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Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 65, 8 May 1869, Page 2

The continuous and heavy rains during the week have had their anticipated effect. Yesterday evening, Ross-place was completely flooded, the'water rising to the verandahs on the south side. All this might have been prevented if the Government had done their duty in reference to the Whifcohaven-atreefc culvert.

The English Mail closes at the Post-office, Lawrence, this evening, at 8 p.m.

It has now become absolutely necessary thftt a proper ford should be made in that part of the Wynding Creek which the road crosses before ascending Frenchman's Hill, Switzers. The present ford is almost impassable for any conveyance. We trust the Government will see to this, as a good ford could be made at a very small cost.

Now that -the winter is upon us, and the flooding of the Pomahaka is certain, some means of crossing it will be much wanted. This means could be supplied by a wire rope with a foot' chair hanging to it, or some equally simple con* triyance by which a. pedestrian might cross himself, or a business man, swim his horse. The Government, we should imagine, have plenty of wire rope which is now in disuse at Clutha Ferry, and other places where bridges have been substituted for punts, so that the expense at. tending the construction of buch a ferry would be trifling.

The Athenaeum Readings were postponed till next Wednesday, owing to the inclemency of the weather.

Professor. Cook lectures at the Blue Spur this evening. We believe he was tolerably successful at Wetherstones. " <

Ok Thursday, the Provincial Council met, and Mr. Duncan announced the names of the new Government: — Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. Maclean ; Secretary of Land and Works, Mr. D. Reid ; members without portfolios, Messrs. Duncan and Gillies. It is stated that their policy will be both novel and daring. Mr. Mouatt carried a motion for a select committee for regulation of ferries, and for a return of sums due I>y assisted immigrants. Mr. Shepherd moved for a return of the quantity and quality of land open on the goldfielils for settlement. Mr. Reid seconded, and the motion was carried. Mr. Shepherd's amendment to Mr. Gillies' motion for reducing th« honorarium was carried by 20 to 12. It provides for allowing 20s. per diem, and mileage at Is. per mile. On Mr. Hay's motion, the Tapanui petition was referred to the Petition Committee.

The bad weather which has prevailed during the week has quite paraiized business. Some injury has been done to property by the high winds, and two cases of gentlemen being blown off their horses have occurred. The first of these accidents befell Mr. Smith while crossing the Round Hill, when his horse was blown clean over, and Mr. Smith escaped with a few scratches and bruises. An accident of a similar nature occurred rear the powder magazine to Mr. E. Vernon, Tuapeka Mouth, who fortunately escaped unhurt. Yesterday, the ground was wbite with snow, and the cold remarkably intense.

Mr. Beissel, the well-known perfumer, hus been appointed perfumer to H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh. Mr. Beissel presented an assortment of toilet requisites to the Duke, who expressed himself highly satisfied. , The 'Wethevstoncs Readings came off on Wednesday evening. The inclemency of the' weather taken into cons ; deration, the audience was remarkably good. The various renders and singers acquitted themselves to the entire satisfaction of all present, and received frequent rounds of applause- Mr. George Bai'ey, Switzers, and Mi. Donovan, Lawrence, were among the performers.

BacheliDEß's panorama of "Paradise Lost' \isits. Lawrence next week.

A HIfIHLY-ihteresfcing lecture was delivered at St. George's Hall, in aid of the St. Paul's Church funds, by the Right Rev. Bishop Jcnner, the subject being Church Music. There was a tolerably large and attentive audience, and Mr. Howorth was called to the chair. The Bishop explained that his object in giving 'the lecture was a twofold one -first, 3to add to' the St Taul's Church fund, and second, to endeavour to see carried out the forde of an expression he had used when he last stood on that platform, namely, that he "would rather have any noise than a silent congregation." He gave a sufficient history of Church jnnsic, tracing it from the earliest ages of the Church down to the present time, and showed how,.from the monotone had first come the first forms of inflected responses and simple cadences; on which had been built up from time to time the most gorgeous and intricate harmonies, and referred from the hymns of St. Ambrose, Prudentius, King Robert, of France, and Charlemagne, beginning with the third and fourth centuries, down to the compositions of Tallis and Farnuit in th« 16th century, and the .modern composers of Church ilfusic, to show the progress which had been made. He was ably aided in his lecture by the Choir of St. Paul's Church, who sang specimens of Antipbonal Church Music," consisting of Gregorian chants in unsion, Anglican chants harmonized by Dr. Blow about 1710, of metrical hymns, the music of some of. which was InOO years old at least, of modern Church and of anthem music, all of which was excellently rendered. At the conclusion of the lecture, a vote of thanks was cordially given to the Bishop for his lecture, and to the Choir for their services, and the audience dispersed after spending a very pleasant evening. — " Daily Times."