BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Issue 3686, 15 December 1874, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Wellington, December 15. The Governor holds a full dress levbe on Wednesday.

Peremptory notice has been given to the contractors for the Kemutaki tunnel on the Wellington and Masterton railway that they must proceed more energetically, or the Government will interfere in such a manner as to cause the contract to be carried out properly. The Luna leaves this morning for the South with the American mails, and takes a quantity of oil and stores for the southern lighthouses. Messrs Seed, Blackett, and Johnston are passengers, and will visit the various lighthouses en route. [Sent 10.39 a.m.; received 12.10 p.m.] Wool is being brought here now for direct shipment to America. A large parcel sold yesterday privately to the agent of American buyers. [Sent 12.10 p.ra., received 4 p.».] {From our own Correspondents.) _ „ Napier, December 14. The Poverty Bay Standard ’ just to hand says: “Although the weather was cloudy on Wednesday last, still some excellent observations of the transit were made.” Complaints are made re the management of the railway. Though the local journals have complained of the very unsatisfactory timetable now in use no notice has been taken; and owing to the want of goods sheds at the stations on the line, very little wool is sent by railway. The Interpravincial Cricket Match witli Wellington is fixed for Boxing Day. In the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning, Captain M’Lean, of the schooner Crest of the Wave, was fined L 5 for a breach of the harbor regulations, in bringing 150 kegs of powder into the inner harbor without hoisting the red flag. 4 Auckland, December 12. The Star,’ remarking on the comments of the Dunedin Star rc telegraphic delays, writes condemning the injustice placed on the evening papers by the present high tariff, and the total want of consideration shown by the Department as to whether messages paid for at extravagant rates are rendered worthless or not. . . December 14. Referring to the appointment by Mr Hialon of Mr M'Cullough, of Thames, as Substitute Grand Master of the Scottish Constitution of I reemasons, the ‘ Star’ to-night quotes an Auckland telegram from the Dunedin Star of Ist referring to the subject, and adds~“ We have been requested by the leading mason of the city to republish the telegram as containing information upon the subject, which has evoked much adverse criticism m masonic circles at Auckland and the Thames, for the benefit of the Dunedin branch of the order. We are requested to state that a very wide feeling of dissatisfaction prevails regarding this appointment, which is accepted as an affront to masons of high standing and long service resident in this part of the Colony. This dissatisfaction does not arise from any personal feeling against Mr M’Cullough, but is attributable to his short connection with the order, the superior claim of other masons, and to the fact that the body of lieemasons under the Scottish Constitution in this Island should have been consulted in making such appointment. It has been suggested that some representation upon the subject should be made to the Grand Master of f 0 ,7 , e Auckland and Thames members of the Scottish Lodge. No doubt this [is the proper course to pursue.” The London correspondent of the ‘Star’ states that Dr Feathersten is greatly reducing The ladies of Parnell have opened a Croquet Club, under the auspices of Bishop Cowie and ms lady. It is very successful. Objections are raised to the game by the straight-laced sort on grounds of encouraging flirtation, which have been met by the argument that the flirtations the game encourages are all fair and above board, and in the presence of other parties, and (hat the little game of attack and d^»

fence which has been carried on has to undergo the scrutiny of watchful eyes, and the result is the shaping of art and the brightening of conversational poweis. No doubt croquet has to mourn bruised hearts, as the cricket field has to mourn broken limbs, but a serious accident in either case is rare. The chief topic of discussion in the papers is the case of the girl Cecelia Allen, accused of repeated attcmj ts at incendiarism without any apparent motive. A medical writer contends that girls about the age of puberty have frequently an irresistible tendency to incendinr ism. The evidence advanced regarding this peculiarity has carried the day in connection with the present controversy. The Rev Dr Copland, of Dunedin, was a passenger by the s.s. Wellington for the South to-day.