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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4423, 24 May 1875, Page 2

This being the Queen’s Birthday, it will be observed as a close holiday in town. ' Our readers'will perceive, by advertisement in another column, that special trains will rim to the Silver Stream to-day for the convenience of excursionists. It is to be regretted that the railway authorities did not give the running of these excursion trains greater publicity, as we understand crowds of people were at the station yesterday inquiring the hours of departure and ■ arrival. If ; the railway had been in private hands,- if is not too much to say that there would have been no lack of publicity ; but an advertisement once a week, for three weeks, .was.deemed sufficient .by the railway management. These small economies save nothing in the end, while they cause trouble and inconvenience to the public. It is a fortunate thing, however, for the officials that they have not to live upon the surplus receipts.’- ... I At the sitting of the Court of Appeal this morning, judgment will be delivered in the ease Kegina v. Warne, and probably in othercases, unlesstheir Honors should determine to participate in the commemoration of Her. Majesty’s Birthday, and record dies non upon the Court calendar.

.. .. Principal amongst the attractions for today is the excursion to the Hutt railway bridge.. The Kifle Association meeting, the Volunteer parade, the time-honored picnic, and other diversions will help to make- the day thoroughly enjoyable provided the weather be favorable. - >

At morning service' at 'St.'Paul’s Church yesterday- Messrs.. Booth. and Be Castro were admitted by his Lordship' the Bishop to the order of deacons. The liturgy was read' by the' Rev. Mr. Stock, and the Rev. Mr. Harvey preached. In the course of his able and appropriate sermon the rev. gentleman referred to the great want of additional assistants experienced by the church, and hoped that some arrangement might be made whereby it would be possible for earnest, devoted men to be entrusted with the duties of deacon without having first to surrender the means of gaining their daily bread. The number of deacons ought to be ‘ increased fourfold, each minister should be surrounded with assistants; and he believed if such an innovation as that which he had indicated could be introduced, it would materially conduce to the ability of the Church to afford its ministrations to the fast increasing but scattered population of the country districts.

The damage to the water mains running along the Terrace embankment haa caused considerable inconvenience to the residents in the locality, during the past week, firstly, on account of the stoppage of the traffic, and, secondly, on account of the stoppage of the water supply, which is the most serious consideration of the two. The exhumation of the broken pipes shows that the accident is purely attributable to want of foresight in the method adopted to secure the retaining wall of the embankment. The road iii this particular spot has been raised seven or eight feet—a very desirable work in itself—and in order to obtain the resistance necessary to prevent the wall yielding to the weight imposed upon it, a number of iron rods were run through the entire mass of earth, and bolted to lever-posts on the other side of the road. Thus far the work was, no doubt, carried out in strict accordance with engineering principles, but it becomes at once apparent that to place these iron rods in direct contact with the water mains (transversely), damage to one or other must ensue, and so it happened. The rains of last week swelled the clay, the pressure on the retaining wall, and the tension on the rods, were immensely increased, and where the resisting power beneath the pipes was at all unequal, the pipes gave way. A gang of men have boon engaged during the past week excavating down to the level of the pipes (about eight feet), several mains have been taken out, and the road, the contract for which had just been completed, will have to bo made afresh. And who shall say what the cost to the Corporation will be ?

Mr. Billing, the reputed owner of the illfated p.s. Paterson, is still molested by the inexorable conditions of the law. The wreck impedes the navigation of the Waitara River,, and the question “What will he do with it” basin various forms sorely troubled Hr. Billing. He has already paid £SO and costs for not removing the remains, and fondly hoped that he had “heard the last of the blessed thing,” which he has no doubt inwardly maledicted times out of number. He evidently does not believe in settling the-matter by-the aid of explosives, but the local authorities of Taranaki do (in a figurative sense;) Having got hold of what the law calls a“ substantial man, they evidently mean to exhaust upon him their, .stock of powder and shot, and have accordingly issued three more" summonses, each charging Mr. Billing with allowing the wreck to, impede the navigation of the river for three successive periods of twenty-four hours. : “ Base is the slave that pays” is an old Eastern motto. But it- is pretty plain that Mr. Billing will have to pay, or remove what remains of the highlygilded, hurricane-decked, largely-kangarooed p.s. Patterson. Enthusiastic acclimatised always delight to hear of the spread of imported game. It will, therefore, be welcome news that Californian quail are now to be found running about the back yards of stores in the centre of the city. The information is given on the authority of a Willis-street resident, contiguous to this office, who marvelled at the unaccountable appearance yesterday of a brace of pretty, nimblefooted strangers amonvst his flock of barndoors. A skilful ornithologist being close at hand, the genus of the birds was 1 at once decided, whereupon they sought escape through the nearest hole in the fence, and were seen no more. Probably ■ the birds had eluded the vigilance of some enthusiast to whom they belonged. Laud speculators and bond fide occupiers may be interested in the announcement made by Major Heaphy, Commissioner of Native Reserves, who notifies that tenders will be received at his office, till noon of Monday, May 31, from persons desirous of leasing for twenty-one years several sections at the Pakuratahi, Tipper Hutt, containing about 350 acres. Land in, .the district is rapidly increasing in value from the proximity of the railway, and dealers in land will probably know how to estimate the advantages in this case. : Mr. T. Rainford, late basso of the English Opera Company, announces a concert for the present week, the particulars of which cannot yet be given as Mr. Rainford does not arrive here till Tuesday. It will be remembered that during the performance of “Der Ereischutz” in Dunedin Mr. Rainford overtaxed his powers in the famous incantation scene, and injured his neck in such a manner as to necessitate retirement for three months from his professional duties. The circumstances being such as to fully justify the step, Mr. Rainford has determined to' avail himself of the offer made by the musical amateurs of this city, who expressed their sympathy with him in the Allen-Rainford dispute by requesting him to accept a complimentary .concert. The thing was impossible at the time, as Mr. Allen, upon the “ fast bind fast find ” principle, held Mr. Rainford to the terms of his contract, and prevented it. Circumstances have now entirely changed, and the concert, it is hoped, will prove unsubstantial benefit. . ■

The game of football played on Saturday last proved a great success, and drew together a considerable number of Spectators. The change of ground was a decided improvement, the boundaries (a difficult question in other places than the football field) being very clearly marked by a ground-line dug out all round, the field. Messrs. James and Webb picked out the sides, which numbered about fifteen players each. The result of the game proved that they were very fairly matched ; each side succeeded in' gaining a .couple of tries for goal, Messrs. Park and Bishop lucking for James’s side, and Webb and Isherwood for the other. The players, with one or two exceptions, seemed thoroughly up to the rules as played by the Wellington Club since its formation. The “on and off” side being the stumbling block, it may not be out of place to take this opportunity of making a few remarks on the subject. A player is off side when he is between the player (on his side) who last kicked the ball, and his opponents goal. When this is the case, he is virtually out of the game until one of the opposite side, by touching the ball, places him on side again. There is another, point which also requires some.atteu- - tion. It is when a player is running. 1 with the ball, and is caught and held by a player on the opposite side ; the moment he loses possession of the ball he. should intimate the same to his captor, who has otherwise no means of. knowing the ball is gone, and . therefore is very liable to hold on when there is no occasion to do so. At the close of the game it was determined to meet again this afternoon-for another. The play will begin punctually at 2 p.m.

, We have received the first number of the Jlanyitikei Advocate and Manawatu : Argus , which appears to be very creditably got up and printed. From it we learn that the Raugitikei Amateur. Steeplechase is fixed to come off at Parewanui on the 3rd June. A good round sum has been subscribed, and the prizes; should be sufficient to attract a good field.—On the suggestion of- Mr: Haloombe, a memorial ■ is being numerously signed praying to have the Manchester Block separated from the Manawatu Highway District, and constituted a separate district.—£4so has been subscribed to found an hospital at Bull’s, for the Bangitjkei district. The Provincial Government promise £2OO. ’ At a meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club,recently, it was resolved—“ That an. annual steeplechase be inaugurated under the auspices of the Wanganui Jockey Club, to be held on the Queen’s Birthday, or the day set. apart for its commemoration;” also, —“That the first ■ race bo a steeplechase open to all horses ; prize 100 sovs ; second horse to receive £10; entrance, £5 ss. ; distance; about three miles, oyer fair,hunting country ; weights, lOlbs. less than welter weights; and that the second race bo a maiden steeplechase, of £SO ; second horse to receive £5 ; entrance £3 3s. ; open to all horses that have never won a hurdle race or steeplechase ; distance, about three miles, over fair hunting country ; weights, lOlbs. less than welter weights.” Owing to the lateness of the season, this year’s steeplechase has been fixed for June .29. It was also resolved to erect a permanent grand-stand on the racecourse.

The Herald says ■“ The Wanganui Board of Health has notified that on the Ist of June nearly every householder in Wanganui win be liable to a penalty of £SO. This intelligence comes with a peculiar grace from the Board of Health, which we may inform our readers is the Municipal Council. The Health Act requires that the earth-closet system shall be put in force by that date, and as very few have made arrangements with the manufacturer, it is quite impossible that the law can now be complied with.”

The number of paid telegrams transmitted through the Eastern Extension Company’s Cable from Port Darwin, for the week ending Friday, April 30th, 1875, was: From South Australia, 8 sent, 5 received ; Victoria, 25 sent, 28 received ; New South Wales, 27 sent, 27 received ; Queensland, 3 sent, 3 received ; New Zealand, 3 sent and 3 received. Total number of messages, 132. Residents in the Wellington Highway Board district are notified that the rate-book will bo open for inspection on and after Tuesday, Ist Juno, and for thirty clear days afterwards. It will be observed by an advertisement which appears elsewhere, that “ the doubleheaded calf” will bo on exhibition at Whitford's Hotel, Hutt, to-day, when it mil doubtless “ draw ” crowds to inspect it.

Mr. Seymour, agent for Wise’s New Zealand Directory, advertises that he will attend at the Commercial Hotel for the distribution of that invaluable book to subscribers, up to the 29th inst. .

The Taranaki Budget says “ The Immigration Agent, in. speaking about the outcry for immigrants for Taranaki, said he considered credit was due to the Provincial Government for the readiness with which they had adopted means for housing immigrants on their arrival hero.”

In case any of our local builders may have overlooked the fact, they are reminded that the time for receiving tenders for the erection of the new Provincial Hospital has been extended to the Ist of June. The Taranaki Herald advocates the setting apart of large blocks of land in the province for purposes of public recreation. The idea is a good one, and should be carried into effect if possible.