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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2028, 5 July 1875, Page 2

The effects of the gale as felt at St. George's Church last night reminded us of an incident which occurred in Dunedin some—a good number of—years ago. The members of the Church of England at that time assembled for Worship in a building which had been a Court House, just at the rear of the present Supreme. Court. At that time the only building standing between tke church and the beach was a rude structure known as "the gaol," where a genial old gaol keeper named. Monsou tdok care of runaway seamen and other offenders. The church was a wooden building, canvassed and papered on the walls and roof, the latter being dome^sbapedf During orie Sunday a gale raped, the full force of which, was spent on the church, its siluation being exposed. The wind got,under We shingles, in at the windows and doors, and at every crevice.which a comparatively old building offered. The canvass and the paper rattled and shook, scattering the dust in liberal profusion over the congregation, and making a noise like thunder ; presently, during a squall of unusual force, a fearful crash was heard, something like a sudden thunder clap just after a vivid flash of lightning. Timid ladies rose from their seats, giving vent to palpable screams, and strong men even showed signs of alarm. Somo were reassured when they found that the noise-Kas caused by the sudden rending of the canvass of the roof by the' force of the wind. After the puff subsided the canvass fell gracefully over the heads of the~congregation,:giving;out a more than Ordinary .cloud of dustif 'Some of 'the ladies.had io retire, and the service was slightly curtailed, and every one was heartily glad when it was over, especially as it was being conducted jby ;a lay reader whose manner was not calculated to entrance his hearers. ;

The funeral of the late Mr William Neely^ took: place yesterday afternoon at the Shortland cemetery. Deceased was a member of the Masonic order, and: also of the Good Templars, and there was a large attendance of members of these two orders at the funeral. Of the former, the Sir Walter Scoit Lodge and Lodge of Light (of which deceased w'^s a^member) werefwelit represented, and the : Good Templars/thomglviiot so numerous^ embraced members of botk lodges on the Thames. The funeral, moved from the late residence of deceased at three o'clock, the coffin being borne by members of the; Masonic order from Tommy's Lane; and along Sandes street to ?the- Hape 'Eoad, where it was placed in the hearse and conveyed! tb the cemetery. ;■ At:the* 'grave a portion of the Masonic Burial Service! was performed by the Bey. J. Hill, B.W.M. and Chaplain of "Sir Walter Spott Lodge;, Mr S. Bawden, W.M. Lodge of Light; and Mr E. T. Wildman, P.M. The -Good Templars then, gave a; portion of their service, consisting of sing-; ing and prayer. There were present besides the members'of the orders referred to, a number of private friends, and_ relatives, including the widow of thd deceased. The late Mr Neely was held in high esteem by all who knew'hint.; He' was a conscientious workman, of a quiet retiring disposition .and kindly! sympathies, and his death is generally regretted.

His Wobship the Mayor has convened, a public meeting, to take place at the Academy of Music this evening, at seven o!clock, for the purpose, of adopting a petition to the 'Assembly ■ praying for increased representation for the Thames' District in the Colonial Parliament. As there is an urgent necessity, for what is asked we have no doubt a very large meeting will beheld, and that a petition will be adopted to secure the object in View/ •. :;■ ?■;■;.. ; ;■,;,;■.■; T . ; The De Lias Dramatic Company gave their farewell ; entertainment in the Theatre Boyal on Saturday night, when they played Arrah/Tnai Fogue to a gocd; house. They left for Auckland in the; Enterprise L at the- conclusion of the; performance. ; A sitting-of the District Court; before Judge Beckham, will be held to-morrow.

""We have" had some very severe weather on the- Thames at different times, but the storm of last night exceeded in its grandeur and disastrous effects anything witnessed within the last seven years;= During, the whole of Sunday the weather was exceedingly variable, alternating. in sunshine and' shower,: with occasional fierce squalls. Boreas was; only amusing himself till;;:the tide approached the full. .. So it would seem, at; least;-for at about:.half-past:five o'clock a powerful and steady breeze set in from the seaward, and increased in strength: till it assumed the importance of a gale. The sea became gradually; more troubled; as the tide advanced, and sometime before the'flood* it had encroached far beyond; -the usual water-mark, rendering it totally impossible to pass by the beach in many: places. When the tide was full in, the footway along the beach was submerged, and the waves beat with ternfice force against the fences of the front gardens of Beach-road residents. We allude, of course, to that stretch between Grahams-, town and Shortland. The night was very dark, and the howling of the wind and rush of the tide was sufficiently unpleasant to induce many persons to confine themselves to their firesides. Up the creeks the sterm was, felt very much, and very few persons stirred from their houses. A few were obliged to do so, as their exposed position rendered it dangerous to remain in their own houses,' and they look shelter with their neighbors. Altogether the storm last night was such as is seldom witnessed, and the effects arc felt the more on account of the exposed position of the town, and the absence in many places along the beach of any protection against the encroachment of the ordinary tides.

The members of the Grahamstown Volunteer Fire Brigade met together or Friday evening in their new news room to celebrate the bpening^of it,.and.-to discuss the various articles of good cheer which the kindness of Mr Thomas Eawden had provided for them to do justice to; the Superintendent, Captain and members of the Shortland contingent to the number of 18 were also present by invitation. Mr Superintendent Young was called to the; chaifv;'and a number of toasts were^ given including those of the Borough Council, our invited guests, and the press. Several of the members gave proof of what musical skill, they possessed in the shape of song's, arid a most enjoyable evening was spent by all present. The members are to be congratulated on the completion; of the room, and the additions that are constantly being made to their library by ; presents of books and papars, and we have no doubt that with the attractions ifc; now posesses, a considerable number of the firemen will be found there every j evening ready for duty, no matter from where the call proceeds.

The Sydney Echo of the 23rd instant says :—We understand that the Government, with the concurrence of New Zealand, conveyed through Mr Russell, who is at present in London, have arranged with the A. S. N. Company to continue the present temporary service for four additional trips to and from San Francisco on the same terms as the present contact, witli the exception that contractors have made concessions to the Government in reference to the premiums for arrival of bor.ts in advance of the time named in the table and have also agreed to provide additional accommodation for the mail agents on. board the sUamers. Under this arrangement, the temporary j service will end in October.