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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5523, 9 December 1878, Page 2

There was a rumor in the air yesterday that hia Excellency the present Governor of New South Wales, Sir Hercules Robinson, _ would be the successor of Lord Normanby in this colony. A quarterly meeting of the Wellington Chammber of Commerce has been called to consider the question of tho railway terminus, as well as for other general business. The Chamber meets on Wednesday next at 3 p.m. The Supreme Court will sit in banco at 10 a.m. to-day. A man named George Henry Thompson, an old offender, was arrested on Saturday by Constable Christie on a charge of stealing a tweed suit from To Are House. The thief was caught in the act, and was held by one of the shopmen until the constable took him into cue* tody. He will be brought up at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning. The Tramway Company are now engaged in altering some of the sharpest curves, in consequence of the liability of the trams to be thrown off the lino when rounding them. That this step is necessary was shown yesterday, when, the cars ran off at one of the Basin Reserve curves, which is about to be altered. In his sermon last night at St. Peter’s Church the Rev. Mr. De Castro spoke in regretful terms of the death of Sir _ John Richardson as having caused a blank in our social, religions, and political world which would not easily be filled up. A few days ago we intimated that owing to the loss of the s.s. Taranaki the Union Company would have to abandon the proposed annual excursion round the Sounds, that illfated Vessel being the one intended for the trip. However, since this notification, the public having expressed a certain amount of disappointment at being deprived of one of the most enjoyable trips of the season, the Union Coy. have, with their ueualreadiness to meet any reasonable wish of their patrons, decided to place on one of their finest boats, viz., the s.s. Rotorua, for the trip, She will leave Wellington on the 28th of this month, and Port Chalmers on the 31st, arriving at the latter port on the return trip about the Bth of January. Pull particulars of her rouud trip will be seen on reference to our advertising columns. We cannot but commend the Union Company for their promptness at meeting the wishes of the public, especially as we fear this is being done at a great inconvenience, but doubt not they will receive their reward by having a full passenger list. Berths will be allotted on the 21st inst,, so all who wish to secure comfortable quarters should apply early. The Inquiry into the loss of the Southminster was resumed on Saturday morning last. Captain Gibbon gave evidence, and stated that be was of opinion the captain should have anchored hia vessel when ha found she was nearing shore. Captain Holmwood and an A.B. of the ship were also examined, but gave no additional facts to those already published. Tho inquiry was adjourned until this morning, for the evidence of nautical men acquainted with the coast. The heavy rain of Saturday prevented the match Wellington v. Wanderers being played. Both teams were well represented, but after examining the newly-laid turf,- it was thought desirable not to play, as the ground would have been considerably damaged. Some practice, however, was indulged in, the wickets being pitched off the centre of the ground. The sensational drama “ The Colleen Bawn’’ was played at the Imperial Opera House on Saturday night to a splendid downstair audience. Miles na Ooppaleen was taken by Mr. H. E. Walton, and it is decidedly one of his best impersonations. His acting throughout was very natural, and was not overdone, as is frequently the case in this character. Eily O’Connor was sustained by Miss Tilly Andrews, but tho character is not one well adapted to her. Mr. Oily Deering as Corrigan was all that could be wished for, and he was several times loudly applauded. Danny Mann had a very good representative in the hands of Mr. Stark, and he certainly made the most of hia part. The remaining parts in the cast were only passably performed. The piece was, on the whole, well mounted, some of the ' scenes being very pretty. The audience signified their approval of the play by demanding the rise of the curtain at the termination of each act. To-night “ The Woman in White,” dramatised from Wilkie Collins’ novel, will bo produced, and should draw another good house. We are enabled (says the Otago Daily Times) to furnish the following as the correct list of the various police changes authorised:— Superintendent Atchison, from Wellington to Nelson ; Inspector Kiley, from Nelson to Hokitika ; Superintendent James, from Hokitika to Wellington ; Inspector Smith, from Oamaru to Blenheim; Inspector Emerson, from Blenheim to Tnuranga; Inspector Thomson, from Lawrence to Oamaru ; Inspector Moore, from Clyde to Lawrence; Inspector O’Donnell, from Kumara to Clyde. These are the whole. There is no authority for the statement which has been circulated that Superintendent Weldon, of Dunedin, and Superintendent Broham, of Christchurch, were to change places. The anniversary services in connection with St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Willis-street, were held yesterday. Tho Rev. James Treadwell, of Wanganui, preached in the morning, taking his text from 2nd Chronicles,. 6th chapter and X3th verse, and delivered a most eloquent and impressive sermon. A special service was held in the afternoon, when the Rev. Janies Paterson preached a sermon to the Sunday-school children and their parents and friends. There were between 400 and 500 children present, the body of the church being nearly filled. The text selected by Mr. Paterson for the occasion was taken from 2nd Timothy, 3rd chapter 15th verse, on which he made a most interesting and instructive discourse, illustrating the subject by appropriate anecdotes and biographical and historical facts. The Rev. James Treadwell preached again in the evening to a large congregation, and was listened to with wrapt attention. Collections were made after each of the services, and upwards of *640 was collected.

Mr. Francis Sidey’s sale of properties on Saturday was largely attended, and the bidding brisk. The following actual sales took place ; —Sixteen sections in Woodville at from £5 to £6 per quarter-acre section ; dwelling-house and ground Majdribank-street, 40 x 100 ft., £420 ; section No. DOS (Palmerston), £75 ; section 64 (Carnarvon), £l2 12s. The remaining properties advertised were bought iu, and can be treated for privately at the auctioneer’s office. The Feathers ton. sections will be offered next Saturday, the plans not having been completed in time for the last sale. At the Theatre Royal on Saturday night the curtain rose to the drama entitled “ The Streets of New York.” This, as its title indicates, is a drama of the sensational genre, and is one of those pieces that managers fall back upon to draw large audiences on Saturday nights. The production on this occasion attracted an excellent house, the pit and stalls being fully patronised. In the part of Lucy Fairweather Mrs. Bates displayed her versatile powers as an actress, and also showed to advantage as a vocalist, her song in the fourth act, “ Dreaming of thee,” being re-demanded. As Badger, Mr. Bates made a great hit; and Mr. Simmons and Mr. Hydes were very amusing in the parts which they respectively filled. Miss Amy and Miss Alice Johns gave a song and dance in ths fourth act, and were encored, and Mr. Wilkinson's character dance was likewise re demanded. The scenery and mechanical effects were very praiseworthy, more particularly tho street scene in the fourth act, and the fire scene, iu which the company were assisted by some members of the Wellington Volunteer Fire Brigade. On the conclusion of the fourth act Mr. Hydes came before tho curtain and intimated that tho management had secured tho services of Mr. and Mrs. Bates for six nights longer. The announcement was received with loud applause. For this evening the programme will comprise Robertson’s comedy of “Caste’ and the burlesque of “ La Sonuambula, In our advertising columns will be seen the announcement of Mdllo Charbonnet s concert at the Athcmcum Hall this evening. The programme is an exceedingly attractive one, andinoludes several items that have never before been presented to the Wellington public. We have no doubt that the eminent piamsto will bo greeted by a crowded house. Acting-Detective Smart arrested a man named William Clarke on Saturday night, oh a charge of stealing a pair of trousers. The theft was committed some time ago. The Athonmum services yesterday, under the auspices of the Young Men’s Christian Association, were well attended, especially in the evening, when tho Rev. Dr, Roseby, of Daneui n ; to^PM^

Mr. Henry Varlay, a revivalist preacher, who has acquired groat notoriety by bis plain speech in England and the adjoining colonies, is about to visit Wellington. A seaman named Timothy Lane, belonging to the ship Jessie Readman, was given into custody by the captain on Saturday on a charge of refusing duty and broaching cargo. Mr. R. W. Cary, the well-known theatrical manager, has just received advices from Sydney to the effect that a grand panorama of the arctic regions will arrive in Wellington by the next boat from Sydney. The following is a alight description of " The Arctic World.” It is a magnificent work of art illustrating every object and scene of interest in the Polar world, tho manners and customs of its wandering tribes, tho habits of tho bear, the seal, and the walrus, with the method of capturing these denizens of the frozen north ; together with illustrations of the hairbreadth escapes by sea, land, and ice that our bold adventurers have to encounter in the cause of science. The different paintings are said to be so vivid that the audience almost imagine themselves partakers instead of spectators of the scene before them. The mechanical effects have been carried out with a strict adherence to nature; dogs drawing sledges across the frozen wastes, walrus hunting, bear fights, shipwrecks, floating ice islands, revolving icebergs, ships getting under way, are said to be all depicted to the life. In the panorama itself there are sixty-three views, the whole concluding with a grand transformation scene, in which there are twenty-two entire changes. On Saturday we published a telegram from Dunedin stating that news had been received there that the English gentlemen team of cricketers would not be able to visit New Zealand. The following seem to be the various engagements made for the English eleven:—The first match will be played at Adelaide on the 12th, 13th, and 14th December, and the second at Melbourne on Boxing Day and the two following days. The eleven will play at Launceston on the 6th and 7th January, and at Hobarfcon on the 10th and 11th. A three days’ match will be played at Sydney on the 24th, 25th, and 27th; the team will play at Bathurst on the 31st January and Ist February, and again at Sydney on the 7th, Bth, and 10th of the latter month. They will play again at Melbourne on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd February; at Sandhurst on the 25th and 26th February, and at Ballarat on the Ist and 3rd of March. They play a farewell match in Melbourne on the 6th, 7th, and Bth March, and then leave for home, playing a return match at Adelaide en route on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd March.

The Nelson Colonist says that on November 20, Mr. A. Greenfield, Commissioner of Crown Lands, in accordance with a Gazette notification, set up to public auction the lease of the Government wharf for a period extending from the Ist of December to the 31st of December, 1870. There was a large attendance at. the Crown Lands Office, and, Mr. Greenfield having read the conditions of auction, a number of questions were put to him asking his interpretation of certain of the wharf regulations. He said that the wharf would be subject to city rate?, aud he believed also to the water rates. He gave his opinion as to the meaning of one or two clauses in the regulations, but he said he had had nothing to do in the drawing of same, and he was unable to interpret them. Having intimated that the bidding must advance £SO a bid, Mr. J. S. Cross commenced the business with a bid at the upset price. Mr. Cock, on behalf of Messrs. N. Edwards and Co., followed with a bid of £650 ; and Mr. Parker, a West Coast gentleman, we believe, advanced to £7OO. The following bids succeeded :—Mr. Cock, £750 ; Air. Cross, £800; Mr. Parker, £BSO ; Mr. Cross, £9OO ; and Mr. Cock, £950. The wharf was then knocked down to Messrs. N. Edwards and Co. for the period named, at the rental of £950 per annum. The second son of the Crown Prince of Germany, who is also the grandson of Queen Victoria, is about to visit the colonies. He is serving in the German navy, and will come out to the Melbourne Exhibition in the vessel in which he holds a commission. To-morrow Mr. "R. J. Duncan will offer for sale the new township of Patea, the nearest seaport to the well-known Walmivto Plains. The new harbor works are expected to prove of great service to the present somewhat inferior accumnedation available for vessels, and if this anticipation prove correct, there can be little doubt but that the township about to be offered for sale will grow into a place of importance. The harbor improvements now going on hare been submitted to and approved by Sir John Coodo, and his approval will go far to reassure all those who might otherwise have doubts of the investment. We hope that Wellington buyers will take advantage of the opportunity offered them for investment.