Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4212, 19 September 1874, Page 2

Messrs. Hunter and Pearce, the members, for the City, will, we understand, address their constituents on Wednesday next. Thirty-nine acres of Harbor Reserves land, in the City of Wellington, are advertised to be sold at the Provincial Council Chambers, on Monday, December 21st. Plans may be inspected, and information obtained, at the office of the Provincial Engineer., Telegraphic communication with the West Coast of the South Island was interrupted yesterday, but is hourly expected to be restored. His Excellency the Governor left Welling- , ton yesterday afternoon, in his yabht the Blanche, intending to inn across the Strait to Nelson, where H.M.S. the Blanche is now at anchor. Thence he -will proceed on the West Coast as far as Milford Sound, the war steamer accompanying him. Some difficulty was experienced when the yacht was leaving in consequence of the anchor fouling, but after one or more efforts a fair start was effected. His Excellency’s cruise will, it is anticipated, extend over about three weeks. The fxiends of Lady Fergusson will be glad to learn that her health has improved to such an extent daring the past few days, that Sir James could leave her without the slightest feeling of anxiety. The younger branches of His Excellency’s family will sail for England in the Halcione, now lying at the anchorage, winch vessel has very superior passenger accommodation. His Excellency -will not leave until on or aljdut the time that the Marquis of Normanby is relieved by Mr. Cairns of the charge of governing Queensland. This, it is expected, will take place early in December. ’ An express-driver, named Cornelius Regan, committed suicide some time during Thursday night by drowning himself in a water barrel, whilst laboring under a fit of temporary insanity. It appears from the evidence given at the inquest held yesterday," before Dr. Johnson, the City Coroner, by a man named Giles Yeomans and his wife, with whom the deceased had been lodgmg for some time previous to the melancholy occurrence, that lately he had been in a very despondent stats, owing to the fact of not having much work at his occupation ; his vehicle was too heavy, and his horse not a good one. Last Wednesday he returned to his lodgings, and Mrs. Yeomans thought from the strange manner in which he behaved for a time that ho was insane. She endeavored to cheer him up, and on Thursday night his spirits appeared to have revived. The man and wife went to bed abopt halfpast ten, and left Began in the kitchen, which was the last seen or heard of him until Yeomans found him early yesterday morning with his head, arms, and body in a cask of water. When -removed, the body was quite cold. A verdict was returned that deceased committed suicide by drowning whilst in a state of temporary insanity. The unfortunate man was known as steady and respectable. After so long an absence of any public amusement in Wellington, everyone will doubtless look forward with pleasure to next Monday night, when the Royal English Opera Company- are announced to re-appear for a short season, their first selection being the very popular opera of “Satauella,” which was a favorite one with the public last season. The opportunity of enjoying the musical treat will not be confined to residents of Wellington, as the Government have determined to run late , trains to the Hutt on Wednesdays and Saturdays, leaving the Wellington station at 11.30 p.m.. The company will arrive by the Rangatira to-morrow, so that they will have a fair rest before their first night’s performance, when doubtless a .crowded house will welcome them.

X'oi- tliia night only, Mr. C. H. Newton in announced to re-appear at the Odd X'cllow.s' Hall, in an entertainment in which he will he assisted hy several performers well known to Wellington audiences. .The performance is to commence with a lively extravaganza entitled “Herman Worried by Newton,” and to conclude with the farce of “The Carnival H’Afrique,” and during the evening there are to be dances, songs, and “Jfeats on the Homan ring”—the'latter by Mr. X l '. XVanconi. The soiree given by the Star Boating Club at the Odd' Bellows’ Hall last night was, notwithstanding the exceedingly ' unpleasant weather, well attended. The first part of the evening was occupied in the rendering of instrumental music by the really very excellent hand of the Choral Society. Of the manner in which some flue selections were performed it is almost impossible to speak in too high high terms of praise, and if the vocal strength of the society is now in corresponding excellence with the instrumental portion, there is indeed a great treat hi store for the public at the next concert by the society. The first portion of last night’s entertainment was well worth the charge of admission to the full evening's enjoyment. In order to keep the floor in the capital order for dancing in which it had been put, the audience were all seated in the gallery whilst the musical part was being performed. .Shortly after nine o’clock the room Was cleared and dancing commenced. All present evidently enjoyed themselves fully, and the amusement was kept up for. several hours to tho lively strains of capital and welltimed music. The arrangements in connection with the refreshment room, and the ladies’ cloak-rooms were excellent, and provided ample accommodation. Altogether the soiree may be pronounced a decided success. It is only due to Mr. Raymond, the very efficient loader of the Choral Society, to compliment him on the able and satisfactory manner in which he discharges the duties of his office. Tlio friends of the family of tho late Captain Hart will, no doubt, road with satisfaction tho following paragraph from the Otago Guardian, of the 9th inst.: —A meeting of the gentlemen who took an active part in raising subscriptions in aid of the widow of the late Captain Hart, was held at , the Harbor Chambers on Monday last, when it was ascertained that the total sum in hand was over £I2OO, and further sums were yet to arrive ; these, in all probability, will increase the amount to £ISOO. Xu accordance with a wish expressed by the majority of the subscribers, it was resolved that tho funds should be invested in the names of trustees for the benefit of the widow and children. Captain Thomson, Mr. Henry Guthrie, and Mr. James Mills wore appointed trustees, and authorised to deal with tho money, and take all necessary steps towards securing a suitable investment. The barque Brunette has 'arrived in Lyttelton, bringing for tho General Government, 11,094 sleepers or “tics,” as they are termed in tho United States. In a -telegram received recently from San Brancisco, it ■ was stated that several vessels were loading with these ties, and that it was __ considered the Ne.w Zealand Government had nu’wffi a mistake in obtaining them. The following (says the Lyttelton U'tuiee), is the result of an examination and inquiries made respecting the sleepers They are somewhat different in size and length to those at present used on our railways. The ties are of redwood, and such as are used on the Pacific railway. They were originally cut for that great line, hut owing to their not being of the required length, they wore solely rejected on that account. Tho timber has proved itself admirably adapted for the purpose required, or for any work whore the service of timber is required to be imbedded in the earth. The- measurement of each is Oin. by 7in. by 7ft.. Tho sleepers weigh about SGlbs., and can bo landed in port at the rate of 3s. Gd. each, or thereabouts. With this cargo, and those to follow, there is little doubt but that the Southern line will be pushed on with vigor.

The business at the Resident Magistrate’ Court yesterday was'unimportant. The Gazette announces that Mr., Tom Frederick Liddle has been appointed DeputyHarbormaster for the port of Moeraki. It also has an intimation to the effect that the name of the post-office in the Province of Hawke’s Bay, known as Ruataniwha, has been changed to Onga Ouga. Inquiries are made through the Government for Mr. James Rigby, who is stated to have arrived in Nelson in July, 1870, in the ship William Browse, and who left that place for Wellington in May of the following year. It is rumored, says the Lyttelton Times, that Mr. M. B. Hart intends to resign the position he now holds as Mayor of Christchurch, and also his seat in the City Council. The following address to the electors of Seadown, and signed Walter Kenhaway, appears in the Canterbury papers ;—“ I take an early opportunity of informing you that being about to prooeed-to England to undertake the duties of an office under the General Government, it will he necessary for me to resign my seat as your representative in the Provincial Council. I may be allowed to add that the offer of the appointment was entirely unexpected and unsolicited on my part.” We are reminded, somewhat curious way, of an “ old identity” of Wellington. In the Chatham News, of the 18th of July last—to hand by tbs mail—we find the following:— “ In noticing the fires which have taken place since our last issue, we consider it a good opportunity for drawing the attention of the members of tbe Fire Brigade and others who ai-e always willing to lend a helping hand on such occasions, to a very important part of their duty, not that we wish to find fault in the slightest degree, because we know how very praiseworthy tho exertions of the whole Brigade have been on every occasion. What we allude to is this, that the services of some of the members should always be directed to tbe buildings opposite or adjacent to the one which is on fire ; the necessity for this was very conspicuous in the case of the fire in Railway Street. We were informed that J. 0. Hamley, Esq., 0.8., the Controller at the Gun Wharf, went to the fire with the Sergeant of Police, after sending off the Gun Wharf hose-reel, and seeing that the exertions of all the members of the Fire Brigades and all the available water were directed to the burning building, which' it was impossible to save, and that nothing was being done to prevent tbe fire, reaching the buildings on the opposite side of the narrow street, which were smoking from the great heat, went up to the building and persuaded the men to direct the hose for a short time on the wooden houses opposite, and thus prevent the extension of the conflagration. We were sorry to learn that just at the moment when Mr. Hamley was in front of the burning bouse, a heavy piece of iron spouting fell from the roof, and, splintering in pieces from the heavy fall, one piece struck him with great force just below the knee-cap, and causing an awkward wound down to the ankle. We hope that Mr. Hamley’s suggestion at the time was not looked-upon as an interference with the duties of the Fire Brigade, because we have been informed that be has had much experience at fires in tbe wooden cities of New Zealand when stationed there, and that tbe inhabitants presented him with a handsome piece of plate, in recognition of his valuable services in extinguishing a fire, which at one time threatened tbe destruction of tbe whole of tbe cdmmercial part of the City of Wellington.”

The Hon. Saul Samuel, of Sydney, says the Home News, is the subject of one of a series of word-portraits of “ Eminent Jews ” appearing from week to week in the London Hun. Of the Postmaster of New South Wales that paper tells us that he was born in Loudon in the year 1820. In the year 1832 he emigrated to Sydney. “In 1851 Mr. Samuel was elected a member of the Legislative Council, and from that period to the. present, with a little intermission, he has sat in that Assembly. In Mr. Forster’s Government of 1859-GO he was appointed to the office of treasurer, and in the respective administrations formed by Mr. Cowper in 1365 and by Mi'. Robertson in 1868 he occupied the same official position. In 1872 he was a member of the Government for the fourth time, as vice-president of the Executive C'ouuoii, and he now admirably fills the office of Postmaster-General. A contemporary bears tribute to Mr. Samuel’s ability as a financier, which is sufficiently attested by the fact that no fewer than throe Premiers have had recourse to his advice and acknowledged skill on the formation or reconstruction of "their ministries. While representing the Orange and Wellington districts he succeeded in gaining the esteem and confidence of his constituents, and this is proved by his having been elected at the last general election for the important constituency of East Sydney. A short time back Her Majesty conferred on Mr. Samuel the dignity of Knight Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. This order was instituted in the latter years of the reign of King George 111. as a distinction for meritorious subjects in the newly-acquired possessions of Malta and the lonian Islands, but during the reign of Queen Victoria the Order was extended to the gentlemen of mark in -the various Colonies of the Empire. Mr. Samuel Lately visited this country on a mission from his own Government to arrange a postal convention, when lie was treated with every respect by Her Majesty’s Government. Mr. Saul Samuel is one of those men who have risen to positions of eminence by the exercise of their talents only, without being supplemented by any external influences.”

We are, in receipt of a copy of a circular issued by Millar, 8.5. A., on the subject of the Wanganui water supply. The circular is prominently headed with these mottoes;— -Passim Spargcrc Lucent; and “I am demanded of conscience to sneak tho truth, therefore, the truth I speak, impugn it whoso list.” After these intimations, Millar, B.S. A., proceeds to say “It 'having come to tho knowledge of the Borough'Engineer that there are erroneous impressions abroad (carefully and widely circulated, where be has no opportunity of defending himself) that ho has been the initiator of a water-supply for .Wanganui, tho cost of which is to be counted, not only by thousands, but by some unknown amount, ending with tens of thousands. Now, the Borough Engineer, out of justice to himself, his position, and justice to the members of Council of 1873 —Gentlemen who did him the honor to retain his professional services for the borough,' rc Water and Sewerage —several of whom are not now in the Council, i,c., Councillors Beaven, Brown, Chavannes, Binnimore, and Hutchison—to defend themselves from statements- which have no foundation in fact, but which are the veriest perversion of truth. Tho Borough Engineer, therefore, does himself tire honor to lay before the burgesses—whose servant ho really is, although appointed by their representatives, the Council—a plain, unvarnished statement of-facts, without comment, showing that tho entire cost, f.0.h., in England cannot,-in any case, be more than £11,500 [vide contractor’s estimate). Biftcen hundred pounds of which will ultimately bo placed to the credit of the borough, leaving tho total cost but £IO,OOO for tho best, the cheapest, and only scientific water-supply works in Now Zealand. The Borough Engineer furthermore adds, that lie has most scrupulously confined himself to the written orders of Council, never having in a single instance ordered one additional pipe more than was hydraulic neces-, sary to carry out tho intentions of the Council efficiently for tho benefit of the ratepayers of Wanganui.” On Sunday morning last, as Captain Calvert, of the brigantine Elizabeth Curie, which was lying oil the breastwork, near the Export wharf, Lyttelton, was hauling taut the stern_ line of the vessel, he was alarmed to see the head of a man rise out of the water. He and his men at once gob into their boat, and proceeded to the spot, and found a man’s body supported under tho arms by the warp, The body was conveyed on shore, and was recognised as that of John Cain, who was cook of the schooner J. G. Colesou. He had been missing since Saturday night, Sept. 5. Hares seem' to be rapidly increasing in Canterbury. Ten were seen in one day in Hiigley Park cricket ground.