WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume 3, Issue 189, 27 June 1874, Page 2

WELLINGTON .

(from oca OWN correspondent)

The principal topic daring the past week has been that ever dear to Englishmen—the weather ! It mast be confessed the clerk of that useful department has dealt us rather bard measure lately. For fully three weeks we have had scarcely a day without rain and on several occasions the pluvial torrent has continued for three or four days almost incessantly. Strong southerly gales have accompanied the rain and there has been a liberal allowance of fog given in as well producing a state of affairs meteorological far more cool and moist than pleasant. The Melbourne steamer Claud Hamilton, which left Nelson for this port on Friday morning, had not made her appearance on Saturday night and as the N.Z.S S Co.’s steamer Ladybird was similarly late over the same course considerable uneasiness was felt, although it was thought that there was sufficient ex planation of the delay in the gale ami fog, but such cause, of delay in itself was fraught with grouudfor appro hension, especially recollecting -the fate of the Rangitoto. However on Sunday morning both steamers turned up, the Claud Hamilton having made a passage of 52 hours from Nelson, and the Ladybird 30 from Pictun. Both bad to run for shelter from the storm and frightful sea. The Governor’s yacht, the Blanche,- was similarly detained, having had to take refuge in Astrolabe Bay on her pas sage hither. She arrived, however, on Monday morning with his Excel lency on board, all well. There is still no sign either of the English mail via San Francisco, now already five days late, or of the immi grant ship, Waikato, from London, which is over 90 days out. The latter was reported iu sight for the third time on Monday, but for the third time it turned out a false alarm, the vessel seen on this occasion proving to be the French barque Ootidor, which brought a cargo of sugar to this port a few months ago and since has 1 been to Newcastle, N.S.W., whence in this instance she was bound with a cargo of coal for Tahiti, but being already 28 days out, having been delayed by stress of weather, had been forced to pat in far provisions. The ss. Star of the South arrived to-day on route for Dunedin to inaugurate the new line of direct steamers to Fiji. She was to have proceeded South this afternoon, but in getting under weigh unfortunately managed to foul the anchor of the bulk India and knock a hole in her bottom, which will probably involve a visit to the Patent Slip before going. Rather an unlucky beginning.

A deputation from tbe City Corporation waited on the Superintendent yesterday to request the co-pperatjbn of the Provincial Governm/mtin the construction of a graving dock to form part of the Te Aro reclamation scheme and to negociate for tbe purchase of tho breastwork opposite tbe Provincial Buildings for a wharf for. small vessels to load and discharge. No definite result was arrived at, but His Honor expressed general concurrence in the views of the deputation and full willingness to co-operate .with the Corporation in any way in his power. At a meeting of the Governors of the Wellington College and the public it was resolved to celebrate the opening of the College by a public subscription ball in about five weeks time, to be followed by au inauguration in which tbe pupils could participate. The opera still reigns supreme every evening. On Monday Weber’s grand work “ Der Preischuts” Was performed with marvellous spectacular effects, and last night tbe prima donna. Miss Alice May, took her benefit, which was attended by over a thousand persons, including Sir James and Lady Fergusson and suite, tbe audience being the most numerous, brilliant, and profitable ever seen within those walls. The proceeds were nearly £200! Tbe opera season will close positively on Saturday night,

when the company leaves for Nelson and Auckland.

The last piece of news this afternoon is that no eligible tenders haring been received by- the N.Z.S.S. Co. for the purchase of their fleet of steamers, the whole will be sold by auction on the 31st of next month. Mr R J. Duncan will be the auctioneer. It-is rumored that a t.ew company will be formed to purchase the boats, if they can be obtained at a moderate price, but nothing is definitely known as yet.