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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5326, 23 April 1878, Page 2

In a paragraph published in yesterday’s Times, referring to the water supply, the word “ yesterday” was inadvertently inserted instead of “Saturday.” Otherwise the ‘ facts as stated are correct. Our contemporary, the Evening Post', confirms our statement relative to the respective depths of water in the reservoir and distributing basin on that date. With regard to the overflow of water at the distributing basin our statement was quite true, notwithstanding what the Post says to the contrary; and the City Engineer, if ignorant of the fact, can ascertain its correctness by questioning the water custodian, and inspecting the furrows recently filled in, which were caused by the overflow of water. We were perfectly aware that tenders had been invited for the erection of a cottage at the reservoir ; but what we suggested was that a cottage should be erected at the distributing basin as a residence for the custodian, as it is very necessary that some one should be on the spot to meet any contingency that may arise. Tenders have not been invited for the erection of this cottage, and the building is not in course of erection. The writer in the Evening Post either displays a lamentable amount of ignorance on the subject, or is most disingenuous in his remarks. Before attempting to correct us ho should take the trouble to ascertain the facts.

A correspondent sends ns the following : By the next mall from Auckland you will receive the speech of Mr. Hugh Hart Lusk in full to his constituents, on his resignation of his seat for Franklin in the House of Representatives. .The main reasons assigned for the course the honorable member has thought fit to pursue it will then be found arise from his unwillingness to oppose the policy of Sir George Grey, as he intended to have done if lie returned here in July next, and the remarkable statements made about him in the pages of tho Herald by Mr. J. S Macfavlane. Mr. Lusk, it is understood, has no intention of altogether resigning politics, but will only keep aloof from them until the Grey furore has passed away, and the public, like some enterprising members of the community, have time to determine what to do with “unredeemed pledges.”, ,

Yesterday a very largo number of people took advantage of tbe holiday to have picnic excursions, and the numerous departures for the districts of tile Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua, and for the seaside near Wellington, caused the town to appear somewhat empty and dull during the day. . ■ ■ Information has been received by the police that it la, supposed the valuable racehorses Kakapo and Ouida have been poisoned. Both horses died suddenly at Castlepoint,' andthere are reasons, for suspecting that some rascal administered poison. The loss will be a heavy one to the owner, Mr. Heyward, and it is to be hoped that any scoundrel who would commit such a cruel.and cowardly act will be convicted and severely punished.

The cricket match Drapers v. Grocers was played yesterday in Mr. Whitehead’s paddock, and was won by the Grocers by 85 runs. The scores will be found elsewhere.

The rifle Competition between the Wellington’and Nelson cadets was fired off by the local team yesterday morning, and won by 135 points. The detailed scores will be found in another column.

The cricket match Nelson College v. Wellington College will be played to-day on the Basin Reserve. Wickets will be pitched at 10 a.m. The names of the teams have been published in a former issue.

The west coast of this island still retains its reputation for game. Two of onr local sportsmen went to Horowhenua Lake, which lies a short distance beyond Otaki, and in a couple of days succeeded in bagging 50 brace of ducks.

The return cricket match between the Thorndon and Makara Clubs resulted in a victory for Thorndon by one innings and 23 runs. The respective scores were:—Thorndon: First innings, 7S. Makara: First innings, 40 ; second innings, 15.

The sports of the Amateur Athletic Club, which were held on the Basin Reserve yesterday, passed off very well. ■ The championship of the club was won by Cyrus Webb, who scored 15 points to 14 obtained by O. Major. A report of the events, &c., appears in another column.

A collision between two vehicles took place on Larabton-quay last evening, causing a narrow escape of very serious consequences. A horse and cab, driven by a man named Fuller, ran into the cab of a man named Curtis. Curtis’s vehicle, and, horse were somewhat damaged, but the passengers did not sustain any injury.

A tea meeting in connection with the anniversary of the Wesleyan Sunday school, Manners-street, will Vie held in the schoolroom, Dixon-street, at 6 o’clock this evening ; and at half-past seven o’clock there will be a public meeting in the Manners-street Church, when several clergymen and laymen will deliver addresses, and a very pleasant and instructive evening will no doubt be passed by all present. The Theatre Royal was well filled with an enthusiastic audience last evening. “Forsaken” was the piece dc resistance, and went without a hitch, the audience expressing genuine approval at the scenery and the acting. The sensation scene was made very effective, a paiufnl stillness prevailing in the theatre whilst it was taking place. The performance concluded with a favorite afterpiece. “ Forsaken,” which will, be repeated this evening, should draw large audiences for some nights to come. The Royal Italian Opera Concert Company gave one of their enjoyable concerts in the Odd Fellows’ Hall last night. All the performers are old favorites, and appeared here not long ago with the Royal Italian Troupe. The programme selected was a really enjoyable one, and all the performers were most enthusiastically received by a large and appreciative audience. A fantasia on the pianoforte commenced the concert, which was nicely played by Mr. Turrell., The vocal portion of the entertainment was opened by Signora Caranti Vita and Signor Teasada singing a duet, which ' was loudly applauded. Signor Caraero was suffering from a slight cold, and was not heard with advantage. He was, however, encored on each occasion. Signora Venosta sang “ Non e ver” with great taste and feeling, and her fine rich voice was heard to great advantage. Signor Faladini’s rendering of a romance from “Martha ” was perhaps the gem of the evening. Monsieur L. Caron’s performance on the violin was a great musical treat, and was well worthy the loud applause that was bestowed on him. In the second part Signor Tessada sang with great humor a cavatina buffo. The concert closed by Signora Venosta and Signor Tessada singing a duet from the last scene in “ Pipele,” which was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience. Every piece throughout the programme was encored, and the performers were most gracious and always responded with the utmost good feeling.

The Havelock correspondent of the Marlborough Express 17th iust. thus refers to the new goldfield at Wakamarina ;—“ There is still nothing of importance to record from the Wakamarina Goldfield. From what I can learn, during the past week there has been any amount of talk and precious little do. It seems the water has almost disheartened those engaged sinking, and yet it is acklowledged by every practical miner that if three shafts were kept going at about the same level, there would be no difficulty in bottoming. One of those engaged l sinking Diamant's shaft informed me that he was confident if this plan were adopted, at the very utmost there would not be more than two buckets of water for one of dirt, and he thought much less. It is a great pity something practical is not adopted without loss of time, especially before this fine weather breaks up that we are now having. You would be surprised what numberless theories have been advanced for successfully draining this ground. Unity is strength, and I would ask the miners to recollect the old man's fable of the bundle of sticks. United few difficulties would prove insurmountable, but separated they simply cut themselves out a Herculean task. I believe at present they are waiting to bear something more from Mr. Norgrove, who having visited the terrace is perfectly satisfied he can make the water run up hill (on the syphon principle) and drain the claims without much difficulty, and for every claim he drains, if composed of a party of four, he receives one-eighth of the net proceeds obtained for his outlay ; so evidently he has some strong faith in the prospect. I hear they are getting good heavy gold in the upper terrace near the Forks.” Two dogs have been buried with Christian rites in the old Cinque port of Wiuchelsea. They belonged to the .English rector, and had been sentenced to death by hanging for sheep--worrying. Coffins were made for them, and they wore laid out decently and in order ; a day was fixed for the interment, and the children of the National schools were summoned to appear at the rectory. The coffins were brought out, covered with cloths, and borne by men to the graveyard, the children following and singing Sunday-school hymns. The remains were interred on the boundaries of the cemetery, and slabs are to be erected in memory of the two dogs. ~ Incombustible writing paper has been invented by two Salamanca savans, which is warranted to x-esist the most intense heat. A single sheet will carbonise, but will not burn ; while if a roll of prepared paper be placed in the fiercest fire, although the outside leaves and the extreme edges may carbonise, the interior will remain unaltered, and the writing or printing will be perfectly legible. Papers already written or printed upon may undergo the process of preparation without injury. Guns should always be carried at the halfcock, as then neither a blow on the striker, nor a pull at the trigger, will bring the former into action. There is no necessity whatever for a gun to be otherwise than at the half-cock, unless game is immediately iii front ; and, further, it may not be out of place to add that it is dangerous when- shooting in company for the' gun to be swung round in taking aim, with the finger on the trigger. The eye should follow the line of flight, and the gun be raised at the proper moment. Accidents from guns bursting are rare ; but caution is very necessary in getting' over fences to to see' that no earth gets lodged in the muzzle, or in winter time that the latter doss not get blocked up by snow dropping from bushes, or otherwise. These obstacles, although they may be easily removed, are .quite sufficient, if they remain, to burst thp strongest barrels when the piece is fired. This is caused by. the wonderful velocity of the expanding gases. This expansion, which is said to be at; the rate of 7000 feet per second, is the same in all■ directions, and the:least check at the muzzle of the gun causes such a sudden increased, pressure on its sides, that the latter are unable to resist its efforts, and are burst open. No one is more, cautious or scrupulously careful in the use of his gun. than an old sportsman, and no one more readily than he detects and condemns carelessness in the manipulation of their guns in others.

The Napier Daily Telegraph states that Captain Russell, M. H.R., has no intention of resigning his seat in the House of Representatives.

A Grand International Exhibition is to be held in Sydney in 1879, and 10,000 copies' of a Government Gazette Extraordinary announcing the fact have been printed for distribution. A curious vulgar error came to light (says the New Zealand Herald ), in-the course of the trial of James Thompson, charged with horsestealing, who was acquitted of the charge. It was alleged that many persons have a notion that when cattle or horses stray into the “ King country ” they are nobody’s property, and may be appropriated by anybody. His Honor Mr. Justice Gillies disabused the minds of those who may have adopted such a belief, by informing them that the law of New Zealand is as applicable to the “King country ” as to any other part of the colony, and “Queen’s subjects” are as responsible for their ignorance of it there as elsewhere. There might be some temporary difficulty in applying it to all manner of persons ; but if a man committed a crime even in the “ King country ” he was answerable for it in English Courts of Justice. Operations, says an exchange, connected with the submarine tunnel between England and Finance have already been commenced on the French side of the channel, several pits having been sunk to a depth of about 110yds. At the same time the French and English committees have definitely drawn up the conditions of working for the route. The property of the tunnel is to be divided in half by the length; that is to say, each company is to possess half of the line, reckoning the distance from coast to coast at low tide. Each company would cover the expenses of its portion. The general work of excavation will be done, on the one hand, by the Great Northern of France, and on the other by the Chatham and South-Eastern Companies, the two latterhaving each a direct route from London to Dover. All the materials of the French and English lines will pass through the tunnel in order to prevent unnecessary expenses and delay of transhipment, as in England and France railway companies use each other’s lines, and goods can pass from one line to another without changing vans. It is understood that an arrangement will be established for a similar exchange of lines between all the English and Continental railway companies when the tunnel is completed. The tunnel will belong to its founders. At the expiration of thirty years the Government will be able to take possession of the tunnel upon certain conditions.