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Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3902, 16 September 1873, Page 2

The Carandini Company will make their re-appearance at the Odd Fellows' Hall this evening. As the programme is as copious and attractive as those presented during their former visit, a good attendance may be counted upon. We have to acknowledge the receipt of a "letter "from Mr T. C; Willliams to the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, being an appeal on behalf of the Ngatiraukawa tdbe. The letter makes a portly-looking volume of 233 pages. Messrs M'Meckan, Black wood, and Co, have displayed the same generous recognition of the services of Captain Fairchild as of those of Captain Carey. The .company have forwarded to Captain Fairchild a diamond ring valued at 40 guineas, with the following inscription : — " Captain Fairchild. From M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Co, for kindness shown to the wrecked passengers s.s. Rangitoto, 1873." The most interesting stage in the case of the William Tapscott prisoners will be entered upon in the Supreme Court to-day before his Honor Mr Justice Johnston. Mr Travers and Mr Izard will urge the points which they have raised in favor of the prisoners, while the Attorney-General will represent the other side. Whether regarded from a legal or constitutional point of view, the question is one which will receive attention outside of New Zealand. Of one thing the public may feel satisfied — that the case of the prisoners will be as well and fairly handled as if they had unlimited moans at their command. The Education Board met yesterday. A general meeting is to be held on Monday next for the purpose of considering the best mode of securing a thorough inspection of all schools, and placing teachers' salaries upon a more equitable and satisfactory footing according to efficiency. Mr Levy was appointed assessor, in order to value certain property not previously assessed. The discussion of the accommodation at Te Aro school was postponed. Messrs Hollard and Tocker were appointed a local committee at the Tauherinikau, for which place an efficient teacher is to be appointed as soon as can be done. Several applications for new schools are under consideration. A letter was received from the Teachers' Association, requesting the Board to abrogate the rule by which a month's salary is always kept in hand in order to guard against resignations without sufficient notice. The Board declined to comply with tho request. The concert and ball at the Lunatic Asylum was a great success, the place being crammed. The concert commenced the entertainment, and passed off excellently, the Artillery Volunteer band efficiently assisting. A number of the inmates were present, and seemed to enjoy themselves very much. At the conclusion of the concert the ball took place, and continued until half-past twelve, some of the lunatics joining in the dance, and acquitting themselves creditably. Several ladies kindly officiated at the piano. We noticed a lai-ge number of the principal ladies and gentlemen of the city, present, also several members of both Houses of Parliament. The lec+ure delivered last night, by the Rev Mr Elmslie, of Wanganui, in the Presbyterian Church, Willis street, on the "Moabite Stone' and other Ancient Monuments," secured a largo attendance. Before the commencement of the lecture the Rev Dr Lang delivered a short and impressive prayer. The lecturer began by giving an interesting account of the first discovery of this stone by Europeans, and the means adopted to procure its possession. It appears that the eagerness of an enthusiastic Frenchman to gain possession of this relic of the past had excited the cupidity of the Arabs, and an enormous price was demanded for it. During the time negotiations were being conducted for its purchase, war had broken out between the tribes, and one of the parties out of revenge. broke the stone into fragments, and distributed the pieces among the various members of the tribe. However, the fragments, with few exceptions, had since been collected and fitted in their places, and, with tho aid of impressions that had been taken before it was broken, those learned on the subject wei % e enabled to decipher the whole inscription. A full- sized fae-simile of the stone illustrated the lecture, and the lecturer read it over, giving the English translation of the writing. He then pointed out how the inscription on this monument, which was three thousand years old, agreed with the Scriptural account of the same matters, and remarked that many things in the Bible which sceptics had cast a doubt upon were receiving profane authentication by the discovery of these ancient monuments. We are hapny to see that the lecture, which was clear to any person of ordinary intelligence, although the subject is generally looked upon as an abstruse one, will be published in the " Watch Tower." A vast amount of time and study must have been bestowed in its preparation. A vote of thanks was unanimously given to the lecturer, and a short prayer from the Rev Mr Paterson terminated the proceedings.