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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4529, 25 September 1875, Page 2

We have .been informed, that the Right Reverend the Anglican Bishop of Wellington, who has been suffering from an attack of low fever, is rapidly becoming convalescent. Yesterday, in the House of Representatives, the Hon. the Speaker announced that Sir CracroftWilson hadbcen suffering from asevere attack of illness during the past week or two, and this had prevented hia attendance in the House, but he had now recovered. Sir Donald McLean said he was sure the hon. member would have the sympathy of the House, who would bo willing to extend any leave of absence that might be required. We learn by telegram from the South that the storm which visited Roxburgh on the 22nd inst, was of hurricane violence, and lasted from about 4 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., principally from the north-west. During its continuance houses were much damaged, several being partially unroofed, and the end of one building was completely blown in. The miners working the beaches were obliged to seek shelter, as the force with which the wind drove the sand and gravel along rendered it quite impossible to do anything. Altogether the storm seems to have been of exceptional violence, and to have come on with extraordinary rapidity. As the Auckland football team will not play a return match in Wellington, the following two proposals have been made : —First proposal : That a team to bo composed of Auckland footballers residing in Wellington, play a match with the Wellington team which played the Auckland team on last Saturday. Second proposal : That another team, to bo raised from the Wellington players who did not play on Saturday last, do play a match with the Wellington team who won the match on that occasion. Due notice will be given to the public of the adoption of either or both of these proposals. Yesterday a man engaged in working on the cornice of the new Union Bank building suddenly missed bis footing and fell heavily on to the roof of a shed below. Ho was immediately conveyed to the hospital, where on examination it was found that though much shaken no bones had been broken.

Au inquest held by Dr. Spratt on the fire which recently burnt down a building at Mas-' torton, resulted in a verdict which stated that there was no evidence to show how the fire originated. The Diocesan Synod of the Church of England in Wellington will be opened at the Diocesan, rooms, qn Tuesday, the sth October. _ After despatching’ some formal business, the more important will probably be relegated for the consideration of the triennial session of the General Synod.

The Theatre Koyal will be opened to-night by the Star Comedy and Burlesque Company. A liberal programme is provided, consisting of Buckstouc’s favorite comedy “ Married Life,” and tiro burlesque of “ Fra Diavolo,” which will no doubt attract a crowded house. The theatre has been improved in many respects since it was closed, on the departure of the HoskinsColvillo company.

On Saturday last a child of Mr. James Bailie, of Greytown, had a narrow escape. Her clothes caught fire while near some burning logs in a paddock, according to the Standard. She ran home at once, and her father was just in time to save her from serious injury by tearing off the burning clothes, but in doing so his right hand was severely burnt.

We have received from the publisher, Mr. Burrett, a copy of a poem originally composed by Mr. E. Jerningham Wakefield, M.H.R., in England in 1849, as a song of departure for the first Canterbury colonists ; but now slightly altered in the wording, so as to suit all Australian colonists. It has been set to part of the air of a favorite old song of naval triumph—“ The Battle of the Nile.” A preliminary meeting for the erection of a temperance hall at Marton, on the site given by the Hon. W. Fox, was held in the courthouse'on Wednesday night. The local paper says it was decided that a public reading-room should form part of the scheme, and that the building should be erected with the funds in the hands of the llechabite Tent, assisted by contributions from members of the temperance bodies and the public generally. If all politicians followed the example of the Attorney-General of Tasmania, sturdy beggars at the Treasury door would soon increase and multiply to an inordinate degree. A Catholic school had applied for a vote ; the Attorney-General opposed the application, and it was refused. Next day, however, the Attor-ney-General forwarded a donation from his private purse, stating that personal sympathy prompted him to assist that which public principle would not allow him to subsidise from the State funds.

We learn from the Rangitikei Advocate that work is being pushed on with great energy in the Manchester block at the present time. Exertions are being made to complete the road to Halcombe-town during the ensuing summer, as well as to have the railway ready for laying the rails as , soon as Mr. Stewart’s contract is completed. All the available hands are fully employed, and the corporation have been compelled to advertise for fifty men in addition. It is that the railway from Eoxtou will be opened as far as Eeilding by the latter end of the summer. Mr. O’Malley is ■ pushing forward the reclamation of the land between Pipitea Point and the Lion Foundry. The ballast engine, drawing twelve trucks, makes a daily average of twenty-four trips, giving a daily deposit of new ground of about 720 cubic yards, or an average weekly deposit of about 4320. The contractor expects shortly to obtain sixty additional trucks, thirty-four of which will come from Hobarton, and the remaining twenty-six from Home, and expects to make about thirty trips a day. This will obviously give a great impetus to the work, which will probably be further accelerated by the advent of favorable weather. The progress of the breastwork has been very satisfactory. The total length of the breastwork (which will connect Pipitea Point and the Lion Foundry) will be fifty-two chains, of these seventeen are already completed, being about one-third of the entire length of the line, The piles and shields of the breastwork are of jarrah wood, while the cap is of totara. The total quantity of made ground laid down up to the present writing, is not less than four acres. If circumstances favor his wishes, the contractor will shortly have two shifts of workmen employed during every twenty-four hours, so as to push on the work as fast as possible. A correspondent of a New South Wales contemporary thus describes an incident at Brewarrina ;—“Mrs. John Hoyle was looking on at a match, mounted on a good horse ; something caused it to buck, the saddle turned, and the fair lady, who hung in the saddle, with her head apparently touohiug the ground, was carried quite 300yds., the horse bucking violently all the distance. I cannot describe the feelings experienced by everyone on the ground. At every buck it was expected that Mrs. Doyle’s brains would have been dashed out, and her graceful form left a bleeding corpse on the plain. But no ! The lady was equal to the frightful emergency. She held on by the reins with one hand, and with the other caught the mane of the horse, and performed a feat not to be witnessed in a hippodrome—swinging herself and the saddle to the proper position on the horse. I cannot .express the excitement this scene created, nor the feelings of delight and admiration displayed by every human being present on the cricket ground.” Dr. Redwood, R.O. Bishop of Wellington, accompanied by Father Kirk, arrived at Bull’s from Wanganui at two o’clock on Tuesday afternoon last. The carriage in which the Bishop journeyed drove direct to the Catholic chapel, where a congregation rapidly assembled. After investing himself with his robes of office, the right reverend gentleman addressed those present. The Advocate reports him as saying that ha was pleased to find in the township a handsome structure such as the one they were assembled in. He had been told that Catholics were in a great measure indebted for the funds for the erection of their chapel to those who did not belong to their Church. It afforded him great pleasure to bo informed of this generous spirit, and of the unanimity which obtained at Bull’s, and reminded Catholics of their duty to their fel-low-men and to their God. An exceedingly appropriate address was concluded by the Bishop’s pronouncing the benediction. After leaving the chapel, Dr. Redwood became the guest of Mr. McCarthy, at whoso residence many of the old settlers visited him. His stay there, however, was brief, the Bishop taking his departure for Wanganui at half-past four o’clock. On Friday morning he purposed leaving Wanganui on a pastoral visit to Patoa and Hawera, where, we understand, extensive preparations are being made for his reception. VVe are requested to notice that Mr. O. H. Vcnncll’s sale of fancy goods will be resumed tills day.