The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5272, 15 February 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1878.

In order to give a verbatim report of Sir George Grey’s speech last night, we are obliged to hold over our leading article, letters to the editor, and several local matters. We remind the electors of Wellington that Mr. Pearce will meet them this evening at the hall of the Atheiueum. Amongst the passengers by the Manawatu last evening from Wanganui were the Hon. the Native Minister and the Hon. Mr. Nahe. It is said that Mr. Conyers will shortly be appointed Commissioner of Kailways in the Middle Island. The inward Suez mail, which arrived here yesterday morning in the llingarooma, comprised—Via Brindisi, 835 letters, 86 books, and •168 newspapers ; via Southampton, 232 letters, 118 books, and 239 newspapers. Prom a notification in another column it will be seen that contributions to the amount of £3OO have been received for the construction of a road from the city to the new township of Kilbirnie. It is requested that those property-holders who have not paid their quota should do so without delay, in order that tenders may be called for for the work before the Ist of March. It will save considerable expense if tire work is tendered for in time to be completed before the approach of winter. The funeral of the late Honorable W. B. Ilhodes, M.L.0., which took place yesterday, was very largely attended, especially by the old settlers in this locality, with which Mr. Ilhodes has been so long associated. His Worship the Mayor and many of the leading citizens were present, in order to show this mark of respect to the memory of one of the pioneers of the colony. The chief mourners were Mr, Robert Rhodes (the deceased’s brother), Mr. Studholrne, of Canterbury, and Mr. W. S. Moorliouse, M.H.R. The funeral cortege started from The Grange, Wadeatown, at about 4 o’clock, and at the junction of Moles-worth-street and Tinakori-road was joined by several carriages. On arriving at the cemetery the burial service, in the mortuary chapel and at the grave, was read in a very impressive manner by the Rev. Mr. Harvey, of St. Paul’s, and the coffin, on the top of which were laid wreaths of immortelles, was lowered into the brick vault prepared for its reception. i A meeting of tbo creditors of Thomas Upton, of Wellington, builder, will be held on tho 25th inst. at 2 o’clock p.m., at the Supreme Court buildings, when the debtor will apply fur a certificate recommending his discharge. A farewell public tea meeting will be given by the crew of the ship Himmui on Thursday the 21st instant, in the hall of tho Athouicum.

Owing to the unfavorableness of tho weather, the cricket match, bakers v. batchers, is postponed till next Wednesday, at half-past 1 o’clock. An emergency convocation of tho Royal Arch Chapter of Freemasons was held at the hall, Boulcott-street, last evening. There was a large attendance of the fraternity, and four brethren were exalted to be companions. A child was accidentally knocked down yesterday evening about 8 o’clock by a carriage passing down Molesworth-street, and we are informed was much cut and bruised about the face, but not seriously injured. St. George’s Hall was tolerably well attended last evening, when the panorama of the Turco-Rußsiau war was repeated with great success, the gifts again forming a prominent feature of the entertainment. , There was a fair house at the Princess Theatre last evening, when “ Hamlet ’’ was successfully repeated. To-night the drama of the “ Physician to the Poor ” will be produced, Mr. W. C. Dillon sustaining the leading character of the Physician. The new embankments between the Hutt and Kaitoke so far do not show much traces of the late rains. But the earth of which they are composed is still. fresh, and the rain has had some effect. These embankments are narrow. Would it not be a simple and timely precaution to sow their sides with grass or some shrub which would bind the soil ? Miss Ada Ward’s Lady Macbeth was such a fnisbed and intelligent performance, and differed so much from the conventional and erroneous interpretation usually given, which belies the text at every point, that we regret a press of other matter prevents a lengthy notice of its excellences. To-night this lady and the Theatre Royal Company give their last performance hut one, for Miss Ward’s benefit, which is under the patronage of Sic George Grey. In a local paragraph in our issue of yesterday it was stated that another attempt would be made to blow up the sunken hulk Eli Whitney, and that H.M.S. Nyraphe had undertaken the work on this occasion. We are informed on the best authority that the statement is not strictly correct, but that the following are the facts of the case: —At the request of those engaged in the task of. blowing up the hulk, the services of H.M.S. Nymphe’s diver have been lent to asssit iu the undertaking; but beyond this H.M.S. Nymphe has nothing to do with the matter. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before J. C. Crawford, Esq., R.M., Thomas Igoe, charged with assaulting Henry Border at Karori on the 17th ult., was bound over in his own recognisance of .£lO to keep the peace for six months. The case was not a very serious one, and arose out; of a difference of opinion between the parties in reference to the construction of a portion of the proposed road from Karori into town by way of Polhill Gully.—ln the case of Spoor v. Spoor, an application for a married woman's protection order, it appeared that the summons had not been served, and a fresh summons was ordered to be issued.