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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4309, 12 January 1875, Page 2

An extraordinary edition of the Gazette was published on Saturday, announcing by proclamation tho assumption of the Government of New Zealand by the Marquis of Normanby. The Gazette also contains a copy of the commission of his Excellency. It is also intimated by the Clerk of the Executive Couneilthat his Excellency has been pleased (under date 9th January) to appoint the Hon. Julius Vogel, C.M.G.; the Hon. Daniel Pollen, the Hon. Sir Donald McLean, K.C.M.G.; tho Hon. Edward Richardson, the Hon. William Hunter Reynolds, the Hon. Harry Albert Atkinson, the Hon. Charles Christopher Bowen, the Hon. Wiremu Katene, and the Hon. Wiremu Parata as members of the Executive Council of NewZealand. Wo have but little to add to the information which we gave yesterday as to the unfortunate people who were on board tho unlucky ship Cospatrick at tho time of her destruction. The New Zealand Herald, speaking of her anticipated arrival, says :—" She has 429 immigrants, divided according to nationality, as follows: — English, 247; Scotch, 42; Irish, 109; Welsh, 13; Channel Islanders, 10; French, 7; Swiss, 1. Total, 429 souls, equal to 357& statute adults." We are officially informed that the lost ship had on board only four families, and six

single men and six single women as nominated immigrants, and all for the province of Auckland. We greatly doubt that the information of the department, as to the nomination and destination of the poor people by this lost ship ia open to considerable correction. We fear that the : losses by the dreadful casualty that overtook the Cospatrick will be mourned widely over the colony. Amongst those lost we have heard of at least one family whose nameß appear in the list published yesterday—the Nalder family, consisting of a father, a mother, and four brothers and sisters, who were coming out to the nomination of the eldest son, who ia now in Wellington, and who had forwarded money to Auckland to bring them on to Wellington on their arrival there. On Sunday the barometer was generally unsteady, although fine weather and light winds prevailed in both islands with the exception of Napier, where the sky was gloomy and weather threatening all day.' The fall of the barometer which had commenced near Auckland on Saturday was still in progress, but had not extended to the southward of Tauranga, though by Monday morning it had become general in both islands, and was accompanied by a threatening appearance of the weather in the north. The sky was overcast from Balclutha to Lyttelton, but remained clear and fine at other places in the Middle Island. The winds in the North were unsteady, but were from north-east to north-west between Nelson and the Bluff.

The ship Carnatic, which arrived at Picton yesterday from London, with immigrants, will come on to Wellington to discharge her cargo. Thirty of her immigrants come to New Zealand under the auspices of the Feilding Corporation. They will probably arrive here by the Ladybird, which is due on, Thursday next, and be forwarded to Foxton by the' steamer Napier on the following day. We are glad to learn that the soiree in aid. of the Merchant Seamen's Orphan Asylum, to be held on board the fine ship Soukar, on the 22nd (Anniversaiy night), will be under the patronage o£ his Honor the Superintendent, his Worship the Mayor, and other influential gentlemen. The • committee are already hard at work with the intention of making this one of the most enjoyable "evenings" of the kind that have ever taken place in the port of Wellington. ''■•'••• The people of Picton seem to be dissatisfied with the condition in which the affairs of their mimicipality are found. Any recent visitor should be able to say, "there is a reason why." A public meeting of the inhabitants is to be held, to* take into: consideration " the best course to pursue in reference to sundry matters connected with the welfare of the town and district." Without being cynical we may say that the experience of some recent visitors from Wellington might induce them to say that the sooner the inhabitants did move—about something—the better. A more dead-and-alive corner of the earth in a day of rain, than Picton, it could not enter into the heart of man to conceive.

The House of Repreeentatiyes is to undergo another metamorphosis before Parliament meets this year. Economy is to give way to elaboration, and the rough deal saw-marked desks and shabby seats will no longer offend the eye and evoke the scathing criticism of the honorable member for Newton, Mr. Swanson. The drapings of the Chamber are again to be changed for others, which are on their way from England, and the seats are to be covered in maroon rep. The effefct cannot very well be conceived until the alterations have been effected, but it is still questionable if the present green curtains will be very ■■ much improved upon. These, however, are the least important of the changes absolutely required, for they do not touch the radical defect in the building—its acoustic imperfection. The Government would be deserving of greater commendation if an endeavor were made to reduce the difficulty of hearing. Complaints under this head came from all quarters last year, none being more loud in their protestations than honorable members themselves. Appearances should certainly be sacrificed to this one. consideration, and if the Colonial Architect can do anything to remove this single blemish in,,the present House of Representatives, he will win the thanks of the public, the legislators, and those long-suffering individuals—the reporters. The tenders for altering the curtains and seats will he received up to the Ist February. Steps of a practical character, were taken last night at a meeting of the Dinner Committee in connection with the arrangements for the due celebration of the thirty-fifth anniversary of the foundation of the colony, on the 22nd instant. The dinner, it was arranged, should take place in the Odd Fellows' Hall; and it may be taken as a proof of the spirit in which all parties are disposed to celebrate the day, that the Rechabites, who had previously engaged the hall for a festival on that night, most kindly consented to forego, to another occasion, their intention. The tickets will be of moderate price—we hope we don't interfere with the advertising department when we say 7s. 6d. It is anticipated by the gentlemen who are promoting the affair that his Honor the Superintendent will take the chair on an occasion so interesting ; and that his Worship the Mayor, and the membera of the House of Representatives for the city, will be the vicechairmen. Every arrangement will be made to make the dinner a success, and it is hoped that the efforts of the sub-committee will be well supported by all who desire to see this interesting anniversary celebrated in a way worthy of the Empire City. Information was given to the police late last night, that a your.g girl, only eight years of age, named Ada Wilson, was missing from her home in Bolton-street., She left the house of her parents on Sunday morning at ten o'clock, in company with a number of little girls, to play in the cemetery. Her companions returned home in the course of the evening, but the little girl in question did not. The police only obtained information when it was almost too dark on Monday' night to make a search with any advantage, but every endeavor is being made to' find the little girl. It is singular that the parents could have been so apathetic ;as to allow so long a period to elapse before giving the alarm. Nothing had been heard of the missing girl at a late hour last night. It is very creditable to the Rechabite body that, having arranged to have a soiree in connection with their order in the Odd Fellows' Hall on the 22nd instant, they have given way to the committee who are promoting the banquet in celebration of the anniversary of the foundation of the colony—when the ship Aurora arrived, thirty-five years ago. 'J. hey have most obligingly consented to postpone their entertainment till a day to be 'announced hereafter. Tickets sold for the entertainment on the 22nd will be available for the day to which the pleasures have been adjourned. The few people who used to saunter down to our public recreation ground in long summer evenings, two or three years ago, with a view of obtaining healthy active amusement and exercise, after the work of the day, very often had to return unsatisfied and in a somewhat melancholy and discontented mood. This summer a very different and happier scene is daily presented, and this result is owing to a great extent to Mr. T. Buchanan, one of the trustees, who has perseveringly and unweariedly endeavored to improve the ground, though with very limited means at his disposal. A meeting of the shareholders of the Cooperative Bakers' Society was held last night at Mr. Port's office, Willis-street. About fifty members were present, and the advertised object of the meeting was to receive tenders for the business of the company. Mr. O'Shea was called to the chair. After an explanation had been mado of thd affairs of the society, a long discussion took place, which resulted in a resolution that the business of the company should be wound up in liquidation, the liquidators to be Meßsrs. T. Kennedy Macdonald, James O'Shea, Robert Port, and John Compton. A vote of thanks : to the bhairmau concluded the proceedings. The society, we may remark, was constituted some nine months ago; and there is some outside reason to think that if it had been" managed with common businesslike intelligence it would not have been the failure it, so far, has proved.

The Hon. Mr. Sewell and 'Mrs. Sewell. leave for England shortly in' the ship'Hqwijah. A supplement to . the Gazette, published on Friday, contains a very long list of Imperial enactments that have ceased to be in force, or have become inoperative. Out of respect for the unfortunate people who perished by the burning of the ship Cospatrick, all the vessels in harbor yesterday hoisted their flags at half-mast. The second shipment of the Wanganui waterworks plant is now being discharged from the ship Langstone into a hulk, from which it will be conveyed to its destination by the steamer Manawatu. It will be noticed that a public temperance meeting will be held to-night (Tuesday) in the Primitive Methodist church, hydney-street. From the names of the gentlemen advertisedthere is no doubt that an intellectual treat will be enjoyed by those who attend. Now that one of her Majesty's ships is lying in Wellington harbor, an opportunity presents itself for a friendly game at cricket between our visitors and local cricketers. There is reason to believe a challenge from the shore would be accepted by those on board the Rosario, in which case a most interesting match would result. In Auckland, when men-of-war are lying in that port during the cricket season, matches between local and naval cricketers are of weekly occurrence. Mr. Hall, city missionary, acknowledges with thanks the receipt of the following contributions in aid of the work in which he is engaged :—Friend to missions (with an excellent letter), £1; W.G.J., 55.; J.D., 2s. 6d.; Friend, £l; D.W.P.,25. 6d. ;J. McL., £1; and last,. a lady wlio wrote from Timaru an encouraging letter, and sent a P. 0.0. for £2 10s.— the 10s. for a widow left with a large family. Mr. Hall wishes to correct a report that is in circulation that he has abandoned the work in which he has been employed for so many years; he is still moving on in this sphere, and he is happy to say that he never felt more at home than while preaching to the seamen on Sunday last. A telegram in another column announces the capsizing of the yacht Ripple at Akaroa, and the loss of two lives—those of Mr. Sayle, and Mr. C. A. Nailor, a Christchurch solicitor. The Ripple is what is known by yachtsmen as a " gunter-rigged " boat,. of about four and a-half tons, built by Harry Green, of Dunedin, whence she was taken to Lyttelton to compete.at the : regatta'on January Ist. She did not belie her reputation as a fast sailer, having successfully carried off the prize for which she entered. She was then owned by Messrs. Johnson, Harris, Gibbs, and Frazer ; but, according to the telegram, she was at the time of the unfortunate accident, owned and sailed by Mr. Sayle. It is thus possible she changed hands after the Lyttelton regatta. The boat 13 described as possessing very weatherly qualities. Four personß were in the yacht at the time of the accident, two of whom succeeded in reaching the shore by swimming. Clergymen have, the reputation—whether deserved or no—-of being inclined to litigation. Among those of them who are so appears to be the Reverend John Raven, formerly of Christchurch, who was a passenger, from New Zealand to England on a late occasion by the San Francißco line. He met the difficulties all the other travellers did on that unfortunate occasion, but has not been so patient as some of them. He has commenced an action for damages against Mr. H. H. Hall and Mr. P. S. Forbes, in the Supreme Court of New Zealand for the Wellington district, and has arrested in the hands of the Treasurer of the Colony, money, and real and personal property of the defendants now in his hands, or custody, or under his control. Dividends amounting to £11,125 were declared in five quartz-mining companies in the Inangahua, says the Herald, during the year 1874. The names of; the companies and amount of dividends, .are as follows :—Wealth of Nations, 13s. per share, £1225 ; Fiery Cross, 55., £3OOO ; Golden Fleece, 25., £2400 ; Invincible, 15d., £750 ; Caledonian, 35., £750. A fisherman now plies his industry on the beach, says the Westport Times, and. in favoring weather makes good hauls of flounder, kawai, and herring. He says that at certain times the water along the surf line swarms with anchovies, and that with a net of proper mesh, an abundance might be obtained. Unfortunately, there is no demand for them, the proper mode of preparation of these delicate fish being little known. . The fisherman, who comes from Dutchland, says .the process is simple and cheap, and that anyone who would go into the business of preserving anchovies, would do well.

News—possibly true, possibly false—comes at times from > unexpected quarters. Thus we learn,.from the Hawaiian Gazette, that Prince Leopold, the youngest son. of the Queen, is to study for the English bar. It is not improbable that the rumor is true. Prince Leopold is the only member of the Royal Family whose health has been not merely indifferent, but bad, and who has long been precluded by ill-health from taking part in the amusements and pleasures usual to young men of his age. He is known to be of studious and recluse habits, and it will be a fortunate thing for the nation if his inclinations are found to turn towards the study of the law. A northern contemporary has the following: —From a private letter from Wellington we learn that the Native Office has pronounced in favor of the opening of Ohinemuri within, as the Maoris say, one moon or one month. From the same, source we learn that it is likely that Major Keddell, the senior Warden of the Hauraki goldfields and resident at Cor'omandel, will be,offered the Wardenship, than whom fewer or. more competent and painstaking Wardens could.be found. If the Coromandel portion of the field does not need the services of a,: Residgnt Warden, we presume that Captain" Fraser will pay it occasional visits, but in view of the increased area of gold-bearing country being opened there during the current year, we fear that it will necessitate his Honor the Superintendent, as holder of the delegated powers, to recommend a successor to fill up the vacancy reported as likely to occur through the transfer of Major Keddell to Ohinemuri. » ■ A party of surveyors returning to town yesterday from the up-river district, says the Wanganui Herald of the sth instant, had a narrow escape from drowning, in consequence of their canoe having been capsized. The theodolite was Baved, but the remainder of tho instruments were lost, together with tents, provisions, &c. Messrs. Munro and McDonalds who were occupants of the canoe, were thrown into the water, and had considerable difficulty in making good their landing. The accident was caused by negligenco in steering, which over these dangerous rapids requires to be most skilfully performed. Miss Christian —who is described as the best contralto singer who , has ever visited New Zealand—has been giving a series of concerts in Auckland. They have been fairly successful. The Herald, writing of one of them, says :—" Although the weather last evening was boisterous and inclement, it did not deprive Miss Christian's Concert Company of a good house ; and a choice programme was produced in i\ manner, in every respect, successful and sarisfactory. Each piece was well received, and the approbation of the audience was of a most pronounced character. The high encomiums which have been passed upon the company are thoroughly merited ; and the best'evidence of this is to be found in the fact that many persons have continuously patronised the concerts since their first visit. The songs by Miss Christian last evening were, 'Will he come?' ' Oh ! take me to thy heart again ;' and ' Kato O'Shane ;' to which several encores were added, one of which, 'The Mountebank,' was rendered with admirable pathos. The remainder of the programme was in keeping with the high character of the concerts by the , company, which far excel in selection as in execution anything of the kind to which the public of Auckland have been treated for a long time. This evening the last of the series of concerts will be given, when Miss Christian will render ' Auld Robin Gray,' 'Strangers Yet,' and 'The Beating of My Own Heart.'"

, : The steeplechase horse Butcher Boy, pretty well kiown in the North Island, has been sold by his owner, Mr. R. E. Mcßae, for a hundred guineas. t : The Provincial Government of Nelson ha» arranged for a steamer to call monthly at the Karamea. The first of the coast steamers for this service was to leave Nelson on the 12th inst. The mining prospects of Marlborough. would appear to be improving—hut at a Lilliputian rate. What else can we gather from the following paragraph in a late issue of a Picton contemporary :—"A gentleman wh» arrived from Blenheim last night, informed u* that two men took £SO. worth of gold into that town for sale yesterday. They have been working in the Onamalutn Valley, and appear to be well satisfied with the prospect* the place affords." . "Our port has not had such a busy appearance for some time as it had this morning," says the Wanganui Evening Herald of the sth instant. " For some weeks there have always been eight or nine vessels either berthed alongside the wharves or lying in the stream. This morning the number rose to twelve, four of them being steamers. As several of the sailing vessete were lying in the stream, the sight was exceedingly picturesque. Apart from this it i* highly gratifying to see such a steady increase in the shipping of our port, and there is no doubt as our population increases and the railway works progress, our shipping will increase in proportion." A man named Angus, who had been working on the road contract, at the Nine Mile, says , the , Westport Times of the sth instant, deliberately committed suicide by walking into the Buller River yesterday-morning. He had been.indulging in a holiday bout of hard liquor, and on Sunday night required watcljing to pi-event him doing violence ta himself. Yesterday morning he suddenly made for the river, and resisted ; all attempt at succour. Bernard Cunningham pluckily followed him into the stream in the.effort to drag him back, but had at last to give up hi* hold to save his own life.: The demented Angus then plunged further into the stream, and was carried away by the current. Hi* body has not since been recovered,;and,:may probably, owing to the slight fresh in the river, be washed down to the bar and on ta the beach.