The Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1865.

Evening Post, Issue 271, 20 December 1865, Page 2

The Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1865.

The W. S. N. Company's s.s. Wanganui, Captain Lowe, arrived in this harbor last sight at 8.30 p.m. Left here last Friday at 3 p.m. arriving next day at Wanganui at 7 a.m. Left at 9.30 a.m. yesterday, arriving hers as above, after a fine run of eleven hours from wharf to wharf. She will sail again for Wanganui to-morrow evening. By the »,*, Wanganui, we learn that two officers of the 18th Regiment were drowned while bathing in the Patea river on last Monday evening. The names of the unfortunate gentlemen are said to be Samson and Jenkins. The Wanganui Times of yesterday makes no mention of this sad accident. The usual weekly meeting of the City of Wellington Band of Hope was held in the Wesley an Schoolroom last evening. There were about ninety children present. Mr, Tolley occupied the chair, and after a few remarks he called on Mr. Stride to address the meeting. He gave an account of his early life, which was listened to very attentively, Mr. Presnell then addressed the meeting, which closed at half-past eight. The amount collected at the Fenny Bank was £6. A. de B. Brandon, Esq , J.P., presided at the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day. — William Ramsay, for drunkenness and using obscene language, was fined 20s, or in default nevtm drys' hard labor • Rose Palmer, drunk and disorderly, was sent to hard labor for one month ; George Phillips, drunk, and creating a disturbance, fined 10s ; and George James, for drunkenness, was fined 10s. There were no other cases before the Court. Court Robin Hood, of the order of Foresters, gave a soiree and ball yesterday evening, at the Odd Fellows' Hall, at which a very respectable company attended. Mr

Carter, founder of the lodge, took the chair, and all present having partaken of an excellent tea, speechmaking and singing alternately followed till nine o'clock arrived, when dancing commenced to an excellent band. The arrangements were well carried out, refreshments in abundance, and perfect order reigned throughout the evening. The Foresters may be congratulated on the success of the entertainment, a very agreeable eveni ing having been spent by all present. The Wanganui Times says—" Our brave allies have fixed their minds upon the unveiling of the Moutoa Monument, and having a grand turn-out in Wanganui previous to their departure for Patea. We believe the day fixed for that ceremony is the 28th inst., and invications have been sent to the chiefs of the surrounding tribes for many miles round to be present on the occasion. The tribes have requested Dr. Featherston to unveil the monument, and he has not only consented to do so, but we can state upon good authority that he has determined to accompany the Native Contingent to Patea, and serve with them in the approaching campaign, unless he should find that, the force is to be placed under such restrictions as to deprive them of free action, and thus, when there, be subject to a harassing routine of marching and countermarching, with orders not to fire until fired upon. Those men won't serve upon such terms, and consequently, if they go at all it must be with the clear understanding that they are for active service ; therefore, it is most likely that if they do go, Dr. Featherston will accompany them." The trial trip of the N.Z. Cos. s.s. Lady Bird took place yesterday evening under the command of Capt Kreeft, and gave complete satisfaction. It will be remembered that this vessel has been laid up for a considerable time, owing to an accident which occurred to her shaft. The work of repairing the damage was entrusted to Mr. E. W. Mills, and we are happy to congratulate that gentleman on his success. The steamer proceeded to Evan's Bay and took the Favourite (which has been on the company's slip) in tow, and returned with her to the Queen's wharf. The Lady Bird is now in a thoroughly sea worthy condition, and will proceed to sea in a few days. At the slose of the season of the Princess Theatre, Wanganui, Mr. Tom Fawcett was called for, and in the course of his address to the audience, said :— " We have now been for Ate months the exponents of the greatest institution of the country ; an institution calculated to confer benefits of an inestimable value on a rising country like this, for, in the language of the ' world's master mind,' ' it is the end both at the first and now, was and is to hold as it were the mirror up to nature ; t how virtue her own feature ; scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure. Valuable is the Drama, not only for the portraiture of human nature, but for the elegance and purity of language ever imported into plays, and the consequent instruction youthful minds must derive from witnessing dramatic representations. That our first essay has sown the seed which in future years will mature, I feel certain, and therefore in saying so we are neither pedantic nor egotistical. Although we arc not stars in the dramatic firmament, yet the little twinkling we have exhibited cannot nor will not be easily extinguished. Perhaps a statement of our financial position may not be uninteresting to you. During our five months' sojourn, we are able to show raeeipts amounting to £1500, against which we have an expenditure of nearly £2000 for salaries, theatre expenses, &c. This may appear incredible, but what I state is truth. Thus, we have been losers, and it may be asked why did ,we continue to play a losing game ? I answer, in hopes that the fickle dame Fortune would make her appearance in Wanganui, look in at the ' Princess,' and smile upon us. This she has as yet failed to do, and all the moneys that w« have received have been freely distributed throughout your good little town, for • where we gathered, there have we strawn.'" — Times.