery shortly be commenced, is to be completed within three months. The contractor is Mr. Mackenaie. An address to Captain Palmer, of H.M.s. • Rosario.' from the settlers at Tauranga. is shortly to be presented. In it the settlers express their gratitude to Captain Palmer for the actual assistance given to themin tims=s of danger, and for the sense of confidence imparted to them by Ms bringing his ship close in shore, and anchoring there. The settlera acknowledge their obligation to the officers and men of the ' Rosario ;' and bear testimony to the excellent behaviour of the sailors, not alone of the 'Rosario,' but of those of others of her Majesty's ships who have visited the port. A beautifully-finished escritoire, mide of New Zealand woods, is to be sent to the Venerable Archdeacon Lloyd, in England, from the clergy of the archdeaconry. When we say that the escritoire is the work of Mr. Seufert, of this city, we say (in effect) that it is a most artistic piece of cabinet-making and inlaying. The escritoire is in size only inferior to the works by Mr. Seufert which were presented to Sir George Grey and to th<* Bishop of Lichfield. The escritoire is of totara, the back part especially being finely veined. The base is of puriri ; and, for the inlaying, rewarewa, rimu, black-heart maire, and other woods are used. On the covers the inlaying consists of panels filled with variegated cubes ; and on the front and at each end there is a profusion of the charming cabl elike work, which has been so much admired in previous productions by Mr. Seufert. A silver plate on the front part of the escritoire, bears the inscription, "To the Venerable John Frederick Lloyd. Archdeacon of W»itemata. A token of love and esteem from the clergy of the Archdeaconry, on hia leaving New Zealand.— 7th February, 1870." The escritoire is to be packed, for transmission to England.