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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4135, 22 June 1874, Page 2

Wo arc still without intelligence of the San Francisco mail, the City of Adelaide not having reached Auckland at the latest hour at which tho telegraph office was open yesterday. The next steamers from Melbourne will be the Omeo, which comes by way of tho Bluff, and may bo looked for in two or three days, and the Tararua, which will make Hokitika her first port of call, and will arrive in Wellington in time to take away the mail via Suez on the 3rd proximo. A meeting of Church members interested in tho erection of a second English church at Te Aro, will bo hold at Messrs. Bethune and Hunter's offices this evening, at eight o'clock.

The deputation appointed at last Thursday's meeting of tlie City Council to wait upon His Honor the Superintendent to discuss proposals for the construction of a graving dock, wharf extension, &c, will meet in the Superintendent's office to-day at noon. The deputation will be headed by His Worship the Mayor. The committee of the Highland Corps will meet at Lindsay's, Lambton Quay, this evening, at eight o'clock. A general meeting of members of the corps will be held on Thursday. Persons interested in the welfare of the Wellington College are invited to meet the College Governors to-day at the Superintendent's office at two o'clock, to decide upon the most appropriate form of demonstration to be carried out upon the occasion of the opening of the new College building on the Adelaide Road. The adjourned general meeting of the shareholders in the Wellington Co-operative Baking Society will be held this evening, at eight o'clock, in the side-room of the Odd Fellows' Hall. The proposal to be considered is the purchase of freehold premises upon which to carry on the society's business. The business at the City Police Court on Saturday was very trifling. Two cases of drunkenness comprised the whole of the business of the day. The list of criminal charges down for hearing this morning includes a charge of threatening to kill. A man named John James Fitzgerald was placed in the hands of the Wanganui police on Saturday, charged with committing an indecent assault at Patea upon a little girl named Elizabeth Edwards, four years and a half old. The assault was committed at Wairoa, and the prisoner, upon being brought before Major Turner, was committed for trial. Yesterday afternoon the flags of the shipging in the harbor wore seen flying half-mast high. On inquiry it was found that tlie body of the seaman named ForgnsHOu, of tlie ship La Hogue—who had been missing for fifteen or sixteen days—had been found floating feet upwards between tho ship and the wharf. It will be remembered that the watchman on board of the vessel heard a slight splash in the water alongside the ship on tho night when the man was missed, and there is now no doubt that, in endeavoring to get on board, he had slipped between the ship and the wharf and been unable to recover himself. The body had probably become entangled in the works of the wharf. It was in a shocking state. An inquest will bo held, but it can only be of a formal character. Oil Saturday afternoon a party of over thh-ty gentlemen assembled at tlie Family Hotel, the Lower Hutt, on the invitation of Mr. George Crawford, to partake of his hospitality. The invitation arose out of a matter in connection with a late purchase of land at the Hutt by Mr. Crawford, and the occasion was taken to reconcile more than one friend among the guests, whom accident had for a time estranged. A more joyous evening it is scarcely possible to imagine. The company went down to the Hutt by the half-past two o'clock train. The state of the weather prevented any out-door exercise during the short time of waiting until the signal for action with knife and fork was given ; but the billiard-room was an abundant attraction. The dinner was served in the landlord's usual good style, and the wines supplied were of the best class. Mr. Crawford himself presided in homely, genial style, and was ably assisted in making the party comfortable and happy by His Worship the Mayor, who occupied the vice-chair. After the removal of the cloth, various loyal and local toasts were proposed, the latter eliciting felicitous replies. As the good humor grew, the chairman felt himself unable to resist the importunities with which he was bsset, and, with the help of the company, gave the favorite old song " The Whale," with immense success. A special train, provided by Mr. Crawford, left the Hutt station shortly after eight o'clock, and brought the party safely and comfortably back to town. It has often been said that St. Paul's Cathedral, Thorndou, is "the most handsome church in the Colony," so far as regards the interior. The opinion may now be advanced with greater justification. The addition of the northern aisle and transept complete the symmetrical proportions of the building (which now provides sitting accommodation for about 1500 people), and the removal of the lectern to a position midway between the transepts and more toward the body of the building secures manifold advantages. In the first place the preacher's voice is heard with greater clearness in all parts of the cathedral ; the cramped appearance of the chancel is entirely done away with ; the many beautiful memorial windows in the neighborhood of the communion rail are seen to proper advantage ; and the general effect is very considerably improved. It is in contemplation to chant the Psalms antiphonally (cantoris and decani) by placing half the choir in tho gallery of each transept, an arrangement which maybe difficult to carry out on account of the present position of the organ ; but whether this portion of their arrangements may or may not prove thoroughly satisfactory, the vestry certainly deserve every credit for their energetic endeavors to increase the convenience of the parishioners. The building will also bo lighted with gas in about a week, the fittings being almost complete.

The following is a list of articles removed from out-houses, safes, and back-yards during the past week : —From a house on the Terrace, Clbs. of butter ; ditto, Te Aro, au American axe ; ditto, Molesworth street, a couple of washing tubs ; ditto, near Lambton Quay, a shoulder of mutton and other tit bits. In various localities clothes lines have been stripped. It may be inferred from these occurrences that people in AVcllington are not so honest as they used to be, else there must hare been some most undesirable additions to the popxilation recently, to whom nothing in the precincts of the back-yard seems too hot or too heavy. On Saturday night, the Siamese Troupe of Jugglers commenced a short season at the Odd Fellows' Hall. It had been intended by Messrs. King and Geddes, that a magnificent tent sho\ild be erected, capable of holding nearly two thousand people, and that the Siamese party should be joined with the equestriennes and the clever Carlo Family. The continuous storm of last week, however, rendered the proprietors somewhat apprehensive of trusting their property to the winds, and the company therefore divided, Mr. King going by the s.s. Wellington with Madame Ritchie and the horses, the Carlo party, the jester, &e., while Mr. Geddes remained with the singularly clever Orientals, to give a few performances at the Odd Fellows' Hall. There was an excellent house, and the various tricks of the juggler, the feats of balancing, &c, &c, created considerable excitement. The band is a most creditable one, and performed the overture to Tancredi with great ability. The troupe are certainly well worthy of a visit. The weather yesterday was a pleasant contrast' to that which had been experienced during the whole of the previous week. The south-east gale which had raged all the previous day—and, _ indeed, for some days gave way towards midnight, and when morning broke there was a dead calm, and the sea in the Bay was as smooth as glass. In the forenoon a light easterly breeze sprang up, passing round to the northward towards evening. The streets had become comparatively dry, and large numbers of ladies, who had been prisoners for the week, took advantage of the occasion to obtain a little out-door exercise, while the churches were unusually filled. In the course of the forenoon, the steamers Ladybird, Manawatu, and Claud Hamilton, entered the harbor. The Ladybird and the Claud had both experienced to the full the late sevcro weather, and the latter, finding the weather too sevcro and thick in the Strait, entered Queen Charlotte Sound, and afterwards went on to Picton, chiefly to obtain food for some horses which she had taken on board at Nelson, The Claud will sail South on Tuesday.

A lute telegram reporting the result of the 1 race for the Derby gave the name of the owner of the second horse—Couronne de Fer—as Lord Rosebery. We observe from the Melbourne papers that the horse belonged to Sir Tatton Sykes. ' We observe that the question of a Customs' Union of the Australian Colonies has been discussed by the Chamber of Commerce of Melbourne, and postponed until their next meeting. The telegrams from London as to the state of the wool market, published in the Melbourne journals, speak more favorably than had been anticipated. One of 6th June says :—"At the wool sales, competition continues extremely vigorous, and prices are very firm. Altogether 224,000 bales have been sold. The French demand is large, and home buyers are operating more freely." "La Petite Amy," and Mr. and Mrs. Thornton, we observe, have been playing successfully of late in the northern portion of the Province. They are about to produce " Don Cffisar de Bazan" at Wauganui, aided by the amateurs of that town. A Dane, lately in the employ of Mr. Aston, ironmonger, who is also proprietor of " the revolving circus," was yesterday arrested upon a charge of threatening to kill Mr. Aston, who employed the offender to work the circus machinery, but dismissed him a few days ago for reasons which will no doubt be explained in Court this morning. We understand that orders have been sent to Scotland by Messrs. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co. for a new steamship for the New Zealand branch of their fleet, and that Mr. Waugh, lately chief engineer of the s.s. Tararua, has been sent Home to superintend the construction of the vessel. She will have compound engines and all the latest improvements, so as to maintain worthily the reputation of the line. '■ The Wangarnii ll(■raid describes an accident by which Mr. Poarco, of the Albion Hotel, and Mr. James Birchall- were precipitated from a buggy, both being rendered unconscious for the time. Mr. Pearce was driving, and in turning sharply the corner of Wicksteed Piace out of Hidgway Street, the buggy came against the post, and capsized. The occupants were immediately conveyed to their respective residences, and soon after were attended upon by Dr. Samuels. Consciousness soon returned. On Monday morning Mr. Birchall was much better, though still suffering from a bruise on the left side ; but Mr. Pearce has been attacked with a series of convulsive fits, though it is believed ho has sustained no serious internal injury. TAEANAKI. According to the statement of the News, the only candidate for the seat to be vacated by Mr. Burton in the Provincial Council is Mr. J. Paul. A meeting for the purpose of forming an Acclimatisation Society was held in the Taranaki Institute on Saturday, the 13th inst. The News reports that it was hurriedly called together with the object of registering the rules before the commencement of the shooting season, and consequently but few persons were present, but from general conversation the society will ere long contain a large number of members. The following resolutions were put and carried :—(1.) That an Acclimatisation Society be formed, under the title of the " Taranaki Acclimatisation Society." (2.) That the subscription for membership to the society boss. per annum. (3.) That the rules of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society be adopted. _ The society mil receive, besides the subscriptions of the members, all fees for licenses, &c, and all fines for breaches of the Protection of Animals Act, 1573.

It was lately announced that Mr. Burton had been appointed an agent to promote emigration from England to the Province, lief erring to Mr. Burton's probable departure, the Taranaki Herald says :—We believe it is the intention of the Good Templars to give a farewell soiree to Mr. and Mrs. Burton before leaving for England, at which the public will be invited to attend. As Mr. Burton's departure is at present unknown, the date of the soiree has not yet been fixed, but all the preliminary arrangements are being made, so that there may be no difficulty in holding it at a short notice. We hear that His Honor, the members of the Executive, and most of the leading men of the Province will be invited, so that the demonstration may not be considered in any other light than a public one. OTAGO. In the Provincial Council, last week, Mr. Reid made the announcement that Mr. M'Kellar, M.P.O. for Kawarau, had joined the Executive as member for the Goldfields. The Guardian understands that the authorities are considering the propriety of running morning and evening trams on the Port Chalmers Railway to suit tho convenience of working men and others living near the line. ' The " Grif " Dramatic Company is the name adopted by a number of professionals who lately performed that play in Dunedin and Invercav-"ill. They open in Christchurch on the 21th instant. The desirability of erecting immigrants' cottages contiguous to tho lines of light railway now being constructed in the Southland district has been affirmed by Mr. Daniel, a notice of motion regarding which he has tabled in the Provincial Council. The Dunslan Times hears that a child named Martin, about three years old, had been missing from its home, Tinker's Gully, at the beginning of the week. When the news reached their office the poor little thing had been away for two days and one night, and, though a systematic search had been made, nothing could be heard of it. Some pastoral country hitherto unoccupied has been found in the Province. At a recent meeting of the Waste Lands Board, Mr. Donald Manson applied for a pastoral lease of run -150, being 9000 acres of newly-dis-covered country west of Mouowai Lake. It was resolved that the laud bo assessed, and a lease granted to Manson on the usual terms. Intelligence has been received in Dunedin to the effect that the storn-wheel steamer Tuapeka had again sunk in the Molyneux. This steamer,. says the Times, had only received a thorough overhaul, consequent upon the effects of a previous immersion at the beginning of the year, and was then considered to be about as good as ever. The area of coal deposits belonging to the Kaitangata Company is described by the Daily Times as very extensive. Not less than a thousand square acres is known to contain the mineral. The seam now wrought is four feet three inches, and the quantity of coal produced is about 150 tons per week", which is carried by tramway to the bank of the Clutha River, whence it is exported to different parts. Prom improvements which are being made in the mine, it is calculated that in a short time the company will be in a position to produce about 500 tons weekly. At present the principal trade is by sea, but when the branch railway is completed, large quantities will be sent to Dunedin and inland towns. The new workshops at the Port Chalmers Graving Dock have advanced a long stage towards completion. It was but a few weeks a<*o that the foundations of the workshops were laid, but now, says the Daily Times, excepting a little masonry work, the walls of the building are up, and the wall-plates laid upon them, whilst many of the principals of the roof are ready. That expedition has been used by Mr. Martin, tho contractor, may be inferred from the size of tho building—one hundred and fifty-six feet in length, by fortysix feet wide. This is outside measurement, tliat of the interior being less by four feet each way, which places the thicknesg of the masonry at.two feet. The walls are eighteen feet high, and are pierced with sixteen circular headed windows, each nine feet by four feet; and there are three entrances. The workshops should, in three months or so, be in a state of preparedness for the fulfilment of any engagement that may offer itself by that time.