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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4466, 13 July 1875, Page 2

The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court were held yesterday, his Honor the Chief Justice presiding. His Honor, in his charge to the Grand Jury, merely spoke of the leading facts of the cases upon which they had to decide, and laid down the rules of law which should guide them. In four out of five cases tine bills were found, the exception being that of John Enwright, charged with perjury. Frank Murray, charged with assault with intent to rob, was convicted, and John Woods, charged with cattle-stealing, and Dennis Wright, charged with having obtained money by means of false pretences, were acquitted. The Court sits again at ten o’clock this morning, when a charge against James Camerou for rape will be investigated. The jurymen who will be discharged this morning will have to attend again to-morrow morning, when the civil cases will be tried.

The Wellington Jockey Club met last night at the Empire Hotel, Dr. Diver in the chair. After certain preliminaries, it jvas resolved to make further improvements on the course, especially on the run-in, which will be considerably increased,, the trustees of the Hutt park having purchased several acres of ground from Mr. Ereethy, which will enable the stewards to make the necessary improvements. Other alterations are in contemplation prior to the spring meeting, which, when completed, will make the Hutt course one of the best in the colonies. The meeting was adjourned till Monday, the 19th inst., when every member is requested to attend, as stewards and officers will be then ballotted for. We may further state that the W. J. C. Derby will be advertised in a few days. The annual meeting of the parishioners and vestry of St. Peters, Te Aro, was held in the schoolroom, Ghuznee-street, last night. The vestry brought up their yearly report and balance-sheet. The report stated that the parish debt, which at the last report amounted to £IOSO, is now wiped off. The balancesheet showed a credit of £22 11s.; the receipts being £2190 2s. lid., and the expenditure £2167 11s. lid. The report and balance-sheet were then adopted by the meeting, after which the election of churchwardens and vestrymen for the ensuing year was proceeded with. The following gentlemen Were appointed, viz.:—Messrs. A. B. Sheath and Geo. Didsbury, churchwardens ; Rev. C. D. de, Castro, Messrs. Kebbell, Spinks, R. Hunter, Morrow, Pearce, Anderson, Dixon, Cheesman, and Rous Marten, vestrymen. The question of the advisability of erecting a new St. Peter’s Church having received due consideration from the vestry, they decided however to leave the matter in the hands of the parishioners. After some discussion, the meeting empowered the newly-elected vestry to act as a committee to collect all necessary information with reference to the erection of the proposed new church—such committee to report ,to a special meeting, A vote of thanks to the minister and office-bearers of the church brought the meeting to a close. There was a capital attendance at the Theatre Royal last night, when Gilbert’s fairy comedy “The Palace of Truth ” was produced for the first time in Wellington. Setting to one side the inherent merits of the play and the admirable manner in which it was • acted, we may safely assert that no piece has been so splendidly dressed and put on here previously. The scenery from the brush of Mr. Charles Massey was even beyond those former excellent efforts of his with which the Wellington public is so well acquainted. As to the performance of the play, wo may notice that Mias Colville's Zeolide was a tender and touching piece of acting, Mrs. Hill’s Mirza was worthy of her reputation, and Miss Docy Mainwariug’s Azema, a short but most , piquant part, was applauded from beginning to end. Miss Marion Moore as Palmis sang a pretty song, “Good Night,’ Love,” with very good taste and expression. It is needless to say that Miss Flora Anstead made quite a part out of the jealous old Queen. Mr. Hoskins’s King Phanor was intensely funny, and Mr. Douglas’s Prince Philamir was as tender and touching as this gentleman’s stage lovers always are. Messrs. Hydes, Burford, Thorpe, and Booth were also well up in their respective parts. “ The Palace of Truth ” is announced for representation this and to-morrow evenings, and -will, doubtless, have a successful run, as the audience last night was most enthusiastic in its applause, and called the performers before the ■ curtain with great enthusiasm. The Fakir of Coin introduced his new mystery, Anoetos, to a fair house last night. A full description of this illusion appeared in yesterday’s issue ; but we may say that it is of a most wonderful character, and evoked expressions of the liveliest amazement. The Fakir also performed the trick of blood writing on the arm, that which spiritualists claim to be supernatural. We observe that a matinee performance will be given on Saturday, when the young folks, for whom tho Fakir’s entertainment has peculiar attractions, will have an opportunity of seeing his marvellous feats. The Orangemen of Wellington celebrated the 12th of July by a dinner, which took place last evening at the Post Office Hotel. Nearly a hundred brethren and guests sat down to a most recherche repast, provided by Host Urvvin. After doing ample justice to the good cheer provided, the company drank the usual loyal and patriotic toasts. Tho assemblage broke up about eleven o’clock, having spent a very pleasant evening. '

The following (according to the Sydney Morning Herald) is the copy of a memo, addressed to a policy holder in the European Assurance Co.:—“European Assurance Sy. Arbitration, 7, Gresham-strcot, Sydney, 24th June, 1876. ' Dear Sir.—-Before you can receive fifteen shillings and sevenpence (the first dividend on your policy, No. 8221), it is necessary you should pay back premium, amounting toil 14s. lOd. Please say if you intend to pay the latter sum.—Yrs, faithfully, A. L. p. E. 0. S

Among the persons charged with having been found drunk in public, was one Rogers, who, in pleading guilty to the impeachment, . claimed exemption this time on the ground 'that, according to the Herald's reportex*, "Rogers said “ I am a Yankee do you see, and it is our custom ‘to commence the celebration of the 4th July on the first day of the month; and besides, your worships, I began thus early this year in order to avoid desecrating the Sabbath by over-indulgence.” As Mr. Rogers appeared to be well known as a frequenter of the Police Court, under such circumstances, the Bench did not see their way to discharge the Yankee unless on a prior condition of paying down a '2os. fine for his intoxication.

The Taranaki Budget would put the police to an odd kind of xise. A recent issue of that paper says : —“ Some of the jurors who have waded some miles through the slush of country by-roads this morning, for the purpose of attending the criminal sittings of the District Court, are loud in expressions of complaint at finding the Court adjourned. Why, it is asked, could not a mounted trooper or two have been employed to visit the out-of-town jurors, and so prevented the disappointment and waste of time ? Jurors and witnesses will have to take consolation in the 4s. or os. a day which will be paid for their incoming.”

We have' been requested to state that there was a large attendance at Mullins’s sale at the Hutt yesterday, and the bidding was spirited. The chief buyers were the Hutt storekeepers. The wines and spirits, beer, &c., will bo sold this day, as well as the boots and shoes, and drapery. Therefore, the auctioneer recommends the shopkeepers of Wellington to run out and attend the sale, as every lot will be sold without reserve.