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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4837, 22 September 1876, Page 2

Warnings to expect falling barometer and gales generally from the westward were sent out yesterday afternoon.’

An Order in Council fixes the next sitting of the Court of Appeal for 13th November. , ■ The man who; assaulted Detective Farrell on Wednesday night was sent to gaol for fourteen days yesterday, in default of paying the fine of 50s. and costs. .

A meeting of the District Grand Bodge of Freemasons was' held in the lodge-room, Boulcott-street, last evening. There was a good attendance of members,’the business being of an important character. Mr. and Mrs. Darrell arrived here by the s.s. Taupo yesterday from Dunedin. They will appear at the Theatre Royal to-morrow night, when no doubt they will meet with a good reception.

At the evening sitting of the Legislative Council the Public Works Bill was ordered to be considered in committee this day. The Debtors and Creditors Bill was also considered in committee, and ordered to be re-considered on Tuesday next.

The case of William Young, who is charged with having stolen £lB. from Mr. Lusty, will come on for hearing at the Resident Magistrate’s Court to-day, Young having been remanded yesterday, on the application of the police.

At a meeting of the Port Nicholson Rowing Club, held on Wednesday, it was resolved to open a list and canvass for subscriptions, to order a first-class five-oared' racing whaleboat, and arrangements with Messrs, Crook and Harrison have been made tor the construction of a shed. A general meeting will be held on Wednesday next at the Albion Hotel. In our report of Mr. Pyke’s speech on the Gold Duties Act Amendment Bill yesterday morning, alluding to the inspection and control of mines,, the word “ Victoria” was inserted by .a, clerical error in lieu of that of “Prussia,” it being in the latter country that a portion of the duty is applied to the maintenance of a system of inspection.

Hia Excellency the Governor lias been pleased to make the undermentioned promotions and appointments in the Kaiwarrawarra Rifle Volunteers :—Sub-Lieutenant Charles Thompson to be Captain. Date of commission, 18th May, 1875. Robert Veatts to be Lieutenant. Date of commission, 18th May, 1875; Jonah Harris to be Sub-Lieutenant. Date of commision, 18th May, 1875. Daniel Johnston has been appointed, public vaccinator for Eeilding and Palmerston North, The following days and hours have been fixed for performance of vaccination : —Eeilding : The first Eriday in January, April, July, and October in each year, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. Palmerston North : The first Saturday in January, April, July, and October in each year, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. The. officials of the Resident Magistrate’s Court, and all whose business takes them there, have at last been promised that the want of accommodation, which is known to be very great, shall be supplied, and that presumably at no distant date, the Under-Secretary, under authority from head-quarters, having written to the Resident Magistrate, informing him that it is the intention of the Government to effect the necessary improvements in the court and offices after the close of the present session of Parliament. Wiltshire, has had a number of visitors during the last few days, the weather having been fine. Several amateurs have accompanied him occasionally, and the general opinion among them is that he walks fairly, and has a good chance of successfully completing the distance within the time. On Wednesday last Wiltshire was not in such good trim, suffering greatly from want of sleep, but yesterday he was perfectly well and strong, to judge by his appearance and undoubted activity. At 6 o’clock last evening he completed 624 miles. A grand ball in aid of the funds of the Star Boating Club is to be held in the Provincial Hall on Monday next, the 25th inst., and we understand that it is likely to be more successful in every respect than any attempt before in the same direction. A list of the lady patronesses appears in the advertisement announcing the date on which the ball is to take place. It is understood that there will be a fashionable attendance, and we have no doubt the result will be a triumph. Specimens of the new postal cards were exhibited in the House last night for final adoption. They were in four colors—pink, blue, mauve, and brown. The design is similar in each case, the stamp in the right-hand comer on one side, and between it and the left-hand border the words “ Post Card, New Zealand. The address only to be written on this side.” The other side of the card, which by the way is of no great size, is blank. There is only one objection to the cards, the stamp on each is price one penny. Seeing that for this sum a large sized letter envelope can be sent within the limits of town delivery, the price of the postal cards seems exorbitant. If they are to be a success they should be issued at one halfpenny each. The Theatre Boyal was not particularly well attended last night. “ Lucretia Borgia ” was the chief piece of the evening, Mrs. Bates appearing as Lucretia. Her acting was very fine, and obtained considerable applause. Mr. Bates in the character of Gennaro was of course excellent. He is so in most, if not all, of the work he undertakes in connection with his profession. The other parts in the play were well sustained. The farce “ Turn Him Out ” followed. The Bates Company appear for the last time this evening, when Mrs. Bates will take a benefit, and a capital bill having been arranged, no doubt there will be a good house. A Government Gazette was issued yesterday, containing—Proclamation altering boundaries of Resident Magistrates' districts of Christchurch and Timaru and constituting the district of Ashburton ; proclamation of deposit of memorial plan of certain lands taken for purposes of the railway from Wanganui to Manawatu (Marton contract) ; Order in Council revoking certain powers and delegating other powers to the Superintendent of Hawke’s Bay under the Marine Act, 1867 ; despatch from the Secretary for the Colonies relating to new regulations of the Board of Trade in respect to British measurement for tonnage adopted by Norwegian vessels, &o. The Maori Hakopa Epuni was again brought up at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, charged with cutting and wounding another Maori at the Hutt, and the case was adjourned for a week in consequence of the wounded man being as yet too indisposed to give evidence against the accused. It was perfectly evident that there was something to transpire within the court yesterday morning of unusual interest to the Maoris, a of whom were scattered about its precincts before the case came on, and subsequently crowded that portion of the court devoted to spectators. The Martin fountain was made use of not as it was intended to be used by the donor. The Maori ladies, friends and relations of the accused, besides others who were generally interested in the matter, made use of the composite steps for the purpose of repose prior to the case being called on, and some of, them made a public display of their feelings on the subject. It has been stated with something of authority that Epuni is not altogether sane, and committed the offence with which he stands charged while suffering from insanity.

The Ecommute Francaise has an article on the statistics of population, which contains much that is worthy of due consideration. It is well known that the population of France is increasing at the lowest rate in Europe, hut that the rate is rapidly diminishing will be perhaps surprising to many. From the calculations of births over deaths it appears that taking periods of ten years since 1800 the rate of increase has been as follows :—lBOl-10 the population was doubling in 168 years ; 1811-20, in 121 ; 1821-30, in 119 years; 1831-40, in 168 years; 1841-50, in 168 years; 1851-60, in 288 years ; 1861-70, in 265 years ; 1871-75, in 1380. ’ The last number is, of course, unusually great on account of the transfer of the Rhine provinces to Germany. This gives 334 years for 1801-75, while Germany requires only 98 years to double its population ; Austria, 62; Denmark, 1 73 ; the United Kingdom, 63; Sweden, 89; and Norway, 51.

Whilst praying in the Catholic Church in Hill-street, at five o’clock yesterday evening, the Rev, Father Petitjean fell down exhausted. Dr. Grace was promptly in attendance, but the Rev. Father died within ten minutes. Father Petitjean never recovered from a serious illness he had last winter, and was always ready for death, as he suffered from advanced organic disease of the heart. Nothing, however, could induce him to interrupt the severity of his religious practices, or diminish his assiduous labors in the care of his flock. He was beloved and esteemed by both old and young, and will be regretted not only by his own flock, but by many friends belonging to other denominations. As showing how he had gained the affection of the young Catholics, we may mention that there were a number of children at the door of the Presbytery yesterday evening anxious to obtain a last look at the face of the good old man who during his life had been their friend and guide. Father Petitjean was born in France, in the Diocese of Lyons, on the 30th March, 1811, and was ordained priest about the year 1839. He was a brilliant subject, and held the highest post in the seminary of Lyons. At an early period in the history of this colony he felt called to the mission cause here, and came to Auckland, where he labored for some years ; but when Dr. Yiard was made Bishop of Wellington he came with that ecclesiastic, and remained ever since in this city. He was ever active, ever beloved and respected, and died almost at the altar, having received the last rights of his church from the hands of the Bishop. An apt illustration of the unthinking manner in which private members and the House act sometimes was given last evening. A few weeks ago, when the Municipal Corporations Bill was in committee, a clause giving powers to corporations to erect tollgates within their boundaries was brought under consideration. Mr. Whitaker objected to the wording of the clause as enabling municipal bodies to erect tollgates in the streets over which they had control, and to make short work of the thing, moved the excision of the clause. This was agreed to, but in a day or two the hon. gentleman found himself in office and in charge of the Bill, and on consideration he found that his action in regard to the clause had been hasty and ill-advised, for it had taken away a power necessary in cases such as that of the Wanganui bridge ; and last night he moved the re-insertion of the clause with a verbal amendment to prevent corporations erecting tollgates in streets.

A meeting of the Star Boating Club is called for this evening at the Pier Hotel, and members are particularly requested to be present. The principal business to be transacted is the consideration of the extension of the boatsheds. A number of new members are to be elected.

By an advertisement in another column it may be seen that Dr. Carr, the well known phrenologist andlecturer, will appear to-morrow evening in the Boulcott-street schoolroom, where he announces that he will present his patrons with something entirely novel, as connected with the entertainment he provides. “ The Will of the Wisp ” has made its appearance in the Wairarapa. The Standard says last week it was observed very distinctly in the Waihakeke swamp, near Greytown, in the shape of two luminous bodies, which receded from each other with great rapidity. The occurrence was witnessed by more than one settler, and was beyond doubt a genuine phenomenon.

On Saturday last, says the Wairarapa Standard, the Right Rev. Dr. Redwood, Bishop of Wellington, arrived at Eeatherston; and after a visit to H. S. Wardell, Esq., proceeded to Greytown, where he passed the night at the Rising Sun Hotel. On Sunday morning he proceeded to Masterton, where he preached to a large congregation ; and on Sunday evening, accompanied by the Rev. Eather Halbwachs, he held a confirmation service at the Eoresters’ Hall, Greytown. At the latter place a large number of persons of various denominations assembled to hear the bishop.

On Sunday afternoon last (says the Nelson Colonist), although the quantity of rain which fell in this neighborhood was not great, at Stoke, at the point where the railway runs through Mr. Stafford’s property, a perfect deluge came down. The water fell in a stream, and was probably the effect of a waterspout. At this place there is a wide watercourse, but notwithstanding this there was a small flood, and some 150 yards of ballasting was washed from the railway, and two gratings used to prevent cattle straying upon the line were completely blocked up with gravel. The afternoon down train was delayed a short time.

The Whareama correspondent of an upcountry print writes At a recent meeting of the Castlepoint Highway Board, on the Bth inst., a communication was received from the Provincial Government handing over to the Board the Tenui-Alfredton line of road, stating that the whole of the vote has been expended. That the amount (supposed to be £6000) is all gone may be true, but instead of the word expended, wasted would have been more correct ; however, it is not worth while to cavil about words. The present state of the road shows great neglect somewhere. It would have been more genteel to have handed over a road to the Board, and not a continuous bog, unless, indeed, they had called it a bog. Mr. Lee, the Inspector of Schools, visited Palmerston last week, and inspected the school. The Manawatu Times is very glad to be able to report that, considering the short time Mr. Waite, the new master, and his colleague, have presided, considerable progress has been made. Our of the total number of sixty-nine pupils now on the books only six of them were in their examination considered unsatisfactory, being a very small minority. Hannah Dillon -passed in standard 3, and Is, therefore, entitled to a certificate from the Education Board. The discipline and time table were likewise considered very good, and on the whole Mr. Waite must be congratulated upon the great improvement he has already effected. Among the additions he has introduced in the school curriculum are singing and drawing. Now that the children are already making much progress, proper inducements in the shape of prizes should be held out to them for greater application. In Foxton the Choral Sooiety have devoted the funds obtained from their concerts to this purpose, and steps should immediately be taken here to raise a fund either by concerts or subscription for the same good cause. Mr. Waite, we understand, gives two prizes to the senior class, but we should like to see them distributed through all the classes. The giving of prizes creates a large amount of emulation amongst the pupils, and consequently assists materially in the general improvement of a school. For this reason it is the duty of all of us to assist by subscribing towards a fund for that purpose.