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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4998, 31 March 1877, Page 2

jWhen the telegraph office closed at, Auckland last hight there was no “no sign’’, of the mail steamer;'now several days overdue. Her machinery, it is Conjectured, must have brokqn drjwn. Some there are who surmise That she has run.on a,coral reef, and who favor the supposition .that she' was to have taken the rohte via Kandavau, which presents far more dangers than the direct line. The New -'Zealand Government Jong,ago agreed to the abah-. dohment of the Kandavau route, but owing juj the first .place to the delay of the' New, South i Wales J Government, and in ,the second' place to. their being recently, turned out of office, the more dangerous route has been'maintained. , , -. .

- The Governor in Council, by an order dated 27th Inst, runder the Animals -Importation Act, : 1876, i.orffersiland directs .that from and. after, the Jsth ’day)of .April next the' introduction; into New Zealand of cattle, sheep, and swine from any country, colony, or. place beyond the limits: of the' .Australasian colonies: shall beif and the same is hereby absolutely prohibited and forbidden! The order is to remain in force! for two years, ; i .-J - 9;:- c r i; ' .

The 1 police authorities here received a telegram from’Constable Bruriskell yesterday' to the 'effeot'ThaV an ’acoident ■ occurred on the on Thursday evening at 8. o’clock,'' being a, collision between Mr. Luce'na’s buggy , and Mr; Gordon’s dray. The horse and dray rolled down the hill about 30. yards, the dray being smashed,' and the horse badly injured.' The' driver' was not hurt. , , ’ ' • There is to be another election for Auckland City West. Mr. Tonks, the late member, has issued an address to his constituents, in which he says : —“ As it is probable that business engagements will necessitate my absence from the colony shortly, and therefore render it impossible for me to attend the next session of i the General Assembly,-1 have deemed it advisable in your interests to tender my resignation as your member.” We suspect Mr. Tonks does -not care to again be placed in the. dilemma in which he found himself last session with Sir George Grey and his party. The Canterbury papers say it is understood to be the intention of the Colonial Government to' ask Mr. H. B. Gresson, ex-judge of the Supreme Court, Canterbury District, who is at present on a visit to Ireland, to represent N.ew Zealand at the Penitentiary Congress to be held at Stockholm.

It ia estimated that the colony’s wheat surplus for export will reach a million bushels. ,

Letters of naturalisation have been issued in favor of Peter Fergusen, mariner, of Wellington.

The Marlborough Express of March 28, has an article upon journalism in Wellington. It would do certain people good to read it. We have been requested to call special attention to Mr. Duncan’s sale to-day at 11 o’clock of potatoes, fruit, cheese, &c. It is notified that’ his Excellency the Governor has been pleased’ to appoint Walter Johnston, Esq., M.H.R., to be a Commissioner of the Wellington Waste Lands Board, in lieu of Edward Pearce, Esq., resigned. Lord Henry George Russell Phipps, the third son of the Marquis of Normanby, Governor of New Zealand, was a passenger by the R.M.S. Assam from Southampton to Sydney. In Dunedin on Monday two outcast children were brought before the Bench as having no means of support. They were turned on the streets again, because the Industrial Home was full to overflowing.

The Clutha Leader learns on excellent authority that a gold rush may very soon be expected in the direction of the Waikaka. Some Chinamen have recently made from £ls to £2O per man per week at from 40ft. to 50ft. sinking. Some of the knowing ones from Tapanui have already left for the ground. A man fell down in a fit on the Queen’s wharf yesterday forenoon. It was a mercy that he did not go into the water, for he fell just by the edge of the wharf, and was only prevented from tumbling over by the ridge that extends along either side. Dr. Newman happened to be present, and did what was necessary for the man’s recovery. A statement having been made with reference to application forms for electoral registration, which may possibly mislead, we may state that the demand has not outrun the supply, and Mr. Baker has requested us to state that he will receive applications till 12 o’clock to-night, taking them at his own house if necessary, after office hours. Yesterday the Kaiwarra Rifle Volunteers fired for a fowlingpiece, purchased out of the funds of the company, the fowlingpiece to be won twice in succession before becoming the property of the winner, at ranges 200, 300, 400, and 500 yards, five shots at each range. The following were the six highest scores:— J. Turner 63, Sergeant Nairn 62, Color-Sergt. Beale 59; S. Menzies 57, J. Overend 57, and Sub-Lieut. Harris 51.

Mr. Crawford gave judgment on Thursday in the case Perry and Wilson v. Travers, a claim of £5, which it may be lemembered was adjourned in order that the Magistrate might visit the ground on which plaintiffs had been working, and see whether an adequate amount of grubbing had been done. He found that the work had been done in a very unsatisfactory manner, and accordingly gave judgment for the defendants, with costs.

There was very little business done at the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. The only criminal case was one in which a man named Charles Burns was charged with drunkenness, pleaded guilty, and was fined ss. and costs, the usual alternative being allowed. There were a number of cases on the civil list sheet, but they were soon disposed of, being either settled out of court for the most part or adjourned. The Otago papers occasionally deliver homi-: lies on Wellington City Council proceedings, and hold them up as a “ frightful example ” of municipal meetings. Somehow the Municipal Councillors of Dunedin don’t become much better. Wednesday’s Times has,the.following: —“At the regular meeting of the St. Hilda Council last evening several remarkable speeches were delivered. . Mr. Halligan, as usual,' was at loggerheads with his brother councillor, Mr. Houghton; whose political extinction he prophesied would be similar to the wasting away of the candle in a beer bottle that had been placed as an ornament on the Council table, around which were gathered, the Mayor, the Councillors, the clerk, arid the reporters. A discussion of the usual Parliamentary description took place regarding the proper furnishing of the Council Chambers.” A pleasant reunion of the employes of Messrs. Pollock and Young took place in the Odd Yellows’ Hall last night. About forty gentlemen sat down to an excellent spread provided by Mr. Grey, confectioner, Lambton-quay, who gave general satisfaction. Mr. -Beauchamp made a very, excellent chairman. After the good cheer provided had been done justice to; and. the usual loyal and patriotic toasts had bpen drunk, thetoast of- the evening, viz., “Messrs. Pollock and Young,” was proposed, and in doing so the chairman referred to these two gentlemen in the most eulogistic terms. He said that they had come to this city only a few years ago, and by indomitable pluck,.zeal, and upright and honest conduct had made themselves felt, and had so pushed their way oh that,they had established for themselves a business at once deep-rooted,, extensive, and lucrative; and now that they were about to leave he hoped that they would-be as success-;, ful in their hew sphere as they had been here. . Messrs... Pollock and_Young jretumed. thanks in suitable terms,. and stated that their success in Wellington was made simply by at-’ tending to the wants of their Customers, and by dealing fairly with- everyone. Handsome en--.grossed addresses were then presented to each, of; these gentlemen by the chairman, on behalf of; their, employes, by whom they were sighed; setting forth the kind and fair manner in which they had been always treated by. em-, plby ers. - Other toasts also followed, including the - “Health of/the General Assembly,” .the “ Shipping Interests of Wellington,” the “Mer-. can tile. and. Bankinglnteresta,’.’_“.Messrs. JPol-. .lock and Young’s Employes.” Some other .minor toasts were drunk and responded to, and at a late hour a very enjoyable evening was brought to a close. The following miring news fromtiie Thames Advertiser of March 22nd is more extensive’ than anything received by telegraph : —“ Not ■only have mining matters improved very much in'the Moanataiari and 1 Alburnia mines, but there is a decided and marked change for the better in the ’Reel Queen locality and-the Waio-Karaka. The latter district has been for a considerable time previous to the Moanataiari ! find the largest gold producer, and although at no! time rich, - yet' the'large reefs and steady, yield from the City of London, Queen of the' May, BrigKt’Sinile, arid Queen of Beauty mines gave, until-the 1 , collapse of the Bright Smile Company,-handsome dividends to their respective .'.sharehbldefs, besides' employing a very large percentage 1 of the mining labor of the field. Everyone' is'acquainted with the difficulties enceuritered-iri again-starting I the Smile' pumps and - starting the Piako Cqtnpany to r-wdrk the ■ Bright) Smile and ’ Bird iin - Hand ground. We are glad to learn, that the r prospe'ctH of this part of the field are again brightening." There ; is'a very l marked - improvement' fin ithe-Queen' of the May and iQneen 'of Beauty; and a fair'show in the City, while'the Piako Gomptliiy ’ which has been lately worked so ' plijokilyrhas-deyeloped-a 1 splendid-reef :-on-the - N 6. 7 level fully 13 feet thick,.the prospects of I which are exceedingly encouraging.'..Energetic efforts are being, made to open out the. low level and start ■ the,big.battery,'not only ori the stuff from Nos.’ l and 2 reefs, but also from the Bird-ip-Hand lodesj to which a drive will shortly ’connect with the Piako shaft. The Bird run of gold was a good payable one. We understand that several of the.Piako. tributers are also likely to do well. The decision of the Young New Zealand and Welcome directors to. accept the Waitekauri Company’s terms to connect with a tramway has had the effect of stiffening their respective stocks in the share- ■ market, and gives a warrant that this part of Ohinemuri is likely shortly to receive a thorough trial. The Young New Zealand lode has become more defined, and improves in appearance as driven’ on. The shares in the Moanataiari advanced most rapidly in value’ yesterday. In the morning the market opened with sales, at £9, and at the close last evening there were buyers at £l6, but no sellers. This price makes the value of the mine and plant £216,000, or au increase in value of more than £200,000 within three weeks.”

A man named Heuare Ngapua, charged with horse-stealing, arrived by the Rangatira from Napier, where he was arrested, and he was taken yesterday to Masterton, where the offence was (as alleged) committed.. The Theatre Royal was very well attended on Thursday night, when the play of “ King Rene’s Daughter” was repeated, being followed by the “ Lady of Lyons.” Last evening a concert was held in the Theatre, the audience being large. The lady members of the Lydia Howarde Troupe performed, assisted by a number of local amateurs. To-night “ Macbeth” will be produced. As usual Good Friday was observed by a large portion of the community with as much solemnity as Sunday. At the Anglican and Catholic churches divine worship was held, and in pretty well every instance large congregations attended. The services were exceedingly plain and penitential. A large number of persons who hold different opinions regarding the observance of the day travelled into the country, and the railway was largely patronised.

The railway traffic returns for the Southern railways during February are as follows; Canterbury division: Passengers, &c., £8246 Os. lOd ; freight, £10,203 2s. Bd. ; total, £18,449 3s. sd. Oamaru division; Passengers, &c., £B3B 4s. 6d. ; freight, £862 13s. 4d. ; total, £I7OO 17s. lOd. Dunedin : Passengers, £4577 9s. 2d. ; freight, £4393 7s. 8d- ; total, £8970 16s. lOd. Invercargill: Passengers, £1636 18s. Bd.; freight, £2789 14s. 4d.; total, £4425 16s.

Mr. Kenneth Campbell, travelling agent for the Australian Mutual Provident Society, delivered a lecture at the North Makara Schoolroom on Wednesday evening. The lecture was numerously attended, the ladies especially showing their interest in the subject by their patronage on this occasion. Mr. R. Robinson presided, and introduced the lecturer in a neat speech. Mr. Campbell touched briefly upon the early rise and slow progress of assurance, and the revolution it is now accomplishing in the comfort and habits of those who avail themselves of its advantages. He dwelt specially upon the incalculable boon of life assurance to the working man, and the.urgent necessity for every man to avail himself of its benefits, particularly the benefits conferred by the Australian Mutual Provident Society upon policy holders. The lecture was illustrated and enlivened by numerous diagrams and anecdotes, and everybody seemed pleased at the additional light thrown upon a subject generally so little appreciated for its own sake and for the blessing and security it brings in its train to those who are wise in time. The meeting closed by a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman.

The Davenport Troupe, which has achieved such a large reputation, arrived from the South yesterday, and will open at St. George’s Hall this evening. In addition to the Brothers Davenport and Professor Fay, Mr. E. D. Davies, the well-known ventriloquist, is also a member of the party. No doubt the troupe will be well patronised. A biography of the Davenport Brothers, published some time ago by f-aunders, Otley, and Co., of London, states that they were born in Buffalo,. State of New York. In 1850 the western part of New York was disturbed by the “Rochdale Knockings,” in which the elder Davenport was a believer. His family held sittings. The result was that they had loud knockings. On the third evening they had writing, and on the fifth some extraordinary spectral performances, The next sitting was a memorable one. The boys Ira and William and their sister were floated in the air over the heads of a large number of persons- who had collected to witness the seance. It is alleged that on one occasion the brothers were carried sixty miles in a brief space of time by some inextricable agency. They then began their extraordinary rope-tying performances; The Post Office Hotel possesses a living curiosity in the form of an old veteran, who, if he has not done the State some service, has a remarkable history ; and even now, though advanced in years and bearing traces of past rough usage, manages to make himself useful to the gentleman who feeds and gives him shelter. He is known by the .name of Bill Sykes to those who are personally acquainted with him, and though his appearance is not prepossessing, he has an affable manner and possesses much sly humor, which he exercises to the no small edification of the intimates aforementioned. It is popularly supposed that he killed- a Chinaman at Castlepoint many years «go, but has never been brought to book on that account. One fact spoken of as bearing out this belief is that the Celestial he fought and conquered kicked him on the leg ; and certain it is that one of the limbs resembles closely a crooked willow branch,; so that his movements are slightly eccentric. He is also supposed to have eaten an infant in his young and- frolicsome days. But he has long since sown his wild oats, and comports himself with a gravity becoming his age.and long and varied experience. He is now permanently settled with Mr. Harding, who has conceived a great affection for him.

'The matter of the Theatre Royal-license was * brought before the " Supreme Court in banco on Thursday, Mr. Justice Richmond presiding. Mr. Barton moved the Court to .make absolute the rule nisi granted calling upon James Coutta Crawford, James Paul, and Thomas Kebbell, Licensing ; Commissioners and Justices of the Peace, to show ciuse why a writ of certiorari Should hot issue removing the matter of the license granted to Thomas TJrwin for the Theatre Royal Hotel into the" Supreme Court;' Mr. Ollivier, who appeared' to show cause, took the preliminary objectiotf that in the rule, a copy of which had been served upon his client, no'grounds were specified by" virtue of' which the application was to be made, and that therefore he was at a loss to know- to what particular points he was" to ably required by the rules of. Court that rules nisi should coutain-a statement of - the-grounds upon which the 1 parties were moving (Queen v. ißurgcss,' 34 L.J.; N.S., Mag. Cases, p. 4). After' some' ‘ argument, Mr.- Barton 5 found himself compelled to admit that the rule was bad; Mr. Barton then sought to move the Court to in3ue.a.writ at - certiorari at once. He stated that, anticipating' the- rule might be-objected to-as an improper modeiof proceeding, he had -caused to be served'six days’‘ notice of his 1 . intention•’ to; move" the: Court. Copies. of i the'' rule and the notice had been served simultaneously upon. the gentlemen named.' Mr. Ollivier said he -had;notbeen instructed• to' : appear., The; Oouirt considering that 'the'!twoproceedings -might reasonably have i (been; regarded as one and the same, -declined to make the order as prayed.’ ’ h ■, r. J - ThpKai warra Rifle Volunteers ha ving received ah ihVitatidh "from Captain'Wood, commanding the , Wainuiomata ‘ Rifle' Volunteers, inviting them to a picnic l and to fire a friendly ,match ;, at‘ rifle shooting, a part of. the tornpanyrunder the command 6f Captain Thompson,'left early on Thursday morning in coaches,* and arrived' at Wainuiomata,at 10 a.m. A rifle matoh was fired first—ten 1 men a side—..ranges' 300, 400, and 500 yards, five shots at each range. The Wainuiomata team were victorious. There was some good" shooting made by both teams. The highest score was -made by Private R. Prouse, : of the Waihuio- ■ mata Rifles, who made‘ 55 points out of a possible GO. After the, firing was over both companies and the majority of the inhabitants of Wainuiomata adjourned to the schoolhouse, where a most sumptuous repast was provided by the ladies. After the viands had been done ample justice to the company proceeded to a paddock adjacent to the schoolhouse, where every kind of ■ amusement was indulged in. When night came on the company went to the schoolhouse, where dancing and singing were kept up to a late hour. Captain Thompson having returned thanks on behalf of the Kaiwarra Rifles lor the manner in which they had been received, the company returned to their homes.

In consequence of the recommendations of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society regarding the opening day of the shooting not having been carried out, Messrs. C. Nedwill, L. L. Powell, and Philip Hanmer have resigned their seats in the council.

The Forbury Handicap, a mile and a half was won by Fishhook in 2min. 44secs. It is said to* be the fastest time yet made in the colony. The Dunedin Corporation does not seem to manage its gas works so well as has been claimed for it. The gas committee Lately brought up a report alleging that the supply of gas at 12s. 6d. per 1000 ft. would result in a loss of £9OO for the year, and recommending that meter rents be reimposed to make up the deficiency. The report was rejected, the Mayor, .who was one of the opponents to its adoption, saying that as a private concern he would only be glad to take the works over and supply gas at its present price, giving the Corporation 10 per cent, on their outlay. A curious document was found a few days since ou the Timaru Beach, near the Timar.i Lauding and Shipping Company's office, in the shape of a charge-sheet of the convict station at Fingal, in Tasmania, of the year 1845, wherein three convicts named Henry Smith, George Floxton, -and Thomas Davis, were charged with disobeying orders. It is signed “ Win. Franks, Visiting Magistrate,” and is (the Lyttelton Times says) still clean and fresh, although thirty-three years old. The Waitangi Tribune contains the following under the heading of “A novel bet:"— “ Some eleven years since, Mr. George Freeman, while working on the Waimate Station, had a discussion with his employer, Mr. M. Studholme—so the report goes—as to the probability of a train running through this district, and the result was that the spirited employe offered to lay a wager of a stick of tobacco (Barrett’s twist) that ‘ a train would r n in or through Waimate before that day fifteen years,’ which the employer took up. The circumstance, probably, slipped Mr. Studholme’s memory long since: but George proved not so forgetful, for the day after the opening of the Waimate branch railway, the ‘ king of the whips,’ seeing his former employer driving a buggy through the town, brought the trap to a standstill, and claimed his stick of tobacco. The loser on having the little affair brought to his mind, immediately jumped out of the conveyance and went into Mr. Gascoyne’s, where he purchased tobacco, and presented the winner with three sticks of ' the weed. It is said that Mr. Studholme was highly amused on being informed of the bet, and very likely will often- enjoy a laugh at his heavy loss. Mr. Freeman purposes, we learn, framing one of the sticks of tobacco,”

Pew colonial Governors have possessed finer abilities or evinced a greater eagerness to tearfi all there was to be learned about the colonies as a whole than Sir Charles Du-Cane, late Governor of Tasmania, and it is very pleasing to find such a man bearing testimony to the capabilities of the colonies. Speaking in his county—Essex—lately. Sir Charles said : “ I do not believe in any great-financial or other catastrophe impending over Tasmania, Nor do I believe in the ultimate ruin of any country which undoubtedly possesses great and comparatively undeveloped resources, and which beyond all others upon earth,.save perhaps portions of New Zealand, is to my mind suited to be the home of English men, women, and children.”

We frequently hear a great deal of the party in Victoria which is anxious to break up the large estates of that colony. In fact so persistent are they in theirendeavdrato secure their end that capitalists are taking alarm, And the result promises to be most detrimental ' to the colony. The that “one gentleman connected with squatting pursuits in Riverina, who was in treaty for the -purchase of an estate near Castlemaine, has-relinquished: his intention of settling down: here.and has purchased a property for £60,000 in Tastnani', where he will spend the summer months. Another who was accustomed to' spend; £4OOO a year in Melbourne, has bought an estate which cost him £30,000 in New Zealand.! In both instances the motive for investing the money out of this colony, was the apprehension of confiscation. Selectors who wish to sell are already beginning to suffer from the same cause,, as the market value of ’ their property has declined in some instances 36 per cent." The following extract from the Sydney Horning Herald explains the nature of the entertainment Mr. James Mace, the pugilist, has come to give in the colonies ;—“ In these studies he has been most favorably received elsewhere, and it is certain that in them hia splendid physique gives him every advantage. Last night he appeared in seven characters— Hercules struggling with the Lion, the Quoitthrower, the African alarmed at thunder, Ajax defying the lightning, Samson' carrying away the Gates of Gaza, the Ancient and Modena . Fighting Gladiator, and the Dying Gladiator. These are all, as it were, acted. , The preliminary action is first represented,'and then the pose is given, so that the factor gives himself extra labor in studying these preliminaries and working,them up to the climax. For instance, in the Dying Gladiator—which is perhaps the , best of all the-representatiohs—Mr. Mace hot only, gives the four- positions which the gladiator in the combat assumes, 1 but also adds the by-play (if - the expression may -be ,used) lead-' ing up to each;position. .Atfirst this will beconsidered by many to detract from the. pose itself ;; and' no doubt it lias that effect, especially as the attitude is -hot sufficiently long preserved' to make it truly effective ; but attire same time it .must be admitted that it shows considerable study. .And to this must be added that there’is nothing, forced or - strained in the way in which the preliminaries are represented. The gladiator fights, struggles, and pants before he sinks on his side, which is the pose ; he recovers himself , and faces his enemy once more before his strength utterly deserts him, and he falls to-rise nomore, which is the final scene; ■ 'This is. quoted simply as an example of what,Mr,.Mace appa--rently thinks is the most effective method bi' -’depicting,the parts in which he appears;,and' from that’ point of view they are.unquestionably rendered- in a- powerful manner.... It may be added' that each presentation ■witb great applause,; and., that Mr., Mace wan - ■ twice called before the curtain’at the conclusion.” ’ '