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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4297, 29 December 1874, Page 2

Considerable changes are impending with regard to the judicial boneh. It haa been known for some timo that Mr. Pendergast, the Attorney-General, will succeed his Honor Sir George Arnoy as Chief Justice, and will, bo resident in Wellington. Mr. Justice Johnston proceeds to Ghristchurch,taking tho placeofMr. Justice Gresson, who retires on the allowance provided by statute. Mr. T. B. Gillies, M.H.8., haa been offered and has accepted a seat on tho bench, and may relievo Mr. Justice Chapman (who also retires) at Dunedin. Mr. Justice Richmond proceeds shortly to England, on twelvemonths' leave of absence, to which ho is

entitled, so that there will be another vacancy to fill. The elevation of Mr. T. B. Gillies to a judgeship will occasion a vacancy in the representation of Auckland City West. To all intents and purposes, yesterday was as great a holiday as Saturday, for little or no business was transacted. The great majority of the business-people kept Boxing Day in the order of its occurrence on the calendar ; but, in furtherance of a difference of opinion upon the subject, a considerable section of the inhabitants of the city reserved their holiday for yesterday, and betook themselves in various directions away from business haunts. The Provincial Government and the City Council offices were closed ; in short, all activity was abstracted from the city, which presented a very lethargic appearance throughout the day. The members of the Central Volunteer Fire Brigade, with their wives and children, went out to the Hutt early in the morning, and not till evening was there any indication of briskness. The Theatre and the Odd Fellows' Hall were both occupied, the former by the BatesHoward Company, and the latter by the Odd Fellows' Committee, who gave their annual soiree to a very numerous list of patrons. Since Saturday last the barometer has risen in nearly all parts of the colony, but more particularly so in the Middle Island, where a difference of between three-tenths and half an inch had taken place by Monday morning. The weather during this interval was very fine in both islands, with moderate winds from south-west and north-west. Captain Mitchell, of the ship Langstone, who is a stranger to this port, complains that though he made Wellington lights on the night between Lyell's' Bay' "and lericarroV, throwing up rockets and showing blue lights, he was not signalled till half-past five o'clock on the morning of the 25th. By that time, seeing no response to his signals, the ship was beating in for the harbor with a signal for a pilot flying, and was some considerable distance inside the reef when the pilot went on board. The pilot station is so unfortunately situated that the pilots are entirely dependent upon the outer signal station signalman. The pilots are usually very smart in boarding ships. The old pilot station, it begins to be admitted, was a better and much more convenient one than that which they now occupy. The Streets of New York was repeated at the Theatre Royal last evening to a capital house, the dress-circle particularly being well patronised. The prominent features in thisattractive drama have already been touched upon in these columns, bo that it need only be mentioned that the effective scenery and the thrilling plot of the drama itself, failed not in touching the chord of enthusiasm and winning demonstrative applause from the audience. Mr. Bates as Badger sustains the burden, and as a matter of course won the greatest share of the honors derivable from the successful presentation of the piece ; but the audience were by no means forgetful of the ability of Mrs, Bates, who sang the plaintive song " Dreaming of thee," in a very tasteful manner, and was encored. Mr. Hydes has lost none of his drollery. His popularity never seems to fade, and he is as funny as ever where funnyism is required, and it is of course required in " The Streets of New York," to carry off the sentiment o£ the melo-clramatic parts. Mrs. Stoneham is another of the main supports of the company, which being said, nothing need be added except this : that Mrs. Stoneham'sshort acquaintance with the theatregoers of Wellington has created a very high opinion of her abilities. Mr. Burford's painstaking efforts to secure the success of the piece are equally deserving of praise. His part presents no intricacies to such a veteran ; but it is done with a finish which experience alone can give. These remarks, except the veteran allusion, apply also to Mr. Thorpe, who gives every promise of rising to a leading position in the profession. The remaining parts were well filled in. The piece will be repeated this evening. His Excellency the Governor has signified his intention to be present on Wednesday evening ivhen, by desire of the 'Marquis, " The American Cousin " will be presented.

The excursion to Queen Charlotte Sound yesterday, promoted by the New Zealand Steam Shipping Company, was one of the most pleasant that has ever taken place out of Wellington. The morning' was fine, with a fresh southerly breeze, and the numbers of people who thronged towards the wharf from an early hour proved the popularity of the excursion. A few minutes after nine o'clock the Wellington steamed off, with Captain Carey once more on the bridge, and carrying a full complement of passengers. She was followed in a few minutes by the Taranaki, which was also crowded. The sea in the Strait, fortunately, was smooth, and both vessels, steaming at their best, reached Picton about half-past two o'clock. There the excursionists landed, and were very hospitably received. After seeing, all that was to be seen in the township and its neighborhood, they again embarked, the two vessels sailing about half - past four o'clock, the Wellington leading. The fine sail up the Sound was greatly enjoyed, and as the wind became lighter and the sea still smoother than it had been, a rapid run up and out into the channel for ' home was made. The vessels kept close company, and came to the wharf almost together about half-past ten o'clock p.m. Both the vessels were extremely well found with refreshments of all kinds, and nothing could exceed the attentions of Captain Carey and Captain Wheeler to those who sailed with them. The Taranaki carried a band, which contributed not a little to the pleasure of those on board. The two steamers not having been able to carry all the people who offered, the Rangatira (which was getting up steam for a trip to Napier), was pressed into the service, and sailed early in the forenoon with a large number of holiday-makers, for a run across tho Strait, from which she returned about six o'clock, everybody satisfied with the excursion and with Captain Lloyd. We have received from the publishers the .Christmas number of the Australian Skctcher, which on this occasion has two very fine supplements beautifully printed on toned paper. The one is a scene in Australian exploration, the explorers mounted on camels, and crossing a dreary, inhospitable country; the other " The Spring Time" apparently a copy from a French painting. These are very good. Tho 6'kctchcr itself, however, is not up to the mark, so far as the artists arc concerned. The subjects treated are not very ambitious, but one, at least, of the principal pictures is a gross exaggeration, and auother —pantomime scenes at the Melbourne theatres—is hardly intelligible. Too much is aimed at, and occasional failure must be expected. The Skctcher, however, contains a very fine portrait of the Ilev. Charles Clarke, who is about to visit this colony on a lecturing tour, and a well-written story (illustrated) appropriate to the season. Another addition to tho already numerous and extensive drapery establishments of the city has, as the public are already no doubt aware, been mado by tho erection of a handsome shop on Lambton-quay for Mr. Alcorn, late of C-roymouth, who lays claim to a share of the business of tho city, and presents a stock which justifies all that can be said of it. Mr. Alcorn comes here with considerable experience in liia own particular line of business, and with a knowledge of the kind of market to which he has brought his goods. Success is beyond doubt. Already he has a considerable stake in tho city, for the erection of the handsome premises on Lambton-quay must have cost many thousands of pounds, and such enter-" prise is sure not to go unrewarded. Wo regret to learn (says the Napier Telegraph) that there has been an enormous mortality amongst the sheep of this province during the past winter and spring seasons. We hear of one station on the coast that was sold after last shearing with ten thousand sheep ou it that number having been delivered—which at this shearing could only muster six thousand. This high rate of mortality, we hear, has been almost reached on other stations. Both throughout this "province and in Poverty Bay districts such severe losses have not before been known. ni he hoggett flocks have suffered the most from the constant rains of the winter, and the flush of feed in tho spring months.

Three drunkards, who were dealt with according to their deserts, created the only business done at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday. Mr. Walter Johnston, we observe, will address the electors of the Manawatu district at Foxton on the 2nd proximo, and at Palmerston on the 4th, on each occasion at eight o'clock p.m.. The s.s. Ladybird, we observe, will make an excursion trip in the harbor on New Year's Day. The opportunity will, no doubt, be largely taken advantage o£ by those who enjoy a sail in smooth water. A site for the lighthouse on Cape Saunders has been at last definitely decided upon. Mr. SeedJ Secretary of Customs ; Mr. Blackett, Assistant Engineer-in-Chief ; Captain Johnson, of the Marine Department; and Captain Thomson, the Provincial Harbor-master of Otago, proceeded overland to the Cape from Portobello, and after several hours' close inspection discovered a convenient little terrace about half-way down the face of the Cape, and at about an elevation of three hundred feet above sea level, that was admirably suited for the purpose. The site commands a splendid view of the offing, both northand south. The Odd Fellows' Soiree, which in past years was regarded as a fitting conclusion to the Christmas holidays, and was liberally patronised, was not such a success last night as had been anticipated. A ready reason was found in the fact that the Picton excursionists did not return till a very late hour, when their exuberant feelings were thoroughly exhausted. Up to half-past nine o'clock, the interior of the Odd Fellows' Hall presented anything but a -fkaorfnl asuect : but after that hour the number of terpsicnareans ivasnucratrai r ««j -*L»dancing became enjoyable, particularly as the music was furnished by an efficient though small band of musicians, who have in their time helped to swell the delights of the Crystal Palace concerts. The marine, excursion undoubtedly upset all the calculations of the committee, who may fare better if the soiree is repeated at New Year time. The farewell performance of the Circus troupe, as might have been expected, drew one of the largest audiences of the season, composed chiefly of a considerable per centage of the juvenile population of the city, to whom the fiery bare-backed steed seemed a subject of eternal admiration. The company, however, did their utmost to render the performance entertaining to the entire audience, and it therefore did not fail in giving complete satisfaction. Signor Gonzales, Signor Salivaro, Signor Romeo, and all the other exponents of sensation introduced their greatest novelties with the object, presumably, of making the performances of the company something to be remembered. In this respect they were entirely successful, and should their travels l°.ad them in this direction again the proprietors may reckon upon a profitable harvest. The Times of India describes the following accident which happened to an actress well known in Australia :—" Miss Carry George and other ladiea of her company had,a narrow escape from drowning at Moulmein, where they stayed for one night en route to Singapore. They left the steamer Himalaya at seven in the evening, when the night was fair and the water still. On returning from the theatre, they entered the captain's gig, and were rowed away in the gloom from shore. Meanwhile a squall came on, and what with the winds and a tide running eight knots an hour, there was room for fear. Half-way between the shore and the ship, the boat struck against a mooring chain, lost her rudder, and was very near losing herself. With most commendable presence of mind (!), the captain, who was the only gentleman with them, gave utterance to the happy thought that prayertime had come. On Miss Carry George hazarding the opinion that it had not, and endeavoring to make things as pleasant as possible, the boat was kept afloat. After an hour's buffeting with the angry waters, with white faces and dripping raiment the tiny vessel's fair burden reached the friendly deck of the Himalaya ; although Miss Carry George held a bold front to quiet the fears of her companions, she herself thought the whole of them would be carried down the Burmah coast before help would come. Worst of all, when the rudder had been unshipped, the now helpless craft entered the black circle of a whirlpool, and there she lay for a long time, her occupants suffering a death agony the while. The male members of the company were hardly more fortunate. They managed to reach the Himalaya's side with tolerable safety, but when within half a yard of firm footing their boat collided with another and filled. Happily, a few bruises, and an easily accountable desire for warm ' night-caps,' were the only untoward consequences." A very sudden death occurred on Friday last, says the Nelson Colonist. It appears that a woman named Johanna Maria Hildreth took passage tickets for herself and her young son, from Hokitika to Dunedin via Nelson, by the steamer Tararua. When the steamer was coming into this port on Friday morning, Mrs. Hildreth complained of being very ill, and a signal was hoisted to show that a surgeon was wanted on board. Dr. Squires was at onee sent for, and, as he saw the woman was in a dangerous condition, she was, on his order, immediately conveyed to the Hospital. Ten minutes after her arrival there she breathed her last. A post mortem examination was held, when it was found that the causes of her death were disease of the heart and serous effusion on the brain. Such being the case no inquest was held on the body. Only nine gentlemen, says the Otago Daily Times, responded to the advertisement convening the meeting to consider the desirability of presenting the Hon. W. H. Reynolds with a suitable testimonial. Mr. A. Mercer occupied the chair, and stated that the limited attendance was, no doubt, owing to the boisterous weather. He was very glad indeed that the present movement had been initiated. During the course of a brief speech Mr. H. S. Fish stated that the Hon. Mr. Reynolds had served his constituency faithfully for twenty-six years. They were principally indebted to that gentleman for the Corporation reserves, which yielded £9OOO per annum. He (Mr. Fish) thought it would be advisable to limit the subscription to the proposed testimonial to 2s. 64, except in special instances, where parties were desirous of giving larger sums. Subscription lists were ordered to be printed, and Mr. Fish was elected lion, secretary. Lieutenant Bretton, in charge of the Naval training vessel at Kohimsirania, Auckland, accidentally capsized in his boat, a few days ago, whilst sailing up to town. When off Stoke's Point, a sudden squall struck the boat, and before sail could be lowered she turned bottom up. Fortunately the accident was witnessed from the shore, and assistance was promptly sent to Lieutenant Bretton, who suffered little or nothing from his sudden immersion.

Notwithstanding the movement that has been successfully made for retaining the Eev. Charles Clarke in Melbourne, letters received by the Wonga (says the Ncio Zealand Herald) state that the rev. gentleman will start for a brief tour in New Zealand immediately after Christmas. Ho has added to the laurels he had previously won as a lecturer, adds our contemporary, by delivering a discourse on the "Tower of London." One enthusiastic critic describes tho lecture as "au elaboratelywrought picture, equalling if not surpassing in vivid incident and soul-inspiring effect any previous effort of the lecturer, and well calculated to enhance the reputation he has achieved as tho premier elocutionist of Australia." Messrs. Neilson and Brissenden, we hear through a -private source, says the Taranaki News, succeeded last week in purchasing, from a section of the Ngapuhi, resident to the north of Holdanga, above 45,000 acres of good land. The price paid averages about one shilling and sixpence per acre. Another attempt is to be made at Port Chalmers to establish a deep-sea fishery. A cutter named the Nautilus has been bought for the purpose at Lyttelton from the lushing Company there. Captain Densem, formerly of the steamer Peninsula, and Mr. Macandrew, junior, are at the head of this new venture.

A half-share in Roche's coal lease at Waimangaro, province of Nelson, is reported by the Butter Nevis as having been sold for £350. The value of the land near Auckland as a fruit-growing country may be inferred from the fact that in that city there are about one hundred shops for the sale of fruit. The Queen, we observe, haa been pleased to appoint James Gillies, late of Otago, to be her Majesty's Vice-Consul- in the island of New Caledonia. A young Australian pianiste, Miss Alice • Sydney Burvette, has made a successful professional torn- through France, and is now in Paris. Three hundred and sixty ounces of retorted gold have been obtained by the Golden Ridge Quartz Mining Company, Anatori (Nelson), from 158 tons of quartz. We notice from our English files that her Majesty's training ship Liberty went on the rocks under Kingsmear Castle, at the mouth of Dartmouth Harbor, in October last. The Sydney Town and Country journal has a portrait of Miss Rosa Towers, in the character of " Migs," in " A Waif of the Streets." It does not, however, do the little lady justice. A fire occurred a few evenings ago in the stable belonging to Mi - . Lock, at the corner of Waimea and Hardy-streets, Nelson. Damage tsthnated at £l5O was done. Two valuable entire horses were got out safely, but with some difficulty. A Sydney telegram, published in Melbourne, is to the following effect: Saxon passed the Heads northward, and reported having on board the shipwrecked crew of the brig Windhover, hence to Lyttelton. ■ei»-^- S a.uoja CL p ar (;i cu i a i. s 0 f jjjg wreck." _ The Dunedin press has attained the distinction of being the first in New Zealand—so far as we are aware—to produce a sixpenny songster! It is published by Mr. -Joseph Braithwaite, High-street; is to be known as * the "New Zealand Songster, No. 1 ;" and it consists of nearly a hundred pages of songs of all kinds. A number of sections of land in the Karamea district—where the formation of a special settlement was lately attempted by the Provincial Government—were offered for sale at the Land' Office, Nelson, a few days ago, but no buyer appeared, and they were in consequence withdrawn from sale. The land is said to be of superior description, but the sale was mismanaged—as usual in Nelson. A young woman named Mary Jamieson hasdied in Nelson- Hospital of consumption. She was an immigrant by the ship Ocean Mail, which arrived only recently, and must have been afflicted with the disease long before she left England. In her ease there could not have been much medical supervision before embarkation. The losses at sea of valuable horses intended for New Zealand have been very severe. We mentioned lately the ill-fortune which attended a large number on board the Tararua on her last passage down from Melbourne, and now we learn that on her late voyage from Sydney, to Auckland the steamer Wonga Wonga lost fourteen out of twenty-seven she had on board, in consequence of the roughness of the weather. The Acclimatisation Society has received further satisfactory evidence of the successful naturalisation of the salmon trout in New Zealand waters, a fine specimen of that fish having been captured in the Lower Harbor of Dunedin by one of the port fishermen. The fish mea» sured two feet in length and seventeen inches in girth, and weighed seven pounds. The Wakatip Mail states that instead of 193 photographs, Professor Peters obtained 235 or 239 of the late transit of Venus, and Lieut. Praed, attached to Major Palmer's English Transit Expedition, is ou a visit to Queenstown to the American party, in order to examine their system, and obtain other particulars.