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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4380, 3 April 1875, Page 2

Owing to pressure of local matter we are compelled to hold over the second part of the official inquiry into the loss of the Cospatrick

The births in Wellington registered in March were 46. The deaths 38, viz., 15 males and 23 females, the highest number of deaths in any month for the last twelve months. Of the deaths, 2 males and 9 females were under 1 year, 4 males and 10 females were between 1 and 5 years, and 9 males and 4 females were 5 and over. One male died aged 75, and 1 female aged 84. Zymotic diseases caused 18 deaths, the chief of which ware measles 5, and dysentery and diarrhoea 9. There was only 1 death from enteric fever. Constitutional diseases caused 5 deaths, of which 2 wore from phthisis. Local diseases caused 5 deaths, and developmental diseases 10 deaths. Of the latter 3 were from teething, 4 from atrophy, and 2 from old age. Mr, Prendergast, the new Chief Justice, left Wellington in the steamer Basby yesterday evening, to preside at the Dunedin circuit of the Supreme Court. The s.s. Otago reached The Bluff yesterday, on her voyage from Melbourne, and therefore is likely to arrive in Wellington punctually on Wednesday morning. The San Francisco mail steamer Macgregor reached that port on the 20th of March, her proper date having been the 13th instant. It will be remembered that her departure from Auckland was made almost a day late. The meeting of justices for the revision of the jury list was held yesterday morning, but there being no persons in attendance to object to the retention of new names on the list, the justices adjourned the sitting for a week, to give greater publicity and opportunity to object. The following tenders "for the maintenance of the main road from Ngahauranga to Paikakariki, for three years, have been received by the Provincial Government ;—J. Blackey, £BOO per annum, accepted. Declined : J. Saunders, £IO3O per annum ; Moore and Neill, £1126 Gs. Bd. per annum ; J. and G. Macdonald, £ll9O per annum; Taylor and Jones, £I3OO per annum. The shooting season has commenced. By proclamation in the Provincial Gazette of yesterday, it is intimated—a day after the fair—• that it is lawful, during the mouths of April, May, June, and July, “ to hunt, shoot, take, or kill” any birds of the following kinds ; —Wild duck of any species, bittern, pied stilt plover, wild geese, dotterel!, tui, native pigeon, teal, black stilt plover, curlew, and quail. At the Theatre Hoyal last night, “ Madelaine, the Belle of the Faubourg,” was produced. It is a play with which the public of Wellington are not very familiar. It was played for one night, however, by the present company during their late season here. It is described as an emotional drama, and therefore it affords situations for the peculiar powers which Mrs. Bates possesses in appealing to the feelings. Wo shall not attempt to describe the plot, but content ourselves with saying that the piece was produced most carefully, and played by the whole company most conscientiously, Mrs. Bates, as Madelaine, had the rare compliment paid to her of being so applauded in one of the best scenes of the play, that the business was perforce stopped to enable her to cross the stage to make her acknowledgments. Mr. Bates, as Bertrand, a journeyman carpenter-, also acted with his usual care and success. Mr. Burford, Mr. Hydes, and the other members of the company well seconded the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Bates. In the clover farce of “The King’s Gardener,” which followed, Mr. Hydes, as the gardener, occasioned roars of laughter. This evening the fine historical play of “ Elizabeth ” will bo produced, and it should draw a crowded house. The Melbourne critics preferred Mrs. Bates, in the part of Queen Elizabeth, to any other actress who over assumed that vale there, and wo know how well she can play it.

The high estimation in which Mr. ami Mrs. George Case are held by the Wellington public, was unmistakoably evidenced by the attendance at the Odd Follows’ Hall last evening, when this talented couple gave their last performance in this city. The audience was a very select one, including hia Excellency’s suite ; and the hall was taxed to its utmost to afford sitting accommodation for the number who attended. It is unnecessary to dilate upon tlio performance, and it will be sufficient to state that the “ odd folk” wore presented in the best stylo. But two of Hr. Case’s musical efforts on the English concertina deserve special mention—a selection from “II Trovatore,” and a fantasia in which was introduced the characteristic music of the bagpipes —each of which mot with marked approval. The audience was lavish of praise, and an cncoro marked the conclusion of each sketch. Mrs. Case, in a short, happy speech, bade the audience farewell, thanking them for their liberal patronage during their short stay in Wellington. Mr, and Mrs, Case proceed to Napier on Monday next.

The sixth quarterly number of the “ New Zealand Postal Guide ” (in octavo form) has been published under the authority of the Posmaster-General. It is an extremely useful publication for business men. The Superintendent of Wellington has appointed George Henry Welch to be tollcollector at the Featherston toll-gate, Wairarapa.

Miss Christian, of whom the public have heard such favorable accounts, will, it is understood, make her first appearance in Wellington at the Odd Fellows’ Hall, on the 12th inst. In a raid made by the police of Melbourne the other day, for the purpose of obtaining samples of the liquors commonly sold by the publicans of the city and suburbs, to be analysed, not fewer than 693 hotels were visited, and three thousand samples taken. These have been handed over to the Government analyst. A drunken man’s freak last night is likely to involve its perpetrator in considerable trouble. Shortly before seven' o’clock, as a cab-driver was conveying a passenger along Courtenayplace, he observed a horseman approaching him at a rapid pace. The cab lamps being lit, the drivei-, of course, anticipated no danger. However, thehorseman—whetherunable to control his animal or not does not appear—ran his horse into the cab, and smashed both shafts. The cab horse, frightened by the collision, commenced to kick furiously, which further considerably damaged the conveyance. The horseman was dismounted and thrown under the horse’s feet, but with the proverbial luck which drunken men have, he succeeded in clearing himself without a scratch, and made a run for the Adelaide-road, his horse having bolted in another direction. After pacifying his horse and leaving it secure, the driver of the cab gave chase to the fugitive, who happened to fall, thus enabling his pursuer to come up with him. An offer of half-a-crown to settle the matter, combined with considerable “bounce,” was not sufficient to deter the cabman from conveying his prisoner to the Te Aro police station, where he was locked-up for the ’ night. The circumstances will afford matter for investigation by the Resident Magistrate this morning. Sydney Punch does not often reach us. The number for the 19th of March, however, is before us, and we must compliment our contemporary on the vigor with which he carries on the war of humor against shams and follies. It is a defect—unavoidable perhaps, but still a defect—that the drawings are lithographs and not wood-cuts ; but they are cleverly done, and worked in artistically with the letterpress. They are all from the pencil of Mr. Montagu Scott—the artist of Melbourne Punch in one of its brightest periods—and who has a rare faculty for catching likenesses. The cartoon on this occasion is extremely good, representing Mr. Parkes as Paul Pry, equipped for travelling, and the explanation is ;—“ Struck coal! Paul Pry (the modem). What’s this ? Burns gone to Melbourne ! Lambton gone to Melbourne ! Cracknell gone to Melbourne ! Oh, something must be up ! There’s mischief afoot ? I must be off, too, or they’ll upset all I’ve been doing about the mails, and perhaps spoil my little Irrawarra coalmine game. Off to Melbourne.” “ Spasms ” contain some halfdozen very clever pictorial hits at Mr. Lloyd, the late Treasurer of New South Wales. The reading matter is smart. Mr. Hall, the city missionary, thankfully acknowledges the receipt of the following contributions in aid of the employment which he pursues :—Friend, 25.; Mrs. C., £1 Is.; W. T., 10s.; J. C. C., 10s.; A. C., 10s.; Mrs. W.. £1; Captain Y., £2 ; Christian, £1 ; D., 2s. 6d.; Mr. C., 10s.; Mr. T., 55.; W. G. X, 55.; Mrs. 8., £1 ; J. W., 10s.; C. A., 10s, Total, £9 15s. 6d. Also three cases of tracts, per Mr. W. Mowbray, from the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, for distribution ; and several large prayer books, for the aged poor. The usual congregational quarterly meeting of the Wesleyan Methodists was held at the Molesworth-street Church on Wednesday evening last. Advantage was taken of this meeting to bid farewell to the Rev. J. J. Lewis, who has obtained twelve months’ leave of absence, and intends taking a trip Home by the ship Avalanche. The Rev. W. Morley occupied the chair. After devotional exercises had been gone through, Mr. W. Clark, the senior circuit steward, read "the quarterly balancesheet, which showed the income for the sustentation fund was £172, aud extra subscriptions over £IOO. The debt on the parsonage had been cleared off, and it was decided to let the Manners-street manse, aud purchase a more suitable house on the Terrace, for the superintendent minister. Out of the £IOO subscribed over £BO had been collected by the junior circuit steward, Mr. H. Wrigley ; and the prosperous state of the circuit is, in a great measure, to be attributed to the interest and energy of that officer. Mr. Wrigley next commented on the affairs of the church, and hoped the friends would still work and subscribe until the whole of their church debt was wiped away. Mr. Watt then came forward and expressed sympathy with the Rev. J. J. Lewis, on account of his illness, aud hoped the voyage would so restore him to health that soon he would be enabled to labor in the old field again. He held in his hand a purse of forty-one sovereigns, which he had pleasure in presenting to Mr. Lewis, as a practical proof of the sympathy of the friends of his congregation. Mr. W. Moxham (on behalf of the schools), and Mr. J. Luxford (on behalf of the preachers), and the Rev. J. B. Richardson, from the Hutt, bade farewell to the rev. gentleman. A very pleasant meeting was then brought to a close.