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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4288, 17 December 1874, Page 2

The great excitement of to-day will be the polling in the election for Mayor. Every ratepayer who has paid his rates is entitled to vote, —female as well as male—and in any and every ward for which she or he has been rated. The polling places are the usual places in municipal elections, and the chief fact to be borne in mind is that the poll closes at four o'clock. The candidates, as everybody knows, are Mr. Dranslield and Mr. Moorhouse, and when the total votes in the three wards are reckoned up it will be known which of those two gentlemen will be the Mayor of Wellington for the ensuing year. The result will be known about half-past four o'clock this afternoon.

At all places southward of Castlepoint the barometer moved up between one and twotenths on Tuesday evening ; but further to the north it fell slightly, and at the same time thunder and lightning were observed to be very frequent. Tl*e, weather yesterday continued gloomy in the south, and winds over both islands were mostly from the same directions as on the previous day. A remarkably severe thunderstorm passed over Wanganui during the afternoon, and one of less violence was felt at Tauranga. Miss Aitken gave a farewell reading in the Odd Fellows' Hall last night, by request. Unfortunately the intention was not made sufficiently public in good time. For no other reason can we account for the indifferentlyfilled house on such an occasion. Miss Aitken is one of the best readers who has visited the colonies, and it will be long before the public of Wellington will have such another treat as those enjoyed who were present last night. We have no intention of criticising the items of the programme in detail. It is quite unnecessary to do so. Miss Aitken's reputation has been so thoroughly established that it is only necessary to say that, amongst other recitations, she gave the famous scene from " King John," "The Bells," "Edinburgh after Flodden," " The Charge of the Six Hundred," " The May Queen," and " Mansio Wauch's First and Last Visit to the Flay." Miss Aitken, however, had occasion to make an apology to the audience, and she did so—having, as she said, no one to speak for her (Mr. Bunten being absent on business in the South) • —-with so much feeling that she was warmly sympathised with. An item in the programme was the time-honored Carnival of Venice—the dread of school misses, and the pride of the dux when she has at last conquered the little difficulties of the pieces—which was to be played on the piano by a young lady whose name we nhall not mention. Only a few minutes before the programme was to be commenced, Miss Aitken received a message on behalf of this very young Goddard to say that the piano belonging to tho Hall was not good enough, or not sufficiently in tune, to be touched by her artistic fingers, and that she must have another or would not appear. Of course the piano could not be tuned instanter ; another, at the moment, was out of the question ; and so the young Goddard did not appear—to the embarrassment of Miss Aitken, but probably to the great relief of the audience. This treatment of a lady and an artist will not soon be forgotten. We much regret that the entertainment was not a greater success financially—greater it could not bo so far as it depended upon the splendid abilities of Miss Aitken herself.

To-night the public will have the opportunity ofjseeirig the performances of the great American Circus Troupe. They sailed from Nelson per the Wellington yesterday, were at Picton last night, and will reach the city early this morning. The great marquee will be in its place, and the fittings adjusted by mid-day, and the wholearrangementsforthclightingof the marquee with gas will be completed by the same time. The troupe will have an opportunity of resting during the day, and we anticipate that their performances will be an agreeable surprise to the public of Wellington. Among the horses, there .arc, we believe, some superior steeds—one of them, indeed, had made a name on the Now South Wales turf before he became a performer in the ring. A numerously-attended meeting of the Star Cricket Club was held last night, at the Pier Hotel, the president (Mr. W. Bromley) in tho chair. It wa3 resolved that arrangements be made if possible with the Wairarapa cricketers, to play a series of matches with the several townships, and also with a combined team, to be played about tho middle of February. After a long discussion, a motion that the member whoso conduct disgraced the team on Saturday in the matoh with the Constabulary, be requested to apologise, and an amendment to the effect that he be expelled forthwith, wore put to the meeting, tho motion being carried by the casting-vote of the chairman. A resolution was also passed, that the trustees bo requested to allot a portion of the ground to the club for tho purpose of making a wicket for practice. Wo observe that a branch of tho lately established Colonial Bank of Now Zealaud will be opened here for the transaction of ordinary banking business on or about Tuesday, the 26th of January next.

His Honor Mr. Justice Eichmond, iviti Mrs. and Miss Richmond, were passengers bf ] the Taranaki, which left yesterday for JSTorthem ports. Mr Moorhouse addressed the ratepayers hst evening at the Victoria Hotel, Te Aro, and at the Karori Hotel, Tinakori road. A vote ot confidence was passed at each meeting. Mr. William Burton, teller in the Bank of Axistralasia, has received the appointment of accountant in the AVellington office of the new Colonial Bank of New Zealand.

A storm occurred in Motupiko Valley, province of Nelson, on the 4th instant, in which five sheep, the property of Henry Holland, were struck by lightning and killed. The business at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday was uninteresting. Judgment was recorded against two men for horse hire, and board and lodging, who pleaded impecuniosity. A charge of vagrancy was dismissed. Ellen Hawleywas granted a a protection order against her husband ; and some drunkards were dealt with in the usual manner.

A gift of £5 has been made by Messrs. Levin and Co., on behalf of the Victoria Insurance Company, to Louisa Sangar, a' servant in the employ of Mr. J. C. Crawford, K.M., through whose help the house of Mr, Crawford was saved from destruction by fire a few nights ago. The fire was caused by the upsetting of a kerosene lamp in the bed-room of two servant-girls as they were retiring for the night. One was so severely burned that she has since died, and the survivor—the girl already named —was much injured in her effort to save her fellow servant, and in aiding Mr. Crawford to extinguish the flames. We regret to learn that at the time of the departure of the coach from Masterton yesterday morning the poor barmaid, Miss Reilly, who was so severely burned on Sunday evening, was in a very precarious state. She has been most severely burned across the body, and her face also has suffered very greatly. It is now understood that she had lain down for a few minutes on her bed, in the light muslin dress she was wearing, and was reading a book, which she held in one hand, by the light of a candle, which she held in the other. She had evidently become drowsy, and the candle falling from her hand, at once set fire to her dress, and her dress to the curtains, so that the whole bed was almost at once in flames. The hotel, in fact, had a very narrow escape, and the excitement of the inmates was very great. Much sympathy is felt with the unfortunate girl. The apathy of the boating men is beginning to excite the wonder of aquatic supporters in the city. The interprovincial regatta has fallen through beyond all question, and there seems a strong probability that the anniversary regatta will share a similar fate. Between this and the 22nd January there is not too much time for arranging preliminaries and training crews, so that if there is to be a regatta at all this year, steps should bo taken at once to form a committee to take the matter in hand. A sum of about £6O remains over from last year's regatta, and with such a nucleus there should be no difficulty in the matter of funds. The clubs have scarcely got into working order yet, the season having been opened at a later period than usual, and they have experienoed considerable drawback on account of the scarcity of skilled workmen to make the necessary repairs to the boats,but some energetic persons should take the matter up at once, with the object of recovering lost time, else Wellington will sink into a position of insignificance in the aquatic world, which will not reflect very creditably upon her. Last night the members of the Shipwrights' Society of Wellington celebrated the first anniversary of their society by a dinner, which took place in Donecker's "Union Hotel. Mr Lennox occupied the chair, and Mr Meech the vice-chair. Nearly the whole of the members of the society were present; a very excellent dinner was. provided ; and a most pleasant evening was spent. In the course of the evening various matters connected with the trade were discussed incidentally, in a most loyal spirit to the interests of the port. The health of the host was very cordially responded to, as "the hour drew near the twal," for the excellent manner in which he had spread the board. We have received from the London City Publishing Company a little work on the " Eldctro-Therapeia, or the Electric Treatment of Diseases; being a general exposition of medico-electrical science in its relation to human ailments," by J. K. S. Hayward, M.K.C.S., L.S.A., surgeon-electrician. The pamphlet reports many special cases. The work appears to go thoroughly into the subject, and to be worthy of study. We are glad to learn that Louisson's Nelson hematite paint for ship's bottoms is coming more and more into use as it becomes known. The new ship Waikato, ■which lately arrived in Port Chalmers from London, where she had been coated in the usual way with an antifouling composition, was found to be in a remarkably foul state under the water-line. The ship has been taken iuto dock, scraped, aud coated with the new paint, which is not only excellent a's an anti-fouling application, but preservative of the iron, and cheap. We presume, writes the New Zealand Herald, that Mr. Lemon is not resting merely satisfied with the complimentary remarks that were passed during the last lession, upon his endeavors to bring into operation in this colony the duplex system of telegraphy. In New South Wales, we learn from the Albury Banner, the system of dnplex telegraphy is to be ■brought into immediate operation between Sydney and Albivry. The Melbourne Argus, in referring to this matter, makes some pertinent remarks:—" From time to time we have published accounts of the rise and progress of this valuable invention, so our readers are probably acquainted with its nature. It is simply a plan whereby one wire ia made to do the work of two, messages being sent simultaneously from both ends of the line. We trust that steps are being taken to instruct our own officers in the new system, so that at an early date it may be generally understood here. Of course, the discovery is a very interesting one in a scientific point of view, but its principle attraction to ordinary minds is the prospect it affords of a speedy reduction in the cost of telegraphic communication. If one wire can be made to do the work of two there can be no reason for maintaining our present scale of charges. We think that if the charges were fixed at sixpence a very few years would see the department in receipt of as largo a revenue as at present, while the habit of using the telegraph, which would be fostered by the reduction, would insure an annual increase in the returns. It may be said, doubtless, that the messages sent to and received from some offices ai - e so few that the duplex-working arrangement would not make any difference in their cost. This, no doubt, is true, but we must treat our telegraphic system as a whole, and not allow petty considerations to stand in the way of valuable reforms. Once accustom people- to use the telegraph freely, and many stations would be found to pay which at present are a burden on the State. The Canterbury Press has been frightened by the occurrence of a slight shock of earthquake in the Malvern district to write against the substitution of brick for wood in housebuilding. Our contemporary remarks':—"lt has certainly seemed to us that people are getting into the way •of building here as they would in England. Yet, at any moment a shock might come, which might seriously damage much of our brick and stone work. It is only a few years since the Provincial Council Chamber was severely shaken ; and one of our churches is still, we believe, showing the eitocts of the same earthquake. Both of these buildings appear to be well and strongly-built, and the " shako " was not a particularly heavy one. But nowadays, as we have had no such visitation for somo time, people have probably forgotten it. Wo have said that we have no desiro to raise an alarm. Yet, supposing that another Bhock does come, and_ supposing that danvige is done, it is quite possible that a good deal may bo put down to the earthquake which might result from the want of care expended on the foundations, or on the walls of our buildings."

The Wairarapa A T cws of the 12th instant says :—"We have been shown samples of wool from three fleeces, which weighed, without scraps or belly pieces, 141 b., 161 b., and 171 b. respectively. The fleeces were taken from three young pure-bred Lincoln sheep, the offspring of one ewe at a single birth. They are foe property of J. G. Eockel, Esq., of Matahiwi, who would have exhibited them at the iafce pastoral show but for a pressure of business. We may add that the staple in one of \he samples is 17J inches inleDgth. Tho total veight of the fleeces is 471b5., of course, it will te understood, in the grease." " The Claimant," it appears, is dying, if Dr. ECenealy is to be trusted. We see from an English journal that Mr. Whalley has published a letter, in which he says he has received a communication from Dr. Kenealy, who avers that, notwithstanding what Lord Kivers has said, the Claimant is dying, his face being livid and corpse-like, and his time on earth apparently short. Mr Whalley appeals for an effort to be promptly made in support of the demand for further and full inquiry.

Tho Australasian deals with Sir George Grey somewhat sarcastically. In the number of our Victorian contemporary for the 28th November we find the following comment on one of his late telegrams :—" Sir George Grey appears to have lost his mental balance in his strenuous opposition to the proposed abolition of the Provincial Governments. A telegram which Sir George recently sent to Mr. Fitzherbert, Superintendent of Wellington, has been printed in the New Zealand papers. The writer says :—' Thank you for telegram. Surely men worthy of the great liberties they have will not let them be taken from themselves and descendants without a struggle.' He proceeds to give the following advice : 'Pray telegraph as Superintendent to the Secretary of State, and point out the course taken as unconstitutional, and pray that no action be taken until new election should take place and provinces heard. Parliament will at once accede to this.' So long as Sir George Grey confined himself to arguing that the Constitution of which he is regarded as the father is the highest triumph and final outcome of constructive genius, he was merely exercising within proper bounds his perfect right as a citizen to discuss a proposed important change. But when he goes further, and gives the highly unconstitutional recommendation to the Superintendent to correspond direct with the Secretary of State, in the mode suggested, he allows Ms zeal to get the better of his discretion altogether. Our own Mr. Higinbotham, whose opinions are rather advanced in some respects, may some day broach the opinion that the mayor of a borough, or the president of a shire council, should telegraph his protest to the ' foreign nobleman' in Down-ing-street, whenever he may choose to feel discontented with any proposals of the Government, but he lias not committed himself to such an opinion up to the present time. The irregular character of his advice, and the extravagant expectations as to the effect of adopting it, are hardly likely to enhance Sir George Grey's political reputation."