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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4421, 21 May 1875, Page 2

Wo understand that Mr. Justice Gillies will bo a passenger for the North to-day by the s.s, Phoebe.

; - A New Zealand Gazette was published -.yesterday, the 20th instant, containing amongst other announcenieiits (1) Order in "Council making regulations' under the Diseased Cattle Act, 1871 ; (2) an Order in Council amending the table of distances for service of. summonses under the rules and orders relating to the District Courts Act, 1858, and the Acts amending the same; (3) registrars of marriages, &c, appointed ; (4) certificate of execution of John Mercer at Lyttelton gaol; (s)' appointment of Mr. John Barleyman to be registration and returning officer for the election of members of the House of Representatives for Wairau and Picton ; (6) schedule of lands over which the Native title has been extinguished in Auckland and Hawke's Bay ; (7) new money order and Savings Bank offices in Hawke's Bay, Otago, and Canterbury ; (8) the usual notice to public officers holding advances of public money to pay the unexpended balances into the public account before the 26th June next; (9) tenders for Brunswick contract, Waitara and Wanganui railway, already published ; (10) notice of the election of Mr. George McLean, for Waikouaiti; (11) appointment of Dr. Wilford, Hutt, as medical referee for the Perseverance Lodge, 1.0.G.T., industrial branch of the Government Insurance office ; (12) appointment of Mr. Charles Collings, Hutt, as agent for the same lodge; (13) notifying that the Rev. Lorenzo Lohr, Lutheran Church, is licensed to celebrate marriages. A case of considerable interest to the citizens generally will be heard at the Resident Magistrate's Coiirt this morning. Mr. C. K. Jeffs, a member of the Ratepayers' Protection Society, having questioned the legality of the water rate, the ease was put into the hands of a legal firm, who, it is to be presumed, advised him that he had good grounds of defence, for the case has been allowed to go into the court, and will there be fought out this morning. Mr. Travers will appear for the City Council ; Mr. Buckley for the defendant. A sitting of the Supreme Court will be held this morning at ten o'clock. The Court of Appeal cases will be taken at half-past ten, , - At the Theatre Royal the "Wandering Heir" was repeated last night' to ' a very good house, a sufficient evidence that the play, has taken with the people of Wellington. Miss May Howard in her dual character of Phillippa and Philip, and Mr. Collier as the Wandering Heir, sustained their parts as only artists can do.. The play is replete with drolleries ; and the characters of Jip (Mr. Howard), Silas Hanway (Mr. Hydes), and Betty (Miss Jessie Raymond), kept the audience in roars of laughter during the whole evening. We must' congratulate Mr. Massey upon his scenic effects. We have no hesitation in saying that Mr. Massey is no unworthy compeer of the great London scenic artist, Mr. William Beverley. At a meeting of the members of the Kaiwarrawarra Rifle Volunteers, held on the 18th inst. at the Waterloo Hotel, Lieutenant Thompson was unanimously elected captain of the company; Color-Sergeant Yeatts, lieutenant ; and Sergeant Harris, sub-lieutenant. Lieutenant Thompson is the first captain the company has got, although formed in 1870. To give to'an inanimate object a power of song equal to the warbling of the lark or the seductive notes of the nightingale, is one of the latest achievements of mechanical art. ' Mr. Ludwig, jeweller, Lambton-quay, has just imported a novelty of this kind, which is unique in its way. A handsomely made cage, upon a neatly, cushioned pedestal, contains a brilliantly plumed bird of graceful mien, which by a singular exercise of constructive genius can be made to sing with never-fading freshness, the source of inspiration being the clockwork hidden in the pedestal. As a drawingroom ornament the idea is quite new, and the work from its novelty is well worth a visit. The. Greytown Local Board case has resulted in a decision adverse to the Board, Mr. Gordon Allan having, after two days' argument, at last hit upon an objection which proved fatal' to the claim. Except to lawyers, the argument was too dry and subtle to be interesting or comprehensible, so that the pith only of the case for the appellant is reproduced in our report, an outline of the respondent's case having been given in our issue of yesterday. The result is, perhaps, an unfortunate one for the Board, as it places the members in a very uncomfortable dilemma, not only in respect of the loss of rates, but also in regard to the costs of the suit, which must now be very considerable. The decision, too, is prejudicial to the best interests of the district, which will suffer from the temporary stoppage of works, a condition of things' which the appellant and those who acted with him will probably regret. It is, however, fair to presume that they were not actuated by mala fides, and that having carried their point, they will now unite with their fellow-settlers in endeavoring to rectify the objectionable proceedings of which they complained. Their case was very skilfully argued by Mr. Gordon Allan, who dived deeply into legal arcliEeology, and won a case that at first appeared utterly hopeless. The new shop recently commenced in Cubastreet for Messrs. Kirkcaldie and Stains is fast ; approaching completion. It will be a great addition to the immediate neighborhood. It is difficult to give particulars until it is thoroughly dnished. The Scotch Church, formerly in Willis-street, is also being erected close by in the same street. It is to be transformed into a shop and dwelling-house. Why the- marriage of Mi". James Osgood should be regarded as a startling announcement is perhaps puzzling, but it is nevertheless a fact that the many friends of the popxilar boriiface of the Metropolitan received the intimation with surprise yesterday. Mr. Osgood did the tiling handsomely by inviting a number of his most intimate friends to be present at the. ceremony, at the conclusion of which an artistically prepared breakfast was sat down to, and in a few hours the happy pair were bowling along merrily on the road to Featherston.' Themarriage ceremony was peformed ; by the Rev. Mr. Paterson. '

A very valuable importation arrived by the B.s. Phoebe yesterday, transhipped from the s.s. Oraeo from Melbourne, namely, the thoroughbred racer May King, imported by Mr. 'Wilsonj'of Bull's. May King is a bay entire, standing ,15 hands 2in. high, is four years old, by King Alfred out of May Fly . (imported from England), and was bred by E. Ebborn, Esq., of Ballarafc. This horse was brought over with a number of other valuable horses by the s.s. Omeo, under the care of Mr. Bun-ell, of Ballarat, a gentleman who imports a great number'of valuable animals to Port Cooper. Coming from such a strain as King Alfred, one of the best stud horses in Victoria, Mr. Wilson and the public are to be congratulated on such a valuable addition l to the breeding and racing stock of this province. Mr. O'Connor, of Greytown, had a narrow escape yeßtorday. He , was driving a horse arid basket carriage along AVillis-street, when the horse bolted, and the carriage collided with a 'bus coming in the opposite direction. Both drivers were thrown out of their vehicles, and Mr. O'Connor's carriage was smashed. Otherwise no harm was done.

That part of Custom-house-street running from .Messrs. Melntyre's store to Mills' Foundry is in a. disgraceful state. The recent rains have made the road like a quagmire, causing pedestrians who have business in that portion o£ the street to wade through a sea of mud. Some time ago the merchants having business houses in Custom-house-street memorialised the Corporation to have the road put in proper repair. The petition of the memorialists was referred to the Public Works Committee, and since then nothing has been done in the matter.

The Star Boating Club Soiree, under the management of the committee selected, ought to bo equal to any similar entertainment given by the club hitherto. To say that it will bti equal'is. an inference that will be well understood by those who have patronised the club's soirees in the past, and have therefore had opportunity of judging of their excellence. The committee have taken every precaution likely to enhance the pleasure of Monday evening's soiree, and the spirit of moderation evinced in the charge fixed for admission leaves little room for excuse for non-attendance.

The adjourned 'meeting of the City Council was held last; evening. A good deal'of bu*i- : ness was got through, and'anent the financial affairs, Councillor George gave some interesting and important information.

A concert and soiree dansante will be given by the members of the Wellington Athenajum, in the Odd Fellows' Hall, this evening. The chair will be taken by his Worship the Mayor ; and judging from the programme, which consists of: readings, recitations, and songs, we have no doubt it will afford to those who attend a most enjoyable" evening's amusement. Doors will be open at 7.30 p.m., and the proceedings will commenceat 8 o'clock sharp.

_ A peculiar incident occuVred during the sitting of the City Council in the Provincial Hall, last evening. While Councillor George was proceeding with his speech on the financial position of the Corporation, the supply of gas —not the worthy Councillor's suddenly failed, and the company were enveloped in darkness. His Worship the .Mayor blandly intimated a "ten minutes' intermission," before the expiration of which candles were procured, and the business proceeded.