SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2007, 5 June 1868, Page 5

SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

The European Mails via Buez were received by tho Panama, New Zealand, and Australasian .Royal Mail Co'a eteamer Otago, on Thursday, May 22nd, and were delivered tbo same day. Tho Ruahinc, with the Mails via Panama, readied Wellington on Tuesday, May 27th, and the Dunedin portion was receivwl on Friday, May 29th. The latest information from the Salmonhatching Ponds at Waiwera, ia up to May 29th; and then there were Ceitainly 501) lively little fish, and it was considered to be a fair estimate that tho whole number of ova successfully batched, was between 700 I and looi>. The largest vessel yet built in the Province was launched at Waikava on the Oth cf May. Shti received the name of Jane Anderson, and was christened by tho lady whose nanw she bears, the daughter of Mr Anderson, of Wyndham Station. The vessel wns built by Meesrs Armour, Campbell, and Richmond, and of the best material. She is expected to arrive at Dunedin in afortniuht, with a cargo of timber for Messrs Cargills and M'Lean, and is intended then to Le placed in the coasting trade. At Oainare, Her Majesty's Birthday was celebrated by a public holiday. The Tinwis says, "Jn celebration of Her Majesty's jiirthday, it was intended to hold a series of public games and amusements upon the Esplanade, but in consequence of the exceedingly unfavorable weather, tho programme was neccsMiriiy greatly broken through. At 12 noon, a salute of 21 guns was fired on the Esplanade, under the superintendence of Sergeant Hullcn, and after every seven rounds the Volunteers, who, despite tho pouring rain, turned out to tbo number of about 3(>, fired a round of the feu. <le. joiz very creditably. Had the day been fiDe. there would have bton a parade of at least 50 rank and .file, and it was intended that the fife and dram band should play the National Anthem. As the weather was so unfavorable, Captain S"cward countermanded the order for a parade of the band, and the day was signalised only by tho firing of a. .Royal Salute from guns taken from thu wreck of tho Water Nyinph.ond a/eit ilcjok by the Volunteers, after which throe hearty cheers were given for the Queen. After the ceremony was over, the members of No. 8 Company met at tho Northern Assombly Room, whea tho roll was called, and after the dismissal of the Company, the Nation il Anthem was sung in excellent style, and three cheers .for Her Majesty again given. The games advertised to take place in tho afternoon were perforce postpone! in consequence of the ram, and tho dinner announced to take placo at tho Notthern Hotel was also postponed. Tho proceedings of tho d»y were concluded by a bonfire, which threw its ruddy glare over the Esplanade lute in tho evening." • The Tradesmen's Bacon, which had been postponed from Monday, the Queen's Birthday, in consequence of tho then inclement state of the weather. t carno off on Saturday last, on the Ocean Beach Course. Considering tho miscrablo coldness of the day, the c>pofied position of the course, and the count rattractions of tho Rcgitta, there was a v*ry good attendance, the different events on the card bringing together respectable fields, both as regard the number and quality of the horses. Takr n altogether, the meeting may fairly be dremed a successful one. Donation* from the proceeds of the races were presented to Ihe Otago Benevolent Institution, and the Acclimatisation Society. The Dunedin Itagatta, which was postponed on Monday loot, tho Queen's Birthday, in consequence of the unfavorable weather, carno off on Saturday. The weather then could not be called favorable: but it was a great improvement on. Monday. The objections to Huturdaywero, firstly, that there was a low temperaturo ; and secondly, that there was a strong-aixL poffy westerly win 1. The fine foro-tuad-Aft American schormor, Lovct Peacock,-..Capt Dowson, which is lying well off tho new jetty, was very kindly placed at the disposal of tho Committee, as the starting-vcsseL' Mr (i. Green was tho umpire; Captftii Dickie, • starter ; and Captain Bain, judge. Mr Adam, and other members of I tho Committee, were also present on ; board the schooner. The Regatta was, ion the whole, a very satisfactory one. -Only spectators were wanted ; and they.would certainly have been plentifal, had the weather been somewh it leas cold* .. The ball that took place at the New Post Office Hall ia honor of the Representatives of Otago at the lato Eiflo Matches in Wellington, was numerously attended. The walte of tho Hall were decorated under the superintendence of Mr Webb, with festoons of flowers intermingled with evcrgreena overhanging stands of arms and sabres, artistically arranged. Immediately facing the entrance were slags of all nation* overshadowing Her. Majeaty's Arms, above which was the . : word " Welcome*" in letters formed of ivy. leaves and crimson (lowers, the workmanship and gift of a lady. Dancing commenced about half-past nine o'clock, tho room, then being comfortably filled. The number increased so much afterwardf, that it was. found necessary to make use of the corridors and side-rooma. It 13 estimated that at one time three hundred and forty were present, of whom nearly half wore ladies. Amongut those present, were ■ the Speaker of the Provincial Council, the Mayors of Dunedin and Port Chalmers, (tbo latter being accompanied by Mrs Eolfe) and Mrs O&rgdt, the widow, of the late CaptCargill. The tnuaio was supplied by the Battalion Band, under tho leadership of Mr Mariain. Tho refreshments, which were ample, were supplied by Mr M'Cubbin. Tho rooms were well lighted, 2QI burners having been fixed in two do>ys«by Messrs A. andiT. Burt. Dane ng.was:<spt np with great spirit till an early hour thin.morning. Grain aud Seed JShyws have been hdA at Oama.ru and Tpkbnoairiro. Some very fine samples of wheat were exhibited in. both places. . ■ Tho High cchool Cadets attended at the Kaikorai Kiflo Range to compete fr«r prize.l: presented by the Honorable Major Iticbard--Bon. The ranges, were IGO and 290 yardit; targets 6 >:; 4, with 8-inch boll's oye ami 18 inch centra; five shots at oach range. Tho Staff sergeants attended to the marking, under th<*superintendence of tbo. Adjutant. The firing., commenced at two. p.m. There* waa a strong wind blowing f aom tli« riglsfc front. A.. R Cox is tho winier of tho Jacob's.rifle, and A. Fulton the field glass. On.Tut»day evening, tho 19 th May, Bros. J. Kogere. P.G.M., andW. &tod«lc3,D P.G.M., of the M.U.L0.0.P-, Otago Dratritf, »t----t3iided at Naseby, Monijt Ida, for the purps&o of opening a naw Lwdgo of OddfelJovs. f hirty-fivo candulatea were initiated ; and after tho Lodge had been duly, formed, the following officer* wero elected:—Ba-o. Joseph ' Brcmner, N.O. ; Jamea M'BHonna, V.tr. ; W. Qriimett, 8.8.jW. Huntor, treasurer; and John Browne* and Walter luder. trustcoa. Theso prewtsdinga over, tboao present sat down to ~& dinner provided by host Bro. Hnanter, P..Q-.M. Brotaer llogers was ch^jrmnn, and. the newly - elected SO. aotod -a» croupier. > The usual loyal toasts weee] heartily given, and responded to. ' The health of the ijuperintendent waa enthusiastically tjrnnk. In respooding to the toast, to* '** Otago District," dho Cbftirman i-wid. tbexe wcro now 140 C

I members in the district, and tho value of tho j fund* waa L7G69. Bro. Gerldcs, in proposing . . the toast of tho evening, "Tho Loyal iNiweby I Lodge," urged upon its members earnestness j and zeal, so that the Lodge might be success- • fa!. Tbo N.G. in responding, said he bc- | lieved the formation of tho Lodge was a good token of the prosperity of the district. Other toasts were given, and the proceedings were enlivened by eongs and recitations. Tho Lodge room, -which is at tho Empire Hotel, is large and convenient. The annual meeting of members of the Port Chalmers Mechanics' institute was held in the Institute on Tuesday evening. May 20th. Tho President, Mr Jno. Monson, stated that the object of tho meeting was to hear the Committee's Annual Report, j as also the Treasurer's balance-sheet, after which the election of officers-bearers and committee for tho ensuing year would take plac<\ Ihoactinghon secretary, Dr Drysdalc, read an elaborate report of proceedings of the Committee during the past year, in which ho toolc occasion to refer to the valuable services rendered by tho late lion. sec. Mr John I Joyce, as also to Mr J. Hislop. The Trea- I surer (Mr Dench) gave a financial atatemctnt J which showed a debit of L 7 19j lid, which ho said tould not be considered as such by tho new Committee, as L7>) had been sent to London for books and periodical*, none of which had yet been receivod. The Secretary then alluded to the lectures delivered by gentlemen in tho w ntcr months, and tbo concert given by the Amateur Christy Minstrels, in aid of the funds, for •which the Committee desired ugnin to return them their warm thanks. Dm ing the year, 2814 volumes had been in circulation against 1411 last year. The number of members on thu books w.ia 05 ; and dnr- j ing the year a number, including shipmasters, had availed themselves of quarterly and halfyearly tickets. The report and Trcasnrer'a statement hiving been put to the meeting, they wore nnanimon»ly adopted. The election of cfflce-beiuTrs and Committee was then piocccdcd with, and resulted as follows :— Captain William Thomson, President; JL>r D. O'Donoughne, Vice-President; Mr H. Dcnch, Treasurer; I)r J. Drysdale, Honorary Secretary ; Mensrs J. K. Monsou, T. A. Mannford, J. Stcvtns, W. Murray, J. B. Kobtrfcon, T. Urcbner, E. IFatnilton, J. Morgan, and T. Parkinson. Committee. The usual salo of periodicals was postponed until after the firat of a B«ries of lectures, to take pla-e next mouth. Votes of thanks to tho retiring officers and committee, concluded the proceedings, A very handsome drws sword was lately presented to Captain Mavcly, by the members of his corps—ihu Naval Brigade. 'The. [ presentation wan inad'i at tho Criterion [Ho el, there being a large muster of the | members of tho C rnpany, rind of oillcr-rs and membcra of the first Battalion of Volunteers, present. ' The sword ia a worthy present; it is chased with appropriate devices ; has a solid silver hilt, with emblematical ornaments, and bears a suitable inscription on the blade. It wtvs manufactured in Lin'lon cspoci-.Uy for the presentation. Lieutenant Dobbie, who made the presentation, alluded to the services rendered by tho Captain to the Brigade. Capt. Stavely, in an appropriate npcecfo, returned thanks forthe very Handsome purcnent msdc to him Afterwards, tho muill-boro rillo proseitcd by Capt»in Stavely, and the bum of LlO, presented by L cut. Diibbic, to bo shot for by ih". Brigade, were prcsen ed to the successful competitors, who were :—lsr, Gunner Stcsvens, who ecored til- points, and received fvs riflo ; 2nd, P. O. Smith, 57 po-nta, IJ> j; 3rd, Gunner Chapman, 53 points, L.'i ; 4th, Gunser Fuller, .52 points, J>2 ; stb, Gunner CatteD, 52 points. LI ; Oth, P. O. Mackenzie, 4i points, Kte. Swecp-stak-» by the twelve competitors formed the two last prizes. The terms of the competition were an follow :—Twelve preliminary comp<titionj by tho members, the highest scorer on each occasion to stand out, and bo entitled to fire in the final competition. The :ahooting extended over a period of eight months, many of the competition day* being : missed, owing to unfavorable state of the weather. The rifle presented by Captain Stavtlv is one-of. Kerr'a small bores,- fitted with all the latest improvements, in tho shape of spare sights, &c., in addition to a 'spare Enfield barrel of superior make ; and tho wiaocr has to congratulate himself on 'being possessed of one of tho be.st wen pans in the Province.. After tho presentation, the evening was spent very pleasantly. A 'number of toasts won drunk t . and songs sang, appropriate to the occasion.. There ,were, in all, about eighty members present. A eoireo, in aid of tho t-.u.luing Fund of tho Now Wesleyaa Church, fc>ttm.-t street, was held in the Wea cyan Chnr.-b, Dowling ■street, on the evening of June 2nd. There was a very good attendance, in B|)ite of the wintrineaa of the weather. The building' was tastefully decorated with flags and banners, tho handsome banner of the Band of Hope being displayed. The walls aid pillars were clothed with ferns, intermixed with artificial flowers; and' a very pleasing effect was obtained. Tncu-ti'a, which was excellent, was provided by tho ladies of the I congregation. After tea, th<» Ilev A. R. Jb'i chert, minister of tho Ch.orcii, took tho chair, and he was suppurtud by til's (leva R. Counebee, G. Sutherland, H. Williams, Scrymgofiur, and Oliver ; Messrs Bura.ll, Ferres, and others. The liturwui said he had arrived in Duncdinfifteen months ago, and hod found the Church inamoribacdiitate. Ho was exceedingly depressed, but fiince that time he had had much to onowiragrf him. Toe' Chuich had been working on with some dc 'grec of success. Tho uomber of member* on the books when he arrivtid was only 112, and that included,tho*e worshipping at Poit Chalmors, the Peninsula, and Tnapeka*. Now, there were 207 Tnembwit, -and 17 on trial: and this number was exclusive of Tuapeka.— now a separate, district. Dining tbo jjear aboat LlOOOhad boon collected: that,, he thought, showed that -there vrm life ia the Church, At first ho had believed that. Wcsleyaniam had no vocation here, that* there w<s n» room for it; bat the oxperieucs*of the p-.st twelve months had completely revolutionised that opinion. The ynut difficulty j ha i Tjjon tho state of the Church, swl it was | now* time that a buiHm* uhoultt be obtained. Tho congregation had decided that ib w mid bo more advisable .to erect a new church than to repair the old one. They hail purohased a site—htlf an a^re of ground, 'with a frontago to throa Btroets —and they had al-o. purchased tho hou3« recently occupied by Mr F. J. Mots, to Le used sa a yar--1 senate. They wore to pay M 250, LSQO at once* and tho rest to remain on mortgage, but the interest wonld bo covered by the rent of tho present mansa. It was b ,-licvod that a great portion of tbo present building would work into tho »w one, an-' that tho structure woald not oast in re than L2OCH), H-i considered ttiat ihs Vfeilsyxa body ha«l a tliiia wpo/j the sTfsopatbke ot the public in this c.ty. Twcnty'Bix . ye.-if a ago, the first missivmary was Boat to this Province by the W«Bloyar<a, and since thoa ihey, h'«l spent much tnoncy in. missionary work in Otogo. Tho c/jllcctiojis und sums jyon^ked aiuonatpa to afcoat I*loo, " ' '' ' ■ 'Tt ih plftAsing to observe (»*y? the Tunpela T-mai) tl}at when any «wv ariae^ (lesisrVine of tfio bonevoleneb sympathy of the g"Od fo-'knof Lawrtnce, tiiey aw> evf^ toady't< vivo a taagiblo oxpression U> it. Tbo pooi woman Austin who bad the numpy Molea * I from her hut some short timo pipge. had »I r TCiy wat coitus «FSStfl4 b/ jfl*i*c»*b

scription. Mr Listen and Mr Ellis kindly furnished all the necessary blocka for the house to rest ujKm. Air Walker gave tho timber and iron required for the shell of the building, and Mr Aimers, the contractor, i gave bis labor in lining it. Tho house is ! situated in Kilmarnock street, and is 12 x I 20ft ia dimensions, making a very comfortable cottage. Great cecut is due to Mrs Parker, who has wised upwards of LlO by fcnbacriplion list, and nlao to those gentlemen above named, who have so generously and systematically contributed of their substance towards so benevolent an object. The Municipality of Lawrence has completed arrangements for supplying the town with water. The contract wjb token by Mr George Murray, of Dunedin, to construct a reservoir on tho. top of the hill opposite Messrs Herbert and (Vb store in Jioss Piaca, an elevation of 102 ft above the bed of the creek, and supplied by a Rice skirting tho hill for about hsif a nsile, where it branches from the river which supplies tho water for sluicing purposes at Wetberntonos Flat, tho source of which is tho celebrated Wetherstones Dam ; tha water therefore travels a distance «;f some six miles liefore discharging itself into tbo reservoir. A line of main pipca Gin. in diameter, convoys tho water down the hill, underneath the bed of the creek, rvlonjz I'nss Place and Peel street, to the corner of Coloneay street ; at tho terniinntion is erected a Jaryo stand pipe, with hose attached, for tho purpose of tilling water carts ; also a tap on tbe &uul pipe, for tho conven tnce of the inhabitants in tho neighborhood to fill buckets, &c ; « aiiiiilar wtand pipo i» also crectrd in Kobs Place, at tho comer of Lancaster street ; a Gin. valve, Bn'em-m'a pttcut, doublo- : faccl, w th brass scatii<gu, is fixed at the I commencement of the main at the rcser--1 voir, thereby rhutting <'fT tho supply in town when required for laying on service pipe* to houses, or for the extension of the mniii pipes, which we doubt not will be required, after tho residents become fully aware of the grca1; boon the intr*>ducfcion of water will bs to tbe town. Two of liatcßrm's patent fire-plugs nr<; fixed in tho main \ripos in Boss I'iaeo, and two in I'ccl street. From a trial which has lweu made with a hydrant and host), tho pressure in found sufficient to throw w.ttcr over tho hit-best building along tbe conrto of the main piiies, thereby supplying av.-.luablfc adjunct inthec.ißCof fire. From levels tn'tcn, water can be conveyed through the same pipes at :m olev tion of 4()ft. above the hill on which stands Mr Ochiltruti's honpo. The levc-ln tor tho rnco wero fcakon by Mr Coklsiiiith, the manager of tho Pluisiix Water Hac« CJoinpany, and for accuracy of gradient (lOft t<> tho milir). could not bo mir{iasscd. The laying of the miin pipes and the cng'nccring portion of the work wire ontnifited to Mr U. Oinnp, contractor, of DiineUiu ; and we must ."peak in tbe higbcHt terms of praise of tho nctivity h-2 hna Kliown in tho spfedy and nuLtstautinl intuiuor in which lie has e-irricd out hia portion of tho work. Tho utilisation of the river system of th i Province, as a nienns of intercommunication, is of great imp<irt.'uico. It ia, tl»erefore, interesting to lotrn that on Sunday, 17th May instant, the Midlothian, of .'JO tona, wm towctl by n Vont into the lagoon, or harbor, at tbo mouth of tho Kakntmi, at haliil-xid tide. On Monday, tho Di;iiruic<% ot 50 tens burthen, eatlf.il in, .ifU.T having oiado the passage from Otago H« ads iv -cgbt hours, ft was shortly after the time of tbo tide, when Captain Mntbeson took the llcfianco in, ami at tho time there was a depth of ten feet of water on tha bar. On Thursday Trtre-ning nt 2 o'c'ock, the Midlothian left the harbor for Oamaru, with a cargo of osts, grown on Mr Cruickshauk'a farm adjoining; and after d'Bohnrg:ng there, sho roturned to Kakauui, and entered the rixisr again with tin: lirst ilo d tide, at 11 a.m on Friil;iy. Thcs BAsnc aftenio<jn tbo Defiance, having discharged a cargo of timlrcx and coal, and loaded with Oamiru stoiws. which is obtainable of fine quality in ihc noifhborhoocl, gailml at half-paat lour for Drancdin, where she arrived on Saturday afternoon. This is the iirst direct shipment of stone from that harbor. Axcltgram haabeenrcceived in town, statins that the Midlothian was to leave on Saturday, with 80 bales of wool. The lagoon forms a lino natnnil harbor, sheltered from every wind, so that vcsao!s can loud thcro in any weather. Contain Matluisoa is of opinion that this harbor is the best on tho whole coast for nmall craft. It is hi the centre of a rich agricultural district, and there is also an inexhaustible supply »t tho Oamaru Ihnestono in the imxaediatu -minity. Tho whole of tbo stono used in tbe Post office, excepting: that for tbe to«er, has been quarried ia that locality. Hitherto tbe cost of shipment of. tho Oarnai a atone has Iwen next to prohibitive, owinjf» to boating charges and cartajjo ; but it can be shipped at tho Kakanni directly from tfao river bank, and all tho boating cha r^ca saved. The V'cinity of the gut rries also lessens the expense of ca rfcngo consider.ibly. Tho importance of thi/ liarbor •hould draw the attention of th<i Government to doing everything tending to develop us utility. A small cxpenditnre wil 1 bo mflioient to render thin natural outlet of a large district av.iilabl* for vessels drnr .ving from six to eight feefc ; and tho advat itoge to,tho Province of access to a cheap at .pply of lirat-class building material, cano/ ,t bo over-estimated. The TtMt(#.ka- Tinu-x reports that "on Tliuraday, May 2lst, a f».tal acrident oc- : enrred to a matt named Eolsert Brown, on tbe Wethcrstof ics roaUr Vjetwcen Fahey's coiner and .Shir mafej's Union. Hotel. It ap- ; pears, from the cvidenco given at tfao Coroj ii'ir'a inquest, 'oklcl beforo Major Croker, in I tbo Unioa Ho teL that Brow« and two of his i frit'iidn wctu nc/.r tlw. school bouse. Lawrence, on tbeir way Itfirno to Waipori, whe"a Hrown'a horse suddenly took fright, and Iwundod off at full gallop, and he fell on his hack. Dr Stcr^art.-. w.is at onco Bent for, l»nt Dr Halley liuppon ng to be iv tho neigbv. borhood, waa. in attendance a few minuijea aftdr the aecJ denfc, occurred. The unfortunate man was then moved to the Union Hotel, where, he only survived a few urinates. Ycs^srtlay morning, in hie* evidence at the Coruue-'a inquest. Dr H-il-lay saidt. 'I, ]wv« made a jiouli^qrlem oximina/jon of the body of ltobtrt Brown. There if a upi&lX scratch at tao b.icij of the head, -and^shght amount of swelling. On rjinoving thp scalp tbere was ccchymoais corresponding to tho wound, fin opening tho uktill *h.ero was extravasation over tho fitirEicc o£ the bmin, and a iar^o amount of vewuns blvoti escaped. J. consider tbe cmso. of dcatift to have beea coucastion of thpteain, iK-ought oa by the fall.'- The jury, at onca. roturned a verdict of accidental d'-V^ YroTO, Mr filling's ovideoctv it appeared that iirovr.i waa anntivc o! Ayrshire, t>o»Un>)d ; waa, a tiriclowciv and hail one child, liv was for. two ycara in tbo cmpk-yjicut of Mr Ijpreascn, produce inw-chant. Jxtity IKiuedin. and from Jafcfcers.on his per«on, ho appeared to hive. %a acquainwnQo at Oamaru." At Oamar j, ou,3sf«sd>icßilay, May. 27th, a child betwo«jit'woaiid. three y&ira of age, died through <J*in!ung tomethiug from a lyjttle. tho consents of wbtch were unknown. The Oammit rJCbnfA give* nn aooonnt of the inquest; on, tho boCy. The jary returned tho foJonrfuc v<"wlicti—'"Tdai the doceaswL, Albev-t Oharle* Townsend. died Tom oonpegtxoi\ of the brain, prodoccrt by drinking tho content* of a »m»H bofctla, tho* mtUF? 9t ' i wbiiu there» bo m^jm P *k>w*''