Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 340, 14 December 1864, Page 4

I Jlasi'Kl.'s Oratorio of llie •' Mcssiali" will be I performed on Saturday night next, by the | Lyster Opera Company, assisted by the principal members of the Auckland Harmonic Society. Oil this occasion above 100 performers will take part in the Oratorio, and wc cannot doubt but that the effect will be most gratifying. ; liusi iu:.vT Maoist hate's (Jouiit.—lliere was i nothing of any importance brought before the notice of the Ik'iich yesterdaj'. Annie Duggan, a soldier's wife, was ordered to pay a Hue of 55., or in default to be imprisoned tor one week, for committing an assault upon one Eliza "W'hicney. JJni;.\cjr (if TuJiNi'iKK Act. 1503.— The charge of this nature preferred against 11. Stanley .Tones, Esq., was not proccdcd with yesterday. Tiif. AVki.un<;tox Baths.—The more sterile (he soil the better it is always tilled, aud we often find the same rule applies to communities. Struggling against natural disadvantages, with no commerce, no scope for- agriculture, Wellington certain]}' sets in some instances of public spirit an example to richer provinces. 2sot least among these are her baths, and moreover we seo she possesses '■ ten gardens." The Independent says:—" We are glad to announce that the swimming baths, which have for some time past been in course of construction on the other side of the bay. on the road to "Wilkinson's Tea Gardens, are now thrown open to the public. In the last session of the Provincial Council the sum of was voted towards this object, ; which luid tlie effect of inducing our enterprising 1 townsmen, Messrs. Stadwell and Downes, to undertake the erection of suitable buildings for tlie convenience of bathers, and the construction of swimming baths, in order to prevent accidents from sharks ; and though this sum was only a small moiety of the amount required, the works have been satisfactorily completed at a very considerable additional expense to the spiriteel proprietors, who therefore deserve every encouragement and support from the inhabitants. A large sheet of water lias been securely fenced in, with I a good sandy bottom, and a depth of water from I two to twelve feet; the buildings comprise , twenty-four small rooms, each of which is neatly | fitted up with seat, looking-glass, clothes-pegs, \ &c. : there is also a superintendent's and rei freshment rooms, so that every convenience aud , comfort- is secured to visitors, both ladies and I gentlemen. The baths were formally opened on Thursday last, when a large number of persons j paid a visit to the establishment, aud appeared I much pleased with all the arrangements. Ail j excellent dcji.-iun'i• wits provided on thu occasion by the worthy proprietors, to which the visitors did ample justice, and seemed to enjoy themselves to their hearts' content. During the afternoon several swimming matches took place, which were contested l'y several very expert

swimmers and divers; tlie opening of the Wellington Baths was a most decided success, and while congratulating the proprietors on the satisfaction they have given to the public, we hope that they will not be unrewarded for their spirited enterprise. Hon: of Auckland Tent—lndependent Order of Hechaijites.—The commencement of a series of temperance meetings in connection with these bodies, took place yesterday at 8 o'clock, at St. Matthew's schoolroom, Hobson-street, but in consequence of the inclemency of the weather, there was but a poor attcndaucc on the occasion. Mr. Harrison occupied the chair. Suitable addresses were given by Messrs. Sorrell, Lewis, Le Hoy, and others. The chairman, in a few appropriate remarks, earnestly pointed out the benefit to be derived from total abstinence, and stated that the meeting was called together in order to commence a series of temperance gatherings in connection with the llecliabitcs during the present summer. Much evil had been sustained by total abstainers by the Odd-fellows' Hall, in which place meetings were generally held being converted into a ( place of amusement. He was glad, however, to see by the audience before him that their great cause was not dead, but had only been asleep. The Temperance choir performed during the evening somewellselectedglees,among which" Hark to the Indian Drum," and " Blow Gentle Gales," were most distinguishable. The principles of liechabitism wcro clearly defined as being merely total abstinence bound together rather more closely by a religious oath. A temperance association it was stated might, from force of circumstances, become defunct, but the independent order of Becliabitcs could not die. Mr. Osmund Lewis thought that the best way to show the state of the temperance society was to state facts. He had elicited the following statistics from the Custom-house, which of course showed the amount of alcoholic liquors consumed iu this Province. The duties on spirits amounts to £342,960; wines, £47,916; ales, £70,494, in the aggregate or the amount actually paid to the Customs of Auckland, £760,103, putting on 25 per cent, for the publicans' profit (£190,275) the sum amounted to £1,001,378; ales brewed in New Zealand he estimated at £50,000. After a vote of thanks to the chairman the audience separated evidently pleased by their evening's amusements. Military Funeral. —The funeral of Sergfc. Taylor, late of the (55th regt., took place yesterday. The cortege started from the Albert Barracks at a quarter-past 3 o'clock, and was largely attended by civilians. The Odd Fellows, of which society deceased was a member, joined the 1 procession at the Colonial Hospital. The body was conveyed on an artillery carriage, immediately following which were the widow and children, the usual firing party, and about 150 of the military. The deceased was about 35 I years of age, and was much respected by all who knew him. Messrs. Hunter & Co. hold, we see, an extensive sale of stock and farming implements, on the farm of Mr. D. McNaughton. at Mount ! Eden, consisting of dairy cows, hand-fed heifers, steers, horses, etc. I liii'OETiJST Laxd Sale. —We would draw the attention of our readers to the sale of building allotments to be held to-day, in the Brunswick Buildings, by Messrs. Jones and Co. They comprise some seventy valuable lots in the city and suburbs, and a beautifully situated house and allotment in Howe-street, late the residence of Mr. T. Boylan. Sale of Commissariat Stores.— Messrs, Ridings and Dowden will oiler for sale to-day, at the Commissariat Stores, Princes-street, a quantity of condemned Commissariat stores, consisting of pressed forage, mm, and rice. Bush Clearing.—Tenders for cutting down about thirty-live acres of light bush and fern, near Mr. Vercoe's brickyard, Xorth Shore, will be received by Thos. Duder, JS orth Shore, on or before the 21th December. Licensed Victuallers.—A meeting of the Licensed A r ictuallers' Association will be held at the Auckland Hotel, this day, at 3 p.m. Repairing City Puxtrs.—Tenders for keeping the city pumps in repair for one year, commencing Ist January, 1665, will be received at the ollice of the City Board until Mondav next, at 3 p.m. The Oi'Eka.—" Faust" was repeated last evening with brilliant success. In consequence of the late hour at which it concluded, we defer our critique until to-morrow.