GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4931, 11 January 1877, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

The English mail which arrived on January 2nd by the s.s. Taupo comprised 3345 letters, 9800 newspapers, and 640 books. The Wharf Oommitee of the City Council agreed, at a meeting on Dec. Isth, to an expenditure of £20,000 upon the improvement and extension of the wharf, according to a pian which we understand has been approved of by the Public Works department. The City Surveyor was instructed to prepare the necessary specifications and advertise for tenders for the proposed work as speedily as possible. The following is a return of the immigration and emigration to and from this colony daring the month of November last:—lmmigration ; United Kingdom—males, 337 ; females, 217. British Colonies—males, 442 ; females, 113. Other places—males, 10 ; female, 1., Emigration; United Kingdom—males, 15 ; females, 5. British Colonies —males, 187 ; females, 75. Other places —nil. Excess of immigration over emigration : United Kingdom—males, 322 ; females, '212. British Colonies—males, 255 ; females, 38. Other places—males, 10 ; female, 1. Total, 251. It is notified that his Excellency the Governor has been pleased to dispense with the services of the undermentioned officers of the Armed Constabulary Force, from the 15th January, 1877, on reduction of the force, viz. —lnspector H. F. Turner, Ist class Sub-In-spector W. Clare, Ist class Sub-Inspector S. A. B. Capel, Ist class Sub-Inspector A. S._ Bi Forster, Ist class Sub-Inspector F. O. Smith, 2nd class Sub-Inspector A. H. Mac Lean, 2nd class Sub-Inspector T. Hackett, 2nd class Sub-Inspector C. D. Bennett, 2nd class SubInspector, P. F. Carlyon, 2nd class Sub-In-spector d. J. Naden, 2nd class Sub-Inspector H. F. Way, 2nd-class Sub-Inspector H. P. Bluett. From Napier we learn that about five o’clock on the afternoon of the 31st December the house of Mr. Wood, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Waipawa, was struck by lightning. The electric fluid entered the building, making an opening in the roof and side of the wall. It entered the room where two children were at tea, and struck Wood’s daughter on the foot and Wood’s stepson on the chest, killing him instantly. The girl is only slightly injured. Wood was in the conservatory, and was knocked against the wall by the shock, but was not injured, though the paper on the wall was scorched. A very interesting pen-and ink sketch of Wellington, taken on board a French man-of-war in 1843, has just been received by Mr. Parnell, of Ghuznee-street, from a gentleman in Blenheim, with a request that it may be placed in the Museum here. The sketch is exceedingly correct, as several old residents who have seen it can testify; and anyone who will take the trouble to compare the Wellington of 1843 with the Wellington of _1877, will find in the contrast a pleasing and interesting study. The existence of so carefully drawn a sketch proves that the officers on foreign men-of-war are not very idle when they visit our ports. _ Our correspondent writes as follows : —The little township of Waveley is making rapid strides towards obtaining a place amongst the more noted towns of the province. In one day two banks opened branches here, and it is confidently expected that both will have a fair share of patronage. "It is a want that has been long felt, and considerable annoyance was experienced by the business men of the place through the difficulty of getting pheques cashed, &c. The town already boasts three hotels, two stores, and sundry other shops, and the tapping of hammers all through the day weilded by some of the many carpenters and builders residing here proves the go-ahead propensities of the inhabitants, Strangers can scarcely believe that the Waveley of to-day is the sight of the savage war carried on a few ■years ago, when the settlers banded themselves together by forming a volunteer company, and gallantly defended their homes against the Maori. The barque Avaona arrived at Port Chalmers on January 2nd after a passage of 115 days from London, with 1200 tons of cargo and eight passengers. .. She is consigned to the New Zealand Shipping Company. —Ship May Queen, 105 days from London, with 1500 tons of cargo and twenty-four passengers. She encountered a terrific cyclone in the Bay of Biscay on the 28th September. She lost her bulwarks and cross jack yard. Thesea filled the deck and washed away the live-stock. Thence, she had fine weather , with strong breezes till the 7th December, when she met with a terrific westerly gale, and had to go under close-reefed topsails. The mate, Francis Godolphin Boise, while loosing the foretopmast staysail was washed;.overboard, and no traces could be found of him. Next day Captain Tackell, while asleep, was have out of his bunk, and fractured his collar bone. Passed a body in oilskin clothing on the 9th. Made the Snares on the 27th ult. Encountered a heavy northerly gale for 145 hours, and lost the port bulwarks. . The annual meeting of the Wellington Building Society was held at Mr. White’s offices, Panama-street, on December 22nd. There was a large attendance. The report was submitted to the meeting, and the committee of management congratulated the members upon the continued . and increasing success of the society’s operations. The statement of liabilities and assets showed an amount to credit of profit and loss of £6213 9a. 4d., which sum, after deducting, outstanding liabilities, estimated at £229~115. 10d., is equivalent to £4 2s. fid. per share. • During the past year the issue of debentures has largely increased, the total indebtedness under this head being £5070. With respect to the securitiesheldj the report showed that there was no property mortgaged to the society but such as_ has increased in value since the advance originally made; at the same time it is satisfactory to note that borrowers have made their payments with regularity. Four members of the committee for the ensuing year, in place of those who retire by rotation, were elected. The installation of Bro. N. Marchant as Worshipful Grand Master of the New Zealand Pacific Lodge 517, E.C., for the ensuing year, took place at, the hall, Boulcott-street, on the: 27th December. There" were present a large number of brethren not only of the Pacific but also of the Wellington and Waterloo Lodges. The ceremony was performed in a very impressive manner, and the other offices for the year were filled as follows : -i-Bro. Binns, S.W.; Bro. S. S. Griffiths, J. W.; Bro. Kev. Nicholls, chaplain ; Bro. White, treasurer; Bro. C. S. Thomas, secretary ; Bro. Fisher, S.E ; Bro. Marten, J.D.; Bro. Lyon, 1.G.; Bros. W. E. Taylor and R. Blundell, stewards ; Brother Buck, tyler. At the conclusion of the ceremony the new W.M. requested the acceptance by'the Lodge of a beautiful and complete set of working tools, exquisitely formed in ivory and silver, enclosed in a very handsome case of polished pollard oak and ebony, bearing a silver plate engraved with an appropriate inscription. After the business of the Lodge had been transacted, the brethren retired to the Empire Hotel, where the annual festival of St. John was celebrated by-a- dinner. .The spread provided by host LiohtenschiendF was excellent. The usual loyal and fraternal toasts were given, interspersed with songs by brethren, and the “ wee sma” hours were approaching when the company separated after a very enjoyable reunion.

The Dunedin Harbor Board is going to float the remainder of the loan of £IOO,OOO. The Dunedin railway earnings for November were £12,053. The total amount subscribed in Otago for the Bulgarian relief fund is £2OO. . Gonghtrey has tendered his resignation as Professor of Anatomy and Physiology in the Otago University. The Canterbury Acclimatisation Society have just liberated 40,000 salmon. The society offer to sell salmon at £2 per hundred. Scarlet fever having broken out among the Maoris and half-castes of Stewart Island,’ the Government despatched Dr. Bums, of Dunedin, to the island to attend to the people. A short time ago a mare in the possession of i farmer named Hugh Jordan, near Southbridge, Canterbury, gave birth successfully to twin foals, so like each other that the owner himself can scarcely recognise the difference between them. The Times says both foals are exceedingly handsome and well-proportioned, and betray great likeness to their sire, the well-known Lord Glasgow. The following information was received from Invercargill concerning the wreck of the barque William Ackers : —The vessel came ashore on December 12th. She is completely broken up, and all her cargo is lying on the beach. Names of saved —Captain Joss .(a-pas-senger), Cantley, mate; Eidey, seaman. -None of the bodies of those drowned have been washed ashore yet. Nothing saved from the wreck. Part of the cargo was insured in the Standard for £SOO. The wheat crop is so rapidly ripening in the vicinity of Auckland that it is expected reaping will commence immediately after Christmas. At Eemuera and surrounding localities the cereal is almost “white to harvest,” whilst in some localities in the Manukauit is even in a more advanced state. The wheat crop of this year, from. present appearances, will be much superior to that of last year. Some of the millers have already made arrangements for the purchase of the new wheat. Mr. Seymour, M.H.R., recently addressed his constituents at Blenheim, explaining to them the operation of the Counties and Financial Arrangements Acts, and justifying the course he had pursued during the late Parliamentary session. He said he did not know that he had ever given a vote of which he repented. Speaking -of the past provincial government of Marlborough, he referred with pride to the fact that its Council had been the only unpaid body of the kind in the colony. Some litigation which has been proceeding during the past few weeks between a native named Rotuka and Mr. Everest, both of the Hutt, in respect to the occupation of land situate in that township, was brought to a conclusion on December 20th by the case being withdrawn, The defendant considers he has been hardly treated, inasmuch as he alleges he was placed in possession of the land some years since by Pukatara, a Taranaki native, to whom he has paid rent regularly, but yet has been subject to annoyance and, put, to expense by the suit of a native who has no claim upon him. Mr. Everest has bad -to. secure i the attendance of the Taranaki native to prove- the tightfulness of his occupation. It- seems to be one of those cases in which the right of ownership of native land is not very clearly defined. Te Waka Kawhatini, a chief of some note at one time in Hawke’s Bay, and the owner of considerable blocks of land, is now (says the Telegraph) begging his bread from the settlers of Clive. This,old Maori, having parted with all his possessions, and squandered may be the proceeds of their aale,-is too infirm to'work at the potato patches of his hapu. He is consequently neglected by his people, who probably have helped to 'drink the rum, eat the sugar and flour, smoke the tobacco, and wear out the clothes bought by the old man’s money. Such is life. The orange has been sucked, and poor Waka is the peel that has been thrown away. The works at the railway bridge (says the Rangitikei Advocate) have latterly been pushed forward very vigorously, and we understand that the bridge will be completed within the next six weeks or two months. The embankment is also rapidly approaching completion, the fascine work being all but finished. The contractors have been exceptionally fortunate; since the commencement of the works. They had no sooner driven the piles on the Manawatu side pn dry ground, than the river returned to its former bed, leaving them dry ground for driving the remaining piles on the Rangitikei side. Although there have been several small freshets, the earthwork connecting the ’ bridge with the embankment has received little or no damage. Had there been one of the heavy freshes usual at this season of the-year, the amount of damage would have been something considerable. '-At a recent meeting of the Canterbury iAcclimatisation Society the Lyttelton .Times reports :—“ A lengthy discussion took-place as to what should be done with the young salmon, of which it was estimated there were, about 80,000 in the hatching boxes. The curator reported that they were all quite ready for being turned out, and in reply to a question said it would be inadvisable to place too many in one fiver. Mr. Johnstone suggested that the society should sell as many as possible in lots of 600 each, in order to recoup the society for the expense incurred in obtaining them'. Besides this,. he also advised that the assistance of persons residing in the vicinity of streams where ‘it was intended to place salmon, should be asked, with the view, of the work of liberation being carried on by interested persons, instead of by hired labor, which wopld be irresponsible, and therefore unsatisfactory in its results. After a long discussion it was resolved to adjourn until three o’clock on Saturday (to-day), the members of the Council to think the matter over in the meantime, and come prepared to say what course should be adopted.” , Sub-Inspector O’Donnell has reported to Mr. Price, -Warden of the district, as follows, respecting the Kumara diggings : —Sir,- —I have the honor to report, for your information, that since my last report, respecting the population and the prospects of- the goldfields, I have made particular inquiries in' order to ascertain the information possible in connection with the field and the workings, It is estimated that there are nearly 1000 miners working in tunnel claims, and about 600 of these getting out washdirt -or on gold, but on account of the scarcity of water they are not all getting returns, but many of them are compelled to enlarge their paddocks, awaiting the completion of the Kumara water-race, which will be finished and supply water in: another month. On Larrikin-terrace it is estimated that there are 1500 miners, all having very fair prospects. In the claim which gives the terrace its name there are nine men at work, and it is reported that they are making £1 a day, cradling being the only means they have at present of washing up. A good pack track is being made, and will soon be finished almostto the end of this lead. The part, of the field that is now attracting most attention is the Shamrock -Lead, which branches off to the right from Dillman’s township, and which appears to.be quite distinct from the main lead. It is estimated that there are over 400 miners on payable claims on this lead, and all well satisfied with their prospects. Yesterday one of the;most advanced claims on this lead bottomed on very good prospects, having washed about an ounce of gold from two loads. There are very great hopes that this lead, which is now well defined and on a level flat, will be traced westward to a considerable distance, and may shortly reach towards the Greenstoneroad, near the upper sawmill Respecting the total population, I am inclined to think that I under-estimated the mining population in my former reports, and that it may be tairly estimated that the total population on the whole fields including women and children, is not less than 4500, and that of this amount 3000 are engaged. in mining," leaving 1500 engaged in business and other pursuits.—Kumara, December 14. .. ■ - A person taken before, the Resident Magistrate’s Court on December 28, charged with having been drunk and incapable, informed his Worship that he seldom partook of strong waters, but that of late he had been saving up his Strength for Christmas Eve, when he got well intoxicated, “as it was, natural for every true Englishman to do,” continued he.; If every “true Englishman,” were of the same opinionasthat gentleman. Christmas Eve would. be well celebrated indeed

We learn by telegram that there is a general disposition in Wanganui, Rangitikei, and Manawatu counties to bring the Counties Act into full operation. The same feeling seems to pervade the whole of the province. The parishioners of St. Peter’s have decided to petition the General Synod to permit the parish to raise jertain sums of money, required for the purpose of building afhejMjJiuroh, by means of mortgaging a poraoßJofahe parish property. *l, His Honor Mr. Justice MolesWbrth, of the Victorian Bench, is on ah intercolonial tour per steamer Tararua. By the same steamer, which arrived in Wellington on December 31st Capt. and Mrs. Sharp, old residents of this town, returned. We are indebted to Mr. Monteith for the following return of patients in the hospital during and ending the hkonth of December, 1876 Admitted —Males,' ,13 ; females, 3. Discharged—Males,. 20 ; females, 4. Died— Males, 2 Left in hospital—-Males, 32 ; females, 5. Total remaining, 37. A whale ran ashore at Worser Bay on the 29th December about a hundred yards to the westward of the Steeple Rook. It was soon killed and secured by the pilot's crew, and on being measured the animal was found to be 27ft. long. We regret to state that the deadly diphtheria epidemic has in no why abated. Mr. Duff, of Lambton-quay, has .lost two more children, . making five deaths in the family within the past few days. Every sympathy is felt for Mr. and Mrs. Duff in their sad bereavement. The'disease is raging in other families in town. At the first general meeting of shareholders in the Richmond Hill silver mine, held at Nelson on the evening of December 29th, a long and very satisfactory report was read and adopted. ; The company’s capital was all raised without advertising, and they how hold a lease of '320 acres on the River Parapara near. Collingwood, containing a strong lode running north and south, now being worked, and several more not touched. The lode was one with well defined walls. The ore having been assayed nine times at the Colonial Laboratory at Wellington, yielded from 77 ounces of .silver'in the ton to 596. The report quoted Mr. Skey’s published report saying “ the value of the mine can hardly be overrated.” The ore alsO' contains a good percentage of copper. The ore is to be smelted at Sydney and England. Three out of the four retiring directors were re-elected. The great development of trade intheTe Aro district of the city is evidenced by the new business premises constantly being erected in that quarter... -Some time since the Bank of . New Zealand, with-their characteristic energy, established a branch - bank in Manners-street, and so rapidly has the-business grown that it has been found necessary, to have, larger premises. With a view-to this the bank have acquired a portion of the valuable acre in Manners-street known as recently belonging to Mr. • Hunter, and „on this they purpose erecting a handsome earthquake and fireproof brick building, combining all the recent improvements in bank buildings; a special feature being , the introduction of the American principle respecting the strdlig-room, namely, that the windows of the building are so constructed that the strong-room, can be seen by every passer-by, the gas being kept alight all night. This course has been found by practical experience to be by far the best safeguard against burglars. The plans for the new building are in course of preparation by Mr. Turnbull, architect, of Temple Chambers, whose wellknown ability is a guarantee that the building will be everything that could be desired, and an ornament to the city. The energetic example thus set by the bank in erecting a brick building for their branch business, is one that may well be followed by our merchants and tradesmen in their future erections. ~ The twenty-third edition of the Wellington Almanack was published on Dec. 19. Considering the length of time that this work has been before the public of the Provincial District of Wellington, it is almost needless to offer any comment on its merits. So far as the body of the publication is concerned, it contains all matter’ inserted in its predecessors. The sailing directions have been most carefully revised and corrected under able supervision. The notes On the planet Mars and other astronomical- matters are also a feature in the book, as is' the statistical information, which has been, almost entirely remodelled. The descriptive articles on the various provinces and their resources are also worthy of notine. The; official directory is nearly complete; but o.wing to the change consequent upon the carrying into effect of the Abolition policy, alterations, will no doubt take place in the various departments during the current year. The postal and telegraph information is most complete in. its. character, and the memorabilia give a chronological record of 'events of importance for the year. ‘ The gardeners’ chronicle has been supervised by Mr. Jeffs,, which is a sufficient guarantee for its value and usefulness.. The most important feature in the Almanack is the addition of a street directory, which has been compiled at much trouble and expense, and will undoubtedly be of great service to themenantile community. The country directory is also very complete, and will no doubt.be found most usefuL- The advertisements) have been put, in such a form as to really, make them a trade directory, which cannot fail to be an -additional advantage to advertisers, as well as a convenience to the public. A map, showing the boundaries of the new counties and . ridings, is presented with the Almanack, and also portraits of-Sir-Julius Vogel and the late Dr. Featherston, with short sketches, of‘the public career of each. Considering the price of the book, which is only 2s. 6d., it .should meet with a large amount of public support. It can be obtained of all booksellers and stationers throughout the province. An extensive auction sale of town and country properties was. held at the offices of Messrs, Bethune and Hunter on December 18th. Prior to the sale a large number of gentlemen sat down to an excellent lunch, Mr. Laing being the caterer. At 2 o’clock sharp an adjournment took place to the large room up stairs, which was numerously attended. The first property offered by Mr. Hunter;was ~town acre No. 198, containing la. Or. sp.,'having a frontage of 90ft. sin. to Willis-street, and a frontage of 132 feet to Boulcott-street, together with the buildings erected thereon, recently . occupied as the business premises of the Union Bank of Australia, and the private dwelling-house of the manager, with convenient outbildmgs, garden, &c. The conditions of sale: having been read, over, a few minutes‘elapsed, during-- which 'no bid was offered, until Mr. Hunter suggested; that, a start should be made: by way of economising . time. Mr, Andrew Young then bid £2500, upon which Mr. Donaldoffered another £SOO, making £3OOO, and Mr. O’Shea followed with-a bid of £3500, after which the competition became lively, and the; bidding soon* reached £4OOO, that amount being .offered by Mr. Smith, who confirmed a statement Mr. Hunter deemed it necessary to make, that he (Mr. Smith) was not bidding, on behalf of the Union Bank. Mr. Jamieson bid £4200. Mr. Crawford’ then advanced to £4300, "and there being no other bid, the property was knocked down to him at that sum: The next lot offered was described on the printed list as all that piece of land containing 37$ acres (more or less), being the the Upper Hutt district; and all that piece > of land, containing 250 acres (more or, less), and being the sections numbered 204 and 2QS on the plan of the Upper Hutt district. It was started at £3OO, and Mr. John Waterson became the purchaser at £360. A productive farm-of 25 acres (more or less), situated in the Kinapouri district, and adjoining the properties of Captain James Taylor and Mr. Hook, was next put up. The first bid was £l5O, followed -by one of £275, and another of £290, when Mr. Knigge offered £3OO, at which price he became the purchaser. Mr. C. B. Izard’s property on the Porirua-road was withdrawn, also property in Wainui-o-mata, the bidding not " having reached the reserve price set upon it. Several other lots were withdrawn, including three valuable comer allotments in the city, and several sections in the Alfredtou block, of opened and timbered land. Mr. Hunter intimated that he should, hold another sale during the early part of -next month.

live General Government subsidy to the ■ Auckland Municipality for last year amounted to £2147 Is. Id. . . It seems that the murderer Sullivan is now at large in Victoria. He has recently been seen in-the neighborhood of Sandhurst. It is reported by the West Coast 1 mes that Dr. Skae considers the site of the bea View Asylum, Hokitika, the.best ho has seen in ■ New Zealand, and he is very well pleased with the domestic and internal state of both male, and. female sides of the house. . It must have been a pleasant time for m'my of the passengers during the voyage of the : Jessie Osborne, recently arrived at Auckland. It is related that four engagements for matrimonial alliances were made on board, and are to come off in a few clays. Such patriotic immigrants should be paid a bonus. - On board the immigrant ship Waitara, which has recentlv arrived at Napi.er, both immigrants . and crew "were' during, the voyage regularly engaged at fire:' drill, and - the boats weie lowered whenever opportunity offered. On one occasion, during light weather, the junrm • was given, and a buoy , picked up m uo ; ' Iferald says that by laying the rails as the earthwork is finished on the line between Turakina and the railway may 1 he open to within a few miles of Marton fully eight' months sooner than if it ward postponed until the earthwork contracts were finished. ' ' .., .. . . The Gazette contains a notification of a sale on the deferred payment system of land in • Bandon, Manawatu'. ■ The time of payment extends to five years from date of application, and the purchaser .must, during the first two , years, build a house of the value of at least . £lO, and clear, crop, or lay down in grass onetenth part of the land. The race between the ship St.' Leonards crew and the steamer Agnes’ came off on Dec. 28th, The course lay from the wharf round the schooner Hannah Barratt moored off Pipitea, and thence the, wharf. Prom first to last the Agnes people had the race all their own way, and they won easily with .several lengths to spare. . A collision' nearly occurred between the Taranaki and Taupo early on the morning of December 23rd. The former vessel was bound South from this port, and the latter was here froin Lyttelton. ■weather along''the coast was extremely thick, and neither of the steamers was seen till they were quite close to each other. ' Both vessels had to be stopped, and a collision was only averted by the engines of the Tanpo being r *Some alterations to the machinery of the Patent Slip at Evans Bay, which have been in progress during the past few weeks, were sufficiently completed on January Ist' to enable the ship Jessie Headman to be taken up. A good test was thus applied to the new work, as the Ship is a vessel of nearly 1000 tons burthen, and had en board'when taken up 300 tons ballast and 3000 bales pressed wool, or a total weight of 1400-or 1500 tons. The alterations as carried out involved,a large casting of about three tons weight; together with a large amount of wrought Iron shafting and other work, the whole of which has heen carried out at Mr. E. W. Mills’ foundry; under the instruction of the officers of the Patent Slip Company, and have greatly increased the strength and’-effi-cacy of the machinery. The ship Avalanche, - 1204 tons, was taken up on January 4th and it is expected that the Slip will be fully occupied for some .time to come. . , • His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Dransfield and Mills formed a deputation from . the Corporation bn Tuesday to'the Hon. the Premier, torequest that the Government should, upon terms, hand oyer, when reclaimed, the land included in O'Malley’s contract, and expending from Mills’ : foundry Pipitea Point. They offered to take over all liabilities, agreeing, :of course, that the Government should retain ten acres for railway station pur-' . poses, paying for the. cost of the reclamation of that .extent. The Premier expressed-his, sense of the desirableness of the land becoming the property of the,Corporation, and! said personally he was quite friendly to the object; but he was bound to say it was anticipated when the provincial accounts were made.up that the provincial district* of. Wellington' Would be indebted to the General Government in the sum of about £40,000. This reclaimed Land was a provincial asset, arid the Government would have to make the most of it. In the meantime, therefore, he. could do nothing, but'hereafter something might be done. The deputation, having thanked the Premier for his courtesy, retired. f A meeting of ; the stewards of the Wellington Jockey Club-was held at the Empire Hotel on Monday.! ■ There were present—Messrs. G. Hunter, • M.HJK. c (in the chair), E. Pearce, M.H.E., J. iB.; (.George; J. S. M. Thompson, Joseph Paul, J, McDowell, Wm.' Bromley, and the secretary,Mr. Kerby. A report wasbrought up from the sub-committee appointed to attend the conference at Canterbury re the adoption of a set of rules and scale, 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 yules 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 1 next month. A committee was appointed to canvass for subscriptions. In this connection it may. be worth .while mentioning that ) the sum. raised by subscription last year amounted to about £2OB, of which nearly £IQO was given by members of the club, independently of their membership fee ; so that the general publichotelkeepers, 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, horses, 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.; Thereis no reason whatever why Wellington, from its geographical position, should not be the ‘‘ convincing ground ” upon which the cracks , from the North and the Soutfi 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 fifth annual district meeting of the Primitive Methodist Church in New Zealand commenced its sittings on Saturday morning last in the Sydney-street Church. . A number of delegates assembled from different parts of the colony, and were formally received. The Bcv. W. J. Dean was elected president, Mr. J. Taylor vice-president; Rev. J. Standrm,' secretary ; Bev. J. Sharp, assistant secretary. The President in his Opening, address referred to the labors and death rif the Bev, Robert Ward, who died in this city last October. He spoke of the extra efforts now being made to hinder the progress of religion, arid regretted that among ministers of the Gospel there were found some who advocated theories contrary to the teachings of Christianity. He referred to the proposed union of Methodist Churches, and did not advocate it. He believed in working harmoniously with all, but riot in absorption. As a Church they had a, work to do distinct from any other denomination. The past, year had been one of success, and future prospects were encouraging. He hoped that meeting would help, to increase its prosperity. ' The address was received with-ap-plause. Reports from the different circuits were then examined, which were of a satisfactory nature. The meeting adjourned till - .Monday. . Special services in connection with the district meeting took place on Saturday and Sunday. At the Webb-street Church on Saturday evening the 'Rev, J. Sharp preached, and at the same church yesterday the Bev. B, J. Westbrooke preached in the morning, and tho Rev. J, Dumbell in the evening. At the Sydney-street Church the Rev. J; Sharp preached in the morning, and the Rev. B. J. Westbrooke in the evening. At Tawa Hat the Rev. C. Ward and Rev. J. Ward refcoectively preached morning and evening ; and at Stokes Valley the Rev. J. Nixon preached

moraine' and evening. To-night there will be an ordination service at the Sydney-street Church, when two candidates for the ministry, who have gone through the probationary course, will present themselves for admission. The following gentlemen, have been elected members of tho New Zealand Institute ; Rev. W. B. Clarice, E.R.S., the veteran geologist of Now South Wales, who bps . written largely on the geology of Australasia ; Dr.' S. Borggren, Professor of Botany at the University of Lund, who recently made a botanical exploration of New Zealand ; Professor Etheridge, F.R.S., of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, &c., who is at present' superintending the examination and description of the New Zealand fossils.

A civil case of some interest to building contractors was heard in the R. M. Court on the 28th Dec.—Barnard agaiustTonks—a claim for compensation in consequence of breach Of contract. It appeared that defendant had iriade an agreement by which plaintiff was to make an addition of three rooms to the back of his house; defendant was to find the timber, and the cost of labor agreed upon was £39. After work had proceeded "for three days defendant stopped the men who were working on the contract, and they clairtied and obtained from plaintiff compensation for the days they had been occupied on the work. Defendant promised that be should have the additions made subsequently, although he had decided not to go on with them at that time, and said he would give plaintiff notice, and let him proceed in terms of the contract originally made. But no such notice was given, and some time afterwards plaintiff went by defendant’s house and perceived that the proposed additions were completed. He estimated his loss in consequence of the stoppage at half the contract price, which would be £l9 10s. The defence was that the statement as to the amount of work performed was (to the beat of defendant s recollection) incorrect, his impression being that plaintiff came to his house on the first day, and that plaintiff agreed not to go on with the contract. He also stated that he had given plaintiff another job, to compensate him for the loss of the first mentioned contract, but could riot recollect whether be had mentioned his intention to do so when he interview with plaintiff; also that the additions referred to as having been completed were dissimilar to tho original plan'; also that the timber worked upon by plaintiff for the addition originally proposed had been utilised for the cottage. Mr. Tringham, architect, gave evidence" for the defence. Mr. Barton pointed out that Mr. Tonks was not relieved of responsibility by giving Barnard work some three weeks after the breach of contract had taken place, it being reasonable to assume that Toriks employed him to secure good workmanship! The magistrate remarked that it was perfectly clear that something was due on the work. Taking into consideration the boys’ loss of time, together with the loss to Barnard, and allowing for a reasonable profit on the work, he gave judgment for £9 155., and costs.