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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4929, 9 January 1877, Page 2

The Supreme Court will sit in banco at 11 a.m. to-day. His Excellency the Governor has consented to lay the foundation stone of the Athenseum on Saturday, 20th inst. The case of Toxward v. Hastwell, a claim for damages arising out of the coach accident by which Mr. Toxward sustained certain bodily injury, was adjourned yesterday to the 16th of the present month. A meeting of the stewards of the Wellington Jockey Club was held at the Empire Hotel last evening. There were, present—Messrs. G. Hunter, M.H.8.. (in the chair), E. Pearce, M.H.R., J: R. George, J. S. M. Thompson, Joseph Paul, J. McDowell, Wm. Bromley, and the secretary, Mr. Kerby. A report was brought up from the sub-committee appointed to attend the conference at Canterbury re the adoption of a set of rules and of weights for the whole of the colony, and it was resolved to confirm the action of the sub-committee in agreeing to accept the arrangement. The new rules will come into force at the next race meeting. It was decided to offer the " privileges" for the February meeting to public competition on Saturday, the 20th instant. It was resolved to invite his Excellency the Governor to be present at the races next month. A to canvass for subscriptions. Ih- ; this connection it may be worth while mentioning that the sum raised by subscription last year amounted to about £2OB, of which nearly £IOO was given "by members of the club, independently of their membership fee ; so that the general public—hotelkeepers, shopkeepers, who benefit by the races, and people .who subscribe because they love the sport—raised the magnificent sum of £IOO. This is •' simply • mean. The visitors who attend Wellington races, to say nothing of. owners and trainers and attendants upon horsea, who arrive weeks before the meeting commences, spend a large sum of money, yet many of those who obtain the benefit of this expenditure contribute nothing, or next to nothing, to the support of the races. There is no reason whatever why Wellington; from its geographical position, should not be the " convincing ground " upon which the cracks from, the North and the South should meet to try conclusions, were the public to contribute liberally enough to allow of more tempting stakes being offered. It would be a reproductive work, and we hope the appeals of the committee will be freely responded to. . ■ The Mayor, in an address to young men, delivered at the Woodward-street Congregational Church, pointed to the life of Sir Donald McLean as one well worthy of their attention; and, in doing so, he made a touching reference to the death of the late Native Minister. To-day (the lecturer said) the dust of one who was among New Zealand's leading men has been committed to its kindred dust amid general reeprets. The death of Sir Donald McLean he regarded as a loss to this new country: the lesson of his life is another example for our young men. Sir Donald landed en these shores a yeurig man from the Highlands of Scotland, fresh and heathery as his native hills. He had no advantages, beyond a strong arm and a stout heart, the remembrance of a loving home and the determination to do it credit. He was ready for any honest work. His intellect, althoughgood, was neither high nor cultured—yet see the position to which industry and probity can lead. He set himself to study the native character, and he studied it until he could read it like a book; He was employed to deal with natives, and being nobly truthful, thorough, brave, adventurous, and determined, these characteristics soon won for hira an undisputed supremacy over the Maori race. How his influence was used to advance the interests of this colony, has not yet been fully understood or appreciated; but whjen the mists of party politics have passed away it will be found that, so far in' her, history, New Zealand has had no faster or better friend among her public men than Sir Donald McLean. There are touching things take place around us every day-:-' human life is full of pathos—but there are few things more touching than that which Saturday's telegrams told us of this worthy man lying in only a half-conscious state, and repeating evidently texts of Scripture in,.the* old language he had learned at, his mother's' knee. He was manifestly, far. away from the" ■ scene of hia triumphs, and living over again his dreaming childhood in his native glen, proving how much truer than all our philosophies is the intimation that the innocence of childhood is the fit: preparation for that Paradise which once lost is now again happily re- | gained. ' The advent of the > new year has brought scores of office almanacks to this officp, and the .neatness and convenience in size and print of many of them demonstrate the pitch of perfection to which ;the printers' art has been brought; but for.the most novel, as well as for the most excellent, in the before-mentioned qualities, commend us to that issued by the New Zealand Insurance Company. Mounted on a handsome card are a' dozen slips, each containing the calendar for a single month, which may be torn off at the expiration of the month. Such large space is thus given for the figures that reference is easy and mistake rendered almost impossible. Messrs. W. "and G. Turnbull and Co. announce elsewhere that they will despatch their favorite little steamer Napier round to Evaus Bay" to witness the launch of the. ship Avalanche from the Patent Slip this afternoon. As the model of a clipper ship, the Avalanche comes near perfection, and to those interested in marine architecture an opportunity will be afforded them of viewing her undoubtedly handsome lines; besides the launch of so large a vessel is not an everyday occurrence in Wellington, and is a sight well worth seeing. Intending excursionists should be on board the Napier before 2.45 p.m., as she will leave the wharf sharp at that time. Further particulars will be found in the advertisement.

The Union Steamship Company advertise .cheap excursion tripß to Nelsen>regatta. Preliminary notice is given of a soiree at St. George's Hall. Owing to some accident the s.s. Alhambra 'did not bring us our usual files' of the Melbourne Argus. . The erection of the new organ at St. Paul's Church, Thorndon, is being proceeded with this week. The public meeting to consider the question of the erection of a town hall will take place at the Odd Fellows' Hall at eight o'clock this evening. Mr. Walter Turnbull was a passenger by the steamer Nemesis, which arrived at Melbourne yesterday. The Nemesis left London on the 16th November. There' was very little business on the criminal side of the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. Two convivial parties were subjected to the usual correction. An assault fcase, set down for. bearing, was postponed, owipg to the summons not having been served. The case McDonald v. Conway, referred to in yesterday's issue; was again called on at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, on which occasion Mr. Barton was engaged for the defence ; Mr. Ollivier appearing on behalf of Captain Conway. The case was again adjourned, this time for a week. . ■'.,, There can be no doubt of the genuineness of the .cricket enthusiasm, in Victoria and New South Wales, when we find that recently a team from a grammar school in the latter colony was sent to Melbourne to compete with a team from a grammar school in that city. The New South Welshmen were rewarded for their trip by victory, winning the match with six wickets to spare. The return match between the Hutt and Pahaiitanui cricket clubs will' take place at the Lower Hutt on Saturday next; wickets to be pitched at 10 o'clock sharp. The fallow- ; ing are the names of the Pahautanui players : ! —P, Anderson, E. Boultohj J. Brady, Tappin, Gardner, Teal, Fiffield, Maxted, Thompson ' (captain),' Iggulden, H. London ; J. London, 'scorer; Fred. Brady, umpire. Those who object to paragraphs about the sickness prevailing in' Wellington ought to notice the following telegram from its Wei-. . lington correspondent which appears,; in, s a recent issue of the Otago Daily Times :r—j •" Diphtheria is unfortunately prevalent in this city in a malignant form. Within last week four children in one family on Lambton-quay have died, and a fifth is dangerously ill. A little girl living opposite died to-day, and two children in a family close by are dangerously ill." The patrons of the drama in Wellington paid a graceful tribute to the merits of Miss Lizzie Morgan by mustering in force last evening at the Theatre Royal, which was very largely attended. This was expected, for Miss Morgan is a great favorite in ' Wellington, as elsewhere in this colony. Robertson's'comedy "School" was successfully placed upon the stage, the cast having been well arranged and all matters connected with its preparation having apparently received the most careful attention. It may be Baid with safety that " School" has frequently been played with less effect than it was last night ; and there can be no doubt that the success which attended its performance was mainly owing to the acting of Mrs. F. M. Bates, which was at once natural, spirited, and consequently pleasing. Her idea of an English schoolgirl may not have been precisely correct; but we fancy that her impersonation of Naomie was none the less attractive for that. Real "bread-and-butter" misses would be a -mistake on: the stage, that stage of female existence being according to popular opinion somewhat insipid. Mrs. Bates put a good deal of life into the part, and was perhaps more than usually natural. Miss Morgan played the part of Bella well, and was greeted with a reception from all parts of the house of the most flattering character. Her pleasing manner and ladylike bearing were well suited to the character, the representation of which could npt possibly have been placed' in better hands'.' Mrs. Stoneham appeared as Mrs. Sutcliffe, the: schoolmistress, and was as usual excellent. Of Mr. F.'M. Bates it is unnecessary to say more than that he sustained his reputation as an actor of great talent and experience ; and Mr. Metcalfs acting in the part of Lord Beaufoy was more than creditable. At the same time it may be suggested that a little lesß display of handkerchief would not have interfered with the successful pourtrayal of the character. Mr. Sam Howard, it should be unnecessary to say, was very good as Krux, and enlivened the performance considerably. Messrs. Hesford and Inglis played carefully the parts .allotted to them, and the other .members of the company engaged in the piece did- very well. The comedy was followed by some singing and dancing, which proved veryattractive, especially a double song and dance, by Mr. J. Smith and pupil, which were vociferously applauded and responded to, the second performance by these gentlemen being a dance, in which master and pupil succeeded in fairly astonishing the audience, so clever was it. 0n the drop of.the curtain Miss Morgan was called, and made a very pretty little speech, thanking those present and the public for their patronage. To-night " School "will be repeated. The famous entire draught horse ?Toung General is to be disposed of by raffle, the conditions of which will be found in another column. It is almost needless to say anything of the pedigree of this horse, as he has achieved so high a reputation. ■ He came from Tasmania, where he was fared,by Mr. William Gibson, a breeder who is well known throughout the Australian colonies. His brother, Mr. Robert Gibson,' imported General, and the arrival of that animal in Tasmania was regarded, as a fresh point of departure in the breeding of good stock. . Young General was one of the best of General's progeny, and since he has been,in New Zealand has proved himself to be a good sire. We, learn from the Clmrch News (Christchurch), " that at a, meeting of the. Mission Committee, held on the Bth ult!, letters were read from the Revs. H. B. Macartney, T. R. Curwen-Campbell, and Canon Bromby, expressing their willingness to undertake the duties of missioner in any parish desirous of securing!their services. Canon Bromby added that he would be unable to visit Canterbury before April.". The Rev. H.. 8. Macartney is' son . of the Dean of Melbourne, and is one of the most able preachers in Victoria. Canon Bromby is; a son of the Bishop of Tasmania, and nephew of Dr. Bromby,' of Melbourne, whose advanced views on the subject of the world beyond the grave created not a little commotion in Victoria a few years ago. He is in charge of St. David's Cathedral, Hobarton, and represents the High Church party of that colony, whilst the Rev. Mr. Macartney is a shining light in the Evangelical party in Victoria. At .the :meeting of the Wesleyan Local Preachers' Association at, Adelaide (says the South Australian Advertiser), Mr. A. A.' Scott said he , considered that the great question, which was constantly presenting itself to the most thoughtful among them was—ls the Pulpit losing its power? Many of them probably believed that in a measure it was, that preaching was not what it once was ; and that the preacher was not the indispensable man he once was, would be admitted by most. It was considered that the Pulpit was in a measure behind the times. The' Press was now a powerful rival for the position of public opinion, and the pulpit was no: longer considered the only authority on religious and moral matters. He thought this result was inevitable, because the Press was not trammelled by past traditions and the conservation which hampered the Pulpit, but was subjected to a sifting and wholesome criticism to which preaching was not amenable. He hoped, however, that as a divinely-appointed ordinance, preaching would ever have a great and beneficial influence over man, from the power of the living voice, and in the contact of the living soul with living souls. He sympathised with advanced thought, and he believed in the gradual unfolding of truth. Truth was too many-sided, too complex, too infinite, to be reduced to any concrete form, or to begin any Bystem of theology. He

had no sympathy with the vulgar denunciation of advanced thinkers as bad men, and of their works as trash. , It is satisfactory (says the Some News) to find that, up to the 30th of September, some 150 London firms, from which scarcely a prominent name connected with the City is absent, have signified their approval of the scheme for building the Colonial and Indian Museums on the old Fife House site. The list of names is now in print, but as it is still private and confidential, it cannot yet be disclosed in this, journal. A statement, moreover, of great value has been prepared, sent to all the leading colonial which throws much light upon the detsite-ot the plan. It describes the site, which is illustrated by a map. It advocates separate museum space for each colony, as well as a reading-room and general- colonial library. As for the cost, the estimates are naturally only approximate, but the provisions! conclusion is that "adding 20 per cent, inl order to provide for the' common entrance-hall and staircases, as also for the thickness of the outer walls and contingencies,, the cost to each colony of every-square foot of" ground (internal measurement) enclosed by its section, would amount roughly to 110 shillings or to £5 10s." The statement ia question also touches on the probable cost of the maintenance of the museums, but it would; be at once tedious and premature to enlarge herein these particulars. An appendix if added by way of a specimen in the form of a memorandum about ttie kind of division of products and other objects whiehp would suit the New Zealand section. It is drafted by Dr. James Hector, F.R 8., and the classifications are as follows, and may be takei as*typical:—l. Mineral Kingdom : 1. Precious metals ; 2, Ores ; Si Coals and iron ; 4. ] Building materials j 5. Geology, it Animal '■ and^Vegetable: 1] Agricultural; 2. Pastoral; 8. Fisheries; 4. Manufactures; 5. Fibres ; 6.: Timbers ; 7. j&ums,-.'. &c.' " III: Arts and Sciences: L Natural history: 2. Ethnolorical; 3. PtctureS, &c. - ' n An inportaht sale of furniture will be held by Mr. G. H. VenheU this day, at the residence of Mrs. Kebbell, Tinakori-road. A very fine piano by Broadwood and harp by Ernt,, besides other valuable pieces of furniture, are among the articles to be offered. Sale at 12 o'clock.