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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5100, 28 July 1877, Page 2

The Suez mail, which left this port yesteiv day by : the s.s. Arawata, consisted of 119 letters and 1 book, viaßrindisi; and 14S letters and 55 newspapers, via Southampton. The meeting of delegates from the several municipalities of New Zealand is to take place in Wellington on the Ist August. It was understood that yesterday in cham-j bers some further proceedings would have been taken in the Star of the Mersey case, pending in the Vice-Admiralty Court ; but on making . enquiry we understand that further time has been given to the parties concerned to bring in the "libel,'.' as it is technically termed. A.number of persons visited the' Odd Fellows! Hall last evening, to witness Mr.' Clifford's varied and interesting collection of views, which did not fail to afford the pleasure generally experienced by,, all sorts of people who witness them nightly."". The views may be seen again this evening, which will be the last opportunity the Wellington; public will have of witnessing the Mirror of the World. , I St. George's Hall was re-opened last evening with the promenade concerts which have been made so popular by Miss Howarde and Miss Navaro, assisted by Mr. Hunter. An excellent programme wasigone through, the singing being up to its usual standard of excellence. We understand that the concerts will'be continued till further .notice. \

There was an' indifferent, at the Theatre Royal last evening ;, nevertheless the company went through the full programme with a spirit that was highly commendable under the circumstances., '.' Susan Hopley" and the farce of ,"Uatchihg a Governor" constituted the enter-! tainment. This evening the sensational drama of "Jonathan/Bradford" will be substituted for " Susan Hopley,", and the farce will be the same/as that produced last night. ~; ' ... ;

i A public tea meeting, followed by a musical entertainment, was given last evening in Mr. Redstone's chapel, Courtenay-place, under the auspices of the St. John's Lodge 1.0.G.T; About 300 people were present, the Rev. Mr! Redstone in the chair. A variety of welli selected, songs, readings, and recitations were given. Mrs. Palmer very efficiently i presided at the piano, and a very pleasant evening's entertainment was afforded to the audience. >

A man named Edward Kennedy,, who died recently'' at' the Auckland liunatic Asylum; labored under a singular delusion. He believed that he had ; been ordered by God to refrain from, talcing nourishment, and all efforts to in-' ,duce ; him to take food were unavailing, till' within two days of his death, when he asked for eggs and potatoes,, which ..were supplied; with other nourishing; food ; but his system was too much reduced for him- to regain strength, and he died shortly afterwards.! An inquest was held, and a verdict of died of inanition,. the result of voluntary starvation} was returned by the juryl ,

The numerous friends of Mr. J. 0. Crawford will be glad to hear that that gentlemen has improved in health within the past'few days] although of course' he will ! not be able to resume his official duties for some time to come, change of air and scene being indispensable to his; : complete recovery within a reasonable time/' ;" ; "'' ; ' '- : ■' ' '■''". '

We understand it is likely that Mr. Severn, the well-known and popular scientific lecturer, will shortly return to England and take up his permanent residence there. It was thought probable that Mr. Severn, whose, greaf; abilities are beyond question, would occupy a position in connection with the University in^Dunedin,• but'no of that character being arrived atj we understand that Mr. Severn, who isrtfrSvin Auckland, will proceed to. England shortly, ! .' : /'■'. , ,"'•' • .Recent alterations in the law of patents, ,sv>ug;additional, facilities for obtaining them, lave 1 apparently had the effect of many application's beipg made for;new inventions which are,by no means novelties. We observe that au application recently made by Messrs. Mar- ! tin and Moore, of Daylesford, Victoria,' for certain improvements in derated water-bottles and in machines for filling them, was opposed by Mr. Starkey, of Sydney, and Mr. Gledhill,' of New Zealand, the holders of patents for inventions of, a similar character. , ! <

The opening up of New Guinea to civilisation- and settlement by the Anglo-Saxon race, 1 is an event which,- though long will, in all human probability, be brought about before many years have elapsed. ' We observe by re-' ference to Southern files, that the Key. Mr. Chalmers, formerly of Rarotonga, arid lately: lecturing in Dunedin, is about to proceed to; New Guinea to take charge of a mission, station there/ • ' i

The, Otago, Guardian, in a recent issue,; advises magistrates to exercise their power: of committing' persons to prison for debt' on judgment summonses with caution, and! points out a case of hardship in which a; man out of, employment by no fault of his: own, and having a sick wife and family de-j pendent upon him, was sent to gaol forj fourteen days through ; his inability to pay a j debt of £3; Tho evidence taken in the matter; is'not published, but prima facie it appears a| hard case. ■'

"JEgles," in the Australasian, writing of the cacoethes' loquendi in the.Legislative Assembly; of Victoria ; has lighted upon the following as; a hint to members :— r " In the manuscript re- < ports of proceedings, in the Long Parliament by Sir Simonds, D'Ewes, preserved in the British Museum, the; writer -.records that on the 13th of .Decemberj'l6'iO,'lie.moved and carried a resolution 'That Serjeant "Wilde Bhould hold his peace,- >vliich the, sergeant ac- i cordingly did." ,:■'.■;' '-,■■, ;" ' ': :

The lowest tender.for the manufacture and supply of 100 cattle waggons for the "V iotorian railways, was that of- the Phcenix" Foundry Company, Ballarat, at £14,595. We have to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the " Wellington Monthly Prioo Current." It contains the usual amount of valuable commercial intelligence, and is evidently very carefully compiled.

There was only one case at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, in which an inebriate was punished. The first annual general meeting of the Hutt Agricultural and Pastoral Society will be held at°the Hutt Mechanics' Institute on the Ist August at 7.30 p.m.

' Yesterday a declaration of inability to meet his engagements with his creditors was filed by Mr. Thomas Frederick Evans, of Featherston. The liabilities are set down at £289, and the assets at £57.

This afternoon the football match, which was to have been played on Saturday last but was postponedon account of bad weather, between the local team chosen to play the Dunedin team and all corners, will come off, weather permitting.

Preparations are being made to reconstruct the steps leading to the Terrace by the new Athenaeum— a work which was sadly needed. Perhaps the real convenience of that right of way was never so rightly appreciated as it has been lately.

We believe, says the Jurist, we are correct in saying that Mr. Justice Johnston has intimated, to'the Government that it is not his purpose to continue the reports of the Court of Appeal edited by him, after the present year. These reports were commenced in 1867, and the volume now in course of publication will be the third.

The captains of the steamers trading between this port and the Manukau, and persons whose business or pleasure causes them to travel by this route, will be glad to hear that the contractors for the new Onehunga wharf have commenced operations. The New Zealand Herald states that the position of the new wharf will be 50ffc. further down the stream than the old one, and will run out 600 ft., or into deep water.