Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6280, 3 January 1882, Page 4

" There was no sign of the P.M. s.s. Aus tralia from Sydney up to the time of going to press. She will probably leave for Honolulu and San Francisco, at 2 o'clock to-day, bearing the outward English mail. The races yesterday, without possessing all the agreeable features of Boxing Day, were very successful. The scratching of Hilda in the Stewards' Handicap after the ridor had weighed out caused great dissatisfaction, and no doubt the stewards will require a full explanation. The Derby Race was the subject of an investigation by the stewards to which reference is made elsewhere. The attendance was quite as large as on the first day, and everything was satisfactory, except the railway arrangements to which we have been compelled to refer in uuinistakeable language in our report of the day's races. There is simply no excuse for the department not being able to deal with the traffic. The numbers to be conveyed are by no means vast, the precise amount of accommodation wanted is known, and the railway authorities have at least a twelvemonth's notice. An important discovery has been made in connection with the Plum Tier case. It will be remembered that when Plummer was ap- ' prehended, a quantity of loose paper, scraps of letter paper, blotting sheets, &c, was found in his house, and taken possession of by the police. Upon one of the pieces of blotting paper the blotting mark was found of the address of a letter to Mrs. Dobson, Upper Queen-street, and this was produced" at the Police Court, and also the envelope which had contained the threatening letter which had been sent to Mrs. Dobson. On Plummer being committed, the ivliole of the papers found in Plummer's house were handed over to Mr. IT. Williamson, Crown Prosecutor. That gentleman, on narrowly examining all of them, found, what had been overlooked before, that on one of the scraps of blotting paper was the impression of an address to Dr. Philson, the recipient of the second threatening letter for which Plummer has been committed for trial. Yesterday morning Mr. J. E. M;icdonald, R.M., was the presiding magistrate at the Police Court. Three female drunkards were pardoned on account of the season of the year, and James Gallivin and Richard Hartshorn, for being illegally on the premises of Messrs. McArthur and Co., were remanded until Wednesday. It appears that the reason the pyrotechnic display on board the vessels at the wharf was so limited arose through a desire to centralise the display and avoid as much p.s posssible the liability to accidents. The captains of the vessels at the whirf therefore sent their share of rockets, &c, to the Autares, which was lying in the stream. Captain Hendry, of the Coroinaudel, forwarded a valuable box of fancy fireworks to the Antarcs, and also assisted on board that vessel in displaying them. Herr Wilhelmj and company will arrive this morning from the South by the s.s. Hawea in the Manukau. A little boy, six years of age, named Albert Patterson, son of Mr. F. Patterson, of Poiuonby, was reported, last evening at the Police Station, as strayed or missing. The following is the description furnished': —Had on Holland suit, straw hat with blue ribbon J elastic boots, brown hair, dark and dark complexion. An amusing incident occurred at the North Shore Ferry tee, yesterday morning. A children's feast was to have beer, held at Northcote, of which cakes and milk were to form important factors, but lo'. the milk was missing. A genial knight of the hammer, ever foremost in stood works, volunteered to come to Auckland to look for it. His age is 05, but lie is more sprightly and active than many a innii of thirty-five. When the steamer came alongside another lj'ing at the wharf, in his haste in pursuit of the children's pleasure, he sprang to step upon the sponson, missed his footing, and tumbled iiito the water, lie was instantly picked up, none the worse for his ducking. Proceeding to the North .Shore to change his clothing, numerous friends whom he encountered, noticing that Inappeared somewhat moist, exclaimed, '" How you are perspiring, Mr. SI" Later on in the cl;iy lie was to be seen, his face beaming with joy, serving out the milk to the youngsters. The entertainment given by Mr. Horace Dean's Minstrels r.fc "the Choral-hall last night, in aid of the funds of Xo. 3 Company, A.H.V., was well attended, and pissed off satisfactorily. The stage was prettily decorated with evergreens. The choruses were particularly effective. Amongst the most appreciated songs were "Molly Avourneen" and "Victoria's Black Hussars"by Mr. Dean. In response to an encore lie gave "The Warrior Bold." li The Kmpty Cradle," by Mr. .Smart, and "The Death of Nelson," by Mr. Austin, were much applauded, as was the duct by Messrs. Worrall and Austin. Messrs. Carey and Bertie's songs and dances were capital. The fancy dress ball afterwards was excellently attended, almost crowded. Amongst the conspicuous costumes was that of America —the stars and stripes—worn by a lady. Several ladies dressed as Starlight-', the Spanish costume also being much in favour. Mr. Dean was a very handsome Captain Corcoran. The lirst of the four concerts by Herr August Wilhelmj, who is acknowledged to be the premier violinist of the world, will take place, according to announcement, this evening, in the Choral-hul!. The programme will be found in another column, and comprises several inciT'.a'.<.>■ rarely played in these colonies, and not often attempted anywhere except by artists of the very highest rank. The tickets, considering the holiday season, have been in request, but not easily Obtainable owing to the music-s;>llers being closed. These four concerts will probably constitute the most important musical event that has occurred in this part of the colony. I Herr Wilhelmj is accompanied by Mr. Max Vogrich, a pianist of She first reputation, ami ■ iliss Marie Conroii, a young and charming : ■■niiw donna with a very powerful and sweet I tH'.'.'.o-soprano voice. Messrs. Hoffmann will i Ay-ej} open the sale of tickets to-day in order i to accommodate the public.

Yesterday evening a Rob Roy canoe m»of near the watermen's steps, and its oecuoan£ precipitated into the water. H e tvas soo rescued none the worse for his ducking. The Catholic bazanr was reopened l as( . evening, and fairly patronised, the takin* beiug JC.'SS, which brings the grand total close up to £SOO. It will ro-open a<Min tin evening. ° I 3 The new buildings of the New Zealand Insurance Company, Mechanics' B :l y. are i a very forward state, and -(.ho ropewalk now being erected on the old site, will remind 01.l residents of tnc days when it was in f u n swing under the management of Mr. Janie lio: eruo!), senior, now of ' 3 The Industrial Schools Department of " Victoria, hy advertisement, -scelts a Jewish home uiidui- the boarding-out ri-gulations ior two young children, committed at Collino wood .as "neglected children." The present is the first instance in which any children of Jewish parentage have been coiuniit'ed industrial schools. " ro The Victorian TariiT Co!iimi?s!ouor> Yamu-ille and Willianistuwn on December 10, for the purpose of inspecting the local woollen mills, and taking evidence in rein tion to the operation of the lariifin conned tion with these manufactories. The evidence adduced was again of a contradictory nature Mr. Lormer, the secretary of the Melbourne Woollen Mill Company, stated that, in his opinion, the present Uriil" duty of 15 p cr cent, on woollen goods was practically no protection at all to colonial manufacturers He recommended the imposition of a specific duty of Is per yard on all woollens and wool, len mixtures; or, as an alternative, proposi". tion, that the existing duty should be increased to 35 or 40 per cent. Amongst the quantity of fire-hose which recently arrived to the order of the Dunediit Corporation is a specimen length of the kind " of hose now used by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade of London. It is of oakbark-tanned canvas, lined with indiarubler, and is mnch stronger, and will bear greater pressure than the ordinary leather article. Messrs. Shand, Mason, and Co., of London, the well-known fire-engine manufacturers, have just forwarded to Mr. R. Robertson, secretary of the Fire Brigade Association in Dunedin, a couple of handsome prizes in-. tended to be competed for at any competition of the fire brigades which may be held. These are silver-plated helmet aud a well-finished axe, with belt and sheath. A second progress report of tlio Adelaide Sparrow Commission, of which Mr. Davcn- v port is chairman, has been laid before the South Australian Parliament. The commission say they cannot but regard th« house sparrow as a great public enemy, and his effectual suppression as a corresponding public duty. They recommend that it be compulsory on all owners and occupiers to destroy sparrows' nests and sparrows within their properties. Inspectors are recommended to be appointed to see that the work is carried out, that legislation empowering compulsory action le. taken, that these measures should not supersede thu present system of awards, and that the adjoining colonics be solicited to adopt a like policy. Amongst the excursions announced /or today are the Northern Steamship Company's steamers, for Waiweraand Kawau : the Anne Milbank, for Tamaki; and the Takapuna, for Waiheke with Devonport Weslevan Sunday-school animal picnic. The distribution of prize-s and sport for the Dairy Flat school-children took place on the 2Gth December. For the last 14 days our esteemed teacher, Mr. E. Clinton, circulated a subscription list for contributions towards the above object in tins district, and a haudsome sum was subscribed by the .settlers and friends. There were eighteen prizes, consisting of valuable and useful boob, specially selected by the teacher. About noon our healthy and rosy children assembled at the sehooJhouse with their parents, and shortly after the prizes were presented by Mr. C. Blucher, the chairman of school committee, w:ih a suitable address to each child. Tlie jov and satisfaction of the children on receiving such valuable gifts were very great, and hearty thanks were given to the teacher. Mr. Blucher thanked also the teacher, in the name of the committee, for the <_ood progress the children had made in learning in the short time the full-time school has been under the present teacher. It was further stated that, with fev exceptions, he had always secured the goodwill of the settlers to uphold the great benefit of free and seen-. - lar education. Tlie sports were then indulged in until evening, and, as there was assembled a large number of settlers'sons and daughters, dancing was commenced, and continued until daylight next morning.—[A Correspondent, December SO.] There was oi.-ly one prisoner in the lock-up last evening, a man charged with drunkenness. The Thames steamer Rotomahnna left last night at 11.SO crowded from stem to stern with Thames people, who had been spending their holiday in Auckland. Legal proceedings have been instituted in connection with the liring for the UnionCompany's Cup by meiiiha-s of the Dunedin City Guards. Volunteer Prove, some time ago, lodged a protest against two of, the competitors being credited with their scores at one of the matches, because they had not paid up their arrears (as the rules of the company required). The objection was not sustained, and Volunteer Provo claims that it should be. If his contention had been upheld, the trophy would have become his absolute property, and ho has taken proceedings against the oificer in charge of the company to compel him to give up possession of the cup. A sweepstake race, between four 1C feet boats yesterday, resulted in a victory for the . Spray. " | According to the Oamaru Mail a ,u>us vulurii: is tho latest production of Hanipdeu, that stirring borough of the South. Tlie description of the nondescript is.thus told uy :Mi\ W. McKay :— "I have a spotted sow that produced night young ones yesterday, and amongst them is a most curious nondescript. Jt is the .=amo si>x as the.other I pigs, hut lias not a hair c.n it beyond a few ! bristles on the eyelids. It has a perfectlyformed head of exactly the tame shape as that of an elephant, with a trunk like that of an elephant, over three inches long, and turned up over the torehead. It has no mouth. It has two large eyes under tlie ota.l, joined together, ~;ch being quiti as ! big as ;i shilling. The c.ir.s are extworciinj aiily largo, and are placed on each side of the'hreast, and .they are at loa-i , - four times as largo as tlie ears'of tlie other pigs. The nostril.; are placed between the, ears, ;ui<l quite prominent. Tin; Kvt are all alike, and of the mo-t exv- ■■■ ;-dinary shape, all the . fore tcus bei!i:r ■•'■'■ !; ", :! " < v -'- '»ch long, am , , turned mi wiO: :'■■■'-■ ■-■ them. I sent it to the milium !':•.:':•! >■■■••■'■■...■;, after it had been 'interviewed' hv ;ihuo»t overv person in the place.Intensive preparations were made in the South ior the holidays. The Otago Daily Times of the _:!rd December say.s : -"T/ie liailway Department -ire at present bnfiJy engaged preparing for tlie Christmas holiday excursion--. All the rolling-stock that can be made available will be lux-d, and .1 considerable number of trucks are being covered in and. iitted with scats, so as to be used for short trips in the place of the carriages, most of which, it is expected, will Lo required for the conveyance of passengers by the excursion trains to Christchureh, luvei'eurgill, aud the Lakes."

ThtrtTwere a number of free fights to.mt wen* out Alter a little Wairarapa North can boast of possessing *wo persons of the name of William Smith. Smith No. 1 had his name inserted Jn the electoral roll, his namesake not troubling himself nor being troubled about exercise of his rights. On the nollin" day, Smith No. 1 duly recorded his vote in Mastertoii. and, much to his astonishment found himself arrested soon afterwards on a charge of having voted once too often Inquiry proved that William Smith So "' had been induced to look upon the registration claim as his own and that lie had accordingly exercised the franchise The charge against the rightful claimant of the i'ote was, of course, dismissed. An instance of a boy being nearly eaten alive by ants is given in a telegram to the Sydney Evening News:-''A boy named Spanni residing near Ipswich, was sent out to P brine in some cows, and not returning the neighbours searched the country for 40 mfles r°ound.' In the evening the boys =r*stii I Ja , srSiS , &«s The boy ia getting on pretty favourably. An awkward constable in Sydney, who -was commissioned a day or two ago to •carry a sealed jar containing a human stomach to Mr. Charles Watt, chemist, for analysis, let the jar fall in the street, and, of course, it broke to pieces, and the constable had to carry the stomach in. his jpockethandkerchief. We have been requested to call attention to the sale of German and French Pianos, to take •place at Messrs. B. Tonks and Co.'s on Thursday, the sth instant. The stock comprises some from the celebrated makers, lipp ami Sohn, Ascherberg, Nenmeyer, SciUar, Bord, and others. They are now on •view. Mr. H. E. Cotton will sell by auction at ■Cambridge the privileges in connection with the ■Cambridge Jockey Club Summer .Meeting, which take 3 ' jplace on the 11th and 12th instants. The sale takes place on Saturday. , Niver's fluid for polishing and cleaning ■gold, silver, and plated ware is well known in Britain, tut it has not been easy to obtain in Ancklnnd. It ■vriU bs seen by our advertisement columns that Mr. j H Lawisson, the well-known jeweller, has been .appointed sole agent for this useful household liquid. .List of visitors staying at the Hotsprings "Hotel, Waiwera, for the week ending Jannary Ist, 3882:—Mrs Leslie, Mr Austin, Duncdin; Mr Lance, Hr G. B. Peacock, Christchurch: Mr Borlase, "Wanganui; Mr Daddozen, Wellington ; Mr Miller, Master Stiller, Mr aad Mrs Rawdon, Mr Scott, 'Thames; Mr Hotham', Miss M. Hotliam, Otahuhu; ilr S. T. George, M.H.K., Kawan; Mr Anderson, Coromandel; Mr and Mrs J. S. Graham, Waikato; MrCallender, Jlr Todd, Jlr Harcourt, Jlr Jackson, Misa E. Jackson, Master Jackson, Mr Osborn, Mr lind, irr and Mrs Kimdsen and family (5), Miss /Say, Mrs Thorpe Talbot, Mr Clark, Mr -jQilfillaa'. Mr McO)rmack, Mr Davis, Mr Coleman, &rs and Master Pond, Mr Mc»ermott, Sir Griffiths, Mr Browning, Mr Jlackechnie, •\Tr and Mrs Saunders, Masters Sav.nders (2), Mr Smith, Mr »ickens, Mr Lndlow, Mrs Ruck, Miss Buck, Mis 3 H. Ruck, Mr. John Sheehan, J1.E1.R., Mr 'Doi, Mr Thomas Jackson, 11. M., Mast( r Jackson, Mr -Mid Mrs Alexander, Mr Johnson, Mr and Mrs Buckiand, Miss Owen, Mr A. McDonald, M.H.R., Mi A. E. Whitaker, Mr 'Wliitc, Miss Snodgrass, Master "Heather, Mr Pei-ie, Mr W. H Graham. Mr and Mrs ■jJeron, Master Owen, Mr Shea, Mr Shortland. Mr and Mrs Snell, Mr C. F. Bnddle. Mr S. A. Buddie, Mr -Williamson. Mr Lester, Evans, Auckland ; Mr Mars- • den. Mr Eeid, Mr Henderson, Mr Steel, Mr Windsor, "Motutapu. _____^^^^_^^___