LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 2978, 9 April 1870, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

♦ . The Thicker Case.— Mr Fox and Mr Gisborne continued the Trieker investigation at the Gaol, yesterday, and brought it to a close shortly after midday. Mr Allan, as before, appeared for the Eeloase Committee, and the Attorney-General for the Government. The evidence was entirely directed towards Tricker's alleged confessions some years ago. The proceedings being of a private character we cannot of course speculate on the probable result, but it is probable that the Executivewill inform the committee of its determination prior to Mr Fox's departure for the South, which, it is expected, will take place next week. The New Steam Company.— We are glad to learn that the efforts now being made to form a company to purchase the plant and continue the business of the N.Z.S.N. Company are likely to meet with the most complete success. A meeting of intending shareholders and others interested in the project is to be hold in the Athenaeum on Monday afternoon next at half-past four o'clock, when the chair will be occupied by W. B. , Rhodes, Esq. Tidal Disturbance. — Some speculation was occasioned on Thursday morning by the discovery that the waters of the harbor were repeating, on a small scale, the irregularitios which were bo remarkably developed at the time the great earthquake of 1868 occurred in South America and the West Indies. The water was as smooth as glass on Thursday, but at frequent intervals, a heavy ripple waß observed some distance from shore, and the water would'then rush in some twenty or thirty yards, and as rapidly recede, in some cases quite as far below, the proper water line. The perpendicular rise and fall was probably never more than from six inches to a foot, but the alterations were exceedingly rapid and continued during the whole day. Some individuals attempt to account for the phenomena by attributing it to a heavy southerly sea setting in at the heads, bu" the idea scarcely affords a sufficient or satisfactory explanation. Others ascribe the disturbance to the occurrence of another tidal wave somewhere, and news from the localities exposed to such disagreeable visitations will be awaited with Boni9 interest. The United Clot. — The members of this establishment celebrated its formation by a dinner on Thursday evening, when a large number of gentlemen sat down to an admirable repast, provided by the well known caterer and manager of the new club, Mr Donnecker. Mr I. Oarley occupied the chair, and Mr O'Shea the vice chair. After the removal of the cloth the usual loyal toasts were duly proposed and honored, and then the Vice-Chairman, in suitable terms, gave the toast of the evening, " Success to the Club," which was received with much enthusiasm. Other i toasts followed, and a very pleasant evening was spent. The arrangement of the dinner was very satisfactory and greatly to Mr Donnecker's credit. The Wellington Quartz. — An Auckland paper says : — The half ton from Terawiti district was finished at Bull's this afternoon, and gave sdwfc retorted, or at the rate of' half an ounce to, the ton. Httet Market. — On Wednesday Mr J. B> Wallace sok 60 head of cattle from £2 to £6 per head, and 20 horses at from £1 103 to £10. The attendance was good, and judging from the competition store cattle are in demand. Daring Robbery. — On Tuesday night or oarly on Wednesday morning the public pound at Marton was entered, and a valuable dark bay filly branded FR. stolen. It had been impounded for trespass by Messrs Alls worth and Nioholls. The natives had much admired the animal during the day, and it is supposed they opened the pound by a false key, as the lock was not broken. Mr Coloman, the pound-keeper, on discovering the loss telegraphed the particulars to Wanganui and Napier, but it is to be feared the natives have carried off the animal into the interior, from which place there is little chance of recovery. The Rev. J. S. Muir. — We understand that this gentleman, lately minister of St. Andrew's Church in this city, has been very favorably received in Sydney, having received and accepted a unanimous call to St. Peter's Church in that oity. The Carandini Concerts.— On Thursday evening the performances were under the patronage of Commodore Lambert, 0.8., and the officers of H.M.S. Challenger. The band of the ship was also in attendance, and played some beautiful selections during the evening. Madame Car andini, her daughters, and Mr Sherwin sang with their usual excellence, and greatly to the satisfaction of a numerous and fashionable audience. Last night there was a very poor house, and Madame Carandini was unable to sing in consequence of severe cold. Miss Fannie, Mibs Roßina, and Mr W. Sherwin, however, provided an excellent evening's entertainment. To-night there will be no performance, and the company will only appear here on two more occasions — Monday and Tuesday evenings. On the latter, evening Miss Roaina is to take her benefit. On Thursday and Friday evenings it is announced that concerts will be given in Greytown. Death op Mb Wh. LtnoPOBD.-— We regret; to 1 notice in our obituary of to-day the demise of an old and respected settler, Mr Wm. Lnxford, who died at Berbampore Farm, on the 7th inst.,atthe advanced age of 74. Mr Luxford arrived in the Adelaide, in the year 1840, and has since that time bees a resident in the city of Wellington. Wellington Chobal Soonrrr.-tWe have been requested to state that the annual meeting of the Wellington Choral Spoiety, advertised to take place on the 18th inßt., will instead be held on the 11th. . :'

Bubglaey.— Yesterday afternoon on Mr E. Bannister, Secretary of the Loyal Antipodean Lodge, going into his office, in the lodge room,- he discovered the window broken and open, and the box containing the cash-box broken open. The articles were thrown about, and the cash-box was opened. The object of the thief must have been to search for money, but fortunately the receipts j of Wednesday were contained in a cheque, which •was left in the cash box, and their object was defeated. New Mail Line.— The "Southern Cross" sayß : — There is now in Auckland a gentleman of high commercial standing in San Francisco, as an agent on behalf of a wealthy steamboat proprietor, who is prepared to establish and maintain a line, if sufficient inducements offer. We refer to Mr Collie, of the firm of Collie, Stewart, & Co., San Francisco, who represents in tins matter, Mr William H. Webb, of New York, one of the wealthiest shipowners in the Eastern States. The following circular has been issued by Mr Collie's firm : — The San Francisco and Australian Steam»hip Line, calling at Honolulu, New Caledonia, Queensland, Sydney, and Melbourne, connecting with a branch steamer for Auckland, New Zealand.—The completion of the railroad across this continent awakens additional interest in establishing a first-class line of powerful ocean steamships between this port and Australia, and tho route through the tropical islands of Polynesia seems the most desirable for a high rate of speed and comfort to passengers. W. H. Webb, Esq., of 54, Exchange Place, New York, has this day empowered Mr Q-eorge Collie, of our firm, to negotiate with the Governments indicated on the route on his behalf for contracts with subsidies for a regular monthly mail to be performed by tho following magnificent side-wheel steamships owned by him. j_Here follows a list of the steamships, a full description of which appears in another columu.] These boats are unequalled for speed, passenger accommodation, comfort, and safety j originally built for tho North American Steamship Company, regardless of cost. — Collie, StewAKT, and Co.— San Francisco, January 26, 1870." Of course, the route as projected in this circular is out of the question. In the first place, it would not be possible for a large steamer to navigate, with safety, amongst the coral reefs and islands which He in the direct line between Honolulu and New Caledonia. In the next place, there would not be sufficient trade to warrant such a class of steamers touching at New Caledonia 5 and thirdly, the set of the ocean currents would render this routo as tedious as it is dangerous. But were such a line started, New Zealand could derive no direct benefit from it, and we should not be expected to contribute anything towards the cost. However, we are glad to find from Mr Collie, that the route would altogether depend upon the amount of support received from the respective Governments of 'the colonies interested. Now, it is quite evident that Auckland must be the port of arrival and departure in New Zealand — the first port touched at between Honolulu and Sydney, and the port of final departure on the return voyage— to reap the full commercial advantages which direct steam communication wifeh the United States would confer upon the colony. To such, a service, we ore certain the General Assembly would contribute." With all respect to the " Cross," we take leave to doubt the correctness of the conclusions arrived at in the last two sentences we have quoted. Teial Teep S.S. Loed Ashley.— The Circular Saw Company's s.s. Lord Ashley, Captain Wheeler, started from tho Queen's wharf, at 2 p.m. yesterday afternoon, on a trial trip round the harbor. There was a large party on board* comprising most of the leading merchants and citizens of Wellington with their lady friends. An excellent band was in attendance, and played a choice selection of music, which afforded much amusement to those on board. The steamer proceeded as far as Petoni, when the anchor was dropped, and the company retired to the saloon > ■where an elegant de jeuner a la fourchette was tastefully laid out. The sea air appeared to have an appetising effect, and the company evidently enjoyed the good things set before them. After ample justice had been done to a most sumptuous repast, W. B. Ehodes, Esq., in a highly complimentary speech, proposed tho health of John Martin, Esq., and success to the Circular Saw Company. The toast was drunk with the greatest enthusiasm. After the cheering had subsided^ Mr Martin returned thanks on behalf of the Company and himself, and said that it would ever bo his qonstant study to provide the best possible accommodation for the travelling public. C. J. Phaiazyn, Esq., then proposed, the health of Mr E. W. Mills, to whose spirited enterprise and skill they wero indebted, for having so successfully accomplished the repairs to the vessel on which they were now on board. He need hardly say — and he was sure that every one on board was imbued with the same feeling— that he wished Mr Mills every success. The toast was drank with acclamation. Mr Mills, in a neat and appropriate Bpeech, returned thanks. The health of Captain Wheeler and the officers of the vessel was then drank with all the honors, and Captain Wheeler made a suitable reply. The anchor was then weighed again, and the good ship proceeded on her way round the Island towards Wellington. The engines, which wero repaired by Mr Mills, worked most satisfactorily, the engines making 70 revolutions per minute, with a pressure of 191bs steam, and a vacuum of 26 inches. The speed of tho vessel was at the rate of cine knots per hour. Tho machinery which has had a thorough overhaul, worked iinootbly ; and the boiler, which has also been repaired, is now in first class condition. The ealoon and cabins have all been thoroughly cleaned, repainted, redecorated, and refurnished, and the Lord Ashley is now in a belter condition than she haa been since trading on this coast Mr Nancarrow, the Government engineer, was on board, and expressed himself as well satisfied with the manner in which the repairs had been effected ; with the working of the machinery, and the condition of the boiler. The steamer returned to the Queen's wharf about 5 o'clock, and the party expressed themselves as highly delighted with their afternoon's excursion, and previous to landing gave three hearty cheers for Mr Martin, three for Captain Wheeler and the officers of tho vessel, and three for Mr E. W. Mills. Floods ik New South Wales.— Sydney papers received via Auckland are filled with telegrams from all parts of New South Wales containing accounts of sudden and disastrous floods resulting in an immense destruction of property, and in several cases in loss of life.

The Flat Rock.— We extract the following from the Auckland "Herald of the 2nd inst., and are glad to hoar that our respected fellowtownsmen Mr Mills.hns.receivedahicrhly complimentary letter from the Government Engineer Mr Stewart for the very satisfactory manner in which he hns completed his contract. The " Herald" says :— " A large proportion of our population, at least of those who hovo come from the mother country, must have a recollection of the Flab Rock, as an object of interest on nearing the Port of Promise, but picturesque as it always appears— whether in fine weather the resting place of the seabird, or in the storm the sturdy battler with the northern waves— it has stood in the fairway of the vessels, always more or less an object of anxiety to the mariner. A beacon has lately been placed there by the Government and such an one as will, we believe, for the future, render the exact whereabouts of tho rock more of a cerlainty in broken weather. Tho rock is of irregular shape, and about 100 feet by about 80 feet, in dimensions, rises perpendicularly, being quite steep, too and is of the same formation as the Island of Kuwait, off whoso S.E. end it lies. The bencon, which was manufactured by Mr E. W. Mills, of the Lion Foundry, Wellington, is of hexagonal form with a diameter of 16 feet, 9 inches at its base. The apex formed by the standards which support tho cage is at an elevation of 32 feet 6 inches from the base, and every part is so thoroughly welded as'to leave no chanoo of a mishap, the whole ot the bolts more over being protected by coverings of Portland cement. At the apex a hexagonal ring, welded solid with spokes, nnd through which the standards are riveted, supports the cage, winch is 11 feet 3 inches in height and is surmounted by a pyramidal top, 3 feet 4 inches high, ending in a diamond-shaped finial, which shows alike in all directions. Tho entire height, of tho beacon is 38 feet, and in clear weather it can be readily seen at a distance of 7 miles. At present the j beacon is colored alternately red and white, but this does not seem to be a good color. When the final qolor is determinded on, it will be gazetted. The beacon arrived by the s.s. Phcebe, in charge of Mr D. Robertaon, and was shipped on board the cutter Severn, which was chartered by Government for the purpose. Mr James Stewart accompanied the expedition to the rock as inspector, and the beacon was erected m 13 working daysvery sharp work when we consider what had to to be done. The weather was very propitious, and everything went off well. Mr Stewart speaks highly of the workmanship of the beacon, especially of the more complicated forgings. The design was the work of the late Mr Balfour, and is excellent of its kind." New Foums pou Tklegbatihc 1 Messages.— The Post office in England have prepared for the use of the public, forms for telegraphic messages to be used when the whole system of inland telegraphs is acquired by the Government. The form is very simplo and complete, and differs in one or two important respects from those hitherto employed by the companies, and even what is used hero ; the novelties, it may be added, being decided improvements. Tho principal of these refers to arrangements of the words that make up the messeage. A seperate space in lines is alloted to each word, and the corresponding charge is printed clearly on tho margin, so that tho senders can see at a glance how much he has to pay; and the receiving clerk need be at no trouble in calculating how much ho has to charge. Each of the forms thus divided into spaces is prepared for a message of fifty words, which is assumed to be sufficient in tho great majority of instances. In the right hond upper corner of tho pageablank space is left for the stamps which will probably bo almost exclusively used to cover tho charge of transmission. Attached to the form are directions for the guidance of the sender, charges, and full information as to the arrangement of porterage. Probably tho Government hero will adopt similar forms. Ladt Oddfellows. — A Melbourne paper csavs that an interesting ceremony took place recently at a meeting in the Duke of York Lodgo room, Bush Inn, Elizabeth-street, for the purpose of conferring the degree of Rebekah on the wives of brothers who had attained the fifth degree. There were about one hundred ladies and gentleman < present. P. S. Brother Aiton acted as N. G. 5 : Brother J. Read acted as V. G. P. G. Brother Oriel Lee took the chair, and P. G. Brother Lainjr acted as chaplain. A number of ladies were affiliated, and it was considered desirable to open a lodge of that degree in Melbourne as early as possible, and a committee of brothers and sisters was formed for that purpose. The lodge was then closed with the usual formalities, and an adjournment took place to another portion of the hotel where refreshments were provided, and a very pleasant and agreeable evening was tho result. Mona: about the Spirits. — The literature of "Spiritualism" has received another, but private addition. Our English correspondent ia enabled to lay an account of a new and curious work before our readers. Lord Dunraven having kindly given his permission. We are bound to say that the evidence now adduced leaves the whole controversy precisely where it was before — indeed, there is nothing remarkably new in the testimony of the present witness. As for the disappearance of "brandy from a glass, it is a very common phenomenon in these parts. Great stress is laid upon the statement that Mr Home is capable at certain times of 'sitting in the air. Everybody who has been in India has seen the same thing done by a juggler, without apparatus of any kind. Mr Homo darkens the 'room before he appears sitting on nothing, but the juggler of India walks into your garden and suddenly appears six feet from the ground, sitting cross-legged, with nobody and nothing nearer to him than the grass. How does he do it ? We cannot explain any more than we can explain Mr Home's achievements. But the Indian only professes to be a juggler, while supernatural powers or agencies are said to be instrumental in enabling Mr Home to perform miracles. , A Legal Puzzle. — A widow, entitled during life and widowhood, to an annuity, marries secondly a widower, who was already her brother in-law through his first wife. Such a marriage of a deceased wife's sister is contrary to our law, and in this country void ; but the couple wero married and-live in a foreign country where conneotions of this sort are valid marriages. Has tho widow forfeited her annuity or not? In order to claim the yearly payment the widow has to make a declaration before a magistrate every twelve months that she is alive and still a widow. They have, therefore, to come to England onco a year, and she has made this declaration in tho presence of a county magistrate, i.e., of tho identical man who passes in the society of the place where they usually resides as her husband. Has the magistrate acted in such a manner as to deserve removal from the Commission ? The lady argues she is entitled to some benefit from the law which does her.so much harm ; tho gentleman that he is only helping his wife in a fair way ; but the whole case is a somewhat amusing legal puzzle. ' The Haib. — Of the numerous compounds constantly announced for promoting the growth or reproduction of the human hair, few survive, even in name, beyond a very limited period ; whilst Rowland's Macassar Oil, with a reputation already unpp.rallelled, is still on the increase in public estimation. The unprocedonted success of this discovery in restoring, preserving and beautifying the human hair, is too well known and appreciated to need comment. Theveryfactofitshavingstond the test of half a century of probation, and obtained tho especial patronage of her Majesty the Queen the Court, and the whole of the Royal Family of Great Britain, and of every court in the Civilised World, together with numerous Testimonials constantly received of its efficacy, afford the best and surest proof of its merits. Being universally preferred, its consequent great demand excites the cupidity of unprincipled shopkeepers, who vend the most spurious trash as Macassar Oil. It is, therefore highly necessary to see that the words " Rowland's Macassar Oil" are in two lines on the wrapper. The genuine articlo may be obtained of most of the principal Storekeeper!} and the Chemists throughout the country. Adrt. 16.