Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4519, 14 September 1875, Page 2

The Koman Catholic community of Wellington will this evening give a soiree at the Odd Fellows’ Hall. The proceeds will be handed over to the Kev. Father O'Koilly. The tickets are being rapidly disposed of, and there is every likelihood of there being a very large attendance.

Some days ago we published a Press Agency telegram from Timaru, giving a rather deplorable account of matters in connection with the public school there, and, attributing the condition of affairs to the mismanagement of the Canterbury Education Board. The telegram stated that owing to the neglect of the Board the school had been without a head master for mouths ; that the members of the local committee had serious thoughts of shutting up the institution, and giving unexpected holidays to some hundreds of pupils ; and that the people generally were disgusted with the provincial administration of education. An authoritative telegram was received yesterday by the Hon. E. Buckley, stating that the first telegram was untrue from beginning to end, that there was no dispute with the provincial authorities, that there had been a head master all along, and that the school was shut up on account of a dispute between the masters.

Private telegrams from Auckland state that petitions in favor of immediate abolition are being largely signed ; thousands have already signed, and upwards of five thousand signatures are expected. The petitions will shortly be sent down. Mr. J. C. Firth, a man of considerable social standing, and well respected by all classes in Auckland, telegraphs expressing “ an earnest hope that Ministers will not accept of any compromise which will prevent abolition becoming law this session. Ministers,” he says, “ have a grand opportunity of placing, the Government of the country upon a just, safe, and economic foundation, and they ought to take care not to throw that opportunity away.' The country really supports them, and they ought to pass the measure at any cost save that of honor.”

Whilst assisting some workmen to move a breakdown crane at the store at Pipitea Point, connected with the constructed railway, yesterday, an accident occurred to the storekeeper, Mr. Putman, by which he lost one of the fingers of his left hand and had two other fingers severely injured. The sufferer bore the pain very pluokily, and having been persuaded to leave the premises to have the injured hand attended to, subsecpiently returned as if nothing had happened. In the R M. Court yesterday morning a man named Charles Scott was committed for trial on a charge of larceny. He expressed his intention of proving an alibi, stating that ho could show he was, at the time the theft was said to have been committed, in another place. The prisoner aroused suspicion of his guilt in a most simple maimer. He was in a pieshop ■with a friend, and the two getting purse-proud began boasting, each one that he could show more money than the other. This led to the prisoner pulling out a ten-pound note, which it appears is the property of the prosecutor, Mr. Bahl.

The fourth lecture of the series in course of delivery at St. John’s Schoolroom was given by the Rev. Mr. Ward last The subject chosen was “ English and Colonial life compared, after a visit to the old country.” The rev. lecturer commenced by briefly describing the incidents of the voyage home, and comparing the comforts to bo obtained during a voyage now-a-days to the discomforts which had to be endured twenty years ago. After a touching reference to the feeling of a visitor who had been absent from the land of his birth for a quarter of a century, he passed on to glance at the condition of the agricultural laborers and the working class generally, remarking that though this class had risen from the degraded state in which it existed some years ago, still the lot of colonial laborers was far more enjoyable than that of their brethren in England. Morally and religiously the colonists also compared favorably with the residents of the old country, for though he was sorry to say it, drunkenness prevailed in the colonies to an alarming extent, yet such curses as the gin-palaces of Manchester, Eiverpool, and other large cities had not found a resting place in Southern Britain. Religion in one respect, at any rate, was in a more healthy condition than in England. Hero we have no State Church, consequently such a thing as dissent, in the sense in which the word is used iu England, did not exist, and hy its absence was secured an immunity from all those heart-burnings which occasionally disturb the public mind in England, With all its natural advantages, there was no reason why the colonics, particularly New Zealand, should not occupy a position equally eminent to that occupied by Great Britain. But the people should work to secure this end; they must educate their children up to a high standard, so as to make them intelligent and useful men and women. Many of England’s laws might well be introduced into the colony, but there were many which it would be better to reject. He should not like to see packs of hounds kept, and the game laws iu force hero. In speaking on this matter, he awarded a meed of praise to Sir Cracroft Wilson for having paid the fine of a man who had been punished in Canterbury lately for having shot a duck on a day outside the shooting season, also remarking that his Excellency the Governor had never done a more graceful act in hia life than when he sent an order for the release of the man, not knowing of the generous act of Sir Cracroft Wilson. He trusted, then, that England’s virtues would be cherished, and her vices and bad laws discarded. Colonists had advantages for building up a national character which Britons never had, just as the work of settlement iu these days was a work of decades rather- than centuries. In concluding, he said England was the place for a visit, but New Zealand was the place for a home,—The usual vote of thanks terminated the proceedings.—The next lecture will be delivered by the Rev. James Paterson, on “ Heroes and their influence : being an inquiry into what constitutes a true hero, and what should he the nature of the influence of a true hero.”

Contracts have just been entered into for the erection of a palace for the Right Rev. Dr. Redwood, Roman Catholic Bishop, and also of a couple of presbyteries. The palace is to bo placed on a piece of rising ground at the roar of the Cathedral—-a most eligible site—and as the structure is to be elegant, but with no pretence to gaudixi„ss, it will form a feature in this conspicuous part of Tliorudon. It will be a two-storey building, containing on the ground floor vestibule, hall, reception room, study, secretary’s room, drawing, dining, and waiting rooms, with kitchen, &o. On the second-floor will be a chapel, and six bed-rooms, with usual offices. The internal arrangements are to be after the most modem and approved methods, gas, and hot and cold water being laid on. A verandah will run round the front of the building, and a bandsome portico, with Corinthian pillars, will ornament the entrance. Messrs. Rountree and Russell are the contractors, and the building, it is expected, will be finished some time in February, at a total cost of .-£1,900. In the vicinity of the palace is to be erected a presbytery, two storeys high, and containing parlor, throe sitting-rooms, library and study, and four bed-rooms, with kitchen, &c. Mr. Samuel Brown, the contractor, anticipates finishing the work in November, and the cost will bo about £650. At the Te Aro end, close to the Mannersstreet Church, a presbytery for Father O'Reilly and his curate is also to bo built immediately, containing a couple of sittingrooms, three bed-rooms, study, &o. The contractors are Messrs. Scoular and Archibald, and tbo cost and time allowed for completion of the contract are much the same as in the case of the Thorudon Presbytery. Mr. Thomas Turnbull is architect of all three buildings, and all the designs are conceived in capital taste. As in tbo case of the Bishop’s palace, the presbyteries are ornamental in appearance, but will be constructed in a substantial manner. We notice that the members of the Excelsior Variety Troupe are advertised to arrive from Nelson and make their first appearance in Wellington. The reputed premier . ventriloquist, Mr. Davies, is now in Dunedin, and may bo expected in Wellington in about six weeks, when ho will bo accompanied by Natator, or the great Man-Fish. The Rifle Band met for practice in the drill shed, Willis-street, last night, and performed a number of selections in a highly creditable style.

A correspondent signing himself “Shellback” writes us suggesting the propriety of some kind of tombstone being erected over the remains of the poor lad Leßoy, who recently met with his death on board the ship Rodney. He for one is willing to subscribe £1 towards the object, if fellow seamen will also come forward.

Mr. H, P. Lyons, agent for the Chevalier Blondin, whose extraordinary tight rope feats are known the wide world over, is now in Wellington, having been engaged in arrangements, which are nearly complete, for the reception of Blondin, who will in all probability appear on (or above) the Albion cricket ground.

Messrs. Andrew and J. C. Dalrymple have been returned unopposed as members of the Education Board for the education districts of Castle Point and Manawatu respectively. The election for Wellington Country Districts is not creating a great stir, but we hear that a good deal of quiet canvassing is going on, and that the contests will probably be keen. The old Board is called together for the last time for Wednesday. A man named Rudd, an employe at the railway station, narrowly escaped being run over by an engine yesterday. The engine was being shunted, and Rudd not observing the movements of the engine, was walking along the line. On approaching him, the driver blew the whistle, but Rudd either not hearing the whistle or paralysed by a sense of danger suddenly coming upon him, failed to get out of the way till the fore part of the engine was within a yard of him.