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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5180, 29 October 1877, Page 2

The Lowry Bay Estate we understand has been purchased privately for £3500 by Mr. Sinclair, of Wainuiomata, in conjunction with two other gentlemen whose names did not transpire. Last evening Bishop Redwood delivered a 'charity sermon in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Thorndon, in aid of the Indian Famine Relief Fund. The right reverend gentleman delivered an eloquent and impressive address, during which ho reminded those present of the generous aid which other nations had given to Ireland during the period ofthegreatfamino,and concluded by appealing to his hearers, as Christiana, to extend a helping hand to the starving, millions of India. No matter of what race, color, or religion, or how far the distance, it was their duty to help their fellow-creatures in distress. At the conclusion of the sermon the handsome sum of £SO was collected. The Rev. Father Kearney also preached a sermon last evening at the Boulcott-street Church in aid of the same object, when the sum of £4O was collected. Another old colonist, Mr. Robert Lambert, died suddenly yesterday morning. The deceased arrived here about the year 1845, and for many years was employed as : clerk in the firm of Messrs. W. M. Baunatyue and Co. For some time past, however, he has been living independently. Mr. Lambert was one of the oldest Freemasons in the colony, and had been elected Master of the Pacific Lodge on several occasions, and was well known to all the members of the craft here. He was a man of most kindly disposition, ever ready to render assistance in the work of his Lodge, and to aid others, and his death will be very widely lamented. Deceased was about sixty-five years of age, and unmarried. We understand that an inquest will be held, but the hour had not been not fixed up to yesterday evening. The hare and hounds meeting, which was to have been held on Saturday, lapsed, as a sufficient number of competitors did not come to time. About a dozen young gentlemen, however, went in for a run to the Heads and back. We understand that no more of those mootings will bo hold this year, the season being too far advanced.

A final dividend of 7s. 6d. in the £ will be payable on and after Wednesday, the Slat inst., in the assigned estate of John Maymor. The weather has been very changeable and boisterous on the coast during the last few days. The seasonable showers of rain that have recently fallen, however, will do a great deal of good to the growing crops. The entries for the Birthday Sports will close at eight o’clock to-hight at the New Zealander Hotel. Judging by the amount of “peds” now in Wellington, there should be a good list of names for the handicap. The Cricket Ground is now every evening the scene of “ runnists” and “ walkists” doing their “spins”. 'The quarter-mile course is completed, and.only wants rolling and watering a little to set it firmly. Mrs. Tonks, widow of the late Mr. W. Tonks, died at her residence, Cuba-street, on Saturday morning. The deceased lady, who had reached the age of 74, was with her late husband amongst the early settlers here, having arrived in 1842. They were much respected in the district by a large circle of friends. The funeral will leave Mrs. Tonks’ late residence, Cuba-street, at 3 o’clock this afternoon, when friends are invited to attend. The management of the ferry punt at Foxton should be seen to, as its control is considered to be in inexperienced hands. @n the evening of the 23rd inst., when the coach was crossing the Mauawatu River in the punt, the wire at the ferry catching the top of the coach lifted it almost into the river, and had it not been for Mr. Haloomba’s (one of the passengers) timely aid, a serious accident would have taken place. The Hon. Mr. Pox addressed the children and their friends attending the Sunday-school in connection with St, John’s Presbyterian Church yesterday, winch was a day set apart for special prayers and exhortations on behalf of the scholars attending the various Sabbathschools. A very large number of both patents and children were present. In the evening Mr. Button, M.H.8., preached a most excellent sermon in St. John's Church. We again direct,the attention of the public to the prospectus of the Northern Land, Loan, and Building Company of Wellington, the share list of which closes on the 31st. The prospectus and forms of application for shares have, we understand, been very generally distributed, and any parties who desire to take shares, and who have not had a prospectus, can be supplied at the National Bank or any of its branches or agencies, where payment for shares can be made. There was a good attendance at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night, especially in the lower part of the house. By request “ Hazard" was repeated, Miss 1 Marian Willis and Mr. Keogh appearing in it for the last time. This was the first time of “ gifts” being added to the programme, and probably contributed to sw-ell the attendance. To-night the popular play of “ Hand and Glove" and the laughable farce of “ The Two Whites” will be performed, and a number of valuable gifts will be distributed. The cutter Margaret Soollay, now at anchor in port, had a very narrow escape from destruction by fire yesterday morning. It appears that at about half-past three o’clock one of the men on board, of whom there were three, happened to awake, and hearing the dog barking loudly, went on deck, and discovered smoke issuing from the forehatch. He at once aroused his shipmates, and when they took the hatch off a dense body of smoke came up, accompanied with fire. There was a strong wind blowing at the time, and to keep the hatch off would only have fanned the flames. Consequently it was placed on again, and water was then poured down the chain looker. After some time had elapsed the hatch was again taken off, but the fire was still raging below, and it had to be again placed on. Captain Sooones then, as a last resource, determined to cat away a portion of the deck on either side to admit of water being poured down into the hold. Unfortunately, the only axe which was on board was down where the fire existed, and to get it great difficulty was experienced, as the smoke which rolled up whenever the hatch was taken off was simply blinding. As soon as the axe was secured two planks of the deck were cut away ; and as by this time assistance had been rendered from the shore, the watchman on the wharf and two other men, who perceived the smoke from shore, having put off with buckets, the fire was got under. The place where the fire existed was used for keeping the ship’s gear. It contained sails, ropes, and also a quantity of clothing and tar, which latter were very fortunately untouched by the flames. Two sail and a quantity of gear were burned and also a box of clothing ; but beyond the woodwork being charred on the ceiling of the deck, no other damage was discovered. Captain Sooones and the other two men who were on board with him used the greatest possible exertions to extinguish the fire. The vessel is only insured against total loss, but perhaps the insurance companies will recognise the services these men have rendered.

For some considerable time past exertions have been made by the fraternity of Freemasons to establish a Lodge in the Manawatu district, the result being the formal opening at Palmerston on Tuesday last of the United Manawatu Lodge, with complete success, no fewer than thirty-eight brethren being assembled upon the occasion from Foxton, Feilding, Marton, Bulls, Sandon, Wanganui, and Wellington, P.M. Charles White, of Welington, and P.M. Pawson and Bro. Robinson,of Wanganui, being specially invited to conduct the ceremony, with the able assistance of three other Past Masters resident in the district ; and it is worthy of remark that each of the throe great constitutions, England, Ireland, and Scotland, were represented by rulers of the craft. After the ceremony the brethren were invited to a banquet at the Clarendon Hotel, presided over by the newly-installed Master, William J. Batt, ample justice being done to the excellent creature comforts provided by the host, although without doubt thq, great success of this part of the celebration was due to the care and supervision of Bro. Owen’s better half.

St. George's Hall was crowded on Saturday night, numbers having to content themselves with standing room. The pieces forming the attractions of the evening were the extravaganza “La Sylphide,” which went with great spirit, and Sullivan’s operetta “ Trial by Jury,” in which Bliss Uowarde and Mr. Cary both appeared to great advantage. At the conclusion of the entertainment some fifty to sixty gifts were presented to the audience, the leading prizes being a lady’s handsome silver watch, a pair of lustres, and a sovereign. Tonight the management have effected an engagement with Bliss Blarian Willis, , Bliss Vernon, Mr. Keogh, and Mr. Huntley, who, supported by the present company, will perform for the first time the comedy entitled “ Parted.” New scenery has been especially prepared for this production, and a full house may be anticipated. The Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, Blr. S. Carroll, has forwarded a circular to the employers of labor in town, calling their attention to the Australian Juvenile Industrial Exhibition, to be held at Ballarat next February, requesting that any young persons of either sex who may be in their employment, or be otherwise known to them, may be made acquainted with the matter. The circular is accompanied by a statement of the articles desired for exhibition, and an abstract of the regulations affecting exhibitors. Attention is also called to the following notice issued by the Ballarat Central Committee;—“Ladies and gentlemen are invited to give special prizes for any particular class of exhibits for the young people to compete for, which may consist of any useful or ornamental article, medals or cash, which will be awarded by the judges.” “ Referring to the mysterious robbery of £SOOO iu gold from a box on board one of the mail steamers,” says the South A.ustvctX%cui -1 dvcrtiscr, “we hear from Galle that evidence points strongly to the supposition that the gold was abstracted before the steamer left tho colonics. The inner box had been cleverly prized open, and from the dampness of the sawdust and the rusty state of the nails, it must have been done a long time before reaching Galle.”

The adjourned meeting of tie Caledonian Society will be held this evening at the New Zealander Hotel. Notice is given that a meeting of the creditor of Mr. Colin McDonald, foreman of the Waterworks, will be held on the Ist November at noon at the Supreme Court buildings. The population of Victoria at the end of 1876 'was 840,300 ; of New South Wales, 629,777 ;of New Zealand, 399,075; of South Australia, 225,677 ; of Queensland, 187,100; of Tasmania, 105,484; and of Western Australia, 27,321. The total population of Australasia was thus 2,414,733. A man named Edward Tyler was brought up at the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Saturday, charged with having obtained by means of a valueless cheque one set of studs, two solitaires, and a carbuncle from Benjamin Cohen, on the 10th SeptembexTast. Detective Farrell asked for a remand, stating that there were several other charges against the prisoner. A remand till Tuesday was granted, bail being allowed in two sureties of £25 each. Referring to the mysterious discovery of a number of bank-notes at Glenelg on the 9th inst.; the South Australian Register writes;— “ For some time past a number of workmen have been employed in levelling the sandhills on the Salti'am Estate, fronting the esplanade at Glenelg, and on the afternoon of the 9th inst., in the course of their excavations, they unearthed a tin box and a couple of leather mailbags, one of which was marked Willunga. In the box was a mouldy mass of paper, which, upon examination, was found to be a bundle of what were apparently £l-notes of the Bank of South Australia. It is believed they form part of the plunder obtained by the robbery of the Glenelg Post Office, in April 26, 1874. As the facts of that robbery will probably have almost passed out of mind, it may be of interest to mention that the pro. perty stolen consisted of thirteen registered letters and several outward bank parcels, containing altogether about £1700.’ One parcel was composed of 800 £l-notes, which were intended for Moonta. A reward of £2OO was offered for the conviction of the robber or robbers, but was not claimed, and the affair has never been in any way cleared up.” In reference to the Transfer of Colonial Stocks Bill, for which the colonies are chiefly indebted to Sir Julius Vogel, the Economist says : —A Bill of great practical importance to buyers and holders of colonial stocks has just been brought into the House of Commons by the Government. It provides for registration of bonds in the United Kingdom at the option of the various Colonial Governments, enabling, at a very moderate charge, those Governments to free the stock from costs of transfer (excepting, of course, the broker’s fee), and to put their stocks on the same footing as consols for this purpose. Much in the same manner as the Metropolitan Board of Works have already compounded with the Inland Revenue for free transfer of their stock, this Bill now proposes to allow the various colonies to pay 7s. 6d. per cent, as a composition for transfer fees ; in other words, on payment of this composition, the stock would be clear of. stamp duty in perpetuity. The advantage to trustees of thus widening their selection of inscribed stocks is obvious, and the cost to the issuing Governments would be, doubtless, far more than covered by the rise in market value of the stocks. A further provision allows of reconversion into stock certificates to bearer, in the same way as consols may be treated, and this will probably satisfy the class of bankers, &0., who prefer to retain the bonds to bearer as being easy to turn into money. As in the case of the funds, no trust will be recognised, which, as it conforms with the Bank’s practice with regard to British stock, cannot on the whole be called a disad~ vantage.