Untitled

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3918, 29 May 1877, Page 2

The alterations in the Oddfellows' Hall — as to facilities for rapid egress — having been completed to the satisfaction of the municipal engineer, the building was registered yesterday as a place of public entertainment. The municipal authorities are to be commended for the determination they are showing in a matter that so much concerns the safety of a large number of the public. They should, however, extend their proceedings to the churches, scarcely one of which is provided with means of rapid ogress, particularly in tlie one important essential — that of the doors opening outwards. AYe are requested to remind shareholders and intending shareholders in the Theatre Company that a meeting in connection with the enterprise will be held at 8 o'clock this evening, at the Criterion Hotel.

The anniversary of the Loyal Napier Lodge of Oddfellows was celebrated in the new lodge room last evening by a soiree, when a large number of members and visitors, with their lady friends, sat down to a substantial tea, furnished in excellent style by Mr Johnson. After justice had been done to the good things provided, a pleasant hour was spent, enlivened by songs from several of the gentlemen present. The secretary reported as follows: — "That since last anniversary 23 new members had been initiated, and the number now good on the books is 07. The demands on the lodge for sick pay during that period was £!.) 15s, and the amount cleared on lodge funds £I GB, and on hall fund £100. The total accumulated funds now amount to £1300, being an average of £33 10s per member, which will compare favorably with any lodge in the colony." The ladies and gentlemen then adjourned to the hall, which had been prepared for dancing, where a suitable programme was gone through, dancing being kept going to an early hour, when all seemed highly satisfied with the evening's entertainment. The Right Rev. the Bishop of Auckland held a confirmation at St. Mark's Church, Olive, on Saturday last. Eleven candidates presented themselves. The service commenced with the Confirmation Hymn, taken from ' ' Hymns Ancient and Modern,' 1 which was very sweetly sung by the choir. The Rev. William Marshall then read a suitable lesson for the occasion, after which the Yen. Archdeacon Williams proceeded to read the preface to the confirmation service. The Bishop then delivered an earnest, practical, and affectionate address, taking for his text the ninth chapter of the Acts, part of the sixth verse. The candidates having severally answered to the solemn question put to them by the Bishop, the impressive ceremony of "laying on of hands" followed, and the service was brought to a close. It will be seen by our telegrams from Wellington that the Government intend to avail themselves of the services of Sir W. Jervis and Colonel Scratchelly, in obtaining the professional opinions of those gentlemen upon harbor defences for this colony. We learn that a new Native Lands Act has been drafted and is about to be circulated immediately in English and Maori. The New Zealand Gazette of the 18th instant contains a proclamation bringing into operation in the Taradale district the Hawke's Bay Rivers Act, 187 G. The number of Conservators who are to constitute the Board will be five. The following are the boundaries of the district : — On the south by the Tutaelnui River ; on the east by a straight line running north and south from tlie Tutaekuri River to head of Purmnu Creek, down Purumu Creek to where it joins the Tutaekuri River, thence following the Tutaekuri River to the Ahuriri Harbor ; on the north by high . water mark of the south side of the said harbor to the foot of the first hiils ; on the west by the foot of the said hills to Redclyffe cutting. Paora Kaiwhata gave his fellow natives some good advice at a late native meeting. He said, as reported by the Wananrjci, " Let us return to the worship of the true God, that wo may be one in body. Now, T wish to draw your attention to the work of the Maori Ivingi. His God is in these days, "Tariao." He (the Maori King) has not any mana (influence or power) now. In days past he had mana, but now he has not any mana. He has asked the Government to give back his land to him. But it will not be given back. Now he has not any mana. The object of the subject which we are now discussing is, that we should return to the worship of the true God." Who or what, we should like to know, is Tariao. The last Gazette to hand contains the following appointments by His Excellency the Governor, in the Napier Artillery Volunteers : — Colonel the Honorable George Stoddart Whitmore, C.M.G., New Zealand Militia, to be Honorary Colonel ; Mr Frank William Garner to be Lieutenant, dute of commission 14th April, 1877. We call attention to an advertisement in another column, intimating that the Bishop of Auckland will consecrate the Church of England portion of the Taradale cemetery at 11 a.m. to-morrow (Wednesday). Mr Donald M'Leod, of Waipukurau, desires to express his thanks to Mr Mayo and Sergeant Robinson for the assistance rendered by them in the matter of James Sparrow, who was brought before the Court yesterday on the allegation of being of unsound mind.