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Otago Daily Times, Issue 616, 8 December 1863, Page 4

At the Provincial Hotel last evening (Captain Rees in the chair) the members of the Fire Brigade held their annual meeting, the advertised business of which was the election of officers for theensuing year. The minutes having been r.a.d and confirmed, the receipt of a donation of 1.5 from Mr Maddock was ordered to be entered in the minutes, no other means of acknowledgment remaining, as the donor has recently left Dunedin. A claim of Mr Halliday for 15s for extra drinks to members of the brigade at the late fire in St. Andrews street was disallowed, as the liqupr had been supplied without presentation of the ' refreshment ticket negotiable on such occasions. Captain Rees then proceeded to the main business, and in a short address r.ferred to his appointment 15 months ago to his present office ; to-the difficulties whicii beset and hampered the institution in its infancy _ and to the present sound footing upon which the Dunedin Volunteer FireZßrigade now rested ; i_ B claims for public support, as a well organised institution being universally acknowledged by tlie inhabitants. During the term of his captaincy the unanimous support of the members of this highly useful public body had been extended to him in his efforts, both in and put of doors, and he expressed a hope that the same unanimity cf feeling whicii had characterised their actions hithei-to, would be continued whether in deliberation at meetings, or in action at fires. The Captain then rjetiredfroin the chair which was : taken by Lieutenant Hobbs, to conduct the election of tho first officer by ballot. Two members were nominated for the post of Captain—Messrs C. Rees and J.; W.Robinson, and the ballot being taken, 19 i votes were recorded_.fbr Captain Rees, 11 fo r Foreman Robinson. The present Captain was declared, therefore, to be re-elected.; For this, as for the several subaltern officers a number of candidates were proposed who declined the honor, and the ' Secretary, Mr Schroder having intimated his desire to re sign in consequence of his intended removal from Dunedin,.Mrß. Edwards was elected in his stead. The other appointments—those of Lieutenant, Treasurer, Foreraan]ot the Hook and Ladder and of the :Hose Companies—were reconferred upon the officers whose previous services in their respective capacities seemed to have given general satisfaction to the members ofthe Brigade.

A Brisbane telegram reports :—" The captain and crew of the American whaler Hope have arrived jiere in boats. The ship was wrecked on Brampton shoal on the 17 th of October. They report the loss of the-Sporting Lass on the same shoal. The crew left in company, but parted on Thursday last. ~' Supposed to have gone towards Sydney." •

We are in receipt of later telegraphic news from Adelaide contained in the Melbourne papers brought by the Star. We extract the more important :items:—"There has been "a severe thunderstorm. It is reported that a man has beenJ killed by lightning. A trooper has been despatched; for inquiry. Thompson, who ■ was apprehended at Saudridge for embezzlement, has been brought before, the -Magistrates, and remanded until Friday. A new small bore rifle club has been started, under the title of the City Rifle Clup, limited to twenty-one members. Go vernment Us preparing a pamphlet on the northern territory for .transmission to England by the out-going mail. It contains information to guide-intending purchasers. There will be no expedition for "tiie north till the end of March, Twenty thousand bushels wheat- of the newcrop, for delivery in January, were sold at As. and 4s Id, SpimuerGood, Mayor of Adelaide, is unopposed. . :: The flower show was largely attended, and was a. good exhibition. . Parr's fourth wool sale—Fleece, is 2d to Is 3d ; greasy, ,Bdto9*d.v

"Grist to the •Mill" and "Beautiful Haide." formed a very attractive entertainment last night at the Princess', The comedy, one of the prettiest.we have seen, was well played, each member of the company appearing to take particular pains to render it successful; Miss Julia ZMathews'Francine Dumont was a dashing and racy impersonation, and Mr Wolfe's Marquis de Richeville was a careful performance. Miss Cassy Mathews, and Messrs Dunn, O'Brien, and Newton are also deserving of mention. The burlesque of "Beautiful Haidee" is conspicuous as abounding in puns of the most outrageous description, some of them indeed so obscure as to require laborious effort for their comprehension. Tliis circumstance, however, being looked upon as one ofthe most attractive features in a burlesque, Beautiful Haidee may be classed among the best produced at the Princess. Mr Stuart O'Brien, as Lambro, presented the audience with an extraordinary make-up, and his capital Hibernian brogue rendered the character a success. Miss Julia Mathews did not appear quite at home in Haidee. It is a pretty character enough but does, not contain sufficient speciality for Miss Mathews, who, maugrc the bareness of the part,'did well' what little she had to do, and sang the " Sad Sea Waves," and " When the Swallow Homeward Flies," very sweetly. The dissipated Lord Bateman, a young gentleman whose morals are sadly out of order, found a good representation in .Mrs Clarance Holt, but we are of opinion that her dressing of the part might be improved. Lord Bateman's Porter, played by Little May; was one of the principal features in the burlesque, a considerable amount of humor being * introduced in the impersonation: Great praise is.duo to Mr Harry Jackson for the evident,paiiis. and decided ability he displays in most of his 6hairac. ters- He has an extraordinary talent for - " making-up," and, in a new part, generally presents the audience with an original and truthful portraiture. His dressing of Desperado as a Yankee " rough," was simple, but perfect, and his acting very meritorious. Miss Ada Hart looked very pretty as; Coralie, and Miss Merton played one of her chambermaid parts very nicely. Setting aside one or two hitches excusable on the first night of a new burlesque," Beautiful Haidee was very successful. The same programme will be repeated this evening.

jWe hear that the New Zealand Banking Cor- .- ppration have purchased the premises of Messrs :. Smith and .Marshall in Manse-street, and that the Corporation intend to commence banking business as soon as the necessary alterations .are effected. - ! . - v .-■•■'' .■,.:•=>-.■-

jAn inquest was held at twelve o'clock yesterday at the Cafe de Paris on the body of John Thompson,;formerly mate of the schooner Yarra, whose body was found on Sunday morning close to the Old Jetty. The deceased was seen by some of his acquaintances on Saturday evening at halfpast nine o'clock; when' he was perfectly sober. It is supposed that in stepping from the jetty to the Pioneer schooner, to which his boat was made fast, deceased missed his footing and fell into the water. The jury returned a verdict of " Found drowned. 1

A committee meeting of the members ofthe Caledonian Society, took place at M'Cubbin's Hotel last.evening, when the programme for the forthcoming gathering was arranged^and prizes amounting to one hundred and sixty potfnds for the several games were decided upon. The sports will be of various and attractive character, and judging by the enthusiasm displayed by the members, there is every reason to believe that the Caledbnian Society at its , next grand gathering, will equal, if not excel, its national demonstration of .last .year.

The New Zealander of the 24th November, gives some kite particulars in connection with the potion at Rangiriri, by whicii it would appear the loss on the European side was much more severe than at first reported. It is stated that 37 were killed and 98 wounded, and that "several of the wounded are since dead, and but slight hopes are entertained of the recovery of others." Of the enemy 80 bodies are sail to have been found and 90 wounded, making, with the 180 prisoners, a total loss to the rebels of 350 men.

One of the men in a recently raised corps of militia volunteers has been forgetful of the due" obligations of military service, and suffered accordingly. For "using improper language" fo his sergeant, and afterwards breaking his "arrest he has been sentenced to 28 and 8.4 day's imprisonment, respectively.

Mr John Dewe has notified his retirement from the representation of Tokomairiro, in consequence of his.h.aving been appointed to an:office under the General Government.

It will be interesting to many to read the figures which show the'number and amount of money orders issued and paid in Dunedin during the month of November. Since the money order office was opened here 5368 orders hay. been issued, 587 of which passed during the last month, The total number of orders represent the sum of L 27.743 2s, that for November being L3162.4s 6d. Against this 1223 orders have been paid, the aggregate value of which is L 6218 3s, the month of November showing 147 orders amounting to L 714 13s Bd. '

By the Star, from Melbourne, we have the following: later items of news by telegraph from Sydney:-" In the Assembly, Mr Martin stated that the Ministry do not intend introducing any business but the Estimates during the present session.: Mr Morris gave notice that he would bring the Riverine petition before the House with a ; view to redress of grievances. ■' The steamer, Alexandra, from Melbourne to Auck land, has put in for coals. Western escort 6627 ounces A telegram received states'that Judge Callaghan's life is despaired of. Heavy thniide? storm last night throughout the colony The lightning "entered the telegraph-office at Yass, and stunned the operator. I a the Assembly, notice is given to move for a pension to Mrs Chisholm: The Scab Bill has passed the Assembly. Government do not intend making any permanent provision for the Mint during the.present session. Mr Packer, musical composer, has been qommitted for trial for bigamy. ; At the opening ofthe wool, sales at the Exchange, the biddings w.re spirited, and a slight aovance was obtained. Tallow higher. Mr Dean offered a (quantity of Mauritius sugars ; about IQO tons were sold at a slight advance on late rates ; the balance was withdrawn for higher rates. The Bank of New South Wales suspect the recent forgery to be a conspiracy, and offer LSOO reward for, the; conviction cf the personi concerned. Arrived: Susannah Booth, from Otago. The] schooner Herculean entering Newcastle Harbor this morning, with a heavy sea on drove on the rocks off Nobby's, and became a total wreck. "Crew saved."

Several horses are now located near Timaru for the, ensuing races, .and Mr Henry Knight has already three in training. Mr Samuels' mare Blink Bonny has been; sold to Mr M-Kinlay for a large snrn. She is to run for the Maiden Plate,, and is aid to have a very good chance of winning.

The electioiy of members of the Town Board, to fill the vacancies caused by the retirement, according to rotation, of one member for each of the four Wards, took place yesterday. Very little interest was excited, even in Bell Ward, where there were five candidates. In High Ward, Mr. J. H..„ Jenkinson, the retiring membe>_ was re-elected without opposition, 13 votes having been recorded for him when the poll was closed at eleven o'clock ; and in Leith Ward, there was a similar result iii the case of Mr. Thomas Redmayne, who received 3 5 votes before the poll was declared to be closed. The polling-place was at the Town Board Office, for the former Ward, and at Messrs. Watson and Kerr's store, Great Kingstreet, for the latter. In Bell Ward, Mr. D. Milne, the late member, was again brought forward, but was unsuccessful, Mr. James Black being returned. At the close of the poll, at four o'clock, the numbers were—James Black, 56 _ David Miller, 46 ; David Milne, 27 ; C. T, Ick, 19 ;D. H. Miller, 4. In Leith Ward, Mr. J. s! Webb, the retiring member, did not again present himself and Mr. James Lowe was chosen; the numbers at four o'clock being—James Lowe, 18 ; S. Sims, 13. Mr. James Keenan retired at halfpast eleven o'clock, at which time four votes for him had been recorded. The polling-booth for Bell Ward was at the Odd Fellows' Hall, and ! that for South Ward at the Imperial Hotel.

Mr S. Jones left Dunedin for Lyttelton last Tuesday, having received intelligence that his personal presence was required to complete the necessary arrangements for the proposed visit to Christehurch, of.the AU England Eleven ; and on Sunday, morning he landed again at Port Chalmers, having, we understand, satisfactorily settled everything in this hurried trip, Mr Jones informs us that he was received in a liberal spirit by the Match Committee, and that despite the present time being ill adapted for raising the promised pecuniary subsidy, owing to the principal settlers being occupied with their *heep -shearing, the subscrption list was being handsomely filled up. Within a very few hours of his arrival all essential documents'and contracts were " signed and sealed,'' and the terms agreed upon afforded mutual content. Having learned that the 16th instant is a great" holiday "at Canterbury, being the anniversary .of .Separation, and that the first cricket match of the season was fixed to be played on that date,1 Mr Jones offered to have the ground selected • for the All-England game completely fenced in by that time, as well as a major part of the stand erected, and the work was actually commenced the next day. The paled-in area is to he.Boo yards in circumference, and the' stand 220 feet long ; by 28 feet deep. The Christehurch Club. Pavilion is also to be . embellished for the.use ofthe elite, and spacious refreshment marquees will be fitted up, on the grand occasion of the contest with the: Antipodean Champions of cricket. "Mr Jones says that considerable excitement exists in reference to the ' coming event,' and that already the Canterbury players are practising hard for the Interprovincial Match at Dunedin, which is to try their local strength against the picked eleven of Otago, and be the * opening scene, of the ball' in New Zealand. It is to be hoped that our own men will tako warning from this, and not leave a stOne unturned to save thelaurels of tliis province. Constant handling of bat and ball, vigorous exertion in active fielding, and utter abandonment ot petty jealousies, are the requisites essential to secure the much coveted success.

The " Lyttelton Times" says •—A new P«J--vincial Executive has been formed ; but we are yet in the dark—so far as any official information goes—as to - the reasons for. the late crisis. It must be assumed that the gentlemen how taking office are satisfied as to the substantial merits of the case. "We confess that we are not, and that quite enough has become public on sufficiently good authority to justify otir demand for publicity and an, appeal to the public in the shape of a dissolution.

The following advice respecting crossing'dangerous rivers maybe useful :—"The safe mode of swimming rivers on horseback should be held in remembrance by every one. Take off heavy boots and heavy coat, and strap them to your saddle, take your feet out of the stirrups, throw the reins on the horse's neck, and by no means check him. If danger is apprehended, slip off the saddle; and; hold firmly by the tail of the horse, who will ninety-nine times out of a hundred carry you safelyZZto terra firma. When a horse is checked whilst swimming, his hind legs go under his fore, and.he. falls backwards, wliich usually terminates fc.ta.lly to the rider and to the horse also."

One of the jury at the Supreme Court, yesterday, complained that he could not possibly hear the Crown prosecutor on account of his being deaf.-As at the moment Mr Howorth was speaking to a point of law, the Judge told him it was of no.moment ; on which one of the legal gentlemen Zseized the opportunity to press that the juror might be excused attendance on account of deafness.. His Honor said he had practically tested his power of hearing on a previous day on his applying to be relieved from further service for that day. He had purposely granted leave,-so.to voce, and it was very distinctly heard by the juror who no doubt would quite as" readily comprehend if any one in a low tone were to offer 'nobblers round."

The skiff race between'Turnbull .and Bowie takes place this day at Port Chalmers, at three o'clock. The first deposit of £10 was paid to Mr Riordan last night for the return match, to take place at-Dunedin, on Saturday, the 12th inst. The final deposit of £15 is to be made at Prescott's Hotel, on the 11th inst, at six p.m.

The great pension question in Melbourne is passing into anew phase. The Supreme Court is being moved to action on behalf of the dispossessed placemen. We read that rules nisi were granted, on the applications of Mr B; D. Ireland and Mr C. G. Duffy, calling on the Colonial Trealurer to show;, cause why a mandamus should not issue, commanding him to do what is legally necessar}"* to enable those gentlemen to enjoy their political pensions. The rules were to be argued some day this week.

We have our files from Hobart Town to the 23rd ult. The •-Mercury" states that the Ministry are about to borrow L 200,000 or L 300,000 on debentures, for: the construction of roads and bridges. The prospectus of the Hobart Town and Launceston Railway has been published. From Launc-ston our dates are to the 2-th ult,

The "Argus," of 27th November, says:—" The mail steamship Madras sailed yesterday for Galle punctually,at the usual hour. She has a very valuable cargo on board. The gold shipped at Melbourne; exceeds L.00,000 sterling in value, and with that placed on board at Sydney, makes the value of the bullion she carries considerably •ver half a million."

,■ Several nuggets were on view ; in a; Gold Broker's window, in Princes street (Mr B. Marks'), on Saturday last. The largest of them weighs twelve ounces, the remainder ranging from about half an ounce to three ounces. They are of good color, and free from quartz'or other admixture. They were said to have been found at the rush between Waitihuna and Waipori, reported in our columns a few days back. The nuggets were sold by two men, and were included in lots of 19 oz and 34 oz. The large one was included in the former quantity, in whicii there was hot 1 dwfc of fine gold. This nugget is a beautiful "specimen," and is slightly oxydised on one side. It was yesterday submitted to the members of the Executive, by Mr Vincent Pyke, the Gold Fields Secretary.