LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3367, 9 December 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Fike Bell.— The erection of the bell tower is so far advanced toward completion that yesterday the bell was hoisted into its place and its tintinabulary qualifications exorcised. So as better to get an idea of its tone no other warning was given to the citizens than that conveyed by the bell's opening clangor, and judging of its fitness for the purpose it was designed to serve by the crowds which rushed into the streets in all parts of the city, some asking " Where's the fire," and others who recognised the voice of a stranger " What's tho matter," it may fairly be considered to fulfil all expectations formed with regard to it. Tho tone emitted is a good deep volume, which was well heard afc both ends of the city. No doubt on the first occasion that offers the bell will speak well for itself. Caledonian Society. — A meeting of the directors of this society was held at the NewZealander Hotel last evening, J. Gilligan, Esq, in the chair. The judges for the various events were appointed, and entrance fees fixed. The time being short, it was thought impossible to erect the permanent grand stand as contemplated ; bub the ground committee were authorised to make the necessary preparations for the accommodation of the public. The secretary was instructed to notify that the members annual snbscription was now due, and that he wait upon them for tho same. After a cordial vote of thanks |to the chairman, the meeting adjourned until Friday next. Indecent Assault. —On Thursday night a notorious vagabond named Charles M'Carthy, who haa many times figured in the criminal records of our courts, entered a house on tho Adelaide road and attempted to take liberties with Mrs Stott, the wife of a sergeant in the Armed Constabulary, who is afc present stationed at Taranaki. The wretch was half or wholly drunk at.the time, and Mrs StoU, being a powerful woman, succßeded in frustrating McCarthy's efforts. Her sister having given the alarm in the meantime, one of the neighbors came to the assistance of Mrs Stott and succeeded in removing M'Carthy. He was kept for some little time in one of the rooms, but was eventually permitted to leave the premises, and the case was not reported to the police until the following (Friday) morning, when information was brought to the office by a little boy that an assault had been committed. In the struggle Mrs Stott's dress was much torn, but in return we are informed she nearly succeeded in depriving M'Carthy of some of his fingers, which were much lacerated by a bite which Mrs Stotfc was fortunate enough to have the opportunity of inflicting. Notwithstanding his druuken state, Charles M'Carthy seems to have been conscious of the commission of the crime, for this morning when the police went in search of him he was non est, his dray being driven during the day by another person. It is pretty clear that he has had the assistance of some of the rowdies of Adelaide Eoad in the endeavor to elude the vigilance of the police, but all attempts at escape will prove utterly futile, for the police are determined that Mr M'Carthy shall have the justice that has long been j his due. In tho interests of society, we hope the villian and some others of his confreres will be in the hands of the police in time for presentation to Mr Justice Johnston at the next sitting of the Court, as we feel perfectly sure that they will then receive the justice they have long succeeded in evading. The Wellington. — This fine steamer arrived in port yesterday afternoon, and sailed again during the night. As an evidence of the trade being done between the principal coast ports, we mention the fact that tho Wellington's hold was so full that cargo taken to the outer T had to be returned to the Customs abed on account of the stowage room being fully occupied. Communication with the Wairarapa. — The time tables have been so arranged that on and after the 18th insfc., Hastwell's coaches to the Wairarapa will run three times a week, leaving Welling, ton on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and returning from Mnsterton every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This is an arrangement which will in all probability meet with, appreciation in the form of increased returns, as it; is undoubtedly an increase in the convenience afforded to the inhabitants of the Wairarapa and intermediate districts. Presbyterian CnuRCH, Hutt.— We understand that tho Eev J. Laurie, who recently arrived from Scotland, will preach at the Hall on Sabbath morning at eleven o'clock, and in Willis Street Presbyterian Church, Wellington, at half past six. TUENBULL, AMD EEEVES' STOCK.— The "Otago Daily Times" of the 4th says :— " With respect to a paragraph reprinted by us yesterday from the Wellington "Evening Post," regarding the purchaso of Messrs Turnbull, lteevea, & Co's stock, we are requested to correct any orroneous impression that may have arisen therefrom by stating that only a very small portion of tho stock (about £200 worth) was purchased by Mr J. Smith, of Wellington, the remainder, amounting in value to between £13,000 and £14,000) having been purchased by Messrs Eoss and Glendining. From the wording of the paragraph in tho "Post," it would seem

as though it were only the ' leavings' that was purchased by that firm, butthis, as we have shown, is a false impression." Eesident Magistrate's Court.— Very frequently we have to chronicle the fact that no business has been done in the Eesident Magistrate's Court. The most notorious of those who figure on the criminal list, out of a desire not to disturb so desirable a state of affairs, no doubt have made up their minds to Betfcle their dirty work all in one day, and leave the atmosphere of tho Court unpolluted for the rest of tho week. Yesterday Anne Greer, a distinguished female, who can boast of about twenty convictions, was charged with being drunk and iacapable, and was fined 20s, or in default forty-eight hours' imprisonment. William Morris, appropriately designated by tho police, " Gassy Bill," was also charged with a similar offence, and was mulcted in a similar amount. These two celebrities had only been released on the previous day, and had joined in a mutual carousal. Ann Butler, an old stager, rejoicing in no less than eighteenconvictions in the Napier Court, was charged with drunkenness and vagrancy, and was fined 20s, or in default forty-eight hours' imprisonment. In the I absence of cash, the whole of these celebrities retired to consult Mr Macaiah Eeed Tho case against William Anderson, fora breach of the City Council Bye-Laws, was adjourned for a week. A case against David Pilmer for malicious injury to property, was dismissed, the evidence proving that the garden owned by the defendant's father was almost completely destroyed by the goats and fowls of the neighborhood. Some unimportant Court cases were heard. Happily Unfounded. — In view of recent lamentable accidents in our harbor the absence of a boating party fora night is very naturally sufficient to start up in alarm tho hopes and fears of those interested in the welfare and safety of those composing the company. These were the feelings experienced by the relatives and friends of Mr I. Plimmer, Mr Jackson, Mr Graham, Mr Liardet, and Captain Williamson, who started from Island Bay on a fishing excursion on Thursday last, intending to return the | same evening, which, however, they did not do. Nothing having been heard of the party by noon yesterday. Captain Hallady ran up tho "Attention" signal from the Queen's wharf, which was promptly repeated from Mount Victoria, but the suspense was only added to by the delay in obtaining any response from the outer signal station. After waiting an hour and a half or more, it was ascertained that a cutter was visible off Terawiti, and anxiety was allayed by the supposition that the boat must be the Eose, in which the party had embarked. About this time the Wellington's signal was run up, and shortly after the Eose was brought to tho wharf astern of the steamer. It seems the party had been in no danger whatever, being quietly anchored off Terawiti tho whole of Thursday night. Makara Highway District. — The annual general meeting of this Board will be held on Wednesday, 10th January, at noon. At this meeting tho Board of Wardens for the district will be decided on, and a repairing rate fixed. Colonial Winks.— A novel procession, says the " Times" of the 4th, attracted considerable attention in High street yesterday. About noon, eight;town carriers' waggons, laden with hogsheads labelled " Adelaide wines," were observed slowly moving northward, and conjecture was rifo for a considerable time before anything like the true origin of the demonstration was hit upon. It ultimately became known, howoyer, that Mr A. E. Preston, agent for the Adelaide wines, in Christchurch, had selected this means for publicly announcing his removal from premises at Barret's Hotel to a shop in Colombo street, opposite to the Bauk of New Zealand. Mr Preston, it will be remembered, was the first bona fide agent for the wines in Christchurch, and has been doing a constantly increasing business/.thus rendering a more central position and more extensive space necessary, | hence his removal yesterday. Since his arrival— in March, 187O— :VIr Preston has imported about 200 hhds of wine, many of which contained from GO to 70 gallons each. i The Chatham Islands.— Wo are indebted to a correspondent, recently arrived, for the following : — The health of the islands is very good. The Maoris and Morioris are planting large quantities of potatoes, as several colonial and Ame. rican whalers are expected this season instead of going to Pitt's Island. Provisions, &c, are cheaper than at Pitt's Island. The Mangoutu Inn changed hands at £400. Mr Briscoe, lately from England, was the purchaser-. Sheepshearing has commenced. Tho winter has been very wild aad stormy, with heavier rain than has been known for years. No whalers have visited the islands since March last. The Magellan Cloud arrived from Auckland on October 1, after a rapid run of four days. The newly appointed Eesident Magistrate gives every satisfaction, and has won the respect and esteem of every one on the island. Po B Eelief. — During the first nine months of the year 1502 adults and 2G43 children in Auckland received poor relief. Of these more than half— viz, 832 adults and 13-12 children — vvereEoman Catholics. The number of rations issued during the period in question was si,<i's lOpen Air Music — A band of music now performs every Saturday in the Govornment Domain at Christchurch. CiiiusTcnußCH Museum. — Considerable additions are being made to the Provincial Museum at Christchurch, afc a cost of £1825. This is exclusive of the coat of the foundations, the laying of which is performed by prison labor. The Canterbury Northern Eailway. The Government have found it necessary to take what is known as No. 3 contract into their own hands. It; ought to have been finished on June 14, according to agreement, and the opening of the line has been thus delayed at least seven or eight weeks. Body Uncovered. — The body of the young seaman, John Macfarlane, who was drowned on the 10th instant through the upsetting of the James Nicol Fleming's boat in Port Chalmers Harbor, was picked up yesterday by Mr Lewis, a well-known deep-sea fisherman, two miles outside the Heads, and was brought up by him to tho ship. The ship's crew brought the body on shore, and it was conveyed to the Morgue to await an inquest, which is appointed to take place this afternoon. International Eifle Match.— The International Eifle Match fired in Melbourne was won by England — score, 550 ; Irish team, 514 ; Scotch team, 501. Ten men in each team, seven shots each. Statistics. — In the Christchurch district during the month of November there wero 86 births, 44 being males and 42 females ; there were 8 deaths, 4 being males and 4 females. Twenty marriages were celebrated. During tho corresponding month of 1870 there were 92 births, 22 deaths, and 34 marriages.

The Coming EcLirsE.— lt may perhaps be interesting to our readers to know a few facts regarding this event. We summarise the following particulars from "Nature." The central o line of the eclipse will first meet the'earth's surface on the Arabian sea, and entering on the western coast of India will pass right across one of the moat important parts of Hindustan in a S.E. direction. In this part of the Peninsular the sun will bo about 20 deg. above the horizon when totally obscured. The duration of totality will be two minutes and a quarter, and the breadth of the shadow about seventy miles. On leaving the eastern coast of the Madras Presidency, the line will pass over the northern part of Ceylon, the S.E. point of Sumatra, touch the S.W. coast of Java, Batavia lying sixty miles N.E. of the central line. In the Admi. ralty Gulf, on the N.W. coast of Australia, the eclipsed sun will only be 10 degrees past tho meridian, and not far from the zenith ; in consequence of which the totality will last 4min ISsecs. Laßtly, passing through tho most barren and uninhabited portion of Australia, crossing the Gulf of Carpentaria and the York Peninsula, the shadow will ultimately leave the earth's surface in the Pacific Ocean. Already arrangements have been made for taking observations in India, Ceylon, aud Australia, when, should the weather prove favorable, great results are expected. "We trust," says "Nature," " that these efforts to procure fresh observations will meet with the largest measure of success, for certainly the question of the sun's corona is the scientific question of the day. Once settle what is the real nature of the sun's surroundings, and tho path of work is open for more distant stars." Wanganui Farmeiis.— -The " Otago Times" tells us that the Wanganui farmers and stockowners are in a state bordering on despair, on account of tho low prices of produce.