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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4274, 1 December 1874, Page 2

The time fortheeleotion of Mayorapproaches. Mr. Moorhouse, ve observe, will address the ratepayers in the Odd Fellows’ Hall this evening at eight o’clock. At present Mr. Moorhouse is the only candidate who has announced himself. Yesterday morning- the barometer stood higher than has been the case at any time since the latter part of last August. The weather in the North was cloudy, with fresh easterly winds, increasing to a gale at Tauranga. Moderate winds from the same quarter with clear sky, were generally,experienced from Napier to the Bluff. The ship Howrah, which arrived yesterday from London, brought an addition of 380 souls to the population of the colony. There are sixty-eight married couples on board, and a fair proportion of children, the remainder being single men and women. The Colonists’ Aid Society have forwarded 34J statute adults for the Feilding Block, by this vessel ; twenty-one were embarked for Wellington, and the remaining 324 J statute adults were selected by the immigration agents for the province of Taranaki, whither they will proceed by the s.s. Phcebe to-morrow.

A meeting of the Wellington Jockey Club was held at the Empire Hotel last evening. All the stewards were present, as well as Messrs. Pearce, Diver, George Crawford, and George Hunter, the latter gentleman occupying the chair. Everything was definitely settled in connection with the forthcoming meeting, which promises to be an unqualified success. It was stated that the lane leading to the course from the main road had been considerably improved, recesses being formed at intervals, which will enable vehicles to pass. The course has been cleared of every obstruction, and the stewards justly deserve the thanks of the owners of competing horses for the excellent condition which the trainingground at pi-esent presents. Sweeps on each of the events of the first day were drawn at the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. John Martin being the drawer of Tambourini for the Cup. The horses realised excellent figures. The stewards intend to enforce rule 62, which provides that “ any jockey not riding in the colors entered, or not riding in proper jockey costume,;Will be fined £2, the amount to go to the race fund. A somewhat interesting case of card-sharping ■will probably come before the Resident Magistrate this morning. The story goes that two or three “ illustrious strangers” have lately come to town, probably attracted by the near approach of the races at the Hutt and the Wairarapa. They have a passion, on the course, and any other convenient place, for the throecard trick, and a partiality for poker to while away the time of an evening. Two or three of them have been lodging in a hotel in town, the landlord of which discourages gambling, and keeps no cards in his house. One night lately, however, they obtained a pack, and induced the billiard-marker —when all the other inmates were asleep—to indulge in a cheerful game. The marker was not loath, and poker began. After a time, luck probably setting in against him, the pigeon noticed that one of the cards was marked, and called attention to it. The trio in whose hands he was, expressed great astonishment, turned up the card, and though it proved to be the ace of spades, they proposed to destroy it, and torn up it accordingly was. The game went on, and the stakes were increased. By and by the pigeon obtained a hand which held four kings, and as it could not bo beaten with a pack which now had only three aces, he piled the money on pretty stiff. His opponents were not less ready than he was, and covered the stakes as fast as he increased them. He showed his hand with a chuckle, but what was his astonishment to find that the “Heathen Chinee” had found another ace to take ’ the place of 'the last one, for, lo ! there were the four aces, which of course won. But the card-men had been clumsy, or precipitate. The marker remembered the fate of the first ace of spades ; a swindle was clear. But he did not “go for that heathen Chinee he threatened to go for the police instead. An attempt was afterwards made to compromise the matter, and we .believe it was successful ; but the police were dissatisfied, and took action on their own account. Two of the three have been summoned. The other, it is understood, was still in town yesterday, and the probability is that the whole three will this morning have an opportunity of explaining to the Magistrate how that particular pack of cards happened to have five aces in it.

In spite of the heavy weight alotted to Tambourini, at present he looks the most likely winner of the Cup. His performances since his arrival in Wellington have been up to the mark. Guy Fawkes, although considered a likely horse, is hardly up to anticipations ; but Voltaire shows to advantage, and presents an appearance equal to any animal on the training-ground. Mr. Jrto. Walker’s chesnut mare Glonary looks in excellent condition, and appears lit to do all that is expected of her. The New Zealand Steam Shipping Company despatched the Manawatu to the Hutt beach yesterday afternoon, with a view to selecting a favorable landing place for passengers who may desire to proceed to the forthcoming races by water. Captain Griffiths was most fortunate, a small bight in which was found ten feet of water being discovered, which will allow of the steamer being placed alongside a punt, from which passengers will reach the shore by a short stage. The company intend laying the Manawatu on for both days of the races, the fare being most reasonable. Ample means of transport will be afforded visitors from Wellington city to the Hutt Races. In addition to the facilities afforded by the train and omnibuses, Messrs. Turnbull and Co.’s steamers, Stormbird and Napier, and the N.Z.S.S. Company's p.s. Manawatu, will ply between the wharf and the Hutt beach on both days of the'races.

The entries for the forthcoming Wairarapa races close to-day. The want of a proper post and telegraph office at Masterton is complained of in that district. The stud-horse Marquis, well-known in the province of Wellington, has died from an attack of colic. At the last meeting of the Victorian Institute of Artists, Mr. W. R. Keals, of Auckland, "was nominated as an Associate. We have to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the eighth annual report by the committee of management of Grey River Hospital. A special coach is to leave ..Greytown on Wednesday morning to convey’Visitors to the races on the Hutt course on Thursday and Friday next. A “greatly abridged” report of the late speech of Mr. John White, M.H.R., to his constituents at Hokitika occupies about sixcolumns of the West Coast Times. There were no fewer than 402 bales of wool landed on the Queen’s wharf yesterday from the coast stations. The brigantine Enterprise alone contributed 210 bales. “The Dead Witness” and “The Peep Show Man ” were excellently played by the Stepheuson-Burford Company at the Theatre Royal last evening. With the exception of the notices on the doors of the several banks, notifying that on account of yesterday being St. Andrew’s Day they would be closed, business in town was continued uninterruptedly. This evening a special musical entertainment will be given by the choir of St. Peter’s Church, and an excellent selection has been made for the entertainment of the audience. After the choir have performed their part, some interesting and amusing readings will be given by Mr. Clapcott. A hard gale from th? S.E. was blowing at Wairau yesterday. Tlte pilot at that port telegraphed to a friend in Wellington last evening, that “ the three-masted schooner George Noble, bound to Port Chalmers, came to an anchor in Cloudy Bay to-day. She signalled all well; but was short of provisions.” It will be observed from an advertisement in another column that the time for making entries for the forthcoming show of the Wairarapa and East Coast Pastoral Association has been extended to Friday, the 4th instant, by which date they must be made to the secretary either by letter or personally. After successfully finding a landing place at the Hutt racecourse yesterday afternoon, Captain Griffiths, of the Manawatu, sighted the ship Howrah beating up the entrance against a light N.W. wind. As a good head of steam was on, he determined to run down to the ship and tow her in. The Manawatu was made fast to the vessel near Worser Bay at four o’clock, and succeeded in bringing her to an anchor at the end of the wharf at 5.30 p.m. The company performed this service gratuitously, for which they deserve great credit. It had been arranged yesterday afternoon that the steamer Rangatira should proceed to the Heads and take the ship Howrah, which was then signalled, in tow. Accordingly a number of , gentlemen assembled on the steamer’s deck at five o’clock with the object of having a pleasant trip to the Heads. But it was not to be so. Just as the Rangatira had cast off from the wharf, the Manawatu was observed coming slowly round Cow Bay point with the Howrah in tow. The disappointed pleasure-seekers were landed, and the Rangatira proceeded on her voyage to Napier. There 'will be no steamer from Melbourne for the next ten or twelve days. The Claud Hamilton will be the first, leaving Melbourne on the sth instant, and coming by way of the Bluff. On this occasion the Claud takes the place of the Otago, which goes into dock for the purpose of being overhauled and having some alterations made. Her speed since she received her new boilers has not realised the anticipations formed. Her furnace bars will probably be lowered, and a change made in her masting. The fine lines of the Otago should make her the fastest vessel in these waters, and probably the improvements now to be made upon her will bring about that result, although in her old rival the Albion she will always have a very formidable competitor. We may add that the first of Messrs. McMeokan and Blackwood’s pair of new fourteen-knot steamers may be expected in New Zealand about the month of May next. Late telegrams from England have mentioned the sailing of a steamer named the Osyth from London (which she left on the sth of November), for Melbourne. This vessel is a new full-powered screw steamer, of 3600 tons register, and engines of 500 horse power, capable of working up to 2500 h.p. She belongs to the Orient line, and is described as being the most powerful steamer ever placed in the Australian trade. She is expected to solve the problem of a forty-five days’ voyage from the Thames to Hobson’s Bay. The saloon must be a magnificent apartment, as it occupies the whole breadth of the ship. She is the pioneer of a new line. The TJ.S.S. corvette Swatara, having landed at the Bluff Harbor and the Chatham Islands the scientific parties for observing the forthcoming transit of Venus, returned .to Hobarton. The Mercury reports that Captain Ralph Chandler, and the officers of the Swatara, express themselves gratified with the reception they met with from the inhabitants of the Bluff Harbor, Dunedin, and the Chatham Islands, during their brief sojourn at those places. The vessel will remain in Hobarton for about three weeks, and afterwards proceed to the Chatham Islands and the Bluff Harbor, and pick up the scientists left at those places, returning to Hobarton some time in January, for the purpose of taking away the Tasmanian parties. A colonist has been making himself conspicuous—but not very creditably—in. Melbourne. At the last Melbourne general sessions a case was tried, which the Argus briefly reports as follows:—“Elizabeth Atkinson was charged with stealing £45 from the person of Edward Samuel Broughton, on the 30th October last. Mr. Fisher appeared for the defence. Broughton, who was a publican in New Zealand, arrived in this colony about three weeks ago, with a sum of £IOO in his possession. He was stopping at the Sydney Hotel, to the landlord of which he gave a bundle of notes to keep for him. These notes he got back on the 29th October. On the 30th Broughton went out with a companion named Robinson. They met the prisoner, went with her to the Royal Mail Hotel, where they had some drinks. Afterwards went to the Globe Hotel, where they had a. bottle of champagne, for which the prosecutor paid. Robinson wanted to take care of the money, but Broughton refused to part with it. The prisoner took the money from his pocket, but ho took it back from her. He afterwards fell asleep, and when he woke up ho discovered that the prisoner and the money were both gone. The prisoner was subsequently seen at the Angel Hotel with a large sum of money in her possession. She was arrested on the 3rd November. The jury, after a short deliberation, returned into court, and stated that they had some doubt about the case, but they gave the prisoner the benefit, and accordingly returned a verdict of not guilty. The prisoner was then discharged.”

Advices received in Melbourne from New Caledonia state that AVallenstein has at last been brought to trial for aiding Rochefort’s escape. Ho ably defended himself, and was acquitted, but was detained on other- charges. Tremerane, late chief of the Native Police, had been tried for threatening to shoot two Judges, and judgment was reserved. A bitter faction feeling is growing up between the Freemasons and the Ultramontaues. A well-known name on the English and Australian stage, as well as in New Zealand, was that of Mr. John Collins, the Irish comedian. Wo regret to hear of his death, which lately occurred at Philadelphia, in the sixtyfifth year of his age. He was born at Lucan, near Dublin, Ireland, where his father was for many years proprietor of tho Lucan Spa-house. At tho age of eighteen Collins went to London and studied for the lyric stage. His debut was made at the Haymarket Theatre, as first tenor in English Opera. His groat hit was made in tho “Beggar’s Opera,” as Captain Macheath.