SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1553, 20 December 1866, Page 5

SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC

The English Mail, due in November by the Suez route, reached Dunedin by the Albion on the 21st of that month, givingtime for replies by the Eteamer Otago, which left here on the same day with the homeward mail. The English mail of th& same month, via Panama, reached Wellington on the 23rd, the Otago portion being received at the Pest Office here Go. the 26th. By the Otago, on her return trip from Melbourne, vre were also put ia . possession as early as the. &h inst. of European intclligeace up to the 27th of October, transmitted by telegraph to Mel* bourne on the arrival at Port Denison of the Batavian and . Queensland mail steamer Hero. The terms upon wfcich the Panama service is to be carried on are understood to have been finally K ttled between the? (xovernuient of this Colony and that of New South Wates. Mr Crosbie Ward has returned from Sydney, and,, from the ■ brief intimation of the result of his negotiations, it appears that the terminus of the Company is to be at Sydney;.- but in all other respects the two Colonies to be oit "* : an equal footing. A Postal Conference will be held .in Melbourne, in February, to arrange joint contributions from all the Colonies. The New South Wales Government have voted the subsidy for the, following as well as the current year. ■' The proceedings of the Provincial Council have, to a considerable extent, taken, precedence, in point of interest, of ordinary incidents during the past.month; and have formed, as much outside of the walla o£ the Council as inside, subjects of discussion, including, as they have, debates onImmigration, the Land Act, Gold Duty Reduction of Tolls,. Railroads, Dredging the Harbor, Incorporation of the High. School, and other interesting social subI jects. , The first of a probable series of election* , of Members of the House of Represents , tives took place on Saturday last. Me | Thomas Dick (Superintendent of the Pro- ■ vince) who had resigned his seat as Rei presentative, and again offered himself as a ; candidate to the electors of Port Chalmers,. , was returned on that day without opposition, and with the universal approval af the constituency. The Christmas and New Year holidays- >'■ are already beginning to influence domestic arrangements, and ia a few more daysjwe shall be in the bustle of annual gatherings* exhibitions, fetes, regattas, racing meetings* | and other similar events more especially ! reserved for the season. ■_ The immigration of Chinese to this Province during the present season continues? to be very considerable. On the Bth inst.- s 1 thirty-three were landed from the Omeoj 1 and by the steamship Otago, on the follow--1 ing day, eighty-three more arrived. They , are gradually dispersing themselves over the different diggings. On the afternoon of the 11th instant 1 two or three slight shocks of earthquake were distinctly ielfc in Dunedin and the vicinity. They followed each other ia rapid succession, were unaccompanied by noise,.but caused a tremulous motion o£ the houses and furniture. The course seemed to be from North to South". • Ifc : was also felt about the tatne time afc .the | Bluff.; and in the Lake district-- a--very I severe shock of. unusually long duratioa was experienced. Four heavy vibrations comprised the first shock, and during. the following, hour or two several gentle movements of the earth were perceptible. I In the district of Waikouaiti, scarlefr i fever has lately been prevalent. From. ; information, which, was furnished to the Government on professional authority, ifc .appears that the cases have varied h* r every degree o£. severity, from those accompanied by the slightest sore,.throafc and eruption to those of~a very malignant; and iatal character. The disease was brought from Melbourne about four months ago by two children, who, on> their arrival ia Waikouaiti, were in the desquatnative stage of the disorder. It then spread in the township, and finally reached Hawksbury Bush, and here the cases were mo3t severe and iatal.- Therehave been about fifty eases Altogether - many of them heing amongst adults—and: ' of these abou^s fourteen proved fatal. The disease is- now apparently ( the. declineA sale by auction of leastfofportiona o£ the Townf Belt of DunediS; which: • took, place onT Saturday the 15th, at the rooms 1 of Messrs M'Landress,.Hepburn aad Cs., j has elicited an exhibition of public disap-. I proval/ which—although delayed to -the ! lasi —has been most emphatic auir the Mayor and City Council, by their to lease what should be *he> Public Park of Dunedin, have,-incurred a. large share of public condemnation. There had not been until Saturday, anything like an expression of public feeling on the raat-^ ten ; but that expression, was of the- , strongest character. Mr F:D. Bell became the asserter of the right of the public- ' in opposition to the sale of the leases; and both on the occasion of the sale, and in hi& . place iv the Provincial Council, he directed; attention promicenily to the infraction, of the public rights which the conditions. o£ the lease 3 involved. With other- leadingcitizens, he also instrumental in getting up alargepubMcmeeting,held attbe-Pruw cess Theatre a few. days-ago v at which reso* lutions w ere passed condemning the proceedings of the Council, and referring the matter to a committee and to, the- Superintendent, without whose, approval, which was not obtained, any steps taken by the Corporation are held to be auii and void;.. From the determination which has "been expressed, there is little doubt that the opposition will be carried as far as it legitimately can, be, and if, as contended, the terms of the trusS placed in the Corporation . ha?e not been complied with,-there" is as little doubt that it will be successful. The grounds, of opposition are, that the Town Belt is a reserve for public recreation, while the leasing converts it, to a great extent, into private property, and involves the destruction of many of its natural beauties, A meeting of ratepayers wa3 held on th§ 22nd uit, at Wain's Royal Hotel. Great; King street, to protest, against a rate of s}s Bd, which was understood to have beea suggested by the Finaaoe Committee of the City Council. Members of Council .. who were present, explained that a rate o£ Is 8d or 2a would be necessary, and a motion protesting against the higher rate was carried. By a majority a vote was also given in feyor of m m§ tian 1%

rate. At a subsequent meeting of the Council a rate of Is 9d in the pound was adopted. Outside of the Provincial Council the subject of drc-dging the harbor lias been a subject of interest ami discussion. At an emergency meeting of the Chamber of Commerce on the 7th iusf, the chairman submitted to the members some questions which had been put to him by the select committee of the Council on the subject, and it was agreed, by the votes of a majority, that the mercantile community would be willing that jetty dues of 3s to 4s per ton on goods brought into Dunedin. should be imposed over a period of two years, with a view of defraying the expenses of the proposed dredging operations. Subsequently a special n-.eotinu of the Citjr Council was held; and the Council, in accordance with a suggestion by the Provincial Treasurer, agreed to advance, on proper securities, L 20,000 of Corporation Debentures to the Harbor Trust, under which it is proposed the operations should be carried on. The construction of a railway to PorS Chalmers has by some been urged a^ a preferable scheme, aud on Monday last a public meeting was held there, at which resolutions were passed in favor of partial dredging and of a railway.^ Generally there seems to be an impression in favor of dredging the Upper Harbor, to. the extent of admitting yes.sols of from 400 to 500 tons, and coasting steamers to reach Dunedin Wharf. .To bring the iargcr class of vessels beyond the deep water harbor at Port Chalmers, vrould involve works too costly and tedious to be included in the present proposed undertaking,. . . The Theatres have been the chief sources of public entertainments during the month, and' both have hi en fairly attended. At the Princess's, under the management •of Miss Dolly Green and Mr Richardson, the company have performed a variety of drama and comedy'; and Mr Barlow has, during a short and successful appearance, re-introduced his entertainments. At the Royal, Mi?s Bowring's performances have been much appreciated, and a large number of attractive plays have*-' been carefully produced. ' • A concert and dramatic performancp, for the benefit ;of the sufferers by the late war in Germany, was given at the Princess Theatre, on Friday, 24th November, and vr£S well attended. Several members of the Philharmonic Society, :the Choral Union, Germania, Messrs Fleury, Towsey, Sykes, and' other professional musicians, gave thtir services, and Mr F. Weber conducted. ' The Port Chalmers Naval Volunteer Concert and entertainment, under the patronage of the Mayor and Town Council, took place on the 30.h, in Orickmore's ißoyal Assembly Rooms, and proved a decided success. The principal part in the .entertainment waaHaken by'Mr H.-Dr Gjindry, late of the ship Parisian/ :and ;Oc'ean " Christy's. The members of the Choral Union added considerably to^ the harmonyof the evening, and members'of the Volunr-. teer Company, by other entertainments, completed the programme. "•■■•• Several of a series, of piseon shootingmatcbes have been held at-Vauxhall Gardens. The principal match', for a sweepstakes of fifty guineas, came off"on the 24th Tilt., when the" stakes were won by- Mr Clayton.- The thatches have attracted a considerable number-of. visitors to-the gardens. An Inter-Provfticial^contest for, L2OO has been arranged for the - 29th December. * On St Andrew's s '" Day, in' spite of the dullness of the weather, "a nuirber of persons visited Vauxhall .Gardsris?where, in addition to other <( attractions, Barlow gave an entertainment in the Rotunda. : On the same evening, the'Directors-of the Caledonian Society had a very pleasant re-union,' in Waiu's Hotel, Manse street. Thomas Birch, V.P., in the chair. Thursday, the 13 ;b, was the fast day of the Presbyterian Churches of the city, and, a3 hitherto,, it was observed' as a close holiday. ; ' :' ' •''"'• The steamer Geelong made a special trip from Dunedin to Oaoiaru, on the Bth inst., conveying a number of'the Masdnid fraternity, and" other gentlemen, who de-' sired to be present at the ceremony of lay-* ing the foundation stone of'the Oamaru Masonic Hall. The various Lodges and Constitutions were well represented, and to all a hearty reception waa given The town of Oamaru was extensively decorated on the occasion with evergreens and "flags-' and the day was generally obeerved as a ■ holiday. At the ceremony the P.G. Secretary, Brother Fish, read the scroll, which contained, the customary particulars, and the stone was laid by Mr J. H. Harris, R.W.P.G.M., of Otago,"E.C. On returning from the Lodge Room a banquet was .. served up at the £Star..asd, Garter Hotel, and the visitors from Duncdih returned on sjthe following day after' a most pleasant ' '. f. The Provincial Grand Loclge; S.C.,and the_ other Scotch Lodges, in accordance ■wiiib^ usual custom, observed St.' Anclrew's Day/ by attending Divine Service in Dr. Burns's'. Church, where a sermon was preached ..by the Rev. Br. Stuart, of Knosr Church/ After the sermon the Lodges reformed, and. marched back to the Masonic Hall;where a" dejeuner was served by Br. Wain. ~ .'"■* A.bazaa'rwas held at Mornington on the . '24th and 25th. November, in sid of the school funds.' ' The proceeds realised L 92, . a siim more than sufficient to cover the ■debt.<pn the school. The stalls were superintended by Mesdames De Carle, Shurry, Barr, Sievwright, Moses, Wright, and Witney, assisted by Misses Burgess, Kerr, Henderson,' Love, and the Misses Solomon^ A bazaar has also been held at Port Chalmer?, in aid of the Congregational. Church, which attracted numerous visitors. .v .. s , A meeting'of the. OddfUlows, Otago District, was held pn the 10th met., to consider the desirability «f applying to the A.M.C. in England, to create a G.M.. and Board of Directors in New Zealand, as suggested in a pamphlet by V.G. Hart, of .. North Canterbury District. After a lengthened discussion, during -which the whole question was thoroughly ventilated, the meeting unanimously resolved —"That taking into consideration the great distance i and want of regular communication be- ■ tween the various districts in New Zealand, aad the great expense which would be involved by holding meetings of an A.M.C, this meeting is of opinion that it is premature to establish a G.M. and Board of Directors in this Colony." The volunteer season has fairly set in, and meetings have been held in various quarters to keep up, by a proper spirit of

emulation, the reputation which the Otago Volunteers have earned as good marksmen. A parade of the First Battalion of Otago Volunteers took place on the 22nd inst., under the command of Captain and Adjutant Atkinson, when Lieut.-Col. Cargill intimated that the Volunteer encampment would take place at the end of December and on New Year's Day, and appointed a time for the officers to meet to arrange the place and details. The locality selected, it is understood, will be near Dunedin, with a view of suiting the convenience of the local corps; and it is thought that country corps will avail themselves of the opportunity of paying Dunedin a visit at that season. In the mean time the variou3 corps have not been dilatory in their practice. A simultaneous Rifle Match between twenty men of the Sydney Battalion of Rifle Volunteers, and twenty of the Otago Volunteers, was fired by the Otago team at, the Government Range, Kaikorai, on Friday and Saturday last. The match arose from a challenge sent by the Sydney Volunteers. The total number of points mads by the Otago2o on Friday andSatu'rday, was .1055, being an average of 52J for each man—aresult which Otago may be proud of, as persons who have seen the firing at Wimbledon say that larger averages are not often made there by the same number of men andunder the same conditions. The highest score was made by Sergeant Taylor of No. 2 Company, who made the fine score of 63, or three points over the average of centres. The highest possible score to be made.at any one range was 20 ; and 19 was made at 200 yards, by Private Dalziell of the Wakari Rangers; 16 at 300 by Sergeant Taylor of No. 2 Company; 18 at 500 by Sergeant Lindsay of North Dunedin; and 16 at 600 by Gunner Millar, Artillery. The shooting for the Cup of No. 1 Company, City Guards, took place at the Kaikorai Butts on Saturday, the Bth. The Cup has to be won three times, two of which must be consecutive. Sergeaut Hislop was the winner on Saturday, with a score, of .57,. and Sergeant Douglas was second, with 56; the n?xt score being Corporal Tresider, 55. The annuil meeting of the Company was held on the Tuesday following; the Company was paraded at the Drill Shed, when the prizes recently won were, at the request of the Company, presented by Mrs Moss. The annual match between the Taieri and Bruce Volunteer Companies, has been held at the Tokomairiro Butts. The Taieri team, as on previous occasions, proved the victors, winning by 41 points, although the two highest individual scores were on the Bruce side. A Rifle Match, between 22 members of the Dunedin Cricket Club and 11 Volunteers, took place at the Kaikorai Butts on Saturday last. At the 200 yards range, the Cricketers headed their opponents by 53 ,• at the 400 yards range, the Eleven succeeded in reducing that number. by five; and at 500 yards their splendid shooting reduced the balance against them by 46 : their total at this ranpe being 174 against the Twenty-two's 128—the latter winning one of the most interesting rifle <mateb.es that has taken place in Dunedin by only two points. The highest score, on the side of the Volunteers, was made by Private W. F. Stevens, who made 55 points out of. a possible 60; Lieutenant Hannah second,.with 52 ; and Gunner Muir third, -with 51. Mr G-, G-. Orbell (Artillery) was highest scorer en the part of the Twentytwo, with 46; Mr G. K. Turton being second, with- 43; and Mr Ogilvie (Artillery) thirds with 40. Tw competitions amongst members of the Artillery Corps took place last week. The first,'for-an Enfield rifle and L 5, presented to the Battery by Sergeant Devore. i The first prize was closely contested for by , Gunners Smith and Ogilvie, who tied with 45 marks—a score equal, to a centre each Jshot. The sbooting-off resulted in Smith I winning. The second competition wa? for I the very handsome Silver Challenge Cup i (value LSO), which was presented to the ' Artillery last year by a few admirers of i that branch of our.' Volunteer force3. There-were also money.-prizes. The shooting was not equal to the average usually made by the men competing, owing in a great measure to. the unfavorable weather. The finest shooting in the match was made by Lieut:- Hannah, at the 200 yards range, he scoring 25 marks out of a possible 28. At the finish, however, Gunner Blyth, who had shot steadily throughout ''-(being on ' *ne target ( every shot) tied with Lieutenant 1 Hannah at 61 ; and ties being decided by the greatest number of hits* Gunner Blyth' gained the first place. The cup is at .present in the Melbourne Exhibition; Messrs s Fitzpa'trick and Co., the manufacturers, having''requested the Artillery .to send it to them for the purpose of being exhibited with other articles manufactured by that "firm. : On the evening of St. Andrew's Day, a social gathering took place in the Drill Shed, Green Island, the object being to present the Band Master,-Mr Scott, with a handsome gold watch, in appreciation of his services. The Drill Shed was gaily decorated with flags and ferns. After the presentation, dancing commenced, and with the performances of the band^ a pleasant evening was spent. - A cricket match between twenty-two Volunteers and the Dunedin Cricket Club Eleven came off on Saturday, the Bth inst., at the South Dunedin Recreation Ground. Although the Volunteers lost the match, some good bowling on their side had the ; effect of making the game a very . close one. The match terminated in favor of the Dunedin Club by 8 runs. The return match wa* the rifle contest, mentioned above. A match took place on the 24th, between the Bankers and an eleven of the D.C.C., and was a closely contested one. The Bankers turned out a much better team than was expected, and the match terminated in their favor in the first innings. A cricket match between eleven of the Dunedin Club and a second eleven, and eleven of the High School has also been played. The Eleven were declared the winners by four wickets and seventeen runs to spareSeveral fatal and distressing accidents have occurred. By two boat accidents which happened almost simultaneously near Port Chalmers, on the 21st November, two old and well known settlers, Capt. Ridley and Mr Geary, of Portobeilo, along with the son of the former, lost their lives. The wind blew heavily on that day, and during a severe squall a boat capsized, in which were two fishermen, John Fulham and Charles HamlyD, aad the settler, William Geary. The fishermen clung to the

boat, and were rescued by Mr Pilot Paton and^ a volunteer crew; but Mr Geary, having let go his hold, was drowned. Mr Paton and hia crew, on landing the rescued men, were told of another boat accident which had just occurred, and they at once proceeded to the spot. It proved that in the boat which had overturned were Capt. Ridley and his son Charles, both of whom were drowned. The body of the Captain was found floating, but lifeless; that of the boy was picked up in a few days after, five miles from the scene of the accident. The accidents caused a painful impression in Port Chalmers, and, at the funeral of Capt. Ridley, there was a large attendance of friends and mourners. The eldest son of the deceased had lost his life by drowning duriug the previous year. The body of Mr Geary has not been found. A similarly distressing accident occurred on the Clutha on the 20th ult. Mr Hodgson, a settler, with his young wife, and a man servant, were proceeding to Kaitangata Store, when the boat was struck by a squall and capsized. The servant, Angus, saved himself by swimming, and Mr Hodgson was picked up by a boat; but Mrs Hodgson, whom her. husband had gallantry endeavored to rescue, was carried away by the current and drowned. A peculiar and painful accident occurred at the North Taieri on Sunday evening, the 26th of November. A covered waggon, drawn by six horses, was ascending the hill, when, in consequenc-3 of the waggon getting on to. the soft ground, it overturned, and it with the horses slid down a bank about twenty feet, and then went over a rock, on which the horses remained overhanging the waggon, and kicking furiously. In the waggon were two men, and a woman named Eliza Wilson, passengers, and the driver. One man escaped the fall and was unhurt; the other had one arm broken;, but Mrs Wilson was very badly bruised, and was removed in a precarious state to the Hospital, Dunedin. Bradley, the driver, was fo\ind under the waggon, and in sucb a position as rendered getting him out of danger a work of peril, on account of the fearful plunging of the dying horses. He was, however, placed in safety and taken to Caversham, suffering severely. Five of the six horses were either killed or kicked each other to death, and in order to clear them from the wreck of the waggon, it was found necessary to amputate several of their limbs. To add to the peril of the sufferer?, one of the, men who went to seek assistance lost his way, and they lay all ! night without further help, which was, however, promptly rendered when the circumstances were discovered. ' The District Cornoner, Mr T. M. Hocken, held an inquest on 24th November, on the body of a male child, which was found beside the infant school, near the Octagon. Some children had found it, partly concealed by some long grass. There, was a towel lying across the body, and a piece of black cloth in the grass. After medical evidence, the jury returned a verdict that the child had been stillborn; but that there was no evidence to show hpw or by whom the body had been placed in the position in which it was found. «, As Mr Charles Robertson, of the Glasgow Pie House, Princes street, was leaving a meeting of ratepayers on the evening of the 20th, he was suddenly seized with an apopletic fit; and, gradually sinking, died at four o'clock on the following morning, Mr John Martin, of Tokomairiro, was lately on his way from the Clutha, when the horse he was^ riding fell, and threw him with men violence. He was discovered by some passer-by unconscious, and was found to have sustained severe injuries in the head, Property in Dunedin, near the business centres sustains its value. Messrs Gillies and Street lately leased, by public auction, after a spirited competition, section 64b, block 7, Dunedin, for 21 yeara fro to date, at LSOO per annum, brick or stone buildings to be erected by the tenant. JSTo valuation. The section has a frontage to the High- street of thirty-six teet, and is sold subject totwo agreements, which expire in seven months. Landed property in Clyde is also advancing considerably in value. Three weeks since a4O feet frontage was sold sold privately for. LSO, the same being offered for less than half three months back. Extensive repairs to the steam-tug Lioness have been effected in Dunedin, and she has returned to Hokitika. The fact has not before been at all generally recognised that such work could be done in New Zealand ; and it may be of great importance to the port and to owners of steamers, especially when, as in the present instance, saving of time was greatly to be desired. Messrs Kincaid and Co.-, who had the contract for the heaviest portion of the work, were determined, as we are told, to prove that Otago could get through the task ia as short a time as Australia ; and the repairs described have been completed in less than six weeks, and at no greater co it than would have been incurred in New South Wales or Victoria. Mr W. R. Douglas,'who initiated steam boat building in the Province, ha 3 converted a saw mill at Woodhaugh Into a bone-crushing mill, thus introducing a perfectly new industry. He also contemplates adding a flock-mill; for the manufacture of mattrasses and similar goods. Mr Thomas Allan, in the Cutting, has succeeded in raising several varieties of Strawberries, to which he has given local names; and which, judging from the samples shewn, appear to be well adapted to the soil and climate. The work or constructing the jetty at Oamaru, has been somewhat interfered with, the accumulation of silt preventing , the piles from being driven home, and the ! operations are at present, but it is believed I only very temporarily, interrupted. An Agricultural Show held by the Tokomairiro Farmers' Club on the 6th instant, was a highly creditable one for the district, and was largely attended. ■ The annual examination of the Dunedin District Schools has juet been completed, and has borne testimony to their thorough efficiency. The examinations were most appropriately brought to a close by a grand Pic-nic, which was held on the grounds of the Acclimatisation Society. The day was one of the finest of the season, and all present, both young and old, enjoyed themselves very much. The number of money orders issued in the month -of November was 501, for L 2268 6s sd; and the number paid was 263, amounting to Ll3Bl 13s Bd. These totals, added to the previous numbers, shew that since the commencement of the system ia*lß62, there haye beea 22,831

orders- issued, L 109.026 10s Id; and 9610 paid, amounting to L.46,549 63 10d. The Criminal' Session of the Supreme Court, before his Honor Mr Justice Richmond, was concluded on the 7th instant. His Honor, in his charge, to the Grand Jury, at the opening of the session, made a few remarks upon the several Acts passed during the last Session of the General Assembly having prototypes in the criminal Code of Great Britain. He pointed especially to the Trade Marks Acf, by which it is made a punishable offence knowingly to forge or affix ialse trade marks; and to the Acts for Preventing Adulteration of Food, and for Regulating the Sale of Poisons. The Calendar was light, and with the exception of a ca?e of bigamy, aad a charge against a convict for escaping from gaol, and aiding and abetting iai'shooting at the police, the offences were comparatively trivial. Pierre Tielle, for bigamy, was sentenced to a year's imprisonment, and Thomas Robsou, the convict who attempted to escape, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, after the completion of his present sentence. James Meivin, Esq, who has recently arrived from Britain, as Commissioner for the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, Limited, has been on a visit to the Oamam district for the purpose of completing the purchase of several estates. Negotiations had for some time been going on in the home country for the merging of several companies into one large -concern, arid'the result has been the formation of the above-named association with the capital of two millions sterling. The estates already purchased are those of Messrs Holmes and Co., at Mocraki and Totara, and Mr Hunter's,, Ardgowan. Three properties which.are believed to be for quality and extent combined, equal, if not superior, to any. in New Zealand, or the. Australian Colonies. The prices have not transpired. The Kaurau and Kawarau stations, belonging to Messrs Douglas, Alderson and Co., also change hands. The first pile of the bridge at Clutha Ferry was driven on Thursday, 14th inst. An inpromptu ceremony was conducted by Mr R. Smith, who congratulated the district and the Province upoo the commencement of so important an enterprise. Miss Smith having cracked, a bottle of champagne, wished success to the completion of the bridge; three times three cheers, as well a3 three salutes from a cannon, placed at the Government Buildings by Mr Cobden;, were;-the. rejponse. Mr Murray, the contractor, replied; and a social party afterwards enjoyed themselves at the Newmarket Hotel, in honor of the occasion.