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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5535, 23 December 1878, Page 2

His Excellency the Governor and Lady Normanby have gone into mourning in consequence of the death of the Princess Alice. It is officially notified that all the offices of the Government will be closed on Thursday, December 26, that day being declared a public holiday. It is reported from the West Coast that Mr. Woolcock’s constituents intend making a substantial presentation to that gentleman, in recognition of the manner in which he has represented their interests in Parliament. It is very probable that a team of English footballers, consisting ef gentlemen players to be chosen by the Rugby Union of London, will visit New Zealand and Australia next winter.

In the telegrams sent to Christchurch on Friday night the name of Titania was accidentally omitted from the list of acceptances for the Wellington Gold Cup. The Secretary of the Canterbury Jockey Club telegraphed to Wellington to know the reason why, and a reply ’was immediately sent assuring Mr. Digby that Titania’s acceptance was all right, and that the omission was purely accidental. Consequent on the resignation of SergeantMajor Smith, Sergeant O’Connor has been promoted to fill the vacant place. Sergeant O’Connor is a police officer of largo and varied experience. Some years ago he was a subinspector in the Queensland police force, and he was for a considerable time subsequently stationed at the Thames, prior to being transferred to Wellington. He is in all respects thoroughly qualified for the position to which he has been deservedly promoted. A supplement to Thursday’s Gazette has been published, bearing date Saturday, the 21st iust. The following pay and travelling allowance for non-commissioned officers and constables has been decided upon:—Police—Sergtmajor, lls. per day ; sergeant (Ist class), 10s.; sergeant (2nd class), 9s. 6d.; sergeant (3rd class), 9s; constables (Ist class), Bs. 6d ; constables (2nd class), Bs.; constables (3rd class), 7s. 6d. Reserve. —Sergt.-major, 9s. 6d.; sergeant (Ist class), 95.; sergeant (2nd class), Bs. 6d.; constables (2nd class), 75.; constables (3rd class), 6s. fid. Travelling allowance of noncommissioned officers and constables is fixed at the rate of 6s. per diem. Detectives.—Chief detective, 16s. per day ; detective (Ist class), 145,; detective (2nd class), 12s. fid.; detective (3rd class), lls.; detective (4th class), 10s. We are glad to see that although the match between the Wellington and Nelson representative teams has fallen through, the matter has been taken up by a local Wellington club. The United Cricket Club have sent a challenge to the Star Club of Nelson, and they have accepted the same. The eleven proceeds to Nelson to-morrow evening by the Taiaroa, and will play on Boxing Day. The following is the team chosen to represent the United Club; Messrs. Sunley, Munt, Astell, Howe, Brown, Wylie, McGirr, Keefe, Daly, Crowther, and Kutchen.

It may be safely predicted that Miss Sherwin has a great future before her. No one who had the pleasure of listening to this young lady on Saturday, could doubt this. Piquant and fresh, with a charming appearance and great vocal talent, we look for success for Miss Sherwin on the boards of the theatres in England and Europe. All the items on Saturday night’s programme were given with precision and effect, and to the evident delight of the hearers. In response to an encore Miss Sherwin sang the ever popular “Last Hose of Summer” with much taste and feeling. Signor Pompei’a abilities are well known ; it is sufficient to say that on Saturday he was in good voice, and sang the parts allotted to him in his usual crisp and genial manner. A sparkling comedietta preceded the singing. Hare Mr. J. P. Hydes and his company were at home, and before the time came to hear Mias Sherwin and Signor Pompei the whole theatre was in the beat et humors. Mias Amy Thornton recited the well known appeal from “ King John” in a manner which did her very great credit indeed. There are but two more nights in Miss Sherwin’s season. Those who miss hearing this young lady will lose an evening’s enjoyment such as is not often open to the Wellington public. In, consequence of the alterations necessary to be made to one of the sharp curves on the tramway line in Sussex-square, it is found necessary to suspend the traffic this evening after seven. The last train from Adelaide-road will bo 7.10 p.m., and the last from the railway station will be 7.10 p.m. The traffic will bo resumed as usual on Tuesday morning. -

The Manavmtu Herald gives the following advice to its readers of an usually practical nature “This is our advice. We may be sneered at for giving it. As a duty we owe to the district in which wo have cast our lot, and having in view the fact that iyo have refrained from perpetuating the quarrel since the election, we say once more, lot us sink our differences, and unite to further the progress of the district, and especially to guard the terminus of tho railway which the Government always call the Wellington-Foxton lino.” Wanawja of the 14th says:—A party of fifteen chiefs have just come down from the Upper Waikato country, under the direction of a native priest or tohunga named Te Tako, for tho purpose of opening a Hauhau place of worship in the Hotea District at Kaipara. The party are at present guests of chief Paul at Orakei Bay.

The Lyttelton Times says Some idea of the increasing traffic on the south line may be gathered when it is mentioned that on Wednesday over 100 loaded waggons were desnatched south from the Lyttelton and Christchurch sheds. On Dec. 16 the department put on a second regular daily southern goods train as far as Ashburton, and notwithstanding this relief to the accumulation of goods, and also that a number of loaded trucks were forwarded by each passenger train, it was found necessary to send a special train on Wednesday night to Ashburton, consisting of thirty waggons. Should the regular traffic continue to increase during what may he termed the intervals between the heavy seasons as it has done since the close of the last grain season, it will be found necessary to put OB »third daily goods train, at least for some dists?®® the};?«."

Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Bates left for Sydney by the s.s. Wakatipu on Saturday last. A large number of friends assembled on board the steamer to wish them bon voyage. At St. John’s Presbyterian Church yesterday the morning services were conducted by the RSv. Mr. West, and the evening by the Rev. Mr. Brown. The Foresters are requested to meet at the Foresters’ Arms on Thursday next at 9 a.m. sharp, to form the annual procession to the sports at the Basin Beserve. Segeant-Major Smith severed his connection with the police force on Saturday last. While regrettting the loss of such an efficient officer, the many friends of Mr. Smith will wish him every success in the new sphere of life upon which he has entered. The Whareama correspondent of the WaiTarapa Standard writes as follows :—“ The stumping round of the Wairarapa members should also have been deferred for a couple of months. The people of this district have once seen their member, Mr. Beetham. Whether that gentleman thinks one visit enough for a life time is not easy to say; but his coadjutor, Mr. Bunny, thinks, doubtless, that life is too short to waste it on an outlying district, so does not come at all; it is most likely the votes he will get from this district, should he at a future time require them, will do him no harm.” From the South we hear that it is now nearly certain the through line from Christchurch to Invercargill will be opened during the second week in January, and it is probable that the arrangements will be similar to those on the occasion of the opening of the line between Christchurch and Dunedin, viz., that invitations will bo issued to passengers by the first through train. It is not, however, yet definitely settled whether the train will run through the same day, but it is not unlikely that this will be the case. When this all but completed link is finished there will be a continuous main line of railway running from Amberley to Kingstown —a distance of 487 miles, From a Lyttelton paper we hear that four trout, weighing about 2 Jib. each, were, some little time ago, placed by the General Manager of Railways in the railway water tank, built for fire prevention purposes, and seem to have thriven splendidly in their new home. The tank contains 55,000 gallons water, and is fed by four 3in. artesian wells, which are constantly flowing. Insect life seems to be very in the water, and altogether the fish Sjopear to be in good quarters. The experiment might be tried at the proper season of placing a small quantity of prepared shingle in one corner of the tank, Mr Sidey’s solo of superior furniture In the Arcade Buildings was well attended on Saturday afternoon. Owing to the number of lots a continuation of the sale takes place this day at 11 o’clock, when a number of pianos and some very recherche articles of furni. ture will bo offered. For full particulars see advertisement. The sale Is actually without reserve.