Talk of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 319, 23 March 1878, Page 13

Talk of the Week.

Sir George Grey has brought his stumping tour to a conclusion, and he and his colleagues are uoav in Wellington. It is presumed, therefore, that they Avill uoav consult as to the measures to be brought forward next session, AA'hicli Avill commence early in July. Mr. Barton addressed his constituents on Thursday evening at the Odd FelloAvs’ HallITe Avas \’ery Avell received. During his speech, as might naturally have been expected, he spoke in anything but complimentary terms of the legal “ powers-that-be,” and likened the Supreme Court to the Augean Avhich required a Hercules to cleanse it. His political views are thoroughly democratic, and he is, of course, an ardent supporter of Sir George Grey. A sure sign of the prosperity of Wellington is the high price which land continues to fetch, especially hotel property. The lease of the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel is about to change hands at £6OOO, aud thatof theEmpireat£7ooo. The same remark also applies to country properties which are realising high figures, and this notwithstanding the fact that a large amount of land is being thrown into the market just now. Some of the large settlers both here and in other parts of the colony are cutting up their runs into small holdings. This offers a chance to small capitalists of acquiring homesteads and settling on the land under favorable circumstances —a result most desirable to be attained. A very sad case of death by droAvning occurred in the harbor this week. A youth about 15 years of age, named Herbert Astridge, Avhilst sculling a boat, lost his balance and fell overboard. He was droAvned almost immediately, although several boats put off to the rescue. The harbor was as calm as a millpond at the time, and had he been able to swim ever so little, it is almost certain that he would have been saved. There have been several sittings of the Assessment Appeal Courts this Aveek, and in almost every instance, feAV if any objections have been made to the valuations. Thi3 speaks Avell for those on Avhom the someAvhat difficult duty of valuation falls, and to the good working of the system generally. Last Sunday, being St. Patrick’s Day, the holiday Avas kept on the day folloAving. The hanks and a few other places of business were closed. There Avere races at Porirua, and a bazaar and soiree iu aid of the Presbyterian church at the LoAver Hutt, but there were no sports on the Basin Reserve, or other public festivities iu Wellington. The weather was very fine, and a large number of people availed themselves of the opportunity of taking a trip into the country. Mr. Dillon commences a new dramatic season at the Theatre Royal this evening. Mrs. Walter Hill, Miss Hill, Miss Lizzie Morgan, Miss Pender, and other ladies, Messrs. Sothern, Musgrave, Poole, Graham, Tyrrell, Clinton, O’Neil, Burford, and others, have been engaged. The latest neAvs from the seat of Avar is that European affairs are still threatening, and that England is making every preparation for war in the event of her being dragged into' the strife ; and by her taking this course of action she is no doubt adopting the best means of preserving peace. The traffic returns for the New Zealand Railways for the four Aveeks ending on the 9th Eebruai’y last, and the corresponding returns for the same period of 1877, are published in the Gazette issued on Thursday. From these returns it Avill be seen that our local railway shows Avell up in the list, Avhich is as follows:

Messrs. Levin and Co., the agents for the Orient line of the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, inform us that the s.s. Chimborazo, which Avent ashore at Jervis Bay, has sustained serious damage, aud that the repairs necessitated by the occurrence Avill cause an inevitable delay, and consequently she Avill not be able to leave for London at her advertised date. She is now at Jervis Bay, and her cargo is being transhipped to Sydney. Her passengers are already safely landed at that port. A notification appears elseAvhere that the passage-money received Avill be refunded, on application to the ship’s agents, Messrs. Levin and Co. The Garonne, leaving Melbourne on the 22nd of May, will be the next steamer of the company’s line for London. A correspondent sends us the folloAving : “ The old notion of fortune-telling may be said to have long been exploded, although now and then curious instances crop up in Avhich Avarnings come to pass. The other day an old dame iu this city, Avho is noted for her dealings in this description of necromancy, was Availed upon by a young lady anxious to haA r eapeepiutoAefuture. Amongstotherthiuga that Avere to happen, the latter was told that in a very short time she Avould receive news of

the (hath of a very near relative, and very shortly afterwards notice was received of the death of her mother. Of course, as a mere coincidence, the matter was peculiar, aud for the time might have confirmed the belief of the recipient" of the unwelcome news as to the soundness of fortune-telling, although, upon after reflection, she might have altered her ouinion. A pack of cards was the means used on this occasion to obtain a glance into futurity, and on th-ir being shuttled and arranged, their occult meaning was interpreted by the operator wjth due solemnity.” '5! 'The Manners-street Theatre is rapidly approaching completion. Little remains to he done by the carpenters, and the upholsterers are well advanced with their work. We are informed that everything will be completed within a fortnight, and that it is the intention to open the theatre by the Ist of next month. The decorations will be of the most tasteful and chaste description, and the artists are now busy giving the finishing touch to the theatre, whicl? when completed will be 0v.6 of the finest structures of the kind in the. colony. The stage is exceptionally large, which is in itself a great desideratum, as nothing so much spoils artistic effect as a narrow, shallow s < age. It will also afford ample scope forscenic effect. The stage is in full view fiom every part of the house. There will be no straining of one’s neck to get a glimpse of the actors, as is not unfrequeutly the case in other theatres when a party happens to be unfortunate enough not to secure a good position. We have never seen a building in which such facilities are afforded for egress. Were the alarm of fire raised the building would be emptied in' a twinkling. Doors 'from every part of the house lead to broad passages, and at both ends of the passages there are outlets from the building. In this respect alone great praise is due to the architect. Altogether the arrangements of the theatre will be second to none of its sine in the colonies.

187S 1877 Kaipara £305 11 8 £250 IS 0 Auckland .. 3,323 10 2 1.933 0 5 Napier 2,154 0 0 1,782 2 0 Wellington 1,020 17 7 1,047 4 0 Foxton 014 0 11 500 3 4 Wanganui .. 204 9 11 — New Plymouth 4-16 2 10 130 IS 10 Oreymouth.. 734 10 8 3S2 8 1 Westport .. 90 3 11 52 4 9 ? Nelson 570 10 4 499 19 2 Picton 323 5 1 329 0 S Christchurch 20,391 14 4 18,035 2 3 Dunedin 9,43S 17 1 7,579 7 3 Invercargill 4,073 5 1 3,871 7 3 £45,510 17 7 £30,400 2 0