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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4140, 27 June 1874, Page 2

From and after the let of July the trains on the AVellington and Hutt Railway will start at hours different from those which are now observed. The trains are to start —from Wellington at 7.20 and 11 a.m., and at 2.30 and 5.10 p.m. ; from the Hutt at 9.15 and 12.30 a.m., andat4ands.ssp.m. OnSundays thehours are to be—from Wellington, at 9.15 a.m., 2.15, and 4.15 p.m. ; from the Hutt, at 10 a.m., and 3, and 5.5 p.m. It is added that all trains leave Kaiwarra seven minutes, and Ngahauranga fifteen minutes after starting from Wellington, and leave Ngahauranga twenty minutes, and Kaiwarra twenty-eight minutes after starting from the Hutt. It is also notified that, aftor the Ist July, the Wairarapa

coaches will run in connection with the trains. From and after that date passengers for Wairarapa will proceed to the Hutt by the 7.20 train, and those from the Wairarapa will reach the Hutt station for the train which starts at four o'clock in the afternoon. The alteration is also made with a view to facilitate town workmen getting to the Hutt in time for work.

The Provincial Government will shortly begin the erection of the immigrants' cottages upon the site chosen on the Adelaide Eoad. Plans are being drawn, and, upon their completion and approval, tenders for the erection of the cottages will be immediately called for. In explanation of statements which recently appeared in these columns in reference to the Collingwood coal mine, we are informed that the flatness of the strata is an advantage to the future working of the mine, although it would add to the expense of the explorations which are at present in progress. The uprise shaft was made with a view of expediting these explorations, and may, or may not, he used for getting out coal hereafter. No coal is at present being taken out of the mine, as the railway line connecting with the port is out of repair. The whole of the coal measures have not been explored, but so far the seams cut in the tunnel are freer from impurity and slightly thicker than those seen outside on the face of the hill; but, contrary to the expectation of some, they have shown no tendency to run together and form a thick seam. The Town Clerk is at present busily employed in the preparation of the burgess roll, of the completion of which due notice will be given, so that those persons whose names may have been accidentally omitted shall have opportunity for securing their reinstatement. It would be as well that all who have paid their rates should bestow some little attention to this matter, as three vacancies in the Council occur in September next, when Councillor Burrett (Thorndon), Councillor Mills (Lambton), and Councillor Krull (To Aro), retire by rotation. Possibly there may be a contest at each election, so that those who desire to exercise the municipal franchise should see that their names appear on the burgess roll. Wo learn from Sydney, by way of Melbourne, that tho Legislative Council of New South Wales has agreed to the resolutions proposed by the Government for subsidising a telegraphic cable between Normantown and Singapore. As the Governments of Queensland and New Zealand had long ago obtained the assent of the Parliaments of these Colonies respectively, and only the action of the Legislature of New South Wales was waited for, active steps mil no doubt be taken now to complete the projected work. Messrs. Saunders and O'Malley and MrJ Lyon, the tenderers who made a " tie " for the Terrace formation contract, have cut the knot by recommending the Council to declare in favor of the first named firm. Messrs. Saunders and O'Malley will proceed immediately with the work, which will no doubt be earned out in the expeditious and efficient manner which has characterised all large works with which the firm have been connected.

It is not altogether unworthy of mention that during the past fortnight the Colonial Museum has been visited by several persons hailing from different States of America, who are travelling through the Australasian Colonies in pursuit of pleasure and information. The visitors' book i 3 a curious study as to the nationality of persons who place their auto-gi-aphs there daily, but San Francisco and New York are indications of "places of abode" which do not usually figure very prominently in this useful record of the Colonial Museum.

The members of the Wellington Football Club will play a scratch 3iiatch on the Basin reserve to-day, weather permitting. Sides will be picked up on the ground, and play will begin at 2.30. Gentlemen not being members of the club are invited to join in the match.

The celebrated "Jack Jinn," once a terror to the police, who in their turn have become a terror to him, once more made his appearance at the City Court yesterday morning, charged with assaulting a man named Willett while the two were in the Pier Hotel. To make a long story short, Finn, in an instinctively brutal manner, struck Willett in the eye without warning and without provocation, and was turned out of the Pier Hotel by Mr. Downes, who possibly had aggravated Finn by refusing to supply him with drink. On the pica that he had witnesses to call Finn obtained a remand of the case till Monday. Sergeant Monaghan offered to accommodate the redoubtable " Jack" by consenting to a remand for a week, btit as Finn would have had to spend the time with Mr. Read the proffered kindness was declined. The case against James Dunn, charged with assaulting his wife, was dismissed, peaceful arrangements having been effected since the last hearing of the case.

Cottages, cottages, everywhere, and still the cry is "more." The streets of Te Aro at one end of the town, and Tinakori road at the other, resemble carpenters' workshops at some particular spots where building operations are thickest, yet the complaint is everywhere heard that habitable tenements are not to be had for love or money. A comfortable house which may chance to become vacant is leased (uponhighlyadvantageous terms to the landlord) by somebody who has cast a longing eye upon it for perhaps six months. A five-roomed house, with not enough ground attached "to swing a cat" upon fetches £1 a week ; still building goes on, and the demand for houseroom becomes greater. People who have been accustomed to comfortable quarters and moderate rents in other parts of the world, are compelled in many cases to part with onethird of their earnings for the privilege of enjoying the uttermost degree of discomfort, so badly arranged are numbers of the houses in the City for which high rents have to be paid. Undoubtedly Wellington is a very prosperous place, if this addition to the troubles of existence be a sign of prosperity. Single men and single women are in the same sorry plight. Board and lodging are not to be had now-a-days at " all the year round " rates. In every other city household property is regarded as the safest of investments. Why the capitalists of Wellington don't speculate in this direction is a marvel.

A collection of natural history specimens, which is deserving of more than passing notice, was recently received at the Colonial Museum, from Professor Jjoven, of the Stockholm Zoological Museum, who is recognised as one of the foremost amongst naturalists of the present day. The collection comprises seventy-seven species of Scandinavian and Arctic Crustacea, and thirty-eight species of annelids, all preserved in spirits, and with these specimens have arrived several publications containing well executed engravings of the specimens themselves. The collection was forwarded to the Colonial Museum by Professor Loven in return for a number of specimens forwarded from this Colony by Dr. Hector, to assist in completing the Natural History department of the Stockholm Museum.

A circular despatch has been laid before the Parliament of Victoria, from the Secretary of State for the Colonies in reference to occasional -visits of 11. M. ships of war to the of the various Australian Colonies. The desirability of such an arrangement had been pointed out to Lord Carnarvon by Lord Normanby, the Governor of Queensland, with the suggestion that the captains of such vessels might assist in naval courts of inquiry held in the Colouies. In reply to this, the Secretary of State for the Colonics, while admitting the advantage of H.M. ships visiting Australian waters, thought that the infrequency and uncertainty of such visits precluded the possibility of commanders acting on boards of inquiry, but intimated that, where feasible, vessels of war would put in an appearance at Melbourne, Sydney, and other harbors. About 260 tons of pearl shells were obtained by the Western Australian fishers during the past season. The value of these on the spot, calculated at £l7O per ton, was about £44,000. About 800 divers were employed.

The " goodwill" of the Western Star newspaper and printing business, Riverton, is advertised for sale, in consequence of a dissolution of partnership.

We learn that, since the visit of Captain Boyd and Mr. Cutten to Wellington, a large number of shares in the Colonial Bank have been taken by residents of the City and of the Province. The annual sermons in aid of the Melanesian Mission will be preached at St. Peter's Church, Te Aro, to-morrow, by the Bishop of Wellington in the morning, and by the Ven. Archdeacon Stock in the evening. The clever Siamese troupe had a much better house last evening than at any previous performance during their short stay. The powerful opposition with which they have to contend has rendered their season rather an xmprontable one, and as their performance this evening is their last, a bumper house would be nothing more than a deserving recognition of their skill.

The erection of the Building Company's houses on the College reserve, Vivian Stoeet, is advancing with steady pace, the contractor and the company being equally anxious to expedite completion. The position of the site has been found to be admirably adapted to secure complete drainage for the -whole block of buildings, and the evident care which the company has exercised to secure the comforts of its tenants is so far appreciated that offers for all the houses to be erected have been already received. The Artillery inspection parade last evening resulted in one of those creditable musters for which the battery is notable. Over forty members were present at roll-call, and these, with the officers of the battery, presented a smart soldierly appearance. Captain Pearce put the battery through a little gun drill previous to the arrival of Colonel Reader, who subsequently made the official inspection and complimented the men upon then high state of efficiency. At the close of the parade the members adjourned to Donecker's Hotel, where a discussion took place with reference, to, and all preliminaries were arranged for, the ball of next Monday week. The Education Board for the Province of Wellington, finding that members of local committees were not always very clear as to what duties they were expected to undertake, has issued a circular containing rules for their guidance. Of course, they are expected to inspect the schools generally, hear complaints that may be made, and have an eye to the buildings used for educational purposes being kept in repair. They are also to endeavor to render the education in their district as thorough and complete as possible, to take an interest in examinations, consult with the Inspector, exercise a general control over school-houses, communicate with the Board, and look to the holidays and recreations of the pupils. The second concert and soiree given by the Choral Society, with the object of reducing the accumulation of debt which has hampered the society's exertions during the past two years, takes place at the Odd Fellows' Hall on Monday evening next. Without animadverting upon past management it need only be remarked that the committee and officers of the society seem to have thrown off the lethargic feeling which, more than anything else, has impeded the society's progress. One or two more such successful soirees as the first of the series will clear away the incubus of debt and place the society in a healthy state of existence, a position which the lovers of cultivated music ardently wish to see it occupy. The promoters of the soiree have the good wishes of the community generally with them, and the entertainment of Monday evening will, without doubt, be a great success. Mr. John Smith's clever Combination Troupe are expected to reach Wellington on Monday afternoon, from Auckland, by way of Nelson, and will open at the Theatre Royal, on Tuesday evening for a short season. Mr. Smith is a well-known cntcrjprencur. His present troupe were selected by himself during a late visit to England, and we may be perfectly sure that its members deserve all that has been said in their favor by the Victoria and New Zealand Press, else Mr. Smith would not have undertaken the responsibility of bringing them out. Following the Opera Company so soon will not operate prejudiciously, we hope, on the success of a company introduced by so excellent a judge of popular taste in amusements as Mr. John Smith.

The Star and Union Boating Clubs have joined in projecting an entertainment of an entirely novel character. The fancy dress soiree to be held at the Theatre Royal on the 2nd of July mil be the first local attempt made at a public gathering in costume, and, as the people of Wellington are always demanding novelties, this venture can hardly fail to be a success in every way. The price of the tickets is fixed at a rate which will admit of everyone joining in the entertainment. A correspondent says : —" It may be pointed out to the uninitiated that a fancy dress may easily be made with very little trouble or expense, and that taste and tact will often produce a better effect than fine clothes costing much money. Young ladies especially can give additional grace to their ordinary evening costume by a little trimming in bright but tasteful colors, and their ingenuity, more than their pockets, might be taxed by altering ordinary dresses into what are known as fancy costumes. Some of the most successful ' gentletlemen's fancy costumes' owe their excellence entirely to taste in making up, and so well has this been accomplished that the identity of the wearera was not discovered. A _ large gathering in varied and bright costumes in the Theatre would be a very pleasing and brilliant spectacle, and with a perspective scene set well back, as is proposed, the coup d'a:U from the dress circle would be excellent. No doubt the clubs will be supported upon this occasion in a maimer worthy of their efforts to provide a new and harmless evening's amusement."

A Melbourne telegram mentioned, a few days ago, that in the case of Mr. Coates, a West Coast trader, against a Melbourne firm, heard in the Supreme Court, a verdict had been given for the defendants. The case was heard before Mr. Justice Stephen and a jury of four, and is mentioned as follows by the Daily Telegraph: —■" This was an action to recover £IOOO damages for failure in a contract to deliver seventy-five cases of condensed milk in good order and condition. Mr. Wm. Jas. Coates, the plaintiff, alleged that the defendants, Messrs. Connell, Watson, and Hogarth, had agreed to sell and deliver to him seventyfive cases of condensed milk of the brand known as ' Bordman's Eagle brand' for 14s. per dozen, to be in good order, sound, and of good color. The milk was delivered, but was found to be unsound, and consequently plaintiff suffered considerable loss, he having shipped a quantity of it away to different colonies, and had it returned on his hands, as the consignees declined to keep it or pay for it. For the defence it was contended that the milk was perfectly sound, although of a rather dark color, which was due to age, and several witnesses were called who supported this view."

The Suez Canal is now likely t o be more largely utilised by the steamers of the P. and O. Company than it has hitherto. As the Egyptian railway was built by the Pacha himself to accommodate the company's business with India, they seem to have been unwilling to abandon the use of the railway, although it has been obvious since the opening of the canal that sooner or later the steamers would use it. We now observe that the agents in London of the various Colonies represented have been in communication with the Imperial authorities on the matter. The Melbourne Age remarks on the subject as follows :—" The action taken by the AgentGeneral for the Colony in co-operating with the representatives in London of other Axistralian Colonies to secure the transit of the mails between London and Axistralia via the Suez Canal, though not authorised by the Government, has, nevertheless, their approval. The saving of time effected will be two days a great advantage to this Colony. Some reference to the subject appeared in the news brought by the Nubia, which at the time received publicity, a deputation of merchants interested having waited upon Lord Carnarvon and submitted to him their views on the subi ject. The Imperial Government [have the

control of the mails to Galle, at which point the contract between this Government and the P. and 0. Company commences and terminates." A Victorian country journal has the following as to the escape of O'Eerrall from a Melbourne detective lately despatched to Noumea to arrest him :—" We learn upon good authority that when Detective Mackay reached New Caledonia, armed, as was thought, with the necessary legal warrant for the capture of his man, he found that personally he had no status, and that it was necessary to delegate his mission to a French official. It was well known on the island that O'Ferra was residing -with his uncle, a gentleman of some influence, but on the officers of justice making their appearance the bird had flown, just in time to escape them. Assisted by thepeople amongst whom it was circulated that O'Ferrall's offence was a political one, the culprit seemed secure, and left no clue to his whereabouts. It was thus thought better that the Victorian detective should return, leaving his case in the hands of the local authorities, who have promised to use what measures are in their power to vindicate the ends of justice."

The Victorian Police Gazette notifies that " a warrant has been issued by the Lord Mayor of London for the apprehension of Robert Calkin and Thomas Dennett, upon a charge of forgery, by means of which they obtained the undermentioned Bank of England notes, viz. :—Six notes for £IOOO each, all dated 15th July, 1873, Nos. 84087, 84635. S 5033, 85034, 85035, and 85047 ; one note for £IOO, dated 11th August, 1873, No. 47641 ; ten notes for £lO each, all dated Bth October, 1873, Nos. 64314 to 64323 inclusive. A reward of £SOO will be paid to the person who will give such information as shall lead to the apprehension of the said Robert Calkin and Thomas Dennett, within six months from this date, and to the recovery of the said bank notes, or a proportionate part of such reward, according to the amount of notes recovered. The said Robert Calkin is about eighteen years of age, 5 feet 4 inches in height, brown eyes, brown hair, sallow complexion, slight figure, no whiskers or moustache. The said Thomas Dennett is about twenty* nine years of age, 5 feet 7 inches in height, black hair, thick black moustache, whiskers recently shaved off, thickset figure ; he sometimes calls himself Felix Prior. Information to be given to Messrs. R. S. Mullens, solicitors, No. 68, Cheapside, London, E.C., or to Inspector Bailey, police office, Old Jewry, London, E.C." The notice is dated London, 9th March, 1874. G-eelong will shortly have another cloth factory. A sum of £20,000 has been subscribed as capital, and contracts have been accepted to something like £13,000. In another three months, should nothing unforeseen occur, manufacturing operations will be in full awing. The plan of the factory has been drawn to admit of the mill being made four times as large as at present proposed. CANTERBURY. Father Ecuyer, of the Roman Catholic body, being about to leave Christchurch, a committee has been formed for the purpose of presenting him with a testimonial. Mr. H. P. Quinn, who for many years has acted as clerk to the Provincial Council, has resigned. In the Provincial Council, the hon. Mr. Buckley asked whether the Government will obtain the opinion of the Provincial Solicitor and Attorney-General on the following question:—(l.) Whether the owners of land on the banks of rivers and streams in the Province of Canterbury are riparian proprietors. (2.) Whether, if riparian proprietors, any island in the stream or bed of a river would not of right and by law belong to such riparian proprietors. (3.) And if such owners are riparian proprietors, by what authority is the Waste Lands Board now selling such lands ? The hon. member thought it advisable that the question should be settled at once, whether the Waste Lands Board had power to dispose of land on the hanks of streams and rivers. Mr. Maude replied that the Government would obtain the opinion of the Provincial Solicitor and Attorney-General on the subject, and lay it before the Council. WESTLAND. The Christchurch and Hokitika mail coach was a day late in arriving at the latter place last week, in consequence of a heavy snow-fall on some of the higher parts of the road. Mr. W. Kortegast, of Hokitika, has met with a severe accident. He was returning from Stafford Town, when his horse slipped on the frosty road, throwing him with great force on his face, fracturing his jaw and bruising him very badly. He was picked up by Mr. Zeigler and Mr. Schulthies, who found him quite insensible, in which state he remained over three hours. Medical aid was immediately procured, and all assistance rendered that was possible. He was brought to town and attended to at once by Dr. Maunsell. A narrow and extraordinary escape from death is thus described by the Jioss Guardian :—Jacob Hansen was working at a depthof about 70ft. in a face, when the roof of the drive gave way, and the timber and a heavy fall of earth came down on top of him, but strange to say he escaped without receiving even a scratch. The laths came down first, and stuck between the face and the floor in a slanting position, keeping all the pressure of the weight of the dirt off Hansen, who was underneath in a crouching posture. He could not straighten himself, and had to lie there for twelve long hours, but was cheered by the sound of the picks, which came nearer and nearer, and when relieved at two o'clock on Thursday morning, the tears of joy that stood in his eyes told how grateful he was to his brother miners, who had worked so hard and so, constant to release him from his living grave. To get to the spot where Jacob was confined a drive twelve feet long had to be put in, every foot of which had to be timbered, as the ground had been worked before, and could not be dejjended on. The work was commenced at two o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, and shifts of twelve men on each relieved each other for twelve hours, at the expiration of which their perseverance was rewarded by extricating their man, very cold and cramped certainly, but sound in wind and limb. One or two nips of brandy, and plenty of warm blankets, soon put him to rights, however, and on the forenoon of the same day he was walking about the streets. The stretcher had been brought from the Hospital, in the expectation it would be needed, but happily such was not the case. OTAGO. The Otago papers contain the prospectus of. the Otago "Papennakers' Company (Limited). The capital is to consist of £15,000, in 5,000 shares of £5 each, with power to increase. Mr. Bradshaw is the broker. An accident was lately repo?ted to have happened at the Port Chalmers Railway pier to a man named Antonio. The accident is said to have occurred under tho following circumstances :—-A number of men were leaning against some trucks intently gazing at the working of the dredge, when the trucks againt* which they were supporting themselves were required, and the horse usually employed for moving them was hooked on. Before moving them the driver called three times to the men to stand ttside. They all, so far as the driver could see, moved away ; but Antonio, getting confused, instead of moving away, got in between two trucks, which were about a yard apart, and was looking round to see what all the noise was about. One of the trucks being loaded, he was not noticed until the horse had the carriages in motion, when Mr. Dale saw the man's position, and succeeded in getting the driver to unhook the horse, but not before the unfortunate man was jammed. The truck behind him fortunately being empty, it rolled away from him. Had it, however, been loaded, his injuries would have proved very serious. The buffers caught him just in the abdomen and small of the back. He was immediately attended by Dr. Drysdale, and, though at first unable to speak, he soon recovered his breathing. He was sent to tho hospital.