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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4299, 31 December 1874, Page 2

At the adjourned meeting of City Councillors and leading citizens, held yesterday afternoon at the Provincial Hall to promote the arrangements for the ball to be given to his Excellency the Governor and Lady Normanby, it was decided that the ball should be given on Thursday, the 7th January, subject, of course, to his Excellency’s approval of the date named. A sub-committee was appointed to make all necessary arrangements for the ball, and it was announced that the guarantee fund was being augmented in a thoroughly satisfactory manner. A unanimous expression of opinion was elicited that the ball should be made as popular as possible, and with this "view the price of the tickets was fixed at a figure less than is likely to cover the actual cost, the sole and simple object being to secure a successful demonstration—to make the occasion a fact indicative of the feeling of the people of the province. To this end it is hoped that all classes will be represented, and if the proposal goes on as prosperously as it has begun, there need be little doubt of the final result.

The San Francisco mail steamer Cyphrenes reached Auckland at midnight on Tuesday from Sydney, which she left on the 23rd instant. She was, therefore, a few hours over the time (six days) allowed for the run from the capital of New South Wales. She sailed again with the mails for America yesterday. The Otago, which sailed from Melbourne on the day the mail steamer left Sydney, but visited Milford Sound on the West Coast, on a holiday trip, arrived yesterday afternoon at The Bluff. The news brought by these vessels will be found in another column. It will be seen that the owners of the Melbourne steamships in the New Zealand trade have formally declined to convey Sullivan to this colony. The only case down for trial at the civil sittings of the Supreme Court is that of Grace v. Diver, which has previously been before the Court, upon which occasion the jury disagreed. The case will be tried by special jury. The Supreme Court sittings begin on Monday morning at ten o’clock. The following are the cases down for hearing ; —Robert Taylor, assault upon Mr. Waldin at the Upper Hutt ; William Brown, false pretences ; William McWha, false pretences ; Ivor Goilgaard, larceny from a dwelling, two charges. Wo find that several typographical errors occurred in Mr. Brown’s letter, recently published, commenting on our first article on the comparative statistics of Australasia, which in some respects alter the sense. Suffice it to state, that the item, £1,005,296, “raised by taxation,” is made up of Customs and Stamps, whereas it would appear from the letter, as printed, that these' heads of revenue were not in the amount raised by taxation. This is the material error ; and like the others, was the result of inaccurate punctuation. The festival of St. John was duly celebrated by the members of the New Zealand Pacific Dodge at the Masonic Hall, Boulcott-street, on Tuesday evening, advantage being taken of the occasion to instal the W.M. for the year, Bro. Egglesden. There were present at the installation a greater number of. past masters than has ever been present upon any similar occasion hitherto, and the health of the Prince of Wales, as Master of the Grand Lodge of England, was for the first time drank in the lodge. The banquet was up to Mr. Donooker’s usual standard of excellence, and as a matter of course contributed greatly to the enjoyment of the evening. The customary loyal and fraternal toasts were given, and the company broke up at an early hour.

It will be observed that '-to-morrow (New Year’s Day) will be observed as a bank holiday. It will be noticed that a special time-table has been arranged for the Wellington and Masterton Railway on New Year’s Day. There were no civil cases down forbearing at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, in consequence of Mr. Crawford’s attendance at the Hutt Court. A meeting of merchants and others interested in the proposed new wharf regulations will be held this moaning, at the office of Messrs. Bethune and Hunter, at a quarter to eleven o’clock.' One drunkard, the only person who troubled the police on Tuesday, was brought up at the Rolice Court yestex-day, and as he had been aggravating, noisy, and obstreperous, he was fined 20s. by Captain Holt, who occupied the Bench. The fall'of the barometer which lately commenced in the South had extended to Auckland by Wednesday morning, and the weather had become cloudy and gloomy at a good many places. The winds were moderate, except at Bluff, where it was stormy from northwest, which was its prevalent directon from Wanganui southwards; from Napier to Auckland it was mostly in the north-east, blowing fresh at Tauranga. The folio-wing is an approximate list of the immigrants expected to arx-ive by the Berar, nearly due :—Married couples without children —1 laborer, 1 farm laborer. Married couples with children—3 laborers, 18 farm laborers, 2 painters, 1 tinman, 2 gardeners, 1 shepherd, 1 coachman, 1 watchmaker, 1 cabinetmaker, 1 brickmaker, 1 carpenter, 1 cloth cap maker, 1 cooper, 1 tailor. Single men—2l’laborers, 15 lads, 1 mason, 1 tinman, 1 fitter, 2 carpenters, 1 slaughterman, 1 gardener, 18 farm laborers, 1 saddler. Single women—2l general servants, 1 nurse, 1 cook, 8 housemaids, 3 young girls. How the next Anniversary Btsy io to bo celebrated is a question which nobody seems to care anything about. The annual regatta has fallen through, or nearly so, for there is now little time to arrange a programme, or to select crews in time to get them into fit condition for racing, and a capital opening presents itself to the Iforesters or the Caledonian Society to turn the apathy of the boating clubs to profitable account by providing a day’s amusement for the public. Anniversary Day was looked forward to in years gone past with some pride and considerable interest by the old settlers, who usually take an active part in devising a means of ensuring a successful celebration ; but they, like the boating clubs, have degenerated into a state of listlessness which is not flattering to the public spirit of the city. Christchurch has its anniversary sports, promoted by a popular amusements’ committee. Then why should we not have a popular amusements’ committee and anniversary sports too ; or, if there is any risk of athletic sports being overdone, the committee might revert to the old idea of a regatta, but let the matter be taken in hand while there is yet time. If left to themselves the boating clubs and cricket clubs will do nothing. They seem to have become effete. An opportunity, therefore, presents itself to a few citizens of spirit to arrange a day’s enjoyment which shall be creditable alike to themselves and the city. Brown, the publican, late of Sandon, who scattered worthless cheques broadcast about the Manawatu, was brought to town yesterday in the Stormbird from Wanganui. The prisoner in two days victimised the tradespeople in his neighborhood to the extent of £145, for which he gave twelve cheques to different people. The fraud is decidedly the most impudent ever perpetrated in the province, but strange to say, although Brown transacted his nefarious business in the most open and barefaced manner, he was at large for three or four months. He managed to keep out of the way of the police by making a rapid circuit of the many townships in the Manawatu, and when the “patch” in this district was worked out he made free with the unsuspecting people of the Wairarapa ; but the police having heard of his doings and the possibility of a visit from him, spread their nets and secured their bird. Brown, has had a very pleasant time of it. He will shortly get an insight into the other side of the picture. An unusual case of shoplifting took place last evening at Mr. Moss’s, clothier, Lambtonquay. An elderly man went into the shop about seven o’clock and asked to be shown some article at the back of the shop, which caused the shopman to lose sight of the customer for a moment. In this brief space of time the latter picked up a felt hat, and was about to decamp, but Mr. Moss, who happened to be outside, observed something strange in the man’s demeanor, and stopped him. A struggle took place, in which Mr. Moss came off second best, but some passers-by assisted to secure the thief, who was thereupon conveyed to the lock-up without the aid of a policeman. The shoplifter is pretty well known about town as “Rough and Ready.” Evidently he combines both qualities. At the meeting of the Choral Society held yesterday at Mr. Hunter’s rooms it was decided to request Mr. Carver to accept the office of conductor until another answer was received from Mr. Mowbray, who has already informed several deputations from the society of his unwillingness to accept the position. The fact is, that Mr. Mowbray shares the opinion entertained by a great many other people that the society requires to be thoroughly reorganised, and until this is done it is not likely to be very successful. Mr. Carver has agreed to assist the committee to carry out their obligations to the subscribers, and another concert will shortly be given, to consist of opera choruses in the first part, and miscellaneous selections in the second part.

Mr. John Martin, of Wellington, says the Otaki correspondent of the Wanganui Jferald, has twice lately paid us a visit, and has now returned to his home a sadder and a wiser man. Never, I should think, will he be induced rashly to speculate in Wellington upon lands situated at a distance, the exact boundaries or titles of which ho had not previously investigated. It is a loose way of doing business, and will cause sad retrospective reflections. His experience in dealings with natives must be somewhat crude, or he never would have left, satisfied that a day’s korcro would have settled a negotiation. He “ rose ” upon the price offered by the Government purchasers, and the vendors closed, and he shouted and was jubilant. But the natives had. more prices than the one, and before his return with the utu, the Government commissioners had cooked his goose for him, and the late owners were merrily spending the advance which they had received on the amount accepted, Moran, who was awarded second prize only for the mile race won by him at the Foresters’ Fete, has notified the secretary of the order of his intention to take legal proceedings for the recovery of • the full amount of the first prize. The secretary, in reply, has informed Moran that the committee were unanimous in the decision arrived at, and that they are prepared to contest the matter should Moran be desirous of proceeding further. The action of the committee is deserving of every commendation. Their prompt condemnation of the so-called accident has won the approbation not only of the general public, but of those pedestrians who run purely for the honor of the thing. These latter need protection of the sort whioh the Foresters’ committee seem willing to afford, and even if they should be beaten in court, they will still retain the sympathy and support of the public. To meet a general desire on the part of the public the N.Z.S.S. Company have determined upon making another excursion trip to Ficton on New Year's Day, provided the weather is favorable. The pleasures of the trip would, of course, be of a dubious kind if a heavy southeaster happened to oomo up on Friday, and in that- case the company have determined, in order not to disappoint the excursionists altogether, to send the Ladybird round the harbor, stopping at such places ns they may desire. The company display every desire to meet the convenience of the public, and their efforts are sure to meet with well-deserved recognition.

Tenders are required by the Government, we observe, for the conveyance of about a hundred and twenty-five tons of rails ex ship Langstoue, from Wellington to Fox ton. These tenders are required to be sent in by Monday first at noon.

We are informed that the barque Jung Frau, which arrived last night from London, has on board, destined for Napier, a thoroughbred horse, for which not less than a thousand guineas were paid in England. We regret to learn that the same vessel lost on the passage four valuable rams, each of which was worth two hundred guineas. The hospital peacock has lost none of his glory, although his spirit has gone before. Thanks to the skill of Mr. Burton, the re-cently-appointed taxidermist to the Museum, the peacock looks more resplendent than ever, though his beauty is wasted in the present disordered condition of the Museum. Despite this disadvantage, the bird is well worth a special visit to the Museum. It is a magnificent sample, of the taxidermist’s art. Skellie is not likely to recover for some little time from the effects of the “spiking” accident on Boxing Day. Dr. Harding has certified that his injuries will prevent him running for some time, which is a matter of some importance to Skellie, as he has thus been deprived of all chance of winning anything at the Caledonian Sports, in addition to being thrown out of the mile race at the Foresters’ Fete. Possibly the supporters of pedestriauism in the city will see that Skellie is not an actual loser by the untoward event. At a meeting of the Caledonian Society, held last evening, the president, G. Crawford, Esq., in the chair, the “spiking” topic was discussed in all its bearings. A proposal that spiked shoes should be abolished altogether, at the forthcoming gathering was only lost by a majority of one, but the meeting very properly decided that any competitor “ spiking” another should not be allowed to take any prizes at the meeting, even though he might have won some previous to the spiking. Possibly this action may have the effect of putting a stop to this dastardly practice ; if it does not, the society can easily resort to the effectual method of excluding the offenders from all future meetings. It was resolved that the lances to be used in the tilting contest should be not less 'than seven feet long, and that judges for the various events should be chosen on the ground. The secretary was instructed to request the patronage and presence of his Excellency the Governor at the sports on Friday. It was also agreed that there should be a two-mile byciole race for a prize of £5, on the first day of the sports, if a sufficient number of competitors entered the lists, and after the transaction of some routine business the meeting adjourned. The gigantic “sulphur bottom” whale discovered at Port Underwood in June last, by Mr. McKay, of the geological survey staff, is to be brought to the Museum to-day to be “ set up ” by the anatomists. The skeleton has been submerged in Evans Bay since September last for the purpose of being “sweetened,” but it cannot at present be placed on view at the Museum in consequence of the alterations to the building.. The whale’s head, which is twenty feet long, will be placed temporarily in the Botanic Gardens, where it will form an interesting object to visitors. The skeleton of another new whale, the nomenclature of which has been a subject of controversy amongst savans for years past, is at present being set up by Mr. McKay, whose interest in the cause of science leaves him few idle moments. The specimen which he has now in hand is Eubehena Marginata (Gray), found at Stewar-t’s Island by Mr. Charles Traill The strides lately made in the science of electricity are wonderful, but we seem to be as yet only on the verge of what is possible in that science. For the following, “ Qidipus,” an able writer on such subjects in the Melbourne Leader, is responsible : —“ One of the most wonderful reported feats of electricity is that of transmitting sounds by telegraph through a circuit of 2400 miles, so that tunes played upon the transmitting portion of the apparatus are distinctly audible and unmistakably reproduced, note for note, at the distant end of the circuit. The strangest thing about the invention is that whereas the transmitting instrument is formed of a key-board, l, aV m g a numW of ponding with the keys, it is stated the receiving apparatus may be anything that is sonorous, so that it is a conductor of electricity. A violin, with a thin strip of metal stretched between the strings at a point where the bridge of the instrument is generally placed, will, on receiving the sound transmitted, give out a sound very similar in quality to that of an ordinary violin. We are obliged to confess an entire ignorance as to how such results are brought about, but if the accounts are correct, not only will a musician be enabled to himself play a whole orchestra, but to perform such a feat with thousands of miles intervening between himself and his audience.” Labor would appear to be particularly scarce in some of the agricultural districts of Victoria, and it is curious that some of the miners who are now complaining of low wages do not for a time exchange the pick and the gad for the sickle or the scythe. In the Benalla district, for example, harvestmen are • offered seventeen shillings per day, 'and are not to be had at mat high figure.

Pilchards abound in immense numbers on the coast of Cornwall, and of late a manufactory of “ Cornish Sardines” has been established at Menagisseh, in Cornwall, where pilchards are preserved in oil and prepared for market after the Italian fashion. They are said by experts to be equal in quality to the great bulk of the imported sardines. We lately recorded the fact that an English member of Parliament said there were “some Irish chaps in the House of Commons of whom the larger number were the greatest rascals he ever saw.” One of these Irish chaps it seems, immediately “sent a friend” to the member, and the consequence is the following letter : “Blsham Hall, Lincolnshire, September 14, 1874. Sir, — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th inst., and to state that I did make use of the expressions to which you refer, and at the request of your friend, the gallant member for Wexford, I hereby withdraw them.—l remain, sir, your obedient servant, J. D. Astley.” Some eighteen months since, says the Taranaki Herald, Messrs. Webster and Hulke, as an encouragement to the settlers to cultivate only the best varieties of wheat, offered a prize of a silver cup for the best sample of one .hundred and fifty bushels of White Tuscan wheat ; also a silver cup for the best sample of seventy-five bushels of the same wheat grown in the province in 1874, being the produce of the seed bought of the firm that season. Mi-. Nicholas Julian is the successful competitor for the first prize.