Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4395, 21 April 1875, Page 2

His Excellency the Governor, Lady Normanby, and suite left for Christchurch sit 6 o'clock last evening, in the steamer Phoebe. All the elite of Wellington assembled on the wharf to wish them ion voyage, and as the steamer moved off three hearty cheers were given for the vice-regal party. The night was beautifully fine, and there was every prospect of the party enjoying a pleasant passage. The Phoebe will call at Kaikoura, whore a few passengers will be landed. The Chamber of Commerce committee held a meeting on Monday afternoon, at which it was resolved that the resolution passed by the Chamber at its last meeting be forwarded to the TJnder-Secrotary for Public Works. It is understood that the resolution will be laid before Mr. Kiohardson, Minister for Public Works, on his return from the South, with a request that he will name a day upon which he will be prepared to receive a deputation from the Chamber. The remainder of the immigrants by the barque Edwin Pox were landed at the quarantine station, at one o'clock yesterday, by the ketch Ealeon. The barque was got under way during the morning, and sailed down to tho wharf, alongside which she was berthed during tho afternoon.

There appears to be little doubt that the vessel lost near West Wanganui Inlet was the schooner Melbourne, of Melbourne. The stern of a vessel with "Melbourne" on it, has been washed on shore at West Wanganui, and the principal keeper at Farewell Spit lighthouse has found a pocket-book that apparently belonged to Captain Radcliff, containing two unsigned bills of lading, dated November last, for a quantity of palings to be taken from Circular- Head to Warnambool -smd Port McDonnell in the Melbourne. We learn that two of the three lodges of Odd Fellows in Wellington, the Britannia and the Wellington, contemplate amalgamation, and that the preliminaries have been arranged for the union, which in all probability will be consummated shortly. The Britannia is the oldest lodge of the order in New Zealand, having been instituted some thirty years ago, and through it the dispensations for the orders subsequently created in Auckland, Dunedin, and other cities of New Zealand have proceeded. By uniting, the expenses of management will be considerably reduced, and it will be possible to establish a dispensary, and to obtain the services of a doctor who shall be a member of the order. The Antipodean Lodge —the third of the order in Wellington—holds aloof from amalgamation ; but as union is strength, it also may possibly see the way by-and-bye to join the others, and so make one strong lodge of the order in Wellington. A meeting of the Wellington Football Club took place last evening at the Pier Hotel, and was numerously attended. Mr. McLean was in the chair. About twenty new members were elected. The president and vice-presi-dent of last year were re-elected unanimously. Mr. Werry was elected captain, and the following gentlemen as a committee : —Messrs. Parkes, McLean, James, Mackay, Shephard, Webb, Palliser, and Thompson. The office of secretary and treasurer was allotted to Mr. James. Mr. Isherwood declined office, being about to join the newly-formed club, with a view of assisting them in their struggles with their formidable rivals —the Wellingtonians. We are glad to see the interest displayed, as it augurs well for the coining season's amusement. The Wellington passengers who booked for London by the ship Avalanche, left for Lyttelton (where the vessel is now loading) last evening in the steamer Phcebe. The following is the list :—Dr. and Mrs. Kemp and child, , Mr. and Mrs. Barraud, family, and servant, Eev. J. J. Lewis, Miss Kassan, Miss Lucena, Messrs. Jeffrey, Haines, and Eennall. The Wellington Literary Institution held one of its ordinary meetings, in the schoolroom of St. John's Presbyterian Chureli, last night. The evening was devoted to readings at first sight, with criticisms on the readings ; and the whole business showed that the members of the Institute are deriving substantial benefit from it, their progress being very marked. The meeting of St. Peter's vestry, held on Monday evening to discuss a proposal to rebuild the church, resulted in the further postponement of the matter to.a future meeting, the general feeling being that it was exceedingly improbable that the subscribers to the new Te Aro church would consent to the funds collected for the building of- that church being diverted to the rebuilding of St. Peter's. As it was further considered that the latter undertaking was too great for the unaided efforts of the parishioners, the proposal was allowed to stand over till Monday next. In the meantime it will be brought before the Diocesan Standing . Committee, who hold a meeting on Friday, and will communicate their views to the vestry. An excellent plan for the new St. Peter's was submitted by Mr. B. W. Mountford, of Christchurch, whose designs for ecclesiastical edifices are acknowledged to be of high merit. According to this estimate the new church will cost £6OOO. The Patca Mail, in its second issue, says : Major Turner, during his late visit to Waihi, availed himself of the opportunity of visiting the scene of Tito ICowaru's exploits, and on seeking for an interview, was informed by a. native that the chief was engaged, some distance off, clearing a piece of land for the purpose of cultivation. Tito Kowaru is reported to be industriously, engaged in the cultivation of hops, and rarely ventures outside the boundary of his territory, fearing that his presence, among the authorities would not be very pleasant for his liberty. Now that this notorious chief, whose name was once a terror to the country, exhibits evidence of desiring peace and reconciliation, it is high time that the Government rescinded the reward for his apprehension. The Colonies (published in London), of the 20th February, describes the hot springs of the province of Auckland, and says.:—" The establishment by the Australian Government of a sanitorium in the hot spring district of the Northern Island of New Zealand, would not only benefit the Australian colonies, but prove of the greatest use to India, as invalided soldiers and other Europeans could be conveyed there easily, and accommodated in any number. The aborigines have long been aware of the medicinal value of these waters, and some slight efforts have been made by private individuals to establish baths, &e. It is, however, reserved for the Government, by purchasing from the natives the ownership of the principal groups of springs, and by the establishment of stations, or by guaranteeing the dividends of hydropathic companies, to develop the natural healing resources of the country, and thereby also attract much wealth to the colony. The United States Government has commenced a similar undertaking in preserving the yellowstone volcanic district as a park, especially for the benefit of invalids ; and as in this case nothing seems required but sufficient practical skill to make the water run in pipes, and capital enough to provide accommodation for visitors, there would seem no reason why a New Zealand Banitorhini should not be even easier to establish."

A Maori wedding, celebrated on rather an extensive scale, has taken place at Kussell. The Auckland Evening Star's correspondent, describing it, says : —"This event was announced by the firing of a salute of six guns from the whaleship James Arnold. liamura, a son of the chief Thaka Tai, was the happy bridegroom. The marriage ceremony took place at Paihia Church. The breakfast was laid out- in a new raupo building erected for the occasion, seventy feet long. The refreshment's were most lavish—3 bullocks, 17 pigs, 300 cakes, 300 puddings, 350 loaves, potatoes, kumeras, and melons in immense quantity. The wedding-cake cost £6. The drinkables consisted of champagne, wine, beer, &c. About 100 Europeans sat down to a most sumptuous breakfast, carried out in Al style. Thaka, Mongonui, and others were most attentive to all the guests. There were numerous waiters nicely dressed, also door-keepers. There were about nine relays of guests, amounting to seven hundred people. Over a thousand people were on the ground. The children's feast was laid on a mat forty feet long. The cake was piled along this four inches high. Some of the youngsters had to slacken down belts before retiring. The remainder of the food was given to various tribes. This wedding cost £2OO, besides their own labor, and good dancing was kept up to a late hour. • The jovial captain of the James Arnold closed the event with the firing of cannon." Picnic, one of Count Lagrange's racehorses now in training at Newmarket, England, some J months ago had a broken leg set by a veterinary surgeon. The horse is now perfectly sound, and will probably figure upon the racecourse during the coming season. So perfect a cure is said to be unprecedented. The well known steeplechaser Tommy Dodd, which was shipped at Nelson, was on board the Phoebe, which left last evening for Lyttelton. A man named Richard McConville, arrested at Auckland on a charge of deserting his child at Nelson, was forwarded to that town by the Phosbe. Private letters from America, says the New Zealand Herald, announce that the proprietors of the Great Eastern are engaged in discussing a proposal that the great ship should be anchored in Philadelphia Harbor during 1 the Centennial Exhibition, and be made a great floating hotel, where 5000 persona can be comfortably accommodated.

The Southern Cross has the following :—"lt is well known that both male and female servants in Auckland are exceedingly haughty and independent in their way. The extent to which this is carried may be learned by the following conversation, which took place in a private family in town yesterday :—Master, sitting with friend in parlor :'-' John, I want another jug of water.' Servant : ' Why thin, if you had to carry the wather as far as I have, you wouldn't dhrink so much av it.' Young lady to maid-of-all-work : 'lf you don't wash pa's collars cleaner, I shall put them back to the wash without being worn.' Servant : 'lf your father would wash his neck clean, his collars would not be so dirty, Miss.' " The following notice of a Nelson defaulter appears in the Melbourne Hue and Cry : " Alfred Hibble, charged with embezzling certain moneys, the property of the Nelson Provincial Government, about 45 years of age, sft. 9£in. in height, pale complexion, fair hair, whiskers and beard ; slight build, small appearance, well-educated, and rather talkative, an Englishman, a clerk, has acted as subeditor and reporter; he frequently dresses without a vest, and often walks with one hand behind his back. Offender has lived in the United States." Another New Zealand defaulter is thus described in the same periodical: —" Charles James, aged 35, 6ft. 3in. high, medium build, sallow complexion, black hair, small black whiskers and moustache, chin shaved, an engine-fitter by trade, late treasurer of the Odd Fellows' Society in Christchurch, is charged with the larceny of £lB7, the property of the Society. He is likely to visit Odd Fellows' lodges, and to have a large sum of money in a belt round his waist." Two hundred and seventy tons of oysters were taken from the Australian pearling grounds by Malay divers last season, the value amounting to about £44,200. A number of pearls rewarded the adventurers, but there was only one of tolerable size and of good color in the whole lot. A new steam saw-mill is about to be erected in the bush near Hawera.