Untitled

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIX, Issue 4072, 7 April 1874, Page 2

The north-westerly gale which commenced on Saturday continued with increased violence during Sunday and yesterday, and both were comfortless days on shore, but yesterday was especially so, as there was rain, as well as wind. In the harbor, the hulks, and two of the recent arrivals, the Heversham and [Australind, remained at their anchorage, but, as already reported, the barque Camille was driven towards the beach where the Malay had previously grounded, and the ketch Alert also left her anchorage for the shore in front of Te Aro Flat. Heavier gales have been experienced in this harbor without the occurrence of such accidents, and, as a matter affecting the outfit and management of vessels, it is worthy of inquiry how far those which drifted from thoirmoorings were provided with groundtackle, or how far preparation was made for the prevention of such contingencies as might arise in any harbor during a severe and protracted gale. Pending such inquiry, there would be impropriety in suggesting any cause for their drifting, beyond that of the strength of the gale. The telegraph wires have not been much damaged in the late high winds. Communication is interrupted along the West Coast and at Auckland, but with these exceptions no other lines are reported as down.— From later news we learn that a heavy flood has come down the river Waimakiriri, in Canterbury, washing away parts of the often-repeated palisades and embankments at Kaiapoi, sweeping through the streets of the town, and causing grave anticipations. All three wires between Kaiapoi and Christchurch are down, and also on the West Coast, so that there is now no communication with Christchurch ; nor will the extent of the damage be known until the | various linemen shall have reported. A flood in the Waimakiriri is more serious than is generally known, and it is to be hoped the waters will soon subside. By weather telegram it will also be seen that a very heavy fresh has come down the river Bealy, on the road from Christchurch to Hokitika, and that it was totally impassable. Heathcote, Canterbury, is to be the future home of the Hon E. W. Stafford. To the electors, last Aveek, he said : — I lookuponit, gentlemen, that your interests are very nearly, if not altogether, the same as my own. I have got a considerable interest in the district. I have purchased a property in it ; lam bringing down my wife and family from the North to live amongst you, and surely, under those circumstances, your interests are identical with my own. I am comparatively a very recent resident amongst you, although even that gives me some claim to your consideration, for I have lived in JSew Zealand for nearly thirty years, and the fact that after thirty years' experience of the colony I have determined to cast my lot amongst you, shows that in my opinion your distriot is one worthy of belonging to, and I trust and believe that I shall not repent the step I have now taken. The Hon E. Richardson, as one of the representatives of Lyttelton in the Canterbury Council, recently addressed the electors there. Referring to subjects of local and Provincial interest, he said : — " There was none of such paramount importance as the system of harbor works which was now being carried on. When these works were completed, there was no doubt that they would prove of incalculable benefit to the Province, and he thought that their completion should be pushed forward as rapidly as possible. In connection withharbor works, he, wassorry to think that a steam dredge had not been procured at least a twelvemonth ago. He was glad to think, however, that the Government had ordered a dredge from

home, and its utility would soon become*' apparent, as without it, and in the presence of the large-works nowgoing on, there yras no dotibt ! the harbor would silt up. K Oonsid<^pie.. digflrtasioa: had also taken place* o^c!tHe»^pr6posal" to build a graving dock in^Lytt^ltbn. It was argued that Dunedift-iUdi a graving dock, and Auckland was also taking steps in. the Bame direction. It was. considered that Lyttelton should have a graving dock for the docking of vessels of large tonnage, but he thought that considerable care and caution should be exercised before they decided on the building of a very large graving dock. It was a matter of consideration whether the , largest vessels would come to Lyttelton for the purpose of being repaired, and if they did come, the question would arise whether there would be a sufficient number of artisans available. He thought, however., that itwould be advisable to take steps for the building of a dock of such dimensions a* would admit of the docking of vessels of a reasonable amount of tonnage, and it might be constructed on such a principle as would permit of its being enlarged whenever it was found necessary to do so." The tender of Mr M'Kenzie for the erection of premises for the new National Bank has been accepted, and the erection of the building upon the site lately occupied by Mr Dransfield's store in Greystreet will be at once proceeded with. Mr Toxward is the architect. The s.s. Claud Hamilton had not been telegraphed from Lyttelton when we went to press this morning. .Her detention, is accounted for by the fact that the new crop in Otago being now ready for shipment, she had to take on board four thousand bags of cereals at Kakanui. These would have to be sent on board in surf boats, and a detention of a couple of days or so would take place there. Th« Alhambra should be heard of from the West Coast in the course of the day, if the wires are workable. The vacant site opposite the Supreme Court, which has lately passed- from the Hon W. B. Rhodes into the possession of the Union Bank of Australia, will shortly be occupied by a handsome. addition to the street architecture of the city. A design by Mr Toxward has been accepted, and the contract for the erection of the building will shortly be accepted. "Mrs Macgregor's Levee" was given last night at the Odd Fellows' Hall by Mr and Mrs Gourlay. But for the extreme severity of the weather up -ta - within an hour or so of opening the doors, the muddy roads, and pools of water in the pathways, there would have been a large attendance at the "levee," the popularity of the entertainment being well known. As it was, there were a considerable number of people present, and the performers entered as completely, and with as much real interest, into their delightful sketches as if there had been a bumper .house. Mrs Gourlay sang the numerous .songs and ballads which fell to her, with much sweetness and taste, while Miss Minnie created great amusement by the archness of her impersonation of the • Scottish servant lassie very fond of the bawbees, and the humor with which she sang all her songs, and especially "Behave yoursel' before folk," and "Robin is so shy." Of Mr'Gourlay's large share in the entertainment, we need only say that all of the sketches were drawn to life itself, and from models which Mr Gourlay evidently had an opportunity of studying in early life. Mr Corbefct, in whom we recognise "an old friend of the family," with whom we have made acquaintance on another stage — played the introductory music and the accompaniments very care- " fully. The party start to-day on their short Provincial tour. Mr W. Horace Bent made his last appearance in Wellington, yesterday evening, at the Theatre Royal, "prior to his departure for America." There are many would-be comedians, and a few successful ones. Mr Horace Bent has proved himself eminently one of the latter. There is in him an absence of that refined coarseness and vulgarity which occasionally mark comic singers, and a presence of real comedy, in his impersonations and songs, which is a relief after the exhibitions of some so-called Christy Minstrels and their kind. That Miss Uric, whose renderings of the homely Scotch ballads might have delighted the heart of Burns, sang several times in the course of the evening, was enough in itself to secure the success of an entertainment, and. the lesser stars, in the shape of the gentlemen amateurs, did not fail to "shed their light." The lower part of the house was fairly crowded, but the dress circle was somewhat bare. It should be said that even Easter Monday is no excuse for the unprovoked and unmerited badinage with which amateurs,, who sang out of pure goodwill, were met. by portions of the house. Mr Bent'a severe rebuke was justified, and morethan justified, by "'the' occasion which called ' it forth. Of the; items in the first part of the proI gramme, seeing that they fell chiefly intothe hands of Mr Bent himself, it is needless to say that they were quite successful, both in themselves and in pleasing the audience. The "Six ages of man "and . the " German band " are unique in their comicality ; and the song, "I'm so vola--tile," was sung in a very suggestive manner. Miss Uric sang the fine song "Castles in the air" with fine taste and emphasis. This lady's voice is singularly rich and clear, and but little' more cultivation and freedom would make it always entrancing. One of the good "Old Scotch songs " the lady gave in the veryspirit and feeling in which the poet wroteit, and with a pathos which the peculiar . Scotch diction gives ample room for. Mr Bent, in the second part, acted the. policeman to the life, and his mimicry of { the melo-dramatic contortions of " face and words in "Brawn the tragedian" might be suggestive to tragic actors of more aristocratic names j; but in the songs that followed all enjoyment was marred by disgraceful utterances from the pit, so much so that songs were left unfinished to such an un~ appreciative audience. The excellent, song "Happy Muleteer," by a gentleman amateur, was received in a better spirit, which it well deserved ; and the. quartette from Orpheus was even better than "Spring delights" fromthe same composition earlier in the evening. The concluding " Negroic Foolishments " of Mr Bent were inimitable, and possessed the great charm, too often utterly ignored, o£ genuine originality. Cut and dried jokes were forbidden, and real wit sparkled in their place, only somewhat marred at the end by the inevitable-double-barrel. Though the loss of so genuine a public favourite as Mr Bent is to be regretted 1 , his final appearance here recommended him as a gentleman, worthy of public favour, and elicited kindly wishes for his welfare in America ojr In. any larger field to which lj,e*nay proceed. It was this feeling, in.fact, which led tothe ready offer of amateixr assistant, and-

to the attendance of an audience which, in point of numbers, was both gratifying and surprising, considering the adverse atmospheric circumstances under which they assembled. At "Westland, a man named Thomas Service has been killed by a fall cf timber in his claim. In addressing the electors of Heathcote, and in reply to a question from a Mr Hall, the Hon Mr Stafford stated that he considered that in this country there was no one race or~people who should ride rough-shod over others. They should consider themselves as New Zealanders, and he hoped that their children would call themselves by that , name. The affairs of the colony would never be thoroughly well managed until they had a legislature composed of native-born New Zealanders. " Better times now" is the brief form in which satisfaction is expressed in a telegram from the West Coast, transmitted on the receipt of news that the several sections of the Hochstetter Waterrace had been let to contractors. Messrs Brogden and Sons having completed the line of railway to Otahuhu, marked the importance of the event by running a special train from Auckland for the conveyance of picnicing parties and others who desired to take part in the opening of this portion of the Southern railway line.. At the Onehunga junction, there was an addition to the number of passengers, and the train j>roceeded to Otahuliu, where the party enjoyed themselves much. The formal opening, if there be any, has yet to come. The "Thames Advertiser" expects that in a few days it will be heard who has . obtained the contract for the second part of the water supply in that district. This second contract is a much larger affair than the first, and it is said that it will cost not less than £20,000. It will extend to a point somewhat nearer Shortland than the reservoir of the present Tracer supply. In the Knox Manse garden, George street, Dunedin, a blue gum was cut level with the ground between fifteen and sixteen months ago. Since then, it has sent up numerous shoots, and the leading one on being measured lately was found to be 18ft 4in in height.