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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4435, 7 June 1875, Page 4

Our telegrams give an account of the terrible weather that was experienced in the South Island on Saturday last. We may mention as a proof of its severity, that the s.s. Albion, wellknown as a smart boat, left this port at 3 o’clock in the afternoon of Friday last, and did not arrive in Lyttelton until 7 o’clock yesterday morning, or somewhere about 24 hours after her ordinary time. Communication by telegraph was also stopped between Christ church and Dunedin yesterday, and had not been restored when the telegraph office closed last night. The Secretary to the Education Board announces that the education rate-book for the province ■will be open formspectionattheofficeof the Board until the end of the present month. Notice of objection to the assessment must be forwarded in writing to the Secretary of the Board not later than the Ist July next. Copies of the assessment affecting properties within the respective districts may be seen at the offices of the various Highway and Local Boards throughout the province. An inquest was held at the Golden Fleece Hotel, Pakuratahi, on Friday last, on the body of Robert Baldin, who was drowned a few days previously. Four witnesses were examined, the only evidence possessed of any interest being that of John Sunnex, who discovered the body whilst pigeon shooting in the neighborhood of the river bank, his attention having been drawn to it by his dog. According to the evidence of Sunnex the dog made a sudden “stand,” and upon his going to see what was the matter he found the body in about sft. of water, jammed under a tree. Assistance being speedily procured, the body was removed to the Golden Fleece Hotel, and information conveyed to the police. The men in the employ of Messrs. Farrell, Barker, Cooper, and Whiteman immediately subscribed an amount sufficient to bury the body, and indeed these men throughout, together with their employers, have acted in a manner that reflects the highest credit upon them. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict of “ Accidentally drowned.” Mr. Raiuford, with the assistance of several lady and gentlemen amateurs, has been enabled to frame a capital programme for this evening’s concert. The orchestral band contribute three items —“Dieu et la Bayadere" (Boieldieu), “Bolero” (Verdi), andthenewDerby Galop by Cootes ; and in addition Mr. Otto Schwartz will play a violin solo. The vocal items display a careful selection of glees and ballads, but as tho programme appears elsewhere it is unnecessary to refer to it further here. All that is requisite to ensure a flattering result is good weather, under which head considerable doubt is entertained. Mr. Rain-: ford’s songs, it may be mentioned, are Schubert’s “Wanderer,” “ The Village Blacksmith,” “ The Colleen Bawn” (Benedict), “In Happy Moments ” (by desire), and, added to this, he sings in the Orpheus quartettes and a duet. Justice is not always tempered by mercy. As, for instance, in the case of Jane Ashbridge and Mary Ann Brown, two unfortunate women, who, as incorrigible offenders, have been looked up in the cells at the courthouse since Saturday night, all through the late severe biting storm, with no other articles of comfort than a blanket and a bucket. The police authorities have no discretion in the matter, but surely there could be no objection to the removal of these poor women to the gaol during such fearful weather as that of yesterday. 30 The football match on Saturday afternoon did not attract nearly so large an attendance of players as usually is the case. The statement that the “ Stars ” would meet at the cricket ground no doubt was mainly the cause. Now that the Melbourne rules have ceased to exist in Melbourne itself, they having been supplanted by the Rugby Union, it does certainly appear high time that the “Stars” should relinquish them also. A meeting of the delegates from the different clubs will take place during the present week, at the Pier Hotel, to finally settle the question in dispute. An advertisement will appear when the date has been arranged.

On Saturday a very handsome specimen of pottery work was exhibited in the window of Messrs. Lyon and Blair, stationers, of Lamb-ton-quay. The article under notice is the property of Mr. J. M. Perrier, of this city, and was presented to ‘him by the secretary of the Tokomairiro Pottery Works, where it was made. The design is a floral device, in which can be traced passion flowers, dahlias, roses, &c., all formed with a delicacy and a fidelity to nature highly suggestive of the skill of the artificer, and demonstrating the plastic nature and general suitableness for pottery purposes of the material of which it is manufactured—the better kind of clay found in the Tokamairiro district. As a work of art it is really very pretty, but its utility lies in the evidence it affords of the commercial value of the industry of which it is a representative. The soiree in aid of St. Mary’s Convent School takes place at the Odd Fellows’ Hall to-morrow evening. The energy of its promoters has already ensured the success of the soiree. It only remains to remind those who are likely to be present, that a first-class quadrille band, under the leadership of Mr. Cemino, has been secured, and that proceedings will begin at eight o’clock punctually. The many shareholders and other persona interested in the Permanent Building and Investment Company, and the Titanic Steel Company, are notified that the offices of those companies have been removed to Temple Chambers.

The annual general meeting of the Wellington Volunteer Fire Brigade will be held this evening at the offices of Messrs. Bethune and Hunter, for the purpose of electing officers and transacting general business. The various insurance companies will probably be represented. One of the steam hoists on the wharf, which at the time was being used in the discharge of the Hindostan, was seriously injured on Saturday, through a flaw in one of the small cog-wheels. The broken portion fell between the largo wheels, and broke one of them also. The hoist has not long been imported from England, and had only been used in discharging the Sunbeam and the Hindostan. According to last Provincial Gazette, the returns of lands sold in this province, from the Ist to the 30th April, 1875, are given as 1405 acres 3 roods 16 perches, for which payments were received, in cash £9OO 55., and scrip £9O. It was only a few weeks ago, if so long, that a serious accident happened to Mr, Quick, owing to the unprotected state the excavations in the Terraco were left in during the night. The same excavations were not, on Saturday evening last, honored even with a lamp or light of any description. Surely this neglect of duty must be traceable to some particular person, who is richly deserving of the severest censure,

We lately published a telegram from Auckland noticing that the A.S.P. Company at its annual meeting had paid a dividend of 2 per cent. This was wrong; the dividend, we notice by bur Auckland exchanges, was 12 J per cent. At length the date of the concert in aid of the building fund of St. John’s Church, Lower Hutt, is finally fixed for Wednesday next. It was at first intended that the concert should take place in the Odd Fellows’ Hall, Lmnbton-quay; but as this arrangement would have debarred many of the inhabitants of the Hutt from contributing to the funds, it has been determined by the originators of the entertainment that an extra concert should he given at the Hutt. This concert will in no wise affect that which is at present arranged to take place at the Odd Fellows’ Hall, and which is spoken of in musical circles as likely to bring out fresh amateur talent of very considerable merit. Mr. McGregor has tabled the following motion in the Nelson Provincial Council, — “ That in order to encourage the Investment of capital in mining industries, and facilitate the development ot our mineral resources, this Council is of opinion that the annual rental charged on areas of land leased for quartzmining purposes should be reduced to the nominal sum of five shillings per acre.”