NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 853, 19 March 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Builders’ and Carpenters’ Meeting. - A meeting of the trade to consider the report of the annual picnic committee, as to the advisableness of holding the usual picnic on Easter Monday will be held this evening at the Temperance Hall, Gloucester street, at eight o’clock. The chair will be taken by Mr D, Reese.

The Grain Market.— lt is staled by the New Zealand Times that private advices received in Wellington from Australia report that Adelaide will not export this year more than 70,000 tons of breadstuffs, as against 200,000 tons last year ; and that Sydney will this year be a large importer of grain, consequent on the severe droughts What is a “ Stringer” ?—An Invercargill paper reports that this was the question put to Inspector Fox by two Justices who eat in the Resident Magistrate’s Court there. He was giving evidence in a case, and made use of the word as one that was commonly well understood. It was beyond the knowledge of the gentlemen on the Bench, and, for the benefit of others who may be equally ignorant, it may be stated how Inspector Fox enlightened them. The term, he said, was usually applied to a rather interesting female, kept in a hotel for the purpose of “ drawing on” men with more money than orains to spend it. The Justices expressed themselves as being satisfied with the definition.

Rainfall. —lt is estimated that in Wei lingtou during February 7.100 m rain fell. In Hokitika during the same period 15.850 m fell ; while at Christchurch the fall was but 3.990 in.

Judicial. —By order in Council, just gazetted, the Northern district, as defined by previous proclamation, is assigned to Mr Justice Gillies, and the Wellington district to the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Richmond.

Tonks’S Sweep.—lt may be news to the numerous local holders of tickets in Tonks’s sweep on the Dunedin Cup race to learn that the following fancy horses have been drawn by ticketholders in Hokitika :—1123, Ariel; 593, Danebury; 728, Kingfisher; 732, Guy Fawkes ; 1133, Rosemary; and 1180, King.

A Lawyer on the Laws —ln one of his electioneering speeches at Wellington, speaking of the laws of New Zealand, Mr Travers said they had been aptly described by a legal gentleman as being all “ hocus-pocus, hugger-mugger, and higgledy-piggledy.” There was not a lawyer in New Zealand who would pretend to have anything like a thorough knowledge of them. He would, if elected, endeavor to improve them somewhat. The laws to be good should be as simple as possible, so that everybody could understand them.

New Sale Yards. —Mr E. W. Roper’s new sale yards were formally opened on Saturday, and during the day were crowded with visitors, the farming interests being largely represented. The yards, which are situated in Lichfield street, occupy a large space of ground, and are admirably fitted up with pens for cattle and pigs; the latter are very commodious, and afford plenty of room for buyers to see the occupants of the pen?. There is also a capital lot of pens for the poultry, and shed room for traps, carts, &c, sent in for sale. Mr Roper, in his opening remarks to those present, stated that he had arranged his order of sale so as not to clash with those at the other yards. Railway Parcel Tickets —The public have not (says the Goelong Advertiser ), so far taken much advantage of the new system introduced in Melbourne of selling railway tickets at offices in the city. It is intended, however, to give the experiment a fair trial, and a further innovation is to be tried Arrangements will be made with shopkeepers, under which parcels for customers about to travel by rail will be received at the railway station, for delivery to the applicant on the production of half a stamp, the other half of which will have been stuck on tee parcel by the shopkeeper. Paper Folding Machine —The enterprising proprietors of the Wellington Even • ing Post have imported a folding machine, as an aid in the iesue of their large circulation. It is a beautiful piece of machinery, and saves an immense amount of lime and labor. The papers, after being put through the printing press, are placed on the feedingboard of the folder, and are received by the “ fly-boy,” neatly folded, and ready for issue. Thus labor and time are saved. The Post proprietors are also importing a new machine, capable of very rapid printing.

The Karamea Settlement. The Sphinx-like problem, for whose benefit was the Karamea settlement founded, seems (says the Nelson Daily Times) upon the verge of being solved. The Wallace, on Wednesday, left Nelson for that West Coast Arcadia with 113 packages of general merchandise, ten tons of flour, oue cow, and one horse. The passengers upon this occasion were Mr and Mrs O’Conor, and Mr O’Conor’s brother. The same vessel, upon her return voyage, brought seven families of the original settlers to Nelson, a change that points significantly to the beginning of the end. Fire on Kaiapoi Island.— -On Friday a fire was discovered to have commenced in 700 bushels of threshed wheat on the farm of Mr Robert King, Kaiapoi Island. The machine had left the farm about four days and at present the cause of the fire is a mystery. It was discovered by Mr James Birnie, an adjoining land owner, and he promptly took steps to call assistance, and by his immediate action a quantity of the grain was saved. Ithad been stored in bags, the whole of which was covered with chaff, and protected so as to keep the wet out. The property damaged, we regret to say, was not covered by insurance. “Making" a Cricket Score.— A contributor to the Grey River Argus is cruel enough to give currency to the following : “It surely cannot be true, but it is slated that in order that he might be allowed to make a score at the recent cricket match, one of the West Coast team, who has more money than muscle, actually bargaiped before hand that for so much money he should make so many, and that the • sugar’ was ‘ melted’ by the Englanders at Bradley’s A similar story is told of a Wellington player, so the Eleven upon terms of this kind can help to pay their expenses with little trouble,”

The Late Mr. J. Bramwell— -By the last English mail the death of Mr J. Bramwell, late manager in London of the Union Bank of Australia, was announced. Deferring to his decease, the West Coast Times, whose proprietor was formerly in the same service as Mr Bramwell, says •“ Mr Bramwell is well known in the Australian colonies, having occupied the position of manager of the London Chartered Bank, in Melbourne, for many years, In his early years he was connected with the Aberdeen Town and County Bank in Scotland, and latterly for nearly a quarter of a century he has been attached, in the highest positions, to the colonial banking institutions above-named. During his colonial career he was much esteemed by the public, and as an officer of the Union Bank, as described in the last report of the directors, his services were very highly valued." Mrs Scott-Siddons.— To judge by the notice in the New Zealand Times of Mrs bcoifc-fshddons’ second appearance in Welling ton, that lady has been but indifferently supported by the stock company in that city. Our contemporary of Saturday say? : —She played Kosalind in As You Like It.” She struggled against difficulties, caused ffiy wretched support on the part of the stock company. There was a large attendance, and it was evident that her Rosalind is as perfect an impersonation as her Juliet. Mr Steele and Mrs Stonebam, who played Jacques and Audrey respectively, were of course excellent in both parts. For the rest it might be fairly said that chaos had come again. They were beyond criticism. An excellent orchestra, under the efficient direction of Mr Isherwood, had to play through a long wait before the curtain rose cn the first act, and received in consequence the gratuitous abuse of the pit,

Wellington Election.— The Returning Officer for Wellington city announces the receipt of the writ for the election of a new member, and notifies that nomination day is the 2tth March, and polling day the 27th.

Tramways in Wellington —The New Zealand Times understands that the promoters of the Wellington Tramways Company have by last mail sent final instructions for steam car engines to Messrs Merryweather and Sous, engineers, London, and the first will be out in sufficient time for ballasting purposes. The rails ordered about six months ago are expected in Wellington shortly. The tramways must be in full working order by the end of this year.

Another Muff Cricket Match,— lt ia rumored that the members of the Drainage Board have challenged the City Council to a muff cricket match, to be played shortly on the Hagley Park ground. As some of the players on either side are known to possess the faculty of making a very determined stand should occasion require, it is confidently expected, considering the issue staked, that this will be the hardest fought and most closely contested muff match of this truly prolific season. The Rating Act.— The merits and demerits of the new Rating Act were freely discussed in the Dunedin Assessment Court a few days ago. Judge Bathgate (says the Star ) considered that for obtaining a uniform rate throughout the colony the Act was excellent. Mr Anderson, the Corporation’s solicitor, was of opinion that the Government would act wisely in obtaining two or three draughtsmen from England to draw up Acts of Parliament for our faulty Legislature, and considered the present Act an injustice to corporate bodies. His Honor defended the Act as being just and reasonable in all particulars. Private Letter Bags, —The fees payable in respect of deliveries by private mail bags are now fixed as follows ;—For a term exceeding six calendar months and not exceeding one year, two pounds (£2) ; for a term not exceeding six calendar months, one pound (£1). All such fees shall be paid in advance to the chief or head postmaster of the district from which the private mail bag shall issue. Provided that no private mail bag shall be let save for a term ending on the 30 h day of June or the 31st day of December next after the day on which the same shall be let.

Theatre Royal Hotel, Wellington. Notwithstanding the opposition of Mr Coker, of the Occidental Hotel, and of others, the Wellington Licensing Bench has at last granted a license to Mr Urwin for the 5 heatre Royal Hotel, a large building recently erected adjacent to the Theatre, and fitted up in luxurious style with bars end billiard rooms. Subsequently Mr Barton applied to Mr Justice Richmond in Chambers for a rule nisi calling upon the Licensing Commissioners to show cause why a writ of certiorari should not be issued by the supreme Court in the matter of Mr Urwin’s application for a license. The rule was granted, and the probability is that the case will be taken before the superior Court. Action for Libel,— ln the Supreme Court, Wellington, in banco, last week, the case of Carson v Ballance was heard. This was a demurrer for pleas of justification in an action brought by Mr Ballance, of the Wanganui Herald l, against Mr Carson, of the Wanganui Chronicle, for a libel, in which Mr Ballance was accused of improper conduct as a member of the House of Representatives. The libel was contained in a series of newspaper articles which appeared in the Chronicle. Carson pleaded justification, but this plea was demurred to on the ground of insufficiency, and that the pleadings disclosed no such state of facts as to warrant the plea set up. The case was not concluded.

Otago Agricultural Eetuhns.— The agricultural returns for Canterbury have already been published. The Otago returns are not yet in order, the returns from the principal district, the Waitaki, not being completed. Sufficient data is, however, to hand to form a very good estimate of the probable yield, and are thus stated by the Guardian :—” In making our estimate we have taken the returns of last year for Waitaki in the wheat yield, however, allowing the average increase of other wheat growing districts for this year, the figures stand thus—Wheat; 1877, 1,163,744 bushels; 1876, 950,042 bushels. Oats: 1877,2,214,475 bushels; 1876, 3,131,326 bushels. Barley: 1877, 224,075 bushels; 1876, 253,691 bushels. Potatoes ; 1877, 23,477 tons ; 1876, 20,933 tons. From this it will be seen that, notwithstanding the dapiage done to the crops by the rains and winds, the wheat yield here, as in Canterbury, shows a substantial increase, though oats show a corresponding decrease. Barley, too, shows a falling off, but potatoes, though increased ip tons, are much worse in quality. The oats and barley have likewise suffered material damage, so that not only is the quantity of oats and barley diminished, but the quality of all the grain is inferior.” [Since this paragraph was in print, we notice that the authentic figures have been published in the Dunedin papers,]

Westland County Council.— History has been repeating itself with remarkable closeness in the proceedings of the Westland Council. When Westland was the one county in the colony, the contests for the chairmanship were events of extraordinary character, with extraordinary results, and under the new constitution the members, through the prevalence of personal animosities, have had equal difficulty in arriving at a decision. Since the first of the year they have been fighting the question of the chair, manahip, and have finally agreed to appoint one who held office under the old constitution, Mr H. L. Eobinson. At a protracted meeting on Tuesday last, the votes for Messrs Seddon and Eobinson were at first equal, and Mr M'Whirter, who was also proposed, received the same number of votes. The meeting then had no candidate before it, and an adjournment took place for an hour or so, when Messrs Seddon, Robinson, and M‘Whir ter were proposed again. As soon as Mr M'Whirter’s nomination was seconded, he withdrew, and then Mr Seddon’s name was put. Messrs M'Qaffin, Hirter, Seddon, and Dale voted for Seddon ; and Messrs Coles, Collyer, M'Whirter, Dale, and Robinson, for Robinson, who, accordingly, was elected. The County Council appear now desirous of bringing the whole of the Counties Act into force. At the meeting Mr Seddon said that he found that the non-adoption of the Act had been injurious to Westland, and had indeed been nothing short of a public calamity. A general feeling exists amongst Councillors that the welfare of the district will be especially consulted by bringlog all the clauses into operation.

Thespian Match. The preliminary arrangements for this match have now been ompleted, and it will take place to-morrow n the Sunnyside ground. Hitherto the Snnnyside team —this season at least—have been like Bam Boker, inasmuch as tiny have been undefeated, but now ihey wiil have to look to their laurels. The team select'd for the “ show folk” is a very strong one, and will no doubt make a long score. la the evening a dinner will take place at Hadcliffe’s Hotel to celebrate the event.

A Nuisance.— We would desire to draw the attention of the police authorities to what has now become an almost intolerable nuisance. At certain parts of Colombo street, especially in front of the Golden Fleece and Central Hotels, gangs of men congregate of an evening, more especially on Saturday and Sunday, completely blocking up the footpath. It is impossible for ladies to force their way through, indeed it is unpleasant for male pedestrians, and we commend 'he matter to the notice of Mr Inspector Buckley, in the hope that these obstructors of the side-walks will be moved on.

LECTURES. —On Friday and Saturday evenings, Mr H. A. Severn delivered lectures at the Colonists’ Hall, Lyttelton. On Friday, his subject was “The Sun and Modern Solar discoveries,” illustrated by some splendid photographic views, and on Saturday, “ The Earth and its Satellite ; rotation rendered visible.” The lectures were excellently delivered, and were listened to by those present with great attention and enjoyment, The different views of Paris, Italy, Rome, Egypt, &c exhibited by the oxy hydrogen lantern on a screen, were magnificent, and were loudly applauded. This evening, Mr Severn lectures at the Oddfellows’ Hall.

Seniority at the Bar —ln the Supreme Court, Wellington, last week, Mr Barton complained to their Honors the Judges that there was no system of seniority at the Bar in New Zealand. He contended that those who had been longest admitted should be senior members, and asked their Honors to give the matter their consideration. He believrd that he himself was the oldest member of the Bar in the colony, and therefore he thought he should rank as senior, Mr Travers disputed Mr Barton’s right to consider himself the senior member of the Bar, and thought it would be wrong to make the oldest member the senior. Mr Bnrton explained that all he wished was that some rule on the subject should be established, The Court suggested that the members of the Bar should state their views on the subject in writing, when the matter would be considered.

Grain Shipment at Lyttelton,— The following regulations and rates for storage and delivery of grain at the Lyttelton railway station are gazetted, in substitution pf regulations fixed by Order in Council, dated 6th March, 1877 :—“Any grain forwarded for shipment which shall not be taken delivery of by the consignee within five working hours after arrival in Lyttelton, and which shall not be shipped within that time, may be stored at the risk of the consignees or owners (or maybe kept in the railwaywaggons at the option of the Railway Department) up to forty-eight working hours, for which a distinct charge of two shillings per ton will be made for storage and delivery to ship ; afterwards threepence per ton per week or fraction thereof will be charged for storage ton for one week; after one week, sixpence per per week or fraction thereof: Provided that delivery must be taken at any time on demand after three weeks’ storage. Haulage and delivery from private stores to wharves, one shilling and sixpence per ton.”

The Tbbemakau Bush. —Thereis nothing new of particular importance to report con cerning the new rush at the Teremakau. A representative of the Grey River Argus visited the ground on Wednesday in company with Mr Warden Bevel], and found a number of shafts going down in the vicinity of the prospectors’ claim, and further back from the face of the terrace a largo number of claims have been marked out, and altogether about forty parties are at work sinking. The prospectors, B. Gill and party, wbo obtained a prospect of lOiwta to the half-load, are preparing to drive a tunnel from the face of the terrace to their claim, and other tunnels will shortly be put in. The sinking, as before stated, is shallow near the edge of the terrace, but it is the opinion that the gold runs back from the terrace towards the Greenstone road, and the lead dipping in that direction. A large number of nr u are shepherding, waiting to see what will turn up after a few of the claims have been proved. Here, as at Kumara, the want of water will be severely felt, there being but little available supply. One party has been formed to bring in a race to carry ten heads of water from Dobson’s Creek and Piranui Creek, a distance of four miles, and Mr Wylde will commence to survey it immediately. It isj generally thought that the whole of the flat which extends for miles, is of precisely the same character as the Kumara, and that if a plentiful supply of water could be obtained, it would support a large population.

Scene in Wellington City Council,— Thefollowing are reported asthecircumstances of a recent scene in this august civic body. In the discussion on the plans of a proposed Town Hall, Councillor Dransfield raised a question as to the accuracy of the minutes. After some conversation, in which several Councillors frequently spoke at the same time, Councillor Greenfield asserted that Councillor Dransfield was in error, and that the minutes of the meeting viere perfectly accurate. He was still on his feet when Councillor Dransfield rose to reply. The Mayor requested Councillor Dransfield to resume his seat. Councillor Dransfield—Do I understand you to say, Mr Mayor, that I am not permitted to renly to a statement of Councillor Greenfield’s ? His Worship—You are permitted to speak to a point of order, but not to the question before the Council, as you have already spoken once. Councillor Dransfield —Then I can perfectly understand, Mr Mayor, that you are personally interested, and are trying to gag the Council. His Worship—l beg to say that unless Councillor Dransfield withdraws those expressions I must leave the chair, as they are utterly untrue —without any foundation whatever, The Mayor here left the chair. Shortly afterwards the Mayor returned to the chair, and said —Do I understand that Councillor Dransfield is prepared to withdraw the ex pressions he used regarding mo ? Councillor Dransfield—No, sir ; but 1 beg to tender my resignation as a member of this Council. The Mayor—l shall be perfectly willing to accept it, sir. Mr Dransfield then left the hall.

The Cricketers’ Comments on New Zealand. —A Southland contemporary hutdone what it no doubt considers great s ■ vice by obtaining, by formal inquiry, an expression of the sentiments of these unsentimental gentlemen, the All England Eleven, on the manners and customs of the colonists of New Zealand. The mode of inquiry and its results are thus described ”In reply to our reporter, who interviewed the All England Eleven to ascertain what they thought of the people of New Zealand, the Englishmen said that the playing cricketers of New Zealand were decent, jolly fellows, and the railway officials and steamboat agents the most obliging and liberal-minded people they had ever met with anywhere. But they found that in New Zealand more than anywhere else there was a number of persons in good position too mean to pay for admission to the cricket grounds whilst they were playing, but standing outside the fences, and pulling down the canvas to see the game on the cheap. Even at Christchurch, tney said, this was the case, men with good salaries taking ladies to the fence, and standing there for a long while looking on.” Even at Christchurch! This is undoubtedly meant to be complimentary to all but some people with “ good salaries,” regarding the amounts of which the crickerers’ information must have been in inverse ratio to their knowledge of cricket.