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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4462, 8 July 1875, Page 2

The London Post-office authorities mote, so the local office tells us, on the 14th May (a week after the wreck), that seven letter bags, (including 145 registered letters) and twenty bags of newspapers from this colony, had been recovered from the Schiller. This leaves unrecovered four bags of letters (in which would be enclosed 352 registered letters), and thirtytwo bags of newspapers. The bag of despatches for the Ageut-General was also recovered. As no mention is made to the contrary, it is hut fair to assume that the contents of the bags saved were not seriously damaged. The considerate course adopted by the Corporation in respect to those ratepayer's who are rather backward in then- payments, is resulting most satisfactorily. At the end of the half-year, five-sixths of the total rates had been paid in, and since that date defaulters have been gradually coming in. No harsh measures have yet been initiated, nor is it probable such will be taken if the revenue continues to flow in, but as every warning has been given, those persons whose payments are in arrear may every day expect the unwelcome summons. It seems that the water rate comes in the more slowly. We hear that fever is making its appearance amongst the Maoris in this province. AVithiu the past few days several deaths have occurred at the Hutt, and one of the female celebrities resident in Wellington is so severely stricken that yesterday she was not expected to live.

The members of the Education Board have again distinguished themselves for devotion to public duty, by non-attendance at the fortnightly meeting yesterday. Of the large number of gentlemen who are honored with the right to a seat, but two put in an appearance, and the business which should have been transacted is left over for another fortnight. Perhaps, some of these days, the Board will relegate its powers in yloho to the paid officials. The announcement of “ Othello” drew a large audience to the Theatre Royal last evening, and on the whole the performance passed off satisfactorily. Mr. Darrell's Othello was not the Othello that our conception of the character had created. It was far too tame to give an audience a correct idea of the intensely passionate nature of the fiery Moor, but nevertheless the actor was much applauded. The lago of the piece stood out in bold contrast to the Othello. Through every act Mr. Hoskins played the character with a faithfulness to life which has been seldom excelled. Wherever a point was to be made the opportunity was taken, and the text was delivered with expression that betokened careful study, and with a discretion and due emphasis which demonstrated that Mr. Hoskins is really a Shaksperian actor. Than Mrs. Darrell’s Emilia, or Mrs. Hill’s Desdemona, nothing more artistic could have been wished for, and Mr. Douglas’s Cassio was equally well played. The other characters are insignificant in comparison to those already noticed, but in most instances the acting was above mediocrity, and the audience retired well pleased with the representation of “ Othello.” For to-night, a repetition of “As You Like It ” is announced ; and judging from the immense success which attended the first production of the piece, there will be a large house. To-morrow evening Mrs. Darrell will take her benefit, on which occasion she appears in a favorite character—Romeo.

The Odd Eellows’ Hall was well filled last night, when the Fakir of Oolu made his second appearance before the Wellington public. During the first part of the programme the Eakir performed some very clever tricks, keep"i> o. rnrmliMj of nooss. The entranced lady was introduced in the second part, anil was remarkably beautiful —the postures in which she is placed are very graceful. The entertainment was closed with an exhibition of tho marvellous fairy fountain, a sight well worth seeing. The Melbourne papers have recently contained accounts of a new lifeboat, of canvas and cork, invented by Mr. Frank Stephen. The boat is to receive a practical test in tho shape of a voyage to Sydney from Melbourne, and the inventor has found two men willing to risk this. A tx-ial trip to Queenscliff was accordingly arranged, to tost the boat’s capabilities, and from a Victorian paper we notice that on the 25th June a Mr. Leggatt and Master Sydney Stephen, sou of the inventor, started' for the trip to Queenscliff, carrying provisions and shooting materials, with tho intention of proceeding to Swan Island for a oouple of days’ shooting. There was some delay in starting, and it was nearly three o’clock when the boat left the St. Kilda jetty, under sail. ■ Tho boat carries a French lug sail and a jib, and is. steered by a stem oar, but as tho object was to try how the little vessel would behave under various circumstances, the lug-sail only was hoisted at the start, and as far as the boat could be seen, she behaved well, and as there was a fair and vexy fresh breeze, it was anticipated that Queenscliff would be reached by about. 10 o’clock that night. Mr. Stephen entertained no doubt that tho voyage would be made without misadventure, It is proposed to sail the boat back with tho first fair wind. A considerable number of persons assembled on the jetty to see tho start.

The Sydney correspondent of the Melbourne Argus writes as follows re the new mail service :—We have not yet heard from England how many tenders were sent in for the Pacific service, or what were their various amounts, but we have heard that the lowest is just within the well-known Government minimum. Tho Pacific mail and railway combination has tendered for £SO below the £90,000 fixed as the maximum for tho Fiji service, and £SO below the £75,000, which was the estimated worth of the present service via Auckland. Whether Mr. Hall is in any way connected with tho parties who have thus furnished the lowest tender, is not at present known in Sydney, but there are good reasons for believing that he is. Ho has cortahdy been in America, and has been most indefatigable in endeavoring to persuade the American railroad and steamship powers to combine and tender. Nothing is known yet as to the decision of the Government, beyond the fact that in view of the permanent service being now almost a certainty, they are negotiating to continue tho temporary arrangement.

Writing of the “ funny _ man ” of the Soutficrn Mercury (a Dunedin weekly), the correspondent of an Otago paper says;—ln the very last number, this precious “Timon" commences his “ Echoes from a Tub ” with—- “ I hear many echoes that pleasure me not.” This elegant grammarian turns the noun “pleasure” into a verb, and then puts that verb in the plural to agree with “ echoes." In almost the next sentence ho says—“ There cometh to mo echoes.” Here we have the same plural nominative, but the verb 'is singular ! Again, “ There proceedeth the shrill cries, &c.,” “ Between you and I," and other choice expressions. Of this refreshing disregard of grammar the critic of “Timon” says expressively, “ rot.” Some information regarding the recovery of a portion of the Schiller’s mails will be found elsewhere. We may state, in addition, that this news is of a date only a few days after the wreck occurred, and that there is little doubt but that more mail bags have by this time been recovered.

The monthly sale of ladies’ work, in aid of the building fund of St. John’s Presbyterian Church, will take place this afternoon in the schoolroom, Willis-street. The usual fortnightly meeting of the City Council will be held at the Provincial Chambers to-day. Several committees’ reports will be considered, and the ordinary routine business will come up for transaction.

The lease of the city weighbridge, which has nearly seven months to run, was sold yesterday by Mr. E. J. Duncan. Captain Williams was the purchaser, at £33. The Tasmanian Tribune says Among the lovers of the legitimate drama in this city is a young man who desires to see the works of the great bard represented to the very letter, and as he is the “ property man” of an association established for the very laudable purpose of improving the intellect by giving select readings from the works of the great dramatists, he is sometimes greatly puzzled as to how he shall be able to provide the “ property,” in order that the representation shall, as far as possible, partake of a living reality. A few evenings ago, it was resolved to rehearse the fifth scene from “ Hamlet”. The characters were accordingly cast, and the “property man,” at the last moment, was sorely exercised as to where he should obtain a skull. The Museum was closed, and even if Mr. Eoblin were knocked up, he would be too careful a custodian to lend such a rarity; The “ property man” had almost given up in despair when—happy thought—in the absence of a real skull, would not a sheep’s head do ? He appealed to the “ first grave-digger,” and that functionary agreed with his coadjutor that the suggestion was one that did credit to the inventive genius of the “ property man.” Away bounded the latter, and before many minutes had elapsed returned with the sheep’s head neatly tied up from the gaze of vulgar eyes. This was handed over to the “grave-digger,” and the representation proceeded, and the dialogue between the youthful Hamlet and the grave-digger had passed off successfully, but at that part where the Prince takes up the skull (sheep’s head) there was a slight sensation among the small audience. The playex-s, however, were firm, and Hamlet, addressing the skull, proceeded; “Alas, poor Yoi'ick ! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath home me on his hack a thousand tunes ; and now how abhorred in my imagination it is ! Here hung those lips that I have kissed X know not how oft.” At the recital of this last sentence the first grave-digger could no longer contain himself, and roared in laughter in the Prince’s face. The latter, indignant, and in the very whirlwiu’d of his passion, dashed the skull down at the former’s feet. At this moment, a large Newfoundland dog, which may often be seen in the vicinity of the Commercial Bank, and xvho had been a silent spectator of the execution of the tragedy, rushed in and seized the skull, then exit dog, poor Yorick’s skull, and the “ property man” in close pursuit.

We are requested to draw attention to the important sale of surplus stores, ex-Hannibal, which is to be held this day by Mr. G. H. Vennell, in shed E, Queen’s Wharf, at 1 o’clock. Owing to the Hannibal’s quick passage from London, the stores are large, and landed in firstrate condition. We may also draw attention to the sale of the topsail schooner Canterbury, which is to be sold on the Queen’s Wharf, at 1 o’clock. She is a remarkably good sailer, and carries a very large cargo. She is also in first-rate order, and well suitable for those in the coasting trade.