ELECTION OF PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 1865.

Evening Post, Issue 65, 25 April 1865, Page 2

ELECTION OF PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 1865.

« To-day was a most unpropitons one for polling, being cold, dismal and wet, damping the ardour of the electors, as well as their coats. • Immediately opposite the principal polling place there has been erected a primitive sort of shanty, which, to judge from its appearance, is more useful than elegant ; large placards are posted o:i the front of this structure, informing the public that polling papers are to be had there. Inside sits a gentleman the very personation of wretchedness, who hands with a shiver to the inquiring elector a paper, on which is printed the names of the twelve candidates for whom he is required to vote. Placards are posted in all kind of out of the way places; they are found on the walls, clinging round posts, and are carried about the city stuck to the sides and backs of the different conveyances^ They are nil fraught with the same philanthropic intelligence, and stem desiroua

o!" saving the elector who stops to read them the trouble of thinkintr, by informing him who he should vote for. By one, the electors are magnanimously told that if they want to have every blessing that reform cm give, they must vote for E. Bull, but, unfortunately for the gravity of the reader, the printer has made the note of admiration so excessively like a " y," that, in more than one instance, the reader has to reflect who •Bully" is intended to represent The express watrgona introduced here by Mr Osgood arc in request, and have been hired by some of the speculating candidates to convey their friends to th« polling place .

Evening Post Office, Hnlf-pa«t four o'clock. A large number of persons assembled to hi;ar the announcement of the poll, but were doomed to disappointment. A few minutes ai'ter four o'clock, the Returning Officer appeared on the Hustings, and said that the declaration of the poll would be made at twelve a.m. on Saturday next.

A good example is generally the forerunner Of competition , and we have had many illustrations in Wellington of the truth of that statement. Not many months ago, Mr. Smart catne from the South, to sue if he could introduce the .aspbalte pavement into Wellington. Mr. Pearce was the first who put his hand into his cash box for that purpose, and the a?phalte was lnid down in front of his store ; we now see the effect of his example : in various parts of the town the pavement has been uspd, and every one must acknowledge that it is a very desirable improvement. If Wellington has been asleep for twenty years, it has at length roused itself from its slumbers, and, by the gigantic strides it is making in progression, the Empire City is taking its proper stand amon? the towns of New Zealand. If we take a retrospect view of this city, we find that dnring the last six months thousands of pounds have been spent by private enterprise in improving property and erecting large and" handsome buildings. Carpenters and pain ters have been alike busy, their services are in great demand, and the effect of their handiwork is to be seen in the renovated appearance of many familiar buildings. Many old delapitated buildings that have stood the shock of the succession of earthquakes that have visited Wellington have yielded to th« march of improvement, ami in their stead, standing proudly erect, are shops and stores that would not disgrace oMer cities. It unfortunately happens that we are unable to use stones or bricks for building purposes, on account of the earthquakes before alluded to, consequently the town is liable to sudden conflgration9 from the inflammable material by which it i 9 built ; even here again the enterprise of our fellow citizens is shown, and they try to prepare for the evil by forming a Volunteer Eire Brigade ; and we say all honour to the noble fellows who voluntarily watch over the safety of they .city. > {- In the midst of our prosperity there has lingered an enemy to our peace, a thousand times worse than poverty— the fever. It is in vain we try to shut our eyes to the fact ; it meets us at the corners of streets — now in the funeral of a child, followed by its sorrowing parents and friends, and ever and anon men and women succumb to the ravages of the insidious disea*e ; our friends and acquaintances are alike stricken, and many homes are made desolate. This malignant fever has swept scores from our small community ; the rich and the poor have felt its effect, and mourn over the result of its visitation. It was generally supposed that the fever was gradually dying away, but it is not so, the victims are dyiug — not the fever. Its favourite resort appears to be Te Aro Flat ; and we know one instance where a mother and four children are prostrated through ita influence. We trust the Government will take such steps as will tend to mitigate the effects of the common enemy. An inquest was held, on Saturday, at the/ White Swan Hotel, in Cuba street, before Dr. Boor, on the body of the late Mr. Jeremiah Harrington, who expired suddenly at his residence about three a.m. on Saturday morning. The jury, after hearing the evidence, returned a verdict of died from natural causes. It is the intention of the Wellington Choral Society to have a rehearsal to-night, at the Odd Fellows' Hall, preparatory to the second coacert of the season, which, we takes place on Thursday next. We certainly should be glad to hear that the managing committee had decided to sell the

tickets, and allow the proceeds of the concert to form a fund for some charitable purpose. Many ways could be found for disposing of the fund, and perhaps the claims of the widows and orphans of our brave soldiers, militia, or volunteers, who have fallen in the struggle to suppress the Maori rebellion, might be thought worthy of consideration. The Superintendent, lately on an official visit at the head Government quarters at Wellington, has returned among us, and we understand that we shall have no reason to regret his temporary absence. The Colonial Government will offer no opposition to Marlborough raising a loan for the construction of a railway between the Port of Picton and Blenheim. Indeed we understand that Mr. Weld highly approves of the scheme, and does not doubt that it will prove eminently successful in insuring the progress and prosperity of the province, and as an ultimately paying speculation. Under no circumstances would there have been any opposition to the Bill and the loan, but Mr. Seymour's personal attendance at the offices of the Ministry, to urge the project, was no doubt a very wis& and essential act.— Marlborough Press. We take the following from the Sydney Morning Herald :— " The Victorian Government have intimated to the Imperial Government their willingness to subscribe a portion of the subsidy required by the Peninsular and Oriental Company for a fortnightly mail service, but suggests that the amount ought to be lower, considering the large amount of gold the mail steamer will get on freight. If the oilier colonies refuse to join, Victoria will pay half the subsidy, provided the Home Government will pay the other half, and leave all arrangements respecting the other colonies with the Victorian Government." At the Market Hall, on Saturday, a fine collection of vegetables were exhibited for sale, and met with reiidy purchasers. A meeting of the (late) Town Board was held at the olfices, Princes street north. Five were piesent, Messrs. Bastings (in the chair), R.dmayne, Smith, Ham, Murray, and Lovell. It was moved by Mr. It&lmayne, and secondel by Mr. Murray -" That as members of the Town Board of Dunedin, we hereby protest against the Draft Bill, or Ordinance, passed by the Provincial Council of Otaao, on the first dny of the now present Session, and assented to by his Honour the Superintendent intituled ' The Dunedin Town Board Dissolution Ordinance, 1865,' as being an arbitrary and unconstitutional procceeding, and an infringement of the rights, interests, and privileges of the Ratepayers of the Town of Dunedin." The motion was agreed to. A report from the Committee of Action waß r'ad. It stated the suspension of the operations of the Board, and the taking possession of offices, books, &c, "in the interest and on behalf of the citizens ;" all which would be learned by our readers from the report of the meeting of the Committee which we published on Tuesday. Mr. Murray moved '• That copies of the letter of Mr. Prendergast addressed to each member of the Board, and of the members' reply thereto, together with certain books and keys of the Town Board of Dunedin, be forwarded to the Solicitors, Messrs. Howorth, Barton and Howorth, with instructions to communicate with Mr. Prendergast and to net for the Town Board in the matter mentioned in Mr. Prendergast's letter j also, that the Committee of Action be instructed to carry this resolution into eflVct," Mr. Smith seconded the motion, which was adopted ; and the meeting was then adjourned. — Otago Times The lessees of the Theatre Royal ought to feel proud of the crowded and fashionable audience with which every available portion of the house was filk'd last night, and Wellington, on the other hand, should be proud of her little theatre and the artistes who could give such an entertainment as was witnessed last night. The performance was under the patronage of the Hon. F. A. Weld and the Ministry of New Zsaland, and we feel assured that the distinguished patrons were entertained above their expectations. The opening piece was the " Serious Family." We have no space to give the plot of the piece, but must mention that Mr Dann, as Aminadab Sleek, the canting, hypocritical, Exeter Hall humbug, was inimitable ; his nvike up, dress, and intonation of voice alike, had side-splitting effect on the audience. Mr. Dunn is an established actor of great merit ; but we are sure he has seldom been seen to greater advantage than last night. As Captain Murphy Maguire, Mr. Howe war

very good. His acting was capital, and was just sufficiently tinged with the brogue .to, make it pleasing without being ludicrous. Mr. Frank Towers, as Charles Ton ens, the hen-pecked husband and son-in-law, was the character to the life. The ladies were all excellent ; Miss Marian made a charming little widow, and acted with great spirit and vivacity. Miss Maggie Griffiths was also very good as Mrs. Charles Torrens, and acted the part very cleverly ; and Miss Anstead was perfection itself as the old Quakeress, Lady Creamley. The after piece was the burlesque of " Cinderella," produced in Wellington for the first time, and brought forward in such a style as will insure its frequent repetition with perfect success. Prince Poppity, in the hands of Miss Marian Dunn, was in all respects a perfect piece of acting ; her song " Ernarni," and duett, " I'm palpitating so," with Cinderella,^ were very sweetly sung, and loudly encored. Miss Griffiths was an excellent Cinderella ; her acting and dancing were good in the extreme; and Miss Anstead, as Thisbe, was also very good. The part of Clorinda, in the hands of Mr. Frank Towers, was displayed to perfection ; the get-up, the dress, and the manner in which he played the blooming and disconsolate daughter, proves him to be an actor of merit, and his local song, " I'm an old gal from Victoria," was vociferously encored> and the fair young demoiselle was rewarded by a bouquet. As Baron Balderdash, Mr_ Dunn was, ot course, as he always is, well up to his work, and looked and played the patriotic father in a most amusingly droll manner. Mr. Howe, as the valet Dandini, was well received, and his conception of the part a very excellent one. Mr. Batson and Mr. Dale also played well. The scenery, by Mr. Charles M.issy, was splendid, and the mis-en-scene, would have reflected credit on a west end London theatre. To-night the theatre is closed, and we are glad to see that to-morrow the performance will be repeated.