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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4265, 20 November 1874, Page 2

The s.a. Ladybird sails at an early hour this afternoon for the Worth, via Picton and Nelson, carrying the mails for America and England via San Francisco. These the Ladybird is expected to reach the Manukau in time to tranship to the B.M.S. Mikado, at Auckland. The latter is announced to leave that port for Honolulu on the afternoon of that day. The s.s. Tararua, from Melbourne, arrived off Nelson yesterday evening, but too late to enter on the, tide, and, therefore she anchored outside. She may be expected hers late tonight, or early to-morrow morning. The Albion may now also be looked for at the Bluff from hour to hour, with the English mail via Brindisi, of the 2nd of October— due at the Bluff on the 24th instant.- The Albion's mail on tliis occasion is of more than usual importance, as she will bring ■ the correspondence and periodicals which should have come to hand by way of San Francisco. During the early part of Wednesday the barometer remained stationary in all parts of the colony; but on that night it commenced to fall, more especially at places upon the eastern coast of the Middle Island, where the movement amounted to between three and four-tenths of an inch by Thursday morning; northward of Blenheim and Hokitika this fall was less marked, gradually decreasing to about five-hundredths of an inch at Auckland. Easterly winds and cloudy weather prevailed to the southward of Napier, but north of that place the sky was clear. We are glad to leam that the prospects of the Manawatu district are becoming very favorable. It was questioned some time ago whether there was or was not any large amount of available timber in the district served by the Foxton and Palmerston tramway, and that aupfltinn .iK.now being answered, m-tlio- moat satisfactory way. Before the late floods the business of the tramway was managed by Mr. Cook, the present lessee, with five or six teams of horses. During the rains, however, the tramway was submerged for some weeks, and such a quantity of timber then accumulated at the mills, and on the hands of private splitters, that it has been altogether beyond the powers of the teams to bring down the timber fast enough. There are now four mills at work, and a large one is in course of erection, which it is estimated will turn out upwards of 60,000 ft. of timber per week. It is also estimated that there are now at least 500,000 ft. ready to to be sent down, while the mills are working as hard as they can. It was mentioned a few dpys ago that a new locomotive, built at Auckland for the tramway, had been landed here, and forwarded to Foxton by the Napier. Captain Butt landed his heavy and unusual piece of .freight successfully, and the locomotive —in charge of its owner, Mr. Stewart—was taken safely along the tramway, which, as many of our readers are aware, is twenty-five miles in length. It was apprehended that some damage might be done to the wooden rails, but fortunately that proved not to be the case. The engine, however, was not for the tramway, but the railway and works beyond Palmerston, to connect the line with the Feilding Settlement and , the adjoining country—works for which Mr. Stewart is the contractor. As it is now ascertained that the quantity of timber commanded by the tramway is very extensive, and as the demand is now enormous, and likely to be so for some years, Mr. Cook yesterday waited upon the Hon. the Commissioner for Public Works, accompanied by Mr. Walter Johnston (the member of the House of Representatives for the Manawatu district), to urge upon him the importance of placing two or three locomotives on the tramway, and converting the line into a railway as speedily as possible, substituting iron rails for the present wooden ones. It was pointed but that the district could readily furnish at least 100,000 ft. of sawn timber per week ; that the trade of the port of Foxton was rapidly increasing ; that more vessels were about to be employed in it, and that the harbor was a good one, with from eight to nine feet of water on the bar in ordinary tides, and from eleven to twelve feet in spring tides. The trade would be greatly extended by-and-bye by the business of the Feilding Settlement. Mr. Richardson assented to the reasonableness of the course proposed'to him, and it is understood that locomotives will be placed on the tramway, and the proposed conversion of the line be begun as early as possible. Mr. Blackett was present at the interview. The public will be glad to hear so good an account of a district which has attracted some attention of late, and to which a considerable number of immigrants have been going up. As anticipated, the Star Boating Club's soiree on board the ship The Douglas last night was a great success. And it well deserved to be so, for neither the members of the club nor Captain Wilson loft anything undone that would tend to make it ho. From early morning the ship was decorated from stem to stern with bunting, and the captain and his crew were incessant in their exertions during the day. Awnings were spread, the port-holes blinded, so as to prevent spectators on the wharf from viewing tho dancers, the saloon converted into a ladies' dressing-room, gangways rigged, and innumerable other preparations made which wero thought to bo desirable. Tho 'tween decks had been washed the previous day, thus allowing them time to dry. Refreshment stalls, under the control of Mr. Frank Broughton, wero placed at each end of the ship ; and tho Artillery Band took up its position under the main hatchway. Tho 'tween decks was lighted by innumerable lamps, which were arranged on the sides and in a line down the centre, affording ample light. Dancing commenced at nine o'clock. Then it was that the dimensions of the noblo ship wore discovered, for although over three hundred dancers started they appeared lost in space. The most enorgetic found that once round the ship in any one dance was sufficient. Everyone appeared well pleased with tho enjoyment afforded, and tlitvnlu were universally accorded to Captain Wilson for his kindness in placing his vessel at the disposal of tho committeo of tho Star Boating Club,_ which will receive an appreciable addition to its funds.

So great was the success of the Horticultural Society's show yesterday that it was resolved in the evening to keep it open to-day. It is intimated in the Gazette of yesterday that the Hon. Mr. Reynolds has been appointed to have charge of the administration of the Naval Training Schools Act, 1874. "La Petite Amy," with Mr. and Mrs. Thornton • and the local amateurs, are now playing successfully at New Plymouth. Mr. Thornton has painted some excellent scenery for the Odd Fellows' Hall there. Inquiries have been made through the Colonial Office for George Etherington, at one time a private in the 65th Regiment, which he left ten years ago. About six years ago he was in Taranaki, and is supposed to have been about Wanganui so lately as three months ago. The English Opera Troupe have been again remarkably successful at Christchurch. They have been playing nightly to overflowing houses. When the " Bohemian Girl" was played, hundreds were unable to obtain admittance, though every effort was made to accommodate those who crowded in. Mr. Mosley's monthly Price Current for the outgoing mail has been published. It contains, as usual, reports of bonded stocks held in Wellington, Auckland, and Dunedin, a summary of commercial events during the month, trade report, and wholesale price list, besides Customs returns and share list. It should be of considerable use to merchants and others. "Cigarette" again drew a good attendance at the Theatre Royal last evening. Although well rendered on its. first representation, improvement is apparent each night. The company never played to better advantage than last evening, the intricate scenery going smoothly, and the company, as a whole, sustaining their characters admirably. This popular drama will be repeated to-night. The following gentlemen have been gazetted to be Provisional Trustees under the Bankruptcy Act 1867 Amendment Act, 1874, at the places set down opposite their names respectively :—Thomas Macfarlane, Esq., Auckland, Grahamstown, and Hamilton ; Robert Pollock, Esq., Nelson; Richard Walton, Esq., Christchurch ; Richard Henry Leary, Esq., Dunedin; Thomas Hood Brown, Esq., Oamaru; and Thomas Perkins, Esq., Invercargill. By the report of the Wesleyan district meeting, readers will see that Messrs. John A. Luxford, G. W. Rußsell, and A. C. Leitch (all of Wellington) have successfully passed their examinations, and are unanimously recommended to Conference for the work of the ministry. It is thought probable that before going into full work they will receive a year's training in some theological institution. The public will join with the members of the Wesleyan body in wishing these young men a long career of usefulness. We have already mentioned that it has been arranged to run as an experiment to the end of the year late trains to and from the Hutt on Thursdays. We also learn that trains on other evenings, when required by the promoters of public gatherings, can be arranged for by guaranteeing a receipt of five shillings per mile each way, which to the Hutt amounts to £4. No less amount will be taken for shorter distances. This rate does not apply to special trains required for private occasions. A meeting of the Caledonian Society was held last evening, at the New Zealander Hotel, when it was decided to hold two days' sports on the Ist and 2nd of January. A very complete programme was agreed to, and it was decided to offer prizes, amounting to nearly double those of last year, including £26 5s for tilting, on the afternoon of Saturday the 2nd January. The programme will be published in detail, in the course of a day or two. Mr. Thomas Skellie, the champion long distance runner of New Zealand, having arrived in Wellington, proposes to give the public an opportunity of witnessing his performances as a runner in a match against time —ten miles within the hour. From the Auckland and Nelson papers we find that Skellie hao twjoomplishp.cl tho feat on more than one occasion, the ground having previously been measured by disinterested persons. We shall say nothing further at present. As the feat implies great speed and endurance, the public will, no doubt, go in considerable numbers to see for themselves. At Nelson Skellie's time for ten miles was given as 55m. 28s. Twice within a fortnight have small boys fallen off the wharf when fishing. Yesterday, between one and two o'clock, a lad about ten years of age, named Delaney, slipped off the jetty, close to the stern of the steamer Stormbird. The mate of that vessel noticing the accident, procured a line, and endeavored to catch the boy, but he had drifted beyond his reach, whereupon one of the sailors, named Richard Crowl, belonging to the steamer, took a "header" off the wharf, and succeeded in rescuing the lad after he had been about three minutes in the water. After landing the boy, Crowl started off again in pursuit of his hat, which had been carried-by the wind some distance. The lad was considerably frightened, but, beyond a ducking, sustained no injury. We believe this is not the first occasion on which Richard Crowl has performed a similar work of humanity. Mr. Vcnnell's sale of drapery and clothing at Messrs. Owen's, had to be postponed yesterday owing to the fact of the auctioneer being a witness at the Resident Magistrate's Court. Considerable disappointment was felt by those present, on this account. The sale will commence this day (Friday), at eleven o'clock, and be concluded to-morrow afternoon. There was a large attendance at the sale of tho Governor's effects yesterday, and a great number of lots were knocked down. The wines were sold at two o'clock, and fetched from 80s. per dozen downwards. A small lot of brandy, seventy years old, brought 10s. per bottle. The carriages were all disposed of at fair prices, as well as all the saddlery ; one horse only being unsold. The sale will commence at half-past twelve to-day, and close this evening.