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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4189, 24 August 1874, Page 2

The erection of a new building for the congregation of St. John’s Presbyterian Church (the Rev. Mr. Paterson’s) is about to be commenced at once. The design has been drawn and the plans prepared by Mr. Turnbull, architect, of this City, and the former has been greatly admired. The building at present will only have one gallery, but two can be added hereafter if it is found necessary to do so. The church will seat about 650 persons, and the pews will be curved in form'. The structure will be a decided ornament to the City. It is expected to cost about £3OOO, and close upon £2OOO has already been obtained by the treasurer. Messrs. Turnbull and Co. have received telegraphic advices from their agents in Fooclrow, stating that their three-masted schooner May, S. Plumly, master, loft Foochow on the 22nd July for this port direct. Besides the usual cargo of new season’s tea, there will no doubt bo a considerable quantity of Chinese fancy goods. Should the May be favored with good winds, she may be expected in about a month. At noon on Saturday last, the time expired for receiving tenders for the purchase of the New Zealand Steam Shipping Company’s fleet. Several tenders 'were received, but nothing definite has yet been determined on.

Information comes from Sydney that Mr. H. H. Hall, the manager of the A. and A.S. Shipping Company, left that port by the Mikado for San Francisco somewhat suddenly. It is probable that he had information as to approaching difficulties in London, and has gone thither in connection with them. It is stated that the mails will be carried even should Mr. Hall break his contract. In that event the New South Wales Government would probably charter some of the boats of the A. S. N. Company. It will be seen that another serious fire has occurred in Dunedin, this time in Princes Street South, and on the side next the Bay. The fire broke out in Messrs. Guthrie and Larnach’s saw-mill, and destroyed also the Spanish Restaurant, and Messrs. R. and T. Haworth’s store. The loss is estimated at £35,000. No statement of the amount insured, or of the distribution of the insurances has yet been telegraphed. The buildings to the north of the origin of the fire, including the old immigration barracks, escaped. A correspondent who signs himself “An Old Colonist,” referring to a paragraph which appeared in our issue of Friday, to the effect that the contractors for the construction of the Westport and Mount Eochfort railway were advertising for 100 men at 12s. per day, says he has gone to the trouble of making inquiry, and finds that the highest wages on that line is Bs. per day. He adds —“ Moreover the general wages in the South Island is 7s. per day; while the Wellington contractors have been paying up to the present time Ss. per day, which is the highest wages in the Southern Hemisphere.” We can only say that such a rate of wages as was mentioned was advertised. As to the general rate of wages in the South Island, these have varied, but 9s. and 10s. per day were the amounts paid at the starting of some of the works on the West Coast. The race between the Albion (from Hokitika) and the Tararua (from the Bluff), the last mentioned with the July Suez mail and the former -with a supplementary mail, was a remarkably close affair, but ended in favor of the Albion, which sailed from Hokitika on the 4th ultimo at half-past 3 o’clock p.m., or half-an-hour before the Tararua left the Bluff, and passed through Port Phillip Heads on the 9th exactly half-an-hour before the Tararua, both vessels making the inn in four days seventeen hours. They were in company off Wilson’s Promontory, from whence the race was very close, neither vessel being able to gain on the other. The distance from Hokitika, however, is seventy-five miles farther than from the Bluff, so that the honors rest with the Albion. The Theatre Royal was crowded on Saturday night to’witness the performance of Loyal’s troupe, and the announcement of the great velocipede feat undoubtedly added to the attraction. Unfortunately, through an accident to the machine, the sensational act could not be completed; but the audience saw quite sufficient to assure them that Mr. Loyal can accomplish perilous feats with the same ease and coolness which mark his other acts. On Saturday night, before he had proceeded many paces, the treadle on the right side of the velocipede came off, and, although the performer tried bravely to keep going, his foot would not remain on the slippery spoke, consequently the affair overbalanced, and in dropping the balancing-pole fell across the wire and broke in half. Fortunately, Mr. Loyal saved himself from falling by catching the wire, and he also had the presence of mind to hold the bicycle, so that no damage was sustained by that. The pole, however, could not be replaced at a moment’s notice, and Mr. Loyal apologised for the untoward circumstance, at which he was greatly annoyed, especially as it is the first time it has happened in public, and expressed a hope that the feat would be successfully accomplished on Monday night. There can be little doubt of that, as an accident, which has only occurred once during the years that the act has been performed, is not likely to happen again to-night; and the only way in which its occurrence on Saturday night can be accounted for is that someone must have touched the velocipede after the rehearsal on that morning, andinadvertently loosened the nutof the wheel. The slight misadventure of Saturday night will probably only lend an additional interest to the act to-night. The audience could not possibly have been disappointed with the entertainment, notwithstanding this failure, for in addition to the usual excellence of the programme, they saw a most perilous feat performed on a half-inch wire, which stamps Mdme. Zuila as a female Blondin of extraordinary nerve and confidence. This clever little lady, in a very neat and appropriate costume, first walked from the back of the stage to the dress circle across a tight wire, carrying an immense heavy balancing-pole; on the passage across she knelt down, stood on one foot, and showed herself as much at home in this uncomfortable and dangerous-looking situation, as if on terra firnm. To complete the amazement and admiration of the spectators, when at the dress-circle end, she securely blindfolded herself, had the balancing-pole handed her, and mounting the wire, walked back to the stage with a confident and elastic step. It is needless to say that the applause was immense. The remainder of the performance was carried through with the usual success and effect, Mr. Turner, with his exoeptionably fine falsetto voice, securing the hearty approval of the audience in his sentimental songs, to which it is a thousand pities he does not confine himself. If Master McLean is to be brought before an unwilling and unappreciative audience, a better selection might be made than hitf song “I tickled her under the chin,” which is, to say the least, particularly vulgar. The company appear for three more nights; and on Tuesday night a benefit will be tendered to Mdme. Zuila and Miss Shapter, and as these ladies have contributed in so marked a manner to the success of the company, they are fairly entitled to a bumper house. It is to be hoped that those in Wellington who take an interest in football do not entertain the delusive idea that the local players are practising for the forthcoming match with Nelson representatives, or—judging by the present state of affairs —that they stand the slightest chance of doing anything but make an exhibition of themselves when the contest takes place. Certainly there are a few persevering ones who go regularly up to the ground and do their best to prepare for the expected game, and they deserve credit for it ; but when a largo majority of those who are likely to take part in the interprovincial match persistently absent themselves from the practice ground, it impedes all that the willing few are trying to effect. For the last two Saturdays —although there has been due notice of the intention to play—only some eight or nine on each side can be mustered, and this fact points to one conclusion, and this is that something has laid its hold on many of the Wellington player's, which, wherever allowed to creep in, effectually prevents success in football or any other manly sport ; and that something is inexcusable laziness. It is well known there are many good players in Wellington well fitted to do battle for the honor of the local club ; but if the present apathy is allowed to continue, the most advisable course will be to decline the contemplated match with the Nelson men, and ask them to substitute a team of s choolboys.

The farewell appearance of Miss Rosa Towers, alluded to in Saturday’s issue, is now fixed to take place on Wednesday night at the Theatre Royal, on which occasion the performance will be for Mr. Frank Towers' benefit. This gentleman has long been connected with the profession in this Colony, and is well and favorably known throughout it, both as a manager and agent and an actor of merit, so there is little doubt that the movement will meet with a hearty response from the public. In addition to this, it is the last opportunity of seeing the popular little Miss Rosa, and a largo attendance is sure to bo the result. The entertainment will be a combined one by the Towers Company and the Loyals ; and it is also to bo the last appearance of the latter. The three Dunedin journals, and one of the morning papers in Christchurch, the Press, though differing on some points continue to strongly support the resolutions on the subject of Provincialism, aud the action of the party who gave their support to the Government. . The business at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Saturday w r as of an unimportant nature.

The Clydesdale entire horse Lord Raglan was offered for sale by auction on Saturday at Mclntosh’s stables, and fell to the bid of Mr. John Martin for £lB5. Members of the , Grif Dramatic Company performed to only a moderate house at the Odd Fellows’ Hall on Saturday, night. The performance went well, and was received very favorably by the audience. The dancing was particularly good, and gained much applause. They perform again this evening. The New Zealand horses Lurline and Papapa, both engaged in the Melbourne Cup, arrived in Victoria by the s.s. Otago on the 4th inst., after a rather unpleasant trip. Both horses were thrown diming the voyage, but fortunately neither experienced any serious injury. “Augur,” the sporting contributor to the Australasian, writes in that paper's issue of the Bth inst. :—“ It is said Lurline will go to Sydney to run for the Metropolitan, and the support awarded to her favors this idea, but nobody seems to know anything of her future movements.” It has since been reported by intelligence from Melbourne that the mare would not go to Randwick, but be reserved for the Melbourne Cup. For that race she is now at 100 to 4, at which price she is backed. For the Sydney Metropolitan 100 to 7 is offered, and at that figure she has received support. She is also fancied in the double, Metropolitan and Melbourne Cup, being backed with her stable companion Papapa, and with Goldsbrough, who is first favorite for the Cup, at 1000 to sin each case. The late rumor that the mare will not go to Sydney is most probably incorrect, as she has been backed for the Metropolitan to win about £4OOO at 100 to 7, unless the sea trip has had such an effect on her that the stable will not risk the passage to and from Sydney ; or, more likely still, that they fancy her chance for the Cup so rosy, that she is to be reserved for it. If Lurline can win the great race of Australia, she should laud a good thing for the followers of the stable, as she is now at a long price, and it will take a lot of money, if judiciously put on, to run her up to short quotations. Papapa has been selected for the Cup in the double Metropolitan and Cup, in connection with Horatio, who is much fancied for the former race ; and singly, he has been backed for £IOOO at 100 to 3. When Manuka went over to Victoria some few years ago, he was made a great pot for the Melbourne Cup ; but unfortunately he went wrong in his training, and never went to the post. It is a long way to take horses, and the Australians very justly argue that there must be something in them to induce an owner to risk such an undertaking; therefore the training of Mr. Redwood’s horses will be closely watched, and bookmakers will not be in a hurry to take liberties in penciling their names. At the Lower Hutt, on the 20th inst., a dinner was held, the occasion being the opening of the Odd Fellows’ Hall. The chair was taken by P.G. George Mcllvride, the treasurer of the Lodge, and the vice-chair by P.G. Edward H. Collett, Provincial Grand-Master of the Wellington District. The secretary, in responding to the toast of the Loyal Rose of the Valley Lodge, stated that it was one of the most flourishing lodges in the district, having 164 members, and having increased its funds nearly £2OO, after paying all expenses in working the Lodge, and the charges on the sick and funeral fund. The health of the builder of the hall, Mr. Joseph Hall, was included in the toasts, and he was complimented upon having done his work in a manner creditable to himself, and satisfactory to the Building Committee and the members of the Lodge. The following apologetic paragraph appears in the Otago Guardian of a recent date :• —Our attention has been directed to a paragraph in our Wellington correspondent’s letter, which appeared in the Guardian on 20th July, reflecting upon the character of the Hon. Henry Russell, arising out of certain land transactions in Hawke’s Bay ; also, to a paragraph in our Wellington letter of the 3rd inst., commenting upon Mr. Russell’s explanation in the Legislative Council. Having satisfied ourselves that the allegations in question are false, and unfairly prejudice Mr. Russell before the public, we have to express our regret that we should unwittingly have been the cause of doing him an injury. The first of the P. and O. Company’s mail steamers to pass through the Suez Canal for Galle and China, will leave Southampton on the Ist of September. The Pera, which sailed from Melbourne with the mail early in the present month, will be the first of the regular line to go through the Canal direct for Southampton. It is expected that a day will be gained on the passage by the non-necessity of transhipping passengers, luggage, and cargo. Referring to the reply sent by the Premier to the Agent-General, on the'subject of the claims made by Messrs. Brogden & Sons, the Lyttelton Times says :—Mr. Vogel’s reply to the Messrs. Brogden, was a proper reply on the part of the Colony. We do not see, after carefully considering the papers, that they have any claim whatever for compensation. They made a certain bargain with the Colony, in the ordinary way, and with their eyes open. The Colony has not broken any engagement into which it entered, and we must therefore say that Messrs. Brogden have no case. Stripped of superfluities, and reduced to its actual bearing, the claim they have put forward is neither more nor less than a claim to govern the Colony. The establishment of saw-mills on the West Coast of Otago does not at present seem to find favor with the Waste Lands Board of that Province: At their last meeting, Mr. D. MoFarlaue, Hokitika, as representative .of a company, asked what encouragement would be given in the shape of a grant of timbered land on the West Coast should he establish a sawmill in one of the Sounds there. After some discussion it was decided' that no grant should be given. A copy of the Timber Regulations was authorised to be forwarded to Mr. McFarlane. The possession of islands in boundary rivers between Provinces has in more than one instance been a subject of dispute, and another instance has occurred lately in connection with the proceedings of" the Otago Waste Lands Board. According to the local reports of the Board’s last meeting, Mr. Gillies, for Messrs. Borton and McMaster, applied to purchase islands in the Waitaki. He said that at the present moment anybody could go in, and buy that land, as they could compel the Board to grant their application. It would not be prejudicial to the public interests, as the laud had never been reserved for any purpose whatever. If it was not in the Otago Province—that was the only reason why it should be refused. If the Board refused the application, they would have to give their reason. They might defer their decision for a time.—The Commissioner : As it is unsurveyed land, ■ I think the Board should refuse the application. The Board do not know the land.—Mr. Gillies : This is a matter which would decide the question at issue between the Canterbury and Otago Governments as to the boundary of the Province. We apply for the so-called islands. The land is comparatively worthless, I am satisfied that it is in the Province, and know from my own personal knowledge that it is. The Board grauted the application, provided the land is within the Province. A miner named Moglin, one of the original pioneers of the Walhalla district and mine, in Gipp's Land, Victoria, died lately leaving £38,000 to his two sisters. He had only been able to retain his interest in the mine by submitting to privations, which might almost be called heroic. And when the Walhalla proved itself to be a mine of wealth, he had contracted a disease which prevented his enjoyment of his hard-earned gains and which carried him off after several months of suffering. The ladies have since made donations to Melbourne charities amounting to' £2050, and a considerable amount to local charities. They have also given orders for a monument to be erected over the grave of a miner named Stringer, who was the discoverer of the Walhalla, and whose name has been given to a well-known auriferous creek there. A good “ bag” was made by five gentlemen of New South Wales, who went out shooting on the Bundaburra run, in the Forbes district of New South Wales. Its contents embraced twenty-two wild horses, thirty-three -wild pigs, fifteen kangaroos, fifteen Native companions, six swans, eighteen ducks, four turkeys, and one white pelican.

A subscription is being raised in Melbourne to assist the families of the eight Kinsale fisherman, of the smack Olive, who were drowned when their vessel was run down by the ship Oakworth on her voyage from the* Mersey to Hobson’s Bay. The Astronomer of Victoria, who has satisfied himself that the comet lately seen here was Coggia’s, he states that its rate of travelling was two million two hundred thousand miles per day, or one thousand five hundred miles per minute. In the fortnight ending on the 24th ultimo, 150 messages were sent from, and 155 received in the Colonies by the Trans-Australian cable. Victoria continues to head the list, but New South Wales has also done a large business in this line. The New Zealand messages sent were nine, and seven were received. A paragraph which appears in the Otago Daily Tnnes is of grave interest to that large section of the community—tobacco consumers. It_ is to the effect that Messrs. Dalgety, Nichols, and Co., the agents for Messrs. Cameron Brothers, have received telegraphic advices that leaf tobacco has advanced fifty per cent, in Virginia, because of the crop this season turning out short. The last census taken in Victoria shows that the population of Melbourne and its suburbs amounted in 1871 to 206,780, as compared with 139,916 in 1861. The population of the city proper had increased in those ten years from 36,868 to 54,994. East Collingwood is now the most populous of the suburban boroughs, having a population of 18,598. Emerald Hill is the next, standing at 17,101, and showing an enormous growth, having only had 8822 inhabitants in 1861. On board the shipping in the Yarra and Hobson’s Bay there were 2039 persons. The population of Ballarat in 1871 was 47,201, Sandhurst 28,577, Geelong 21,459, and Castlemaine 9322. A valuable hint is given to publicans and bottlers, as well as to private families, by the European Mail, which says :—“ It appears that a poison lurks in the bottles os well as in the wine. At a recent meeting of the Academic des Sciences, M. Fordos denounced the mode in which bottles are cleaned by rinsing them out with small shot. He has discovered that by this process, a carbonate of lead is formed, and this attaches itself so firmly to the inside of the glass that it can only be removed by the action of acids. Thus it happens that acid wines, which are by no means uncommon, dissolve the lead, and the wine drinkers take the hurtful mixture. M. Fordos suggests a remedy for the evil. Instead of lead, he proposes that iron should be used. The cleansing properties of small pieces of iron would not be less than those possessed by lead, and the existing source of danger would be completely removed ; for if the iron were subject to any chemical action, its influence would be rather beneficial. The rust which results from oxidisation mixing with the wine would produce an effect hy no means injurious to health—indeed, for persons whose blood is impoverished, it would be of positive benefit.” NELSON. Reporting upon the prospects of the arrivals in Nelson Province by the ship Adamant, the Mail says:—We are glad to learn that a considerable number of the immigrants, including all the single women and girls who were willing to go into service, have found employment. There remain, however, unengaged some useful laborers of the agricultural class, including a few married couples, -without children; the women accustomed to dairy work, with a thorough knowledge of cheese and buttermaking. It is probable that the able-bodied men who have not found employment, will receive in a day or two an advantageous offer to proceed to Westport, to work on the Mount Rochfort railway, which they will accept, unless those who require labor come forward and secure their services. The remainder will be found present employment by the Provincial Government on the Rai Valley road or other public works, at a moderate rate of wages, to give them time to procure private employment. As a memo for almanac-makers, and as a red letter-day in the annals of Westport, the T Vestport Times notes prominently, that on Thursday, 13th, August, 1874, the Mount Rochfort railway works were commenced ; Mr. McLean putting on a gang of sixty men at bush-clearing near the point where the line will cross Palmerston Street. The Mayor, Mr. J. W. Humphrey, was invited by the contractor to strike the first blow, and deftly wielding an axe, he felled the first tree. And afterwards, in some brief congratulatory remarks, declared the work of constructing the Mount Rochfort railway commenced. CANTERBURY. The Native artificers have commenced work on the foundations for the Maori House, at the Museum, and everything is to be pushed forward as rapidly as possible. . A man named John Jordan, a laborer, and unmarried, living off Colombo Street south, Christchurch, attempted to poison himself by taking a dose of Battle’s vermin powder. He has been drinking heavily for the last fortnight He was taken to the Hospital, and placed under treatment. On Tuesday last the body of a man was found in a waterhole about four feet in depth, almost in the very centre of the township of Ashburton. The body proved to be that of Alexander Blarney. The jury returned the following verdict ;—“That deceased drowned himself whilst in a state of delirium tremens, brought on by excessive drinking.” And they added, as a rider, “That the General Government should be written to requesting them to fill up the said pool, as it is dangerous to the public, and directly injurious to health.” The pool in question, it appears, is on the railway reserve. • The second contract for the Christchurch Cathedral has been let to Mr. James Tait, the tenderer, to whom the first portion of the work of erection was entrusted. . The amount of the second contract is £3776, exclusive of White Rock stone, which the Cathedral Commissioners are to provide themselves, and the cost of this will increase the expenditure to within a trifle of £5200. This will carry the masonry of the aisle walls up to a line 18in. above the. apex of the windows, and will complete the western doorway. The contract is nearly all for ornamental work. While a railway gatekeeper named O’Malley, and his wife, were opening the gates at the Selwyn Street crossing, the engine struck the gate, splintering it, and one of the pieces hurt Mrs. O’Malley seriously. Reporting her partial recovery, the Times says :—Consciousness has been fully restored, and no immediate danger is anticipated, but the full extent of the injuries cannot yet be ascertained. It may be said, however, that Mrs. O’Malley has an extensive wound on the right temple, and her nose is very seriously hurt, while the upper jaw has been loosened to such an extent that the teeth and palate can easily be moved with the hand. OTAGO. The Rev. Lindsay Mackay, of Elsternwick, Dunedin, has received a call to become pastor of the First Church, Dunedin. The Rev. J. Smith, of St. Peter’s Church, Queenstown, has forwarded his resignation to the Bishop, in consequence of having received an invitation to a living in England. When the last number was taken at the Caversham Barracks, no less than 227 children were then located. They look healthy and strong, says the Times, but their quarters have anything but an attractive appearance. Concrete, for building purposes, seems to have grown very much in public favor in the Province of Otago, It was introduced by Mr. David Ross. A few days ago, Dr. Webster, while at Oamaru, selected a site there for cottages to be occupied by immigrants. Mr. Alves is the contractor, and in their erection concrete is to be used. Mr. Alves has also contracts for other works in the Province, in connection with which concrete will be largely employed where shingle is convenient, the concrete being found to be more economical and lasting than the ordinary building material, being impervious to fire, damp, and water, and continually becoming harder. Mr. Ross has himself used concrete to a great extent in the erection of buildings in the Oamaru district, at Elderalie,"and Windsor Park.

There are advertisements for ten teachers in the Provincial Government Gazette, wanted for different schools in the Province. In anoticeof the funeral of the late Mr. James Stevenson Forrester, the Guardian says Mr. Forrester was for many years in business m Dunedin, and enjoyed the confidence of a numerous circle of friends, most of whom, as well as the brethren of the Masonic Lodges, testified by their presence at his grave the respect in which he had been held. Mr. Forrester was a nephew of the late Stewart Watson, an intimate friend of Sir Walter Scott, for whom Mr. Watson designed the embellishments of the library at Abbotsford. Kapid progress is being made with the light railways in the districts, Otago. According to the local paper, four hundred men are now employed on the works. Of this number, 150 are immigrants who'arrived recently, and it is understood that the contractors will be able to give employment to 150 more. The Otautau branch will be finished in time to facilitate the transit to Riverton of grain and other produce during the next season. The following were some of the total earaings of the Otago railways for the month ending 31st ultimo :—Passenger traffic to and from Dunedin, Port Chalmers, Green Island, and Caversham (15,500 passengers), £1,232. Goods traffic to and from do. (1,731 tons), £975. Passenger traffic to and from Invercargill, Bluff, Winton, and Woodlands (3,196 passengers), £519. Goods traffic to and from do. (3,029 tons), £765. The total receipts were £3,592.