THE EVENING POST. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1865.

Evening Post, Issue 18, 28 February 1865, Page 2

THE EVENING POST. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1865.

Wnunn the reports in circulation with n fcrence to the arrival of his Excellency differ so materially, it is a difficult task to announce him anywhere, and though it is certain he will eventually turn up, much iloubt is felt as to the duration of his stay — some contemporaries affirming he 'will merely pass through on a general tour of inspection, returning to his beloved Kawau within the fortnight, others, equally well informed, announcing his intention of permanently residing here. That this latter is highly improbable, at lea9t at present, we feel called on to admit, inasmuch as from his well-known dislike to leaving Auckland in the first place, and, secondly, his great antipathy to putting himself in the way of his "responsible advisers," he will not, without a struggle, allow himself to be caught. At any rate, we are to see the light of his countenance for a day, and it is only to be regretted that, having already stayed away so long, he did not wait until Mr. Masters ascends the Supeiintetidental throne. We could then receive him with due respect, and his Excellency's gratified feelings would beam forth in his countenance when, stepping on to the Queen's wharf, he. would find hiiri'self warmly welcomed to the Empire City by his Honor William Masters and his vakeel Con Croft. There is a great deal of work to be donei and Sir George Grey's one day will be fully occupied in making arrangements for the meeting of the General Assemhh/, the election for the Fjovincial Council, the vigorous continuance o( the war, and a quantity of bick work.

Mr Reader W ood lias resigned his seal in the General Assembly. The Postmaster General arrived in the Ai/tdale on Sunday last, from the South. Ti.c Claud Hamilton, from Melbourne, ar- ; ivsd fit Auck'and on the 20ih instant, after a ] assnge oC ten dtiyß, and was to leave for Wellington on tlsc 24th. Tlio Honorable the Minister .of Native affairs was a passenger by the s.s. Rangatira to Wanganui. It will be seen by a notification elsewhere thit the first-class Militia and Volunteers called out in the City of Wellington on Febrnary 3rd, 1865, are discharged from actual 8 LTV JOO. The Criminal Sessions commence to-mor-row at ton o'clock. There are a great number of eases for trial, most of them from Wanganui. A very heavy weelc is therefore anticipated. II.M. steam Bioop Eclipse remains on this station ; she will in all probability be in port until the arrival of his Excellency in the Esk Afterwards, as she is at the disposal of the Mn j or General in command of the Forces for bombarding purposes, she will await orders to proceed to the seat of war. The barque Ballarat having cleared at the Customs, with the " Blue Peter" at the fore, will leave in the course of the evening In addition to those fortunate people returning to the mother country, who hail her departure with such delight, she bears a few unfortunate beings who would not be greatly disappointed if she went down at her anchors. These runaways, flvc in number, who were escorted on board by the police this afternoon, have, by their very futile attempt at desertion, forfeited all claim to their pay and every indulgence in the power of the master to givu ; consequently, on their return to their shipping port, they will be as rich as before. A strong body of the members of the Volunteer Eire Brigade assembled yesterday evening at the Mechanias' Institute. The proceedings commenced by reading the minutes of a meeting held at Mr. L. Moss's house and the replies to the lettera addressed to the various insurance companies. The agents agreed to give the free usp of two engines and houses, and an annual contribution of .CIOG if the brigade raised a similar

sum, only stipulating that they (the agen's) should have a voice in the election of the captain. E. Pearce, Esq., th^ chairman of the Town Board, said he thought he might snfi'ly offor £20 a-year from the Town Board, in aid of thj corps, lire tho close of the meeting, it was agreed that the rules of the Dunedin Volunteer Fire Brigade be enforced, and after fix new members had been proposed and a meeting for the election of officers fixed, to tuke place on Wednesday next, at the same hour and place, the proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman. The programme of the entertainment at the Odd Fellows' Hall last night w s the same as on the previous occasion, but we observed that there was not a very full house; the good people of Wellington often deplore the dearth of amusement, and on getting an opportunity of supporting the legitimate drama they do not do bo. Without going so far as to say the Drunkard's Curse is the most instructive or interesting piece we have seen here, it is better by far than the average, and considering the disadvantage the corps are under, and the short time they had at their disposal to arrange the stage, learn their parts, &c, the manner in which it is performed throughout is most creditable.