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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5045, 25 May 1877, Page 2

Some commotion was caused on the wharf at an early hour yesterday morning in consequence of the arrest of a member of the crew belonging to the ship Ben Ledi on a charge of stabbing a comrade. Constable Sullivan was soon on the £j:>ot, and took into custody the man (a Dutchman) against whom the charge had been preferred. From what we could gather of the affiir, it would appear that one of the crew had, in the course of a quarrel arising out of circumstances the precise nature of which has not transpired, stabbed another in the thigh. The result of this little performance was that the stabber was arrested and taken to the station. He will be brought before the Resident Magistrate this morning.

At about half-past two o’clock yesterday morning the watchman on the Queen s wharf perceived a fire on the top of the Terrace, and gave the alarm, and soon the Te Aro and Central ilrebe! Is rang out their ominous alarm, and awoke many who had some time before gone to rest. The Fire Brigades turned out, and it was soon discovered that the fire was on the Terrace, and in the premises of Mr. Henderson. .Fortunately it was only an outhouse that had caught fire, and with the aid of tile Fire Brigades the flames were confined to the building in which the fire originated, the residence being in itself untouched, although, as

may be easily imagined, it stood in great jeopardy. The alarm given by the ringing of the

firebells caused a number ;of those residing within tolerably easy distance of the confla-

gration to be present, notwithstanding that to reach the 'scene they had to wade through a considerable amount of mud. So far as we could ascertain there is nothing to indicate how the fire originated. The usual lecture to young people in the Terrace school will be delivered on Saturday afternoon at the usual time. Subject: “Steam and Steam Boilers.” The synopsis of the lecture is as follows :—Steam and vapor ; mechanical properties of steam; absorbent powers of ditto ; steam in open and in closed vessels ; steam at high and low pressures ; expansive force of ditto ; Mariotti’s law of gases ; relations between consumption of fuel and the production of steam at various temperatures ; steam boilers—iron, copper ; cylinder, flue, water-tube, tubular, and multitubular boilers ; bursting of boilers, causes and prevention; stationary, locomotive, and marine boilers. The lecture will be illustrated by diagrams and various experiments. Admission free.

At a meeting of the committees of the Wellington Football Club and Athletic Club, held at Mr. Ames’ Star Hotel, it was resolved to play a match on the Basin Reserve next Saturday ; and we hope the players will turn up promptly, so that teams may be picked. On the Saturday following, we are informed, there will be played on the Basin Reserve a match between football players selected from “ The Town ” and those employed in the Civil Service.

A mistake was, we regret to say, made in reference to the came of the late steward of the Ocean Mail who was arrested on Wednesday on a charge of stealing a watch. It was stated in our paragraph that the man’s name was Jordan. This was incorrect. It was Sturgcss whom the constable sent for by Mr. Broadbent arrested. Jordan was simply asking the value of the watch, as Sturgess wished him to buy it. We take the earliest opportunity of making this correction, because an error of this kind might naturally be attended with serious consequences to Mr. Jordan, and we regret that the mistake should have occurred.

Tho Theatre Royal was very largely attended last evening, the stalls and pit being literally crowded, while the dress-circle was patronised fairly. So far as the performance is concerned there can be no question that it was of a description very much superior to many that occasionally draw crammed houses. To tart with, there was a full programme, consisting of “The Duchess,in which Mr. Baker appeared (for the first time) in connection with the Lydia Howards troupe in opera-bouffe, and we may honestly congratulate him upon the excellence of his performance. The other actors in the piece performed the tasks allotted to them creditably, and as a natural consequence the piece went well. “ The Three MusketDears” followed, In which Miss Howarde ami Miss JJye sang a duet, which elicited a hearty round of applause, and deservedly too. Tonight the Georgia Minstrels will appear, as announced by advertisement. These minstrels are spoken of very highly by the Press in other parts of the colony. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday Archibald McLean, charged with being drunk and incapable, was fined 55,, with the alternative of 21 hours’ imprisonment.—William Wayte, charged with being drunk whilst in charge of a horse and cart the previous day, was fined 1 Os., or 24 hours.—Frederick Duncan, charged with habitual drunkenness, was remanded until next day.—The following cases were also remanded :—John 'Devine, charged with stealing two overcoats, the property of J. Smith; James Llarke, a sailor, charged with cutting and W'.nndiug another seaman on board the Carnatic. '

Yesterday at about three o’clock a Mr. Turner went to the police and reported that he had seen the body of a man in the water, near the wharf, in an upright position. The body was observed in a spot in the water between the Andrew Reid and the wharf.

The employes at Lindsay’s boot factory played a friendly game of cricket yesterday—married against single. The single men were victorious over their fellow-workmen. In the evening all assembled at dinner, after which, among other toasts, the health of the firm was drunk with enthusiasm. The tables were then cleared, dancing was commenced, and a most enjoyable evening was spent.