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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4579, 23 November 1875, Page 2

To-day the general entries for the forthcoming Wellington races will be received. A numerous entry is expected, nay, is almost a certainty. The gentlemen who have voluntarily interested themselves in racing matters here must feel gratified at the success which has crowned their efforts. Four years ago it was found impossible to get up a race meeting ; now that of Wellington is beginning to assume a foremost position amongst the race meetings of New Zealand.

We have been favored with an inspection of the plans of the building proposed to be erected by the New Zealand and Australasian Mutual Provident Society. These plans have been submitted by Mr. Toxward, the architect entrusted with the work, of designing a building for the new offices of the Society, the present premises have become totally inadequate to its requirements in point of accommodation, no less than in respect of the high position held by the society in the colony. The plans certainly do the architect credit, and if accepted, the building to be modelled after them will be no less a credit to the company. It is proposed to erect the building on the blank piece of ground adjoining the Bank of Australasia on Custom-house-quay. The structure submitted by Mr. Toxward is of the modem Italian order of architecture, three storeys in height, and 56ft. in length, the front in Hunter-street. There are Jive windows in the front of the upper storey, and four on the lower. The front is highly ornamented, and the sky line is terminated with a neat balustrade. The chief feature in the plans is an elevated tower, which occupies a comer position of the building, and would overlook the harbor, while two sides would face up and down Willis-street, thus affording an opportunity of having a town clock—a want that has been, and will continue to be greatly felt in Wellington. It is much to be hoped that the society, if this plan should be adopted in its entirety, will see the advisability of supplying this much needed article, while, by so doing, they will add considerably to the appearance and general effect of their offices, although these towers are not, of course, necessary for office purposes, we believe the idea of the architect is to erect a building of a permanent character that will compare favorably with the future architecture of Wellington as the capital city of New Zealand. The internal office arrangements appear to be all that is necessary to carry out the business conducted by the society in Wellington. The principal office is a fine apartment of 35ft. by 20ft., and immediately connected with it are the secretary’s and accountant’s offices. The upper storey comprise a handsome board-room, medical officer’s room, waiting-room, and other necessary official apartments. As stated above, the new building will occupy a very central position in the city, and wo shall be happy to learn of the adoption of Mr. Toxward’s plan by the local board.

Whoever it is that shuts the door of access to the private-boxes at the General Post Office was in a great hurry last night. As a general rule the door is left open until 8 o’clock p.m., and previously to that hour it is the custom of an urbane gentleman in a responsible position on this paper to clear the box rented by the New Zealand Times. But last night that gentleman came into the Times office at a quarter to eight; his urbanity quite gone, and furious wrath having taken its place. On going to the post-office, some minutes previously, he had found the door of the room, in which are the private letter boxes, shut. He asked to be let see the Editor, and having seen him, demanded that a leader should be written, showing what a fearful wrong had been committed by closing the door alluded to above. On being told that it was scarcely a fit subject for a leader, he announced his intention of addressing a letter to Sir George Grey and Mr. Macandrew, who were the men to resist such a trampling on the rights of the people. He was gradually calmed down, however, by its being represented to him that the bloated official of a tyrannical Government, who had shut the door, was probably in a hurry to get to the theatre to witness the performances of Mr. E. D. Davies and the Man Fish, or perad venture was going out a walking, or something else. This calmed down our urbane representative ; but lest he should be ruffled again, we have to request that a fixed hour for closing the door may be appointed.

One of the latest additions to our local industry is the opening of a saddlery on a rather extensive scale, by Mr. Wiggins, formerly of the Hutt. The now shop is' situated on Lambton-quay, on the site of the old shop occupied for some time by Mr. Jones. The old building was pulled down and a now one erected in its place, and Mr. Wiggins has gone to great expense, not only in fitting up his establishment but in acquiring the necessary stock to fill it. It must bo admitted that there is a goodly show of the wares in which Mr. Wiggins trades ; in fact, the stock, which is worth over £IOOO, would do more than credit to any town in the colony. Mr. Wiggins has workshops at the back, well fitted up, and capable of accommodating over thirty men comfortably. Altogether the establishment is a credit to Wellington, and we wish the proprietor every possible success. A cricket match will bo played on the Albion ground next Saturday, between teams from the firms of Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co. and Messrs. Levin and Co. The following are the elevens : —For Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co. : Messrs. Bishop, Brown, Dugdale, Gray, Hutchison, Hardcastle, Jones, Muir, Muir, Harton, Scott, and R. J. Waterhouse. For Levin and Co. : Messrs. Waters, Cruiokshank, Cameron, Williamson, Benton, Cock, Fuller, Barraud, Anderson, Gibraith, and Bidwell.

Alfred Austin, of Dunedin, the trainer of the boy Scott, who defeated the pedestrian Edwards there, writes to us, having heard that Edwards had said his defeat was not a fair one. Austin goes at length into the question, the race having taken place at the Caledonian Society’s sports, and calls the testimony of many leading gentlemen of Dunedin to the fact that Scott, a boy of 13, fairly beat Edwards, who, Austin says, should not now assume the title of champion of the colony.

We are requested, by the fire brigades, to acknowledge the receipt of £2 each from Mr. Garton, as a slight acknowledgment of the services promptly rendered him on the morning of the late fire. A man of the name of Josiah James, fell off the wharf yesterday afternoon whilst in a state of intoxication, and on being landed was taken to the lock-up, and no doubt will make an appearance before the Resident Magistrate this forenoon. It will he seen by advertisement in another column that Edwards, who is distinguished as a professional walker, will perform his feat of walking 105 miles in twenty-four hours, in a few days. He will commence walking on Friday, the 26th inst. An advertisement in another column notifies that Mr. Sutton, of Southland, has shipped, by the Ringarooma for this port, sixty pure bred Lincoln rams (two-tooth). Mr. Sutton’s flocks are well known, and any stock of his breeding is certain to be excellent. The rams will he on view for private sale, at Messrs. Bethune and Hunter’s Yards, until the 2b'th inst. The man-fish made his appearance at the Theatre Royal last night, after Mr. Davies’ entertainment. There was a crowded house, as might have been expected from the hare announcement that Natator was to show himself to the public of Wellington, who, while patronising the company of which he is a member, have waited his appearance with some curiosity. Whatever may have been expected of Natator, there can be no risk in saying that none could have expected to have witnessed anything more wonderful than was exhibited last night. The scene of Natator’s operations is confined to a large glass tank on the stage, filled with water. In this he performs some extraordinary feats, the reality of which might be doubted if accurately described to anyone who has not had the fortune to see the man-fish. But one of his great recommendations is that Natator has about him nothing of deception. Everything is open to inspection. He plunges into the water, and after going through a number of what would seem superhuman and fishlike performances, comes to the surface, blows like a bottle-nosed whale, and then dives again. His activity and power in the water are truly surprising. The favorable notices given to Natator elsewhere were no exaggerations, and now that he is in Wellington, all who feel curious about the matter should visit the Theatre Royal and see tor themselves.

Wayne Hovey relates a good anecdote of a certain chaplain of the Auburn State Prison who, being an enthusiastic devotee of temperance reform, had an idea that most of the convicts were incarcerated because of the use of whiskey. In his rounds he met a sturdy man of many stripes, and put the usual question to him, “ Had whisky anything to do with bringing you here 1” “Everything, sir, everything,’ exclaimed the man. The chaplain was encouraged, and eagerly inquired how it was. “Well, sir, I’ll tell you how it was. The judge was drunk, and the lawyers were all drunk, and they fetched me in guilty.” The Northampton (Mass.) Gazette tells the following story of the first minister at Pelham, Mass.: —“ Some of the members c f this church somehow got the idea that the minuter was using too much rum in the way of flip, and a committee of five was chosen to wait upon and remonstrate with him, not against the practice, which was common, but in relation to the quantity used by him. Mr. A. was apprised of their errand, and knowing that, notwithstanding the object thereof, he would be expected to treat them to flip, instructed his wife in regard to the strength of the beverage. First time round, considerable water ; second time, more rum and less water ; third time, all rum, or nearly so, as possible, and have it palatable. The result was the committee passed a jolly evening after concluding their business, and three of them passed most of the night on the floor, being unable to go until early morning. At the appointed time they made report to the church to tins effect : —‘Your committee called on Mr. A. and remonstrated with him, and have to report that he gave us Christian satisfaction.’ We had this story from the grandson of the aforesaid Mr. A., and it ought to be true. The freedom and ease of the poor aboriginal of Australia is well known to those who reside in the interior. The Pastoral Times says that when blacks come about a station or township they are at ease, and call their white friends, no matter how high their social standing, by their surnames, and never use the word “ Mr.” They think themselves, or seem to, by their acts, on a par with the whites. But they will have nothing to do with the Chinamen, whom the blacks despise and look down upon. The other evening, at Corban station, there was a lecture and concert given. Tliere were about 150 men present, including Shearers, washers, draymen, Chinese cooks, and blacks. After the majority had got standing room, two blacks went and took their stand before some Chinamen, disturbing their view of the performance ; so one of the Chinamen expostulated with one of the aboriginals. The blacks stood their ground, and thinking, like whites, that they must draw the line somewhere, said, “Bale, you whitefellow; blackfellow better than Chinaman ; what for you pigtail fellows sit down here ?” The poor snubbed Chinese stood meekly the assertion of the black’s superiority. A few years since a destitute demented Chinaman drifted into a black’s camp on the Murray, where he was made the general slave of the tribe. One of the blacks asked if he was fattening up John for a meal. The former replied, “ Bale, bale” (no, no) ; “ by-the-bye he (Chinaman) all the same as blackfellow” (meaning that the Celestial would, if he behaved himself, be promoted to all rights and privileges enjoyed by the blacks). The end of John was, however, never known.