LOCAL MEMORANDA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 2785, 16 January 1869, Page 6

LOCAL MEMORANDA.

Whaka. Matt, a Maori, charged with the murder of a German pedlar, named Korncrup, was committed for trial on Dec. 19th. The Eaikoura arrived with the Panama mail on 21st December. On her arrival, two eases of small pox on board were reported and the vessel was consequently placed in quarantine ; subsequently, the passengers for this port were placed on board the steamer Lady Bird and the two sick persons were put in a lazaret in Evans' Bay. The disease has entirely disappeared. On Christmas Eve services were held in several of the places of public worship, and also on New Year's Eve. Boxing Day, as usual, was kept as a holiday ; many pleasure seekers went to the Hutfc ; picnic parties were numerous; there was the usual excursion of the Odd Fellows to Lowry Bay ; and the Hutt Cavalry Races came off on Petoni Beach. A meeting of the shareholders of the N.Z.S.N. Co. took place in Wellington on tha 29th ult. A motion that the company be wound up voluntarily was put and lost. The usual Caledonian Games came off on New Year's Day. They were very successful. The nett proceeds have been handed over to the East and West Coast Funds Belief Committees. A committee is now making great preparations for the Anniversary llegatta on the 22nd iust. Besides a considerable sum to be given in prizes, there will be added two handsome and valuable silver cups — one presented by Captain Benson, and the other by Shaw, Savill & Co. Captain Smith, It. A., who arrived here in 1839, died on the 3rd. He was at that time principal surveyor to the New Zealand Company, and had previously seen service in Gibraltar and other places. H.M.S. Challenger arrived on this station from Sydney on the 2nd inst. On New Year's Day there was the annual school fete at Johnsonville ; the prizes were given to the children by his Excellency the Governor, who, with Lady Bowen, was present. An extraordinary general meeting of the N.Z.SN. Company was held on January 5, to consider the directors' motion to reduce

I the nominal capital of the Company to £100,000, divided into 25,000 shares at £4, each ; but no business was done in consequence of an informality. A cricket match between the officers and men of H.M.S. Cuarybdis, and picked eleven of Wellington, came off on the 2ud inst., the latter were the winners. His Excellency the Governor, Sir George Bowen, and Captain Smith, aide-de-camp, accompanied by three Maori chiefs, left Wellington in H.M.S. Challenger, on a visit to the Middle Island, on the 9th inst. He arrived next day (Sunday) and lauded the day after, being received with great honor. Madame Anna Bishop, the celebrated singer, assisted by Mr Lascelles, singer and pianist, performed here on the evening of the Bth inst., and three other evenings. Lady Bowen has gone to Auckland ; her stay there will probably be an extended one. An inquest was held on Thursday, the 7th inst., in the gaol, on the body of William Matthews, a man of color, who was confined for vagrancy. Deceased, who died from general debility, was a native of Washington, and had been cook on board the Asterope. A lad named Johnson, son of a warder of the gaol, was upset from a cart in town on the 6th inst., and fell on his head. He was immediately conveyed to the hospital, where he soon after expired. A sale of English birds, brought here by the Wild Duck, was held on the 13th inst. They were imported by the Provincial Government, and included thrushes, pheasants, blackbirds, chaffinches, sparrows, and yellow hammers ; there was also a hare, which was sent down to Christchurch, to prevent his falling into the hands of local epicures. The ship Asterope left for London on Sunday last ; among the paesengers are Bishop Monrad and Mr and Mrs Vennell and family. Attempts are being made to start a distillery in this district ; also a soap and candle manufactory. The masters of the schooners Ruby and Kate have been fined £100 for having a contraband cask of ruin in their possession ; the cask was subsequently traced to the captain of the Asterope, and he was also fined £100. A concert was given by the Choral Society during last month for the benefit of the War Belief Fund. Recruits to the number of 200 have been obtained from Melbourne for the Armed Constabulary. Smith and Lenton'a Japanese Troupe have been performing here. They appeared in Melbourne during the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh and were under his patronage. Lieut.-Colonel Elliott is now in command of the Imperial troops in New Zealand, vice Colonel Beeton, who is returning to England. The Masterton Baces came off on the Mania course on New Year's Day ; on the following day rural sports were held. Specimens of gold continue to be found in this district, but no field has yet been discovered. It is with feelings of the deepest regret that we have to record the sudden death of an amiable young lady, in the bloom of youth, the eldest daughter of an old fellowcolonibt, James Smith, of this city. The young lady died at the residence of Mrs Murch, Fiat Point, East Coast, on Christmas Day, after only a few hours illness. A singular coincidence in connection with this young lady's death is that ten years ago, on Christmas Day, her mother was taken from her young family, in England.