LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXV, Issue 3042, 6 September 1870, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Coxokel Gorton and tiie Commodore's Ball. — Wo had thought De Quincey's picture of crimo, naconding in grndntion from murder up to Sabbath-breaking, quifco unapproachable in its way. A Wellington contemporary has, however, in a l'ocent issue tried to improve upon it. That paper has made repeated ut tacts on the Avmed Constabulary, and every recent issuo has laid some fresh charge ngainab the Comniiesinnor. From its Saturday's iesuo wo learn that the ne plus ultra of his wickedness has vow been reached. In his downward career ho has come to an " enforced pause," Murder has culminafcod in Sabbuth-bmiking. Ho hns been guilty of showing respect to Commmodoro Lambert ! Our readers may smile, but this is the " head and front of his offending." The ball to Commodore Lambert, lately given in this nity, was aptly do- | scribed by his Excellency as a grateful recognition

" bj tho colony " of tho efficient services of Commodore Lambert. To assist in this colonial demonstration was tho duty and privilege of a oolonial force, and accordingly » small detachment, under Colonel Gorton, was told off to assist in the preparations. With a praiseworthy alacrity they entered into tho duty, and the floor was prepared for tho dance by a new and ingenious process. A'hia hns brought down upon them tho scurrility (for wo cannot call it wit) of our contemporary. He describes it as doing " housemaids' duty," and talks of thorn taking " contracts for "bouse- scrubbing." Now is not this very oad ? Can our contemporary not even on such a happy occasion lay aside his cynicism ? Is it wise or generous to ridicule exertions which were kindly meant and enthusiastically rondcrod ? "Nature hath made strange fellows in her time," but in trying to make a jest of an officer doing hero what is a vory common duty at homo our contemporary outherods Herod. To sneer at what others praise and admire moy bo a mark of superior judgment, but it may also be a mark of something elsu which we do not wish to particularise. Wo heartily wisli the bilious author of tho ( paragraph in question a speedy restoration to health and sense, and for this end wo think he could not do better than join " tho band of heroes round tho Terrace in tho early morning." Perhaps wheu ho next refers to the Armed Constabulary ho will think of tho orders of tho oflicer in proparing the ballroom, which aeem to have made a deep impression on his mind, and " halt and wipe " (his pen), and " stand at ease," and 1 " spell, oh !" Heartless Cruelty Ik Tiie Assembly. — Last evening in tho House, on tho Water Bights Bill, Mr. J. C. Wilson cruelly proposed that the Speaker do leave the chair that day six months, only fancy tho hon. Speaker boing compelled to sit in his chair, like Alexander Selkirk, " Monarch of all he surveyed" for the space of six monthsFortunately some hon. members, the hon. member for Hcathcoto particularly, pointed out the hardship of such a motion, and the hon. member relented nnd withdrew it. Horticultural Meeting.— A public meeting was held yesterday at Mr Wallace's office to form a committee of management for conducting the horticultural bliows of 1870-71. Present — Messrs Bennett, Quarterman, Pethorick, Leppien, Cooper, Mantell, M'Nab, Budden, Stevens, and Mosley, &c. On tho motion of Mr Mosley, seconded by Mr Stevens, Mr J. H. Wallace took tho chair. Mr Quarterman proposed, and Mr Bennett seconded, that Mr Henry Travers be secretary and Treasurer. Mr Cooper proposed, Mr Leppien seconded, that a committee be formed of the following gentlemen — Messrs Penvco, Bannatyno, Mantell, Wilkinson, Bennett, Wallace, Budden, M'Nab, Stevens, Osborne, Montier, Huntly, and C. Seager. Carried. Mr Stevens proposed, Mr Budden seconded, that tho first committee meeting bo held on Thursday ovening next, in Mr Wallace's office, at eight p.m. Carried. A vote of thanks to tho chairman concluded the business, and tho mooting broke up. Boat Accident. — On Sunday throo of H.M.S. Challenger's crew who woro Hailing about tho bay in a small boat had tho misfortune to get upset, and narrowly escapod from being drowned. Tho accident occurred somo few hundred yards from tho shore at Kaiwarra. Tho men, however, clung to the oars, and made for tho t horo. The casualty being witnessed from the beach, a boat was immediately launched and sent to tho aid of the struggling sailors, who were picked up considerably exhausted, about half way from the shore. Beyond the ducking and a severe chill from their immersion, the men wero nothing tho worse for their misadventuro. Thk Club Robbery. — It appears that the empty cash box which contained tho money that was robbed latoly from tho " Club" has been found in tho cemetery. Wo hope that the apprehension of tho theives will follow tho discovery of tho box. Maori Orthodoxy. — It appoars that a new religious fanatacism has broken out in the country districts of this province that has led to a great deal moro excitement than attended the spoutings of Beauchamp, the Mormon Eider. Thero is this difference, however, that the apostlo of the new faith, who hours tho namo of Feist, instead o( proselytising by holding out tho bribo of polygamy, places his sole reliance in tho water cure, and accordingly goes in for cold douches. According to all accounts ho has been tolerably successful in making converts, as wo hear that no fewer than forty-throo persons havo joinod his standard. Tho | strangest part of tho affair is the hostility displayed against this new crazo by tho Maoris in j tho neighborhood of Palmerston. An informant tells us that he had occasion the other day to visit tho pa of tho Rangitano, and, relying on tho ÜBual hospitality of tho Maoris, with whom ho has been well acquainto i for somo time, ho was about entering tho pa without ceremony ; but ho soon discovered that ho had reckoned without his ho3t. Tho Maom barred tho way, and seemed doterminod to kuow whether their friend's " doxy" was tho correct thing, as they demanded to know, boforo allowing him to enter tho pa, whether or not ho had joiucd tho now PukehaHauhauism 2 For a joke, our informant told them ho hud done so. His Rangitano friends, who, by tho way, aro well known as tho most loyal Lapu in the whole island, seomod very much concerned at tho information, and refusod to havo anything further to say to him. Our informant soon found that his joko was ill-timed, as hia appetito was very keen after a long ride ; so ho tried to undeceive his nativo friends as woll na he could. It took somo time, however, boforo he could manage this, but ho eventually did so, and great was tho rejoicing accordingly. An impromptu dauco gavo evidence of their satisfaction, tho ovens wero soon filled, and our friend fared well that night. Ho describes thoso particular natives as been loud in thoir anathemas agninßt tho now Baptists, und soera astonished that Pakohas should tolerate hauhaus among them. R.M. Court. — Saturday's police business was exceedingly light, only ono inebriate presenting himself, who was muloted in tho usual penalty for a first offence. Body Found. — Tho remaina of tho man John Saundora, who was recently drowned in tho Tutanui sti'eam, was found within a vory short dtatance of the place whero he used to live. Mr Frances H. Mulloch, formerly emplojed by tho Bank of Otago as a clork, diod suddenly in Dunedin last Sunday. Ho was found dead in his bed in the Maitland Hotel.

Naval Departubes.— H.M.S. Galatea got up ; steam on Saturday morning, and about noon took 1 the Clio and Rosario in tow, and steamed out of harbor. The two former vessels proceed to Sydney, where the Galatea will undergo an overhaul. The Bosario, as wo said in a previous iesue, will take a cruise amongst the South Sea Islands. The appearance of tho bay during Saturday was unusually brisk. No fewer than eleven vessels left tho harbor on that day ; and many visitors wero in consequence enticed to tho summit of Mount Victoria to take a farewell look at tho departing . war vessels, from whence they watched tho Galatea cast off tho Bosario, which was soon alongside the ship Alexandrine, running away with a northerly wind ; the Galatea with the Clio still in tow on an opposite course. The Strait was dotted with sails at the time. The Comedy and JBtraiKSQtrE Company. — We were pleased to see an improvement in the audienco at the Odd Fellows' Hall on Saturday evening, when this talentpd company gave another performance. The bill of fare provided was an excellent one, consisting of the petite comedy of Perfection, the farce of Stage Struck) and the inimitable burlesque of Black-Eyed Susan. In the first piece, Miss Anna Fordo, as Kate O'Brien, both looked and acted charmingly, and the songs introduced into the piece wero rendered in a stylo veil deserving the plaudits they received. Those well-known ballads, " Erin, my Country " and " The Last Roso of Summer " were beautifully sung. Miss Jennie Nyo mad© tho most of the small part of Susan, her rendering of the character of the pert arch waiting maid being true to nature ; the ballad of " The Puth by the River " was exquisitely given and warmly applauded. As Charles Paragon, Mr Wolfe was exceedingly good, tho salient points of tho character being brought out in an artistic manner. Mr Searle's make up for Sir Lawrence Paragon was good, bb was his delineation of the character, Iv fact, this gentleman's forto seems to bo this lino of business, and one in which, if ho perse veree, we predict he will make a great success. Wo think, however, that he made Sir Lawrence a little 100 boisterous. The character of Sam was allotted to Mr Martin Forde, and could not have been in better bands ; as a specimen of the genus tiger ho was inimitable. In the farco, Miss Cassy Matthews, as tho stage struck heroine, was immense. The hoidenish maiden, whoso head has been turned by reading plays until tho real business of life is forgotten, was excellently pourtrayed, and the audience testified Vy their ■warm applause their recognition of her efforts. As Lady Scraggs, Miss Herbert had rather a thankless part, but she made the most of ifc. Wo look forward to see this lady in come of the parts in which sho was so successful in tho South, Miss Nye, as Poplin, had very little to do beyond looking charming and piquant, in which it is needless to say, she succeeded to admiration. Tom Tape, the Cockney tailor, whoio Thespian proclivities were so rudely nipped in tho bud, was vory successfully playod by Mr M. Forde. Mr Searle, aa Count Glorienx, made a capital Frenchman, and the Sir Matthew Scraggs of Mi* White was an exceedingly good piece of acting. Tho burlesque, with which tho performance concluded, went off splendidly. It literally bristles with puns, and tho incidental mueic with which it is studded gives ample opportunity for tho display of the vocal talents of the Misses Forde and Nye, which was fully taken advantage of by those ladies. As William, Miss Fordo was a most loveablo " bounding tar," and " shivered her timbers," &c, in true nautical style. Miss Nyo was tho Susan, and a charming Susan sho made. Wo must not omit to notico a charming duet by these two ladies, called " Liquid Gems," in which the clenr ringing tones of Misu- Fordo and the deep rich notes of Miss Nyo blended most harmoniously. Miss Cassy Matthews made a coquettish Dolly Mayflower, and Miss Herberte, as a smuggler bold, looked perhaps a little too well. Her appearance was too charming. Tho remaining characters wero admirably sustained. Tho performance last evening, comprised tho Hibernian comedy of " More Blunders than One," and Plancho's beautiful extravaganza oi "Onco upon a timo thero wero Two Kings." The first pieco went off very well, tho various parts being admirably sustained. In tho burlesquo, Mis 9 Casay Matthews as Queen Dominanta, was exceedingly successful ; Miss Nye sustained tho part of Corin, tho love-sick Shepherd, in her usual piquant manner ; and as Carpillona tho Princess, Misa Fordo was more than usually successful. Tho part of Amazonia was capitally sustained by Miss Herborte. Tho burlesqno introduced a new candidate for popular favor, and ono who will, we believe, become a prime favorite. We allude to Miss Lilly Forcle ( a little lady of somo twelve summers, who sustained tho character of Chloo in a manner which would havo reflected credit on an artiste of riper years. The other parts wero very creditably sustained. Tho burlesquo was put upon tho stage in a highly creditable manner, being mounted very carefully. We understand that the officors of H.M.s. Blanche intend giving their patronage on one night during tho present week. Tho company perform at the Hutb on Thursday next, tho Hall being engaged for an Odd Fellows' ball. Lecture. — On Saturday evoning, Dr F. Knox delivered a lecture, at tho Maori House, Colonial Museum, on the relation of anatomy to natural history, but the attendance was not largo. Though it is always a difficult task to deal with scientific subjects in such a manner as to make them interesting to an unscientific audienco, yet, by tho help of youthful reminiscences during hi* practice in Edinburgh, and lively anccdotoa picked up during a long life devoted to science, Dr Knox contrived to amuao as well as convey somo instruction to his audience during the space of an hour and a half. Arresting- Maobis. — A correspondent writes to the " Southern Cross" thus concerning tho late attempted arrest of natives at Shortland : — I have road with much surprise au account of of tho proceedings taken by Turton and others for the apprehension of Aperahama Te Eeiroa and To Moannnui for monoy*affairs, connected with tho land at the Shortland beach and diggings. Ido not wish to call your attention to the political aspect of the matter, nor do I question tho legal right of Mr Turton to advance at night with an army upon a native settlement ; but what I want you to reflect upon is this, that tho course adopted by these gentlemen has destroyed tho last hope of tho proceedings of tho Native Lands Court at Ohinemuri resulting in opening up that district.

When To Hira and the party who hold his view* observe that Taipari is in the Insolvent Court, and that Eeiroa and Moananui, both large owners of land in Shortland, are fleeing from Mr Turton'a civil army, they will naturally say, " Don't talk to us about the comfort, and happiness to be derived from opening our landa to mining. We had rather be as we are than like Moananui and the rest." Sir, I tell you that Mr Turton aud his coadjutors, and others of the same sort, have put an end to the last hope of tw Native Lands Court doing anything at the sitting which is shortly to take place. I fear we shall tee the more decided result of physical force being used to prevent any sitting at all. Novel tor a Colony. — An Auckland paper says : — Amongst our various local industries there is one which from its insignificance and the modesty of its proprietor is enveloped in obscurity; but we think the time has come when it should be dragged forth. Wo allude to the manufacture of artificial legs and arms carried oa by Mr Mason, Durham street. The mechanism of the legs is of a highly ingenious character, enabling the possessor of one of them to walk in such a way as to imitate very closely the motions of the natural limb, and the possessor of one of Mi 1 Mason's patent arms can use the fingers so as to hold a knife und fork, and perform a thousand other acts with almost wonderful dexterity after practice. Humanity forbids onr congratulating Mr Mason on the rapid increase of business which he hns experienced of late ; but he certainly deserves to be commended for tho careful skill with which he adjusts his patent limbs. Illicit Stills. — The " Lyttelton Times" says : — For Borne time past it has been surmised that an illicit still or stills has been at work in one of tho bays. Nothing however was known until Tuesday last, when Sergeant Ramsay, of Akaroa, received sucli information as to cause him toarrest a man named Moses Barton, who was then sailing a cutter namod the Zealandia. The man confessed he had a still on board, but that he waa only carrying it for freight. Great excitement was caused in Lyttelton on Wednesday by the arrest of three persons well-known in town, ou a charge of complicity, They were taken before the Resident Magistrate and remanded under heavy bail. Yesterday morning Inspector Ponder and several officers proceeded in the s.b. Halcyon to Pigeon Bay, and arrested one man named Ryan, and wo learn that it is most probable other arrests will be made. The still seized ia ono of excellent manufacture, and shows signs of having been in operation some time. Tho " Grey River Argus" also mentions the capture of an illicit still, near the township of Marsden. The police left their horses and proceeded on foot for about a mile and a half up tho Now River, till they came upon a tent, in which they found a man named Eobert Simpson, an old offender in this line. At first he denied all knowledge of tho existence of a still, but after some pressure he showed where the still-houso was. In the hut all the appliances for carrying on distillation were found, including the mash-tub and seven casks of wash, so far prepared that during the week nearly 200 gallons of spirits could have been run off from them. Tho prisoner had been arrested in September, 1868 for a similar offence, was finded £100 or six months' imprisonment. He chose the latter alternative. The Clyde Robbeby.— Wo glean the following further particulars from our Southern files respecting the perpetrators of this robbery :— The " Tuapeka Times" learns from a Cromwell letter that M'Lellan, the policeman, attempted to dash his brains out against the wall of the cell in which ho was confined. The police, to prevent his committing any violence against himself, put him in chains. On being brought up before Mr Vincent Pyke, R.M., at Clyde, the evidence of Rennio was given in a clear and conclusive manner :— A private letter 'from Clyde says : — "Notwithstanding the wretch Rennie having turned Queon's evidence, and restored in tho first instance the greater part of tho stolen treasure, there was still missing two parcels of notes containing respectively £212 and £537, also about £60 worth of gold. This ho assertod he had lost on tho road on the night of his flight, but fortunately as it turns out, tho police did not believe him. In tho course of a week, persuasion had tho effect of his revealing where £161 worth of the notes could be found, which were accordingly obtained, ' but as for the rest they were down the river, or somewhere else.' This did not satisfy the polico, who have all along been prosecuting the most persistent search, and tho result was that they found on tho Gentle Annie track, not far from where it will bo remembered Rennio camped nnd burned his clothes, tho bundle of notes containing £537 intact. This now reduces tho loss to £51 in notes on tho Bank of New Zea« land, and £H0 worth of gold bolongiug to the Bank of Now South Wales." The " Star" says :— There is strong circumstantial evidence against the prisoner M'Lellan. He pleadod not guilty, and stoutly denies all participation in the crime Ho was committed for trial. We learn from Clydo that a petition to the Superintendent has beon very numerously signed, praying that the case of Sub-Inspector Dalgleiah, who is under suspension, may be considered as leniently as possible. Suffocated. — The " Otago Times" says : — A man named Robert Duncan, a miner, aged 38 met his death at M'Hardy's. Gully, Upper Shotorer, on the 19th inst., by being suffocated in his claim there. Tho deceased, who was a native of Ayrshiro, Scotland, had resided in the Qucenstown district during the past seven years, and had lately been engaged in prospecting in a quartz claim at M'Hardy's Gully, Upper Shotover. On the 19th inst, his mate, Alexander Alsten, left the claim for the purpose of washing a prospect, and on his return after the absence of half an hour, ho found that tho top of the claim had fullen in, and by the time tho earth was removed the deceased waa dead. Jubilation.— Tho " Times" says that "on the telegraphic news reaching Port Chalmers on Friday that Mr Macandrew's resolution making Porfc Chalmers tho terminus of the San Francisco sej^ vice, had been carried by a large majority in th^ House of Representatives, the Port was jubilant. Bunting was hoisted " galore," » n^ the majority lof the vesssls in Port dressed ship. In tho evening the Naval Volunteers fired a salute in celebration of the result, and blue lights and 1 rockets were simultaneously displayed all over the town. Some of tho vessels in harbor also sfint off rockets in compliment to tho townspeople."