Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4363, 15 March 1875, Page 2

The steamer Wellington, with the Otago and Canterbury portions of the outward San Francisco mail, and the inward Suez mail (transhipped ex the steamer Albion), left Lyttelton for Wellington at four o’clock yesterday afternoon. She may, therefore, be expected to arrive hero at about ten this morning. The Napier and Poverty Bay mails will be despatched by the Rangatira, which sails for those ports this evening ; and the Manawatu will deliver the Wanganui portion of the mail at its destination to-morrow morning. The Wellington will sail to-morrow for the North, taking with her the outward San Francisco mail and the inward Suez mail for Marlborough, Nelson, Westland, Taranaki, and Auckland.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Saturday last, J. Flanagan sued N. X 5. Murphy, an hotelkeeper, for the sum of £6 135., value of goods delivered by plaintiff to a third party named ICeown, who had left Wellington without paying Flanagan for the goods supplied. Keowu tad left the disputed goods with Murphy, who was also a creditor of Keown’s. Plaintiff requested defendant to return the articles to him, which he declined to do, as he considered he had a lien upon them, whereupon Flanagan issued a summons against Murphy for their value. His Worship informed plaintiff, that, as the goods had been disposed of by regular sale and delivery, and had been left with defendant by the purchaser, he could not give judgment for the amount, but lie suggested that an arrangement should be come to between the parties. The Magistrate’s advice was acted on, an arrangement being arrived at by which Murphy should return the goods to Flanagan, the latter agreeing to hold himself liable for any action concerning the articles which might he brought against Murphy. Mr. Allan appeared for the plaintiff, who paid the coats of the action. The other cases before the Court were unimportant.

The block of wooden buildings on Bamhtonquay, in the neighborhood of the Branch Hotel, had a narrow escape from destruction by fire on Saturday night. About eight o’clock some men in the employ of Pollock and Young, butchers, took a candle in to an upstairs bedroom, and thoughtlessly loft it there in close proximity to a muslin window curtain. They had not left tho room more than a quarter of an hour when the whole of one side of it was discovered to he all ablaze, the discovery being made in quite an accidental way. Steps were promptly taken and the flames were extinguished, hut not before a bed and bedstead had been destroyed, and another bed very much damaged. While the fire was in progress, tho glare was sufficiently strong to attract the attention of a servant girl residing on the opposite side of the street, who also gave the alarm, but by this time the persons on ■ the establishment of Pollock and Young were aware oi their danger, and, as already stated, had taken prompt steps to arrest the progress of the flames. The severest shock of earthquake felt in Wellington tor a long time past occurred on Saturday, at a quarter-past five o'clock. In one house, where six persons were conversing, all were startled by the shock, which swayed the building, and rattled the windows several times.

The members o£ the Star Boating Club held a special meeting at the Pier Hotel on Saturday evening last. The occasion was the presentation of silver cups to the crew of the Eclipse, Messrs. Gray, Ollivier, AVebb, and James Ames, who so successfully represented the city at the last interprovincial regatta. Mr. Ollivier, who is about to proceed to England, replied on behalf of the crew, and during his speech intimated his pleasure in fulfilling any commissions which might be entrusted to him by the club. The kind offer was accepted, and the club will probably give Mr. Ollivier carte llanche in the selection and purchase in England of boats suitable for the waters of Wellington harbor. Mr. Ollivier leaves for England on Tuesday next. A telegram was received on Saturday from Feathers ton, stating that a largo bush fire was raging in the vicinity of the township, but that no damage had been done to dwellings. No further news was received yesterday, and it is therefore reasonable to suppose that the fire had been got under.

We direct attention to the sale of the Foxton Ferry, which will take place this day, as advertised, at Mr, J. H. Wallace’s auction room. The San Francisco mail was delivered at Fort Chalmex's by the steamer Phoebe at 1.20 p.m. yesterday. We have to acknowledge a subscription of 1 Os. - from “Anonymous,” and one of 2s. 6d. from “ Stillborn,’' for the benefit of the Halcrow family.

At Marton, on Saturday last, a Maori was committed to take his trial at the next criminal sittings to be held at Wanganui, on a charge of horse-stealing. Ir, will be observed from an advertisement in another column that the Fangatira will sail for Napier at five o’clock p.m. to-day, leaving Napier on the return trip on Saturday morning, the 20th instant. Napier races occur on Thursday and Friday, the 18th and 19th inst.

The fine steamer Tararua, with her usual punctuality, left the Queen’s wharf at noon sharp yesterday. She conveys to Melbourne the out-going Suez mail, calling at .Lyttelton, Fort Chalmers, and the Bluff. Napier’s contribution was brought to Wellington by the Fangatira, which arrived at 11.15 yesterday, and the bags immediately transhipped to the Tararua,

The Auckland Steam Packet Company’s steamer Pretty Jane, which was wrecked in the Big Fiver, Poverty Bay, has been sufficiently repaired to warrant Mr. Loddev, the company’s manager, in sending the steamer on to Auckland, wlaere she is to be thoroughly overhauled. She was to have left Poverty Bay for Auckland on Thursday last, and her arrival at that port Avill doubtless be announced by telegraph to-day. Mr. Venuell, on Saturday lost, offered for sale by auction the privilege for ten months and a half, of supplying the shipping with water. There was no competition, Mr. Jackson’s offer of £350 being the only bid. The auctioneer stated that the reserve placed upon the lot by the Corporation was £475, which was not tendered by any one present, and the lot was accordingly passed. This privilege for the previous twelve months realised to the Corporation £290. The Girard Brothers’ wonderful entertainment was again attended on Saturday evening last by a crowded and enthusiastic audience. The sleight-of-hand tricks by Valentine Jacobs were as cleverly executed and as well appreciated as formerly, and the graceful and daring movements of Airec on the trapeze—who made his first appearance here since he was in Wellington as a member of the Smith Combination Troupe—elicited the admiration and applause of the pleased audience. That part of the entertainment furnished by the Brothers Girard was undoubtedly the most wonderful of its kind ever witnessed in this city ; many mew and eccentric postures and movements were introduced with great success by these wonderful people. As a ventriloquist, Valentine Jacobs excelled himself, roars of laughter following each happy remark from his “friends from the country,” and as a musical effort, the song of the “ Gendarmes,” by the three figures, was no mean effort. To-night this really talented company will appear for the last time. The performance will be under the immediate patronage of his Excellency the Governor and Lady Normandy. The well-known Gonzalez, the cleverest performer in his line who has ever visited New Zealand, will appear for this night only, in a wonderful series of Oriental tumbling. He is merely passing through Wellington on his way to America by the San Francisco mail steamer. The public may be assured that the performances this evening will be of special excellence.