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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4275, 2 December 1874, Page 2

The- mail steamer Cyphreues; from San Francisco, is due in Auckland on the Sth inst. Her outward voyage, from Fiji to Califoi-hia, was performed within contract time. The Cyphrenes will also take out the December mail from this colony, and will arrive at Auckland from Sydney for that purpose on the'24th instant. The births in 'Wellington registered in November numbered fifty-eight. A comparison ■with the births in previous months shows a steady monthly increase since April. The deaths in November numbered eleven ; the smallest number for any month during the year, except July, when the deaths also numbered eleven. Of the deaths, five were males —three under one year, and two of twentythree and forty years respectively. Six females died—two being under one year, and the rest nine and upwards. There were two deaths from zymotic diseases, viz., one from thrush and one from rheumatic fever. One person died from cancer. Local diseases caused seven deaths. The diseases of the respiratory system only caused two out of the seven deaths. One person died from the effects of an abscess. Yesterday the Court of Appeal was occupied tlie whole day in the case the Receiver of Land Revenue, Southland, appellant, and the Queen (cx parte Bell) respondent. The case was argued for the appellant by Mr. Macassey and Mr. Stout. To-morrow Mr. Smith will begin the argument for the respondent. His Honor Mr. Justice Johnston held a short sitting in Banco yesterday morning, but none of the cases on the list were gone on with, an understanding having been come to that the Court should adjourn till Saturday, so as not to interfere with the Court of Appeal sittings. Mr. Izard is to move for a rule nisi for a new trial in the case Churtonv. Jackson ; the appeal from the decision of Mr. Crawford in the Kaiwarra tollgate case is to be argued, and several appeals from the decision of the Resident Magistrate at Wanganui arc to he heard. Barometers in the North commenced to fall on Monday afternoon, and by yesterday morning a doorcase of pressure, amounting to about 2-10ths of an inch, had extended itself over both islands. Winds during the, last twentyfour hours have been moderate between northwest and north-east, with fine and clear weather throughout the colony. A ship was signalled last evening, which will most likely prove to be Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co.’s ship Soukar, Captain Adams, now 101 clays out from London, with 330 immigrants on board. She also has on board the following saloon passengers : —Mrs. Wemyss, Mrs. and Master Parle, Misses Pcarco and Tyffe, Messrs. Herbert Cox and Gordon Breraner, and Hi-, 0. W. Cartright. The following is a return of the patients in the Provincial Hospital during and ending the month of November, 1874:—Admitted: Males, 11 ; females, 1. Discharged : Males, 14 ; females, 3. Died ; Males, 1. Loft in Hospital : Males, 28 ; females, 3. Total in Hospital, 31. Wo observe that Mr. E. Pearce is the Wellington agent for the steamer St. Osyth, of the Orient line, between Melbourne and London. Private accounts to hand, as well as those in the Victorian newspapers, represent the St, Osyth as in every respect a superb vesselmuch superior to anything hitherto seen in Australian waters. One of the men engaged in the pilot service at the mouth of the Manawatu river, who had been procuring stores in Foxton, took advantage of the Napier’s departure from that township yesterday, and made fast his diugy to the steamer with the view of being towed to the pilot station at the mouth of the river. He, however, foolishly remained in the boat, and when half the distance had been accomplished, he somehow managed to capsize her. She then broke adrift. As the man disappeared, it was thought by those on board tho Napier that he had been struck by the propeller. Fortunately such was not the case. Ho rose again to tho surface, and succeeded in reaching the boat, which kept him afloat till tho steamer picked him up. Beyond losing his provisions lie sustained no harm. “ Miriam’s Crime " was played in first-rate style at tho Theatre Royal last evening. Miss Clara Stephenson impersonated Miriam West with her usual ability; the oilier members of tho company seconding her efforts in a manuar which called forth praise. Tho performance concluded with the well-known and favorite Scotch farce “The Bonny Fishwife,” in which Miss Jessie Raymond enacted tho character of Maggie Maofariaue with great success. Ml - . Hydes and Mr. Glover added not a little amusement and interest to this popular afterpiece by their excellent rendering of the characters allotted them.

The owners of the Stormbird and Napier have made arrangements with Mr. Hindge to superintend the landing of the passengers on the Hutt beach on Thursday and Friday. The Wellington Artillery marched out last evening, taking with them a battery of three guns. They were accompanied by their band. The battery engaged in blank cartridge practice for a short time on the Te Aro shore. The Odd Fellows-hall, we observe, will be occupied during the race nights by Mr. Arthur ■Vivian and the Star Company, who have for some months past been performing in the Northern provinces. The Napier yesterday succeeded in her search for a suitable spot at the mouth of the river Hutt, at which passengers may be landed close to the racecourse from the steamers Stormbird and Napier. The purchaser of Sir James Fergusson’s yacht the Blanche, we observe, was Captain Young, of Tahiti. The sum paid for her was £2050, and she is to be employed in the island trade. The Blanche is to be delivered to Captain Young in Auckland harbor. At a meeting of the Union Boating Club held last evening, a resolution was passed that the club should be wound up. It is, however, probable that a new one will be formed, which will purchase the stock possessed by the Union, and thus keep up a healthy competition, which is as necessary to rowing as to anything else. We observe that the sailing vessel Awarua was despatched from Dunedin a few days ago to remove from the Solander the men belonging to her whose signal fires, or fires accidentally kindled, delayed the steamships Otago and Albion on their last inward voyages. It is stated that they could not have been in want of supplies. The expected expose of card-sharping practices did not take place at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning. The accused trio were there, but the prosecutor, though summoned, was not in attendance. This is the usual dodge in such cases—smuggle the prosecutor out of the way. A warrant has been issued for Ids ai-rest, however, and we do not think Inspector Aitchison is likely to suffer himself to be fooled in this way. In the meantime the prisoners have been remanded on bail. This evening Miss Clara Stephenson will take a benefit at the Theatre Royal. We trust the public will not be so niggardly of their patronage on this occasion as they have been during the company’s season here. The company includes several very capable members, both ladies and gentlemen ; and if some of its number are young to the boards, and all are not geniuses, some little consideration should be shown to them, seeing that they work very hard and under many disadvantageous circumstances, not so much perhaps to make a name in their profession, as to live by it. Miss Stephenson herself, though a colonial actress, and one whom New Zealand can almost claim as its own, is a remarkably versa--1 tile and clever actress. She has never yet had au opportunity to show her full powers, and Has always had to combat against adverse fates. She places on the stage “The Daughter of the Regiment,” and the fine old burlesque, “ The Fair One with the Golden Looks,” and should have a bumper house. Last night the first social evening was given by the Young Men’s Literary Association in connection with St. John’s Presbyterian Church here. The Association was only formed about four months ago, mainly with the object of mutual improvement in view, and its progress has been of the most satisfactox'y character. The entertainment last night afforded marked proof of the fact, the schoolroom attached to the church having been well filled, and not fewer than eighty ladies and gentlemen sitting down to an excellent tea, provided by Mr. Dixon, of Cuba-street, After tea—Mr. Paterson in the chair, and Mrs. Grant presiding With great ability at the piano—the chief business of the evening began. Mr. Paterson made a few appropriate introductory remarks, and the secretary read a report on the progress and state of the Association, after which the treasurer submitted his balance sheet, which showed that the Association was in a healthy condition. Mr. Carver, Miss Urie, and other amateurs sang a variety of songs ; and then the company were addressed by the Revs. Messrs, Bruce and McKinney, of Auckland, and the Rev. Mr. Kirkland, of Hokitika. Mr. McKinney also highly gratified the audience with a recitation from “ William Tell.” Altogether the evening was one of unalloyed pleasure. The proceedings were loyally closed with the singing of the National Anthem. The laudable effort by the members of St. Peter’s choir last night towards the extinction of a debt upon the church met with the success it deserved. The schoolroom attached to the church, in which the literary and musical entertainment was given, was crowded to excess, many present being compelled to stand. The musical part of the programme was up to the usual high standard of this excellent choir, and last night’s entertainment would not suffer by comparison with any of the previous entertainments given for the same object. The quartett from Barnett’s “ Paradise and the Peri ” was excellently rendered by two ladies and two gentlemen, than whom, perhaps, there are not better vocalists in Wellington. The duets aud solos were all sung with effect, the applause at the finish of each being very marked. Choruses were given from operas ; that from the fair scene in “Martha” struck familiarly upon the ear of tlie audience, and was uumistakeably appreciated. But that which afforded the moat amusement was a reading from the comedy of “The Rivals,” in which the characters of Mrs. Malaprop, her niece. Sir Anthony, and his son Jack were introduced. Mr. Clapcott certainly deserves “honorable mention ” for the successful manner in which this difficult reading was delivered, aud the audieuce testified their appreciation by rapturous applause. The entertainment was brought to a close at ten o’clock, all present having enjoyed a most agreeable evening’s amusement. Respecting the Rev. Charles Clark, the popular pulpit orator and lecturer, of Melbourne, who is about to make a tour through Now Zealand, the Arfftts, in a leading article, says ; The rev. gentleman is not only an orator, who, without presumption, may aspire to a foremost place iu the ranks of rhetoricians, but he is also a man of broad views and liberal instincts, which render his ministrations peculiarly useful to that daily increasing baud the members of which, as seekers after truth, desire to have their doubts and difficulties treated with respect aud consideration. At a time when now ideas have stirred the heart of humanity to the profoundest depths, it is refreshing to meet with a man occupying the position of a public teacher, who states his views with modesty and moderation, and bases his claim to a hearing, not on the authority of some ancient dogma, but on the power of appealing to the reason and couaoieuce of his hearers. It is a significant fact that those who have been most anxious to retain Mr. Clarke’s services, have stipulated that the new church over which he is to preside (on his return from New Zealand) shall bo “ unconnected with any sect or denomination.” It is a’ - veritable sign of the times, remarks the Lyttelton Times. “Thousands are yearly becoming impressed with the idea, that he who would preach Christ acceptably, and *ouce more make his name and teaching a power in the world, must possess some share of His tolerant spirit aud large-hearted charity. They feel, however, that connection with many of the churches which exist around us is fatal to the exhibition of these distinctively Christian graces, and that if they would preserve the spirit of the Master’s life and doctrine, they must to some extent shake themselves free from the dust of human creeds. In accepting the non-sectarian position offered to him, Mr. Clark has set an example which wo trust to see extensively followed, for it appears to us that it is in this way, and iu this way only, that the clergy can hope to win their way to the hearts of the multitude which now stands aloof. We congratulate the rev. gentleman on his approaching emancipation.” It is stated that Signora Tambourini Coy, Signor Dondi, and a number of other artistes lately connected with the Italian Opera in Melbourne, are about to visit Now Zealand professionally. Mr. Alfred Anderson, R.A.M., is likely to be conductor.