LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3351, 21 November 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Mr Andrew, M.H.E. — We havo received information from the Wairarapa that a requisition to Mr Andrew to resign his seat in the House of Representatives ia in course of circulation and is likely to be extensively signed. We trust Wauganui will not remain passive under the in fliction of Mr Bryce. The Rifle Contest. — Our telegrams announce that the firing at the first five ranges between the celebrated marksmen, Mr Walker, of the Thames, and Mr Christy, of Otago, has taken place at Forbury Park. Public expectation will be greatly disappointed or surprised at the result. Those who were inclined to the belief that Mr Walker's challenge to Dunedin's champion of the past was the outcome of a boastful disposition, and they were not few in number, must havo drawn a hurried breath on the breaking to them of the announcement of Mr Walker's first day's triumph. The score shows the firing to have been very close, and not in any way discreditable to Mr Christy's reputation, but the brilliant scoring of Mr Walker could only be beaten by the accomplishments of all the " possibles." The ranges were 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600, ten shots at each range, and " at 500 yards Mr Walker made eight bulls' eyes and two centres, and at 600 yards four centres and six bulls' eyes." Nofc being authoritative in shot statistics wo should like some of our marksmen to inform us if this has been equalled hitherto. The long ranges have yet to be fired at, and it is here those who have a belief in the ability of Mr Christy think he will recover the ground lost yesterday. At present the score stands : — Walker, 184 ; Christy, 172. New Cricket Ground. — Tho grass seed sown on the new dug ground only a few days since is already bristling up like the beard on unmown chin, and bids fair soon to mako a good turf. A meeting of tho working committee will bo held at Donnecker's Hotel this evening at 8 o'clock. Romantic. — A marriage is, we are informed, about to take place between a lady resident in this city and a gentleman from a neighboring province whom she has never seen. Ifc appears that this votary of Hymen saw the lady, when on a visit, once in clmrch, was smitten to the heart, found out too lato who she was, but opened a correspondence through her friends. The tone of his letters was liked ; his photograph admired : hence the dolightful result. Land Transfer Act. — The General Government Gazette again shows numerous applications for transfer of property under the provisions of the act. Justice of the Peace. — Patrick Alphonsus Buckley, Esq., has been gazetted a Justice of the Peace for the colony. Trade Marks.— Arthur John Burrs and Co, of Mosgiel and Dunedin, in the Province of Otago, Woollen Manufacturers, have applied to register the following trade mark, viz : — " A. J. Burns and Co, Mosgiel." It is to be imprinted in ink of any color upon every yard of woollen cloth or otber goods, and upon the inside or wrong side of the goods manufactured by the said A. J. Burns and Co. Wellington Christys. — Wo would remind our readers that the entertainment by this company in aid of St. Paul's school takes place this evening afc the Odd Fellows' Hall, when a large and varied programme is to be presented. We would advise all who intend being present to secure seats early in the day, the Hall being open for thafc purpose from 10 o'clock a.m. Tea Meeting at the Hutt. — A tea meeting iv connection with the Wesleyan body will be held at fche Hutfc this evening, afc half-pasfc five o'clock. Many of the ministers afc present in Wellington for the purpose of attending the Annual District Meeting are expected to address the meeting, so that those who may think it worth while to ride out to the Hutt will be rewarded by being present afc fcho delivery of addresses which are certain to be highly interesting. Hifle Match with Greymouth. — The firing ofthe Wellington men, which had been postponed from Saturday, was resumed yesterday morning. As will be seen from the scores, our representatives have managed to lose the match, but this clearly must be attributed to the bad weather afc fche start of the firing, and the taking the men " off their sight" by breaking ifc into two days. Tho following are the scores :— Gillon, 2G ; O'Connor, 47 ; Gray, J., 22 ; Barraud, P., 33 ; Halse, 36 ; Webb, 31 ; St. George, 27 ; Gray, D., 38. Total, 260. Murray's Circus. — A full house greeted the opening performance of these talented people. Many clever, not to say daring feats, were performed by Mr Ryan on bare-backed horses, as also by Master Brame. Tho horizontal bar executions by Mr Roberts wore perhaps tho besfc performances of the evening. Ifc is no exaggeration of the credit due to this gentleman to say that his performances have nofc been equalled by any performers in fche same line who have visited Wellington. Mr Murray, as clown, filled up the interstices of time between the pieces in a highly humorous manner, Mrs Murray contributing to the enjoyment of the audience by some very graceful dancing on the green (sawdust). At the conclusion ofthe entertainment Mr Murray thanked those present for their patronage, informing the audience thnt a number of gentlemen had waited upon him during the day and requested him nofc to open his hippodrome this evening. As the performance to be given at the Odd Fellows' Hall was for a charitable object he at once acceded to the request, so that the troupe do nofc appear again until Wednesday evening. We hope Mr Murray's consideration in this matter may be rewarded by a bumper house. A Missonio Dodge. — The Ladies' Society in Auckland continue to jealously exclude persons of the malo sex from their meetings. Even Bishop Cowie was refused admission.

Party Warfare. — Tho " Wakatip Mail" of the Bth inst. concludes an article on this subject thus : — " We are glad to see that on several occasions Mr Stafford has voted with the Ministry on the public works service, as it augurs well for the promotion of tho interests of tho colony. We sincerely hope that, as in Victoria and New South Wales, a happy change will take place, — that party warfare will cease, and tho besfc interests of the colony be studied by all sections of the House." A Valuable Cow.--Mr John Page, of Christchurch and Woodend, is the fortunate owner of a cow which has presonted him during the last fchree years with no less than sis calves — four heifers and two bulls, two on eacii occasion. Such an animal is worth showing at the Agricultural Exhibition, especially if her progeny can be shown along with her, and Mr Page ia in a position to do that. The cow is of no particular breed, but is described by her owner as a good, useful, and profitable dairy cow of large frame. A Reporter's Sympathy. — During the season 1840-41, 1 had the gratification of restoring another of our glorious old English comedies to the modern stage — Beaumont and Fletcher's " Spanish Curate ;" and in the following, and lasfc season of Madame Vesfcris's management, the pleasure of reviving my English version of the opera of " Norma" for the firsfc appearance of Adelaide Xemble, now Mrs Sartoris. While superintending the production of Knowles' "John of Procida," I met with an accident, which I only mention for the sake of a characteristic anecdote in connection with it. In passing from the stage into the pit over some planks that had been placed for tho purposo of our going to and fro to see the effecfc of tho scenery, ono of them slipped, and, falling on the back of a pit seat, I broke a rib, and was consequently confined to my house for about a fortnight. On my first visit to the theatre afterwards I crawled out to get some luncheon at thc-Garrick, and, returning to the theatre at a very slow pace, I met under the piazza one of the reporters of the " Morning Herald," with whom I was slightly acquainted. He stopped me, and remarked upon tho alteration in my appearance, and the difficulty I seemed to have in walking. I explained to him the cause, upon which he exclaimed, "God bless me ! How sorry lam I never heard of it !" I was both touched and surprised by the evident interest he took in the matter, considering we knew so little of each other, and was about to express my appreciation of his sympathy, when before I could speak he added, " It would have made such a capital paragraph .'"— Recollections by J. 11. Planche, in London Society. Canterbury Museum.— We take the following from a description, in Land and Water, of the museum in Canterbury, England :—-" In the little room, on the bottom shelf, are two heads of New Zealanders. The tatoo marks on the skin are very neatly cut, and show the progress of ' science and art' in that far distant country. One of the heads has straight, tho other curly hair. Tatooed New Zealanders' heads are now very rare. In former times the natives could gefc good prices for the heads of their friends, enemies, or relations. They dried the skin with the hair ou in a most clever manner, and I wish I knew how it was done. Captain Cook, I believe, firsfc brought in the fashion of having a New Zealanders head as a curiosity, bufc afc the present time these people are more civilised, and no longer cufc off and sell each other's head. These heads, therefore, afc Canterbury, are valuable. I should say their market prico | would be about £10 each. Insects have bored holes into the skin of the face of one of them. Tho heads, therefore, should bo washed with bi-chloride of mercury, and be pufc in air-tight glass cases near the weapons from New Zealand. They are too good to be put out of sight." Prisoners of War.— The " Hawke's Bay Telegraph" says tho wholo of the Maori prisoners now in Dunedin gaol, are to be liberated afc Christmas nexfc. The Government have given a distinct promise to this effect. The Victorian Assembly. — A disgraceful scene occurred in the Victorian Legislative Assembly on the 20th uit, for which, says the "Argus," the Treasurer, Mr Graham Berry, was principally responsible. Irritated beyond measure at the stinging charges brought againsfc the Government of having descended to "logrolling," and other improper means, to secure a majority for the Railways Construction Bill, by proposing four new railways instead of one, Mr Berry again, amid cries of "shame," and "you know that is nofc true," repeated tho accusation I which he had previously brought against the late Ministry of having allowed tho money for the construction of the NorthEastern Railway to lie idlo in the Banks for two years. Subsequently, Mr Francis rose to move the adjournment of the debate, and in doing so denied onco more the acccuracy of tho charge made by the Treasurer. Mr Berry again reiterated the statement. Mr Francis then said that if the Treasurer persisted in making that assertion, he should have no hesitation in calling him "a liar." This, of course, was highly improper language to use. A noisy altercation then ensued, but acting on the Speaker's suggestion, Mr Francis withdrew his remark. The Tichborne Case. — The " Yass Courier" says : — On Saturday lasfc Mr Cox arrived iv Yass with his family, on his way to Sydney, to take passage by the next overland steamer for England, as a witness in the Tichborne case. Of course, the important pocket-book was in his possession. He started from this town by the mail on Sunday. As showing the enormous cost connected with this, we may state that the arrangement made with Mr Cox is fchafc he shall receive one guinea a day fromthe day he started from home, that his passage is to be paid firstclass by overland steamer, and that all his expenses for a three months' stay in England are to be defrayed. Cox is secured fco give evidence by the barrister employed on the part of the defendant to the suit, and we understand thafc he is expected fco prove something else in addition to producing the famous pocket-book. We understand that Mr Cox was told that if lie did not accept tho offer made a subpoena would issue compelling his attendance as a witness, and he wisely chose to undertake the voyage on the terma proposed. Gold Yield.— The month's yield of gold afc the Thames amounted to 15,155 ounces, from 8080 tons of sfcone. Of this the Caledonian claim yielded 4740 ounces, the All Nations 1105, and tho Nonpareil 850. 2000 ounces were obtained from tailings. CnßiSTcnußcn Museum. — Nearly 1000 persons visited the Christchurch Museum on tho Priuco of Wales's Birthday. ExroßT of Butter.— Among the ex< ports by the Beth Shan from Auckland to London were 311 casks of butter weighing in the aggregate 26,2801b5.

Wellington's Veterans. —In the " Newcastle Chronicle" (N.S.W.) is announced the demise of Mr Charles Green, senr, at the advanced age of 80. Deceased enlisted in the army in 1806, and was sent out in 1814 with a reinforcement of 3000 men to join the Army of the Duke of Wellington, then advancing from the south of France on Paris, but Napoleon abdicating and retiring to Elba, the forces returned to England, and the subject of this notice received his discharge from the service somewhat later in the same year. The English papers announce the death of Sir John Fox, a veteran of the Napoleonic war, who died in London on the Bth October, aged 89 years. Phenomenon in Law.— Chief Justice Arney caused some amusement in the Supremo Court at Auckland lately, at the closo of a civil case, by Baying : — " I beg to draw your attention, gentlemen, to the fact that, in a case which has occupied the court three days, three counsel addressed the jury, andthe judgo summed up, all wifchin the space of two hours," The Wanganui Excursion.— As advertised elsewhere the s.s. Wanganui wili make an express trip on Monday next for the purpose of conveying to Wanganui those who desire to be present at the opening of the new bridge. The fare is exceedingly low, passengers being granted a return ticket afc the reasonable amount of 30s. The inhabitants of the sister city are using every effort to make the event a red letter day in fche history of the province. The attendance of his Excellency the Governor will ensure the presence of a large number of the settlers of the surrounding district, who, together with the townspeople will, no doubfc, do all in their power to minister to the comfort and enjoyment of the visitors from the Empire City. Concerts and flower shows have been specially arranged to take place, and the arrangements made by the Superintendent of the province, added to those of the citizens themselves, will no doubt ensure that the opening ceremony shall pass off wilh eclat. The steam company intend, should the accommodation of tho Wanganui not prove equal to the emergency, to place tho s.s. St .Kilda on the line for the occasion. New Zealand Timber. — What is to be done with our timber? asks a contemporary. Last year £38,683 worth of furniture was imported into the colony. This, too, when there is no finer material fco work up with in the world than that of New Zealand. Butter Export. — The " Lyttelton Times states that the salting down of butter for exportation is now proceeding very vigorously, and in one cooperage in Christchurch the men are working almost night and day, yet they havo been unable to supply the number of butter kegs ordered. The Ricn Man of Ross.— Cassius's claim at Ross (Wesfc Coast) is now yielding at tho rate of 200ozs per week. Kidnapping. — A Wellington telegram in a contemporary states thafc the steamer recently reported to be kidnapping in the South Sea is the Wainui, of Dunedin. Drinking. — There is a world of sad truth in the following letter, which appears in an Auckland contemporary : — Living near mo until last night, was a quiet, clean, honest, truthful, hard-working woman. But she has fits of drinking, when she is a devil incarnate — a nuisance to the whole district. Probably sho has stripped her home and her back fifty times, for she never gives over drinking, as she says, till " her duds are all gone." A policeman had the humanity to beg of each publican in her neighborhood nofc to givo her drink, saying, " he did not want to take her up, knowing she was an industrious woman." Of course I need not tell you the result of his appeal. I know a man, too, who rarely returns to his home sober, Sunday or week-day. The house he most frequents is kept by an " intemperate teetotaller." Where would be the use of his wife trying to convict that publican ? At an hour's notice he would have ten, twenty witnesses, if necessary, to swear tho said mau never had a " drop too much in his house" — that would satisfy our justice' loving Justices of the Peace ! That same man has been a known confirmed inebriate for at least the last ten years in Auckland. But men and women have not only drunk of deep waters, but they hare fouled the residue with their feet. The Volunteers. — The " Otago Daily Times" has an able article op. this subject in which it reviews the discussion in the House on the motion of Mr Inglis to reduce the vote for volunteers. In concluding its remarks it notices thafc sentence in Mr Ingles' speech in which he says, " In Ofcago, the crack shots were ao simply because they had the money and time to practice, but could the Ofcago people show a good average of crack shots?" and then goes on to say :— " If this sentence means anythmg, it is thafc in Otago the shooting men possess an advantage over those in other parts of the colony by having more money and more time at their disposal for practice. Such, however is not the case. Tho volunteers of this province, as a rule are, as they are elsewhere in New Zealand, young men engaged in business, with moderate salaries, who attend to their daily avocations during tho usual offico hours. Their practice with the rifle takes place early in the morning and on holidays, aud there is no reason why tho volunteers in the other provinces should not follow their example." Value of Land near Wanganui. — Tho " Wanganui Chronicle" has the following : — " MrFinnimorehad an extensive sale on the 3rd November, of sundries belonging to two bankrupt estates. 150 acres of uncleared land in Rangitikei brought 14s per acre. Tho farm of Ardo, consisting of 133 acres of fine open land, was bought in by the mortgagee at £8 an acre. As an indication of the present depression it may be mentioned that it is only three yoars since Mr Franklin bought thia farm at £14 an acre." Meerschaum. — The Armidale, N.S.W., " Telegraph" "has seen a speoimen of a meerschaum pipe, manufactured by a gentleman from a piece of meerschaum got on the Richmond River, New South Wales, where the material is to be found in quantity. Meerschaum is said to be got noar Uralla." Keep Out my Name.— Frequently when persons make an appearance afc the Police Court, in answer to some chargo preferred againsfc them, thoy make very eloquent appeals to the proprietors of the local newspapers to " keep oufc their names." This is how the "Melbourne Argus" serves such requests : — "We have received the following letter from a correspondent :— 'I was, unfortunately, brought beforo the Sfc. Kilda Court; this morning for illtreating a dog. Would you be so kind as not to insert my name in your paper, and oblige youra obedienty—John Matson, Melbourne.Ocfcober 17th. The Royal Troops or Fiji.— A number of young men afc the Thamea and in Auckland have enlisted in a corps to serve for a certain time under the Government of Cakobau, at Fiji.

Hurricane at Tahiti. — Capt Stewart, of the schooner Midge, which vessel arrived in Auckland on Tuesday last, reports thafc a whirlwind passed over the island of Tahiti, doing immense damage to property. A number of housos and trees were blown down, and several vessels received considerable injury. Price of Government Gazette.— ln the Victorian Parliament very recently MrF. L. Smyth moved thafc the price of the Government Gazette be reduced to a uniform price of 6d. The present price of ls 6d per copy was quite a prohibitive one. Mr Berry said he did nofc see any objection to the motion. He was the more inclined fco adopt it in consequence of a return which had been supplied to him respecting the sale of the Gazette at its present price. It appeared thafc 1650 copies were printed, of which 1105 were given away. He intended to revise the free list, and reduce ifc to the smallest possible proportions. Mr Gillies thought that before the Government adopted the proposal they should ascertain whether the price of 6d per copy would pay. Mr W. Clarke suggested thafc the price be one penny. Afto^oWj-^-v^pr remarks the motion was carried; Acclimatisation. —At tho monthly meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, held on November 6, Mr Earle stated that he expected a shipment of salmon ova would be made from England to the Society about the end of this month or fche beginning of December. Afc firsfc there would be bufc one box senfc, which was fco be followed by two or fchree others. The ova would be senfc on to Liverpool, to either the office of thelnman or Cunard Co., and would be stored in the icehouse there until a ship was ready to sail for New York. The ova would then cross the continent of America at the coldest season of the year, and, on their ariival afc San Francisco, would be placed in an icehouse, waiting an opportunity to be forwarded here by the mail steamers, on board which the ova would be kept in the iceroom. He had made arrangements with Messrs Collie, Stewart and Co to take care of the box of ova on its arrival in San Francisco, and he has had no doubt but they would do so, and that there was a reasonable hope that, in a short time, there would be plenty of salmon in the New Zealand rivers. Anthony Trollope.— On the 14th uit., a luncheon was given to Mr Trollope at Gulgong, N.S.W., and in reply to the toast of his health, the popular novelist said : — " Gentleman,--I am exceedingly gratified afc the manner in which you have received me here to-day, afc the manner in which you have drunk my health, and also received the names of Mrs Trollope and my little son— about sixt feefc two — (laughter) — whom some of you doubtless know. When I arrived here this morning I did not think that I should be called upon to make a speech. My business, as you are aware, is more connected with pens and paper than oratory, therefore I will be brief in what I have to say. Nothing has impressed me more favorably, or struck me more forcibly, than the orderly manner in which business is conducted on the diggings. I have been a good distance to-day, and seen a considerable number of people, and I must bear testimony to the justice of what Mr Browne has said, for I havo nofc seen a revolver, except on my honorable friend on tho right. (Laugh-ter,-—The speaker alluded to Mr White, Bank N.S.W.) Everything that has to I done is done in a simple manner ; every man displays an unaffected demeanour, and quite unassuming manner, which shows a high degree of civilisation. Here one seees the quite demeanor and manner which he is nofc able to see in men in thj» same position of life in my own. coufftt'y. (Cheers). This is to be attributed to the advanced state of the colony. No matter what position in life a man may be in, whether shearing sheep or engaged in some ofcher Jabor, he always shows thafc independence and conscious pride — the same thafc I have found in America — and you may well be proud to live among workmen such as you meefc with in this colony. (Cheers.) Mr Browne haa said thafc we find the old English feeling existing oufc hero, andi must say thafc I have found ifc so. You are all Englishmen, the only difference between this and the old country being that you are more English than they are at home. American Rubber Stamp. — This is the name of an exceedingly neat and handy office stamp invented and sold by an American firm, Messrs Stetson & Lyster. Their agent, Mr J. E. Orton, called at our office yesterday, and exhibited tho stamp and its capabilities in our presence. It is in all respects similar to the ordinary hand stamp used in shops and offices saving that the die from which the impression is taken is composed of a preparation resembling gutta percha and the costis about one- fourth of thafc of theordinary stamp in use. The material of which tho face is composed is plastic yet durable, the printing clean and sharp, and the required impression made without damage either to the instrument or to the paper to which the design is transferred. Its economy alone ahould ensure a large sale.