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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4988, 19 March 1877, Page 2

We regret to notice that at the public dinner given on Saturday evening, under the auspices of the St. Patrick's Sports Committee,' the toast of " His Holiness the Pope" preceded that of " Her Majesty the Queen." It is surprising that gentlemen such as those who held the chief positions at .the dinner should have been bo enthusiastic as to have done honor to the head of their religion at the expense of an apparent insult to their sovereign. Dr. Grace, it will be noticed, occupied the chair, and Mr. P. A. Buckley the vice-chair. ' Mr. Wason, a Canterbury member, in addressing his constituents last week said the old middle course of provincialism is happily abolished, and now we have to chose between a united colony with a common land fund and a common purse on the one hand, and separation on the other. That either alternative must be accepted was to him-a matter of the most absolute certainty. Another one of those delightful' marine excursions'which of late have become so popular is announced to take place., Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull are making arrangements to send their favorite steamer Napier on a trip across the Strait, visiting Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds, the French Pass, the-Croixelles, Tory Channel, -and all -places of ' interest in those, parts. . Anglers will have a rare opportunity on this ( .trip of/indulging their love of sport to the fullest extent, as the fishing to be met with up the Hounds and ,in the French Pass'is unrivalled. The shooting too is very good. The steamer will leave here on Thursday" night, returning on Monday night, thus giving ample time for a good cruise. To judge from the success which attended the 1 last trip we have no hesitation in saying that'this one will be well patronised. Already applications have been made by intending excursionists from Wanganui, from which place through tickets will be issued.

We have receiveda.copy of; a memorandum by Dr. Hector respecting the American salmon and white fish' recently.-introduced. into. New Zealand. We have not room for the paper this issue, but it may be stated that a full description of the habits and nature of the fish are given in the paper. He says the average size of the full grown salmon is about 201b5,, some, reaching, a weight of 4'olbs. or 501bs. Asa game fish it'is active and powerful, it is well adapted to thriving in New Zealand waters, and its commercial value is great, seeing the large quantities of potted fish imported annually. Dr. Hector also speaks highly of the white fish. The full grown fish, he sayH,ia about 21bs. weight, but in some places they reach :a weight of 201b5., and.even 401bs. They grow rapidly, the weight increasing about fib. for each year's growth. ! A'shipment expected by next mail steamer he recommends should be sent to the South, the chances of .success in that part of the colony being greater than in Auckland, the Acclimatisation Society of; which province asks for it. The chief difficulty in propagating the white fish arises from the circumstance that the ova are coated with an adhesive mucusithat renders their manipulation more, difficult'than.,in the case of the' salmon ova; We may find room for the full memorandum, in a subsequent issue.

The opinion is expressed by the Herald that as the Counties Acfc.wijl practically impose location on laud, it will lead to the breaking up of the lanje tracts of. land hitherto hold by speculators. The result is expected to be most beneficial.. It is a sign of the times to hear of Auckland expecting benefits from the death of provincialism.

.'. Mr. Urwin, of the Theatre Royal Hotel, invites his 'friends to a dinner at-the hotel on Wednesday. A meeting of the shareholders in the Reformer Newspaper.. Company is called for this evening.

The Chicago Minstrels appeared for the last time on Saturday night, to a very good house, the performance being very satisfactory. The cricket match between the Painters and Builders took place in Mr. George's paddock on Saturday. The painters scored 69, the builders, 57. Pressure on our space prevents our giving the scores in full. The Auckland Star says besides the action by Messrs. Brogden against the New Zealand Government for a breach of their immigration contract, Messrs. Sloman, of Hamburg, will again sue the Government in the English Courts respecting the Fritz Reuter case. A moßt unfortunate accident happened at the sports on the Basin Reserve on Saturday. Mr. W. Murphy, one of the competitors in the running hop, step, and jump evont, fell and broke his leg, and had to be taken to the Hospital, where he received all necessary attendance.

The business at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Saturday was unimportant, consisting of a case of drunkenness, one of vagrancy, in which the defendant'(Kate Grant) was discharged, and one of suspicion of lunacy, in which a remand of one week was ordered on the suggestion of the police.

A soiree will be hold in connection with St. Andrew's Church in the Odd Fellows' Hall on Tuesday evening, tea on the table at half-past six o'clock. After tea addresses will t>e delivered, in the church by his Worship the Mayor and ministers of various denominations, the Rev. C. S. Ogg, pastor, in the chair. The choir, under the direction of Mr. Peirard, will render some choice selections' during the evening.

One of the living curiosities at Barnum's menagerie and circus is a man tattoed from head to foot. His name is Consteutenus, a Greek by birth, and it is stated that he was one of the party who penetrated Chinese Tartary for mining purposes some years ago, and engaged in an insurrection there. The natives captured him and two of his companions, and instead of putting them to death, adopted the more cautious plan of tattooing their bodies and settiug them free. The process of tattooing occupied six hours a day for three consecutive months, and the torture inflicted was so severe that the captives used to beg for death instead. Captain Oonstentenus was the only one of the trio who survived the ordeal, and he carries about on his person one hundred arid eightyeight pictures of men and animals and geometrical figures.

The return cricket match-, between teams 'selected from the employees of Nathan and Co. and of Turnbull and Co. was played in Mrs. Leitch's paddock on Saturday afternoon. There not being time to finish two innings the match was decided on the first, the Nathan team being the victors by 11 runs. Messrs.. Waterhouse and Blacklock were captains of ; the respective teams. The batting of Messrs. Bishop and Brown of the Turnbull eleven,- and Mr. Blacklock of Nathan's team, was good. The scores in the first innings were —Nathan's, 79; Turnbull's, 68, In the second innings the Nathanß scored 102 runs.

On Saturday the return match was played between the Taita and Upper Hutt cricket clubs on the Taita ground, known as the Backwater, resulting in an easy victory for the Taita club by one innings and 59 runs, Cudby and Wyles doing most of the Bcoririg for the Taita team, making 44 and 30 respectively. The captain of the Upper Hutt team, Mr. Orr, exhibited some very pretty cricket during the game. Mr. Worth; 'of,"the Travellers' Rest, acted as umpire for. the Taita team, and the cricketers lunched at his hotel.

The Nelson Colonist says of Mr. Travers' candidature;—"Mr. .Travers, all things by turns, nothing long, would merely be an addition to the band of insufferable talkers who afflict',the House and arrest business by their irrepressible volubility. . He has been tried, and found ever ready in pouring out interminable speeches to which no one listened." The same paper says : if common-sense prevails the result'of the present contest cannot be doubtful. . . .