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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5498, 9 November 1878, Page 2

The City of Sydney cleared Sydney Heads at 9 o’clock yesterday morning. Floods on the overland route having detained the Victorian mails, it became necessary to postpone the sailing of the San Francisco steamer. The detention, however, will not interfere with the steamer’s departure from New Zealand, as she will be pressed on the passage to Auckland. A deputation waited on the Commissioner of Hallways yesterday to point out the necessity for a farther supply of trucks on the Wellington and Featheraton line. From the extended report which will be found in another column, it will be seen that fifty new trucks will be at work in a few weeks, and that Mr, Lawson intends to have a further supply ordered, in order that tho requirements of the traffic may be fully met. Mr. Lawson also intimated that in order to relieve the traffic to some extent an extra goods train would be run at night, and also that passengers would be allowed to travel in the guard’s van by all 'goods trains between Wellington and ICaitoke station. Wellington narrowly escaped a serious conflagration at a quarter past six o’clock last evening, when tho alarm was sounded at both stations. An immense crowd was soon attracted to the vicinity of Messrs. McDowell Brothers’ establishment, in one of the windows of which a lire had ignited. The fire brigades turned out with commendable expedition, but fortunately the fire was extinguished before any very great damage was done. It appears that shortly after the gas was lighted the inflammable material in the window was observed to be on fire, and it is presumed that the flames must have originated through auunoxtinguished match having been unwittingly thrown amongst the articles in the window. It was a fortunate thing that the fire was discovered so promptly,’ or tho consequences might have been serious, considering that there was a good force of wind blowing at the time. We regret that in his endeavors to .extinguish tho flames, Mr. McDowell had his hand burnt. The Titanic Steel Company vainly endeavored to get the House of Representatives during the late session to recognise their alleged right to five thousand acres of land at Taranaki; but the directors have resolved not to cry peccavi. The company, it may be remembered, was to subscribe a certain amount of capital and to spend a certain sum in plant, to entitle it to the laud at ss. per acre. More than the amountspocified was spent, but the Law Officers of tho Crown advise that the stipulated capital was not raised, tho disputed point being whether paid-up shaves given for a patent are to be regarded as capital raised. Tho land was therefore never convoyed to tho company, nor the £1250 paid for it refunded. Mr. I). Anderson, the chairman, and Mr. T. K. Macdonald, tho secretary, were examined before the Waste Lands Committee this year, and the question gone into at length, the result being that tho committee.found that the necessary capital had not been subscribed by some £2600 ; but thought tho equities of tho case would bo met by tho £1250 being refunded to the company. The directors, however, think differently, and as tho time for raising capital is not limited under the articles of association, propose to call up tho required capital at once. Tho land is estimated to be of tho value of £3 per acre now, and it is said that by calling up £2760 an indefeasible right to a property worth £15,000 is secured. An inquest was held at the Morgue yesterday afternoon, before tho coroner, on the body of David Hart, an able seaman of' the ship Wairoa, who committed suicide by cutting his throat with a sheath knife. Dr. Diver, Captain Adams, John Mitchell, and John Acland gave evidence. Tho jury returned as their verdict that deceased cub his throat while under temporary insanity, A rather serious accident occurred yesterday. Some boys were playing with a miniature cannon on tho reclaimed land, loading it with powder and discharging it, when one of the number had his eyes and face very severely burned. The injuries were promptly dressed, and no danger to his eyesight is probable, but it was a narrow escape, and shows the danger attending juvenile military exploits.

The Wellington Cricket Club open their season this afternoon by playing a scratch match at the Hufct, i The Wanderers Cricket Club play a match this afternoon at Newtown against the Boyal Oak Club. An ordinary meeting of the Hutt County Council will be held on Tuesday next for general business. Mr. George Darrell’s “ Henry the Fifth Company,” as it ia called, will open at the Imperial Opera House on Boxing Night George Rignold will be the star. The first sitting of the Wellington District Court will be held on Friday next, in the Council Hall, late provincial buildings. Wo believe that only two* or three summonses have been issued. The Parliamentary Library is at' present closed, and will remain so for a few days more, in order that the books which were taken out during the session may be restored to their proper places. Yesterday a man dropped down on the wharf in an epileptic fit, but medical assistance was procured, and restoratives effectually administered. His name did not transpire, but he had come to the colony recently in the Medea. The Wanganui Herald is responsible for the following :—“ Going a begging.” The high and honorable position of Mayor of Wanganui. Who will accept the seat ? Can it be that the lustre reflected on the office by the present holder makes ordinary mortals chary of following ? The Kelly and Leon Minstrels were again favored with a good attendance at the Theatre Boyal last night. There will be an entire change of programme to-night, the bill of fare being principally made up of opora bouffe. There will doubtless bo a large audience on the opening night of the second programme. As an illustration of the rapid rise of property in this district (says the Wairarapa Standard)) we may mention that a Greytown settler purchased six months ago two small properties for the sum of £290. He has since sold one of them for £3OO cash, £lO more than the two cost him.

In order to afford intending excursionists a whole day in Nelson, the Union Company have decided.to send the Wellington away on Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock, instead of Monday, morning, as previously advertised This arrangement should make the trip more attractive than before, by giving the extra time to pleasure-seekers in Nelson, while it will make no difference in the time of returning. It was stated at the interview yesterday with Mr. Lawson by a member of the deputation that he had suffered great loss in consequence of the want of trucks to take his material to Wellington. Ho had to discharge four of his men, and others who were waiting for ; the timber had also to discharge some of their men, while several bricklayers were likewise thrown out of employment. We desire to draw attention to the very extensive programme of the sports of the Athletic Club, to be held on Monday next. There are no less than twenty-eight events figured on the card, and we hear that there are an average of about twenty competitors booked for each event. The great event of the day will no doubt be the handicap steeplechase, with six water jumps, hurdles, and gorse hedges. The water jumps will be sft. deep, so that any men jumping short will come out with wot jackets. The grand stand will command a good view of the widest jump, so that the best of the fun will be under the eyes of those who pay for the chief privileges of the course. Owing to the large number of events to be gone through strict time will be kept, and no delay whatever will bo allowed between the races beyond what is absolutely necessary. A good band will be in attendance. Mr. Edward Boulton, jun., the young man who was hurt by a fall of earth at Pahautanui about two months ago, is slowly recovering from the injuries he received. He has been stopping in Wellington at the house of a friend until about a fortnight ago. It was necessary to bring him to town, as there is no doctor in the place between Wellington and Otaki. Many of the settlers are of opinion that there would be a good practice for a medical man if he were to reside in a central part of the district, say either at Porirua or Pahautanui. We believe that the Odd Fellows aud the settlers generally would guarantee a certain amount per annum. Travellers by the tramway should beware of the danger of alighting when the carriages are in motion. Very frequently persons in a hurry, or not desirous of troubling the driver to stop, jump out while the tram is going at a considerable speed, and unless they are experts in the practice the result is inconvenient. Yesterday a well-known builder, presumedly being in a hurry, tried the experiment, and sustained a very nasty fall. Luckily no bones were broken, but ho received a shaking ho will not forget for a day or two. The great pianist©, Madame Garlotta Tasca, K.S.A., R.A.M., will give her first recital at the Opera House to-night, when sho will be assisted by Mdlle. Royally Merze and Mr. Alfred Plumpfcon. Of Madame Tasca's merits as a pianiste, Australian, and so far the New Zealand critics, have hut one opinion, that she is one of the greatest artistes who have y6t visited us The Australasian, of July 6, speaking of Madame’s performances at the Town Hall, in Melbourne, said:—“ There are occasions when the common vocabulary of praise < gives out,’ and it was so in this instance. As Madame Tasca executed the several selections, which had been made with judicious carefulness so as to serve as perfect tests of her skill, the listeners appeared tacitly to confess that all they could say was * X)a capo’ to the most superlative of the approvals previously pronounced.” The programme, as will be seei by the advertisement, includes a fine selection of pieces. Mdlle. Merze is a high-class vocalist from the grand opera, Berlin. Mr. Alfred Plumpton is a composer of fame. Madame Tasca performs on a concert grand piano, which she brings with her. At a meeting of the directors of the Tramway Company this week it was reported that 16,000 passengers travelled on the Une last week, being an excess over the number of travellers during the previous week. A thousand people travelled on the tram on Sunday last. It was resolved by the directors to take upgall shares not allotted by Tuesday evening. We were yesterday shown by Messrs. Woods and Crosbie six prize heifers. They were bred in Canterbury, and purchased by Messrs. Owen and Lethbridge, of Turakina, at £IOO a-head. It was intended to breed from them, but they each and all proved barren. The cattle are shorthorns, aud are without exception the finest animals of their class that we have seen iu the district. It was the intention of Messrs. Woods aud Crosbie to show the heifers at the Hutt Show. Now, however, as it is postponed, it is doubtful whether they will be exhibited. It is to be hoped they will bo shown, as it is seldom such a fine lot of shorthorns are met with. We understand that a number of would-be passengers by the p.s. Samson on Monday next have requested Mr, Pilcher to make arrangements •so that tho*e who wish to extend their trip may be enabled to proceed to Lowry Bay. This request has been complied with. The steamer will land passengers at Somes Island on her first trip, aud will call for them on her return at 3 p.m. Mr. Pilcher tells us* that he is trying to make arrangements with Captain Edwin, the clerk of the weather, so as to ensure a fine day for the trip, and has great hopes that tho negotiations will terminate successfully, A deputation from the Choral Society consisting of Messrs. Garrard, Marten, and J. A. Plimmor yesterday waited upon Mr. Mansford to get some information with respect to tho future occupation of the old provincial buildings. They pointed out that if the large hall was only going to be used for the purposes of a District Court, as had been rumored, it might be convenient to grant the use of the hall to the society to hold its practice in. Mr. Mansford replied that he proposed using it as a Resident Magistrate’s Court, and that it would bo impossible for the society have the use of the hall. He did not quite know when the Court would bo removed from the present building, but very soon he hoped, for it was most uncomfortable, and most enervating for the magistrate and the officers to ait in the small poky room which at present served as a Court. He hoped to get three or four rooms at once, and immediately remove the Court. However, the society might practice in tho hall till more was heard from him on the subject. Tho deputation accepted this offer with thanks. Another opportunity will bo afforded to those who desire to see the Maori dance. Tonight, at the Princess Theatre, an entertainment of this description will be given with the usual energy. We understand that the performances are moderated so as to accord with the dictates of modern notions of civilisation, and that in this instance the proceeds of the entertainment will be handed over to tho actors themselves.

A case of some interest to business «uen occupied the attention of the Resident Magistrate yesterday, when Mr. Waldegrave, of Palmerston North, sued Messrs. Bllaby and Oallis, of Wellington, to recover the value of potatoes said to have been delivered to defendants in good order. The case, which is reported in another column, was a rather involved one, and the Court reserved its decision till Tuesday. The large and well-known firm ‘of Kempthorne Prosser and Co. have now determined to place their business in the hands of a company. The firm has been favorably known in this ciiy for some time under the name of the branch division that has been hither.o conducted by Felton, Grimwade and Co. The prospectus of the company sets forth that the capital will be £200,000, in 100,000 shares at £2 per share, with power to increase, the shareholders accepting alimited liability only. The firm agrees to take up shaces to the value of £25,000. The whole of the business is in working order, in fact to those in this colony who have done any business In the drug trade the name of the firm has become a household word. Messrs. T. K. Macdonald and Co. advertise, in another column, a large and important sale of property. both tbwa and country, to come off shortly. The town properties include two thousand feet of frontages, and there are several very.valuable country p operties. The township of Carterton is well known as one of the most flemishing townships in the Wairarapa, and land there is rapidly advancin'! - in value. We understand that the terms are very Uo.idl, an i we direct the attention of our readers to the sale now, so that those who have the pleasure of visiting the Wairarapa Pastoral Association Show on the 23th inst. may seize the opportunity of inspoctingthe property mentioned as about to be offered for sale. We notice an extensive sale of property in Normanby, to be held next month at the site fixed upon for a railway station at this place. The township will be known as Normanby Extension, and at a later date sections will be offered at Karori, and & number of allotments in this city. Messrs. Bwan and Kirton will sell furniture, drapery, hams, and bacon, and the Woodvillo property, at the Arcade Buildings, to-day. at 11 o’clock sharp; and at half-past 3 o’clock will sell horses in the Arcade saleyards. The West Wanganui Coal Company's steamer Sampson will make a trial trip round the harbor today.