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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4251, 4 November 1874, Page 2

Tho births in Wellington registered in October were 55, showing an increase of 3 on the September births. The deaths were 18 males and 11 females, a total of 24; being 11 fewer than were recorded in September. Thirteen of the deatlis were of children under five years,, and 11 of persons over five years of age. There was only one death from influenza, which caused 11 deaths in September. One death occurred from diphtheria, 2 from pneumonia, 3 from phthisis, and 2 from diarrhoea. Three infants succumbed from weakness, and one death was caused by an accident. Dr. Redwood, the New Roman Catholic Bishop of Wellington, left England for New Zealand in September. Dr. Redwood comes out by the P. and 0. Company’s route, and may therefore be expected to arrive in Wellington, via Melbourne, by the next Suez mail steamer. The excavations for the new Museum building are being rapidly proceeded with. The difficult work of excavating under the present, building will be shortly undertaken, and it will be lowered to its proper level, when the erection of the new building will be proceeded with. The Thorndon reclamation has started, but the beginning is on a very small scale. The earth from the Museum excavation is being filled in between Nathan’s'old store and the site for the new General Government buildings, but the amount reclaimed is as yet not more than an acre. The work will shortly be proceeded with briskly. The plans and specifications of the Auckland water works, now lying at the Town Clerk's office here for inspection, appear in the form of a volume which is not of course interesting to the general reader ; nevertheless, the book is well worth perusal, as evidencing the advantages of letterpress printing and photolithography combined. The projected waterworks are of considerable magnitude, and as all the contractors in the colony are to be asked to furnish . tenders for the work, the specifications, which are deposited in each of the principal towns, have been put into their present form to secure plainness in the first place and economy in their preparation. The plans form a splendid specimen of the art of photo-lithography, and the book as a whole is a credit to the Auckland office that produced it. Its price is £3 35., but it is of course useful only to persons intending to tender for the work. The concurrent arrival of the Phoebe from the North, the Alhambra from Melbourne and the West Coast, and several small coasting steamers, has led to an unusually large attendance during the past two days at those institutions where visitors to the city most do congregate. The hospital, lunatic asylum, and gaol all received a call from persons having the indubitable marks of travel about them, but the Colonial Museum, • being ■ nearest at hand, received the greatest share of attention. The visitors’ book contains the names of persons hailing from various districts of Victoria and New South Wales who visited the museum on Monday and yesterday, the total number of visitors during the two days being little short of 200. ' It is several weeks since" the telegraph informed us that the premier pianiste of the world intended to visit. New Zealand, and the delay in the fulfilment of the promise made many people doubt whether the lady would visit us at all. There is no room for any doubt on the subject now. The lady is actually in New Zealand, and in another column will be found the advertisement of her first concert (for it is to be hoped she will give more than one) in Wellington. This event has been fixed for Tuesday next, and His Excellency the Governor and Lady Fergusson have intimated their intention of being present on the occasion. It is hai-dly necessary to " remark that this concert will bo the most important event in the musical annals of this city. Not only has no musical artiste of Madame Goddard’s standing ever visited the antipodes before ; but it will probably be many years before we see her like again. Eminent actors and' actresses have visited the colonies, but generally speaking not before their talents were on the wane ; whereas Madame Arabella Goddard comes to us in the zenith of her fame, and in the full bloom of her wonderful powers. And there is no room for doubting that the reception awarded to her in New Zealand will be quite ns enthusiastic as the welcome given to her in Australia. Englishmen love great names, and when the name is associated with brilliant talents, the fortunate possessor is sure to be run after. It was Madame Goddard’s intention, we are informed, to commence her New Zealand tour at Wellington; but the Odd Fellows' Hall will not be disengaged before next Tuesday. The Australasian Skelchcr for October (published on the 31st) fully sustains the reputation of that journal, though the subjects selected for illustration are not quite so happy as they sometimes are. A sketch near Mount Maoedon, by hi. Buvelot, affords a very good idea of Victorian scenery; while “ Shearing in Australia” will interest home readers. “On the Road to School ” represents four young scholars riding a steady old grey mare to the seminary, and tho mare seems to be as fond of the work as the boys evidently are. “The Haunt of the Dingo ” is a moonlight scene in the woods. Tho other illustrations for the month are also good, while the letterpress is as carefully got-up as usual. The nearest thing to the sirocco of Sahara, must be one of Wellington’s peculiar pebbleblasts, when it blows a gale from the northwest on a hot day, such as yesterday. The dust was nothing ; that could be laid by copious supplies of water from the hydrants, but the fierce pebble-laden gusts of wind which swept tho beach from Thorndon-quay downwards, were enough to create tho idea that Munchausen’s “blowing” man had been brought into requisition at that end of the city.

A branch of the Bunk of Now Zealand has been opened at Maslortoil under the charge of Mr. 11, J. Nation, lately of Nelson. Inspector Atcheson was a passenger by the Wanganui coach, which arrived last evening. The Wellington gymnasts brought the season of 1871 to a close last evening at the gymnasium. The attendance was not numerous. “Medea” and “La Sonnambula” was produced at the Theatre Royal last evening, to a thin house. To-night the company will present “ Aline,” and “ The King’s Gardener.” The P. and 0. Company’s steamers save twenty-four hours by sailing through the Suez canal, and the time-table between Galle and Melbourne has been amended to that extent. The Californian Minstrels were detained at Napier till yesterday, and will not be able to commence their short season here before Thursday night. Samuel Cutten, butcher, well known in this city, pleaded guilty at the criminal sittings of the Supreme Court, just concluded at Wanganui, to a charge of cattle stealing. He was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. Five pairs of Californian quail were lately sent up per coach to Masterton, for Mr. E. Meredith, of Whareama. Several of the birds made their escape at Masterton, and the remainder were forwarded to the station. The last, quinquennial report of the Australian Mutual Provident Society has been published in the form of a quarto volume. It is printed on tinted paper, and extremely well got up by Mr. Sands, of Sydney, the printer. The Waimrapa Standard reports that Messrs. Partridge and Butters have purchased the Tiraumea station from the Hon. Mr. Waterhouse, who is said to be about to make a short visit to England. Mr. George Donne, M.P.C., of the West Coast, is the successful tenderer for the right of advertising on the following lines of railway :—Auckland to Mercer, Nelson to Foxhill, Pictou to Blenheim, and Brunner to Greymouth. A summons has been issued by the Harbor authorities of the Waitara River against Messrs. Brogden and Son’s representative in New Zealand, for allowing the wreck of the paddle-steamer Paterson to obstruct the navigation of that river. Palmerston will shortly he in telegraphic communication with the remainder of the Colony. The necessary wire, insulators, &c., were shipped on hoard the steamer Napier yesterday. The poles will, of course, be obtained in the district. One of the crew of the ship Strathnaver was arrested at Featherston on Monday, on suspicion of having stolen a watch, valued at £lO, from George Yates, at the Lake Ferry Hotel. The case was to have been heard at Featherston yesterday. Wellington is about to lose Captain Salmon, of the barque Edwin Bassett, for a time. He has, we understand, come in for “ a slice of good luck” at home, and is about to proceed thither to realise it. He purposes returning with a ship of his own to resume his connection ■with the intercolonial trade, At the present time the supply of coal in Wellington is more than equal to the demand. All the hulks and coal-yards are full, and the Anne Melhuish is unable to discharge more than half her. cargo on that account. As steamers arrive they will take their supplies from her, but it is not anticipated she will he able to proceed to sea for ten or twelve days. ATctoria, we observe, has now begun to supply herself with coal from mines in the Westernport district. Several small vessels are plying between the pier at Griffiths’ Point, which is connected with the mines by a tramway, and Melbourne. The coal is reported to be of good quality. Mr. Vennell’s sale of drapery and clothing, at Messrs. Henry Owen and Co.’s, yesterday forenoon, was not very largely attended, the goods disposed of being chiefly in retail lots. During the afternoon the attendance increased very considerably, satisfactory prices being realised. The sale will be resumed this day at 11 o’clock, and concluded to-morrow (Thursday). The Parliament of Victoria has lately debated the opening of the public museums and libraries on Sunday andhas notyet decided. The greatest exertions were made by the opponents of the movement, and on the night when the discussion was to proceed three-quarters of an hour were occupied in presenting petitions against the motion in favor of those institutions being opened on Sunday, the petitions having an aggregate of 19,000 signatures. An excellent yield is reported from the Fiery Cross Company’s mine at Reefton, province of Nelson. Four hundred tons of quartz crushed has given not less than close upon 700ozs. of retorted gold. The No. 2 South Larry’s have also had the surprising return of 6870z5. of retorted gold from 800 tons of stone taken from a reef of not less than eighteen feet in thickness. It would seem from a paragraph which appeared in a Fiji newspaper of the 23rd September, that the question of annexation must have been a foregone conclusion on the part of the Imperial Government. “We understand,” says the Fiji Times, “that a troop-ship has left England for the command in the South Pacific, and that her ultimate destination being Fiji, she will leave some 800 marines in this kingdom. This is rather indicative of some very decided, even if unknown, determination with respect to our. future political position.” An American paper says that Mr. So thorn, after fulfilling engagements in Liverpool, Dublin, and Birmingham, was, on the sth of October, to begin an engagement of eight months at the London Haymarket. Afterwards he purposes to make an extensive tour of the English provinces, to journey to Australia by the overland route, to spend four months on that continent, to return to England and play a • farewell engagement at the London Haymarket, and finally to go back to America for a home. . Those who intend to compete at the sports to take place at the Basin Reserve on Monday next (Prince of Wales’ Birthday) are reminded that entries are to be made at the New Zealeauder Hotel on Friday evening, at 8 o’clock. Skellie, the long-distance runner, will arrive from Auckland on Saturday next, in the steamer Wellington. Mx\ Rayer will act in the capacity of starter ; and Mr. Pollock, who has retired from racing contests, has consented to handicap. Eight events are on the programme, and, if the weather proves fine, a day of excellent sport may be anticipated. In connection with the breakdown of the Australasian and American Steamship Company, we find the following in the London and China Telegraph of August 13 : —“ The acceptances of Paul S. Forbes (who has been of late years in * London and Pans) for £40,000 have been protested, and judgment given on them. Mr. Forbes was, up to June last, a partner of Messrs. Russell and Co., of China, hut these acceptances were given by Mr. Forbes, in his own name, on behalf of a steam line from San Francisco to Australia, in which he took a prominent part. Of course the company has gone to smash, and the unfortunate passengers who paid their passage-money have been victimised. It is to be regretted that , a merchant of Mr. Forbes’ position and standing should be mixed up -with so miserable a business. It is another instance of the danger -of allowing a partner to remain in a firm who does not confine his operations to business connected with the firm. To have a partner or partners roving about Europe, entering into all kinds of speculation, is an element of danger which firms like Messrs. Russell and Go. should not incur. On the first rumor of the affair in London it was stated that the disaster would affect his firm, hut inquiries at Messrs. Baring Brothers dispelled any fears on this head, and we are glad to find that Messrs. Russell and Co. will not ho in any way affected by it. Air. Forbes is at present believed to he in America, but we understand his address is not known, and that he has other large liabilities, both here and there.”

The Greytowu Rifle Association, we observe, met for prize firing on the 28th, 29th, and 30th ult. It will he seen by the subjoined scores that some good shooting has been made in each class; the weather having been exceedingly favorable throughout. In the Ist class, at ranges of 300, 400, and 500 yards, targets 6 x 6, the first prize was taken by Mr. L. St, George, with a score of 47, and the second by Mr. G. Hollard, with 44 points. Mr. T. Rowe took first prize in the 2nd class, with 44, and Mr. John Hollard second, with 42. The 3rd class prizes fell to Messrs. W. Hodge and H. F. Woods, with 48 and 45 respectively. The News states that a brewery is about tohe established in -Masterton. Our contemporary also supplies the following particulars as to the bridge In course of erection at the Manawatu Gorge ;—“This bridge is rapidly approaching completion, and when finished will he one of the boldest and finest pieces of engineering in the colony. The piers, which are forty feet high, are built of rubble and cement, and on rock foundation. The piers are overtopped by wooden trestles 20ft. high, on which rests the roadway, thus making the bridge 60ft. high. The bridge consists of six small spans of 40ft, centres ; and a main span of 162 ft. long, supported by a wooden arch and truss, and iron girders. Mr. McNeil, who is well known in the colony as the successful contractor for the Tamaki and Wanganui bridges and other works of importance, is the contractor for this bridge. A meeting of members of the Church of Bnglaud, says the Standard, was held on Thursday last, at the upper room of the Institute, at Greytown, the Rev. A. Knell in the chair. Mr. W. R. Hastwell was elected as parishioners’ warden, in place of Mr. Haines, who has resigned, and Messrs. Yarnham, Fabian, and Humphries, were elected as vestrymen. Arrangements were made for reorganising the Sunday School, and it was agreed that a testimonial of some kind should he presented to Mr. Haines, as a slight recognition, by church members, of his services to the local church. The necessity of enlarging St. Luke’s Church was affirmed by the meeting, and the vestry authorised to take steps iu the matter.