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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 292, 10 December 1867, Page 2

The complimentary tiinner to the Hon. W. Fitzherbert yirevious to his departure for England on Saturday last by the Rakaia, took place on Friday evening 1 at Osgood's Hotel, Wellington. The chair was taken by C. J". Pharazrn, Esq. ; the guest of the evening "was placed at his right hand, while the Hon. E. W. Stafford, the H'-n. Major Kichardson, nnd the Hon. Col. Haultaia occupied seats of honor, W. B. Rhodes Esq., M.P.C. occupying the vice-chair. It appears that considerable excitement had been manifested with reference to the dinner having been given to Mr Fitzherbert as Colonial Treasurer, the affair haying assumed a political aspect, and many of his personal friends having consequently declined to take part in it. To this Mr. Fitzherbert alluded in bitter terms in his speech in returning thanks for his health, the chairman having alluded to the absence of the. Superintendent, Dr. Featherston and repudiated the assertion that the demonstration was a Bank of New Zealand affair. The Premier, in returning thanks for 'The Ministry/ entirely repudiated sjnd denied the idea

that the press of New Zealand expressed the public opinion of the settlers; he knew as a matter of fact they did not, tor very few- mails passed -without bringing him heaps and shoals of letters from all classes of people in all parts of the colony, assuring him that ihe Govern men t of the day hud a large measure of public support. (!) He was not oppose.] to the press, nor objected to their untrammelled freedom of opinion; indeed he had always' advocated and v.ould always support a free press in a free state; but he did deprecate the idea that the press ot this country was free, or that the Government had suffered from their attacks. — Mr Stafford then went on to any that the Government had endeavored to unite ali the little local difficulties of ihe different provinces, and to form one strong Colonial — what was termed a •Central' — Government; they had done no, seeing that sucli was necessary to preserve the unity of the colony, and to get rid ot the selfish clashing of the interests of several little knots of settlers, who all wanted to get the most they could for themselves at the expense of thefr neighbors. During the last session of the Assembly this was made apparent by the manner in which the provinces ail voted agr.insl each other, and thtn eight only united with the object of opposing the ninth. Such a state of things was to be deplored, and he hoped at no distant date to see an alteration made, and a newspaper started bold enough to be really free, and able by advocating large and general views to give a true expression of public opinion. — Only about 40 guests were present nt the dinner. Mr I'iizherbert resigned the Treasurership before Laving Wellington, and is succeeded by Mfljnr Richardson. The New Zealand Gazette of the 3rd instant notifies the significant resignation of their seats in the Legislative Council of James Coutts Crawford, Esq., Daniel J'ollen, Esq., aad Alfred Rowland Chatham Strode, Esq. From the elaborate Rule and Regulations published froro the Defence Office in the New Zealand Gazette of the 7th instant, we learn that three I'im Ciass prizes of £12, £10, and £8, will be awarded to the Nelson Competitors, and also four Second Class Prizes of £S, £G, £1, and .£2. respectively, making a total of £-30, a like sum being appropriated to Canterbury, whilst Otago is to receive £120, and Auckland and Wellington £6<j each, Napier and Turanaki £52 each, and the other provinces smaller sums. The Queensland Guardisn of the 6th instant tells of a ' very unpleasant imbroglio' between Sir George Bowen (the future Governor of this colony), and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. It seems (says the Guardian) I hut ths Speaker considers he has been grossly insulted* by the Governor on various occasions, and now refuses to carry, in person, the messages which': have formally to be conveyed from the House to' his Excellency. 'i'lie question has arisen, if messages can be in nny other vny conveyed; and we believe his Excellency has prevailed upon his responsible advisers to nssist him in the dilemma. We regret that his Excellency will not be allowed to leave the colony in peace and harmony. At the same time, in justice to our esteemed and much respected Speaker, we are bound to admit that .-'ir Georgr Bowen has too ofren had only liimse'f to bi:i:ne for the troubles whicii have beset iiis career here. The Braviwoorl Dispatch says that ifc may not be generally known that the order of Freemasonry is very popular among the Chinese. Members of the craft muster in great force in the Braidwood district, we believe, and we have been informeiJ by some gentlemen who were present at one of their lodge meetings the other night, and who were initiated into the mysteries of the C-iinese order, that they carry out all the mystic rites i«nd oerenvmies with which Freem isonry is endowed to a far greater extent than the European orders. On the occasion of the visit of the English gentlemen to whom we allude to the Chinese lodge sit Jpinhaiuumbene, there were no less than 400 members present, all Chinese. These gentlemen were made mem nets that night with about 50 Chinese. /Die proceedings comuv. need at high twelve at night, and it was six o'clock i:\ the morning before the English visitors' turn came. A. Municipalities Bill has been brought forward in tile N. 8. W. Legislature. It is a lungthy tneasa r e, but its chief point may be briefly described. There are to be two sorts of municipalities — boroughs ami rural municipalities, the latter to be styled municipal districts. The electors arc to consist of all adult males who own or occupy rateable property within the municipality. Voters are to have a graduated cumulative vote in proportion to the extent of their property, up to tour votes for a property income of three hundred a year. The establishment of municipalities is to be voluntary, as at present; but, to tempt persons to form them, an endowment from the revenue is offered, as also a portion of the receipts Irani the sale of Crown lands. '! he councils are to have the usual powers, and also to be able to establish free libraries and infant schools for neglected children. The Government of New South Wales have been forced to abandon the gold dutj'. This, it appears, is not the only interference with their financial policy. The Treasurer's expected surplus for the present year cannot be fully realised, as the bills for increasing the severity of the v.dvalorem and stump duties have not yet been passed, and he relied on them for some addition to his means. The House will almost want a supplementary financial statement, uulets the expenditure is reduced considerably. In the jeux d'esprit of Westminster-hall the pun plays a somewhat too frequent and conspicuous pare. Amongst the apocryphal stories current at junior bur-tables is one that makes play upon Sir Frederick Pollock's name, and makes merry -with the misfortune of a puisne justice of the King's Bench, who lost his hafc at a lord mayor's ' dinner to the judges/ ' Cockburn,' the hatless puisne inquired of the Chief Justice, with mingled pathos and flippancy s « -where on earth am Ito look for my Castor?' 'I am sure I can't say. But can't you. contrive to manage with Pollux?' replied Sir Alexander, pointing to the Chief Baron's hat. A person telling Socrates that such a one was riot improved by his travels, • No wonder,' said Socrates, ' for he travelled along with himself:'