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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4566, 8 November 1875, Page 2

The Vasco di Gama brought the American portion of the San Francisco mail, and consequently a large portion of that mail will not reach here until the next steamer leaving from Auckland. The American postal authorities forwarded it through by her as she was leaving, thinking she would reach here before the City of Melbourne, and in order that it might reach here early. A requisition will be presented to-morrow to Mr. Gisborne, asking him to stand for the Mayoralty of the city of Wellington. It is numerously signed, and the signatures comprise those of the most influential men of the city. It is more than probable that Mr. Gisbourne will give a favorable response to the request, which will, of course, necessitate his resigning his position of Commissioner of Annuities.

On Saturday evening the following telegram was received by Inspector Atchison from Constable Byrne, of Greytown :—“ Two men have been drowned at Pahau, Thomas Biddy and James Williams. Williams belongs to Wellington.” Pahau is about forty miles from Greytown, and this perhaps will account for the meagreuess of the information. The constable has gone up, and in a few days further particulars may be obtained. A very rapid rise of the barometer took place in all parts of the colony during Friday night, but the general appearance of the weather was unsettled, though in many places it was reported as being fine. There were, however, indications of the approach of another gale, and warnings to expect bad weather, and glass falling fast, were sent to Bluff, and stations on the east coast of the Middle Island about 11.30 a.m. By 3 p.m. a telegram was received from Captain Sewell, at Oamaru, stating that the barometer had fallen fourtenths of an inch since the morning, and that the appearance of the weather in the north and west was threatening. Although this fall commenced so rapidly at Oamaru, it did not advance at the same rate, as, the glasses at Hokitika and Westport continued to rise until midnight ; but the fall set in very soon afterwards, and has steadily continued, being accompanied yesterday afternoon by an increasing northerly sea. Warnings for a falling glass were sent to all parts of the colony on Saturday p.m.

In reference to the race between the steamers Taupo and Wellington two statements have been received. The manager of the New Zealand Steamship Company received a telegram yesterday stating that the Wellington had arrived at Lyttelton at 3 o’clock p.m., having left Wellington at 20 minutes to 12 on Saturday, and that she had beaten the Taupo by 15 minutes. The new propeller worked admirably, as did all the machinery. Another telegram states that the Wellington arrived at a quarter past 3 p.m., occupying 15J hours in the trip, and that she was beaten by the Taupo, which went down in 15J hours. At the adjourned public examination of bankrupts in thematterof Anne Mullins and Son on Saturday Mrs. Mullins was examined. The questions related to the alleged existence of a second key to a safe from which documents had been abstracted, but bankrupt denied that there ever had been been a second key. With respect to the property, she said she knew nothing whatever of the transactions of her son ; all .had been in his hands, and had she retired from the business two years ago as she had intended, she would not have been beggared. At the conclusion of the examination she was taken very ill, and had to be carried from court.

His Honor the Superintendent having perused the letters of Constable Mackenzie relative to the treatment of a Scandinavian (Isaiah Neilson), who was found ill and helpless in a paddock near Masterton on the 23rd ult., has expressed his approval of the action taken by the constable, who, in his (the Superintendent’s) opinion acted with judgment, and did all that he could for the poor man. His Honor has requested the Inspector of Police to signify his approval of the man’s conduct.

The young man Mackay who distinguished himself by breaking several panes of glass at Government House, was brought before the Resident Magistrate on Saturday, and charged on an information for an indictable offence. Mackay is by trade a tailor, and is perfectly well-known to a number of Wellington people, and bears a very good character, save that he has been known occasionally to perform eccentric tricks under the influence of liquor. There was nothing in the evidence on Saturday to show that he was intoxicated when he broke the windows. It is supposed that he did it for amusement. He could scarcely be aware of what he was rendering himself liable to at the time. A cricket match will be played between the Colts and the Hutt Albert Club, at the Hutt on the Prince of Wales Birthday ; wickets to be pitched at 10.30. The following team will represent the Colts : —Messrs. Waterhouse, Lowe, France, Barraud, Hickson, G. Bishop, O. Webb, A. Campbell, Wardell, Barton, A. Bishop; umpire, W. Skipper. Hutt team ; J. A. Mason, Pringle, H. ITdy, J. Mason, W. Cudby, S. Mason, H. Lockett, A. Winterburn, King, D. Pringle, W. Mason. The coach which is to convey the Colts team will leave the Victoria Hotel at 9 a.m. sharp. The cricket match between the United Wairarapa and the Star Clubs will be played to-morrow (Prince of Wales’s Birthday) on the Basin Reserve cricket ground, play to commence at ten o’clock sharp. Tho following are the names of the respective teams, viz., United Wairarapa:—Messrs. Barton, Bentley, Donald Williams, Orowther, Kaye, Allen, Beard, Bidwill, J. Cundy, C. Gundy, and W. Fry. Star :—Messrs. Armitage, Bell, Edmunds, Goddard, Lockett, Mason, Robson, Russell, W. J. Salmon, I. J. Salmon, and J. A. Salmon (captain.) Umpire, Mr. Bromley; scorer, Mr. Humphreys. A match will also be played on the same day at Karori between another eleven of the Stars and the Karori Club, play to commence at eleven o’clock sharp. The following are the names of the Star team, viz.:—Messrs. Belcher, Bond, Cell, Haughton, Lewin, Linklater, Macdonald, Mould, Rainie, Stohr, and Turner (captain.) Umpire, Mr. Marohant; scorer, Mr. Grimstone. A coach will leave Rivers's Provincial Hotel at ten o’clock sharp for Karori with the Stars, The; Central Volunteer Fire Brigade will hold their Eighth Annual Meeting on Wednesday next at eight o’clock.

Several persons took advantage of the fine morning yesterday to drive out to the Hutt for the purpose of being present at the opening services of the new Wesleyan Church. Yesterday the Rev. Mr. Agnew preached twice—in the morning at Thorndon Wesleyan Church, and in the evening at Manners-street Church'. Mr. Justice Gillies arrived from the North yesterday, and Judges Johnston and Williams are, we believe, also in Wellington, so that the Appeal Court null open to-day with the full complement of Justices. It is said that Mr. Bunny, Provincial Secretary of Wellington, will, during the ensuing session of the Appeal Court, apply to be reinstated on the rolls of the Supreme Court as a barrister ; but no formal application has yet been lodged. Enoch, a Thames (journal, declines, in its last issue, to have anything more to do with “ The Intelligent Vagrant ” in reference to “ those boots.” It says he is callous and incorrigible, and that a millstone fitly represents his heart. The West Coast, Wanganui, coach, was detained at the Ohau for some hours on Friday, owing to the fresh in that river, and did not arrive in town until 4 a.m. on Saturday. Another evidence, if need be, of the want of a punt at this ferry. On Saturday a cricket match was played at Karori between the Wellington Colts and Karori Star Club. The Karori men went in first and scored thirty. The Colts then ran up a score of ninety-one, and the Karori completed their second innings for forty, thus leaving the colts victorious in one innings, with twenty-one runs to spare. According to the Standard, the Waiohine on Friday morning went down sufficiently for the coach to come through it. Five hundred fat sheep have, we hear, been detained on the other side of it for about a week. Possibly a rise in the price of meat in the Wellington market would induce the government to proceed with the viaduct. Something must be done, and delay is not a spirited way of meeting a difficulty. We would remind intending competitors in the sports to be held on the Prince of Wales’ Birthday (to-morrow), that entries close tonight, so that the opportunity should not be lost sight of. Entries are received at the Victoria Hotel, Te Aro. Mr. Edwards has secured the services of the City Rifle Band, and preparations have been made to insure the sports being of a very superior character, most of the local celebrities having signified their intention of taking part in different events, and a good day’s fun for holiday-makers may be anticipated. On Saturday evening there was a full house at the Theatre Eoyal, when the well-known drama “Green Bushes” was played. George O’Kennedy was taken by Mr. Darrell, and Miami by Mrs. Darrell magnificently ; and the piece ran all the more smoothly from the fact that many of the subsidiary characters were well filled, being of such a nature that the supporting members of the company could satisfactorily fill them. Miss Jessie Raymond’s Geraldine, Miss Jennie Nye’s Nelly O'Neill, Mr. Inglis’s George,and Mr.Burford’s Murtagh were all first-rate performances, and the comic business by Mr. Sam Howard and Mr. OUyDeering was more amusing than usual. This evening Miss Jennie Nye will take a benefit, for which occasion “Kob Koy ” has been prepared. Putting aside the attractive bill, there should be a good attendance, for Miss Jennie Nye has made herself a great favorite during the season. Her excellent singing and dancing have afforded many an hour’s enjoyment, and we have no doubt her benefit will be a substantial one.

Six men who had deserted from the ship Herschel were brought into town on Saturday evening by Constable Smith, of Featherston. Their arrest was very smartly effected. On Thursday the captain reported the desertion, and the next day Constable Smith received information that the bolters were on Featherston township. On proceeding to a house he found the six were there, and having got into the room where they were, he coolly locked the door, told them he had come to arrest them, and pulled out his handcuffs. Several objected to this, and were disposed to resist, but the quieter ones having submitted, he bounced the others into accepting the inevitable. They were brought down in a special conveyance, and E. Pearce, Esq., J.P., remanded them till this morning. A good story, at the expense of a gentleman connected with the Press at Timaru, who is not unknown in Wellington, is going the rounds of Dunedin and the papers there. It seems that some time ago Mr. W received a telegram from Wellington from the Hon. Mr. Stafford telling him that his name had been placed upon the Commission of the Peace. According to the Waimate Tribune, the newly-elected J.P. rushed to Mr. Woolcombe, and desired that functionary to swear him as a J.P. The R.M. pointed out that he had heard nothing of it, and that the ceremony could only be performed upon his receiving certain official documents commanding him to do so. In vain was Mr. Stafford’s telegram exhibited, and much made of the name of the sender—the E.M. was obdurate. When, however, a few days afterwards, Mr. Woolcombe received the necessary legal authority to administer the oaths to the embryo J.P., the latter was duly enrolled by him ; and the installation over, the new acquisition to the Bench inquired whether there were “ any cases on that morning 1” Being answered in the negative, he promptly hired a buggy, and drove frantically to the nearest magisterial bench, where, fortunately, soine “ cases were on,” and then and there assumed his seat, and it is hoped satisfactorily performed his duty to his Queen and country.