The Evening Post. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1865.

Evening Post, Issue 278, 29 December 1865, Page 2

The Evening Post. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1865.

The ship Asterope, laden with .1 large and valuable cargo of wool, &c, sailed for England \o-day, at half-past one o'clock, exchanging salute* with the Wild Duob. She is the flrgt vroolship of the season, and her cargo is valued at .£105,209. The Asterope will be followed by the Adelaide Baker, about the 15th of next month. On and after Monday next, the overland mails will be despatched twice a week to Wanganui, closing every Monday and Thursday morning at seven o'clock. The return mails will be due every Tuesday and Friday afternoon. The s.s. Wanganui sailed yesterday evening for Wanganui. Among the passengers were F&wcett's dramatic company, whose depnrture was somewhat abrupt, owing to the very small share of patronage they received while here. The committee of management for the Caledonian Qames are making rapid progress in their arrangements for the forthcoming demonstration on New Year's Day, and, we understand, arc well backed up by the public. Sir George Grey, Judge Johnston, his Honor the Superintendent, the Hon. Johnson, M.L.C., and many other gentlemen whose names do not appear at the head of the programme, take a lively interest in patronising these harmless amusements, which, wherever they have been introduced, were attended with successful results, and proved highly beneficial to the local charities, the surplus receipt?, after defraying all expenses, being devoted to philanthropic purposes. We may state that Caledonian Games were first introduced into Victoria in 1855, at Geelong, j under the presidency of Mr. Douglas, an influential merchant ; and in the following year Governor Sir Henry Barkley liberally supported the movement in Melbourne. The

example was followed in all the Victorian townships ; and Dunedin and Southland imported the idea with a like success. The Auckland papers report a monster meeting, held at Drury on the 15th instant, to address the Superintendent, " asking for immediate help, in consequence of their present distressed condition." The meeting was conducted in an orderly manner. One of the speakers said they were brought out as a set of dupes by a government unable to employ them ; they would all be content with four days' employment each week, at five shillings per day. A petition was ordered to be drawn up for presentation to his Honor the Superintendent, setting forth their grievances. A private letter from Wanganui "tatig that the Wanganui Times has changed pfl| prittors, the arrangemnt to take effect frofflr the first of January next. The Bruce Herald announces that the prospectus of tlia Tokotnairiro Steam Flour Mill Company [Limited] has jifst been issued. The object of the company is to supply increased accommodation for next season's crop, and to effect that it is proposed to raise a capital ot £3000, in 1.50 shares of £20 each, and to erect a first-class Steam Flour Mill. Mr. John Martin offers a reward of jEIO for such information as will lead to the conviction of the person or persons who broke into his store and took therefrom property removefl from the Panama Hotel. Mr. Broughton, charged with embezzlement of money belonging to a branch bank of New Mouth Wales, was yesterday forwarded for exauiimitian to the Magistrate's Court, at Wanganui. Mr. Alfred A. Barnett will hold a con. tinuation of his sale of Christmas presents and New Year's gifts, on Saturday next, at two o'clock. The stock comprises gold and silver watches, scent bottles, work boxes, papier machie ornaments and a great variety suitable to the occasion. Booths for supplying the visitors to the Caledonian (James on New Year's Day with refreshments are in course of erection. Messrs. O'Meara and Monaghan advertise an unlimited supply of brandies, wines, ale 9, lemonade, &c, &c. ; and Mr. Walter Freeman will provide tea, coffee, ginger beer, pastry, and every description of confectionery. The magnesium light was exhibited in the Canterbury tunnel on Tuesday last. The visitors to the latter were very numerous, and during the day over a thousand persons must have been present, The tunnel was lit up with candles from end to end, and at intervals the magnesium light, the apparatus for which was erected about half the distance from the entrance, was exhibited. The light, although very brilliant, did not appear to advantage. The intervals were too long and its duration too short to give those present any idea of the magnitude of the work. ========== I