Town News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 245, 20 May 1876, Page 14

Town News.

A statement of account with the provinces under the Payment to Provinces Act, 1872, for the quarter ended 31st March, 18f 6, is published in the Gazette. A Bill to amend the Amended Debtors and Creditors Act, passed last session, is now being drafted, and will be brought forward next session. It will be seen by our shipping telegrams that the schooner Kate, of Wellington, foundered between the Grey and Hokitika on Sunday night. The lamps for lighting the Martin fountain were broken to bits on the way out. New ones were ordered from Melbourne; and these have arrived in pieces, having suffered by the voyage. A number of imported valuable sheep running in a paddock on the side of Mount Victoria, rented by Mr. Hunter, have been worried by stray dogs. It appears the man in charge of the sheep had omitted to yard them nightly as directed, the result being as above stated. Mr. Bates has obtained six months’ lease of the theatre, commencing at the conclusion of the Simonsen opera season. Previous experience of Mr. Bates’s ability and care. as a manager gives pi'omise that the season "will be enjoyable to all lovers of the drama.

In reference to the case, particulars of which we gave last week, of a young girl leaving her service and being sought for by her father and her master, we learn that the simple appearance on the scene of a policeman yesterday rendered all application to the Resident Magistrate unnecessary, and succeeded in restoring the girl to her master’s house. Last week’s Gazette contains : —Proclamation of new districts under Marriage Act Amendment Act, 1858, and Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1875 ; appointment of trustees under the Maori Real Lstate Act, 1867 ; appointment of H. W. Bishop, Esq., to be clerk and interpreter under lltli section Native Land Act, 1873, for the Northern district, vice John Edward Grace, Esq., transferred to Wellington.

The Revision Court f -r Wellington City and Country Districts was held on Wednesday at the Odd Fellow’s Hall, before the Revising Officer, H. J. Fitzherbert, Esq. Nearly all the objections were sustained. In a great many instances the elector’s names were retained on the roll after necessary alterations had been made in the qualifications. The ratepayers’ roll, which by the last new Act has to be added to present roll, contained about three hundred names already registered. The Court sat on Thursday morning at the Lower Ilutt.

A man named Owen Kane, who is well known in Wellington, has been committed for trial on a serious charge at Wanganui.

The prisoner Charles Lavery was flogged in the gaol on Monday morning in the presence of Mr. Reid and Drs. Jolmson and Bradford. We hear that the Hon. Mi*. Richardson, as Minister for Public Works, has some objection to the proposed tramway, which prevents the promoters proceeding. The precise nature of the objection has not transpired. Mr. J- A. Edwards gave another organ recital on Monday afternoon on Messrs. Cutler and Moore’s new instrument, to a large number of ladies, who expressed themselves highly gratified at the treat afforded them. Dr. Johnston and Mr. Elliot visited Somes Island on Monday in the Government steam yacht. The few immigrants remaining on the island are doing well, and will be released from quarantine probably about the middle of next week.

The attention of parties desirous of making purchases of valuable building business sites is directed to an important sale on Monday next, at Mr. J. 11. Wallace’s auction rooins,. Hunterstreet, of thirty-six sections in the rising town of Awahuri, as advertised, and other properties.

We learn by telegram from Queenstown that two severe shocks of earthquake, accompanied by a loud rumbling noise, were felt there at ten minutes past five on Monday evening. The first shock lasted about ten seconds, and the other about twice that interval; the direction was from west towards east.

There was a good attendance at the weekly meeting of the'W'ellington Literary Association on Tuesday. The Rev. Mr. Paterson occupied the chair, and the Rev. Mr. Ogg was also present. Essays on the natural products of New Zealand were read by Messrs. Allport, T. Kirker, and R. Renner, each of which was very fairly written, and full of information. Mir. S. Levy, collector of rates for the Education Board, has made the best use of his time in gathering in the rates. In the town he collected up to the end of last month £2480, and he has received from the various sub-collectors in the town about £624, making a total of £3104. The rates outstanding in Wellington amount only to about £BO or £IOO, but there is a considerable amount still to come in from the country districts.

Somewhere about fifty applications for publicans’ licenses were lodged with the clerk of the Resident Magistrate’s Court on luesday. We learn that in one or two cases petitions against the granting of licenses have been sent in. R. Levoi, of the City Cafe, has made application for a license- for his establishment, and Charles Moody has applied foi a license for the hotel which he has erected at Newtown. The Licensing Court will be held on the second Tuesday in June.

The master of the Anne Melhuish got into trouble at Newcastle on his last arrival there for having landed from his vessel a passenger who was suffering from typhoid fever, not having previously hoisted the signal flag for the health officer. It was clear that Captain Chadwick was in ignorance of having a person infected with fever on his ship, and the Bench only inflicted a nominal penalty, but told defendant he had rendered himself liable to a fine ot £IOO.

In the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday P. Kelly, brought up on remand, on suspicion of lunacy, was further remanded for eight days. William Taylor, charged with vagrancy, Avas sent to gaol for three months. James Kay was charged with stealing three blankets, the property of Richard Petford. Richard Petford said that on Sunday last prisoner Avas staying at his house. On Monday he missed three blankets, and gave information to the police. The blankets were found m William Bassett’s house at Petone, who sanMie had purchased them from prisoner. His Worship sent him to gaol for six months.

The committee of the Chamber of Commerce met on Monday afternoon, and had a lengthened consultation, amongst other matters, concerning the point raised by Mr. Duncan at last meeting of the Board, Avith reference to the jurisdiction of the Wellington Resident Magistrate Court in civil cases. I hey ao-reed to recommend the Chamber to memorialise the Minister for Justice on the matter. It was resolved to address the Government, inquiring Avliat endowments they were prepared to confer on the Harbor Board, and it was arranged to meet the sub-committee of the City Council on Wednesday afternoon, to confer generally on the matter. An accident happened to the Phcebe about 12 o’clock on Wednesday, Avhich caused her to be detained here for ten hours. Hie barque Edwin Bassett, Avhich had been moored alongside the Phcebe for the purpose of supplying her Avith coal, in dropping doivn so as to let the steamer go out managed to get her toreyard foul Avith that of the steamer, and snapped it off in the centre. Her mamyard also came in contact with the main rigging of the i hoebe, and carried away the starboard shrouds. Ihe sailin'’ 1 ’ of the Phcebe had consequently to be postponed till 10 o’clock last night, so as to have the necessary repairs effected. A spare yard was sent aloft shortly after the accident.

I-lis Excellency the Governor has been pleased to aAvard the decorative distinction instituted by Order in Council, dated March 10, 1869 to the folloAving persons : —lnspector John Mclntosh Roberts, of the Armed Constabulary ; Major Kepa Rangihiwinui, New Zealand Militia ; Major Rapataha WahaAvaha, Native Contingent ; Captain Francis J oseph Mace, Taranaki Militia ; Sub-Inspector Geo. Preece, Armed Constabulary ; Assistant-Sur-geon Samuel Walker, Armed Constabulary ; Sergeant Christopher Maling ; Sergeant Richard Shepherd, Armed Constabulary ; Sergeant Samuel Austin, Wanganui Volunteer Contingent ; Trooper Antonio Rodriguez, Taranaki Mounted Volunteers; Private John Anderson, Guides.

An Acclimatisation Society has been started in Hawke’s Bay. £B3 were subscribed at once. Mr. George Cowie, for many years inspector of the Union Bank in this colony, and at present manager of that bank in Sydney, has, we understand, accepted the appointment of general manager of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand. Mr. Maudesley, of a celebrated engineering firm in England, and a gentleman holding a high position in Masonry, who has attended several of our local lodges during his sojourn here, was a passenger for the North by the s.s. Phoebe on Wednesday. A telegram from our Palmerston correspondent, received on Thursday, states that fever is very prevalent among the Maoris, and many deaths have occurred in consequence. . Erina Kooro, an influential cliieftainess, died on Wednesday evening. We observe that the Athenieum has received a considerable addition to its already numerous collection of standard works, and these books are all handsomely and strongly bound. They came by the last steamer from Melbourne. Mr. Crawford on Thursday decided against plaintiff in an action for the recovery of 175., money lent by plaintiff (a billiard marker at the Commercial) to defendant, to play pool with. The Magistrate referred to the “ Law of Contracts,” by Chitty, and recorded a nonsuit, the authoi’ity being that “money knowingly lent for the purpose of enabling the borrower to gamble is not recoverable.” In a private letter from New South Wales, •received by a gentleman in this city, the writer, referring to the drought mentioned in our telegraphic news, states that the loss to squatters has been very severe. On one station where there were 100,000 sheep 40,000 were lost, and other cases of a less extraordinary character are mentioned. On the Darling there has been no rain for two years. The tenth of the series of lectures to young people now in course of delivery in the Terrace school, came off on Saturday last, the subject being “The World and its Inhabitants.” In this case, the lecturer directed the attention of the audience to the reptiles, both existing and fossil. The lecture was illustrated by diagrams of existing species, and also by others showing the inhabitants of the world as they existed in the period known in geology as the “ age of reptiles.” The joint committee of the City Council and Chamber of Commerce on the Harbor Board met in the Council Chamber on Wednesday afternoon. All the members were present, the Mayor in the chair. It was agreed that the information at the disposal of the committee should be placed before the City Solicitor, and that he be requested to draft a Bill on the subject, to be submitted for the approval of the several parties interested. The Mayor was elected chairman and Mr. Hester secretary to the committee.

The following tenders were received at the Public Works office, Wellington, for the undermentioned contracts, viz. :—Kawa Kawa coal railway, contract No. 1. Accepted : Wm. Poughy, Grahamstown, £5909. Declined : Alex. Smith, Grahamstown, £5894 ; Alex. Sutherland and Co., do, £5990; Daniel Ballon, Auckland, £6984. Wanganui-Manawatu Railway, Wangaehu contract, (permanent way only). Accepted : W. H. Topham, Nelson, £5277. Declined : Caiman and Richardson, Wanganui, £5350; John Wilkie, Wanganui, £5531; Thomas Denby, Wanganui, £5794. East week’s Gazette contains the usual quarterly statement, showing in detail the revenue of the colony collected during the quarter ended March, 1876. The total amount received was £501,111 17s. 9d. Customs, bond rents, &c., yielded £363,626 ; stamp duties, £35,369 ; postal, £23,648 ; telegraphic, £18,268 ; judicial fees and fines, £11,431 ; fines and fees, £11,384 ; railways, £21,895 ; incidental, £15,487. Auckland contributed £84,362 ; Taranaki, £3762 ; Wellington, £67,703 ; Hawke’s Bay, £15,988 ; Nelson, £27,826 ; Marlborough, £3862 ; Canterbury, £82,835; Westland, £17,298; Otago, £151,999; general, £37,471. A daring attempt at escape from the hard labor gang took place on Wednesday. The gang was employed at the new hospital site, near the Adelaide-road. During the dinner hour a man named Frederick Werld suddenly left the shed in which the prisoners were having their dinner, and made off over a hill towards some thick furze in the vicinity. He was observed, and was immediately pursued by two of the officers in charge, who after a smart chase succeeded in capturing him. It was a bold attempt at escape in the face of so many armed men ; and if the prisoner had reached the furze unobserved there would have been great difficulty in catching him. As it was, his capture was entirely owing to the vigilance of the officers in charge, to whom great credit is due. The singular part of this affair is that Werld is only a short-sentence man, and had but a month of his time to run.

A special meeting of the governors of the Wellington College was held on Saturday afternoon. Present—His Honor the Superintendent (in the chair), his Worship the Mayor, the Rev. Mr. PatersoD, and Messrs. Jackson and Buckley. The business was of no public importance. On the minutes of the previous meeting being read, the Mayor objected to a paragraph referring to the appointment of Mr. Barnard, as inaccurate in its narrative of fact. The minutes, however, were confirmed, the Mayor dissenting. Professor Kirk, having received a temporary appointment in connection with the Government’s Forest department, asked leave of absence for a few days after the opening of next term. The Professor’s application was at once granted. A n application from Mr. Merlet, French teacher, connected with his arrangements, was also granted. Mr. Hutchison gave notice of motion to the effect that at next meeting he would move that all ordinary meetings of the governors should be open to the Press.

One branch of the Civil Service, the Audit department, was removed into the new Government buildings yesterday. The part of the new buildings set aside for this department has been specially pushed forward, as the rooms occupied at the other buildings aie wanted to form other accommodation during the session.

Mr. I-lastwell has decided to start running a coach between Master ton and Palmerston on, the Ist of June. It is one of those events which mark progress in settlement, and it is? to be hoped that Mr. Hastwell will not only find this a succesful venture, but will be the pioneer on many a new road. It will also be seen by our advertising columns that the early coach from Grey town is to be discontinued during the winter months. We understand that the Minister for Public Works has expressed his willingness to consent to special trains being run at night, once or twice a week, on the occasion of the visit of the Simonsen Opera Troupe. As it is doubtful whether the Otago, by which, under original arrangements, the company wove to arrive from Lyttelton, will be in time to allow of their coming in her on Friday, other arrangements will necessarily be entered into, so that under any circumstances the company will arrive in Wellington on Friday. A well-attended meeting of chess players was held on Monday to make arrangements for the forthcoming chess match. A number of names of gentlemen willing to play were submitted to the meeting, and after discussion it was resolved to advertise for more names, then take a ballot, to be followed by games between those balloted for, to enable the committee to pick ten of the best to represent the town party. The meeting then adjourned till Friday. * The following is the return of cable messages forwarded and received during the past week : Forwarded. Received. Total. May S .. 29 .. 3S ~ 67 9 .. 23 .. 31 .- 54 10 .. 26 .. 36 .. 62 11 .. 20 .. 27 ... 47 ” 12 .. 26 .. 25 .. 51 ” 13 .. 22 .. 17 .. 39 ~ 14 .. 3 .. 0 .. 3 149 174 323 The following tenders were received at the Public Works office, Wellington, for the Wai-pawa-Takapau contract of the Napier-Mana-watu railway (permanent way only), viz.:— Accepted : Millar, Murray, and Walker, Invercargill, £6490. Declined : Tracey and Allen, Napier, £7200; W. H. Topham, Waipukurau, £7349; John Whittaker, Dunedin, £7400; Wm. Rowe and Macarthy, Wanganui, £7630 ; John Wilkie, Wanganui, £8248 ; Mackay and Monteith, Waipukurau, £8713; Thos. Denby, Wanganui, £3 0,362. Ed. Brennan and Co., Napier, informal; J. Gray and Co., Wanganui, informal. Mrs. Corlett, an erstwhile schoolmistress of Kaitoke, and who has given to us a number of poetical productions under the name of “ Silver Pen,” seems to be creating a sensation in San Francisco. The Frisco correspondent of the Auckland Herald has not forgotten to remark upon her success there. He says : “ Mrs. Corlett, late of your city, is quite the fashion here. She has made a great success as a teacher, having already secured forty pupils in her elocutionary class. She is also a contributor to several of the local papers. Recently she gave an elocutionary and musical seance, in which she was assisted by Frisco’s best talent. The Wellington correspondent of the Melbourne Argus cannot be said to be very good at prophecy, for in the following paragraph from his letter, regarding the Speakership, he mentions every name but the right one : —“ It will probably be Mr. Reynolds, the late Commissioner of Customs, who, from purely business reasons, retired from the Ministry on its reconstitution when Sir Julius Vogel returned to resume the Premiership. Failing Mr. Reynolds, Mi-. Seymour, Superintendent of Marlborough, will be the Government candidate. The Opposition talk of putting up Mr. Rolleston, the Superintendent of Canterbury, as a candidate. Sir Dillon Bell, the late Speaker, failed to obtain a seat ; and even if he were in the House, he would have no chance of reelection as Speaker, he made himself too unpopular in the House while he held the chair.” Information was received by the police on Friday that a Scandinavian named Lars Neilson had been shot dead at the SeventyMile 'Bush by another Scandinavian. It appears that Neilson was mad, and had been going about wounding people with a billhook until he was shot. Had his performances not been arrested, he might have killed a few men. Since the telegram conveying the above came to hand, a written report was received from Constable McKenzie, which, as will be seen, differs considerably from the telegram, and puts quite a different complexion on the affair. Constable McKenzie states :—“About 10 o’clock p.m. on the night of the 11th inst., Bernt Lymrson, a Scandinavian, residing at Heketahuna, arrived at Masterton, and reported that Lars Neilson, a Dane, about thirtytwo years of age, a surveyor’s laborer, had been going at large in an insane state, using a pickaxe, attacking everyone with whom he came in contact, and wounding and maining one or two women who were unprotected. When Bernt heard of this he took his gun, and riding out, meC him on the high road near Jacobson’s accommodation house. He approached him, and when within about ten yards accosted him, saying ‘ I will kill you.’ Bernt then levelled his gun and fired, the shot taking effect in the throat of Neilson, who fell to the ground, and never spoke afterwards. The body was carried into Jacobson’s house, where it still lies. This statement was taken from the perpetrator’s own lips.—(Signed) Alex. McKenzie.” Inspector Atchison, on receiving the above report, at once gave instructions to Mr. Fraser to send a telegram to McKenzie, directing him to arrest Lymrson on a charge of murder.

Mr. Bevan, of Hokitika, who had been here for some days in connection with the floating of the Mount Rangitoto Silver MiningCoirpany, and has met with great success in the same, left on Wednesday in the Phcebe on his homeward trip. Mr. Bevan’s departure was witnessed by a number of friends, who loudly cheered him and complimented him upon the great success which had attended his visit to Wellington. The lecture to young people will, as usual, be delivered in the Terrace school, on Saturday afternoon. Subject : “ The World and its Inhabitants.” No. 4. Birds. The following is the synopsis of the lecture :—l. Earliest appearance of birds on our planet. 2. Extinct species. 3. Distinguishing characteristics of birds. 4. Existing species ; sub-orders. 5. Influence of climate on the plumage. 6. Continental pecularities. 7. The uses of birds in the economy of nature. The lecture will be illustrated by maps and diagrams of extinct and existing varieties. At a meeting of the directors of the Caledonian Society held on Thursday the acceptances for the various handicaps were received, and it is pleasing to state that not one of the competitors entered cried “ non-content.” It is remarkable that a handicap should be so arranged as to please everybody, and it is to be hoped the circumstance is an omen of success at the meeting. The privileges, such as gate, booths, authorised programme, &c., are to be submitted to public competition on Saturday by Mr. R. J. Duncan. The following returns of railway traffic were published in Thursday's Gazette. They are for the four weeks ending April 8 : Wellington and Masterton railway—Passengers, 8809, £577 17s. Id.; parcels, &c., £ls os. lOd. ; season tickets, £24 75.; freight, 1606 tons, £4SI 4s. Id. Total, £IO9B 9s. New Plymouth and Waitara railway—Passengers, 1804, £133 195.; parcels, &c., £1 3s. 4d.; season tickets, £1 145.; freight, 196 tons, £66 3s. Id. Total, £202 19s. sd. Auckland and ; Mercer railway—Passengers, 11,093, £985 9s. lid.; parcels, &c., £l2 15s. Id.; season tickets, 11, £27 11s.; freight, 1410 tons, £702 12s. Total, £1728 Bs.

The Appeal Court was on Thursday occupied the whole of the day in hearing the argument of Mr. Joynt in the case Creyke v. Dransfield ; and at its rising the Court adjourned till five minutes past eleven yesterday. The Full Court was to have sat in its matrimonial jurisdiction at eleven, but in order to dispose of Creyke v. Dransfield it was decided to go on with the case the first thing this morning. To get rid of the little theoretical difficulty of their Honors having to appear in two different courts simultaneously, it was decided to adjourn the Appeal Court till 11.5. The sitting of the Divorce Court will be postponed.

A New Zealand Gazette was issued on Thursday. It contains—Cromwell Municipal Corporation Regulations ; petition for a municipality at Akaroa ; notice under section 12 of the Public Revenues Act, 1872 ; appointment of Captain W. Stavely, of the Dunedin Naval Volunteers, to command the Volunteers in the district ; acceptance of resignations of Captain Harris, Picton Rifle Volunteers, and Lieut. Higgie, Alexandra Cavalry Volunteers ; appointment of Alexander Stevenson, Esq., to be Chief Clerk in the General Post-office ; registration under the Marriage Act of the Rev. T. IT. Bates (Disciples of Christ), and the Rev. R. J. Allworth (Presbyterian Church of New Zealand) ; Land Transfer Act notices, &c. The ship Fernglen brought a large and valuable addition of books for the General Assembly Library. Mr. McColl, the librarian, kindly permitted our reporter to inspect the works yesterday. There are in all 345 vols., comprising the International Scientific Series, Philosophy, Art and History, Ethnography and Geography, Poetry and Belles Lettres. There is also a new edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, in three volumes. Among the works of travels are “ A Ramble Round the World,” by Burner, and “ Untrodden Spain,” by H. J. Rose. All of the works are beautifully bound, and form a very handsome as well as valuable addition to the library. We are given to understand that another parcel of books, as large in extent as those to which we refer, is now on its way from England.

Loafers are on the increase in Wellington, which fact may perhaps be regarded as “ an indication of the progress of civilisation” equally with the development of local industry. Cases of vagrancy have frequently of late come before the Police Court, and in addition to this class of loafers there are some professional impostors who, under the plea of being unable to work, go about begging. . A miserable object of a man made application for relief to Mr. Crawford on Saturday, and that gentleman supplied him with three shillings out of the Benevolent Society s funds, believing that he had before him a genuiue case of distress. But he was mistaken ; on receiving the money the beggar went to a, tavern, where he regaled himself with colonial beer as long as the three shillings lasted, and then departed. He was arrested on Monday afternoon, and on being brought up at the Resident Magistrate’s Court charged with vagrancy was remanded till Thursday. Our telegrams from Tasmania this morning contains an item possessing a mournful interest, the death of poor Lallah Rookh, the last of the aborigines of that colony. It is the first of the Australasian native races which has become extinct, and the event completes a sad story, which the Peace Society may forcibly employ to show how effectually the British colonist uses the fire and the sword in pressing home to the mind of the savage the gospel of truth. The severely humanitarian school have oftentimes talked arrant rubbish about ; the illtreatment of the Maoris, but if they would read the works of West and several others writers of Tasmanian early history whose names do not at the moment occur, a wide field for sympathy., would open out, and we venture to say that in the name of colonisation and progress deeds have beea committed in

that beautiful island which for ferocity and brutality were scarcely surpassed by the leading events even of the Indian mutiny. The last man of the race, King Billy, to whom reference is made in the telegram, died about 1867 or IS6S, and the unseemly events which took place at the time have left a stigma on the fair fame of several of Tasmania’s * leading colonists. Almost before the breath ’was out of his body a fight commenced for the pessession of his bones. One doctor wanted the skull for the London Museum, another pressed the claims of the Tasmanian Royal Society to the skeleton, and if we are not mistaken, another represented Melbourne in the scramble. The upshot of the affair was that one of the competitors, more wary than his fellows, broke into the hospital deadliousc at night, and decapitated the corpse. After the death of her husband, Lallah was taken in charge by the Government and shown every consideration, and comfortable quarters were provided for her. At every Birthday ball at Government House the aboriginal race was represented by the dusky old dame, and no visitor of note was allowed to leave the colony until he had been presented in due form to the crownless queen, Lallah. The ceremony with which she received her visitors was most amusing; for she acknowledged inferiority to none save the Governor, but was exceedingly deferential to H.R.IT. Prince Alfred when he honored her with a visit.

The Theatre Royai was very largely attended last Monday night, the dress - circle particularly being well filled. “ Nemesis,” the piece of the evening, is a sparkling operabouffe, containing capital business and telling situations. The plot, briefly stated, is as follows :—Galino, an expedient Benedick, engages himself to be married to two ladies, Rosalie Ramponneau (Miss Howarde) and Praline de Patoche (Mdlle. and a complication necessarily follows, the respective parents on either side claiming exclusive right to the person of the unfortunate Calino (Mr. Towle, his first appearance in Wellington). On the other hand, an interesting bachelor, Zidore de Foloselle (Miss Jennie Nye) is enamored of Rosalie, and she reciprocates, but the father’s consent is wanting, he being bent on her marriage with Calino. Of course everything is eventually settled to the complete satisfaction of everybody, each man and each woman is wedded according to his and her Ghoice, and a general rejoicing, in which the angry fathers seem mysteriously to participate, is the result. Last evening’s performance of the piece was quite satisfactory, and appeared to be regarded by the audience with the liveliest satisfaction, the applause being frequent and hearty. The musical portion of the entertainment was successfully executed, and this may be said not so much with regard to the choruses as the solos and duets. Miss Howarde and Mdlle. Novaro were in excellent voice, and acted with the spirit and general good effect characteristic of the performances of these ladies. Miss Jennie Nye also made the most of the part with which she was entrusted, and received a demonstrative encore for the song “ Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still,” which she sang very sweetly. A duet by Miss Nye and Miss Howarde was also a very fine performance, and elicited considerable applause. Mr. Power was as funny 'as usual, and gave due prominence to an excellent part, that of Roland de Roncevaux Ramponneau. In the second act, where Ramponneau, Rosalie’s father, and Patoche, father of Praline, have a very severe and at the same time excessively comical quarrel over the complications in matrimonial matters before referred to, the audience were literally convulsed. The parties to the contest were divided by what was supposed to represent a brick wall, over which they had been previously regaling themselves by throwing cabbages or other vegetables at one another; and in order the better to interchange mutual defiance, each perched himself upon a ladder, Ramponneau, a retired major, carrying with him a cannon, to be used, apparently, in case of emergency. It would be difficult to conceive of an effect more ludicrous than that produced by this piece of acting, which, as previously stated, fairly convulsed the house. We had nearly forgotten to mention Mr. F. Towle, who was entrusted with the part of Calino. This gentleman is by no means an old actor, or thoroughly acquainted with stage business, but he succeeded very well, although the part could naturally have been made more of by an actor more accustomed to the line of business. It must not be lost sight of, however, that to impersonate the character of Calino properly (and there is much to be made of it) requires certain special qualifications not possessed by the majority of light comedy gentlemen. It is essentially a peculiar part, and is to be made the one of the piece. Mr. Towle did his best, and it is only fair to state that his best was very far from being the worst piece of acting we have seen in connection with burlesque performances, and he has areally excellent tenor voice, which told well in the chorusses, and he sang “ Come into the Garden, Maud ” in excellent style. Generally speaking, the performance of “Nemesis” was more successful than could perhaps reasonably have been expected, when it is considered—first, that the piece is not one which can be placed on the stage without proper care and attention; and secondly, that the company had not a great deal of time for rehearsal.

An incident of an almost unexampled nature in the hunting-field recently occurred in Ceylon to a young gentleman named Behrend, who was learning coffee planting on the estate of Mr. C. B. Phipson, at Maskeylia. The Ceylon Observer of March 2 thus describes the affair :—“ On February 26, after the day’s work was closed, Mr. Behrend went in pursuit of an elk which had been seen on the plantation. The animal came to bay in the river, and the coolies who accompanied their Sinna Durai wished to kill it with sticks and stones. This Behrend would not permit, and instead, without the aid of dogs, he pluckily but very rashly went in himself, knife in hand. The attempt would be a most dangerous one even

for an old experienced huntsman, for the elk was a large powerful buck, but poor Behrend had no chance, for instead of going at the elk sideways he seems to have gone up m front and caught at the creature’s throat There was of course a struggle, and the coolies saw Behrend fall back, while the elk broke away. They rushed up at once and got tlieir young master out of the water, but only to find him quite dead. The explanation seems to be that the elk with his foot struck the poor fellow s hand with such force as to turn the knife back and right into his chest, if not through the heart. Death must have been almost instantaneous.”

As soon as the official Gazette of Vienna published the authentic text of the Andrassy note, the Khedive requested that it might be telegraphed to him. The despatch sent to Cairo via Malta, giving the note in extenso, consisted of 3818 words, the cost of the whole, at 77 kreutzers a word, being 4898 florins, or about £490. Educational matters seem to be in a bad way in California. The San Francisco Bulletin of March 16tli says At the last meeting of the present Board of Education it was announced that the deficit m the School Fund exceeds 150.000d01., as was declared m the Bulletin several weeks since would be tiie case. With an empty treasury, and a positive refusal on the part of the Legislature to pass a deficiency Bill for its benefit, the Board had no alternative but to close the. public schools on the 30th of April, so to remain until July 6th The suspension of the teachers and the discontinuance of their pay, great as the hardship is to them, is the least of the evils of this deadlock. It dwindles into utter insignificance when compared to the loss suffered by the scholars and the demoralisation which is likely to follow such a prolonged relaxation from school duties and discipline. We are to credit all this, according to Auditor Maynard, to the diversion by the late Administration o a larger sum of money from the School Bund for the erection of school buildings than is shown in the present deficit. MESSRS CUTLER AND MOORE’S NEW ORGAN. The new organ recently finished by Messrs Cutler and Moore was formally opened .on Saturday afternoon, at their factory, in the presence of a number of influential gentlemen, who were specially invited to hear the first king of instruments built in Wellington. Mr. Hunter, President of the Choral Society, occupied the chair, and made a few remarks in introducing the proceedings, stating the pleasure he felt at being present on. an occasion of the kind, namely, the celebration of an achievement in connection with a new local industry of which Wellington might well bejiroud. reac j f ro m Sir Julius Vogel, stating his regret at not being present as he intended, but we are led to understand that another opportunity of hearing the instrument will be. afforded him. Sir Julius Vogel’s letter is as follows:—“Messrs. Cutler and Moore. —Dear Sirs It gives me great regret (the more especially that you so kindly consulted me as to* the time that would be convenient to me) to be obliged to write to you at the last moment to ask you to excuse me. from being present this afternoon at the trial, of your new organ. I am prevented by quite, unexpected but not to be surmounted circumstances from enjoying the pleasure I anticipated Let me take this opportunity of congratulating you on the new industry you have added to Wellington, and which I hope will be duly appreciated.—l am, very truly, Julius This organ-harmonium —for it is a clever combination of both instruments—presents a very imposing exterior, the case being of highly polished Spanish mahogany, relieved with ebony of Gothic design, with illuminated pipes in front. It contains four complete sets of vibrators, and two sets of pipes (metal and wood), with two octaves of independent pedal reeds. There are 15 draw stops,, as follows : Pedals, bourdon, cor-anglais, clarion, bassoon, reed flute, clarionet, fife-metal flutes Bft. and 4ft, celeste, hautbois, and a tremolo, with knee-swell by which the performer can bring on the whole of the reeds at pleasure. It is equally suitable for either church or chamber Se and susceptible of many very beautiful effects and good power, and altogether reflects the highest credit on its enterprising builders Tts powers were tested to their fullest extent on Saturday, when Mr J. A. Edwards the eminent organist, performed the foiling programme with admirable effect; Solo, Cujus Animam, Bossini ; offertoire, Bervon; march Turner ; operatic selection, Edwards ; and Mendelssohn’s Wedding March. . During the rendition of the operatic selection, arranged by Mr Edwards specially for the instrument, he kept his hearers spell-bound for over a quarter of an hour with gems of melody and cleverly intermixed scenas, waltz music, religious chorales, and grand choruses from “ Masaniello,” “Mose,” “Hugenots,” “Boberto, and “Faust ” and by certain combinationof the stops produced remarkable orchestral effects, surmising on an instrument of its dimensions. At the conclusion of the performance he was enthusiastically applauded. Befreshments were provided on a liberal SC The CHAIRMAN said that he saw preparation Had apparent)Y been made for proposing toasts, ami hfwas old fashioned enough to think that there was one which ought always to take precedence. He would therefore ask them to drink “The Health of her Majesty the Queen, after which, ashehad not come prepared to make any speech he should call upon his Worship the Mayor to propose “ The health of Messrs. Cutler and Moore, and success to their new m< The ry Chairman then proposed “The Health of the Queen,” which was honored m the usual way. < £ rru,„ His Worship the Mayor proposed the Health of Messrs. Cutler and Moore. ±±e

said that the progress of a community was n to be judged by its material advancement that advancement was very, necessary ~ there were cravings and aspirations which it failed to supply, and just in proportion, as means were taken to supply these higher aspirations might the real progress of n' P®?P^ be determined. Music, literature, statuary, all tended to elevate and gladden human life—music, as an ar , 1 did so, if he might speak of that as which seemed to him more of a divineint tion. He said so because music seemed to come to their lads and lasses veiy much, as speech came. It was the old story embodied by the ancients in that statue of Memujm which, as the rising sun shone uponifc, ™ a harp-like music, so their young people, when life’s morning sun. shone upon > was their happy hearts in melody. 1 mtl S ca l inthe grandest and most powerfu , ' struments. Even Milton, puritan as he was loved to linger in the cloister dim i eli ioi light and hear the pealing organ s swelL lhey had heard some of that pealing that afternoon and without himself having any competency to give an opinion on the subject, he Relieved he was only giving the opinion of every one present capable of doing so, when he sa d that they had obtained, between instrument and instrumentalist, a magnificent performance. He thought that Wellington had seemed an accession in the person of Mr. Edwards, whose musical talents, it was to be hoped, would draw around him troops of friends. Of the instrument he would only say that it reflected the highest credit upon the workmans up, ie taste, and artistic skill of Messrs. Cutler and Moore. He was proud to think that Wellington should be the first city, not only m this colony, but in the Australasian colonies, to set up a high class manufacture of this kind, anc he had very great pleasure in proposing . I he Health of Messrs. Cutler and Moore,” and in expressing what he was sure was the wish ot every gentleman present that they might long carry on this particular business, so as not on y to help in maintaining that musical taste for which Wellington was distinguished, but also to make it lucrative to themselves. Mr. Cutler responded. He thanked them for their kindness in displaying so hearty an appreciation of the efforts made by the firm to establish a new industry in Wellington. It was not given out, he said, that this organ was the best or grandest they intended to make. They hoped to construct not only organs but pianos, and to sell them at a more reasonable price than they could be obtained for by importing them from England. In conclusion, he thanked Mr. Edwards for manipulating the instrument so beautifully. ... , Archdeacon Stock proposed The Health of Mr. Edwards,” and spoke in flattering terms of that gentleman’s ability as an organist. Mr. Edwards returned thanks m a suitable manner. Mr. Moore desired to correct an impression that had got abroad to the effect that this organ was actually destined for Wanganui. Such was not the case. The people there had certainly expressed a great wish to have it, but the firm were not in a position to state that it was going there; and he regarded it as his duty to make this explanation in justice to the Wanganui people. , , . A vote of thanks having been accorded to the chairman, the company separated. To-day, at three o’clock, Mr. Edwards will perform, at the instance of many ladies who are desirous of hearing the instrument, the following selection :—Coronation March (Meyerbeer), Grand Offertoire (Silas), Tannhauser March (Wagner), pot pouri (Edwards), and Wedding March (Mendelssohn). . - WELLINGTON TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION. A fairly attended meeting of the abovenamed association took place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, in the Sydney-street schoolroom. Present : Messrs. Newlyn (chairman), Mowbray, Bowband, Young, Willis, Horne, Manning, Prenderville, Sinclair, Evans, and Holmes (treasurer and acting secretary), and Mrs. Wilkinson. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the chairman informed those present that, in accordance with an expressed wish, Mr. Mowbray (the president) had condensed and caused to be printed the circular drawn up by the committee appointed for the purpose. It alluded to the most important benefits obtained by the association for all the teachers under the Wellington Board of Education, and drew attention to the fact that the first conference of the New ZeaZealand Certificated Teachers Association would be held in Wellington at Christmas next It also informed country teachers that an annual subscription of 14s- would entitle a member to receive a copy of the Educational Gazette every month. A correspondence had, he believed, been carried on between the Presidents of the Wellington and Canterbury Associations, concerning the proposed deputation to the Hon. the Premier. Their own President would, no doubt, give them all the information he possessed. . , , , Mr Mowbray said that he had commuicommunicated with Mr. Cumberworth, the President of the Canterbury Association, asking Ist. If the Canterbury Association desired to nominate or send any delegates to wait upon the Premier with the Wellington deputation? 2nd. If the Secretary of the Canterburybranch of the N.Z.C.T.A. had communicated with the other associations upon the subject. 3rd. If the Wellington Association was to consider itself authorised to wait upon the Premier, and to represent the other associations . In reply Mr. Cumberworth stated that their last Canterbury meeting had lapsed owing to the absence of the secretary. Mr. Mowbray was, however, nominated to represent the Canterbury teachers, and the Wellington Association was empowered to nominate the number of teachers thought necessary as a deputation. Mr Willis then proposed, —That a deputation be at once appointed to wait upon the

Premier, to place before him the recommendations of the New Zealand Association. In speaking to the motion he said that several of the recommendations lunged upon the first. For instance, No. 7, (That any teacher finding himself a""rieved by the action of any district iZSf mSy t° «« »,«“> ment for redress), would be useless if the Government did not appoint a Head .to the Education department. The Premier s reply to the Superintendent of Otago apparently shewed that the Government intended to make provision for district education boards in accordance with the second recommendation, but concerning No. 3, the association should not lose sight of the necessity of trying to cause the Government to afford teachers ample protection against local committees, who might be composed in towns of men equal to teachers, but m the country were in most cases unfit to entrust with the slightest power over masters. He fancied he perceived in the Premier s remarks a tendency to throw the teachers into the hands of local committees, but they should use every effort to prevent their being sacrificed to any popular or political cry such as “ local control.” He thought that the allusion to the periodical removal of inspectors from one district to another, although very necessary, might have been left out of the recommendations, as the Government would, no doubt, make that provision in their Bill.. Mr. Holmes seconded the motion. Mr. Sinclair said that it might not now be so necessary to form a deputation, as the recommendations had been forwarded to the Minister of Justice, whose reply (through the Under-Secretary) would be found in the Educational Gazette. He thought that a request that the Government would forward a copy of the proposed Bill on education would be quite sufficient. In America there were two committees for each school —one to attend to the school management, and the other to see after the building and furniture. He thought that the remarks of the Premier showed that Boards of Education would cease at the end of February, and that a department would then take over their functions.

Mr YOUNG thought that the remarks of Sir Julius Vogel should be taken together, and then it would be seen, he thought, that District Boards would, by the Government measure, continue to administer the different Provincial Education Bills. He agreed with Mr Willis as. to the necessity that existed for forming a deputation to wait upon the Premier. He spoke against giving large powers to local committees, whose work should be confined to the outside of the school ; he had had a large experience of those bodies in various parts of the colonies, principally in country districts, with the exception of about one-and-a-half years at Hobarton, and he had always found that they were meddlesome and, with few exceptions, ignorant. He knew personally that committeemen who were unable to write their own names had endeavored to teach competent schoolmasters, who would only consent to be advised by educated and qualified professional men, and he thought teaching quite as much a profession as medicine or the law. He trusted that the Government would not throw over the teachers for the sake of popularity.

Mr. Horne quite agreed with the remarks of the last speaker, and desired to see the deputation named without delay. He could endorse Mr. Young’s remarks concerning local committees in many places, although he was fortunate in having the help of a remarkably good committee in his district. The motion was then carried, and Messrs. Mowbray. Newlyn, Young, Holmes, and Willis were then elected as a. deputation, to wait upon the Hon. the Premier at any time that might be appointed by that gentleman. The Chairman then read Mr. Hurley’s letter, resigning the position of secretary, and stated that the meeting would have to elect a successor. Mr. Holmes had kindly acted as secretary during the last month, so perhaps, he would not mind continuing to give his services. ~ Mr. Holmes stated that he could not possibly accept the suggestion, as he had a great amount of work to do in connection with scholastic affairs. Mr. Young was then proposed and seconded as secretary, and eventually he consented to accepted the office upon the . condition that the present acting-secretary kindly gave him assistance. The Chairman then read the following letter from the Inspector : Wellington, April 24, 1876. Gentlemen, —I have drawn up a form of markcard at the request of many teachers in the province. I shall he glad of any suggestions from the Wellington teachers before putting it in the hands of .the printer. —I am, &c., 1 Hobert Lee.

The mark-card alluded to in the letter was then handed round, together with one drawn ■up by the chairman and another member. MY Lee’s was a quarterly card, and the other was a monthly one, constructed upon the principle of Mr. Lee’s “ Monthly Begister.” Members seemed universally of opinion that if once a mark-card were introduced it should be very explicit, and should be a means of letting a parent know as much as possible about the diligence, attendance, &c., of his child ; and they decided, after carefully discussing the matter, to recommend the monthly card foi Mr. Lee’s favorable consideration, on account of its greater general utility when taken m conjunction with his “Register. It was thought that the mode of marking could be left to the discretion of individual teacneis, as well as the number of marks to be given for each subject. Several members also expressed an opinion that annual prizes would be preferable to the half-yearly ones which the Inspector recommended the local committees to give. The secretary was requested, when writing to thank Mr. Lee for his courtesy, to state that the association would prefer that the repoit should be printed on paper instead of on card, so that each child could be supplied with one each month without charge ; otherwise the

collection of the small amounts would greatly increase the work of teachers, and prevent their giving them a fair trial. The Chairman then called the attention of the meeting to the case of distress which Mr. Lee had brought before the cognizance of the Board at its last meeting, and suggested that a subscription should be started and an entertainment got up for the unfortunate family. Several teachers handed subscriptions to the treasurer (Mr. Holmes), who will gladly receive assistance from all who desire to take part in relieving the poor paralysed ex-teacher. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman. A GREAT FORMER FIRE. In a leading article a few days since the Times referred to a fire which more than thirty years ago had caused great damage in this city, and a correspondent in to-day s issue also refers to the same. Thinking that under the circumstances an account of that fire would prove very interesting to our readers, we have extracted one from the second volume of “Adventure in New Zealand, by E. J. Wakefield, Esq., published by Murray, in London, in 1845. The account runs as follows: On the night of the 9th of November, 18 ±l, a fire swept part of the beach at Wellington. The houses were chiefly roofed with thatch, and many of the walls of the same material. A smart north-west breeze was blowing at the time, and the fire spread with fearful rapidity, the pieces of blazing thatch flying, along to other houses 100yds. off, and igniting them immediately. I formed one of a party who tried to save the fire from spreading, by pulling down houses along the line ; but, though we began far to leeward, the house would frequently light under our hands, or sparks flew over our heads to houses still further off. Fortunately, a large number of sailors from the shipping acted well in concert under their commanders —several houses were torn or cut down, and the thatch carried bodily into the sea. The people, too, of the houses to the south of the Flagstaff Point had been alarmed in time, to wet their roofs ; and though the fire ran along a dry brush fence on the top of the hill, it was thus prevented from spreading to the bonded warehouses and large stores at the back of Te Aro beach. If this had happened, the damage would have been immense, as nothing could have escaped the conflagration of the bonded spirits. As it was, the damage was estimated at £16,000. Twentythree houses of thatch were burnt and three pulled down ; and upwards of twenty wooden houses of various sizes were also burnt. Some curious escapes were observed. In one case the whole wooden wall was scorched into charcoal round the window of a room in. which there were 4cwt. of gunpowder in kegs; and all the surrounding houses were burnt to the ground. After the fire had ceased, all the young settlers still remained till daylight, rolled in blankets on the floors of some of the large stores at Te Aro, watching lest some new outbreak should threaten that part of the town. , The greatest humanity and good feeling tor the sufferers prevailed. Many people willingly put themselves to inconvenience to shelter their houseless neighbors ■; and very large subscriptions were collected at Wellington, Nelson, and New Plymouth ; and even little Wanganui added its mite, for the relief of those really distressed by the event. In some respects the fire did good. Many of the peddling shopkeepers whom I have described were driven into the bush, where they might have gone long before ; and these seemed surprised to find how easy it was to settle, even with their reduced circumstances. Two villages, with cultivations and clearings of moderate size, soon sprang up along the Porirua bridle road, at distances of four and six miles from the town. ; many settled in the upland vale of the Karori ; and a more wholesome spirit was thus given to those who remained in the town. . Perhaps the most surprising thing was the rapidity with which, notwithstanding so many discouraging circumstances, the beach was again covered with a better growth of buildings. Out of the ashes of the raupo thatch sprang substantial brick and wooden stores and taverns, with slate or shingle roofs ; and heaps of melted glass and other rubbish were cleared away from the site of one of the merchant’s stores, to make room for .the foundations of the Scotch Church. Within two or three months, this part of the beach was more thickly populated than befoie, and no vestige of the fire remained. Some of the natives had joined in the subscription for the sufferers, and others offered their services to rebuild houses without payment. They had been exceedingly active in their exertions on the night of the fire , grateful, no doubt, for the like exertions of a body of settlers which had saved the greater part of the Te Aro pa from destruction in the same way some months before.