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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4351, 1 March 1875, Page 2

From a return published in the Nautical Almanac, we see that the Clyde maintains its position, by a very long way, as the chief place of construction in Britain of iron steamers, especially of large size. In the nine months ending with October last, the three Clyde ports—Glasgow, Greenock, and Port Glasgow —had built, or were in course of constructing, not less than 160,387 tons of steam shipping, of which the share of Glasgow proper was 117,974 tons. ’ Newcastle was next, with 68,535 tons. Sunderland had 28,644 tons ; London, 17,782 tons ; and Belfast, 10,012 tons.

Sunderland headed the list as regards sailing ships, having constructed, or being engaged in building, 38,092 tons; while Glasgow had 30,571 tons, and Greenock 7272 tons.

t The telegraph,! we regret'to say, reports the death, yesterday, at Port Chalmers, o£ Mrs. Macandrew, the wife of the Superintendent of Otago. Mrs. 1 Macandrew -was a sister,of the Hon.'W. H. Reynolds, Commissioner of Customs.

The election of City Auditors takes place to-day; The candidates for the two vacancies are Mr. T. K. Macdonald, Mr. ,T. W. Stevenson, and Mr. S. Carroll. Of Mr. Carroll’s ability and fitness for the office there cannot be a doubt, but' in this respect he and the two other candidates stand precisely upon the same ground. It follows, therefore, that Messrs. Macdonald and ‘ Stevenson—who have' previously held office and done their work in a most , satisfactory manner—have asuperior claim to the votes of the ratepayers, a claim which can be strengthened by a multitude of reasons were it necessary. For some years the'' city had to cast about; for trustworthy and competent persons for the office. In the present auditors such men were found. That they are the men for the position ‘ has been proved year after year, 1 and their late report to the City Council must strengthen public confidence in them. That report raised conflicting opinions, it is true, but it is now unanimously agreed that the auditors did the city good service by giving the great body of ratepayers a glimpse into the true position of affairs. The Council itself recanted ifs Hasty decision on the honorarium'question, and in a spirit which reflected credit upon ’ it, rewarded the auditors : after the manner they deserved. This is, of. course, merely an incidental point, but is touched upon for the purpose of reminding the ratepayers that, Messrs. Macdonald and Stevenson have for a long time performed a great amount of arduous work tor very' slight consideration indeed. To be returned at the head of the poll would, therefore, be interpreted as a graceful recognition of past services, and it is a recognition to which the late auditors are in every way entitled.

A drunkard was brought up at the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Saturday, and fined. There was no. other business.

The office of the Registrar of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, has been removed back to the Supreme Court. ,

Mr. H. 0. Wilmer, for many years secretary to his ! Honor Mr. Justice Johnston, has been appointed Deputy-Registrar of the Supreme Court, i vacant by Mr. Hammerton’s appoint-, ment as Secretary of Stamps. Mr. Wilmer’s appointment will give satisfaction to the profession and the public.

The Royal ,English, Opera Company have concluded a successful season at Dunedin, and have ; gone on to Invercargill, where they will conclude their tour in New Zealand, taking ship at The Bluff for Melbourne.

The Rev. Charles Clark was a passenger by the steamer Stormbird, which arrived from Wanganui on Saturday evening last.

A man named D. Keohanes was brought to town on Saturday by Constable Smith, of Peatherston, to undergo a sentence of a month’s imprisonment for vagrancy. Prisoner is the same man who, after a vagabond career at Wanganui, stowed himself away on board the Stormbird, for which he underwent a short term of imprisonment. Upon his release he made his way to . Peatherston, and being found prowling around Shirley’s new hotel, was arrested and dealt with as above indicated. :

■ Up to Saturday last, sixty-five persons had intimated their willingness to become members of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber will consist of those who have thus applied, and the ballot will now come into use. •■ A. meeting of the members will be held without delay for the election of office-bearers.

Messrs, Rolleston and Tailored arrived from Canterbury yesterday by the steamer Phoebe. Their presence in'Wellington is .owing to the annual i meeting of the Council of the New Zealand University, of which they are members, and which commences its sittings to-day. The Rev. Chas. Clark preached last evening in the. Wesleyan Chapel, -Manners-street, to 'the largest congregation Jet seen within the building upon- any occasion. Prom 6 o’clock, people ithronged the streets along the- 'approaches to the chapel, and by half-past 6 the'time for beginning the service—standingroom was not obtainable either in the galleries or bn the lower floor. To provide greater accommodation, seats were placed “along the aisles, and within the communion rail; and all available space being crowded, it 'will easily be believed that the congregation numbered fully 1500 persons. Mr. Clark preached from; Acts xvii, 27—“ That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after'Him, and find ,Him, though he be not far from every one of us.” The sermon .was a masterpiece of oratory and learning, displaying as it did deep study of Greek history, forcibly applied in giving an insight into the life and character of the Apostle Paul. In its more homely application to the people and the times in which we live'the sermon was very impressive, and no less effective in inculcating the teachings of Christianity. The feelings! which Mr. Clark created in the minds of his hearers cannot be interpreted by any written; expression; but it may be safely said that the words of the preacher made an impression which will long be remembered. The walking match between Purdy and Ashton: takes place bn the Basin Reserve this afternoon, the first event to start at half-past two o’clock. The handicap race will be run off at the first convenient interval.

The pearl-shell trade seems to be becoming of not a little importance in the north-western district of Australia. A ship called the Ivy lately left Shark’s Bay, on that coast, for London, with no leas than four hundred tons on board. f

Two lads were brought up a'few days ago at the Magistrate’s Court, Dunedin, on a charge of house-breaking. One of them was only nine years of age, and the son of highly respectable parents. They had broken into a dwelling-house, making their way through the chimney, and had stolen a number of small articles, to the value of twelve shillings and sixpence.

New South Wales, we observe, has not this season maintained its usual shipment of wool. From the Ist of October to the 12th of February last the exports amounted to 05,337 bales, as compared with 73,035 bales in the corresponding period of last year. The well-known yacht Red Jacket, built at Lyttelton by the Messrs. Day, and purchased by Mr. Tabuteau, of Wellington, was sold by auction by Mr. B. J, Duncan on Saturday last. She was purchased by Messrs. Litchfield and Duncan Jor ,€-12.

We learn that the steamer Napier arrived at Opunako on Saturday afternoon at G o’clock, but rather late to laud the Constabulary. During the night a southerly gale came on, and yesterday morning the vessel was not to be seen. No doubt Captain Butt considered it prudent to take shelter somewhere near, as a southerly wind sends in a nasty sea at Opunake.

Mr. and Mrs. George Case (Miss Grace Egerton) are now performing with groat success in * Dunedin. A new piece, entitled “ Latest | Intelligence,” specially written for Mrs. Case, appears to be very attractive.

By the arrival of the steamer Rangatira on Saturday last from ‘Poverty Bay and Napier, further news is to hand concerning the wrecked steamer Pretty Jane. Captain Lodder, manager of the Auckland Steam Packet Company, is at the .wreck endeavoring to save the vessel ; but at Poverty Bay it is considered doubtful whether the Pretty Jane will be worth the money necessary to reclaim her. The steamer Go-a-head, at the time of the Rangatira’s departure from Poverty Bay, was anchored in Big River, in readiness to render; assistance. As.she now lies, the Pretty Jane is filled with sand up to her deck beams, and when the tide is out it is possible to drive a horse and cart over the 'steamer’s deck. The bank in which the unfortunate steamer is imbedded is composed of quicksand.

It is unnecessay to remind our readers that, .the Rev. Charles Clark will make his first appearance in the Odd Fellows’ Hall this evening, when he will deliver a second and entirely new lecture oh Charles Dickens. Full particulars appear in our advertising columns.

'."We observe that the new township in Ohiuemuri is to be called, Mackay. The natives, under the arrangement • entered into with Sir Donald McLean, are to receive £26,000, audit has, been .resolved that,, £IS,'OQQ. of this .be charged Ohiucmuri land, and.kthe balance against other land on the Coromandel Peninsula. ‘

By the schooner Melbourne, which arrived from Melbourne on Saturday morning, last, the General Government received 306 cases of ammunition and four cases of rifles, sent down by the Government of Victoria. These munitions 'of war were landed by lighters during the morning, the vessel having anchored at the powder anchorage.

Judging by the local journals, the Eev. Charles Clark is likely to have crowded and enthusiastic audiences in the Wairarapa, both at Greytown and Masterton.

A rata tree, which measures twenty-two feet in circumference, has been found on Major Morse’s station, Taranaki. During the first nine months of 1874, the London Daily Telegraph printed 45,981,405 copies, or an average of 176,174 per day. The machinery—built by Messrs. Hoe, of New York and London —prints at the rate of a hundred thousand copies per hour.

Mr. Hoskins has brought over from America 150 Californian quail, intended for Sir Oracroft Wilson, to be placed on his estate at Cashmere, Canterbury. The birds, says the New Zealand Herald, have arrived in splendid condition. They have received unremitting care on the voyage, and are likely to be a most •valuable contribution to the acclimatization of New Zealand.

Up to a late hour last night the steamer Manawatu, with the returning excursionists from Nelson on board, had not put in an appearance. She left Nelson at half-past eleven on Saturday night last, with the wind strong from the southward. But little inconvenience or discomfort would be experienced by those on board whilst the steamer was in Blind Bay, or even till she had arrived at Jackson’s Head, after passing which Captain Evans would doubtless deem it prudent to enter Queen Charlotte’s Sound, with the intention of coming out by way of Tory Channel. In all probability, when the Manawatu entered the Strait it was found too rough to cross, and Captain Evans determined to anchor in the calm of the friendly channel till better weather offered. As the' southerly wind began to moderate at midnight last night, the steamer will no doubt make Port Nicholson early this morning.

The funeral obsequies of Mr. Harry Grimstone took. place on Saturday afternoon last. The mournful cortege, which was composed of members of the Wellington and Central Eire Brigades,-members of the order of Odd Fellows,, and a„ number of deceased’s relatives and friends, left his late residence in Roxburgh-street, and proceeded to the Roman Catholic Church in Boulcott-street, where the Rev. Father O’Reilly conducted the impressive service for the dead.; The coffin was conveyed to the place of worship' on a fireengine,' drawn by two horses, the procession being headed by the Veteran band, which rendered the music appropriate to the solemn occasion with great feeling. Prom the chapel to the burial ground the coffin was borne by deceased’s friends. Amongst the chief mourners was Mr. Redwood, of Blenheim, brother of his Lordship the Bishop, and a near relation of the deceased.

The Sydney Morning Herald has the following :—“ Some sensation has been created at Wagga. Wagga by a young woman, who had been jilted,-firing three shots out of a-revolver at her : late admirer, who, however,. escaped with one or two flesh wounds. The police have taken up the matter, and a great exposi is spoken about. The hero is ' the son of a large squatter, and the-heroine also owns a father who boasts the possession of station property.” ‘ Speaking of the, Arctic expedition which is about to sail from England, Mitchell’s Maritime Register of the 11th December says “Active preparations are being made at the Royal Victoria Victualling Yard, Deptford, for provisioning the ships which are to : be engaged in the forthcoming Arctic Expedition. For this purpose 15,0001b5. of beet are being preserved in a peculiar manner. It is wholly lean, taken from the middle of the round, and cut into steaks, when it is put over a fire and dried, then packed into canisters holding about 61bs. each, covered with boiled suet run in, and then hermetically sealed. Most of the British Arctic expeditions have sailed from the Thames, and it is expected that the ships selected for this service will also come up the river to receive their stores.—Messrs Baine and Johnstone, Greenock, the firm of which Mr. Grieve, M.P., is a partner, have sold their fine steamship, the Bloodhound, to the Admiralty for the Arctic Expedition. The price is said to bo between £IB,OOO and £19,000.”

“ CEdipus,” the scientific ■writer of the Melbourne Leader, referring to the observations of the late Transit of Venus, says “ The whole of the reports of. the observation- of the transit agree in, one unexpected ; particular. The photographs are entirely free from the black ‘ligament’ which in all former observations by eyesight seemed to connect the planet with the sun’s limb after it had fairly entered within its circumference. This was a difficulty in noting the precise time of inner contact. It is known that this was an optical deception. There was no ligament, but the disk of Venus appeared smaller to the eye from; the encroachment of the glare of the sun all round, except at the point of contact. This seeming ligament disappeared suddenly at the instant of Venus passing within the sun’s circumference, the glare being then equal all round. There is no such source of deception with the photographs. One' other novel phenomenon has been observed. The sun’s corona was eclipsed by Venus before the planet made outer contact with the sun’s disk. This is taken to be a direct proof of the existence of a material coronal atmosphere.”

From a private source, says the Hawke's Bay Daily Telegraph , we regret to learn that the Murewai Hotel, Poverty Bay, has been destroyed by fire, and Mrs. Tibbals, the wife of the landlord, and two children, burned to death. Mr. Tibbals, formerly a member of the Hawke’s Bay Defence Force, is much respected as a settler, and by his enterprise the hotel situate at the entrance to the Murewai River, distant some twelve or fourteen miles from Gisborne, was erected, and has proved of great service to travellers between Napier and Gisborne. Mrs, Tibbals was well and universally respected by both Europeans and natives, and her loss will be severely felt by all who have or have had occasion to travel that way.

The Auckland correspondent of the Otago Daily Times telegraphs to that journal as follows ;—“ Captain Fairchild, of the Luna, has copies of the plans of two steamers for the Government, to replace the Luna. The plans have been forwarded to Dr. Featherstou. The larger steamer of the two is estimated to cost £20,000, and will be of the following dimensions Length between perpendiculars, 188 ft.; length over all, 210 ft.; beam, 24ft. Gin.; depth of hold, 16ft. 6in.; draught when in commission, 10ft. Gin.; tonnage, about 300 register. Her engines to be on the compound principle, with all the latest improvements, and of 110 horse-power (nominal), thus capable of indicating on trial 000.- The rig will be barquentino, andthe rate ofsteamingll knots,onadailyoonsumption of 12 tons of coal, with 14 or 15 knots at full-pressure speed. The bunkers are large enough to take fuel for a journey of 500 miles. The saloon is amidships, and is 40ft. long and 20ft. wide. ; The fore and'main masts are of iron, and the mizzen mast of steel. The bottom will bo of Lowmoor Iron, plated to the waterline, and'the vessel -will be divided into five water-tight compartments. She will be propelled by a screw—Hirsch’s patent. The

smaller steamer measures a hundred and twenty tons register, and will he built on the same model as the other. She will, be employed principally on lighthouse and harbor works, for which purpose she will be furnished with a crane capable of lifting forty tons. This machine will be most useful in clearing entrances to harbors, rivers, &c., on the coast.. The larger, boat will carry his Excellency or the Ministers, and run the Suez and San Erancis(:o t mails between the Northern and Southern ports, of the colony. Both steamer’s are expected out by Christmas. The boats together will cost £32,000.” We learn from the Bulkr News that arrangements have been made between the General Government and the Provincial Government, of Nelson, under which the Karamea Special Settlement will be thrown open to old colonists as well as to new immigrants. Twenty' families and a quantity of stock were taken down to Karamea from Nelson a few days ago by the Charles Edward.

“Peter the Pedler” in the New Zealand Mail tells the following rather good anecdote of the reverend gentleman who both on the platform and in the pulpit has recently occupied so much attention :—Oh these “ cannie Scots,” with whom consideration is so much of a habit, and to whom “ a consideration ” is said to be so dear. I heard a rare little story in my wanderings the other night, as to one of the hohnie lasses who come frae Within a mile o’ Embro’ town, which I cannot help retailing. Like other good husbands, -the Rev. , Charles Clark occasionally sends a thought homewards when he is “ far awa,” although there is as yet no electric wire to carry such a thought from Wellington to Melbourne. In walking medi-” tatingly along Willis-street. or Lambton-quay —it is immaterial which—his eye was attracted by some handsome muffs, and he purchased one for transmission by a home-bound steamer, as a remembrancer at home. In the course of the conversation over the business, and due performance of the reverend gentleman’s share, financially, in the transaction, the lady behind the counter—not more curious than any other of Eve’s daughters would have, been—discovered the real identity of the gentleman she ’ was serving. “ And sae ye lecture on puir Oliver Goldsmith, dae ye?” “ Oh, yes, on . Eriday,” said the reverend gentleman. “An’ ye gie ns the life and heestory of Boz ?” “ Oh, yes, on Saturday.” “ An’ ye preach to, the congregation on Sunday 2” : “ Oh, yes,” responded the lecturer. “Ah, then,” said Jenny (as she put the minister’s money in the till), “ we’ll patronise ye then.” “When there’s only a collection,” said the reverend to himself.