Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4293, 23 December 1874, Page 2

A large number of the citizens of Wellington assembled in the Provincial Hall yesterday afternoon, on the invitation of the Mayor, to meet the Council and consider the best means of celebrating in a public manner the arrival of his Excellency the Marquis of Normanby, and the Marchioness of Normanby. It was resolved that a ball should be given in the Public Hall (Theatre Royal) in the first week in January, the admission fee to be half-a-guinea. An influential committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements. This ball, we have every reason to believe, will be one of the most successful that has ever taken place in Wellington. The barometers in the South began to rise very fast on Monday afternoon, especially between Timaru and the Bluff. At the latter place it stood at 30 - 06, by Tuesday morning, having made a total movement of nearly one inch and two-tenths since Sunday at 10.30 a.m. This increase of pressure extended itself over the whole North Island during Monday evening, the wind at the same time changing into the south-west, from which direction a strong gale was felt at Lyttelton between 10 p.m. and midnight. The weather yesterday was overcast from Lyttelton to Castle Point, Wanganui.and Nelson, but had cleared up in all other parts of the colony. The winds were mostly in the south-west. A sale of land in the Peilding block, Manawatu, was held yesterday at Messrs. Bethune and Hunter's rooms. There was considerable competition, and the bidding was at times very spirited. The auctioneer succeeded in disposing of 119 town sections of a quarter and a half acre each, at prices ranging from £lO to £53 per lot; thirteen suburban sections, of five and ten acres each, at from £22 15s. to £l4B, or from £3 to £5 per acre ; and thirty-three rural sections at from £2 10s. to £3 per acre. A considerable number of the unsold sections have been applied for at the upset price. The total proceeds were about £IO,OOO. The sale must be considered a highly successful one. The steamer St. Osyth, which left Plymouth for Melbourne on the 4th of November, carries a mail. She was expected to make the run out in forty-five days, and she may, therefore, be heard of by the Alhambra, which will be due on the West Coast from Melbourne towards the close of the week. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, George Baker was charged by his wife with using threatening language, and was bound over to keep the peace for six months. An adjourned case against the landlord of the Thistle Inn was dismissed. B. Cannon was sent to prison for a month for deserting from the ship Adamant. A public meeting, we understand, will be held at the Pier Hotel, on Thursday evening, to take into consideration the best means of celebrating the anniversary of the Province of Wellington, and also of the foundation of the colony, the first settlement having been made here.

We may call the attention of our readers to an advertisement in another column, giving notice that races and rural sports will be held at Pahautamvi on the 22nd January next. We understand that the racecourse is a tolerably good one, and as the settlers of the Ferry and Paikakariki intend to amalgamate with those of Pahautanui for this purpose, a good day's amusement may be anticipated. This will be a good opportunity for the pleasure-seekers of Wellington to enjoy a pleasant drive in the country, as, independent of the races, Porirua Bay is noted and generally admired for its beautiful scenery. We regret to state that the weather last night proved so unpropitious that the Circus Company did not deem it judicious or safe to give a performance. Strong gusts of wind blew all day, accompanied at times by rain. It lulled a little in the evening, and the tent was again erected ; but before the hour for the business to commence the wind was again so strong that "no performance " was reluctantly announced. It is to be trusted that the Company will have better fortune this evening. We observe that the Company will only remain in Wellington for two night 3 more, and that the prices of admission have been reduced to all parts of the Circus. This evening there will be a variety of novelties, and the entertainments will conclude with Dick Turpin's Eide to York. The managers of the Catholic pic-nic and bazaar, to be held on Saturday, the 26th inst., at the Upper Hutt, are glad to announce to the public that an excellent programme of sports has been arranged, and liberal prizes will be offered. Visitors from Wellington and the Hutt will find conveyances at Father McCaughy's ; some to run up and down for three shillings, other for four, and coaches from the railway station for five. Select music, we understand, will be provided. The Kev. Dr. Redwood has signified his intention of being present. A very grateful tribute to an employer was paid at the Panama Hotel last evening, which reflected credit alike upon those who gave and him who received.' It will be recollected that not long ago Mr. Harry Bennett ceased his connection with the New Zealand Steam Shipping Company, of which he had been tho providore since the Taranaki was raised from the bottom of tho Tory Channel. The relations which had subsisted between Mr. Bennett and those whom he employed in the steamers had been of such a happy nature that the latter determined to show their regret, upon his leaving the company, in a substantial manner. Last night accordingly Mr. Bennett and a number of friends were guests at a dinner got up for the occasion at the Panama Hotel, Mr. Monckman occupying the chair. After the toast of " The guest of the evening" had been duly honored, Mr. O'Shea said he had the pleasing duty to perform of presenting Mr. Bennett, on behalf of the stewards of the company, with a handsome gold watch, upon which was engraved the nature of the presentation. By the help of a few songs and social converse a very pleasant evening was passed. It is only necessary to aay of the dinner that it was got up in a style worthy of Mr. Bennett himself.

Mr. John B. Gough, the well-known American lecturer on teetotaliem, does not approve of the late epidemical " crusade against rum," with which some of the feminine friends of the Good Templars in America have been afflicted. He writes to a friend on the subject:—"l would be unwilling to Bee my wife or nieces going about among the saloons, praying or singing hymns. I think the movement would help the woman suffrage cause very much, and I have always had a sort of dislike to the woman suffrage business. The idea of a band of ladies going through the streets singing hymns and praying is repugnant to me. It is the duty of policemen to clear away a crowd of men obstructing the pavement, and I think that women come under the same restrictions." The Dominion of Canada is setting itself vigorously to the work of facilitating the navigation of its coast. We observe that within six years, on the coast of Canada, ninety-eight new lighthouses have been built, four new lightships established, and ten new steam fog-alanns ; forty-eight more lighthouses, eight fog-alarms, and two lightships are in process of construction.

A meeting of the City Council will be held to-morrow (Thursday) at four o'clock, p.m. We are happy to learn that the health of his Honor Judge Gray has very greatly improved. A warrant has been issued in Nelson for the arrest of Alfred Hibble, late collector of rates there, on charges of embezzlement. The cricket match between the Star and Pahautanui Cricket Clubs is arranged to take place on Saturday (Boxing-day), instead of on Monday, as previously announced. It will not be forgotten that the concert of the Wellington Choral Society takes place this evening, in the Wesleyan Church, Mannersstreet. Handel's " Messiah" will be given. We omitted yesterday to thank Captain Stafford, of the barque Camille, for late Sydney papers and Newcastle journals to the 9th inst. Captain Paton, of the brig Robin Hood, also furnished us with files to his date of sailing from Newcastle. The December number of " The Journal of the Agricultural Society of New South Wales" has reached us. It is the fourth number of the first volume of a new series. It appears to be a useful journal, but susceptible of great improvement. The Bombay police have captured another leading mutineer of '57, one who calls himself Abdool Russuf, and who is known to have massacred with his" own hand a number of Europeans, amongst whom were Lieutenant Fraser and Captain Douglas. He was arrested in Baroda, and will be tried in Delhi, where he now is.