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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4305, 7 January 1875, Page 2

It will be remembered that a short time past complaints were made that certain Government officials had interfered with the Government agents appointed to negotiate for the purchase of native land in the north. One of the Auckland papers commented very severely upon the conduct of the officials at the time, the comment being based upon the representations of Mr. J. A. Wilson, one of the agents, who alluded specially to the interference of Captain Mair. The latter gentleman at once brought the matter under the notice of the Native Minister, who caused an inquiry into the circumstances to be held at Te Teko, before Mr. H. W. Brabant, Eesident Magistrate at Opotiki. This inquiry lasted three days, one of the charges made by Mr. Wilson being that Captain Mair had offered a native named Titiku £IOO for a block of land, the purchase of which the Government were then negotiating for. This Titiku was brought before Mr. Brabant and denied ever having stated to Mr. Wilson that Captain Mair had offei-ed him the £IOO, and also that he had never authorised any one to say so on his behalf. The upshot is that Captain Mair is completely exonerated from all the charges alleged against him, Mr,. Wilson being quite satisfied that he was misinformed by the native upon whose statements he relied. The decision has not been officially made known, as the papers connected with the inquiry have yet to be laid before Sir Donald McLean, but the above is in substance the finding of the court. Y esterday will long be remembered by the children attending Mrs. Wilkinson's school, Hopper-street. The parents of the scholars having determined upon giving the children a treat, made every preparation for their enjoyment, and, to make the event more notable, the committee appointed to arrange matters determined upon inviting the Marquis and Marchioness of Nornianby to be present upon the occasion. The invitation was accepted, and the presence of his Excellency and Lady Noimanby was the crowning feature of the day's proceedings. Sidey's paddock was kindly placed at the disposal of the children for the day, and when the vice-regal party arrived they were received by 110 juveniles of various ages, all dressed in white, who extended a cheerful welcome to the Governor and her ladyship, and threw flowers at their feet upon their entrance to, the ground. There were about twenty other ladies and gentlemen present. About four o'clock a temporary cessation in the games was secured, and after tea a suitable moment was chosen for the purpose of presenting to Mrs. Wilkinson and her daughter a slight proof of the esteem of the parents of the children, who evidently value Mrs. Wilkinson's services very highly To Mrs. Wilkinson was presented a silver teapot, and to her daughter, Miss Jane Wilkinson, a handsome workbox. Mr. Donaldson, who made the presentation, testified in a few appropriate words to the satisfaction of the inhabitants with the conduct of the school and the progress made by the children. The articles, though of small value, were said by Mr. Donaldson to express a good deal, for they conveyed the unanimous approval of the parents of Mrs. Wilkinson's system of teaching, their opinion of her fitness for the position she holds, and the wish that she might long be spared to take part in such reunions in connection with the Hopper-street school. The children re-echoed these sentiments in prolonged applause, and renewed their games, which lasted until about six o'clock. Lady Normanby entered thoroughly into the spirit of the proceedings, and quite won the hearts of the children by mingling in their sports with perfect freedom from restraint, and chatting with them upon their everyday concerns. The formal business was brought to a conclusion soon after the presentation, when the children sang the National Anthem, and his Excellency and Lady Normanby drove away. The fear which was expressed that the thirtyfifth anniversary of the province would be allowed to pass without the regatta usual. on. that- clay lalUng place was^dispelled"last evening. At the hour appointed there was an excellent attendance at the Pier Hotel of those favorable to the object noted in the circular. His Worship the Mayor, who was present, was voted to the chair. Letters were read from George Hunter, Esq., and other gentlemen, expressing regret that the writers were unable to attend. It was resolved that the anniversary of the province should be celebrated by a regatta during the day (22nd instant), and a dinner in the evening—the dinner not to be, as on former occasions, a regatta dinner, but an anniversary one, the price of the ticket to be such as to allow of a large and general attendance. A general committee was appointed, from which a sub-committee was selected to draw up a programme. Collectors were appointed for each of the wards, Mr. Webb undertaking to collect in Thorndon, Mr. S. Levy in Lainbton, and Mr. T. McKenzie in Te Arc Thirty pounds were subscribed in the room, and it was thought that financially the forthcoming regatta would exceed any previous one. Seven gentlemen were elected a committee to arrange matters in connection with the dinner. After a number of excellent suggestions had been made, and formal business disposed of, the meeting accorded the chairman a vote of thanks, and dispersed. A meeting of the sub-committee, to whom was entrusted the duty of drawing up a programme, was then held. The following draft programme was agreed upon :—l. Bair-oared skiffs, to bo rowed by juniors: the definition "junior" not to exclude those who' competed under that head at last regatta : distance, one and a half miles. 2. Four-oared ships' gigs, to be the bona fide property of the ships and rowed by crews belonging to them; three miles. 3. First-class yacht race for a cup to be presented by Shaw, [Savill, and Co., with a sum of money added ; distance not yet arranged. 4. Four-oared gigs, open to all comers ; three miles. 5. Second-ciass yachts'- race, from which all yaohts competing in the first-class yacht race will be excluded. 6. Four-oared junior gig race ; two miles. 7. Volunteer four-oared gig race ; three miles. 8. Whaleboat race ; three miles. 9. Pair-oared skiff race ; two miles. 10. Four-oared outriggers; three miles. 11. Scullers' race ; two mile 3. The events will conclude with walking the spring pole. When the collectors have reported'the amount subscribed the prizes will be named for the respective events. It will be noticed that no provision has been made for a trading vessels' race, an omission which obtains in none of the other important New Zealand ports. If the sub-committee Bhould be enabled by the liberality of the public to offer handsome prizes, competitors may be expected from Wanganui and Nelson, which would considerably add to the interest of the regatta of 1875. "School" was repeatedlastnight at theTheatro Royal with undiminished success, and to a 3 large an audience as greeted its first production. The Theatre is required this evening for the Citizens' Ball; but, on Friday, "Oamillo" will be produced, Mrs. Bates, of course, playing the heroine. To the northward of Hokitika and Kaikoura, the barometer has risen, and in the vicinity of Auckland this increase has amounted to nearly four-tenths of an inch, but at all places southward of Kaikoura the glass has fallen a little. Winds were from various quarters in both islands, and fine weather prevailed at all places excepting Bluff and Hokitika, where tho sky was overcast and showery. In consequence of the Wellington having the San Francisco mail on board she will leave for Southern ports on the Bth instead of the 9th as previously advertised. A seaman belonging to the barque Jung Fran, was sentenced by the Kesident Magistrate yesterday morning to a week's imprisonment for deserting from his vessel. This was all the business before the Court. Only twelvo persons availed themselves of tho excursion trip by the steamer Wallace, which arrived hero yesterday from Nelson. I

Sir John O'Shannassy, whose name has been bo long prominent in connection with Victorian politics, has met with a somewhat serious accident. "We learn from the Bendigo (Victoria) papers that on Thursday morning, the 16th-of December, he and his son-in-law, the •Hon. N. Fitzgerald, M.L.C., were driving into Echuca in a dogcart from Sir John'B home station at Moira, Sir John incautiously leaned over the side of the vehicle, putting down his hand as if to rest or lean upon the usual handrail. There was no rail on the conveyance, however, and he fell with great force to the ground, the vehicle at the time proceeding at a pretty fast rate. He suffered a severe shock, soon rallied, but two or three of his ribs have been broken.- He was strong enough to be conveyed to Echuca and to proceed by train to Sandhurst. Sir John had recovered sufficiently to proceed on to Melbourne. The Bcndiyo Advertiser (Victoria) bears witness to_ the value of opening literary institutions on Sundays. It was predicted, states that journal, that if the Sandhurst Mechanics' Institute were thrown open on Sunday the attendance would be so small that it would soon be found necessary to close it again, while the result of the experiment is that the reading room is filled every Sunday, and this at a period of the year when out-door amusements have stronger attractions.