LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2480, 14 February 1867, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

G-ejjerali Assembly. — The General Assembly has been further prorogued (,ill the 29fch April. Customs Notice. — A notice has just boon issued by tho Commissioner of Customs, to tho effsv.fc that any article imported for tho service of any of the Provincial Governments, nnd at the public charge, shall be admitted to entry frees of duty. Cktckei? Match:. — A cricket match between a Wanganui eleven and a like number of players from the Kangitikei Club, came off on tho 2nd inst., resulting in ft victory on the part of the latter, with seven wickets to spare. Stjum: Navigation Act. — All appointment a of inspectors or engineer surveyors under " The Steam Navigation Act, 15G2," have boon revoked. District Court. — His Honor Judge Ward will open a sitting of this Court, on Saturday next, tho 10th inst. The following cases fire on ' the list for trial :— J. IT. Wallace v A. Swainaon, £83 Is Id, i'or goods sold and delivered ; D. An-dori-on v C. Hewitt, £33 'Is 9d, goods sold and delivered ; Same v C. Fawns, £35 Is, goods sold and delivered ; Same v A. S. Allan, £28 17s sd, goods sold and delivered ; W. P. Pickering v J. Wallace, £80, money received. ; Telegraphic Communication. — The telegra - phi(j communication with tho Southern provinces was interrupted on Tuesday, nnd up till four o'clock yesterday afternoon, when it was again resumed. Supkkkmr Court. — His Honor Mr Justice Johnston will probably arrive from Napier in tho steamship Phoebe, to-day. Fxrk Brigade. — Tho members of the Wellington Voluntocv Fire Brigade met for practice last evening. Town Board Deputation.— Tho deputation appointed by the Town Board to wait on tho Superintendent and bring before him several important questions in connection with tho City's intorcsts will meet His Honor to-day. Tub Waitara Township.— We sco by. the Government Gazette, that a township has been laid out at tho mouth of the river Waitara, to bo called tho town of Raleigh, nnd that it is likely to be soon put into the market. Tho upset price of tho allotments ranges from £30 to £10 each.

The Superintendent.— -His Honor tho Superintendent returned to town by Cobb's coach on Tuesday evening last. Resident Magistrates Court.— -Tn the Re. sidenfc Magistrate's Court yesterday, the Bench was occupied by W. R. E. Browne, Esq., J.P. James Crosbie, charged by Constable Burko with drunkenness, was fined 5s and costs, or in default^ 21 hours' imprisonment with hard labor. D. Anderson applied for a warrant of ejectment, t against W. Ockcndon, but the application was adjourned till Thursday. Surrr.Y of Fjie.sh Water.— Wo are glad to find that the Jetty Water Wo-ks aro likely to be made use of by other than masters of vessels. The City Meat Company havo just had a head of water laid on in their premises, thus adding still further to the excellent arrangements of their establishment, which we believe to be ono of tho most complete of its kind in New Zealand. Mutual Investment Society. — Wo draw the attention of members to tho fact, that a special meeting of the Society will bo held at tho Athenssum this evening, at eight o'clock, for tho purpose of making such alterations in tho rules as shall bring them into conformity with tho Building and Land Societies' Consolidation Act, 18G6. Anniversary Committee Meeting. — A meeting of the Anniversary Committee was held at tho, Pier Hotel on Tuesday evening, when a balance sheet was laid on the table, showing a surplus (when all subscriptions aro got in) of over nine pounds, which will be handed over to tho Foresters' Hall Building Committee. Votes of thanks were passed to tho Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer, and also to Capt Mclntyre, for the very able manner in which he attended to the placing of tho boats, &c., at tho Regatta. The Secretary wus instructed to write to Messrs Shaw Saville & Co., requesting that firm to offer an annual prize of a silver cup, to bo competed for at the Wellington Regatta, as is done by them at tho Auckland and Otngo Regatta, Tho letter will be intrusted to the care of Capt Bishop, of the Wild Duck, who will be requested to use his influence in tho matter. The Interprovincial Cricket Match. — We understand that it lias been decided the Interprovincial Cricket Match shall take place in Mr Tom Clapham's psuldocks, Thorndon, as no other suitable piece of ground can be obtained. The Wellington eleven meet for practice on the Mount Cook Parade Ground this afternoon at four o'clock. Tho Nelson team may bo expected in the steamer Wellington on Sunday, and will leave for Nelson ag.iin on the following Wednesday. Photographic Views.— We have much pleasure in drawing nttention to photographic views of tho new Scotch Church on Lambton Quay, and the Roman Catholic Cathedral, now exhibited in tho show window of Mr Richards' School of Photography. The latter view is a marvel of photographic art, eroi'y line in the delicate tracing of the building coming out clear and distinct, and the position from which tho artist took his view was so well chosen, that while the building is shewn to perfection, there is no other object to distract tho eye, a fault which often mars the effect of tho best photographs. The view of tho new Scotch Church, although it doc 3 not equal that of the Cathedral, is abo very faithful and clear. It always gives us pleasure to notice colonial works of art, of whatever kind thoy may bo, and wo shall not fail to draw public attention to any that may come under our notice. Tea Meeting. — On Monday evening last a tea meeting was held in the School Room at Karori, to celebrate the fifth anniversary of tho Karori Total Abstinence Society and Band of Hope. Upwards of 200 persons sat down to an excellent tea, aftor which a public meeting was held, Mr M. Road in the chair. Somo very appropriate and interesting addresses were delivered by Messrs J. Roay, W. Johnson, J. Godber, and W. Fawcott, and tho presence of tho members of the Independent Order of JRochabitcs, Hope of Wellington Tent, wearing tho insignia of tho Order, imparted a very gay appearance to (ho room. The wholo of tho proceedings wero of the most patisfactory characlei*, and cannot fail to give an additional impetus to tho cause of total abstinonce in that district. Penny Reading. — We understand that tho Rev J. S. Muir will give a reading at the Temperance nail, at oight o'clock this evening. Subject—" Illustrations of Waverly." 1 Wellington Savings' Bank.— Persons who havo deposited moneys in this Bank will be gratified to learn that the Managing Committee have resolved to raise the rate of interest allowed on deposits to six per cent on and after tho Ist prox. That tho affairs of the Bank aro in such a condition as to justify this increase, is a fact which speaks volumes for tho careful management of the Committee, and it will no doubt cause a large accession of depositors in tho Bank. Post Office Savings Bank. — In reply to a memorial from certain residents in Wanganui, the | Chief Secretary of the Post Office has informed tho memorialists that arrangements aro in progress for tho extension of the Post Office Savings' Dank to sovcral country Post Offices, and that I Wanganui will be one of tho first places to which it will be extended. Tho Postmaster-General is unablo to fix the precise- dato at which tho Bank I will be opened, but it will no doubt bo an early one. Stamp Duties. — Caution. — Tho following important notice has been issuod by Mr C. T. Batkin, for tho Commissioner of Stamp Duties : — " The attention of the public is called to section sixteen (16) of the Stamp Duties Act, which epeciGcs tho instruments ou which tho duties payable may bo denoted by adhesive stamps aflhcod by the makers or holders. On all other instruments, the stamp must bo affixed at tho Stamp Office, any Btamp not so affixed is of no avail, and the instrument to which it is affixed is unstamped within tho moaning of tho Act. All instruments required to bo stamped after execution (except thoso specified in section 16) must be presented at tho Stamp Office, witluu ono month after tho date of the execution or thoy are subject to a fine of twenty por cent on tho value of tho Btarap to be affixed." I

Beloravia, — Hie second numbor of "Belgravia" is before us, and is as well got up as tlie first. Miss Braddon's talo, " Birds of Prey," is becoming interesting. Following the example of another distinguished novelist of the present day, j she allows her hero to accomplish his purpose in the first part of the story, and intends apparently then to trace out the conaoquenc )3 of the deed I The first book close 3 with the death of Tom Hal- ■ liday, by whose hand is obvious. In the second book, Captain Horatio Pagetis introduced, whose character is drawn with those graphic touches | for which Miss Braddon is so distinguished, and who is evidently destined to play an important part in the story. A papur on " Jacob Snider," the inventor of the breech-loader gun, by J. Scoffern, M.8., is capitally written, though with an evident bias in fnvor of the subject of the article. "Stage Jewels," by Button Cook, is not particularly briUitmt. The second part of the " Iron Casket" fully equals the first part in interest. A light article "On Balls," by Percy Fitzgerald, is pleasantly written, and contains some useful hints on the subject. Articles on "Hill Scandals," by L. Laman Blanchard ; " Faust— Dra- ! mutieand Legendary," " University Union Clubs, 5 ' "Through Cornwall," by Mortimer Collins, serve to make np a very interesting number. We must not forget to mention a charming little poem,! called " A Sunset Idyl," by Quallon. l Illustrated Bible. — Wo have had much pleasure in inspecting in Mr Farmery's shop, Lnmbton Quay, several numbers of an illustrated Bible which is being published in parts by Messrs Caasell, Pettcr, and Galpin. The work is of large size, and the illustrations are woodcuts by Gustave Dore, whose productions have lately been most eagerly sought after, and havo raised him to a high position amongst the famous artists of the present day. In London and Paris, Gustavo Doro is quite " the rage." One of his most remarkable works is a series of illustrations of Dante's Infernos, but even thia is considered to be surpassed by his illustrations of the Bible. At present, only eight parts, each containing four illustrations representing *emarkablo scenes described in the Bibie, extending to Numbers, have been published. The most beautiful of these plates we consider] to be tbosc representing the infliction of plagues on the Egyptians, Moses left in his cradle on the bnnk3 of the Nile, and his being found by Phuroah's daughter. These two latter arc splendidly conceivod and well executed. They arc not the only plates worthy of notice, but our space compels us to be brief. We can well recommend our readers to pay a visit to Mr Farmery's, and see for themselves. Wellington Races. — In another column will be found tho programme of the forthcoming races at the Hutt. It differs slightly from that of last year, a pony race having been added to tho second day's list. Tho value of tho Jockey Club Plate is the same as last year — £50, added to a sweepstakes of £3 each. The value of tho Wellington Silver Cup has been increased to £40, added to a sweepstakes of three soys. each. All entries are to be made at Osgood'a Empire Hotel, between 9 and 10 o'clock on Wednesday evening, the 20th pros. ; but in ordor to aeeommodato owners residing in other provinces, all entries sent by letter bearing the post mark of the 20th, will be considered as made on that day. Wesluyan Sabbath School. — Tho annual tea meeting in connection with the anniversary of this school, was held in the school room, on Tuesday evening last, when about 200 persons sat down to tea, the dispensing of which wns entrusted to the ladies. Shortly after seven o'clock tho church was lighted up, and after a hymn had been sung and a prayer offered up, the Eev. I. Harding called upon Captain Thomas to preside. The Chairman delivered a short and impressive address, and tho report was then road by Mr John Dixon, from which it appeared that 325 childron are on the books, being an increase of sixty-seven on the number reported last year. The teachers had raised, by their own exertions, tho whole of tho funds required for an enlargement of the schoel house j and the facts generally detailed in tho report showed a very healthy state of affairs. The Rev. W. Watkin, of the Hull, moved tho adoption of tho report, which was seconded by (lie Roy. I. Harding, and carried unanimously. Addresses were then delivered by Mr James Smith and Mr Fraser, of the day school. We must not omit to mention the excellent manner in which several pieces were sung, principally by the children, which greatly enhanced the pleasure of the visitors. The meeting altogether was one of the most interesting of tho kind we have attended for some years. Tholotnl proceeds of the soirbe and meeting will be nearly £10. Captain McDonnell. — Wo regret to learn that a Medicnl Board havo given an opinion to the effect that this gallant officer will not be fit for duty for at least twelve months. The Wangamd Times says that at tho special invitation of Sir George Grey the gallant captain has left Wanganui, and will reside with his Excellency in Wellington for somo time to come, with the view to more speedy recovery to health. Cunior3 Discovery of a Murderer. — Tho Rohart Town Mercury of the 29th ult tells the following story : — " It will be remembered that there was recorded in this journal on 20th Fob., 18G0, an account of a most fearful double murder, which had been committed in Adelaide strcot, on tho morning of tho 18th of that month, tho viotims of the ulmoafc unparalleled atrocities committed in the perpetration of the dreadful crimes being an old man namod George Tickner, and Mary Tickner, his wite. Circumstances led at that time to tho conclusion that theso atrocious murders had not been committed for the moro purpose of plunder, or that, if it wore so, tho murderer hud failed in his object, 200 English sovereigns and other property having been afterI wavdß found in an out -house near the promises, 1 whero it had boon concealed by the old man in his lifetime. Tho dreadful nature of tho crimes, and tho almost unheard of brutality with which the murders were committed, caused* tho groatest excitement at the time, and several parties were apprehended on suspicion of having been engaged in tho bloody deed, but were discharged after magisterial inquiry ; and tho atrocious crimes, so far as regarded tho perpetration, havo since remained enveloped in mystery. Now, howovor, it; \yould appear that all thatrelaled to their perpetration is about to be cleared up, information having reached Hobarb Town within tho last few days ■ , that a man named James Baxter, formerly a con- ' stable in the Ho'sart Town police, had delivered

himself up to the police authorities at LyfctelfeSi h New Zealand, confessing that her was th» murdover of tl\e abovo unfortunate pair, adding that if the authorises at Hobart Town wool* pond Detei t've Vickers over to LyttcUon ho would make a full confession of- tho whole of th»" facts conneetod with the dreadful crime. And acting upon this information, Vickera wa» ordered to proceed to LyttcUon, to take charge of Baxter, and left here for that purpose in the Witch of the Teos, barque, whiefcsailed hence for Invercargill on Saturday lasfc£ and it may be expected, therefore, fchab further details will shortly arrive. The above are 6k* whole of the particulars which it is desirable aft. present to make known in reference to thesamurders, and which, for obrious reasons, hay*. been held over until the Witch of the Tees war, well clear of the port." A " Pdtpy." — In tho "Resident Magistrate** Court at Wanganui, on Friday last, Mr Robert Kidd, a settler, charged Lieut. B. J. Marsland,o£ H.M.s 18th Uegimont, with assaulting him at thft ! Weraroa Redoubt on tho 2nd inst. According ! to plain tiff's account, about half-past five o'clock' I on the afternoon in question, ho went from Pate* i to Wereroa on busiuess, and when near th« Weraroa redoubt he observed some hurdles erected on tho side of the road and put hia horse thjumpt one ; after refusing once the hor3O went over thVsecond time. The hurdles did not protect any garden. Coming round the corner of the redoubt he saw Mr Marsland. The Jutfcer said he wo.ul<£ placo him under arrest ; to which plaintiff Wr plied it was more than he dare do. Defendant then called the guard for the" purpose o£ placing plaintiff under arrest; upon this plaintiff dUr mounted and said, " You are a puppy." At th*~ time he said this he was standing beside hiahorwj with a loaded whip in his right hand whilo tvitfit his left he was taking the reins over the hone** head; defendant immediately seized the whif; out of his hand and struck him with the hearjr sido over the right temple. Plaintiff had on %■■ felt hat at the time, but was stunned by the blou^ and bled profusely, the blood nearly blinding him ; defendant then reversed the whip and proceeded to Hog him across the thighs. Plaintiffs bore tho marks at the present time. The guard. then marched him out of the camp. Plaintiff believed some Maories found him and conveyedhim to their place [Perokum]. The principal. witness called for the defence was color-sergeant ! Walsh, whose version of the affair, however, didv. not differ materially from that of the plaintiff^ excepting that he said the latter had made use «£. some irritating language before he was struck. MrRoberts,, for the plaintiff, asked the Court to send the case to the Supreme Court. Th« Bouch, however, after retiring for a short timst, fined the defendant £5 and costs.