LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XX, Issue 2204, 11 May 1865, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Provincial Gazette. — A Gazette pub- . lished yesterday contains a proclamation appointing a sale of 5s lands in the'Rangitikei , district ; appointment of J. Elisha Smith as District Registrar of land at Wellington ; I appointment of Maillard Noake and James t Booth, Esqs., as J.P.s and Resident Magisr trates; appointment of W. M. Buller, G. ' F. Swainson, and James Booth, as judges under the Native Lands Act, and of Robert I Hart, Esq., as Revising Officer. The Wan- « ganui shipping and Custom Returns are also , given. The amount of laud sold in the pro- ' vince of Wellington during the month of April was 6,461 acres, 1 rood, for which ! £5,483 2s 6d was received in cash, and £75 I in scrip. Accident. — We regret to announce that t a serious accident, which, might have ter- , minated fatally, betel Mr John Dorset, some time during the early part of the week. ■ We have not heard any of the particulars, - beyond the bare fact, that, while the unfor- . tunato gentleman was returning to his , father's station, near Masterton, on a very spirited horse, he was thrown violently on 5 his head, and was picked up insensible, Doctors were at once sent for, but none j were able to attend, and he remained in the same state when our informant left the distriet,thrce days after the uufortunateaccident occurred. Band of Hope Meeting. — The Band of Hope held a meeting in the Wesleyan , School Room, Manners-street, at which upwards of sixty children attended. Messrs '- Tolley and M. Read addressed the meeting, . after which the various prizes were awarded. i A collection was then made, and the sum rep ceived amounted to £4 ss. Cabs. — Is Wellington to have a stand ? In time we trust so. A bonafi.de Hansom or two, and an importation of that peculiar 1 specimen of humanity, the genus London 1 cabman, would be an improvement. The im- \ mortal Thackeray used to affirm that the true West End cabby was a much maligned creature, and we must say that in spite of the various charges against them, we always - found them not so black as they wero painted. . Beyond a l-abiJ disinclination to take their . proper fare, and an incomprehensible way of always taking the longest road, the cabman • as a man, is not a bad fellow. We notice 1 that the Lady Darling, has upon her manil fest, " 3 cabs aud 3 horses " to draw them. L Yesterday these vehicles were plying about the street, and apparently with success, as they were never empty. After all, these , vehicles, though good enough in their way, s are rather uncivilized looking conveyances, , too much in the jaunting car line, and better adapted to country lanes, than to busy 1 streets. The West Coast " Times." — Wo are in- ' debted to the courtesy of Captain Hodge, of the Ketch Mary Louisa, for the first copy of the above journal, which has been published. ; Messrs Taylor & Co., the proprietors, have i evidently taken great care in the getting up of our new contemporary, which must be a great treat to the public at the Hokitika. We extract the following commercial intelligence : — "Notwithstanding the very in- ' clement weather prevalent during the past fortnight, the yield of gold continues, so far , as we can learn, very satisfactory. Within fourteen days over 12,000 ozs. have been exported, aud, we believe, we are within the \ mark when we say that 10,000 ozs. are now in hand, aud awaiting shipment. If the state of business may be taken as a criterion of the prosperity of the Held, -we have very good reason to bo satisfied ; as, notwithstanding the immense increase in the number of stores, all seem to be doing well, and few complaints are to be met with. We believe, however, that too much credit is being given, and observe with satisfaction that an effort is being made to substitute cash payments. The majority of our large storekeepers have been bitten too often on the Otago fields for them to pursue a systom of reckless credit here, but a warning is neither unadvisable nor unnecessary. We aro unable at present to furnish quotations, as extreme reticence is observed in the matter of prices, scarcely two storekeepers selling at the same rate. In fact, till very lately, the supply being very uncertain, prices were entirely dependent on stocks in hand, and fluctuated greatly. Bread has fallen to Is 6d the 41b loaf {at some places Is) ; and meat, of which the market was a week ago quite bare, fetches now from Is to Is 6cl per lb. Timber has been reduced from £2 10s to £1 5s per 100 superficial feet. It has been offered privately as low as £1. Odd Fellows. — Sir Francis Murphy, at a recent lecture in Melbourne "on the Origin, Rise, and Progress of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Manchester Unity," stated the number of lodges in connection with the order was— ln Victoria, 101) ; New South Wales, 46 ; South Australia, 64 ; or a total for the three colonies of 219 ; the aggregate number of members being over 20,000.

Mr G. IT. Vennell's Auction Sale, — j At this sale which was hold at the stores of tho above, at 2 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, ■ there was a large attendance. Some slightly | damaged bales of cotton waste wore knocked ' down at I'rotn (3d to Bd, after which, a 1-rgc | and varied assortment of slops, drapery, i haberdashery, and groceries brought satis- i factor}- prices. Five ions oi'Patna race were [ then put up in lots to suit purchasers, and ; realized £10 per ton. Ale in bulk, was in ! grev.t demand, and after much compel ii ion ! sold at from £2 to i : 3 per hhd. Two pockets , of hops were disposed of at the rate of Gd \ per lb. We notice tliat Mr Vennell will! hold an important sale of valuable free- \ hold town and country properties on an early j date, which is not yet definitely determined : at Messrs Levin <fc Co.'s new stoics, Grey-street. The Hox. Mrs. Tolleuacite. — The will of the Hon. Gertrude Florinda Tollemache was administered to in the London Court by her daughter, the Hon. Frances Louisa, wife of the Hon. Algernon Gray Tolleinache, the ' residuary legatee, Arthur Hyde Denbj', Esq., of the Inner Temple, the surviving executor, I having renounced. The .testatrix was the i eldest" daughter of the late General Wm. ' Gardiner, niece of the first Viscount Mount- ' joy, and widow and relict of the Hon. Chas. Tollemache, who died in ISSO. Bank of New Zealand. — Wo recently i published the report and balance-sheet of this bank which were adopted at a meeting- ; held at Auckland on the 28th ult. Speaking i of this, the Cross remarks : — " We have ] much pleasure in calling attention to our re- ] port of the half-yearly meeting of the Bank - 1 of New Zealand held ye terday, and to the i Tery satisfactory report and balance sheet i presented by the directors. From these it 1 will be seen that the affairs of the bank are i in a very prosperous condition, and the best 1 proof of it is that a dividend of 10 per cent., 1 with 5 per cent, bonus added per annum, has i been declaimed, and will be payable at the i head office on Monday next, the Ist proximo, J and at the various branches on receipt of ad- i vices. The net profits for the half-year after ( providing for all bad and doubtful debts, ] have been £50,668 15s led., which, with i the undivided balance of the last half-year, f makes a total of £52,876 Ms 7d. Of this, 1 £33,68-1 los 2d is to be appropriated for divi- i dend and bonus ; £15,00 ) to reserve fund, i £1500 as a donation towards starting a guar- i antee and provident fund for the oilieers of * the bank, to which further donations are to i be added; and the balance, £2,691 19s sd. c is carried to profit and loss (new account.) i We congratulate the directors and share- ] holders upon the very satisfactory state of c the affairs of the bank, and we have the more s pleasure in doing so as it is a proof of the i sound and prosperous state of this province, j in which a vei-y large share of the business t is done. A Missing Purser.— The following ad- " vertisement appears in the 3larlborouqh Tress :— " Robert Duke, late Purser s.s. Queen, on the coast, JN T ew Zealand, during / part of 1862. Last heard of at Piston. Came j down in the Omeo, and went across to Wanganui. His mother is dead and left con- ' siderable property ; his wife wishes him to j return to Melbourne instantly. Hon. Mr. M.vntrll.— An address has s been issued from Mr Walter Mantell, to the ' Electors of the County of Wallace, announc- i ing his intention, on the dissoluticn of the i present parliament, not again to offer him- - self as a representative of that County in the ' General Assembly. ' After tub Shenandoaii.— The Federal steam frigate Iroquois sailed from Galle on ] the 25th of Februaiy, in search of the I Shenandoah. The port for which she was bound in the first instance was not known. Messrs JJethuxe axd Hunter's Sale. — ■ At two o'clock on Monday last, a large sale of horses took place at Messrs Bethune and Hunter's j-ards. A large number of bidders attended, and the prices realised were very satisfactor} r . Horses and marcs brought from £14 to £iK and geldings and fillies £(3 to £13. A fine donkey was also put up, and after much competition was knocked down at £4, 10s. Molkswohth Street. — Drivers of traps of all descriptions have often suffered from the very sharp and awkward corner where the Beach and the above named street join. This will very shortly be remedied, as we understand a twelve feet asphalte pavement will shortly be constructed and carried round the dangerous point in a gentle curve, completely cutting of the obnoxious angle. Resident Magistrate's Court. — The business transacted by the Bench yesterday consisted of reprimanding and discharging a couple of men charged with the prevailing vice of drunkenness. No other cases being recorded on the police sheet, the Bench only sat for a few miuutes. We notice that a number of interesting cases will be heard on the loth inst. Wellington Terrace. — Most of our readers whose avocations call them to travel along this up-hill and down-dale part of the city, must have experienced considerable relief at finding that some steps are being at last taken to smooth the difficulties of the way. It may be remembered that early last year Mr. Mason sued the Government to recover damages done to his property by the Tagaries of a large drain immediately in rear of his premises. The case terminated in Mr. Mason's favor, and the Government were mulcted of the sum of £180. Since then, the city surveyor, Mr. Skeet, has been employed, to widen the thoroughfare nine fed. Under his supervision the old culvert has been replaced by another, a stronger and a more finished one, surmounted by a neat wooden breastwork, nearly three feet high. It is the intention of the surveyor to metal the road, as soon as it is properly set, at present tho thick clay soil not being in a fit state. When all tho improvements arc completed, the walk over the terrace will be a perfect treat, which will, we doubt not, be very generally appreciated. . Common Sense Carleton. — Auckland's abuse of Wellington and the Weld ministry, (says the Hawke's Bay Herald), is as rampant as ever, especially on the part of one section of the press. The Herald, in one of its late issues, compares Wellington to the Bcullery maid in the kitchen and Auckland to the lady in the parlour. This is all very silly ; and we think that M"r Carleton's words in the Provincial Council should be well weighed by our friends in tho north. "He had one word," he said, '"' more to say ; there was a very strong feeling in Auckland just now, and very strong language was being used. He trusted there would be no moro, for nothing did more injury to Auckland., It only prejudiced Southern members, who were in opposition to the Weld Government, against us. The best rule was, when you had an unmistakably good case, to use the softest words and no weapon but that of reason and fair argument. On the contrary, had you a bad case, it was generally considered fair policy xo make a great show of indignation, and abuse the plaintiff's attorney."

Theatre Royal.— Fov the last few days, tlie Hall lms been crowded by the play-going public, and who liare witnessed the two pieces now produced, are loud in their praises. The burlesque of Cinderella was an xiikloiili{(vl Miccess. In it", we were astonished and delighted to perceive that the little pill box of a stage could be made to stretch. Jt was a mystery to us how largo and roomy, what to our knowledge was extremely diminutive. wa«L i^ade to appear under the cunning hand of an experienced sccnepainier. Messrs Towers &. Co., however, promised a still better piece, and they have kept faith by bringing out t!ie '' Colleen Bawn/' with entirely new scenery and mechauical effects. A few seasons ago, London was taken b} T storm, when Mr Di.in Boucieault started what was then termed " the greatest production of the day — the wonderful sensation drama — the Colleen Bawn." It was played for upwards of three hundred nights, and eacli time with renewed success. The cave scene was in cveiTbodys' mouth, and one eoulb not pass down a street in (lie West End without seeing Colleen li.iwn petticoats, and water cave waltzes in all the shop windows, to say nothing of " The Eily O'Connor coi[fcur, and EiJy's complexion wash." When Messrs Towers & Co. first introduced this chefd'ottvre of all modern dramas, we were of opinion that notwithstanding the high reputation of their company, they had attempted a piece very far beyond, not their powers, but the conveniences at their disposal. We went to the Theatre we candidly confess, prepared to see the Colleen completely hashed, but were agreeably disappointed. On witnessing the opening scene, "we fell: we had done the lessees an injustice, and during the performance, as scene after scene, the veritable caye — the moonlight view, and transparent waters, — in short almost the self same scenes we had been delighted with in the old country were again brought before us, we were lost in astonishment as to how it could by any ingenuity be managed. Mr Massey, the scenic artist, and Mr Hyder, the mechanist, have indeed muck to be proud of, for their joint efforts have gained for them the honor of producing, what has never before been seen in Wellington, a really exquisite and faithful representation of the loveliest part of that loveable place, the Emerald Isle. The acting of the drama was equally worthy of the reputation of the Company, and of the general get up. The heroine, Eily O'Connor, was bewitching. Miss Marian Dunn was unusually happy in the reading of this difficult character. With all the espicy/lerie and fascinations of the wild Irish girl, on the Banks of Killarney, she imparted to the character that air of simplicity, which it is so difficult to assume. Ann Chute was ably represented by Miss Maygie Griffiths, and Miss Flora Anstead looked Mrs Cregan to the life. We have noticed with pleasure, the rapid improvement made by Miss Flora Anstead since she first came among us. When we saw her as the French Countess we thought her dull and spiritless. The second time we visited the theatre, as LacVy Clara in Charles the Second, she was better, but in our opinion was rather stilted and ailected. The third time we saw her, as Mrs .Raby in Miriam's Crime, we were delighted. JN'otliing could have been more perfect than the make-up and faithful representation, which, deserved all the encomiums which she received. In " All that Glitters is not Gold," she had ono of the leading characters to fill, and well and ably she did it. Again, in the " Serious Family," her Lady' Sowerby Creamly will not soon bo forgotten. There is another member of Messrs Tower's talented company, who deserves notice, from the wonderful manner in which he has come out of late. We allude to Mr Batson, a young and promising actoi*, who bids fair ere long to take a high place in the dramatic world. Fn the " Colleen Bawn" the part of Jf ardress Cregan was assigned to him, and we greatly feared it would bo beyond his powers, but we were mistaken, the character must have been deeply studied, as it was represented in a. manner that would have added laurels to a known, actor. The Myles of Mr John .Dunn was, as might be expected, exceedingly rich, — from John Dunn what else could be looked for ? Who ever saw him either as a heavy father, or as a light comedian, without being perfectly satisfied ? John Dunn is too well known to [ require any further remarks. His style closely resembles Buckstone's and like that great man (corporeally and mentally) of Haymnrket celebrity, he never takes a character which he cannot sustain. Mr Frank Towers, as Kyrle Daly, was capital, our only regret being that such a minor character should be taken by perhaps the cleverest (in his particular line) of the whole company. We all know with whattenacityprofessionals hold to the characters best suited to their particular style, and it must have been after a sharp struggle that one of the lessees, voluntarily took a very minor part, in such a world renowned drama as the Colleen Bawn. Mr Howe, as Danny Mann, the boatman, acted well. It is a character that is suited to his style, fai' more so than many others which we have seen assigned to him. Plots of Pieces and Bradshaws, are notoriously incomprehensible,, therefore, wo shall not go into the various viscisitudes of the poor " Colleen," but recommend anyone anxious to know them to visit the Odd Fellows' Hall, and to read Gerald Griffin's " Students." The after piece, entitled "Mr and Mrs Peter White" brought down the house, and at the close of the performance, there was no doubt, as to the entire success of the company, and the approval of their audience. Tiik Isthmus of Suez Canal. — The following letter has been forwarded by M. Ferdinand do Lesseps to all the Chambers o( Commerce in .Europe : — '"' Paris, Jan. Ulst — Gentlemen, — A first communication is now open between the Mediterranean and the lied Sea. Since the Ist of January a daily boat service has been established from Port Said to Suez, and between Isrnaila and Zagazig. At the same time it serves all the intermediary stations of the Isthmus. I have recently made sevei'al journeys along the line of works. During each of these I have established tho facility of transit, and have also clearly obtained its recognition by tho .numerous distinguished visitors who have done me tho honor to accompauy me. In a large barque carrying from 2o to 30 persons, tugged by a steamer, for which the company is indebted to tho liberality of his imperial highness Prince Napoleon, we accomplished the 150 kilometres separating the two seas in 21 hours. These facts appeared to me oi a character likely to attract the attention ol , the different chambers of commerce which, in so many ways, are interested in the completion of the Suez Canal. The time has arrived when commerce must be prepared foi i tho opening up of this maratime canal tc vessels of large burden, and the Suez Com- . pany calls upon it henceforth to study witli i it the means of making use of a boat service which can already transport goods and passengers between the two seas along a con- • tinuous line of water at least one metre twenty inches in depth, and fifteen metres in breadth. With, this object, gentlemen tho adjaiaistratioa oS the company lias the

] honor to propose that you make choice of a j representative to proceed to Egypt, iv order i ; that he may report to you upon the; actual ■', slate of the works, upon the prospects pre- ., sented of their approaching conclusion, and , more; especially upon the resources at present . ■ furnished to commerce by the establishment : of a daily service for the transport of persons j and mercandise. In view of these operations | ; the company has ordered six small steam- j ■ tugs, to be delivered on the spot in four ' months. T trust llu>se circumstances will . j arouse the attention of the Chamber of Com- ! I merce of ; and if it will afl'ovd us the . ; assistance asked for, it would be convenient : I that the delegate it may choose should be at , Alexandria upon tho <>i,h of April next. I : ; myself shall be in Egypt to receive the dele- j j gates, and shall afford them every facility tor inspecting the works on the Isthmus, and will place at their disposal all information i which they may judge necessary for the accomplishment of their mission. Receive, i . gentlemen, the expression of my sentiments . ; of high consideration. (Signed) Ferdinand j i de Lessijps, President of the Universal Com- i • pany of the Suez Canal." This circular has ' I been addressed to the chambers of commerce of 28 cities. London, not possessing a chamber of commerce, an analogous letter has been addressed to the lord mayor, with I a request to communicate it to the Common j Council of the cicy.