LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue XXII, 26 November 1867, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Presentation 01? Addresses to the Governor.—The presentation of valedictory addresses to Sir Georgo Grey took place on Saturday afternoon, in front of Government House. Addresses wero presented en behalf of fche public of Wellington, the Ministers of various denominations, the Freemasons, bhe Odd Fellows', tho Foresters, and the Rechabites. Unfortunately, tho affair was very ill-arranged, and did nofc go off wifch that, eclat which was expected ; bub ifc musfc nevertheless havo been gratifying to fcho Governor fco recoive so many testimonies ofthe appreciation with which hia services aro regarded. An address from the Roman Catholic clergy was presented to his Excellency privately just before the ceremony ; and it will be remembered thafc the ministers of the Church of England lately expressed to bis Excellency their sentiments on tbo subject; of his approaching departure from tho colony. Willis Street Free CnußOii. — By appointment; of the Presbytery, a sormon was preached afc this church on Sunday morning last, by fcho Rev. Mr Allswortb, to declare fche pulpit vacant by fcho resignation of tho Rev. Mr Moir, and thafc the charge had beon transferred pro tempore, to the Rev. J. Hall. In fche afternoon, the Sunday school children assembled in the church, and wero addressed by fche Rev. Mr Allswortb. Tho evening service was conducted by the Rev J. Hall, who preached tin eloquent sermon from tho text " Let brotherly love continue." N.Z.S.N. Company. — We remind tbe shareholders of this company that an extraordinary general meefcing will be held at Iho Athonteum afc 2 o'clock this afternoon, for tbo presentation of tbi* report of fche directors and tbo balance sheet for the half-year ending 31sfc August, 1867. I Vestry Meeting.— A special vestry meeting I of the parishioners of Te Aro will bo held in Sfc. Peter's schoolroom fchis evening, for the purpof c of considering matters relating to tho parsonage land. Customs Revenue. — Tho Customs' revenue received at this port during the last two days amounted to £351 9s lid.

The Goveenor. — We believe it; is his Excellency's present intention to proceed to Kawau by the Sturfc fco-morrow, bufc ifc is quito possiblo thafc he may nofc leave till after that time. He will bo accompanied by the Hon. J. C. Richmond, Commissioner of Customs, and Major Gray, A.D.C. The Sturfc will call at Opotiki and Tauranga on her way up the East Coasfc. No. 1 Comfany W.R.V.— -This Company held a meeting afc Barrett's Hotel last night, Captain Mcßarnetfc in fche chair, for the purpose of electing subaltern officers and tbe transaction of other important business. The minutes of tho last j meeting having been read and confirmed, fcho I Secretary of the Band Committee read their report, tho substance of which vra.o, that as fcho Artillery Company bad resolved upon forming a band oftheirown.theCommifctee had opened negotiations wifch the members of the City Band, who, fchey believed, would agree to act if remunerated for any loss of time from their employment which i heir attendance upon the corps might occasion. In accordance wifch a resolution passed at a previous meeting, the report also suggested the getting up of a concert; for tho purpose of raising funds for the establishment of a band ; and also, that subscriptions should be raised from amongst the members. The Secretary then stated fchafc ho believed tbe expense of a band would bo about; £80 a year, and also that the members of the City Band would nofc object; to be sworn in as members of tho corps. After somo discussion on the subject, a resolution was passed thanking fcho Band Committee for thoir past services and requesting them fco continue their negotiations in accordance with the report. Mr Barron was then elected Secretary to the corps in tbe room of Mr F. Stevens, resigned. A resolution was passed making it imperative upon proposers of candidates I for admission to tbe corps to state the age and j occupation of such candidates. Tho election of , subalterns then took placo, whon Messrs H. Eliotfc, Harkwrigbfc, E. Stevens, Macdonald, and F. Allen were nominated. A ballot was taken, which resulted in Mr H. Eliott being declared to be elected lieutenant, and Mr C. P. Macdonald ensign. Somo additions and alterations wero made to fche rules and the meeting then broke up. Twenty-eighth Annivebsaby.— The Anniversary Committee will meet at Osgood's to-nighfc ab eight o'clock. Accident. — A gentleman named Woodcroffc, recently arrived in Wellington, was riding along i the Hutfc road, aboufc a mile and a-half on this ( side of fche Hutt bridge, about four o'clock yesterday afternoon, whon the horse shied afc -somo cattle and Mr Woodcroffc fell from his seat and broko his lower leg bone. He was conveyed to fcho Bishop of Wellington's residence in town, whero the broken bone was set by Drs Grace and Akers. Suspected Aeson. — Yesterday afternoon, three men named Edward Buckridge, William Buckridge, and George Edwards, were brought into town from tho Hutfc and locked up on suspicion of having set fire to a stable attached to the Albion Hoiel, at the Hutfc. Tho stable in question was discovered to be on fire aboufc three o'clock yesterday morning, bufc fche flames had fortunately nofc gofc much hold, and were extinguished by the 1 landlord of tho hotel, Mr Death, with the assistance of his neighbors, before much damage bad been dono ; the only things destroyed being some harness and fodder. Me O'Reilly's Case.— The trial of Mr Ferral O'Reilly on a chargo of perjury will take place in i February afc fche sitting of fche Supreme Court to be held in Wanganui. Foegery. — A man named John Reynolds has been committed for trial on two charges of forgery. It appears thafc ho gave forged cheques in tho namo of Mr J. Chadwick to some of the Wanganui hotel-keepers. Departure or the Troops. — The Wanganui Chronicle of the 21st insfc. says :— -The last or all but the last of the last regiment of British troops— the 18th Royal Irish — which remained till now in this quarter left Wanganui by the s.s. Rangatira yesterduy afternoon. These were the companies of Capt. Danbeny and Lieut. Marsland, with head-quarters. Tho band played from the barracks to the steamer, and afc starting-struck up " Auld lang syne." There was a largo number of townspeople assembled on fche wharf, and as the steamer moved off they gave the departing soldiers a hearty cheer, which was as heartily responded to. This detachment goes to Auckland. Sui-eeme Covet Sittings. — Afc length if; has been definitely settled that a sitting of the Supreme Court will be hold afc Wanganui in February. The Times says : — The Hon. fche Attorney General has written with a view to obtain tho Odd Fellows' Hall for fche Sittings nf the Supreme and District Courts, and tho veiy reasonable terms on which tbo accommodation has been offered by tbe Hall Committee is a guarantee fchafc tho arrangement will afc once be completed. This is a great boon to the people of fche town and surrounding districts. The hardship, trouble, loss of time, and expense attendant on the prosecution of cases sent to Wellington for trial pressed so heavily upon parties concerned thafc to seek justice was looked upon as no trifling punishment ; and to be subpoenaed as a witness entailed such a heavy loss of time and money that men of business avoided ifc as much as tbey could. For these reasons crime was frequently allowed to go unpunished and complaints were heard on every side. That state of things might continuo as long as tbo public remained quiescent, but we are happy fco say fchafc tho action taken has had tho desired effect. The Case ov Aeson.— Tho Nelson Examiner of the 19th insfc says : — Mrs . Wilson, who was apprehended on fcho Coroner's warrant, on suspicion of having set firo to tho Masonic Hotel, on Thursday week last, was brought up before tho Resident Magistrate on Saturday last, when sho was remanded for a week. Maguire $ ono of the lodgers in the Hotel, has also been arrested on suspicion of being implicated in the. transaction. Native News. — A correspondent of the Southern Cross, writing from Katikati, Tauranga, states that Mr Skeet and Mr Pifccairn had paid a visit to a neighboring Hauhau village. In reply to questions from the natives, Mr Skeet said that he would not, in the survey operations, interfere wifch any ofcher settlements, nor carry roads through them, as was done at Paengaroa and Moerangi. The Pirirakau havo cautioned tho surveyors against straggling too much, as they say there are wandering parties of the Ngatiporou about. Tho surveyors are busy laying oufc a road across fco Waikato, and are about throe quarters of a mile into the bush. Tatjeanga.— Tho settlers of Tauvanga were leaving in considerable numbors for the Thames diggings. A meeting of the inhabitants of Tauranga was held recently to raiso funds for the purpose of despatching a prospectihg party into the interior. Thero was only a small attendance,. Vfr Harness occupying the chair. Two prospectors of a former party were in attendance, audi spoke very sanguinely of tho success of fche undertaking. 'After some discussion, however, the meeting broko up wifch no practical result,