LOCAL MEMORANDA.

Wellington Independent, Issue 2178, 11 March 1865, Page 5

LOCAL MEMORANDA.

The following arc the minor local memoranda of the month : — Desteuction of Mb Haslem's Mill. — On the 18th nit, about 4 o'clock a.m., Mr Haslem, of the Upper Hutt, discovered that his mill was on fire. He immediately gave the alarm, and the neighbours turned out, but in consequence of the shortness of a supply of water, but little could be done in the way of stopping the progress of the devouring" element. We regret to add that the mill and buildings together with about 17,000 feet sawn timber, and a large quantity of firewood were destroyed. Mr Haslem estimates his loss to be about; £3000. We understand that the property wasjonly insured by two policies for £600. Mr Haslem will consequently be a great loser. Arrival or the Goveenob.— Early on the morning of the Ist inst, H.M.S.S. Esk steamed into harbor, with his Excellency Governor Sir George Grey on board. He was accompanied by his private secretary, Mr Thatcher, and the clerk of the Executive Council, Mr F. Goring. Shortly after seven o'clock his Excellency disembarked, and proceeded to Government House. During the downward trip the s.s. Esk called at the Patea, where the Governor landed in the Gundagai. He remained at the encampment during the night in communication with the General, and embarked againfoa Tuesday morning. ..».- v ....•-.

i Choral Society. — During the month the 0 Choral Society gave their second concert of" 1 the fifth season, at the Odd Fellaws' Hall, - to a large and respectable audience. The • first part of the programme which opened f with six selections from Handel's J udas • 3 Maccabseus, commencing with the chorus . " O Father whose Almighty power," was very carefully sung. It was followed by 1 J the air " Arm, arm, ye brave" a bass solo, :• and sung by a gentleman whose style and } manner promise well, if carefully and judicij ously cultivated. Next we had the chorus " We come in bright array." It was given with ' more spirit than we are accustomed to hear " I displayed, and speaks well for the success of the Society. And here we cannot help observing, during the concert, the entire absence • of the lady whose pure and unaffected treble so much pleases and delights ; we trust this* , blank is but temporary. Then followed a' duett, "Come ever smiling liberty," sung' by two ladies, who had stepped forward from 1 the mass, and for the first time taken soloparts. Itwas very neatly sung ; but we would 1 enjoin frequent and steady practice, as the" only means of overcoming that particularlydisagreeable feeling of nervousness, which' always comes over amateur performers just when they don't want, it and considerably detracts from the merits of the piece. Two spirited choruses followed, " Lead on," and ■ " Hail Judaea, happy land," sung in capital time and tune ; next a solo on the piano, " The arm of the Lord," by Hayden, very effectively played by Mr C. Russell, the Society's pianist. The sacred portion of the programme concluded with two choruses--from Mozart's 12th Mass, " I will call uponthe Lord," and " The Gloria." After theusual ten minutes, the secular portion opened with the overture " LTtalian in Ajgieri," but here I may notice those persons in the hall, not in the Society's secrets, wondered whowere to play it ; as some time has elapsecfc since band music has been the especial study of a section of our Wellington friends. Wewerenotlongkept insuspense. Several gentlemen whom we recognised as our new friends; from Auckland, together with some members of the Old Philharmonic Society, stepped on the platform, and gave us a treat we were wholly unprepared for ; the - audience, at its conclusion, giving the most unmistakeable signs of satisfaction, which must havo been very satisfactory to those--gentleman considering the very short trial' they had for its rehearsal. Report stateß» that these gentlemen intend forming anorchestra in connection with the Society. If" such be the case, it will supply a want long. felt by the choir, especially in their oratorio music, and under the able management of the Society's new conductor, Mr W. Mowbray, a fresh impetus will be given to the Society, and increase the public interest in its success. ! The " Blue Bells of Scotland," harmonisedi by A. Neithardt always pleases certain seotions of the audience, was nicely sungThen followed the quartette, " Around theMay Poles Tripping," very light and pretty in its way, and a part song by Rimbaultj; after which we had an instrumental duet between violin and piano, performed in these? gentlemens' usually tasteful manner. The subject being one of those Ifgood old English melodies which never fail to please, viz., "Life let us Cherish," arranged by Farmer. A chorus, "God Speed the Plough, * followed ; then a quartette, " Sleep Gentle Lady," by Bishop, which was much liked. Afterwards " A Magdalen College Song," and to our taste the prettiest piece of th.6. kind sung during the evening. A duett be*tween Violin and Piano came next, called " Bijoux de Jetti Treffz," played by two of our new friends, was very carefully performed, and elicited much applause and an hearty encore, which was gracefully responded to. Then followed Veolli's chorus "From our Home, Gracious Lord," was sang with a spirit and vigor we are glad to hear is becoming the rule rather than the exception. The whole concluded with Mr V. Wallace's National Hymn, " God preserve? and bless the Queen." Two solos aacß. chorus, which closed one of the best eater*tainments which the Society have evergiirenvMajoh Paul. — Under the heading- of ' Matters Military' the Neto Zealand Herals gives the following particulars of this officer, who is so well-known here : — ' The gentleman holding the office of Brigade Major ia New Zealand, is Major Paul, who was bora in the 65th Regiment, being the son of an officer of that corps. Like his father (wh<* served with distinction in a great many engagements), Major Paul has seen active service, and has fully contributed his share towards maintaining the good name of the ol<s ' Tigers,' by whom he is beloved. Major Paul served with the 31st throughout tnecampaign of 1845-6 on the Sutlej, and was 1 present in the battles of Moodkee and Fero*zershah, Buddiwall, Aliwal, and Sobraon. In memory of these engagements, he wears a medal and three clasps. At Moodkee and , Ferozeshah, ho carried the Queen's colors — and, at the latter engagement, was severely wounded. Major Paul served with distinction throughout the Taranaki campaign of '60-1. For his gallantry and zeal during that contest, he was promoted to a BrevetMajority, his appointment as Brigade Majordates from February 10, and as such h© has ; served throughout the Waikato campaigns . The duties of a Brigade Major are such, asto bring him very much into contact wiikv civilians, and we need scarcely say that Major Paul has ever evinced a desire to meet 1 with courteous and gentlemanly attention ' the wants or requirements of our fellow > colonists. Major Paul's term of service isnearly expired, and no doubt on his return i to the old * Hickty-fith' he will receive ftj • warm and hearty welcome.' Depabttjbe of Sic Geoege Gbey foe* Wanganui. — On the afternoon of the 4th instant, his Excellency the Governor, accompanied by the Honorable F. A. Weld, Colonial Secretary, Major Grey, (his Excellency's aide-de-camp) and the Rev. Mr Thatcher, his Private Secretary, embarked on board H.M.S.S. Esk, which sailed immed iately for Wanganui. We believe his Excellency's visit is made chiefly with the view of being at the scene of operations and communicating with the General. The tenor of the communications from the lion. Mr Mantell, the Native Minister, are, that a large' body of the natives are willing to makepeace on our own terms, but this recpires further confirmation. After the experience he has had, his Excellency will probably be somewhat less inclined to trust the West Coast natives than before, and if report sjieaks truly, will take security for their remaining, pacific in the future by establishing a chaia. of posts between Wanganui and Taranaki, to be occupied by Rifle Rangers. We areled to understand that the hon. Mr WeWft stay at Wanganui will be brief.

Fire Brigade. — A meeting of members was held at the Athenaeum on the Ist inst, for the purpose of electing officers and other "business. Mr Lewis Moss was elected Captain ; Mrßoardman, Lieutenant; MrKamus, iose foreman ; Mr Whisker, Hook and ladder foreman; Mr M. Quin, Foreman, Fire Company ; llov. A. Stock, Treasurer ; Mr Edw. Moss, Secretary. The first practice took place on Monday evening last, \ with the Liverpool and London engine. The New Government House.— It has become known, within the last few days, that the arbitrators have given in their award relative to the various properties included in the site of the new Government House. Although the details of the award are no secret, yet there is a moral embargo laid upon the owners of the property concerned not to make them public for the present, as the Government have desired a month in which to arrange certain matters connected with taking up the award. MeanTvhile, much to the surprise of the Government and to the very great auuoyance of the public, the architects have called for tenders, in the Otago papers only, for the new Government House, to be sent in on the 21st instant. On enquiry at the Treasury here, we find that the plans and specifications have not yet been received in Wellington, and that instructions had already been sent to Messrs Mason and Clayton to advertise the plans, &c, in the principal newspapers of all the provinces, extending the date for receiving tenders to about the 20th April. Expressing our own opinion we must say that it does look like rather sharp practice, on the part of the architects, to advertise in the liurried and partial way they have done. It is a national building, and we are glad to know that the builders of all the provinces Tvill now have ample time to compete for its erection. Supreme Court. — Civil Sittings. — These sittings were held on the Bth inst., before his Honor Mr Justice Johnston. The only case on the list for trial was that of Haslem v. Plimmer, being an action for illegal arxest, in which the damages were laid at the sum of one thousand pounds sterling. The two parties to the action had formerly been partners in a steam saw-mill at the Upper Hutt — Mr Haslem managing the works and paying the men, while Mr Plimmer transacted business in town. In June last, Mr Haslem sent the pay-sheet to Mr Plimmer with a request that he would send the money to a Mr Wilkie who would pay the men, as he Mmself was going on a journey toManawatu. In this sheet an item occurred — " 23 days at 10s per day, 11 1os, for William Lawxence." Mr Plimmer discovered that only £10 had paid to this man, and had Haslem arrested on his return, conveyed into town in custody, and brought before a Magistrate on a charge of embezzlement. Ultimately the case was dismissed, and the plaintiff brought the present action. After the examination of some witnesses the Judge left the case in the hands of the Jury, who found a verdict for the plaintiff, with damages, £50, Captain Wheeler.— We are glad to learn that Captain Wheeler, of the Phoebe, will proceed shortly to England, for the purpose of bringing out the first Panama boat. Mr Scott, chief officer of the s.s. Phcebe will succeed Captain Wheeler in the command. Fatal Accident. — Two Children Dhowned. — On Thursday afternoon, the 2nd inst., amelancholy accident occurred in crossing the Ruamahunga river, at Waihinga, Wairarapa, by which two children belonging to Mr W. Mitchell, shepherd to Mr McMasters, were unfortunately drowned. From the information we have received, it appears that Mrs Mitchell and two children, accompanied by a female named Anderson, servant to Mr McMasters, were proceeding in a cart to Greytown. When crossing the Kuamahunga at Waihinga, the river being much swollen at the time by a freshet, and too high to cross, the water came over the body of the cart and washed them all into the river except the driver, Mr John McMasters, who leaped on shore, the bank being very steep at the spot. Mr McMasters succeeded in rescuing the two females, but the two children were carried down the river and drowned. One of the bodies was picked up shortly afterwards, the other was found by Mr Field, the Ferryman, on Saturday morning, under a snag, within fifteen yards of the spot where the accident occurred. The cart crossed at the old ford, which is about half a mile from the Government Ferry. The driver was unaccustomed to cross the river, and did not think it necessary to go to the Ferry-house. An inquest was held on the bodies, on the 4th inst,, at Jones' Grey Town Hotel, before Dr Spratt, coroner, and a respectable jury, and after a patient investigation, a verdict of " Accidental Death " was recorded. Rescinding of the Postage on Newspapers.—lt is satisfactory tolearn that thepre r sent Ministry has kept its pledge to remove the impost on newspapers in the shape of the penny postage, which, during the past few weeks, has been levied. At a recent Cabinet Council during Sir George Grey's brief stay, it was decided that on and after the 20th inst. the tax should cease to be levied. We anticipate that a proclamation to this effect will shortly be issued, meantime we give the statement as it has reached us from an authentic source. In its last issue the Advertiser has inadvertently committed an error. It is not on and after the 21st of March, as it states, that the tax ceases to be imposed, but on and after the 20th.