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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4145, 3 July 1874, Page 2

His Excellency the Governor will open Parliament to-day at two o’clock. The Artillery and Scottish Corps will assemble at the Artillery Drill Shed at one o’clock for tho purpose of assisting at the opening ceremony, tho beginning of which will be signified by the Artillery firing a salute. Visitors to the Legislative Chambers will observe little change upon tho interior arrangements of last year. Some trifling alteration in tho hanging of the curtains and the positron of the seats has been made with the view of facilitating the passage of sound and permitting tho speakers to ho heard to greater advantage, but with this exception tho Houses present the same internal aspect. A musical and literary entertainment was held in the School-room, 'X'aita, on the evening of July 1, in aid of the District Library, about to he established. Notwithstanding the rainy afternoon, the building was crowded by a large and appreciative audience. The Rev. Thomas Eancourt occupied the chair, and though the programme was long, and some of tho readings took a considerable time, a very pleasant evening was spent. At tho request of tho Superintendent _of Nelson, the Colonist publishes tho following extract from a letter which His Honor received from His Excellency the Governor “ I desire to thank you, and express my gratitude to everyone concerned, for tho attention which was paid to mo during my visit, which will always he remembered as a very pleasant one. I really cannot say how sensible lam of tho constant anxiety shown for my comfort and amusement, especially by the kind family with whom I was lodged.”

Xu another column we publish an interesting, and, as it ia described to' us, a correct report on the mine and works of the Greyrnouth Coal-Mining Company (Limited). _ Many shares in the company are held in this City, and the report will, no doubt, be read with satisfaction by the holders. A letter from Nelson informs us that the English Opera Company opened there on Monday night, to a good house. Smith’s Combination Troupe were much better patronised last evening, the merits of the performance and the growing popularity of the individual members of the troupe tending to secure an attendance which, in itself, stamps the entertainment as first-class. Although the town has been rather overdone ■with amusements during the past three months, the " Combination," contrary to expectation, is drawing payable audiences, and it may be expected before the week concludes that the popularity of the company will have become so great as to entitle it to rank as an immense success. The troupe perform in the Theatre Royal this evening. Mr. Frederick Leech’s New Zealand Anthem, “ All Hail Zealandia,” which was sung with so much effect at two concerts given hr Wellington during the past summer, has met with such appreciation and success in the Southern Provinces, that the composer has been induced to print a large number of copies of the anthem for sale in the various divisions of the Colony. The design of the frontispiece and its lithographic execution form a neat piece of artistry, which, being distinctive in illustrating New Zealand scenery, adds very much to the national character of the composition. In addition to its many other commendatory features, the central figure of the frontispiece is a well executed photograph of Sir James Fergusson. The words of the anthem are by Mr. Francis H. Valpy, a gentleman long connected with the:newspaper literature of the Colony, and it need hardly be mentioned that Mr. Leech’s music gives a grandeur of tone to the whole production which entitles the anthem to a place in every musical repertoire. The copies forwarded to Wellington have been placed in the hands of Mr. Berger for sale. Postmaster James, says the Ncio York Daily Graphic, receives every day nearlmLOO letters which under the law he is obligedßpo transmit to the Dead Letter Office in Was®gton. The most common cause is deficient of postage stamps. Some letters have no stamp at all, and some have internal revenue stamps. Many of these letters have no superscriptions or faulty ones. Somebody sends two letters every day addressed to President Grant, upon which there are no stamps. Lately there was a lace shawl sent in an envelope directed to “Aramosia, Jones County, lowa.” These letters are advertised a month, and at the end of that time are sent to Washington.