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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4808, 19 August 1876, Page 2

Our cable news this morning, it will be noticed, furnishes the gratifying intelligence that the price of wool has improved Id. to 2d. above lowest point. \ It ia stated that it is probable a vacancy in the Colonial Under-Secretaryship may not arise. The Auditor-General is disposed to retain his post, and Mr. Cooper will remain as heretofore Under-Secretary for the colony. The first meeting of the Choral Society's new season was held on Thursday evening, and proof of the renewed interest taken in the future success of the association was shown by the large attendance, there being over sixty vocalists and instrumentalists present. The new conductor, Mr. J. A. Edwards, was introduced by Mr. Rous Marten, and after a few remarks, he took the baton, and a number of chorusses were gone through. The rehearsal went very well, and there is every prospect of success in future.

The business in the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday was limited. A seaman belonging to the Cynthia, named T. Armstrong, was charged with refusing to obey orders. During the voyage he had been suspended from duty, and when in port he had been slow in commencing work when ordered. The Magistrate considered the ca*e one of laziness, and sentenced the defendant to twenty-four hours' hard labor. John Black was remanded on a charge of lunacy. Thomas Armstrong, mentioned above, sued the captain of the Cynthia for £4 10s., wages. The Magistrate gave a verdict for the amount admitted, £2 18s. The other business was unimportant.

An important notice to creditors and others interested in the European Assurance Society appears in our advertising columns. The notice emanates from the official liquidators, Messrs. 8. Lowell Price, and John Young, 3, Westminster Chambers, Victoria-street, London, S.W., and points out that under the arbitrator's order, as regardß tho Australian colonies and India, all claims not brought in and proved by Friday, August 31, shall be " absolutely barred." The places and persons in these colonies to which claims should be sent are Messrs. Charles Parbury and Alfred Lamb, Sydney, N.S.W., and Mr. Alfred Wilkins, Market-street, Melbourne. The fourth representation of the " King of the Peacocks " drew another very good house last night at the Theatre Royal. The farce of "Lend Me Eive Shillings," in which Mr. Bates has made such a hit, preceded the burlesque, and was again well received. Mrs. Bates as Argus, King of the Peacocks, improves each evening, and the more one sees of the burlesque the better it is liked. Kverything now runs as though it were worked by machinery. This evening the same programme will be repeated for the last time, when there should be a large attendance. An inquest was held yesterday on the body of the child of Mr. Underwood's, mentioned in our issue of Thursday as having been drowned in a tub of water. A verdict of accidental death was returned. We have been requested to state that the child met with her death in the kitchen of the house, and not in the yard.

Messrs. Edmondson and Sellar announce in our advertising columns a dissolution of partnership. In consequence of this, the sale of the plant belonging to the Wairarapa Carrying Company has been delayed until Friday, Ist September. Mr. Sellar will carry on the business of the firm in future.

Messrs. Arkell, Tuft, and Co.'s Circular, in describing the saw department in the Centennial Exhibition, says :—The lagest and most imposing exhibit is that of Henry Disston and Sons in the machinery hall. A speciality is a large circular saw, which embraces 100 inches diameter, weighed 8501bs. in the ingot, and finished is of the weight of 5751b5. This single specimen is of vaster proportions than the saws made for ordinary use, which do not generally exceed 40 to 76 inches in diameter. This firm have produced also a new skew-buck hand saw in three sizes, 2G, 28, and 30 inches long, called "The Centennial No. 76." The "Centennial" is ground on tho back to taper gradually from butt to point, being only 26 gauge at the point. By this mode of grinding, the saw, when tested, makes a complete whip bend. The handle is of apple wood with oil finish, and the screws are flush and polished. The advantages of the Centennial over hand saws in use, are these : tho handling of the tool is considerably strengthened ; the grip of the hand upon the saw is firmer, and the weight of the .saw is lessened not only in the hand of the carpenter using it, but also in the strain upon the screws put through the handle. Tho present price ia the same as that of their regular No. 7. "The Great American Lumberman" ia another saw which may bo embraced in our notes aB somewhat novel, though not entirely new. It ia peculiarly adapted for cutting hard woods, such as those of Australia and New Zealand." We understand that Mr. E. Mills, jun., whilst visiting the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, purchased a number of these saws from the manufacturer, and that Mr. E. W. Mills expects them to arrive in Wellington shortly. The s.s. Tui is to take some twenty of the male immigrants of the Fritz Router to Eoxton. They are intended for the Douglas special settlement. The men are to be sent/in advance of their families, to allow an opportunity of making provision for them. A number of the patients from Mount View Asylum were, by the kind permission of Messrs. Bates and Howard, admitted free to the Theatre Royal last evening. They seemed to greatly enjoy the periormance.

An illustration of the rapid rise in the value of city property is given by the sale of two acres at the top of Willis-street. Purchased two years ago for £2OO, they have now fetched £IOSO.

The Deputy-Superintendent has informed the Chairman of tho Eeatherston Local Board that there are no funds at his disposal for a grant in aid to tho Board. A special service to the Germans of Wellington will be held in the Rev. Father O'Reilly's church at 3 p.m. to-morrow. The Rev. Father Halbwachs is to preach. A Provincial Government Gazette was published yesterday, containing various notices under the Native Lands Act 1873 and 1874.

The b.b. Alhambra will leave here for Melbourne via the South at 1 p.m. to-day. The drawing for the art union of watercolor sketches takes place this afternoon at 4.30 at Mr. Wallace's auction room.

A scratch football match will be played by the members of the Wellington Football Club on the Basin Reserve this afternoon at 2.30.