The Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1867.

Evening Post, Volume III, Issue 126, 10 July 1867, Page 2

The Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1867.

We scarcely hoped that the remarks we recently made, on the want of some systematic means of relieving distress, would have borne fruit so quickly. We are glad to notice that a preliminary meeting of gentlemen took place at the Athenajuni, on Monday afternoon, with a view to form a Benevolent Society for this city. "The meeting consisted of the clergy of all denominations, with one lay member of the respective congregations, but some of both classes were unavoidably absent. All such efforts are best carefully considered before they are brought before the public, and a sub-committee was accordingly appointed to prepare rules regulating the mode of relief, &c. This is a somewhat difficult thing to do, but the committee will fortunately have the benefit of the Rev. Mr. Maxwell's long experience, derived from the cure of a London parish, in which many of its population were always subject to distress. As the Govei nor has promised to become its patron, and their Honors the Superintendent and Judge, vice patrons, we may conclude ttiat the society will be well supported. We may here make known an act ot " brotherly" love on the part of the FreemaFons, at their dinner on St. John's Day. A collection was made at the table amounting to ten guineas, which has been promised to the society as a nucleus fund. The Wangnnui mnil coach did not get further than Otuki yesterday, owing to the rivers being swollen and the bad state ol the roads. The mails, howpver, arrived in town by horse at httlf-past aix o'clock l.ibt

night. The diner lcpiitts that severe weather nnd heavy lulls oi raio have been experienced on the West Coast during the past few tlaj s. The Wfingintii Times ws .-—Mr. liaise has not as yet hi en gazetted as li.M. for Waogauui, and will not bo before the end of this month, if then. It is a matter of indifference to the people of Wanganui who gets the appointment, provided he is a man legally qualified to peiform his duties. We still hold that the Justices of the Peace of this district should meet and write to the Attorney-General upon the subject. We understand that a few clays ago Mr. Kennard, the contractor for the patent slip, wrote a letter to the Superintendent, asking if the Government would be willing to extend the guarantee made to him, by contract, to a third party, in ease the slip was disposed of by auction. The Government declined to do so, and the slip has since been withdrawn from the market. The Hawke's Bay Herald, of the 2nd inst., says that rumours from Pohui have again caused some little excitement on the subject of the supposed gold field in the ranges. A resident at Pohui, who arrived on Sunday, states that the prospecting party are still hard at work, and sending in regularly for rations ; and that one of the party, on the occasion «>f his last coming, made the assertion that if ever there was a payable gold field they had found it. What reliance is to be placed on this, it is not for us to say, but, one thing is certain that the men keep hard at work, in most inclement weather, in or about the same spot. The presbytery of the Presbyterian Church will commence its sittings in Wanganui at half- past «ix o'clock on the evening of Tuesday, the lf>th inst. The Key. J. Cummins, of Rangitikei, Moderator, will preach the opening sermon, commencing at 7 o'clock. The Colonial Committee of the Free Church ol Scotland has appointed the llev. Mr. Wood to the pastoral charge ol the Matarawa Church, in the Wnuganui l>is trict. Mr. Wood was to sail in the month of June, and therefore may be expected here by the end ol September, or early in October next. The ss. Ahuriri returned to Wangunui on the sth inst., from the Buller, after delivering a cargo of cattle and sheep, without loss of a single. hem-I, although having to contend with a severe south-west galo and heavy sea the whole way. At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, James Carson, for being drunk and using threatening language, was fined ss, or in default -24 hours' imprisonment; md Arthur Brown, for drunkenness, was subjected to a similar penalty. These were bhe only cases disposed of. A rumour has been current about town to-day, to the effect that, when the St. Kilda left the Chatham Islands, a lew days a.^o, things were in a very disturbed state, and that the native prisoners ha I refused to woik, and were in a state o( mutiny. The rumour, however, is without loundafion, for on making enquires at the i>efence office, we learn that the latest official reports show that the state ol things was very satisfactory indeed. There are now on exhibition at the Freemasons' Tavern, Lambtou Quay, a collection of Australian animals and birds, consisting of emu*, laughing jackasses, magpies, pigeons, kangaroo, and wallaby, imported by Mr. lli^gins. We hear that his Excellency has purchased the entire collection, and will have them removed to Kawau immmediately. A varied and attractive programme is announced lor performance at the Odd Fellows' Hall, this evening, consisting of " Paddy in India," a musical interlude, in which little Marian will sing " Fiunigan's Wake;" and two new farces, specially written for the troupe. To morrow evening the performance will be under the patronage of the Governor, and from the well-known abilitj' and popularity of the artistes, a crowded house may be expected. Yesterday evening the . comedy of "Charles the 11., or the Merry Monarch' 1 was reproduced at Osgood's Bijou Theatre. The house was well filled with visitors The piece is written in two acts, and commends itself more by variety of incident B and change of scene than by its intrinsic merits. Miss Merton's ideal of the character of Mary Copp is very correct, and she played it exceedingly well. The more mclo dramatic points were soizi'd upon 113' her and forcibly delineated, the audience

showing their ar.j>i\>v:J oi her acting by frequent l'ounds oi apjil.iusj. Air. Newton sustained the ciiaiaeter of the Merty Monarch with en'dit to himself, and was ably supported hy Mish Anstoad. who uriilo a \ery inlurosting piigp, uiid Mr. Sefton ns Captain Copp, a reared seaman from bis Majesty's service. Between the pieces» Mr. Chalmers sang a locai song, in which he made- one or two capital points with reference to the non-arrival oi the Turanalci lie was awarded with an encore. Byron's burlesque of " Ahuklin" concluded the entertainment, and was well received by the house. There will be no change ol performance this evening. The Wellington Volunteer Fire Brigade will meet for engine practice at the Liverpool uiid London insurance Compaq "a engine-house, Willis street, this evening, at eight o'clock. The exodus to Callao(sa\s the Melbourne Leader) continues in full swing. Merchants, secretaries of public companies, bank managers, wxnish from their haunts week after week ; and there is no knowing the number of respectable names that may yet figure iii the hue and cry. Since the flight of Sparkes and "Wai-drop the principal nbscondert" have laid their plans so dexterously as to escape detection ; and in the face of this continued success tin- victimised now entertain but scanty hope of recovering thtir birds, once flow u. Nobody seems to have gone ofter Mr. Thiin —now the travelled Thuin ; and perhaps to send after him would be throwing go<>d money after bad — an operation no< much affected by thp mercantile mind. Sergeant MSweeney's quest uiter Whalley seems to have been an utter failure — fhat vigilant '< officer not finding it so ea-s}' to capture a runaway secretary as to pounce upon fin | unfortunate female suspected of infanticide beforehand. The latc-t one is Mr. Wilhus, manager of the Colonial Hunk at Turna»ulla, who seems to have considerably left false tracks for the amusement of the police, from . Tarangulla fi> Footscay, while making his own safe track out o( the colony. It is quite possible, to be sure, that this worthy is still within reiieh, and it is to be hoped that no pains will be spared so long as thi re is the slightest possible chance of pulling him up. They say that although he has appropriated a goodly sura, the bank itscll is secured — which is very condolatory to the bank. But there must be no further attempt at condoning a felony merely, because the plunder has been recovered. It is not the amount of money cvrried oft" that constitutes the chief crime ol this class. The offence itself must be considered in its own essential depravity, and in addition to this, the}' should be punished for the bad example set to others, and the distrust and suspicion which honest men have to encounter through their rascality. Robbers of the Willis and Whalley stamp inflict not only a wrong upon society in general, but a personal injury upon every individual holding a position of trust. — Leader.