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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 410, 10 September 1866, Page 2

The Liquor Traffic.—lt will be seen by advertisement in another place that a lecture on the above subject will be delivered in the School-room, Tennyson-street, on the evening of Thursday next 13th inst., at 8 p.m. The admission will be free* and we trust to see a good attendance on the occasion. Monthly Summary.—Our usual monthly budget of intelligence for transmission to the mother country via Suez will be published on Thursday next. The mails will close at the Chief Post Office at 10'30 a.m. on Saturday 15th inst. The Provincial Council.—This distinguished body of legislators will meet for the despatch of business in the Council Chamber, Napier, on Tuesday, 25th September, at 3 p.m. The Vacant Seat.—At length a writ has been issued for the election of a fit and proper person to fill the seat in the Provincial Council vacated some mouths ago by Mr John Buchanan, one of the members for the town of Napier—lMo ruination to take place on Wednesday, 19th inst. Native Land Couet.—We observe that the sittings of this Court which were to have taken place at Turanganui and Waipawa on the 12th and 26th instant, respectively, have been postponed sine die. Fiee Checked in Time.—The thickly built neighborhood at the louver end of Shakespeareroad was, on Thursday evening last, thrown into a considerable state of alarm by the discovery of a volume of smoke issuing from the stables of the Settlers’ Hotel. The discovery was made by the cook, and he, with the assistance of other individuals and a good supply of water, speedily extinguished the fire, and so saved an extensive district from threatened destruction. It appears that from some unexplained cause- probably careles , dess on the part of a smoker, or a person carrying a candle—slot of chaff had taken fire, andwas smouldering when the smoke was discovered. Hud it been somewhat more tardy in giving visible signs of its condition, and broken out two or three hours later, there Is no saying how much damage might bare resulted from it.

Provincial Government Gazette.— The following notices are contained in a Gazette published by the Provincial Government on Friday last:—(1) a proclamation calling the Provincial Council together for the despatch of business, on Tuesday, 25th inst; (2) a proclamation notifying that the “ Papakura and Hikutoto Leasing Bill,” which had been reserved for the signification -of the Governor’s pleasure} had been assented to and is now in force j (3) a proclamation declaring that the 4th section of the “Protection of Animals Act ” shall be in full force in this Province from the 27th of August last; (4) an order in Council delegating the powers vested in the Governor by the above Act to the Superintendent of Hawke's Bay; (5) a notice postponing the sittings of the Native Lands Court at Turanganu* sine die j (6) orders of the Supreme Court for the protection of Henry Morrison and William Simmonds, debtors, and the vesting of their estates in the hands of Joseph Josiah Fells, accountant. Supreme Court at Nelson. —From our recent files we learn that his Honor Mr Justice Johnston wiU leave Wellington for Nelson, per steamer, on the 9th instant, and also that the Special Commission for the trial of the Mangatapu murderers will - be opened on the 12th. House oe Representatives.— lt has been decided that for this more rapid disposal of public business, during the remainder of the session, the House of Representatives will sit on Mondays, at five o’clock. Movement poe Lighting- the City op Wel. Lington with Gas. —A meeting of gentlemen favorable to the formation of a Gas Company in Wellington, on the laibility principle, was held in the Athenaeum on Friday evening the 31st of August. Mr Aickin, who was the first one to suggest the introduction of gas to the colony, read out a most .interesting statement, showing the cost, &o. Several gentlemen addressed the meeting, and a Committee was appointed to take steps towards the formation of a Gas Company. Fatal Accident to an old Wellington Settler. —An accident, terminating fatally, occurred to Mr James Lansdaile, Waiwetu, on Wednesday evening, the 29th August. As he was returning homeward from Waimiomata, the horse shied, and threw Mr Lansdaile to the ground. The injuries he sustained were so severe that he expired on Friday morning. Mr Lansdaile was an old settler in the Province, and bis untimely end will he much regretted.—New Zealand Advertiser, 3rd September. Sale op Postage Stamps, &c.—The N. Z, Advertiser of the 3rd, has the following:—Since it was thought fit and proper by the Government to deprive the sellers of postage stamps of the per centage previously allowed them, the complaints from all parts of the Colony have been unceasing relative to the great inconvenience that was felt by reason of the conduct of the conduct of the Government iu this matter. A short time ago a Committee was appointed by the House to inquire into all things having reference to the postal establishments of the country, and on Friday last they submitted their report to the House, recommending that for the future sellers of stamps should be allowed a commission of 2| per cent, for their trouble. The report was ordered to be printed, and will in all probability come on for consideration by the House either to-day or to-mor-row. Speaking of the mail subsidies between Wellington and Taranaki, and Wellington and Napier, the Committee considered that they were comparatively high, and recommended that arrangements should be made whereby the mails can bo delivered at the places above named by the regular mail steamers on the New Zealand coast.

Accident to Major McDonnell.—A correspondent of the Wellington Independent says:— ** The friends of Major M'Donnell will be sorry to hear that he met with a severe accident while crossing the Wainamakura river a few days ago. His horse floundered iu the quicksands, threw him, and then kicked him iu the head. He became insensible, and had it not been for the timely arrival of some friends, he would have been drowned, for the sea was washing over him when they arrived. He was conveyed to Patea, and owing to the good offices of kind friends there, be is rapidly recovering, and hopes to be able to resume his command in a day or two.” % Troops tor Auckland —The Evening Post, 28th August, says:—“ A rumor prevailed in town to-day to the effect that Auckland would henceforth be head-quarters for the military. From a private letter received here from London, by way of Panama, we have reason to believe that on this occasion rumor does not err.” Military Intelligence. —The following is given under the heading Military in the Wanganui Times of the 31st ultimo:—Her Majesty’s XBth Royal Irish will, for the present, be stationed in these districts, aud distributed as follows:

Men. Patea, Head Quarters 250 Wanganui 100 Manawapoa 100 Waiugongoro 108 Waitotara 60 Wereroa.... 50 Alexander’s Earm 30 —Parakino and Kakaramea are abolished as Imperial posts. The above figures are exclusive of sick and other casualties, and the usual complement of* officers and non-commissioned officers. Thus the garrison of Wanganui will shortly be reduced to one hundred men, but we are happy to find that the distribution of the 18th Royal Irish regiment throughout the districts is a most judicious one. It is to be hoped that within a few months the troops may be be withdrawn from the outposts altogether. Major-General Chute, with Major Baker and Dr Menzies, arrived here, per Rangatira, on Wednesday last. On Thursday morning the General aud staff proceeded overland to Patea, from which place we may expect, ere long, intelligence of farther “ unconditional ” surrenders, or the clearing out of a pa upon which Major M'Donnell has had an eye for some time past. It is not likely that General Chute will leave a stronghold with two or three hundred armed rebels in the immediate vicinity of any of the scattered detachments which now occupy these districts. A CORRESPONDENT of the Publishers’ Circular writes:—“There are three children—a sou and two daughters—of the poet Robert Bloomfield lodging at No. 22, Hoxton-square. They are old, poor in circumstances, and one one of the women apparently not far from her end. They derive nothing from their father’s writings, pleasing and instructive as they are. Did not the Literary fund lately give something to the descendants of Defoe ? If so, it does not confine itself to living authors. Will not any subscriber, then, speak a word in behalf of these distressed persons, who, apart from want, are every way worthy ? There are the most ample proofs of their identity.” The American edition of Miss Martineau’s “ History of the Peace ” contains a fourth volume of new matter embracing the years 18 16 to 1854This volume is on the eve of publication, and the entire work, with the introduction, now 'forms a consecutive history of England from the year 1800. By the following letter to her American publish, era, it would seem that Miss Martiueau takes leave of her literary occupation with its appearance—“ The Knoll, Ambleside, Nov. 8, 1865. Dear Sirs, —I have received your draft on Messrs Whitfield, Green, & Son for £ , and herewith enclose my receipt for the amount, as the last due to me from you. I am too ill to work, and this correspondence is the close of my literary business. I am very sensible of the courtesy which you have shown to me throughout, aud you have my best wishes for the success of the history. I must also congratulate you on the close of your dreadful war, and the prospect of a happy future for your country. —Believe me, dear Sirs, very truly yours: Harriet Maeiineau.” The Industrial School Grant in Wanganui.—With reference to a block of 250 acres of land, part of the Town of Wanganui, given by Sir Geo. Grey in 1852 for the endowment of an Industrial School, but which has not been so applied by the trustees, we learn fron our Wanga. nui contemporaries that a public meeting of the inhabitants was held on the evening of Wednesday the 29th ult., for the purpose of considering the steps it is advisable to take for the due fulfilment of the objects contemplated in the grant. There was a large attendance, and the following resolution was adopted:—“ That this meeting is of opin' ion that the grant of a portion of the town of Wanganui, given by the Governor to the Bishop of New Zealand in trust for the endowment of an Industrial School for the education of poor children, has not been productive of beneficial results to the district, and cannot be made so according to the present terms of the Trust. This meeting therefore resolves that steps be taken to place the Trust on a more satisfactory basis, by having its terms so altered as to admit of the funds being applied to the extension and improvement of education in the district of Wanganui, irrespective of creed or class. And that a Committee be appointed to correspond with the Bishop of New Zealand, and such other trustees as may have been appointed, with the view of obtaining assistance and co-operation in effecting a change so desirable, and generally to adopt such other measures as may be necessaray to secure a proper and useful administration of the trust.” A Committe was also appointed for the purpose of taking such steps as may be expedient for having the 250 acres of land in the town, sot apart for educational and other purposes, transferred to local trustees as an educational endowment for all classes of the community. The land in question has been let on lease in blocks of from 5 to 20 acres for a number of .years past, and there must be a good round sum of money acumulated from this property in the charge of the Bishop, available for educational purposes ia Wanganui.

The New Govebnob of Jamaica. —Sir John Peter Grant, E.C.8., who has been appointed to the Governorship of Jamaica, was bora in 1807, and was educated at Eton and old East India CoUege Hailey bury. He entered the East India Service in 1826, and after passing with credit through various subordinate posts in the Financial Department, he succeeded to other official positions, until he became Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal. This latter post he held during the time of the Indian mutiny. In 1852 he was made a K.C.8., Civil Division,

A New Zealand Peek Tsee ik England.— A New Zealand tree fern was exhibited at the last International Horticultural Exhibition, in May, at Kensington. The Field says:—“ Grand as the scene from the mound undoubtedly is, it would have been comparitively poor were it not for that noble New Zealand tree fern (Cyathea meduHaris) rearing up its thick stem and widespreading graceful crest, and crowning with verdure and grace the brilliant parterre.”

Mr Cakleton on the eats of Photinciaiism. —Mr Carleton in a recent letter addressed to the New Zealand Herald, speaking of Provincial lie venue says:—lt must not be supposed that the whole of the three-eights are to be suddenly confiscated; .but we expect to see them disappear by degrees. And it is clear that provincialism, must follow the three-eights. It is no less clear that it is our duty to devise the means of supply" ing its place. Viewing the question apart from the difficulties through which the provinces must pass before their financial abrogation, I admit that I should be well pleased to seo the extinction of provincialism, together with the selfish' ness, the narrow mindeduess, and the paltry jealousies which it has engendered. Life Parcelled Oct. —Lord Coke wrote the following, which ho religiously observed:— “ Six liours to sleep. To law’s great study six, Four spend in prayer, The rest on nature lix.” But William Jones, a wiser economist of the fleeting hours of life, amended the sentiment thus,— “ Seven hours to law, To soothing slumber seven. Ten to the world allot, And all to heaven.” The Weight of a Feather Turns the Scale—A curious case was heard before Mr Raffles, the Liverpool stipendiary magistrate. Two wellknown professional housebreakers, named Thornton and Edge, were charged with a burglary at the house of Mr Edward Rodgers, Everton Brow. Early that morning a young lady who lives in the house was aroused by a ndise in her bedroom, and on opening her eyes, saw two men removing her dress from the bed rail. She remained perfectly quiet, and apparently asleep, until the men had left the room, when she went down-stairs, and gave' the alarm. The prisoners were apprehended in a neighboring street, and upon one of them was found a knife with blood on the blade, and a feather sticking to the latter. It was also found that a parrot belonging to Mr Rogers had its leg cut off, the object of the theives no doubt at first being to decapitate the bird in order to prevent its warning the inmates. The young lady could not positively swear to the prisoners being the men, and the feather accordingly became a most important link in the evidence, the magistrate remarking that if it could be produced, the feather would literally turn the smle. Xlnfortunatly, however, it had been mislaid or lost by one of the officials of the of the court. The case was remanded.