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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4255, 9 November 1874, Page 2

Their Honors Chief Justice Sir George A. Arney and Judge Richmond, with their private secretaries, were passengers by the Wellington, which arrived in port on Saturday last. His Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson has returned to Sydney from his cruise in Eijiau waters. H.M.S. Pearl arrived in Sydney on the morning of Sunday the 25th ultimo, when ho disembarked under a salute of seventeen guns. His Excellency brought with him from Eevuka -King , Gakobau’s second son, Ratu Timocl, who intends spending three months in New South Wales as the guest of His Excellency. King Cakobau is expected to follow in the Dido, also on a visit to the Governor.

At the City Court, on Saturday, the license of the Prince of Wales Hotel, Grey-street, was transferred from Mrs, Spray,to J. Xachscheinal. Four boxes of choice Hew Zealand plants will he forwarded by the ship Halcione to the Royal Gardena at Ke.w. ~ Siz G. A.. Arney, Chief Justice, and Mr.:, Justice Richmond, arrived in the Wellington on Saturday, to attend the sittings of the Court of Appeal. According to the time-table published in another column, it will be observed that trains to and from the Hutt will run every two hours to-day. A select soiree, including two hours’ song and glee singing, takes place at the Odd Fellows’ Hall this evening. Dancing begins at ten o’clock. An old and well-to-do settler at the Hutt, named Hart, was brought into town yesterday morning, and placed under the care of the police. The poor fellow is suffering from lunacy. To-day the Stormbird, or the Napier, or both, will make several excursions in the harbor, carrying visitors and picnic parties to Somes Island, on which they will be landed. The opportunity will, no doubt, be taken advantage of by a large number of excursionists. It is not the intention of the New Zealand Steam Shipping Company, we learn, to take the steamer Eangatira off the Napier and Poverty Bay trade. If it is completed in time, she -will ship a new propeller on her arrival in port. Mr. Mills has undertaken the casting.. Information of a fatal accident having occurred on the Hutt road was reported in town on Saturday morning ; but later in the day Constable Connor, who was instructed to inquire .into the matter, telegraphed to the effect that there had been an accident to a man named Robinson, but that nothing serious had happened. The California Minstrels gave their final performance at the Odd Fellows’ Hall on Saturday evening, in presence of a crowded audience. The performances of the company have already been frequently and favorably criticised. It is only necessary, therefore, to say that Saturday evening’s entertainment was fully equal, in point of merit, to any that preceded it. During the coming week the company will visit all the inland districts, beginning at the Hutt this evening. Mr. Massey, the well-known scenic artist, who returned to Wellington from Marlborough on Saturday last, is now actively engaged on the new scenery of the new play “ Cigarette; or Under Two Flags,” which is shortly to be produced by the Stephenson-Burford Company. Those who have seen the manuscript of this play, which is dramatised from a popular novel, speak in the highest terms of it. It will be brought out -with every care and attention to scenery and details, and, we hope, will he found attractive to the public and profitable to the company. During Saturday afternoon the barometer at Hokitika and Westport fell considerably, and the weather became very unsettled, the wind coming in strong gusts between north-west 'and south-west, accompanied by a good deal of thunder, lightning, and rain. By yesterday morning the wind had veered round to the south-west, blowing fresh at Hokitika and stormy at Westport, barometers commencing to move up. In the North the weather had a threatening appearance, and with the exception of the places just mentioned, a slow but steady decrease of pressure seems to have been general. The fishing excursion by the s.s. Stormbird on Saturday afternoon was a decided success in everything excepting the quantity of fish taken. Soon after two o’clock the Stormbird sounded her steam-whistle, and shortly afterwards started from the wharf with a company of about one hundred and fifty persons, including many ladies, on board. The day was fine, and in the morning there was only a light wind, but as the day advanced it blew very strong, increasing towards the evening. Rounding Point Haswell, and noticing the cutter Aurora lying under Somes Island with a fishing party on board, and a barque—which proved to be the Planter, of Hobavton, beating smartly into the harbor—and following the Manawatu into Chaffer’s Passage, the Stormbird rapidly made way. Close to the outer rock of Barrett’s Reef the tops of the masts of the submerged barque Countess of Southesk were seen over the water, and then the steamer came to an anchor off the reef. The water was deep and the current was strong. Not one of the hundred and more fishers who had set to work with all manner of lines and hooks—some small enough for a herring and some large enough fora shark— obtained so much as a bite. The anchor was then got up, and an attempt made in another quarter, but still the water was too deep, the bottom was mud, and the wind and the current were too strong. A few nibbles were reported from time to time by lucky fellows, to “ encourage the others two or three fish were got up a few feet, and then disappointed the piscators ; only one small blue cod was caught, and it fell to the skill of the late basso of the English Opera Company. The return to the wharf was accomplished about six o’clock, all on board being highly pleased with the short but pleasant excursion. Styles’s antidote for jibbing horses is certainly the most novel yet invented. George Styles’s eccentricity has frequently afforded infinite amusement to the crowd of idlers whose familiar faces are to be seen in the police court from one year’s end to another, but the last freak of this hare-brained individual is specially remarkable for its originality. Styles became possessed of a horse “ wat wouldn’t go” upon any occasion, and was equally steadfast in rejecting the peaceful but persuasive endeavors of its master, Styles’s man fired a blank charge under its tail, but the animal stood impassive, and Styles tried the effects of another charge himself, but with no better results. Such a mode of dealing with the poor animal was not long in reaching the ears of the proper authorities, and the modus operandi when explained in court created no small amount of amusement. One witness stated that the defendant was under the cart, close to the horse’s heels, when the charge was fired, but another Said he was alongside the cart. Examination of the animal proved that the effects of the shooting were not very serious, and his Worship, while remarking that he did not believe the defendant had been intentionally cruel, said ho could not allow such a peculiar case to pass by without imposing a line. Defendant was therefore' fined -10 s. Another charge of ill-using a horse was then heard, during which the irrepressible Styles again came to the surface, and declared that he was the most humane man on the whole road, and could not hurt a fly, inferentially declaring that there was no ground for the charge. His Worship hold a different opinion, and a fine of 20s. was imposed. A French sailor who, at Nelson lately, robbed the master of the barque Da Paix of a sum of money and then deserted, was seen a few days ago at Waratah, in New South Wales, by the captain he had robbed, who gave information. and the thief was apprehended. The officer and Inspector Thorpe suffered somewhat severely in making the ai’rest, having been set upon by four of the prisoner’s comrades (all Frenchmen’) and savagely beaten before they were able to diive their assailants away, or obtain assistance for their arrest. They were subsequently apprehended. When the case came before the Magistrates Mr. Thorpe applied for a postponement until Wednesday, on the ground that he was too ill to give evidence. It was apparent that he had been brutally beaten ; both eyes being almost closed from the violence of the blows received ; and the injuries to his nose are so serious that Mr. Thorpe could scarcely be understood while making the application. We learn, says the Pilot, that during the time the assault was being committed the most substantial assistance rendered to Mr. Thorpe was afforded by Mrs. Catherine Keeley, who, on seeing the odds the officer had to contend against, pluokily entered the thick of the melee , and, with a display of physical power that must have considerably astonished the subject operated upon, knocked one of the ruffians down. The assailants are all thickset muscular. fellows, and would evidently prove ugly customers at close quarters.

A mail robbery is rather an unusual occurrence in this province, but the police on Saturday received information 'of a rather clever theft haying been perpetrated during the passage of Young’s coach from Wanganui to Otaki. When despatched the mail bag contained a registered letter, covering a watch and chain, but on arrival at Otaki it was found that the watch and chain, the property of Mr. Booth, R.M., had been abstracted without disturbing the post-office seal. The coach was delayed during the journey overland through the pole of the coach being broken, and it is supposed that the theft was committed while arrangements were being made for the repair of the pole. The police were quickly on the alert, and a man arrested who had been working in the neighborhood. The evidence obtainable was not sufficient to convict and the man was released, but further inquiries will be made without delay. Mr. Young proceeds to Otaki himself to-day. Madame Arabella Goddard and her company arrived on Saturday morning by the Wellington. The residents of Nelson pride themselves upon their musical taste, and it was consequently expected that there would be a good muster at the Goddard conceits ; but the result exceeded all expectation. Instead of the Provincial Hall being too large, as was feared, for a high-priced entertainment, it proved far too small; and the enthusiasm of the audience, according to the local journals, was in proportion to its numbers. The programme of the first Wellington concert, which appears in our advertising columns, is highly attractive. Madame Goddard mil play three solos, a sonata and two fantasias. "The sonata (Mozart's in A major) is remarkable for its varied beauties; the fantasia on “ Don Giovanni” was expressly composed by Thalberg for his favorite pupil, Arabella Goddard, and the Scotch fantasia introduces the “ Blue Bells of Scotland” and other favorite Scotch airs. Mrs. Smythe’s numbers in the programme will include Arthur Sullivan’s lovely song, “ Once Again and Herr Doehler and Mr. Skinner will contribute the same pieces in which they were so successful in pleasing their Nelson audiences. The vocalists and violinist are fortunate in having so skilful an accompanyist as Mr. Harcourt Lee. In connection with Tuesday’s concert, we may mention that some of the principal residents at the Hutt are endeavoring to have a late train put on for the convenience of visitors from that locality. The sports to bo got through on the Basin Reserve to-day will be found enumerated in an advertisement elsewhere. It will be observed that Skellie’s ten-mile running match is not included, for the reason that Skellie at the last moment telegraphed that he was too unwell to undertake the feat. The disappointment will not be felt by anyone more than by Mr. Collins himself. The engagement of Skellie necessitated an outlay which cannot now be recouped, but Mr. Collins, who is well known in Wellington and Dunedin as not belonging to that class of persons whose actions bring pedestrianism into disrepute, has made every endeavor to supply the blank created by Skellie’s absence. Purdy, a walker equal to Edwards, will walk three miles and a half in half-au-hour, and the remaining items in the programme will be carried out as originally intended.. The Veteran Band has been engaged for the day, so that the dancing stage erected is likely to be largely patronised. The list of entries for the open handicap will produce some good running, and to avoid tedium, boys’ races and other matches mil likely be improvised.

A meeting of shipwrights was held on Saturday evening, at the Rechabite rooms, to consider a grievance brought under the notice of the society by some of the hands employed at the Patent Slip. One of the society's rules stipulates that shipwrights- employed at the slip shall be allowed half an hour in the morning to walk from town. Up to the present time the rule has been observed ; but recently Mr. George, the Manager of tho Patent Slip, intimated that no such allowance would be made in future, as it was -without precedent. During the discussion that ensued upon' this statement, it was shown that in many parts of England, shipwrights were not only allowed half -an hour’s “ walking-time ” in the morning, but that the same allowance was made in the evening; and upon these facts being endorsed by many members of the society present, it was determined to adhere strictly to the society’s rule, and that the decision of the meeting should be communicated to Mr. George in -writing. The infringement was regarded as an ungraceful act on the part of Mr. George, inasmuch as the society has already passed a rule to the effect that in the event of the Patent Slip Company undertaking any shipbuilding work, the industry should be assisted by the society-men accepting two shillings a day below the ordinary jobbing wages. A Jeremy Diddler named Brown, who has been anxiously sought after by the police during the past five months, was captured on Saturday by Constable Byrne, at Greytown. The prisoner was formerly a publican at Sandon, but since giving up business he has victimised nearly all the publicans and storekeepers in the Manawatu and Wairarapa, by means of valueless cheques. He has dodged about from one district to another so cautiously as to avoid the vigilance of the district constables for many months past, but at last he was apprehended as described. At one of the sheds in the district (says the Dabho Dispatch, N.S.IV.), some very tall shearing is reported to have taken place. Two crack shearers, named Sinnett and Jones, were pitted against each other, and the contest lasted for three days. Sinnett shore 19.9 the first day, 204 the second, and 208 the third—total, 611. Jones shore 203, 207, and 212—total, 622 sheep. This shearing was in the grease, and we think, adds the Dispatch, it would be hard to top it anywhere. The latest news respecting the Palmer goldfields is contained in the following paragraph, which we take from the Otago Daily Times ; “By the Easby, which arrived from Sydney on the 31st ult., a letter has been received from one of the gentlemen who left this office to try their fortune at the Palmer. After a rough passage to Melbourne they succeeded in catching the City of Adelaide, which sailed for Sydney four hours after their arrival. On reaching the latter place they saw a number of diggers from the Palmer, who had done very well, and intended to return as soon as the wet season was ended. In the meantime, a number of them are making for the Curragong diggings, a distance of 200 miles from Sydney, whither the majority of those who left Dunedin by the Tararua are also going until the rainy season at Palmer is over.” A first-class carriage on the American plan, has been tried on tho Port Chalmers railway.