MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1791, 13 November 1862, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

The Governor. — His Excellency's return to Wellington may probably be looked for in about three mouths. Meanwhile he will have visited Taranaki, and for the course intended to be pursued there, all ears are opened and all eyes strained to catch the faintest inkling. The Late Mb. James Blyth. — Many of our readers will peruse with feelings of sincere regret, the following extract from the VVanganui Chronicle of the 9th October, narrating the sudden and untimely death of Mr. James Blyth. The deceased gentleman had many friends in Wellington, as well as in other Provinces ot New Zealand, and for some years was an el>lar in the Free Church of Scotland here, and in common with many others, we take the opportunity afforded by the present mournful occasion, to pay a passing tribute of respect to the memory of the departed : — " It is with great pain that we record tiie sudden decease of Mr. James Blyth, of Marybank. Mr. Blyth was returning home last night, from Dr. Allison's, accompanied by his two eldest sons. He was riding on before, and they followed a short way behind, When they arrived at the gate leading up to the house, they found the horse standing at it without its rider. Returning in search of their father, they found him lying in a ditch at the side of the road near VViritoa Mill, quit© dead. The body was carried into Mr. Wm. Howie's house, and Dr. Gibson sent for, who found that death had been caused by the bursting- of a blood vessel in the brain, and that it must therefore have been instantaneous. No person in the district had a wider and more attached circle of friends than Mr. Blyth, by all of whom his death will be deplored, as occasioning the loss of a most excellent member of society, a most genial companion, a warm-hearted friend, and a consistent Christian. To his amiable widow and family this sudden bereavement must ba especially distressing, as from Mr. Blyth's constitution and habits, they might naturally have looked for a long continuance of their domestic felicity. Miscellaneous. Readings. — A reading of selections from the woika of Shakspeare, Schiller, Campbell, and several others of the best authors was given on Tuesday the 28th of October, in the Odd Fellows Hall by Mr. T. W. Standwell, for the benefit of the Widow and Orphans' Fund. Many of the piecee were recited with much taste, particularly those from "Hamlet" and "King Lear," while in his rendering of Tom Hood's" Address to his Son," and Tennyson's '• Charge of the Six Hundred," the reader was particularly happy. At the close of the reading, a vote of thanks to Mr. Ekandwell, proposed by Mr. Thomas McKenzie and seconded by Mr. Judge Johnston, was carried by acclammation, and the tolerably numerous audience dispersed. At the Athenaeum on the same evening Mr. Hart (late District Judge) very appropriately read Basil Montague's description of what should comprise a model Judge and model Lawyer. There was a fair audience, and considering that the subject was not on a very interesting theme, a better one than might have been expected. Just previously to its breaking up Judge Johnston detained it for a few minutes, controverting several of Montague's opinions, especially that relating to the paucity of law reformers that have sprung from amongst legal men : citing Sir Samuel Romilly and many others whose exertions in the cause of law reform altogether refuted the opinion expressed in the reading which had just been delivered. Mr. Judge Johnston has given two Shaksperian Readings at the Athensaum during this month, which was attended by a select audience, who were as usual highly delighted with the learned gentleman's rendering of some of the best scenes in King Henry IV. (second part), and King Henry V. Thb Superintendent. — His Honor Dr. Featherston returned from his lengthened visit to Taupo and the West coast, on Saturday, in good health and spirits. From what we can gather, tho purchases of the Waitotara and a large portion of the Wanawatu blocks is by no means so unlikely as has recently been supposed. Discovery of Gold. — Twice during the past week, Mr. Arthur Knowles has found specimens of gold in his garden, at the Wades Town foot of the Tinakori Range. As the weather is now becoming fine and settled, we hope that the eyes of the settlers will be kept wide open, with the view to the discovery of what becomes more aud more a " precious metal." Another interesting contribution to our feathered songsters has been made in the form of two larks, out of four originally placed on board.

Commissioner of Native Reserves. — Theindividualisation of title to the Native reserves in this district is about to be shortly attempted, Mr. ManteU having been offered by* His Excellency the Commissionership for the management of the native reserves made by lhe N.Z. Company, Col. M'Cleverty, &c. These reserves have hitherto been managed by a Board, but by an Act of last Assembly they can in fu' ire be placed under a special Commissioner. A very large number of sections, both town and c wintry, will thus be made available for leasing by individual native owners, as was recently done at Kaiapoi, in Canterbury, aud tend more to the civilization of the natives by breaking up their communistic habits, than anything else that could be devised. Mr. Q. F. Swainson has been appointed Surveyor to the Commissioner which has necessitated Mr. Swainson's resignation of his appointment in the Survey Department of this Province. Malicious Outrage.— On the night of the 3rd instant, an attempt was made to raise thejfoundation atone which was recently laid, of the Supremo Court Buildings, with the view of obtaining' possession of the coins deposited therein. Two soldiers were the actors in this wanton deed, bub I their efforts fortunately proved fruitless, and they were traced by a policeman, and apprehended shortly afterwards; An excavation to the depth of two feet was made beside the lower stone, and a short crowbar was used to force it up. They were detected by the police, captured, and committed to durance vile. Rifle Phizes. — Nelson has this year worn the Champion Belt ; While for Messrs. Herbert & Co's prizes, wanganui has the honor of heading the competition — Samuel lloult of the Nelson Rifle Rangers, and Sergeant Gray of the Wanganui Rifle Volunteers being the two lucky individuals: Of the 20 prizes offered by the General Government, from 50 and the Champion Belt £5, the following is the result of those gained by each, province. Nelson 1, 3, 5, 9, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20; Marlbro' 2, 4, 14 ; Canterbury, 0, 12, 13 ; Wellington (Wanganui) 7 ; Auckland, 8, 10; Taranaki, 11,16. Of the four prizes offered by Messrs. Herbert and Co., consisting of rifles and ammunition, Wanganui took the first and third and Canterbury the second and fourth. Horticultural, Agricultural, and Pastoral Exbibitio.v.— On the 26th of this month the first exhibition of this kind which we have had for many a year is to take place. Prizes aie •to be awarded for vegetables, fruit, flowers, and shrubs, horses, cattle, sheep, pigs and. poultry , implements and dairy produce. We hope it is the commencement of a hetter state of things, and that the desire to improve breeds of all descriptions, which is now so general, will be encouraged and the facilities for realising it, afforded by the society, be taken advantage of. Mb. Thatcher.— This inimitable comic singer visited Wellington during the month, and gave two concerts at the Odd Fellows Hall. Alma Total Abstinence Society.—- On the 3rd instant, this Society initiated the first of a series of country excursions, by the members proceeding in strong force to Johnsonville, where it was intended to have a social meeting and soiree for the enjoyment of the members and their friends. A booth had been erected on the grounds of Mr. Sim, connecting two large store houses together, and forming a hall capable of containing at least 200 persons, this was tastefully decorated by bows of the hawthorn in full bloomi and the magnificent flower of our native "Nikaa;" a beautiful paddock belonging to Mr. Sim, had also been placed at the disposal of the Society for the day. At 10 a.m., a van decorated with flags, and drawn by three powerful horses, passed through the town, in this were seated the band of the Society, playing as they went some of the old and favorite tunes, which we so love to hear, viz., Cheer Boys Cheer, the Red White and Blue, &c. ; on reaching Kai Warrawarra, they were joined by a number of vehicles of every description, containing the friends from Karori, and by the time the place of rendezvous was reached, a goodly procession was formed, numbers of pedestrians having joined the original band on their way. As soon as the party arrived at Johnsonville, the sports of the day were at once commenced. First in order came the far famed game of cricket, ond a match was soon made, twelve of the Wellingtonians, being pitted against twenty-four of the Johnsonville players. Some most excellent batting and fielding were exhibited throughout the game, which ended in the victory being gained by our townsmen. As it was quite impossible to resist the temptation of having a dance on the green sward, while such a bevy of fair ladies were present, a quadrille party was soon formed, and the services of the band being called into operation, dancing waa commenced, and kept up with greatspirit throughout the whole of the day. Nor was the old game of kiss in the ring forgotten, for whether at the antipodes, or at any other part of the globe, it matters not, Young England will enjoy itself, and a ring being formed by the more juvenile portion of the assemblage, to it they went, and judging from appearances, enjoyed themselves to their hearts content, An itinerant hawker of toys, being on the grounds, our ears were soon assailed by the squeaking of trumpets, the blowing of tin whistlesj and the springing of diminutive rattles, which are so much in requisition at a country fair in our fatherland, and so thoroughly English was the scene, that it was difficult to realise the fact that we actually at the antipodes, 17,000 miles from our dear old home ! At length it waa announced that tea was on the table, and by the rush which immediately followed the announcement, it was pretty evident that the assembled multitude were tolerably sharp set. On reaching the booth, we found it already tilled, the number of visitors being so great, that not more than half could be accommodated, and were therefore compelled to wait a little longer, till at length, we were allowed to enter, and in common with the rest, did ample justice to tiie good things provided. Appetite was at length appeased, and indeed from the excellent manner in which the whole affair, was got up, it would have been impossible that it could beotherwise, as nothing was wanting. The tea and cakes being of the most excellent description, and every exertion was made by the friends at Johnaonville, to ensure the comfort of the visitors —Then came the Public Meeting, and the Booth, though so large, was crowded almost to suffocation. The Rev. Et. W. Scott presided, and some very effective addresses were delivered by Messrs. Sim, Catt, Truemau, Mr. Read, and Tolly; several Temperance Melodies were also sung by the leading members of the Society, and at 8 p.m. the meeting terminated by the band playing the National Anthem, so that our* Town and Karori friends might be enabled to reach their homes at a reasonable hour. After the conclusion of the meeting, several of our friends who resided in the more immediate neighbourhood, and were determined to make a day of it, comtneuced dancing, and kept it up until 10 p.m. j and in the course of the day a number of additional signatares were obtained to the abstainers roll. Altogether the pvoceediugs were highly successful, and it bids fair for the future progress of this Society, that its members should have been first in the field to provide the means for a day of innocent and temperate enjoyment.