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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4243, 26 October 1874, Page 3

It will not be forgotten that an important sale of Crown lands commences to-day, in the Provincial Council Chamber, at eleven o’clock in the forenoon.

The s.s. Tarama left the harbor yesterday punctually at noon with the mail for England, via Suez. She had a south-east gale to contend against on leaving the Heads, but we trust it was only a local storm. The s.s. Albion was to have sailed at daylight, but she has been detained by the Government till six o’clock this evening, to take the outgoing Suez mail from Auckland, which she will receive at Nelson from the Taranaki. ’ The Albion—we may remind those of our readers who have sporting proclivities-—will reach Melbourne in ample time to permit of visitors by her being on Elamington course to see the race for the Melbourne Cup. It is stated in the late telegrams of English news received in Melbourne, but not forwarded on to this colony, 'that an offer has been made to the Governments of New South Wales and New Zealand, apparently on the part.of the English capitalists connected with the Australian and American Steam Shipping Company (Hall’s) to continue the service in consideration of an extension of the term of the contract and other advantages. It is also stated that some of the through passengers by the Tartar could only get on by pawning watches and trinkets, and that some of them still remain in America, unable to get on. The London and American agents had warned the company’s representative in Australia that unless funds to pay the transit across the United States and Atlantic passages were remitted, they could not guarantee passengers going forward. The agents’ letters were acknowledged, but no money was sent. The Gazette of Thursday last contains a proclamation- making and confirming by-laws, rules, and regulations affecting the Onehunga branch of the Auckland to Mercer railway; the Wellington and Hutt portion of the Wellington to Masterton railway; and the Napier to Hastings portion of the Napier to Waipukurau railway. The weather is again singularly unsettled. On Saturday, in the early morning, it was calm, and delightful. As the day wore on, however, the heat became almost oppressive. About noon the clouds suddenly gathered up ominously in the southern sky, and in a few minutes a hard gtvle set in from the south-east, accompanied. by showers of hail as large as peas. In the afternoon it again became calm and fine; but all day long yesterday the wind came in hard squalls from the same quarter, with hail and rain, making fires enjoyable once more.

Wellington is becoming like that beautiful island where Prospero ruled the elements : “ The place is full of noises, [not." Sounds and. sweet airs that give delight, and hurt The English Opera Company will scarcely have taken their departure, when we may look for the arrival of the greatest artiste that ever crossed the line : —Madame Arabella Goddard ; and it is an event indicative of the social progress of New Zealand, that the “queenof piauistes” should have resolved upon paying the colony a professional visit. Madame Goddard’s agent—Mr. R. S. Smythe—who was last here with Mr. Heller, arrived by the Albion on Saturday to make the necessary arrangements; and wo believe it is owing in no small degree to his representations of the enthusiastic welcome she might count upon receiving here that Madame Goddard decided upon making a tour in New Zealand. The tour, however, will be little more than a flying visit. It was Madame Goddard’s intention to leave Melbourne a month ago, and working up from the South to start from Auckland for San Francisco; but owing to the hitch in the Californian mail arrangements, there was a possibility of this idea being rendered impracticable, and hence Ballarat, Geelong, Sandhurst, and other largo Victorian towns were visited. However, there is no doubt now that Madame Goddard will visit New Zealand, as passages for the company were taken by the Alhambra, which would leave Melbourne on the 21th inst., and the great artiste may be expected in Wellington about the 10th of next month. The Theatre Royal, we are glad to observe, will not long remain unoccupied. Miss Clara Stephenson is about to visit Wellington, and will bring -with her a strong company. They open on the 29th instant, and wiU play_ a season of . twenty-four nights. It is Miss Stephenson’s intention, we understand, to proceed afterwards to America, by way of San ‘Francisco. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Saturday, one drunkard was fined, and a woman mamod Eliza Loft was bound over to keep the peace in one surety of £lO, for using threatening language. A man named Fisher was remanded for eight days on a charge of deserting from H.M.S. Blanche. An assault case concluded the business; the parties at difference were man and wife, and, as the Magistrate remarked, from the evidence given they appeared to bo aparticularly “ happy” couple. The case was dismissed, as one was as much to blame as the other. The West Coast Times states that an action for libel is to be tried shortly in Christchurch. The plaintiff is a merchant of Hokitika, and the defendant a hotel-keeper in the capital of Canterbury, who at one time resided in Hokitika. Damages are claimed to the amount of £IOOO, and the case arises through a letter ■written by the defendant to a tradesman in Hokitika, reflecting on the plaintiff for matters arising out of a composition defendant had at one time made with his creditors, of whom plaintiff was one. A special meeting 'of the managing committee of the Wellington Choral Society will take place in the rooms of Messrs. Bethune and Hunter this afternoon at five o’clock.

The passage of the R.M.S. Pera, from Galle to Glenelg, S.A., was made in the unprecedentedly short space of seventeen days, including the detention at King George’s Sound for coaling purposes. Last night'the observers were favored with a very good view of the partial eclipse of the moon. Although the southern sky was loaded with clouds, the northern portion of the heavens was comparatively clear, and the partial obscuration of the full moon was readily noted. The Eev. Sir. Hamilton, of Victoria—who is returning to that colony after visiting Dunedin—preached yesterday, both morning and evening, in St. John’s Presbyterian Church, to large congregations, by whom the reverend gentleman’s discourses were much appreciated. Latest advices from Melbourne as to the doings of the New Zealand representatives for the Melbourne Cup—-Lurline .and Papapa—are particularly satisfactory and encouraging. Owing to the hot weather they do their gallops at a very early and those who wish to see them go must be at Plemington by peep of day. “ Augur,” the tout for the Australasian, fancies Lurliue much. In writing of her he says :—“Lurline is undoubtedly one of the boat mares that ever trod an Australian racecourse, and I look forward to a meeting between this New Zealander, Dagworth, and Goldsbrough with considerable interest. Her fore action is apparently a little tiring, but her magnificent hind action seems to counterbalance this defect, and no journey seems to be too long for her.” A contemporary states in a recent issue that “‘Sinbad,’a sporting contributor to the Christchurch Press, learns from Mr. Prince, the well-known bookmaker, who has just returned from Victoria, that, in the Melbourne Cup, Mr. Watt has backed Lurline and Papapa to win him £SOOO at 100 to 40 against the mare, and 100 to 35 against the colt.” If Mr. Watt has backed the stable at these odds, which we beg leave to doubt, some, of the “talent” have managed to got most decidedly on the soft aide of him, for as late as the 16th inst. Lurline’s price in the betting market was 100 to 6, and plenty of money obtainable at that figure. In advancing 34 points Mr. Watt must feel it a certainty about Lurline for the Cup, and he has consequently backed her at a much shorter price than probably any horse has seen for the same race since the Barb’s year of winning. Goldsbrough is 15 points higher in the betting for the Cup than any other horse, and his price is 100 to 25. In the last quotations Papapa is not mentioned, but his price is about 100 to 3 or 4. Most probably “Sinbad,” or our contemporary, has made a mistake in the figures, and Mr. Watt has backed the horses mentioned at 1000 to 40 for the mare and 1000 to 35 for the colt. This would be much more reasonable odds, and the taker would be well on at the price. By the next trip of the Otago the hopes and fears of New Zealanders will be set at rest, and we shall all know what is what. Probably the result will prove a “boil over,” for although Goldsbrough is such a staunch favorite, and undoubtedly very fit, there are some very dangerous animals with a good outside chance, particularly amongst the four-year olds, which are let in remarkably well for the race. We recently reported the wreck of the brig Alice Maud, on Barren Island, on her voyage from New Zealand to Melbourne, and the rescue of the crew. There would seem, however, to be some doubt as to what has become of a lady passenger who was on board. It appears that, with the other passengers and crew, she reached Goose Island, from whence they were taken, all but herself, to Melbourne by the Southern Cross. Wishing to go to Tasmania, she remained to be picked up on the return voyage of the steamer, but advices from Hobarton state that she had not arrived. The friends and relations of the young lady, who is married, and has an infant with her, reside at Strathloddon, in Victoria. “ Index,” one of the racing prophets, remarks in one of his last letters to the Melbourne Daily Telegraph, that Lurline and Papapa were doing well in their preparations for the great race—the Melbourne Cup. He says ;—“ Lurline went really fine, and there is nothing that has had a better preparation than 1 tliis mare for our great handicap race.”