Locald and General News.

Wellington Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 2105, 17 September 1864, Page 3

Locald and General News.

Odd Fellows' Hall. — On Thursday evening last, Mr T. W. Standwell gave a Miscellaneous Heading, at tlie Hall. He was as- , sistcd by Mr A. Oakey, and there was a very numerous attendance. After Mr A. Oakey had played an overture, Mr Standwell in a iew introductory remarics ooservecl that his object iix appearing before them that evening, was to second, as far as laj r in his power, the efforts of the Managing Committee, to bring before the public of Wellington a^ rational and instructive entertainment at a moderate charge. Such an effort was highly crcdita bio to the bod^y from which it emanated, and desorved not only to be seconded by thoso in a position to afford their aid ; but also by the public — for whom the lectures and read ings were instituted. Ho was happy to say that the attendance had been such as to realize the most sanguine wishes of the promoters of this means of relaxation, and at the same time to encourage those gentlemen, who had already given their services as lecturers. Mr Standwell then alluded to the importance of cultivating a taste for public speaking, and then elaboi'ately explained the principles of elocution, illustrating his subject by giving the different styles of various speakers, interspersed with anecdotes. Mr Oakey then played au operatic selection on the piano, which was well executed and met with a hearty reception. Some recitations from Shakespeare, Burns, Campbell, and Hood., by Mr Standwell ; were also well received. The gem of the evening, however, was the Fantasia — •'lleminiscences of Scotland," piano and harmonium, by Mr. A. Oakey. The audience was electrified by the brilliancy of the performance ; and the finished style in which it was rendered, stamped Mr. Oakey as an instrumentalist of a high order. An encore was loudly demanded, and Mr. Oakey gracefully complied by playing an operatic selection. Mr. Standwell then read au excellent selection of pieces from our best authors, including Collins "Ode to the Passions," and Tennysons's " Charge of the Six Hundred," which were read with much taste and effect A duett (piano and cornet), by Mr. Oakey, followed. Mr. Oakey played the " Last Rose of Snmmer," " The Standard Bearer," and other popular airs upon the cornopean, with piano accompaniment, to the no small delight of the audience. The evening's entertainment was brought to a close by Mr. Standwell reading a selection from Dickens, " The death of tittle Nell," from the Old Curiosity Shop ; and " Sairey Gamp's Tea and Turn Out," from Martin Chuzxlewitt. Mr. McßLonzie tendered the thanks of the Committee to Messrs. Standwell and Oakey for the very pleasant evening's entertainment they had afforded; more especially to Mr. Oakoy, a comparative stranger amongstthem, who had kindly given his services gratuitously on the occasion ; and he had no doubt the delight occasioned by listening to his " iieminiscences oH Scotland " would be long remembered when he was far away. Mr. Mackenzie also thanked the audience on behalf of the Committee, for the large amount of patronage awarded to their humble efforts, and expressed a hope that good would be the result. A vote of thanks to Messrs. Standwell and Oakey was then carried by acclamation.

Acclimatization. — Wo (Lyttelton Times) are sorry to hear that the efforts made in the British Empire have boon unsuccessful on the whole. A largo number of sparrows, crows, blackbirds, and pigeons were put on board, all of which died on the passage except some varitics of pigeons, which have arrived in a healthy condition. It; was mentioned some time ago that Mr Johnston was bringing out a quantity of fish. This lie endeavored to do, but, notwithstanding every care bestowed upon the selection placed on board, he has lost nearly all of them ; a few gold fish, being the only survivors.

Small's Benefit. — This gentleman takes a farewell benefit at the Odd Follows' Hall, on Monday evening next, and from the attractive programme, we anticipate there will be a bumper house on the occasion. Mr Small has always been a favourite with the Wellington public, and we have no doubt \ his man} r friends will rally round him, and j thus testify their appreciation of his genuine I talent. There are to be several new locals by Thatcher ; Small is to give an entertainment written by himself, entitled "Half an hour in Ould Ireland ;" Mr Eussell lends his valuable assistance, and Mr A. Oakey presides at the piano, so that parties attending may rest assured of spending a pleasant evening. Town Board.— We beg to direct the attention of the Eate-payers of the city, to an advertisement in another part of to-day's paper, convening a meeting at the Odd Fellows' Hall on Monday next, the 19th inst, at 12 o'clock, noon, for the purpose of fixing the amount of rate to be levied for the ensuing year. Pension. — Mr Benjamin Eglinton, formerj ly bailiff to the Resident Magistrate's Court, has been granted a pension of £71 7s (3d. Mr Eglinton has been 23 years in the service of the General Government, having received his appointment in 1841. Death of a Maori Chief.— We liavo re-

ceived a communication in Maori from the Wairarapa relative to the death of old Williams of JVlaitaknnaj which we shall publish, when translated. Gold. — We understand (says the Wanganui Chronicle?) that some of the men working afc the Waitotara, who are experienced diggers, consider that there is gold in that neighborhood, for which they think deep sinking may be required. They have fallen in with a quartz reef on one of the native reserves ; and if they could prospect on nativo ground would do so. They have a strong impression that there is coal as well as excellent limestone, and that, if of good quality, will be more valuable than gold. After the experience of several weeks of our winter weather, many of them say this is the best place they have seen, and that they would rather work hero at 5 s a day than in Otago for 8s or 9s. Coast Lights. — The Marlborough Press states that it is essential, for the safety of vessels appx'oaching Queen Charlotte Sound during the night, that a light should be placed on Caps Jackson, the northern headland, and another on Long Island, about four miles down the Sound. As traffic increases on this pai't of the coast, alight in the French Pass will be found highly desirable, as, in a dark foggy night, the Pass is extremely hazardous. A light for Cook Strait is being erected on the island of Mana, but we fear this will be found of comparatively small service, the Brothers being a far more desirable site. This was rejected, however, on the ground of expense ; but while a good light on the Brothers would have served for the whole of the Straits for some years to c omc, a light on Mana will be comparatively useless to vessels coming from the sotithward ; and in running up into the Strait in a thick south-easter, the assistance of a light to direct seamen is more needed than at any other time. Distressing Occurence. — The Southern Cross of the the 7th instant says : — " A most distressing occurcnce happened between nine and ten o'clock yesterday morning at the General Cameron Hotel, Albert-street to a lady, the wife of Lieutenant Home attached and acting as Captain in the 2nd Waikato Regiment of Militia. Hearing a rapping on the floor of the lady's bedroom as it' calling for some one, the landlady of the house despatched her son, a lad about ten years of age, i-n coo TT-i,n<- Tvn« wanted, jyid onhis reaching the door he was told by Mrs Home to ask his mother to step up as she wanted to see her. Mrs Nairn went up stairs in answer to the request, and on approaching her bed Mrs Home exclaimed that she had shot herself in the head. The landlady could hardly at first realize this statement until on examination she perceived that such was indeed the case. She immediately ran down stairs and sent off for medical assistance, which speedily arrived in the person of Dr Lang, who after examining tho wound left the house, stating that he would return shortly. In the meantime at the earnest request of the sufferer, Captain Williams of the Customs was sent for, who at once hastened to tho house, and after seeing the lady for a few minutes obtained the assistance of Dr Hooper, of Hob-son-strcet. On examination the wound showed that it had been inflicted by a small pistol ball which had entered just above the right ear, and had taken an upward direction for about three inches, where it remained buried in the skull. Chloroform was at once administered to tho sufferer, and after some little difficulty the ball was extracted, and was discovered to bo quite flattened against tke skull. Had tho wound been inflicted with a larger missile it is almost unnecessary to say that it must have proved instantly fatal. Up to a late hour in the evening the sufferer was doing as well as could be expected, and there is every hope entertained of her ultimate recovery. A Strong Conteast. — The "Marlborough Press" says : — Lord Lifford, in a letter to the " Times," says that he knows of an ablebodied man in Ireland, the father of a family, who receives but £3 10s, and his oatmeal food as wages for six months. Yesterday a settler in the Wairau came to Picton for the services of a bullock driver. After much difficulty he succeeded in finding a, man willing to accept service for six months, and was glad to engage him for that term at £1 10s per week and full rations. Mackeeel.— One of these, tho most popular of all the finny tribe, says the " Marlborough Press," was caught in the Sound on Tuesday mox-ning last, and was purchased by Mr Williams of tho Gridiron Eestaurant, in whose window it was exhibited for several hours. It is highly improbable that this is the only specimen to be found in our waters, and a search farther out in tho Sound or in the vicinity of the Heads, will be attended with the capture of large quantities of this delicious fish. May we not shortly be expected to be greeted with the old familiar London cry of " three a shilling mackerel" and that fennel will be largely grown as an accompaniment. Waitotabaßlock. — Tho following account of this block of laud appears in the General Government Gazette of 22nd inst., it estimated tocontaiu4o,ooo acres. The Southern boundary is the sea from the mouth of the Okehu to the mouth of the Waitotara River. The north-western boundary is the Waito- j tara Hiver from its mouth to the commencement of Porter's lino at JCarewarewa. The northern boundary ia Porter's line from the Karewarewa to the Okehu Eiver ; and the eastern boundary is the Okehu Eiver from Porter's line to tho sea. Those portions of land coloured red on the map on the back of tho deed are not included in the present sale. The boundaries of the portions of land remaining sacred to us ai'e as follows :— Ist. The first is called Okehii, situate on the banks of the Eiver Okehu, and estimated to contain 380 acres ; surveyed by Mr Stuart, assisted by To Peina ; their survey poles are also erected.

2nd. The second, named Pukaraka and Puke JN"gai. The upper boundary of this piece of land is Mr Porter's line. The lower, boundary was surveyed by Mr Porter, assisted by Piripi and others ; the side lines were surveyed by Mr Stuart with Piripi and others. The survey poles were erected by Piripi and Hare ; those on the south-eastern side were erected by Rihari. and Motuarema. This block contains 3,300 acres. This block was formerly of large dimensions, but has now been reduced by Dr Featherston ; Mr Porter and Piripi laid off the line reducing it, namely, the lower boundary line. 3rd. The third named iVukumaru. This block was surveyed by Mr Stuart assisted by Hare and Himiona, and their survey poles arc standing. The pole in the Lake (Waikato) was erected by Hetaraka. The block is estimated to contain 1223 acres.

<tth. The fourth, named Maneene, was surveyed by Mr Stuart, assisted by Piripi and Haropapera ; their survey poles also are erected ; it contains 58 acres.

5 th. The fifth, named Maraetoa, situate on the banks of the Waitotara River, surveyed by Mr Porter, with Pirimona and Hakaraia ; they erected the survey poles. This piece is estimated to contain 29 acres.

6th. The sixth, named Perekama situated between the Waitotara and Ohie Rivers. Mr Stuart, assisted by Hetaraka and Hare, surveyed this block, and erected the poles on the Ohie side. Rio, Ihaka, and Hona erected the poles, on the Waitotara side. It is estimated to contain 925 acres.

7th. The seventh named Auroa. The boundaries of this block were surveyed by Mr Stuart, assisted by Kereti and Teritiu. Their surveypoles are erected on the southern side. The W aitotara River is the boundary towards the South-east. It contains 137 acres.