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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4332, 6 February 1875, Page 2

The Post-office authorities are at last able to publish an authoritative time-table for the Californian mail service for the next six months, and wo have to thank Mr. Gray, the Secretary of the Post-office, for copies. The out-going Suez mail leaves "Wellington on the 14th instant (the mail closing on the previous evening), and we see that the English mail, via San Francisco, will be despatched from Wellington, for Auckland, on Tuesday, the 16th instant. The Macgregor will receive the mails at that port. By an Order in Council, dated the 2nd inst,, his Excellency the Governor has been pleased to extend the Government Insurance Industrial Regulations to all members of the Independent Order of Good Templars of New Zealand, whether registered or not under the Friendly Societies Act of 1867, and to the wives of members.

The amount collected at the Customs yesterday (£2321 9s. 4d.), is, excepting one day last year, when over £3OOO was collected, the largest amount taken over the long-room counter in one day. We understand that Messrs. Henry and W. F. Baker will sing in the services at the Homan Catholic Cathedral on Sunday morning. The Postmaster, with the view of meeting the demand for extra private boxes at the Post-office, has increased the number from 98 to 112.

The Immigration department forwarded to Taranaki by the steamer Wellington, which sailed yesterday, seventy-two of the German immigrants who arrived by the Humboldt. The Rev. Mr. Henderson, Congregational minister, who delivered an eloquent lecture at St. Andrew’s Church a few evenings ago, left for Auckland yesterday by the Wellington.

The Hon. Air. Fox is expected to arrive in town 4 n a day or two, when the address presented to him by the liquor-abstaining bodies of the city will again be presented in the form of a handsome piece of illuminated work. Air. William Hutchison left town yesterday morning for the Rangitikei district, where it is , understood he intends to institute an active 1 canvass for the seat in the House of Representatives about to be vacated by the Hon, Air. Fox. An ocean race for five thousand dollars is about to take place between the British ship British King and the American clipper Three Brothers, on a voyage from San Francisco to Liverpool with cargoes. The challenge was" issued by the Americans. The s.s. Otago, Captain John AlcLean, would leave Lyttelton shortly after seven o’clock last night, and may therefore be expected here between ten and twelve o’clock. It is anticipated that she will sail again for Nelson about ten o’clock in the evening. Street musicians, remarks the Times, have at last found their way to Westport. During the past week the sounds of harp and violin, by no means badly played, have been heard at various hostelries, and apparently the wandering min-' strels have had no reason to complain of nnappreciating audiences. Bould v. Brown, and a cross action in which the same parties were concerned, was the only business of any consequence at the Resident Alagistrate’s Court yesterday, but as it involved merely the intricate details of a sheep transaction between the two, the evidence was not of a nature to interest the public. Mr. Gordon Allan and Air. Ollivier appeared in the case, at the termination of which his Worship ‘gave judgment for Bould for £1 and coats. There were other cases down for hearing, but they were peaceably settled before Air. Crawford took his seat on the bench.

Tile Germans o£ the city, and other friends of Mr. Krull, mustered strong last night in Donecker’s Union Hotel, to entertain him at a friendly dinner prior to his departure for Europe, via Melbourne, to-day by thes.s. Otago. Mr. Moeller occupied the chair, and the vice-chair was occupied by Mr. Koch. After the substantials had been disposed of, the health of her Majesty was given, followed by that of the Emperor William. The Governor, and Prince Bismarck, were next toasted; and then Mr. Moeller proposed the toast of the evening, which was received with great enthusiasm. Mr. Krull replied, remarking that when he was at home he was regarded as a dull boy ; but, having the w'orld before him where to choose, and having heard a good account of the chances New Zealand afforded, he had found his way hither, [and had now no reason to regret his choice. He was going home only to visit his native land, and then to return to that of his adoption. A variety of other toasts followed, but as the only toast proposed in English was “The Visitors”—in which happy allusion was made to the natural sympathy between Englishmen and Germans —we may be excused for not reporting the proceedings. Mr. Krull has been actively connected with the business of Wellington for some twenty or more years ; and for the greater part of that time has been German Consul in this port. He will be gladly welcomed back, and good wishes will accompany him on his journey. The Choral Society appears to be in a more unsatisfactory condition than ever, despite Mr. Mowbray’s acceptance of the oonduciorship, which it was thought would revive the interest in the cause of music, which has fallen to the lowest condition of languor. To what cause this languor is attributable need not be here alluded to, but there exists no doubt about the fact that a well developed feeling of discontent has lately been manifested amongst those usually regarded as supporters of the society; and this feeling is growing still stronger. The meeting of Thursday evening is strongly confirmatory of the opinion that the best course to pursue would be to allow the society to die a natural death rather than resort to spasmodic efforts to maintain its existence under the present unsatisfactory condition of affairs. The liberality of Mr. Geo. Hunter, applied under the direction of a committee representing a wider section of the musical public than does' the present committee, would assist greatly in building np a strong society; hut this result is not likely to be attained until a general meeting of the musical public is entrusted with the duty of finding a way out of the present difficulties. Mr. Mowbray was convinced of there being something rotten in the state of Denmark, when he declined to accept the couduotorship. His former opinion cannot have been much affected by the difficulty of obtaining a singing quorum on Thursday evening. It was rumored yesterday that Mr. Andrew Young had withdrawn, from the contest for Te Aro Ward. Conversation with Mr. Young confirmed the rumor, the latter gentleman stating that although he would have served the ratepayers faithfully had they returned him, he thinks it better at once to state that the duties of the position would encroach too much upon the time which lie is compelled to devote to his private affairs. Mr. Young further stated that as Mr. Gillon’s speeches to the ratepayers embodied his own views on municipal affairs, he would do all he could to support that gentleman and assist to secure his election. The contest now rests between Mr. Gillou and Mr. Moody. A match between a cricketing team from the Bosario and an eleven of the Wellington Club will be played on the Basin Keserve to-day. The club team will consist of the following names ; —Knapp, Dees, Armitage, Werry, Bell, Edmunds, Inman, Low, Mace, Gray and Bussell. Play will be commenced at one o’ clock sharp. A number of ladies are expected to grace the scene should the weather be fine, in which case the day’s proceedings are likely to he characterised by something like ecldt.

Few associations for the promotion of the fine-arts have clone more than the Royal Association of Scotland, which has had the good fortune to introduce, or assist to fame, such artists as the late Horatio McCulloch, Sir Noel Paton, W. Johnston, John Thomson, R. S. Lauder, the brothers Faed, &o. It began operations in 18-14, and in the thirty years that have since elapsed some magnificent works have been brought out under its auspices. The engraving for 1874 was an illustration of the old Scottish ballad, An’ ye sail walk in silk attire, 1 An’ siller hue to spare. The painting is by Thomas Faed, R.A., whose first work for the Association was produced in 1850—the well-known picture “ The First Letter from the Emigrants.” It is engraved by Lumb Stocks, R.A., to whose graver the Association is indebted for some of its best works. The subject is very happily treated. The scene is the interior of a cottage, with a handsome . girl seated listlessly at her spinning-wheel, the old mother, evidently in the interests of some old wooer whom the maiden does not think of with favor, has spread out on the round table a handsome silk dress, to which she is directing the attention of her daughter with a look the “ pawky " expression of which cannot be mistaken. The open door shows the father and the suitor in the other room fraternising over a glass of some friendship-inspiring liquor, the good wishes of the former having i evidently been won by “ the auld wooer.” The

story is completely told in the arrangement of the figures, and in their expressive features. In the foreground a little girl is playing with her doll, whSe an admiring and sympathising Scotch terrier looks on. The work, altogether is a very fine one, whether as a picture illustrative of the ballad, or as an engraving. The colonies have always been fortunate in drawing at least their full share of prizes at the annual distribution. Mr. Peter Laing, it is pretty well known, is the honorary secretary for Wellington, and no doubt his subscription list will be fuller than the last, seeing how Wellington is growing.

The battle of Waterloo was fought on the 18th of June, 1815, very nearly sixty . years ago. The number of heroes now living who took part in that memorable battle, when the army of the great Napoleon was annihilated, can- almost be counted on the fingers. The Thames (says the Advertiser) is just now honored by a visit from one of the few survivors who fought with the allied army under Wellington. Lieutenant Macfarlane, who is a resident of Kaiapoi, Canterbury, was in r the Rifle Brigade at Waterloo, and came up with the representatives from the South, on a visit to “see the shooting,” The old veteran is, we believe, now about eighty-five years of age, but is a remarkably hale man, as may be imagined from the fact that he is still able to undertake a long journey from home “without inconvenience. On Saturday, Mr. Macfarlane came down in the Luna, and "with his Waterloo medal on his breast, marched out to Parawai,

Some particulars of the loss of the fine steamer Mongol have been received by way of Honolulu. It appears that the Alongol sailed from Hongkong on the 12th of December for Yokohama. When twenty miles out from Hongkong harbor she struck on one of a cluster of rocks known as the “ Nine Pins.” She sank at once, carrying down with her Captain and Mrs. Flamanck, the first and fourth officers, the second and third engineers, and others. Fourteen persons only were reported as having been saved. The steamer Colorado followed the Alongol four hours after her departure, also bound for Japan, but saw nothing of the wreck, and knew nothing of it till her arrival in Yokohama.

Two tourists—a lady and gentleman—while visiting Arthur's Point bridge in a buggy (says the Lake, Wahatip Mail of Tuesday), had a very narrow escape of their lives. Every one who has visited this locality knows how very narrow the road is just as the corner of the track leading down to the old bridge is approached, and that the slightest swerve of a horse hero would cause him to tumble down a few hundred feet into the Shotover. The party in question were standing admiring the new bridge from this point, when the workmen there blasted a large rook—the pieces of the same flying like hailstones around the heads of the tourists. The horse attempted to bolt, hut fortunately the gentleman jumped out, and with the greatest exertion managed to hold it either from moving forwards or backwards. At one moment the wheels were within a few inches of the top of the terrible precipice. The workmen are greatly to blame for not talcing the necessary precaution to be used before blasting.