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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5029, 7 May 1877, Page 2

The outward Ban Francisco mail, despatched by the Rotorua on Saturday afternoon, consisted of 5038 letters, 102 books, and 2640 newspapers for Europe, and 276 letters, 7 books, and 150 newspapers for America,

The second of tho two maps of the scene of hostilities in the Kusa-Turkish war is issued with tho New Zealand Times of this day, and will he found complete in every sense of tlie word. On this map the locality of the operations mentioned in our telegrams published this day can be plainly traced. This, and the map which preceded it, have been printed of convenient and small size, so as to be handy for reference. Their speciality however, despite their size, lies in the excellence of their details, and their being in consonance with tlie latest topographical information. We observe with satisfaction that a great change has recently taken place in tlie state of our streets. The tracks of tho broom and shovel arc seen now over all parts of our city, causing tlie greatest improvement and cleanliness, whilst in wet weather crossings are swept for foot passengers, creating comfort in walking where hitherto deep mud had to be waded through. This beneficial change in the state of our thoroughfares has been caused by the labor of a small hut efficient force of street sweepers employed by the City Council on the motion of Councillor George—the result of which we arc glad has been so successful. As tho 11 o’clock train was approaching ICaiwarra on Saturday forenoon, some loose horses that were being driven along tlie road took fright and started an express that was proceeding in the same direction as the train. But the horse was too heavily weighted to keep up with the other animals, and overturned the vehicle into the ditch, throwing the man out in front and smashing the express The man escaped apparently unhurt, and the horse did not seem to he much injured. On Saturday evening a well-known and incorrigible blackguard named Carr was arrested on a charge of drunkenness and disorderly conduct. He was very violent in his manner, and had to be taken to the station, handcuffed, by two constables. This man has a good wife and family, whom he constantly ill-treats and neglects to provide for properly, although he is a plumber (for which ola-s of men we believe there is ample employment in Wellington), and a good tradesman into the bargain. Tlie following are the players who will take part in the handicap chess match to commence this evening ;—Messrs. Barraud, Bate, W. Bishop, J. Bishop, Blundell, Brown, Churton, Davies, Deacon, Deverill, Didsbury, Ellaby, Gandy, Giles, Green, Horwood, Huliett, Irvine, Kennedy, Kirk, Laery, Orbell, Sample, Thane, Beeves, Taylor, White, Whittem, Wiggins, Willis, Worgau, and Wright. Tho players will be divided into four classes, each class giving odds to the lower classes. Members will draw for antagonist, and after the first heat the sixteen winners will play off until the match Is reduced to a single game. The final victor receiving a prize. Play will commence punctually at eight, so that it will be necessary for players to be present ten minutes before that hour.

At the Theatre Royal this evening the Lydia Howarde Troupe reappear, Messrs. Baker and Farron having made their final appearance on Saturday evening to a good house. As to the Lydia Howarde Troupe it should be needless to make any remark, inasmuch as their merits are perfectly well known ; and several members of the troupe are greatly admired by the Wellington theatregoers—to wit Misses Howarde and Navaro, Miss Jennie Nye, Mr, Sam Howard, and others. The performance this evening will consist of the fairy extravaganza, for the first time on the Wellington stage, of “Once Upon a Time,” and we have no doubt it will be very entertaining. It may be expected, therefore, that the troupe will make their reappearance before a large audience. The Odd Fellows’ Hall opens this evening, the entertainment to bo given consisting of what are advertised as “The People’s Concerts.” Songs and recitations, duets, &c., will be given by Mrs. and Miss Palmer and Miss Power, several local amateurs assisting them. Included in the programme this evening is the comedietta “ The Happy Pair,” in which Miss Palmer and Mr. W. H. Metcalfe will appear. The entertainment should be attractive.

There was very little done in the way of business at the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Saturday. The cases were as follows:—James Craig was charged with assaulting Thomas McLean; but the case was adjourned, on the application of the counsel for the prosecutor, till Monday. Mr. Buckley appeared for the prosecution; Mr. Gordon Allan for the defence. The second, and only other case, was that of an information brought by Constable Shields against a person named John Riding, for neglecting to keep his chimney clean, and thereby allowing it to catch fire. He was fined ss. and coats.

A series of changes in the proprietary of the Wellington city hotels have taken place within the past few days. Mr. H. Bennett, wellknown as providore for the New Zealand Company’s fleet, has taken the Commercial Hotel, formerly occupied by Mrs. Power, under whose conduct it has always borne a good good name. Mr, Sullivan, late steward of the Arawata, has gone into partnership with Mr. Thomas in the Central Hotel, taking the place of Mr. Cemino, who has gone into the Wellington Hotel, Thorndon.

The question of ornamenting our recreation ground is, wclearn, likely soon once again to crop up. Let us hope that when it does some good result will accrue therefrom. As each successive gathering takes place within the enclosure, whether for cricket, football, Caledonian sports, or the sports of the many other associations who now so often make use of the place, the same dreary comments are expressed by those present over and over again on its neglected and woebegone appearance, and particularly as to the outside part of the square where such athletic games take place. When the ground was fenced in some fifteen years ago quicks were planted all round, but from want of nursing and proper attention these came to grief. Later on some well-intentioned gentlemen planted some shrubs, with a view of ornamenting the place. These also failed to make headway, and died out. Perhaps no one ever took a greater practical interest in the progress and welfare of this useful institution than the late Mr. Borlase (one of the original trustees, jointly with Mr. G. Crawford and Mr. Bromley) both in the City Council and out of it. Somehow nowadays one hears more complaints made about its sad state than proposals and plane for rectifying the same. This apathy after all is more apparent than, real, and if a little energy is brought to bear we may expect soon to see a change made. The present trustees are Messrs. G. Crawford, T. Buchanan, and J. C. Crawford, and they have done their duty well, as far as lies in their power. No better men could be found to fill the important trust, and we believe they would rejoice to see a strong manifestation made by those who appointed them to the office, viz,, the people of Wellington.

To those interested in the acclimatisation movement—and who, we might ask, without fear of discovering exceptions is not ?—it will be pleasing information to learn that the trout liberated by the society in the streams of Wellington some time since have progressed favorably, having shown a remarkably healthy growth ; and we may add that some of those which were deposited in the water some years back have assumed large proportions—so large, indeed, that an unsophisticated lady in the country having seen one of unusual size, reported the fact to her husband by telling him that she had seen a large shark in the stream. Even making allowance for the highly imaginative power or ignorance of the lady in question, we must assume the fish to have been of considerable proportions.

By the Manawatu, which arrived here on Saturday, came the three prisoners, O'Reilly and Lester, convicted of arson, and sentenced to six years' imprisonment, and William Moffat, convicted of selling powder to the Maoris, and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. The prisoners were in charge of the 1 efficient sergeant in charge of Wanganui, Mr, Reid. Xhey were at once removed to the gaol. In connection with the man hloffat, some particulars .of his performances, which may possibly prove interesting, are published in another column.

Wo have received the “ Now Zealand Press News” for May.

There is to he a series of grand matches at :he skating rink to-night.

We have to acknowledge receipt of the Church Chronicle for May.

In consequence of the non-attendance of creditors the second meeting of’those interested in the bankruptcy estate of R. Butt fell through.

The annual general meeting of the Wellington Public Hall Company will be held in the Public Hal!, Jolmston-street, this afternoon at three o’clock. Business: Receiving directors report and balance-sheet for year ending 31st March, 1877 ; election of three directors, and election of two auditors. Two additions have been made to the billiardrooms in the cicy, namely, in the Melbourne Hotel and the Star Hotel. Both of them are splendid room?, well lit, well ventilated, and contain first-class tables, and it may be added that both have been well patronised since their opening.

His Honor the Chief Justice gave judgment in the matter of Poll’s objection to the deed of composition between 11. E. Tonics and his creditors. His Honor decided that Poll had no locus standi. The judgment, which is published in another column, decides several important law points.

Lately at St. Paul’s Church in this city has been initiated the practice of thejeongregation repeating with the minister the General Thanksgiving at evening service. The following appears in the Church Chronicle respecting the innovation :—“ To the Editor, —Sir, —For the sake of information, I would ask you if there is any authority for the practice lately introduced at one of our churches, of the people following the priest in repeating the General Thanksgiving ? I have in vain searched the rubric for such an authority. Indeed, arguing by analogy, the practice is unauthorised, for, in the rubric, preceding the General Confession (which has been quoted to me as a parallel case), the people are expressly instructed to join. Further, the * amen’ to thanksgiving is printed in italics, which is done wherever that only part of the prayer or thanksgiving said by the people. Also, I would ask, are the people supposed to say the first four petitions in the Litany with the minister, or after he has finished the particular petition ?— I am, &c., Rubric. [We believe there is no authority for the practice referred to in repeating the thanksgiving. As to the four first petitions in the Litany, it is evident that none of the parts printed in italics are intended to be repeated with the minister ; with some it would be impossible. Had it been intended that there should be a difference with others it must have been indicated by a rubric.—Ed, (7. o .]” A week or two ago a cable despatch recorded a dreadful accident at the Murray Bridge, Victoria. The following particulars were telegraphed to the Bendigo Advertiser: — “ A terrible accident happened at the works in connection with the Hew Murray Bridge today. Soon after four o’clock one of the travellers on the Hoama side of the river, 50ft. from the ground, upon which seven men were working, suddenly fell, fearfully crushing all the poor fellows. The traveller at the time of the accident was being employed to lift the dead weight used for sinking the cylinders from the top of one of these piers. Too much of the material, consisting of railway iron and bluestone, was taken off one side, and th e cylinder canted over, struck the traveller, which in turn was overbalanced, knocked away the girders underneath, and came crashing sideways to the ground with all upon it, and about 50 tons of the loading. The men were fearfully hurt. Their names are William Goldfrey, William Herbert, Wiiliam Phillip, George James Madroll, George Harden, and Moore. They were quickly assisted, and despatched to the Bendigo Hospital by special train, under the care of Hr. Crossen, who was at once sent for. Goldfrey, who was dreadfully injured on the head, was pronounced by the doctor to be in a dying date, and others of the wounded men are not likely to recover, their legs being frightfully mangled. Where the traveller fell ruin is complete ; huge beams are splintered like matches, the hoisting machinery and bluestone are broken in pieces, and the staging, cylinders, and iron are an utter wreck, and piled into one huge mass of debris, in inextricable confusion. The girders supporting the traveller gave way for about 50 yards in length. Various surmises are current as to the cause of the accident, but it is generally believed that it resulted through the cylinders nob being properly bolted together. Only four bolts were fastened in the joint which gave way when the column fell over to one side, and it is thought that had all the bolts been screwed the pier would have been safe. A diver who was excating the bed of the sister cylinder to the one which fell, had a narrow escape, for when the supply of air was cut off by the accident occurring, he had only time to climb the ladder some 40ft to the mouth of the cylinder, and have the head gear removed to escape suffocation.” We call attention to an advertisement in anothe column announcing an auction sale by Messrs. Matson and Co, of valuable land in Christchurch.