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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4489, 9 August 1875, Page 2

On Saturday morning an easterly gale commenced in the North, and by midday had extended southwards to Tauranga, at which place there was but little appearance of the change at 9 a.m., although by noon it was blowing hard, with a heavy sea in the bay. By 3 p.m., the wind had increased to a strong breeze, with rising sea, at Castle Point, Napier, and Kaikoura, but southward of these places the wind was generally light, though easterly in direction. The barometer fell about a tenth on Saturday morning, but became steady towards the latter part of the day, and varied very little until yesterday afternoon, when it again commenced to fall. Fresh easterly winds and rough sea were experienced on the eastern coast yesterday as far south as Kaikoura. We understand that telegraphic warnings for an easterly gale were sent north on Friday and southward on Saturday afternoon. The appointment of Mr. Fenton to be District Judge of Auckland, to which we referred a few days since, is one which will give general satisfaction. Mr. Fenton was for a long time Assistant-Law Officer to the Crown, but on the removal of the Seat of Government, did not care to leave Auckland, and was subsequently appointed Chief Judge of the Native Lands Court, a position in which he was distinguished by his ability. He is an English barrister and a sound lawyer, and his appointment is one which can be taken exception to by nobody. Dr. Redwood, Roman Catholic Bishop of Wellington, at vespers in the Cathedral last night preached in commemoration of the centenary of Daniel O’Connell. As Dr. Redwood lectures upon “ The Life and Work of the Liberator ” to-night, his sermon yesterday evening was not so much on O’Connell himself as upon the view the preacher held of his work, namely, that its impulse and its effects were all traceable to the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, which Dr. Redwood maintained might be most justly called “the foster-mother of freedom."

A seaman named Scott, who recently shipped on board the Hannibal, which is now moored off in the stream about a mile from the quays, mysteriously disappeared from the ship on the night of Thursday last. From the fact of one 'of the ship’s ladders being missing, it is presumed that the truant may have availed himself of it for the purpose of floating ashore. The attendance at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night, to witness the “Ticket of Leave Man,” was very good, and the play itself has seldom if ever been produced with better success, several of the characters being specialities with certain members of the Star Dramatic ■ Company. Mrs. Hoskins played May Edwards feelingly, albeit the part is not one to call forth much of what some newspaper reporters are fond of calling “ histrionic power but Miss Anstead had in Mrs. Willoughby not only a superior part, hut one to which she is admirably suited, and performed remarkably well. Of Mr. Douglas’s Bob Brierly it may in all truth he said that the character has seldom been better impersonated. He played with that naturalness and absence of staginess which distinguishes him on all occasions, at the same time consistently adhering to the idea of the character, in which from the outset he completely lost his own identity and was, for the nonce, Boh Brierly. It should be needless to say of Mr. Hoskins that he made an excellent Hawkshaw, or that Mr. C. Burford played effectively as Melter Moss ; and Mr. Booth’s rendering of the villain Dalton was very good. Mr. Hydes and Mrs. Douglas were excessively comical in their respective parts Emily and Green Jones, and Miss Lily May’s Sam Willoughby was piquant and highly amusing. As stated above, the drama was peformed very effectively, and the situations worked up capitally. To-night the company will play the “ Trail of the Serpent.”

It ia expected that a football match will shortly be played between the Wellington and AC. football clubs.

The anticipated match on Saturday, between the Wellington Football Club and any twenty comers, did not come off, in consequence of the unavoidable absence of some of its representatives. A scratch match of twenty a side was improvised on the ground, and capitally played. Mr. Lynch kicked a splendid goal, the only one made during the play. Gentlemen in England, says the Sydney Morning Herald, evidently do not appear to be content with possessing some of the fastest and finest models of schooner yachts ever yet launched, but some are having steam schooner yachts built. One was launched on the 20th May measuring 606 tons, having a length of 157 ft. 6in., and a beam of 28ft. Bin. She has been christened the Chazalie. It is pleasant for those that can afford to keep such playthings j but the owners of such expensive luxuries would not by Rothschild be considered “ well-off.”

The correspondent of the Post (a San 1' rancisco journal, writes;—“Albany (New York), June 15. The case-of William ,M. Tweed, which has been before the Court of Appeals for some time, was to-day decided in Tweed s favor, and his discharge from the penitentiary .on Blackwell’s Island was ordered. The opinion, which is concurred in by all the Judges, is lengthy, and recites the whole case. The chief point is that the Court of Oyer and and Terminer exceeded its authority in sentencing Tweed to cumulative punishment by pronouncing separate judgments on separate counts of one indictment. It will be remembered that Tweed was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment on each of twelve counts. The, decision is that the Court below had only authority to inflict one sentence, and as one year was the extreme penalty for the offence, the sentence of twelve years was illegal. The decision further says ; —Tweed’s case is probably without precedent, and the justification for the sentence lies in the fact that great wrongs had been perpetrated, and punishment for a single misdemeanor seems inadequate. The excited state of the public mind and Tweed’s conviction called for what they thought approximated vindication of justice and punishment of the offender. The Court holds that justice cannot be advanced by illegal acts, and orders that Tweed be discharged.” The following items of Capo news are from the Cape Argus of April 24 : —■“ Parliament is now in session, and most of the members have arrived. Questions seriously affecting the working classes are under consideration, and if certain restrictive measures are carried the effect on immigration from Europe will be most injurious, as most men travelling in search of work will be liable to arrest as criminals. The Bill for removing Langalabelele to the mainland comes on for second reading on the 6th May, when it will be strenuously opposed, and it may result in a change of Ministry.—Affairs at the JDiamond-fields are in the most deplorable condition, a portion of the community being in open rebellion. The local government is too weak to enforce the judgments of the courts of law ; and Sir Henry Barkly as Governor, and Sir Arthur Cunnynghame as commander of the forces, have shown a vacillation that is to be regretted. Troops were to leave Cape Town to maintain order at the fields, but for some reason, said to bo financial, theirdeparture has been countermanded.—An Austrian vessel (Jupiter Tessima) from Singapore to New York, has been wrecked near the Keiskama. It is reported that five lives were lost. The captain was saved. —The Hon. Mr. Davidson, late Treasurer-General, has been arrested and subsequently released on bail, for shooting a burglar who was attempting to enter his house at George. The catastrophe, it appears, was quite accidental.—The new art gallery has been opened by his Excellency the Governor.—The foundation-stone of the Houses of Parliament is to be laid on the 12tlx May.—Considerable dissatisfaction is expressed at Mr. Froude’s speech in South Africa, his representations being at variance with the ordinary condition of things.”

Mr. J. H. Wallace will to-morrow hold an extensive land sale in his new auction room, as advertised. Among other properties is a valuable block of totara land.