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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4547, 16 October 1875, Page 2

We have been shown a letter recently received from Capt.' Turnbull, of Hokitika, in which the writer gives a description of a thunderstorm which occurred there lately. We have, by permission, made the following extracts from his letter“ On the morning of the 6th we had a heavy thunderstorm from the north-west, but about 2.30 a.m. of the 7th another and more violent storm came upon us from the same direction. Few people remained in bed. The lightning was so blinding, and the wind roared.so, that I thought our wooden houses would all be rolled up on the mountain. At a place called Kawaka tollgate, about seventeen miles from this, on the Christchurch road, they seem to have experienced the full force of the storm. Our chief engineer informs me that he and all the other inmates of the house jumped out of bed and ran outside, so great was the uproar of the elements.” At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before J. O. Crawford, Esq., R.M., John Fisherman, charged with a breach of the Corporations Act, was dismissed with a caution.— Peter Allen, convicted of being drunk and disorderly, was fined 55., or in default twentyfour hours’ imprisonment.—There were eight civil cases of no special interest. Two were adjourned, and one was withdrawn. Judgment was given for the amount claimed, with costs, in two cases, and in two judgment was confessed. In one ease the amount claimed was paid into court, A meeting of the Wellington cricketers, convened pursuant to advertisement, was held last night at the Pier Hotel, for the purpose of considering a proposal for improving the cricket ground at the Basin Reserve. It was proposed that labor should be employed for the season in putting the ground in form for playing matches and for practice. The expenses, to be borne rateably by the four clubs, would amount to about £('o. The Colts, and. Wellington Clubs were represented at the meeting, but as the other two clubs were unrepresented, the meeting lapsed.- -

The Standard has heard that the constituents of the Rev. J. C. Andrew has such a personal regard for him| that when any of them desire to enter the state matrimonial they will even expect him to sacrifice his legislative duties to running up to their district to tie the nuptual knot. The other day an application of this kind was made to him, which, as usual, was expected to be acceded to ; but a telegram from Wellington reached the expectant couple, informing , them that their representative and pastor had the influenza —possibly the measles—and could not come. . . , I

In a previous issue of this journal, under date July 27, a full description was given of the new Museum. Since that date the work has been pushed on as rapidly as possible, and is now completed, with the exception of varnishing the entrance hall, and some minor carpentering work, while the whole of the work has been satisfactorily carried out. It must be noticed that the appearance of the entrance hall is seriously marred by the inartistic fetyle of the gas fittings which have been selected. It has been suggested that brass standards, fixed to the floor, of an ornamental pattern, and placed in the arcades, and a sunlight in the roof would have been more in harmony with the building than the mean style of gasfittings at present adopted. Rapid progress has been made during the past few weeks in the erection of the new Government Buildings. The framework of the north or Treasury wing is new finished. As soon as the roof, which is in course of preparation, is placed in position, the brick work portion of the strong rooms will be preceded with. The lathing of this wing is all but completed, and the plastering will shortly be commenced. The work in this part of the building will be finished off as soon as circumstances permit. Three stories of the framework of the main building and the south wing are now completed, and the same order of construction mil be observed as in the erection of the north wing. The rapid progress of the building is in no small degree owing to the fact that the timber is sawn, moulded, aud mortised on the ground. Machines for these purposes are placed under convenient sheds, and driven by steam power. A Wanganui paper chronicles a mysterious disappearance. It seems that on the last trip of the Manawatu from that port, among the foreoabiu passengers was a Frenchman, who intended travelling in the steamer, and ’ who had brought his baggage on beard with him. The vessel was detained in port through severe weather, and - during, that night the forecabin steward on waking up saw the stranger moving about, but dropping off to sleep again, thought no more of the occurrence. The individual has never turned up since, nor has any inquiry been made for the effects which he brought on board with’ him. Captain Evans, of' the Manawatu, lias reported the matter to the police. The Chronicle says that. fellmongery seems to be making rapid strides in the various establishments iu tho neighborhood of Wanganui, and judging from the samples, of the scoured material which they all appear able to produce, the progress made in this branch of industry cannot be considered otherwise than highly satisfactory. A few issues ago we had tho pleasure of referring in a complimentary strain to a sample which was left at our office by Messrs. Gibson and Handley, and now another has been received, the producer on this occasion being Mr. W. L. England, of the Futiki Fellmongery. If any difference as to get up can be detected, both samples indicating most careful and skilful manipulation, that from Futiki would claim honorable mention. It is beautifully white, silky in the grain, free from impurity of any description, aud the fibre appears to have been subjected to some clever process by which it is thoroughly cleansed, yet without being bruised or crushed. The two samples, as they may be seen at our office lying side by side, reflect credit ■ alike upon the respective .manufacturers, and upon the district generally in which scoured wool of such superior quality can be produced. An accident happened on board H.M.S. Sappho yesterday afternoon, a marine being struck by the boom, which cut his head open and rendered him insensible. As tho doctor was 'away, Dr. Diver was sent for, and attended to the sufferer, who is now progressing favorably. ■ Next Sunday Bishop Redwood will proceed to the Hutt to make his first episcopal visit to the Catholics of that district. His Lordship will officiate and preach at the chapel of the Lower Hutt at ten o’clock iu tho morning, and at four in tho afternoon. .

At a land sale at Taratahi on Tuesday there were no bidders, and consequently no buyers. Mr. John Pioroy, of Kaiwhaiki, has left Wanganui for Auckland, whence he proceeds to England;