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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4260, 14 November 1874, Page 2

Lady Fergusson will receive visitors to-day, after three o'clock. The Court of Appeal yesterday disposed of the case Passmore v. the Bank of New South Wales, which was an appeal from a decision of the Supreme Court, Canterbury, in which His Honor Mr. Justice Gresson granted a demurrer to the declaration "of- the plaintiff, who bought two stations in Canterbury from the defenders, and brought an action to compel specific performance. The appeal was argued at great length by the Attorney-General and Mr. Travers, and at the end of the arguments the Court delivered judgment for the defendants. The Greymouth tramway case will be taken on Monday. We understand that the Superintendent has appointed Henry Bunny, Esq., M.H.8., as a member of the Education Board for the Featherston district, vice the Hon. G. M. Waterhouse, resigned. The settlers of'the district having failed elect a member, the power to do so, under the Act, is vested in the Superintendent. It is stated in Dunedin that at the next meeting of the Presbyterian Synod in Wellington the question of union with the Presbyterian Church of Otago is likely to coirie on for consideration. Special collections will be made to-morrow in the Wesleyan Churches in aid of the Home Missions of that body. Public meetings in connection with that important subject will be held on the evenings of Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next, in the churches mentioned in an advertisement in another column. A large number of. summonses were issued yesterday from the Residept Magistrate's Court against defaulting ratepayers. The Inspector of. Nuisances also contributed to the business of the N Court by lodging a batch of complaints, which will come on for hearing in a day or two. During Thursday the barometer continued to rise steadily, and on Friday morning it stood at 3CrlO at Grahamstown, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers. ■ Southward of a line drawn from Timaru to Westport, the weather was cloudy, wiuds moderate between south-wet and west. Northward of this line the weather was clear, winds mostly light and from different quarters. ' A soiree, which, from its novelty and object should command success, will take place on Thursday next. With a view to reducing the debt incurred by the Star Boating Club in erecting their present sheds, a committee of the club waited upon Captain Wilson, of The Douglas, and requested permission to use the 'tween decks of his noble ship for a soiree and dance. The request was kindly complied with, and the Star Club will no doubt receive au appreciable increase to its funds. On Thursday evening a presentation dinner took place at the Odd Fellows' Hall, when about fifty of the brethren sat down to an ex-cellently-spread table provided by P.G. R. Marshall. The chair was occupied- by P.P.G.M. Thomas MeKenzie, and P.G. E. Bannister, C.S., acted as vice-chairman. After the usual loyai and patriotic toasts had been given, the chairman made the first presentation to P.G. Robert Smith, in recognition of the many valuable and continuous services he has rendered to his Lodge. The presentation was a handsome silver medal, having a raised " hand-and-heart" in gold in the centre on one side, and on the other side the words—" Presented to P.G. Robert Smith by officers and brethren of the Loyal Antipodean Lodge of Odd Fellows." P.G. Smith having expressed his warmest thanks for the valued gift, the chairman then presented P.G. John Smith, jun., with a beautifully-framed emblem of the Order, as a mark of .the very high esteem in which he is held by the officers and brethren for " long and meritorious services." Presentations of excellently-framed emblems were also made by the vice-chairman, on behalf of the Loyal Britannia Lodge, to P.G. William Prideau and P.P.G.M. Edward Lewis, for their long services as members of the Hall Committee. Other presentations of emblems were afterwards made to P.G. E. Bannister, P.G. George Parsonage, and P. G.-George Dixon, for meritorious services in the proposition of new members of their respective Lodges. A handsome pencil case was also presented to P.G. William Gordon, for his kindness in writing the inscriptions on the several emblems. The' proceedings of the evening were enlivened by some excellent songs, recitations, and speeches, and the brethren separated at a late hour, all highly pleased with the proceedings.

We have reason to believe—the Otago Daily Times observes—that Sir George Grey is now preparing a new Constitution Act; also a number of papers in proof of the fact that the Middle Island landed estate belongs to the colony by purchase ; and that a large sum of money is .lawfully owing, to the North Island by the General Government. Sir George has intimated to his friends that he will not be unwilling to accept a seat in the House of Representatives.when an opportunity arises. Major Palmer, who is now at Burnham station, has published a letter on the subject of the risk to the observations of the.transit of Venus by bush fires, and asks the residents between Burnham and the hills to use all the precautions in their power. While smoke, he says, would bo detrimental to eye observations, it would bo absolutely fatal to the photographs of the transit. It is to he hoped that settlers everywhere, in the neighborhood of the observatories, will regard Major Palmer's warning. The Auckland Southern Cross writes (on the, 7thinst.) :—"His Excellency Sir James Pergusson will, as his immediate predecessor did, make Auckland his point of departure from the colony. He is expected to arrive here from Wellington in tho course of the coming week, and' about a fortnight later the Marquis of Normanby, the coming Governor, will reach our shores. The Marquis, with the Marchioness and staff, leave Melbourne by the Hero about the 20th of November. Wo understand that His Worship the Mayor has communicated with His Honor .'the Superintendent as to whether any arrangements will bo made by tho Provincial Government for providing a public reception to tho Marquis of Normanby on his arrival in this city. The Mayor, on behalf of the City Council, was prepared to make some provision, in conjunction with the Provincial Government, if the Superintendent deemed such a course advisable. We learn that as at present advised the Superintendent and his Executive do not purpose having a public reception, and have intimated this to tho Mayor, adding that it is intended that the Superintendent and the members of his Executive will go to the wharf to meet the Marquis on the arrival of the steamer. Probably tho Mayor will adopt a similar course." A good attendance witnessed the grand panorama of " Paradise Lost" at the Theatre Royal last evening.. These beautiful paintings will be presented for the last time this afternoon, when children and schools will be admitted at one-half the usual charges. This opportunity should not be lost. To-night the efforts of tho management ought to meet with a bumper house, the bill announcing the popular drama of " Lady Audley's secret" and the burlesque of " Ixion." In both of these the acting of Miss Clara Stephenson is. of the highest class, while she is ably supported by the company. • A reward of £SO, with a free pardon to an accomplice, is offered by the Government for information that will lead to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons who lately opened a mail bag, while in course of conveyance by mail coach between Wauganui and Otaki, and stole therefrom a registered letter, containing a gold watch and hair guard. There is now, therefore, £IOO offered for the detection, and conviction of this mail robber.

The excursionists from AVellington to the Canterbury races may be expected to return home by the Wellington, which is due on Monday. Two drunkards and a seaman for disobedience of orders, were the only persons who interviewed the Resident Magistrate yesterday. The Taranaki Herald states that the site of the proposed lighthouse on Cape Egmont was fixed upon, by the Hon. the Commissioner of Customs, on his late visit to Taranaki. We observe that a special meeting of the Catholic Young Men's Society takes place to-morrow (Sunday) afternoon, at 3 o'clock p.m. The business is stated to be of an urgent character, and a full meeting is requested. Addressing his' constituents at Milton the other day, Mr. J. L. Gillies mentioned that Mr. Donald Reid was now engaged in codifying the general and provincial laws as regards sheep, cattle, and impounding—a work which would be productive of much good. A voting man named William Lamont Warne, a comparatively new arrival, was arrested at Eoxton on Wednesday, on a charge of forgery at Wanganui. He was forwarded by coach to the latter place yesterday morning. Sir Charles Gavan Duffy is reported to be now engaged on a History of the Irish Rebellion of 1848. He has collected some very interesting correspondence on the subject. A work on such a subject, from a pen so able, should be exceedingly interesting. Five heifers and two bulls, purchased at the late sale of the Waimea shorthorns, attracted a good deal of attention in Dunedin a few days ago. The Times says :—" They go North. Two bulls and two heifers go to Mr. J. L. Adams, of Napier ; three heifers to Mr. Leithbridge, of Wanganui.'^