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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5341, 10 May 1878, Page 2

His Excellency the Governor, Lady Normanby, and suite, arrived last evening by the Hinemoa from the Manukau.

The recently-formed Colonial Insurance Company is now fairly launched on the commercial world. Mr. E. W. Mills gave them their first business, viz., a fire risk of £IOOO. The time-table for the Wanganui and Foxtou line has been’ arranged as follows Trains will leave each end at 6 a.m., and run through by 11.30. In the afternoon, trains will start at 4.15, reaching their respective destinations at 9.45. A stoppage o: 15 minutes will be made at Haloombe for refreshments. At one time it was intended that passengers should remain all night at Halcombe, but fortunately for travellers this has been avoided. With the time-table as above any one leaving Wellington by poach early in the morning will reach Wanganui the same night. Although the line has not yet been formally opened, some passengers have made the journey by it. It will be remembered that at the meeting of the Wellington Gas Company, held on the 4th February, Mr. Green contended that the proposal of the Board to pay dividends at the rate of only 10 per cent, on the new capital was unfair and illegal, He demanded that 15 per cent, should be paid on the new as on the old; but this was opposed. Since that date legal opinion has been taken, and the advice given was to the effect that Mr. Green and those who supported him were right, and they receive an additional 5 per cent. Last evening the Wellington Artillery Cadets mustered at the Central Fire Brigade Station for the distribution of the prizes won by the various members of the corps. There were 21 prizes, amounting in value to about £2O. Mrs. Best (wife of Captain Beet) presented ■ the prizes to the various winners, after which Lieutenant Fraser stepped forward and presented Captain Best, on behalf of the members of the corps, with a handsome drawing-room clock and gold pencil ease, as a mark of their esteem and appreciation of him and his services to the corps. Captain Best returned thanks on behalf .of Mrs. Best and himself, and complimented the corps on their state of efficiency, which he attributed mainly to the exertions of their drill instructor, Ser-geant-Major Mowatt, for whom he called upon the corps to give throe cheers. He also asked them to pay a like compliment to Captain Moss, to whom the corps were greatly indebted for the use ,of the Central Fire Brigade Station. These calls were heartily responded to. Attention is called in our advertising columns to the merits of that long-established suburb ef Wadestown, a portion of which is now offered for sale. It may not generally be known, that this property originally belonged to Mr. John Wade, who—doubtless recognising the advantages of its healthy and picturesque posi-tion-laid it off into a township very many years ago. But buyers of land at that time were scarce, and the whole of the sections passing into the hands of a few gentlemen (the Hon. W. B. Rhodes, Mr, Knowles, and others), the very streets became grass paddocks, and the growth of the township was completely stopped. . Now, however, a change is likely to take place, as Messrs. J. H. Bethune and Co. have authority to sell 9 acres, subdivided into 72 allotments., The streets as originally laid off are wide, and a good carriage road runs through the land now offered for sale. The Theatre Royal was re-opened last night by, Messrs, .Walton and .Company, amongst whom are a number of did favorites. The piece chosen was Sheridan’s five-act comedy of “ Tiro Rivals.” Mrs. Fitzwilliam, who made her first appearance before a Wellington audience, sustained the part of Mrs. Malaprop.- Her acting throughout was most natural, and created considerable amusement. Mr. H. B. Walton played the part of Sir Lucius O’Trigger, and portrayed the good humored young Irishman most faithfully. Mr. Sam Howard, as Bob Acres, was very comical. The minor parts in the play were well sustained by the rest of the company. A farce, entitled “The Two Bonnyoaatles ” sent the audience away in the best of spirits. To-night “ Pygmalion and Galatea” and “The Serious Family” are announced to be played,” -■ The Young Men’s Wesleyan Mutual Improvement Society held their usual weekly meeting last evening,' when a very interesting discussion took place on the relative merits of the policies of Mr. Gladstone and Lord Baaoonsßald. The subject for the next meeting is “The present treaty existing between Russia and Turkey,” when another interesting discussion may bo expected. The gentleman who is to open tho debate is a Eussophilist.

A special meeting of the City Council will he held at 3 o’clock this afternoon.

A telegraph office has been opened at Tinui, between Master ton and Castle Point.

Mr. W. Berry has been appointed trustee of the estate and effects of George Howard, of Wellington, painter. A dividend of 10 per cent, per share is now payable to shareholders in the Wellington Public Hall Company (Limited). Notice is given that a call of ss. per share on the additional shares allotted to shareholders in the Wellington Land and Building Company (Limited) is due and payable. The Education Board is advertising for a first-class assistant master for Mount Cook hoys’ school, at a salary of £2OO a year; and also for an assistant at Masterton, at £l2O.

It is the intention of the Minister for Railways in Victoria to abolish ticket-windows at tho railway stations, and to substitute open counters. The new system will enable travellers to obtain tickets at any time. By a printer’s error we were made to announce yesterday that the Blenheim section of the trunk line of the South Island had been opened for traffic. The word written was Blueshin.

Whooping cough is very prevalent in the country districts just now. At Tauherinikau so many children are kept away from school by it that the attendance on some days is little more than nominal.

A general meeting of the creditors of H. Simpson, of Wellington, carpenter, will be held on the 16th inst., at noon, at the Supreme Court House, when the bankrupt will apply fora certificate recommending hia discharge. The first meeting of the newly-formed committee of the Sydney-street school was held in the schoolroom last night. Mr. J. Woodward was elected chairman for the ensuing year, and Mr. A. T. Maginnity secretary and treasurer. The remainder of the business was of a preliminary character, and of no public interest. Tenders are invited up to the 14th inst. for widening about 308 chains of road on the line between Mungaroa and Waikanae. This is a much-needed work, the completion of which will be a great boon to the settlers in the locality. Plans, specifications, &c., can be seen at the Hutt County Offices, Wellington, or at Ames’ Hotel, Upper Hutt. A large number of Mongolians arrived in Wellington yesterday from Sydney by the Wakatipu, en route for Otago, where they purpose directing their efforts to the finding of gold. “ John,” ever ready to earn a shilling or two, landed with several small goods for sale, a quantity of which was easily disposed of. They appear to be a healthy and a much stronger set of men than the ordinary Chinee one usually meets in these parts, and no doubt by their undaunted perseverance .they will soon accumulate enough of the precious metal to enable them to follow other pursuits. It appears that a writ has not yet been served on the Wellington Education Board at the suit of Mr. James Doherty. However, iu all probability a process calling on the Board to pay two thousand two hundred and odd pounds will be issued from the Supreme Court this morning. A sum of £l6 13s. 4d. is claimed as one month’s salary from the 31st March to the 30th April; £2OO is the amount claimed for wrongful dismissal, and £2OOO for libel. The libel consists in the action of the Board having, it is alleged, raised the presumption that Mr. Doherty was dismissed for gross misconduct. At the meeting of the Waste Lands Board yesterday, the members determined to ask the Patea Harbor Board whether they wished tho sale of certain sections of land forming part of their endowments proceeded with, in view of the probability that volunteer scrip would be tendered iu payment. The Board had asked for the opinion of tho Law Officers of the Crown as to whether the scrip must be accepted if tendered, but for the reason given in a letter which appears in the report published elsewhere, no opinion was given. Members of the Board considered that it would be wise to withdraw the sections pending legislative action next session. '

The barque Monavo, just returned to Melbourne from the Laoepede Islands (says the Newcastle Telegraph of the Ist instant), has had a most perilous passage. She left on the 20th January. The day after she commenced to leak so badly that the utmost alarm was felt. The timbers must have been actually rotten, and from the difficulties afterwards experienced in navigating her, it is marvellous she ever reached the port at all. The water was constantly pouring into her hold, and the passengers and all the men that could be spared from working the ship were kept conconstantly employed pumping and baling. At Flying Foam Passage the vessel was beached and hastily repaired. Since leaving there she has been running the gauntlet through a variety of dangers. As she now lies at anchor, the water can be seen running, into the hold fore and aft.

The Newcastle Herald states that an escape which may be termed almost miraculous was experienced on a recent evening by a young lad, a probationer in the Maitland telegraph office, of the name of Bastle. As the lad was proceeding home from his work along the line of railway, the late train from Morpeth to Maitland overtook him ere he was aware, and in an instant had hurled him to the ground. Although much cut about tho head, he happened to fall between the line of rails, and the whole train passed over his body without doing him further damage. Ho blame can be attributable to the driver, as there is no crossing where the accident occurred. How the lad escaped death is simply a miracle, and should be a warning to others not te trespass on the line.