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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3922, 2 June 1877, Page 2

The coach from Taupo reached Napier with mails and passengers last night at its usual time, although it only left Taupo at 3 o'clock on Thursday afternoon instead of in the morning. This speaks well for the driver and the plant on the road. The delay in the Tauranga coach reaching Taupo, which was mentioned in our telegram from the latter place yesterday, was caused, we are informed, by some dozen trees being down in the Oropi bush. The driver and passengers had to set to clearing the trees away before the coach could proceed on its journey. We understand that it is probable there will be great difficulty in keeping communication by coach open through to Taupo, as there is no one to look after the road at present. The Tauranga County Council having hung up the Act, the maintenance of the road rests with the General Government, but as yet they have not taken any steps to put it in repair. Mrs NeiU's concert came off at the Oddfellows' Hall last night, and was one of the most successful given by that lady. The front seats were crowded, but the back portion of the hall Avas rather thinly attended. The concert opened with the " Sadowa March," by the orchestra, followed by the "Mermaid's Song and Chorus," which was fairly rendered. A song from Maritana, ' ( There is a flower that bloometh," was then given by Mr Jones with very good effect, and in response to an encore he gave the wellknown song from the same opera, "In happy moments." The duet "Sainted Mother," by Mrs Neill and Miss Le Couteur, was charmingly rendered, both voices harmonising very effectively. The fair vocalists were warmly applauded by the audience at the finish, and the latter part of the duet had to be repeated. The ballad il Love's Request," was then very sweetly given by Mrs Powell, and was also encored ; it was followed by a pleasing quartette by Mrs Neill, Miss Le Couteur, Messrs Jones and Martin. The "Rain Chorus" from "Chilperic" was next rendered in a spirited and telling manner, and was warmly encored. The first part concluded with the " Miserere," from the opera of "II Trovatore," and was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience. The solo parts were sung with great taste by Mrs Neill and Mr Jones, and the invisible chorus had a remarkably good effect. Among the pieces which found most favor with the audience in. the second part of the programme were the songs "Waiting." and " She wore a wreath of roses," which were both done full justice to by Mrs Neill ; the trio from the "Rose of Castillo," "I'm not the Queen," the parts in which were taken, by Mrs Neill, Miss LoCouteur, and Mr Morgon, had to be repeated, which was also the case with the ballad, " My Robin is shy," nicely given by Miss LeCouteur. The martial song, " Hark ! the drum," with cornet and drum accompaniment, was very well rendered by Mr Morgon, and enthusiastically encored. The concert, which was a most enjoyable one, concluded with the " Market Chorus" from " Massaniello. " Miss Martin presided most efficiently at the pianoforte during the evening, and the orchestra proved a valuable addition in the choruses and concerted pieces. A meeting of the creditors of John M'Leod, cuachbuilder. was held at Mr Shcohan's oflico yesterday afternoon. A proposition was submitted to pay 20s in the pound in bills at four, eight, and twelve months, to be guaranteed by Mr ' S. (j. Brandon and Mr H. Williams, who are to hold a bill of sale over stock-in-trade, &c, as security. This was unanimously agreed to. Information was received in town last evening that a man named William Hammerton, who is charged with having stolen v horse from Mr Donald Dickie at Waverley, near Wanganui, has been captured at Waipawa, with the horse in his possession, by one of the Hawke's Bay police force. The prisoner will be forwarded to Wangamu without delay. It would seem that the extermination of hawks from the Hawke's Bay District has not yet been accomplished. Yesterday 05 pairs of hawks' feet were brought to the oflice of Major Scully from the run of the Hon. H. R. Russell, for which the sum of £4 15s was duly paid. Wo notice in our advertising columns that Mr Corbin Lamb, who arrived in Napier by the last Southern steamer, will, at the Oddfellows' Hall on Monday evening, give readings from Charles Dickens' ever popular work, " Martin Chuzzlewit," and will also deliver some recitations, one of which will be the soliloquy of Ulysses while resting at Calypso's Island, on his return from the seige of Troy to his kingdom of Ithaca. It will be noticed that the prices of admission to the readings are very moderate, and should ensure a large attendance. Messrs Margoliouth <fc Banner will sell at their stores, Tennyson-street, to-day, at noon, 300 dozen oranges, received per Falcon. Mr W. K. M'Lean (for MrLennie) will sell this clay, at noon, trees, produce, poultry, stock, etc.

The members of the Fire Brigade held a meeting last Thursday evening, when it was resolved that the steam fire engine should be christened on Thursday evening next. Part of the ceremonial will consist of a torchlight procession, in which the Artillery corps (by the kind permission of Captain Routledge) will take part. The firemen w r ill muster at 7.15 p.m. sharp, and the christening ceremony will commence at 7.30, Miss Miller being the young lady upon whom the honor of giving the name has been bestowed. A letter was read at the meeting from Mr John Close, enclosing a cheque for £32 10s, the amount collected by Mr Knowles and himself for the use of the brigade, in recognition of their behaviour at the Emerson-street fire. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Messrs Close and Knowles for the interest they had shown on behalf of the brigade, and it was resolved that the sum should be appropriated in the same manner as honorary members' subscriptions. A vote of thanks was also passed to Mr J. G. Gilberd, who had presented the brigade with a handsome scrapbook, inkstand, &c. ; also to Mr Tuxford, for his very useful present of two oil cans. Messrs F. Tuxford, W. M'Vay, and H. Hartley were proposed as working members of the brigade, and the meeting closed with notice being given for a drill on Tuesday evening next, at 7. 30. The following were the subscribers to the amount collected by Messrs Knowles and Close : — H. S. Tiffen, £2 2s ; S. G. Brandon, £2 2s ; Neal and Close, £2 2s ; G. Faulknor, £1 Is ; J. M'Vay, £1 Is ; H. R. Holder, £1 Is ; E. W. Knowles, £1 Is ; J. S. Large, £1 Is ; Campbell and Co., £1 Is ; — Winter, £1 Is ; J. Robertson. £1 Is , N. Jacobs, £1 Is ; S. W. Elmes, £1 Is ; R. Holt, £11 s ; T. K. Newton, £1 Is ; E. Moore, £1 Is ; Margoliouth and Banner, £1 Is ; G. E. Sainsbury, £1 Is ; Blythe and Co. , £1 Is ; D..Balharry, £1 Is ; Kinross and Co., £1 Is ; Routledge, Kennedy and Co. , £1 Is ; H. Williams, £1 ;S. Carnell, £1 ; G. H. Swan, £1 ; H. C. Wilson, £1 ; J. T. Johnson, 10s ; Wall and Co., 10s ; Scarfe and Co. , 10s ; A. Manoy, 10s ; H. Cohen, ss. Messrs J. W. Neal, Jno. Close, J. M'Vay, E. W. Knowles, N. Jacobs, R. Holt, A. Kennedy, H. Williams, G. H. Swan, and J. T. Johnson are also subscribers to the brigade of one guinea per annum as honorary members. The Hon. George Brown and the Hon. Mr M'Kenzie, of the Canadian Parliament, have declined the offer of knighthood made to them, on the ground that such honors are not in harmony with the social system and \isages of colonial society. Our cablegrams this morning, it will be seen, als.o state that the honor of knighthood has Ibeen declined by Mr J. C. Francis, of Melb oivrne. What are called "organ recitals" are the fashion just now in Dunedin. They appear to be a- kind of sacred concert., given in a church, in which selections from the works of Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Mendelssohn, and others, are performed on the organ and " pieces by eminent composers" are sung — or rendered, as the musical critics say — by the choir. They are well attended, for various reasons. Some go for the sake of -the music. Others, though unable to appreciate good music, go because it is " the thing ;" and even the " unco quid" can enjoy this mild form of semi-religious excitement. While to those who, like John Gilpin's wife, though on pleasure bent are of a frugal mind, this particular form of entertainment offers a special attraction. It is a cheap recreation. Admission is free. The visitor is not required to be provided with a ticket, and no money is taken at the door. True, the performance is followed by a collection ; but this is a demand which our frugal friends know how to evade. The Dunedin church officers complain of the excessive economy displayed by the attendants at their recitals. On the last occasion the Vestry of St. Paul's Church carried their grievance to the editor of the Daily Times, and besought him to publish an analysis they had made of the sum collected. It was as follows : — Two contributors at 10s, £1 ; 43 at 2s 6d, £5 7s Gd ; 25 at 2s, €2 10s ; 242 at Is, £12 2s ; 192 at 6d, £4 16s ; Bat 4d, 2s 8d ; 103 at 3d, £1 os 9d ; 9 at Id, 9d ;9 at id, 4id. Supposing that everyone gave something, the number of attendants was 633. The total proceeds were £27 5s OJd ; which is an average of 10|:d per head. As the Daily Times pertinently remarks, if the concert had been given in. the theatre, find these 633 people had been asked to take their place in the shilling pit, it is probable that they would have felt much insulted. — Press. The Otago Times mentions that Mr Wayne, of Akaroa, lately cut up a portion of his sheep run there into a number of farms varying in size from 150 to 1300 acres, for the purpose of disposing of them on the deferred payment system, the payments to extend over a period of five years. Already seven of them have been taken up by intending settlers. The Dun© din G-uardian states that a letter has bee n received from Mr George Darrell, who- went to Sydney by the Waikatipu, in which that gentleman says that he had. resolved not to place his piece, " Transported for Life," on the boards of the Victoria., but to wait until it can be produced at the Roj^al. Meantime it is probable that the play will be brought out at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, in the best style of that establishment, and Mr Darrell was aboiit to leave for Melbourne to make the necessary arrangements for its presentation. Divine services will be held to-morrow (Sunday) as follows : — Church of England, at St. Luke's, Havelock, at 11 a.m., at Hastings at 3.30 p.m., and at St. Mark's, Clive, at 7 p.m. ; by the Rev. A. Shepherd, at Maraekakaho at 3 p.m. Mass will be celebrated by the Rev. E. Reignier in the school-room, Clive, at 11 a.m.