Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4279, 7 December 1874, Page 2

We are compelled to hold over a report of the cricket match between the Wellington and Star Clubs on Saturday, and a variety of local news. This evening has been appointed settling night by the stewards of the Wellington Jockey Club. Owners of winning horses will receive their winnings at eight o’clock, at the Empire Hotel. On Friday evening the barometers in the North Island commenced to rise, and fresh gales from southwest and southeast came in soon afterwards. _ About five p.m. a thunderstorm passed over Nelson, and from nine p.m. until midnight tho wind was blowing a stiff gale from the eastward at Westport. By Saturday morning pressure had increased generally, but remained highest in the south, with clearing weather; winds in the Middle Island were light from northwest to south and southeast, and in the North Island from northeast to south and southwest. A very wide and unusually well defined halo round tho sun was visible here yesterday from 11.30 a.m. until one p.m., but later in the afternoon it became indistinct. The Presbyterian General Assembly meets to-day at tho Provincial Chambers, the hours of sitting being from 11 till 2.30, and from G. 30 till 9.30. The business to be discussed at the morning sitting consists of a report on intemperance, a report on the church property and trust deed, and a report on the sustentation fund. The business of the evening sitting includes the discussion of a report on church extension, and a report on the widows’ and orphans' fund. Services took place yesterday, morning and evening, in connection with the second anniversary of the Wesleyan Church, Molesworthstreet. The Rev. Messrs. Morloy aud Slierriifs preached. On Tuesday evening next a tea and public meeting will he held in the church, when the members will he addressed by several clergymen and friends, and collections will be made in aid of the funds of the church. We observe that a social gathering will take place in the Odd Fellows’ Hall on Wednesday evening, which will be of a most attractive character to a large section of the community. Advantage has been taken of the presence in Wellington of clergymen of the Presbyterian Church from all parts of tho colony in connection ' with the sittings of the General Assembly of that Church, to invite them to a soiree on that evening. Tea will be on the tables at half-past six o’clock, p.m., and it is anticipated that afterwards the Rev. Dr. Stuart, of Dunedin, the Rev. Mr. Sidey, of Napier, the Rev. Mr. Hill, of Aucklond, the Rev. Mr. Colder, of Nelson, the Rev. Mr. Bruce, of Auckland, and the Rev. Mr. Kirkland, of Hokitika, will deliver short addresses. It is some time now since the General Assembly last met in Wellington, as the sittings have hitherto been held here and at Auckland and Christchurch in rotation, and tho public are likely to take very considerable interest in the gathering. Mr. Carver will have charge of the musical arrangements. Altogether high anticipations aro formed of the intellectual pleasures of the evening. There are now some twenty or more ministers of the Presbyterian Church of Now Zealand in Wellington, and yesterday large congregations assembled in the churches of St. John and St. Andrew, both morning and evening, for the purpose of hearing the strangers who were announced to conduct the ministrations. The Rev. Patrick Colder preached in the forenoon at St. John’s, taking for his text the sixth, seventh, ami eighth verses of the 4th chapter of 2nd Timothy. In the evening the Rev. D. Sidey preached from the eleventh verse of the Ist chapter of Ist Timothy. Both sermons were earnest and impressive, and were attentively listened to. In St. Andrew’s, the Rev. B. P. MoNicoll occupied the pulpit in tho morning, and the Rev. J. Hill in the evening. The school children of St, John’s Sunday school were also addressed in the afternoon by the Moderator (the Rev. Mr. McKinney), wiio presided, tho Rev. Mr. McNicoll, the Rev. Mr. Kirkland, from Hokitika, and the Rev. Mr. Chisholm, from Otago. Upwards of four hundred were present. A peculiarly pleasing feature was the service of song, under the leadership of Mr. Tonks, which was very delightful. Altogether the day was a very interesting one for the Presbyterians of Wellington, and for those of St. John’s Church in particular. The annual show of stock, farm implements, &0., by the Wairarapa and East Coast Pastoral Association takes place to-morrow on tho racecourse at Tauhereuikau. Great interest is always taken locally in this exhibition, and there will, no doubt, bo a large show of stock, and a great attendance of visitors from all parts of the district as well as from town. The sheep will be on the ground by seven, tho cattle by eight, and the horses by nine o'clock in the morning, and will remain on tho ground until four o’clock p.m. The public will be admitted to the showground at noon for tho nominal fee of one shilling. There will be a poultry show, as well as an exhibition of flowers, fruit, and vegetables, and prizes are offered in eighteen classes of agricultural implements. A match between two local horses, for £2O a-side, will be run off in the course of the day. The attendance at tho Theatre Royal on Saturday evening last was numerous. Tho company presented “ Fettered” in a manner which pleased the amdionco, who testified their appreciation by loud and frequent applause. At tho conclusion of the piece, Mr. Hydes, on behalf of Miss Stephenson, presented Mr. O’Brien, the owner and rider of Tambourini, tho winner of the Wellington Cup, with a handsome silver mounted whip. Mr. Hydes prefaced the presentation with a very comical aud amusing speech, which kept tho audience in roars of laughter. Mr. O’Brien accepted the whip with thanks. After the presentation Miss Jessie Raymond danced the jockey hornpipe in tho winning colors. An encore was demanded, which that lady complied with. With this performance, the company’s season in Wellington terminated. The Wairarapa News reports a very narrow escape which Mr. Stewart, assistant-engineer in that district, has made. He was in the act of cleaning a revolver, one of the chambers being loaded without his knowledge, when it exploded, tho ball passing between his finger and thumb, making a slight wound, and then so close to his forehead as to sever some hair therefrom, he stooping slightly at the time.

A meeting of the Board of Education, will he held in the offices of the Board, at eleven o’clock this forenoon.

Madame Arabella Goddard and troupe arrived by the 1 steamer Wellington yesterday. The steamer Wellington brought 124 prize sheep from Lyttelton, to be transhipped to the steamer Raugatira, which sails for Napier today. The Auckland papers speak in the highest terms of the performance of the American Circus Company, who lately arrived in that city from Sydney. The Greymouth Boating 1 Club have purchased from the Star Club the four-oar outrigger Mayflower. The Mayflower was purchased by the Star Club about a year ago, and is an excellent boat, though not quite new. The first prize (£350) in the sweep on the Wellington Derby, promoted by Mr. Downes, of the Xffer Hotel, has fallen to Mr. B. Wilson, of Miller's Commercial Hotel, Willlsstreet. A private letter received by a gentleman in Auckland, says that Mr. Stewart’s first ship with immigrants for a special settlement at Tauranga, sails from New Zealand in March next, for Auckland. A shipment of twelve nightingales, eighty hedo-e sparrows, and twenty-two white, throats, was made by the Glcnlora, now on her passage from London to Auckland. They are in the personal charge of Captain Le Visconti. * The Rev. Messrs. Stuart and Chisholm, two Presbyterian clergymen, arrived by the Wellington from tho South yesterday. They are members of the Presbyterian Assembly now in session in this city. The racehorse Templeton is on board the steamer AVelliugton, which sails for Northern ports this afternoon. Templeton will contest several events at the Auckland meeting on the Ist and 2nd January next. There was a fair attendance at the Odd Bellows’ Hall on Saturday evening last. The performance, which consisted of comic and sentimental songs, sketches, gymnastic feats, &c., appeared to bo thoroughly appreciated by the audience. A woman named Crawford has been missing from her home since Priday last. She was observed on that day to be in a perturbed state of mind about some domestic grievance, and it is feared that she may have made away with herself. It is announced in another column that the office of the second Wellington Building Society will be open on Saturday evenings, from seven o’clock to nine o’clock p.m., for tho convenience of those of the working classes who may desire to take shares. We understand (says the Otago Guardian) that the General Government lias very properly instituted an investigation into the circumstances under which some newly imported immigrants were deluded into going up to Eden Creek to work on the Mount Ida waterrace, to which circumstances we drew attention recently. Mr. Hesford, a useful aud deserving member of the last theatrical companies that have played in Wellington, announces a benefit at the Theatre Royal, on Wednesday evening next, when he will be assisted by a strong body of amateurs, many of whom have had considerable experience. We understand that the play selected will probably be the dramatised version of one of the late Charles Dickens’s most popular novels, in which Mr. Hesford will play a leading part." Hard fortune has attended the company, and a substantial benefit might well be accorded on this occasion.

A correspondent of tho Thames Advertiser writes as follows :—“lt is stated on good authority that the P. aud O. Company made several offers to take up the Californian mail service, but all wore declined on account of tho dread of a monopoly. The four boats built to the order of Forbes and Hall, in Euglaud, are likely to be procured for a permanent service, as the makers find a difficulty in disposing- of them, through being specially designed for trade in the tropics. The builders telegraphed to Sydney, making several offers. Mr. Russell has gone, empowered to treat with them.”