LOCAL MEMORANDA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3246, 8 July 1871, Page 3

LOCAL MEMORANDA.

The first real business-like step towards the erection of a theatre for the city has been the holding of a meeting, at which the whole of those who had promised to take shares in the company to be formed for its erection attended. Mr Gillon, the promoter, stated to the meeting that it had been called for the purpose of determining the necessary preliminaries, such as the selection of the site, &c. If; was expected that £3,000 would be the amount required to erect the building, of which shares to the amount of £2,000 had already been allotted. A site upon the reclaimed land had been fixed upon, and a hotel in connection with the building had been thought to be a desirable addition ; this it was decided to embody in the plans. The many requirements of an advancing city have long tended to convince the theatre • going and musically - inclined portions of our citizens that a suitable building for the holding of entertainments of a high order was a wantage which had become notable in Wellington the numerous defects and the inadequate accomodation of the Odd Fellows' Hall, the only building in Wellington, at all adapted for public performances, ' having forced themselves into the unfavorable notice of those having the management of entertainments at that place. As an evidence of the earnestness of the promoters of the project, the following gentlemen have been appointed provisional directors, with full power to conduct the business of the company in any way that may be the most beneficial to the interests of the shareholders : — Messrs Pharazyn, Erull, Hunter, George, Pliinmer, Gillon, and Dr Johnston. During the past month Mr John Martin, one of our most enterprising citizens, has been compelled, by a too keen and much overdone competition in the coastal trade, to withdraw his steamers, the Phoebe and the Ahuriri, from the coastal traffic. This is a matter for regret on the part of the people of Wellington, because it will remove from here a good deal of trade and the circulation of a considerable amount of money, as our port reaped whatever advantage accrued from the fact of this being the rendezvous of the firm. The Phoabe will also be missed by the compulsory or voluntary " peripatetics " of all parts of the colony. As a comfortable sea boat she has long and unanimously borne the reputation of being the most comfortable of our coastal fleet. She has been a great many years on the coast, having been, with the Lord Worsley and Lord Ashley, one of the pioneer ; boats of the Panama Company's line. It is rumored that she will shortly sail for j Sydney, where she wiJl change owners, and become engaged in the prosecution of the trade between Queensland and Batavia. The Ahuriri has sailed for the South, having been purchased, it is said, by Messrs H. Houghton and Co., of Dunedin. The Highland Corps are beginning to feel their legs. The company now drills regularly every week, and according to the periodical reports of their drill instructor, are making very satisfactory strides towards proficiency. The officers of the corps have been appointed, Messrs Sidey and Lennox having been elected lieu tenant and ensign respectively, though the choice of captain has not yet been decided on. The command of the company was offered to Mr A. C. P. M'Donald, of the Colonial Secretary's Office, but the call upon his time by official duties necessitated his declining the honor. A set of rules, chiefly compiled from those of the Dunedin Highland Brigade, has been adopted, and the important question as to the wearing of the " breeks," or " kilt," has been decided in favor of the latter. The following is a description of the dress decided on : Nelson tweed jacket ; 42nd Tartan kilt ; grey hose, shoes, and buckles ; and Balmoral cap. So that the prospect of encountering " kilted sodgers " in our thoroughfares does not seem very distant. According to an ode composed in honor of the corps, the light of the Maori is to burn pale in any future encounters in which our Highland defenders may take part. However this may be, there seems at present very little probability of our again coming into warlike contact with the " cullud pussons" indigenous to the soil of New Zealand, arithmetical calculations as to the comparative cost of feeding versus fighting them having resulted in a conclusion synonymous with Hepworth Dixon's opinion as to the wisdom of a " pacific understanding" with the denizens of the -American soil ; but, if the worst should come to the worst, we have no doubt that the members composing tho Highland Brigade will be ready to emulate the ever-memorable gallantry of the valorous " Black Watch " (the 42nd) at Quatre Bras. The quarterly sittings of the Supreme Court commenced on the sth June. The calendar was a very light one, and was disposed of in one day. In his charge to the Grand Jury, his Honor observed that upon a careful examination of tho criminal statistics of the colony, and those of the home country he found that the comparison was unfavarable to the colony, notwithstanding the fact that the people composing our communities received higher rates of remuneration for their labor, and that they were in the aggregate superior in point of intelligence to those of tho mother country. In justification of his remarks, his Honor said he referred to such indictable offences as are tried in the colony before the Supreme Court or District Court, and in England before the Circuit Court or Court of Quarter Sessions ; and in taking the annual proportions of convictions to the entire popula tion, he found that in England, speaking in round numbers, it was about one in a thousand, a proportion considerably less than that of New Zealand. In the statistics for the United Kingdom for 1867, he found the proportion to be 30 to 19,450 persons, or less than two to each three thousand of the population ; whereas in New Zealand, in the same year, the convictions amounted to 224, a proportion considerably more than one in a thousand. In 1869, with an estimated population of 238,000, the convictions were 277. The cases tried were of no public importance, one being remarkable only for a wellnierited but extremely long sentence of fifteen year 3 for bestiality. Some civil cases were taken at the same sittings, but they also were of only local interest. During the month entertainments have been carried on at the Episcopalian schoolrooms at tho antipodes of the city— St.

Paul's, Thorndon, and St. Peter's, Te Aro. The promoters have been indefatigable in their endeavours to cater successfully to the delectation of the public, and these endeavours have served to eradicate in some degree a long existing dearth of legitimate entertainment. The annual inspection parade of the City Voluuteers took place on June 19, at the Thorndon Barrack Reserve. No. 1 Company, Major M'Barnett ; the Veterans, Captain Crowe ; and the Cadets, Sergeant Warren, were put through the usual tests in the manual and platoon exercises, company movements, <fee. Colonel Harrington, Inspector of Volunteers and Militia, was present to conduct the inspection, and at its conclusion he complimented the men on their proficiency, and tendered a little necessary advice to the different companies. The Presbytery of Wellington met at Masterton on July 14 to consider a call from the united congregations of Turakiua and Western Eangitikei to the Rev. John Koss, Wairarapa. The Eev. James Paterson presided as moderator; Alexander Milne, Esq.. M.P.C., represented the congregation calling ; Messrs A. Yule and J. M'Gregor represented the Kirk session and congregation at Masterton ; Mr Robert M'Gregor represented Carterton and Greytown; Mr I). SiDclair Tuheterata and the Lower Valley ; Mr M'Leod Pahu and East Coast ; Mr Adams, Opaki ; and Mr Harvey, Wharekaka. Interesting speeches were delivered by Mr Milne, the Eev Mr Ross, and the Rev James Cuniming. In delivering the decision of the Presbytery, Mr Paterson said that personally he felt a peculiar interest in the proceedings of tho day. He had been closely associated with Mr Ross, and had learned to esteem and to love him, as a man of true soul, of warm heart, of most genial nature ; and in every way a faithful and devoted servant of his Divine Master. Through his friendship with Mr Ross he had also been brought much in contact with the office bearers and members of this congregation, and all his sympathies were entirely in their favor. Were he considering solely the respective claims of Wairarapa and Turakina, he would have no difficulty in coming to a decision. He would say at once, Mr Ross must remain where he is, for no one could deny that Wairarapa was at least as important a district, and as needy, as Turakina, and perhaps more difficult to supply. But he felt convinced that for many reasons a change was really needful, for Mr Ross, and the Presbytery would therefore take the responsibility of translating him to the united congregations of Turakina and Western Eangitikei, Mr Ross accepting the call. On Sunday, June 25, the anniversary services in connection with the missionary work of the Primitive Methodist Church, were held in the Church, Sydney Street. The Rev. W. J. Dean preached to good congregations, and the appeals were liberally responded to. On the evening of the following day, the annual meeting was held, the Premier (the Hon. Mr Fox) being in the chair. The Chairman traced the progress of the work of Christianising the Maoris, from the time when they were discovered in a state of savagery to the arrival of Dr Marsden in 1814, which, up to that time, had not exerted much influence in the way of proselytising them, and it was not till the arrival of the present Bishop Williams, in 1820, that any perceptible influence could be said to have manifested itself. The striking of a sympathetic chord, and the awakening of the Maoris to the truths of the Gospel having been effected, the transition from canibalism to Christianity was rapid, but unfortunately through the springing into existence of a savage fanaticism engendered by the restlessness and the cupidity of a race who combined with these qualities the faculties of considerable power of worldly penetration, a revulsion took place, and the work of the missionary was for a length of time at a stand still. The only thing that seemed clear was that in a few years not a native would be left on thpse shores ; at least, according to all human reasoning, that catastrophe, seemed inevitable, however much we might wish to see it averted. The Rev. Mr Dean then reviewed the progress of the missionary Society. According to a report published during the year the total number of mission stations was 144 which were occupied by 204 laboring missionaries ; and the total amount in hand was £23,117, being an increase over that of the previous year of £2,719. The success of the work in all parts' of the world was most congratulatory. Mr Dean then announced that the church in which the meeting was being then held would no longer require assistance or aid from the missionarysociety, and that all funds raised in the future would be forwarded to the home country for the purpose of furthering the work in other parts of the world. On the whole, they had great reason to be thankful at what had been achieved. Since his predecessor; Mr Ward, landed upon these shores as their first missionary, they found the number increased to 71, and the handful of friends who rallied him then was now multiplied to 5,777. The Rev. Mr Patterson, Presbyterian Church ; the Rev. Mr West, Congregational Church ; and the Rev. Mr Buddie, Wesleyan Church, addressed the meeting, which was a very full one. A useful comparison of the increase and decrease of the population in the different parts of the colony since the taking of the the census of 1867, has been published in a recent Gazette. From this comparison we glean that increases have been made to the populations in the following divisions of the colony : -Auckland, 14,014 or 29.00 per cent ; Otago (as before union with Southland), 12,001, or 24 70 per cent ; Taranaki, 121, or 925 per cent ; Wellington, 2032, or 925 per cent: Hawke's Bay, 776, or 14*68 per cent ; Marlborough, 864, or 1976 per cent ; Canterbury, 8,468, or 22.09 per cent; Southland (before union with Otago), 826, or 10 f 39 per cent. In the following divisions of the colony the populations have decreased. The figures are :— Nelson 1376, or 577 per cent : Westland, 176, or I*l3 per cent ; Chatham Islands, 51, or 2771 per cent The total difference in the populalation of the colony, shows an increase since December, 1867, of 37,499, or 17.14 per cent, the last census giving a gross total of 257,124 as the population of the whole of New Zealand, spread over the different provinces as follows : — Auckland. 62,357; Taranaki, 5480; Wellington, 23,982 ; Hawke's Bay 6059 ; Nelson, 22,5<46 ; Marlborough, 5026; Canterbury, 46,801 ; Otago and Southland, 70,578. In futherance of a particular branch of science, and for the purpose of completing what must become a valuable contribution to all scientific libraries, Mr Buller, for many years niaagistrate at Wanganui, will leave in the Nevada for England. As an enthusiastic and untiring , worker in the field of science, Mr Buller has visited the most inaccessible parts of the territory of the Colony, flourishing

townships now existing in many places which wore terra incognita, at the time of his visits. Many convincing evidences of Mr Buller's learning and zeal are to be found in some of the most valuable contributions to our Colonial Museum, and in the " Transactions of the Philosophical Society," of which he has been one of the most active members. The work which it is Mr Buller's intention to have printed in England will be based mainly if not wholly upon the ornithological and entomological branches,oftheformerof which it is intended to give illustrations of from 120 to 140 specimens, the originals of which have been presented to the Colonial Museum. The work will prove of inestimable advantage to New Zealand students as well as to those of the more advanced institutions of the Old World. The raising of a fund for the alleviation of the wants of the wife and family of a man named Lawrence, who was recently drowned in the Manawatu, was the occasion of the second appearance of the Press Amateurs, who, with commendable alacrity, stepped into the breach at a time when their services were very acceptable. The people of the city raised about £100 by means of subscription lists, and this was added to by the performance of the club to the extent of about £35, so that, with a few other amounts collected in Wanganui and other districts, which have not yet come in, it is fully expected the total will reach to £150, or over, and this amount it is intended to invest at interest for the benefit of the family. The feeling evinced on behalf of the widow on all sides is creditable to our citizens. Our masonic brethren celebrated the festival of St. John on the evening of June 29, by a banquet given in the banquet hall of the Lodge, a recent addition to the building. Worshipful Master Toxward, of the Pacific Lodge (English Constitution), occupied the chair ; and Right Worshipful Master Powles, of the Waterloo Lodge (Scottish Constitution), the vice chair. A large number of visiting brethren from all parts of the province assisted to celebrate the festival in true Masonic style. The usual loyal and fraternal toasts were duly proposed and responded to, and the entertainment was brought to a close about twelve o'clock, in peace, love, and harmony. Brother Donnecker was the purveyor, and performed his duty most satisfactorily. Altogether forty-five brethren of the mystic tie assisted in the celebration of the Festival. An accident, miraculously unaccompauied with loss of life, occurred on the 16th June, on the north-eastern road near Featherston. A new bridge was in course of erection over the stream that crosses the main road, between Featherston and the Rimutaka, on account of the dangerous and dilapidated condition of the one which has for so many years served as a crossing. The new bridge not being sufficiently advanced for traffic, permission was given to several owners of drays on the day of the accident to take their teams across the old bridge. These passed without any warning of danger being imminent, and on the same evening a team of seven horses, driven by a man named Cave, and drawing a waggon very heavily laden, came along and attempted to cross, having made a preliminary inquiry as to the safety of doing so, to which the reply was in the affirmative. Acting upon this he attempted to cross, but just as the hind wheels of the waggon had got on the bridge a loud crack was heard, and immediately after one half of the bridge tumbled down with a tremendous crash, which was followed by the other half, on which the fore horses had then arrived. It is Bupposed that Cave was thrown first into the air and then precipitated into the stream, a distance of 15 feet. The men who had been working at the new bridge rushed to the scene, when search was made for Cave, who was found at the bottom of the bank, stunned, cool, and uninjured. The horses were then released with some difficulty, and five of them were got out safely ; but the sixth had his leg broken, and was subsequently killed ; the seventh, an entire, which was in the shafts, was killed on the spot. Strange to say the waggon was scarcely injured, and was found with its contents, from three to four tons in weight, lying undisturbed on one of the fragments of the bridge. The whole of the goods were recovered the same evening, and Cave proceeded on his journey. A great deal of damage was done to the works of the now bridge, but the escape of the driver of the team can only be regarded as providential. In our musical world a resuscitation of a satisfactory and healthful nature has taken place of late. A considerable amount of new blood has been infused into the ranks, and increasing interest has sprung up, with some little opposition, as might have been expected, one or two of fclie old stagers, ■vvLo Lad come to look upon their right to dictate to the musical world as a prescriptive one, suddenly discovering that they had been slumbering upon a volcano. However after a little skirmishing these have been routed, and we are happy to observe of late that a better state of things, in keeping with a genuine desire to advance the status of our community, musically, is rapidly coming about, thanks to the endeavors of a number of gentlemen whose zeal and earnestness in the matter are dictated by a real admiration for music of a high class. The Choral Society is hard at work, and it is expected that the next concert will be given in about two months.