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New Zealand Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7997, 31 January 1887, Page 2

The steamer Kahn, bringing the English mail, which should hare arrived 'early yesterday, bad not put in an appearance up to an early hour this morning. She was about 28 iioUrs' out, but had a head wind against her, which may account for the delay. ' , . ; Late Fiji files state that news from the tea plantations is most encouraging. The trees are ia heavy flush, and if labor could be depended upon to the extent of requirements the yield for the season would bulk largely upon the export list. Especially at Waimlnn is the growth and general development of the tea plant surpassing the most sanguine expectations. The Scotch Court of Session recently decided a case concerning the right of owners of land to use barbed wire for fences. A landowner had erected along a public road a fence with the top wire barbed, and the Court ordered the removal of the wire. Although the fence was at some distance within the boundary of the land, and was in some degree guarded by netting, it was held to be a danger to the public in the ordinary use of the road.

Some rain fell on Saturday afternoon and night, but not enough to go any distance into the ground. Yesterday the weather was very hot and oppressive, and the heat was felt especially at night, the thermometer at 10 o’clock standing at 75deg. out of doors. Not a breath of air was stirring, and everything seemed to indicate the approach of a thunderstorm. Later at night it began to blow somewhat strongly from the north, west.

Five meo, named Charles D. Sherman, Albert Ohudleigh, Kenneth Artburson, Benjamin Stephens, and Henry Smith, were charged before Mr Wardell, K.M., on Saturday, with illegally playing with cards and dice in a railway carriage on the Wellington and Masterton Bailway line last Friday. On the application of Mr JJellicoe, who appeared for the prisoner, the hearing of the case was adjourned until Wednesday.' Accused were admitted to bail by entering into their own recognisance of £SO. The affiliation case, Mary Minola v John Currins, was concluded at the Resident .Magistrate’s Court on Saturday, His Wor. ship, in giving his decision, characterised the conduct of the defendant as being mean and despicable, because he had admitted before two persons that be was the father of the child and paid for its support to within a week of the time he had married another woman. His Worship said ho had no hesitation in stating that the defendant was the father of the child, and ordered him to pay 10s a week toward its support. Smith'and Berman’s company played at the Theatre Royal ou Saturday night to a capital audience. ; The programme, which was the same as on the previous evening, was carried out with a considerable amount of spirit, and the performance was a capital one, “ Fun on the Bristol,” as usual, evoked continuous laughter, : Mr John Collins being immensely funny as the Widow O’Brien. In the *‘concert act” encores were frequent and imperative, and “ the human rocket ” war again a great feature of the performance. The evening’s entertainment, in short, was a capital one, and, appeared to be greatly enjoyed. The popular Cassells Company is issuing some very taking publications. Beside the Magazine of Art already noticed by us, we have received the first number of the illustrated History of England, a most taking work that treats of the “ tight little island ” from the earliest known records, and renders the story truly pictorial by high-class illustrations at every step.- The description of 'the first landing of the Ramans is particularly attractive. Fart first takes the reader to the date ad 933. We have also received the ' “Lady’s World,” a valuable addition to the already long list of literature devoted to dress aud fashion, and the doings of society folks. The most attractive feature of this new venture is the excellent plates, portraying the female form dviae in natural and graceful guise, not as the impossible figures that are almost invariably pictured iu fashion books. New styles of dress and fanoywork, pastimes for ladies, musical notes, stories, and domestic matters make up a moat interesting magazine. There were,’great rejoicings at Tonga on the 4th December last in commemoration of the coronation of the King. The Tongan correspondent of the Times thus discourses upon the festivities: —“l am not certain as to ‘ whether such an event (the coronation) ever did take place, but I am prepared to make affidavit about the last anniversary. It was celebrated by a grand review of the army and navy, and by a banquet in the evening. There were no less than sixteen courses—and a nightmare to finish. The guests included only those Europeans favorable to the Government and the entire House of Lords. The Right !Hon the Premier presided, and I took his liquor discreetly. Due decorum was maintained among the noble dukes, marquises, earls, and viscounts by carefully shepherding the champagne supply. Toword the end the Chief Justice proceeded to orate in olaasic Tongan, and when he showed a disposition to favor the company with a war dance, the Rev Chairman (pronounced the benediction, and told everybody to go J home.”

Sporting Notes, by “ Martini,” will be found on the fourth page.

Lord Sandhurst arrived in Cbristchnroh last week.

’ Jamas Matthews, an old offender, was the only occupant of the police cells up to a late hoar last night. Messrs 'Williamson Bros., of Waitnna, are said to have lost nearly 200 sheep during the recent bush fires.

A number of police summons cases are set down for hearing at the Resident Magistrato’s Court this morning. An inebriate who was fined 5s at the Timarn Court the other day was found to have £139 4s fid in his pocket.

The company now performing at the Theatre Royal to good business—Messrs Smith and Perman’s—contemplate a short season In the Wairarapa, The leases of 74 sections in the Village Special Settlement at Haatwell’s Clearing and the Maungatainoka Bridge will be open for application at the Land Office on and after Monday, February 14.

In the report of the Island Bay raeea, which appeared in this journal the other day, Mr Donald Fraser was erroneously mentioned as being among the notable visitors. Mr Fraser was not at the races.

The lunatic named Price, alias Higgins, who escaped from the Mount View Lunatic Asylum last Friday, was captured by Constable Harnett at the Upper Htttt on Saturday, and conveyed back to the Asylum again.

Mr j. E; Hayes announces that there are to be no more accidents through defective lifts, Mr Hayes is agent for Messrs A; and T. Bart’s patent automatic life gear, which caU be seCU wdrking at hU shop on Lambton(play ill a few days.

The liabilities in the estate of D. Jaoobowitch, tailor, amount to £236, and the assets to £BO. The principal creditors are—Messrs Schocb, Bragaman aud Co., Melbourne, £73 16s 7d; Harcourt and Co., Wellington, £34 XGs 9d ; Wigtam Bros., Christchurch, £37 12s; C. Tringham, Wellington, £3O; Nichols, Wellington, £2l 3s 4d; J. H, Keep, Auckland, £l2; Wellington City Corporation, £7. Assets i Stock-in-trade in shop in Conrtonay.plaoo, £2O j book debts, estimated to produce £6O; furniture, £lO i total assets, £BO.

Mr J. R. George, manager of the Wellington Gas Company’s works, has received from Messrs W. and B. Cowan, of London aud Glasgow (a large firm in the metal trade, which supplies plant to the Gas Company) and use antimony in their business), a letter, from which the fallowing is an extract We have bought a fBW tons of the EndeSvoUr Inlet antimony, had find it in all reSpecbs of excellent quality, and suitable for our purpose. We shall continue to Uaß it, if, as we hope will be the case, we are always able to obtain it.” This ia a very valuable testimony to the quality of the antimony. Sir John and Lady Orde and patty) Who are now stopping at the Grand Hotel, Dunedin, intend making a tdnr through the Colony, and have just (according to the Daily Times) returned from the Lakes district. Sir John is a deputy-lieutenant of Argyleshire, and was lately a captain in the 42nd Highlanders. He owned the Island of North Uinoe in Invernesshire, and is also the proprietor of the Kilmoray Loch and Gilphed estate in Argyleshire. On these estates there are no less than 5000 tenants-. In returning from the Bakes Sir Robert broke his joutney f6r a few days, and was the guest of Mr H. S. Valentine, of Waimea House. During his stay he visited some of the properties on the New Zealand Agricultural Company’s estate. The Wybort Reeve Company produced the dramatisation of Hugh Conway’s "Dark Days ” at the Opera House on Saturday evening to a good house. The oast was exactly the same as When Mr Reeve add his company performed the piece, at the Theatre Roydl some months ago, and it ia needless to say that this performance was as successful as ever. The success the drama achieved is in a great measure due to the lino acting of Mr Reeve as Sir Mervyn Eerrand, and the able support he receives from Miss Harwood and other members of the company. Mr Laurence’s clever character performance of Evens was one of the features of the drama: 11 Dark Days ” was excellently staged, the snow scene especially presenting a very pretty effect. The audience was an appreciative one, many demonstrations |of approval being accorded to the performers. To-night Mr Reeve’s - successful comedy, “Only Dust,” which attained great success on its former production here, will be played,... ___________