Local Intelligence.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1698, 31 December 1861, Page 5

Local Intelligence.

The Asterope.— This vessel is fast filling up and will positively sail for London on the 13th January. She has upwards of 1200 bales on board, and we understand that there is more wool in port now than she can possibly take. The Asterope is the first ship of the season, and will arrive home in time for the May sales. Acting* Commissary-General Adams, and Mrs. Adams, as well as the Bey. Mr, Gedge, and Mrs. Gedge, and Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan are passengers by her. The Anniversary. — The 22nd Anniversary of the artival of the first settlers in Wellington will soon be bere, and no means have yet been adopted to celebrate the event with becoming spirit. Of late years, the preparations for celebrating this event have been driven off to the last moment, and everything has been done in I a burned manner. Thisshould not be. We feel convinced tbat if the matter is taken in hand by the right parties, there will be plenty of money forthcoming;, and consequently abundance of amusement for the public. Mr. Justice Johnston's LECTURE.--Last evening, Mr. Justice Johnston, according to announcement, delivered a lecture ai the Odd Fellows' Hall, for the benefit of the Library of the Wellington Athenieura. The spacious hall was well filled, wilh a most respectable audience, the majority of whom were ladies. George Hart, Esq., as President introduced the Lecturer, whose appearance on the platform was received with general applause. The subject selected for the Lecture, was Shakespeare's Tragedy of Hamlet. His Honor proceeded the reading of the play, by introducing the criticisms of Goethe*

Lamb, Coleridge, and other eminent writers, clearly showing that those men, great as they were in literary lore, bore witness to the wonderful powers of our immortal bard, and his intimate knowledge of the human mind. His Honor reviewed tbe play, and gave his general concurrence to the elaborate expositions of tbe authors he had quoted. He then proceeded to read the most prominent portions of each act, and the careful manner in which the selections were rendered, elicited the warmest applause from a delighted audience. It was a source of regret, however, tbat His Honor did not give Hamlet's advice to the players, as we, in our I opinion, consider it the key to the whole character. The lecture terminated about 11 o'clock / We trust that the praiseworthy efforts of His j * Honor, in thus assisting the committee of the j 1 Athenaum in increasing their Library Fund, will be fully accomplished. From the flattering reception His Honor received last evening, we trust that he will, at an early period, be induced j to give us a second exposition of the Mighty ■ Bard. ■