Town News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 357, 14 December 1878, Page 18

Town News.

The Hon. Mr. Stout left for the South on Tuesday afternoon. The call of Mr. Wood to the Legislative Council will shortly be gazetted. The Hon. James Macandrew was a passenger by the steamer Taupo, which left here on Monday evening for Auckland. The Chief Justice left Wellington on Monday for Blenheim, to conduct the sittings of the Circuit Court there. Several Wellington barristers also went over. It is said that further changes are to be raade in the local police force. Sergeant Smith is, we believe, to be removed to Dunedin. All the telegraphic lines below Christchurch were working badly on Thursday ; they finally gave out altogether, and communication with the South was interrupted. The Agent General telegraphs, under date London, December 6th, the sailing of the ship Wellington for Port Chalmers, with 333 immigrants ; and the Warwick, for Nelson and Wellington, with 201. There will be a special meeting of the Hutt County Council on Tuesday next, to receive the report of the engineer as to the amount of damage which has been sustained in consequence of the recent floods and landslips. " A big gooseberry " story.—A gentleman •visitor to Wellington from Queensland yesterday on picking a green gooseberry remarked it was the first he had picked for twenty-one years. They are a little scarce in Queensland. From New Plymouth we hear that Darrell and Begnold have engaged a large number of the Star Company, and that they have now one of the strongest companies ever collected together in New Zealand, They expect to open in Wellington on Boxing Night, so that playgoers may look for a treat during the Christmas holidays. It is a rather remarkable circumstance that during the past week the price of sawn timber in Wellington has advanced about 2s. per 100 feet all round. We were told that when the railway was carried through to Featheraton timber especially was to become much cheaper, but the reverse of the looked for result has come to pass. The inquiry into matters connected with the police force of this city, brought under the notice of the Government by Mr. Mansford, R.M., was commenced at the Government Buildings on Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Shearman, Commissioner of Police for the North Island, and Mr. Inspector Atchison, were summoned before the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, but the proceedings being conducted in private we are unable to state what transpired. As will be seen from our report of the proceedings of the Hutt County Council the recent floods have done a considerable amount of damage between Horokiwi "Valley and Paikakariki, including the washing away of the approaches to the Pahautanui bridge. The damage has been so serious that for some considerable distance the mails have had to be conveyed by packhorse. The Council's engineer forwarded instructions for the employment of as many men as could be found to repair the damage as far as possible, to permit of traffic being restored, and he proceeded on a iour of inspection on Wednesday. »*' Plans of the newly surveyed reclaimed land were in circulation on Wednesday. There are some twenty-two blocks, each of which, except a few forming reserves, are divided into small sections. The Supreme Court House reserve stands opposite the Queen's Hotel, and is . separated from the Foresters' Hall by StoutBtreet. The whole of the land at the rear of the Government Buildings, extending to the water's edge, is a Government reserve, and there is another small reserve almost opposite Mulgrave-street. The drill shed reserve and •no schoolhouse reserve are situated very close to the baths on block 22, and the other schoolhouse reserve is opposite Moore-street, a street which leads from Thorndon-quay (midway between the railway station and Murphystreet) into Pipitea-street. ™ At a meeting of the committee of the Choral Society, held on Wednesday last, the concert was definitely fixed to take place on Monday, the 23rd inst., at the Imperial Opera House ; but the plan suggested by the secretary with reference to reserving the seats was not adoped. However, the committee determined to throw open the upper-circle and pit to the public, all the dress-circle and stalk being required for the subscribers. Several new members were balloted for and elected. It was then resolved that the second concert of the season should consist of the " May Queen" as the first part, the second part to be a miscellaneous selection. A discussion as to obtaining a site for a Choral Hall ensued, when it was resp'vf-.] that a deputation, to consist of the president, vice-president, and the committee, should wait upon the Government to ascertain if a site could be secured ©n the reclaimed land. We wish the committee every success, as no doubt a hall such as that projected is one of the pressing requirements of this growing city.

A slight shock of earthquake was felt: in Wellington on Thursday at 11.39 a.m., followed, after an interval of a few seconds, by a second and a much sharper shock. The movement appeared to be rather vertical than horizontal. We understand that in the course of a_ week or two such arrangements will be made in the running of trains on the Wellington-Wairarapa railway as will enable the journey from Featherston to Wellington and vice versa to be accomplished in three hours. At the meeting in connection with St. John's Presbyterian Church on Tuesday evening, a report of which appears in another column, it transpired that it is proposed to establish a sustentation fund for the purpose of securing to ministers a minimum stipend of £250 a year. The latest item of news respecting the disposition of the Thorndon reclamation is that the Government have determined to set aside a portion of the Thorndon reclamation, covering about four acres, and situated at the back of the Government Buildings, as a recreation reserve, and this in spite of the fact that space for a railway station cannot be found in pursuance of a distinct agreement. , A meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce was held on Wednesday, when there was a very large attendance of members. The railway station question was discussed at great length, and several other matters were also dealt with, notably the delay in regard to the commencement of the Hutt-Waikanae Railway and the new Supreme Court House. A report will be found in another column. We notice that the well and favorably known artiste, Miss Amy Sherwin, will give a series of concerts in Wellington, beginning on December 19. We have no doubt that her reputation will ensure her a hearty reception, more especially during the Christmas holidays, and we hope that our townsfolk will show that they can appreciate good music when offered to them, as their musical taste has been questioned lately. The meeting of auctioneers convened by Mr. Dimant on Wednesday fell through. That gentleman addressed a letter to the chairman of the meeting explaining his absence and setling forth the reforms he desired. We hear that very few of the auctioneers in town were inclined to farther the objects of the meeting, in accordance with the wishes of the convenor and of two or three other auctioneers who shared his views. In the absence of the convenor no person was prepared to press the matter, and at 8.15, there being no apparent likelihood of any meeting taking place, our reporter left the hotel. We have been favored with an inspection of a very handsome gold watch and chain which has been presented to Miss Hewitt by the Athenseum committee and her friends. The present has been procured from Mr. Shaw, and is a remarkably well-finished and beautiful piece of workmanship. A suitable inscription has been engraved inside the case, and we have no doubt that when the watch and chain reach Miss Hewitt, who is now residing at Auckland, the gift will be highly valued for the spirit that prompted it, and very much admired for the intrinsic beauty of both the watch and chain. We are enabled (says the Otago Daily Times) to furnish the folio wing as the correct list of the various police changes authorised:—• Superintendent Atchison, from Wellington to Nelson ; Inspector Kiley, from NeJfeon to Hokitika ; Superintendent James, from Hokitika to Wellington ; Inspector Smith, from Oamaru to Blenheim; Inspector Emerson, from Blenheim to Tauranga ; Inspector Thomson, from Lawrence, to Oamaru ; Inspector Moore, from Clyde to Lawrence; Inspector O'Donnell, from Kumara fco Clyde. These are the whole. There is no authority for the statement which has been circulated that Superintendent Weldon, of Dunedin, and Superintend dent Broham, of Christchurch, were to change places. Another stage has been arrived at in connection with Mr. Barton's complaints against the Supreme Court Judges. In another column appears the copy of a letter addressed to Mr. Barton by Colonel Whitmore, as the final decision of the Government after ,;< calm and careful" consideration. It is to the effect that the Government cannot accept the position of an Appellate Court over the Supreme Court, especially in this case, after Parliament has declined an enquiry; and that even supposing they could assume such a function., from an inquiry into the charges made, they are disposed to tnink that the charges are unsupported by fact, and that they believe Mr. Barton will, on consideration, regret having made them. Mr. Barton, it is freely started, is not at all satisfied with the conduct of the Government and the statements contained in the letter, and will probably reply to it at aa early date. It is asserted with confidence that Sir Wm. Fitzherbert will be offered, and that he will accept, the Speakership of the Legislative Council. In that case, the probable oaadidate for the Speaker's chair in the House of Representatives will be Mr. O'liorke, who has frequently acted as Speaker in the absence of Sir Wm. Fitzherbert, and who has displayed a great knowledge of Parliamentary practice and privileges on all occasions when his opinion has been asked for while discharging the duties of Chairman of Committees and of Acting- Speaker. Mr. O'Rorke's elevation would render the Chairmanship of Committees vacant. It is said by those who assume to be well informed that Mr. E. Hamlin, who has frequently acted as Chairman of Committees when Mr. O'Rorke relieved Sir Wm. Fitzherbert, will be proposed by Ministers as a candidate for the chairmanship. Although the salary of Speaker of the Ley s) vtiye Council is £2OO a year less than fch'nt :>' Speaker of the other branch of this tui-e, it is understood Sir Wm. Pitzjierht,i c h prepared to make, this pecuniary sac-sfi-.-.j. it: order to be relieved of heavier duties, which have been found to interfere with his health.

It was represented at Tuesday's meeting of the Hutt County Council that greater supervision was necessary before accounts were passed for payment, and in accordance with this feeling, a finance committee was appointed, to examine all accounts prior to their being submitted to the Council for approval. In reference to a paragraph which appeared in the Times one day last week, we have been given to understand that Messrs. Booth and Co.'s efforts in the way of opening up forest lands by means of tramways were rather under-esti-mated. The firm have put down sixty tons of rails already, and are importing 240 tons steel rails. Such energy and enterprise speak well for the Wairarapa. Mr. Bennays, a gentleman who for some time past has held the position of director of waterworks in Queensland, but who is at present on a visit to New Zealand for the benefit of his health, on Thursday, accompanied by Mr Allan, and the City Engineer, visited the waterworks at Pollhill Gully. Mr. Bennays speaks highly of the works, and thinks the. city obtained them cheaply. The regular fortnightly meeting of the Waste Lands Board was held on Thursday. Present : Chief Commissioner Holdsworth (chairman), Pearce, Walter Johnston, . M.H.R., and Mason. The land sales were reported to have been 138 a. 3r. Bp., and the receipts £IOB Is., balance after survey. A letter from Mr. Ernest S. Thynne, chairman of the Manawatu County Council, to the Minister of Lands, asking that a certain piece of land on the banks of the Rangitikei River might be proclaimed a toll-gate reserve, was referred to the Board. Reports from the Chief Commissioner and from the District Surveyor, Mr. Dundas, were read. The Board resolved that;, the Government be recommended to reserve the land for the improvement and protection of the Rangitikei River. An application for a transfer of license to occupy section 158, at Sandon, to John Rees Davies, under deferred payments regulation, was approved. Thursday's Gazette contains the new land regulations for the land district of Nelson. Under them any person desiring a lease of land must pay a deposit of Is. 6d. per acre. Copies of leases must be provided by the lessee, for which he shall pay a sum of 30s. Forms of application are given and other particulars concerning the leasing of land in Nelson Provincial District.—A number of appointments and resignations are gazetted, among others the resignation of H. J. Williams, of Wairoa, as J.P. and R.M., and the resignation of Captain Poynter of the New Zealand Artillery "Volunteers, Captain William Porter having received his commission as captain of that regiment.— Notices to mariners of new lights have been received from Port Adelaide and from Brisbane.—Mr. Samuel Y. Collins has been appointed Deputy Land Tax Commissioner at Hawke's Bay, and Messrs. G. Walter Palairet and John O. Lord are gazetted Deputy-Com-missioners of Stamps for Canterbury and Wellington respectively.—The return of lands sold' •and deposits received during the month of October in the Provincial District of Wellington shows that 261 acres were sold, and £670 13s. was the amount received.—The Gazette contains also a number of land transfer notices and matters of minor importance. WTln regard to the Hutt-Waikanae railway, Ministers state that a preliminary survey of the country has been made, and a practicable route can easily be found. Immediately on his return from Auckland, Mr. Macandrew will visit the district to make himself personally acquainted with tha details of the proposed line, and its prospects of success. More than this cannot be done until the land can be acquired from the natives. Negotiations with this end in view are being pushed on as rapidly as possible ; but as everyone who has had to deal with the natives knows, the acquirement of native lands is a slow and tedious process.—lt is also said that the Government are about to take immediate steps to have New Zealand properly represented at the projected New South Wales Exhibition. A sum of £6OOO was last session placed on the Estimates for this puipose, and that will be quite sufficient for the purpose. Whether New Zealand will have to contribute anything towards the expense of the building is not yet known, but it is not considered probable that such will be the case. In all probability the Government will take over approved exhibits free, but even if this is found impracticable every assistance" will be afforded to exhibitors. Mr. Varley, the well-known evangelist, made a vigorous and eloquent address to a large audience in No. 10 room of the Athenseum, which was crowded, on Wednesday night. He adopted a manly and vigorous line of argument, objecting to questions of feeling being allowed to influence people's conduct in regard to their action in daily life as guided by religion. He had attended prayer meetings and listened to those who took part in the proceedings, and he said if some of the brothers who prayed felt all they said they did they must have a lively time of it. He was of opinion that persons who were really healthy would not feel very strongly, it was only dyspeptic people, or those with some morbid mental tendencies, who were carried away in the manner to which he had referred. The discourse was replete with well chosen quotations from the Scriptures. He referred all those who came to him for advice to the words contained in the Old and New Testament, preaching essentially the Gospel of Christ as set forth in the Scriptures. The sermon was enlivened by sundry anecdotes of reminiscences of passages from his own life's history, that were given with much force and point, and with appropriate modesty. We can recommend all who have an opportunity to attend at any discourse given by Mr. Varley, as we have seldom had the pleasure of listening to a more earnest expounder of Scripture, or t one who better bases his whole argument on a sincere unstrained and intelligent interpretation of the Bible. Mr. Varley gives a Bible reading to-day, at the Congregational Church in Woodward-street, at 3.30, and will deliver an address in the evening at 7.30.

The subsidy coming to the Hutt County Council will be paid immediately by the Treasury, and the delay in handing the money over before now arose in consequence of the difficulty experienced in determining the amount of deductions to be made for hospitals, under the sth section of the Financial Arrangements Act of last session. We are glad to hear that the Karori Church bazaar reoeived a fair share of patronage on Wednesday. The Marchioness of Normanby paid a visit there during the morning, and besides making v - sundry 'purchases gave a guinea as a donation. This is in addition to five guineas already given by his Excellency the Governor. The bazaar was well patronised again on Thursday, when a" large quantity of goods were disposed of. His Honor Mr. Justice Richmond had sufficiently recovered strength to be able to leave Wellington for Tauranga on Monday in the Taupo. He intends visiting the hot springs, and we believe purposes returning to Wellington about the latter end of the month. We have received the following j official notice for publication :—" The following tenders were received at the Public Works Office, Wellington, for the Otautau branch contract, No. 2, of the Invercargill-Xingston-railway—Accepted : David Robertson, Dun-" edin, £10,600. Declined : Topham and' Angus, Invercargill, £11,988; John Whittaker, Dunedin, £12,407." On Saturday we published a telegram from Dunedin stating that news had been received there that the English gentlemen team of cricketers would not be able to visit New Zealand. The following seem to. ba the. various engagements made for the English eleven: —The first match will be played at Adelaide on the 12th, 13th, and 14th December, and the second at Melbourne on Boxing Day and the two following days. ■ The eleven will play at Launcestc.n on. the6fch and 7th January, and at flobarton on the. 10th and 11th. A three days' match will be ? played at Sydney on the 24th, 25th, and r 27th^ : ; the team will play at Bathurst on ,the. 3lst;:. January and Ist February, .and. again rateSydney on the 7th, 8 th, and-1,0 th ; of/the latter month. They will play again-at; Miels-:* bourne on the 20th, 21st, and .22ad February; at Sandhurst on the 25th and 26th. Eebr.uaryi's; and at Ballarat on the Ist and 3rd of They play a, farewell match in Melbourner.oa-s the 6th, 7th, and Bth March, and then leafe for home, playing a return match at-Adß-&" laide en route on the 20th, 21st, and;. 22hd' March. ■ ; -■ . •?■• •"•• The anniversary services in connection- with St. John's Presbyterian Church, Willis-street* were held on Sunday. The Rev. James Treadwell, of Wanganui, preached in the; morning, taking his text from 2nd- Chronicles , 5th ;■• chapter and ,13th verse,.and delivered- a.,most;, eloquent and impressive sermon. A specials service was held in the afternoon,- when the Rev. James Paterson preached a sermontothe Sunday-school children and their parents and friends. There were between 400 and " 500 children present, the body of the church beings nearly filled. The text selected Mr.Y. Paterson for the occasion ■ was taken afroßK'; 2nd Timothy, 3rd chapter 15th verse,'on';which he made a most interesting and instructive.discourse, illustrating the subject by appropriate anecdotes and biographical and historical facts. The Rev. James Treadwell preached again in the evening to a large congregation, and was listened to with wrapt attention. Collections were made; after r each! of the services, and upwards of £4O was col-V, lected. A few days ago we intimated that owing to the loss of the s.s. Taranaki the Union Company would have to abandon the proposed annual excursion round the Sounds, that illfated vessel being the one intended for the trip. However, since this notification, the public having expressed a certain amount, of disappointment at being deprived of one of the most enjoyable trips of the season, the Union Coy. have, with their usual readiness to meet any reasonable wish of their patrons, decided to place on one of their finest boats, viz., the s.s. Rotorua, for the trip. She will leave Welling- - ton on the 28th of this month, and Port'' Chalmers on the 31st, arriving at the latter port on the return trip about the Bth of , : January. Full particulars of her round trip J; will be seen on reference to our advertising columns. We cannot but commend the Union ■ for their promptness at meeting the wishes of the public, especially as we fear this is being done at a great inconvenience, but doubt not they will receive their reward by having a full passenger list. Berths will be allotted on the 21st inst,, so ail who wish to secure comfortable quarters should apply early.;,. ;-- ''.At the Choral Society practice on Thursday there was a very full attendance, a large'number" of vocalists and a full orchestra being present. The choruses were gone through with zest. Mr. Parker announced that in future rehearsals would take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at the Imperial Opera House. The concert is fixed for the 23rd instant, and he strongly urged members to attend every practice, so that a really creditable performance be given. The attention and time devoted by Mr. Parker to the training of his friends and pupils and to the due observance of practice and every detail connected with the forthcoming concert deserve practical recognition at the hands of all concerned. We have no doubt that the entertainment will prove a great success. On Tuesday last the solos were all separately gone through,' and every individual musician was separately heard and instructed. Last night the whole body of the society rehearsed together, and we understand that the general effect was really good, although of course there was abundant evidence of a lack of concerted practice. Full and complete rehearsals will be gone through from this date forward, and it now rests entirely with the members of the society to ensure, by regular and assiduous devotion to their duties, the full measure of success to the concert which it deserves. v

It is expected that the new Catholic schools will be opened at the beginning of the coming year. Messrs. J. H. Bethune and Co. sold by auction on Friday the wreck of the Southminster. Mr. Adams was the purchaser, for £7O. The evidence given by the chief officer and the second officer of the ship Southminster, at the inquiry, differed considerably in one particular. The former stated that the ship first struck a rock distant about three or four miles. The latter gave it as his opinion that the distance was only about half a mile. It is proposed by the Sisters of Mercy in connection with St. Mary's Convent, Welington [sic], to hold an art union bazaar in October, 1879, on a grand scale. A large quantity of very choice and valuable gifts from England are to be disposed of, and as there will no doubt be a great many local contributions it is not to be doubted that the bazaar will be a great success. A meeting of the citizens of Wellington has been convened by the Mayor of Wellington for this day week at 8 p.m., for the purpose of considering the question of the introduction of Chinese labor into the colony. The meeting has been called by the Mayor in response to the wishes of some of the citizens of Wellington, as set forth in a requisition addressed to the Mayor. We have received from Mr. S. Carroll the " Wellington Monthly Price - Current and Trade Report." In the general summary an extract is made from the prospectus of the Otago Slate Company, which has been issued, proposes to float the company with a capital of £IOO,OOO, with shares at £2 each. —The market report we quote in our commercial column. Respecting the publication itself, we need only say that it has evidently been prepared with the usual care, being a full abstract of all the trade and business conducted in town during the month, and well worthy the attention of business men both in New Zealand and in the old country. We notice that no quotations are given of wool in the price-list except under the heading of auction sales, but this is probably due to the fact that only very small parcels have been publicly sold in this market up to the present. The tramway engine-drivers on Friday made the pace much slower than usual, especially in Willis-street, and in one instance certainly the extra care prevented an accident. A horse attached to a vegetable cart became restive, and backed right on to the line, and within a yard or two of the engine. All breaks were at once applied, and the tram was brought to a standstill. The directors of the company seem rather aggrieved at the terms of Mr. Blackett's report, because it seems to ignore that the company have a right to travel at the rate of ten miles an hour in all streets except Willisstreet, and that rate the drivers have been instructed not to exceed. There certainly does appear to be far too much outcry about the tramway. At the time of the inception of the tramway scheme, full information as to what was to be done was given, and then was the proper time to object, not now, when there has been so large an expenditure of capital. A meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association committee was held on Friday evening, when the . progress of affairs was discussed, but the fact of volunteer and other intending members holding back until the last moment was felt to be such a drawback that the committee are unable to make any arrangements until they are assured of proper support. The following resolution was passed:—"ln view of the meeting of the association being held about the latter end of February, and the intention of the Government to subsidise pro rata to the amount of subscriptions raised by members, it is absolutely necessary that officers in command of eorps and local secretaries of the different districts should immediately communicate to the secretary of the association the numbers of members already joiaed to enable him to apply for the subsidy, and ascertain what amount of funds will be at the disposal of the committee for the purpose of forming the range and preparing a programme of firing ; as unless this is ascertained on or before December 31 the committee cannot make any arrangements whatever." An advertisement from the secretary appears in another column, and we would recommend all intending subscribers to aid the committee by at ©nee giving in their names. > W The much-talked-of Thorndon reclamation was on Friday completed, the last truckful of earth having.been tipped in without any ado or ceremony. The contractor is considerably behind time, the contract, when let in April, 1875, being that the work should be finished in eighteen months. It was then extended to 31st May last, so that six months has run beyond the time of extension. But difficulties and unavoidable delays at the outset, and bad' weather during the currency of the work, greatly impeded Mr. O'Malley. As to the quality of the work, it is generally admitted to be admirable, and it is especially desirable that this should be known on account of some unpleasantness which occurred about eighteen months ago in consequence of a false report having been spread by a discharged employe. Mr. O'Malley made so much allowance for possible subsidence that the whole reclamation is filled in to a height of from 7 to 22 inches greater than required by the strict term 3 of the contract, but there are no signs that the present level will be materially lowered. The pipe drains which are being laid through the reclamation are also progressing rapidly towards completion. Some little difficulty has arisen in respect to that portion of the new reclamation opposite Thorndon - quay which has been used for some years by the City Corporation as a metal depot. It seems that not only the metal deposited by the Corporation, but also a portion of the reclaimed ground itself on which the metal was deposited, has been carried away, thus leaving a hollow which the contractor for the reclamation thinks he should not be called upon to fill up under the circumstances. The total area reclaimed is upwards of 50 acres. -.

We are informed that a gentleman in this town has in his.possession a piece of the paper upon which the muchtalked of treaty of Waitangi was signed. He being present at its signature at Russell, in the Bay of Islands, can tell amusing stories of the great gathering that assembled to see the wonderful document signed. It is stated that the Sydney Government some five years ago paid £3OO for the right to use the gum photo-lithographic process, and they have now discarded it, and paid £IOO to learn the gelatine transfer process. The present New Zealand Government is said to have lately taken an opposite course, by paying heavily for the privilege of abandoning the latter and reverting to the old nearly-forgotten gum process, which is well known to be very uncertain in its results.

Messrs. Robertson and Co., of the Phoenix foundry, have despatched a large multitubular boiler of about 16 horse-power nominal, for the boilingdown establishment of Mr. Gear, at Petone. They have also been engaged to supply the plant required for the new works. The boiler sent is built upon a principle adopted by the firm especially for this _ description of work, after an extended experience of the requirements of boilingdown establishments. Those lately sent out by the firm have been of the same description, and have given complete satisfaction. There are now orders for half a dozen similar boilers entered in the books for immediate execution. We understand that the new boilers for the Grafton are now nearly ready. The firm is very full of work, in spite of the depressed state of trade generally. An inspection of the work turned out by the firm will convince the observer that Wellington firms have nothing to fear from distant competitors. *■ Mr. R. W. Cary, the well-known theatrical manager, has just received advices from Sydney to the effect that a grand panorama of the arctic regions will arrive in Wellington by the next boat from Sydney. The following is a slight description of " The Arctic World." It is a magnificent work of art illustrating every object and scene of interest in the Polar world, the manners and customs of its wandering tribes, the habits of the bear, the seal, and the walrus, with the method of capturing these denizens of the frozen north ; together with illustrations of the hairbreadth escapes by sea, land, and ice that our bold adventurers have to encounter in the cause of science. The different paintings are said to be so vivid that the audience almost imagine themselves partakers instead of spectators of the scene before them. The mechanical effects have been carried out with a strict adherence to nature; dogs drawing sledges across the frozen wastes, walrus hunting, bear fight 3, shipwrecks, floating ice islands, revolving icebergs, ships getting under way, are said to be all depicted to the life. In the panorama itself there are sixty-three the whole concluding with a grand transformation scene, in which there are twenty-two entire changes. the increase of our shipping trade have come great additional work and responsibilities in the Wellington Post Office. Perhaps there is a very imperfect conception outside the office of the amount of work that has to be got through in short periods of time on given occasions. For instance, on Sunday and yesterday there were no less than eight arrivals" of steamers, and as many departures, each involving the making up or distributing of a mail, as the case might be. During the two days there were no less than 175 bags and 17 packages dealt with, and 9768 letters and 11,082 books and newspapers were received or despatched. This was altogether independent of and in addition to the ordinary work of the office, including the receipt and despatch of the country and city mails. On Saturday there were over 10,200 letters and 9600 books and newspapers received and despatched by steamer, the work being heavy owing to the Southern and Australian mails arriving' and the English mail departing. Some ninety-nine bags were dealt with. The figures in connection with the outgoing San Francisco mail were as follows: —For London, 4818 letters, 330 books, and 4285 newspapers. For United States, 363 letters, 35 books, and 229 newspapers. The local officials deserve every credit for the expeditious manner in which they got through their work ; and it is also pretty evident that Mr. Butts must have his staff in thorough discipline to achieve so much in such unsuitable and inconvenient quarters.

fB The concert given by Mdlle. Charbonnet at the Athenaeum Hall on Monday was quite as successful as was anticipated, alike as to the attendance and the quality of the entertainment, and amongst the audience were his Excellency the Governor and the Marchioness of Normanby. In eonsequenceof one of the per- . formers not putting in an appearance, the pro- * gramme had to be slightly altered, and instead of the concert being opened with a part song, " The Murmur of- the Shell," by Miss Moller, was substituted.; . Miss Neville's scena from "Der Freischutz" was a real treat, and in response to an encore she favored the audience with " The Nightingale," which was also capitally rendered. Mdlle. Charbonnet's fantasia was of course encored. The lady amateur who followed with the song " Voi che Sapete " was far too timid to acquit herself successfully. Mr. Cary's " Man the Lifeboat" was one of those things that deserved to be encored. The piano and violin duet by Mdlle. Charbonnet and Mr. Bonnington was decidedly the gem of the evening, and was rapturously applauded. Madame Moller's "O mio Fernando" (from "La Favorita") was also well received. In the second part of the programme the most commendable items were the pianoforte performances of Mdlle. Charbonnet, the vocal duet ("A.8.C.") by Miss Neville and Mr. Cary, and the serenade by Miss Neville, Mr. Bonnington, and Mr. King. The latter gentleman acted as accompanyist during the evening, and acquitted himself in the most satisfactory manner. It ought to be stated also that Madame Moller and Miss Moller contributed in no small degree to the success of the evening's entertainment.

Jf CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The ordinary quarterly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held on Wednesday. Present—Messrs. F. A. Krull (President), J. Dransfield (Mayor), Messrs. George Hunter, M.H.R., G. Crawford, E. W. Mills, R. J. Duncan, J. R. George, J. H. Wallace,. Plimmer, sen., James Smith, W. M. Bannatyne, W. H. vVarren, L. Levy, Trapp, Port, Hutchison, J. D. Baird, Simpson, Reeves, Thompson, O'Neill, Captains Williams, Rose, and Mclntyre. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. FINANCIAL. The President reported as follows regarding the financial condition of the Chamber : The bank balance was £2B 15s. ; the fixed deposit £2OO ; accrued interest thereon, £l4; subscriptions due, £6O 18s.; entrance fees for new members, £l2 125.; total 316 ss. On the other side of the account there were the subscription on occasion of railway opening, £SO; rent, £25 ; secretary's salary, £lB 155.; sundries, £2O; total, £ll3 15s. committee's report. The President, on behalf of the committee, reported on various matters as follows : Captain Williams brought under the notice of the committee the difficulties in connection with the arrest of runaway seamen, and a letter on the subject was written to the Government, but as yet I am sorry to say we have had no answer. At one of our previous meetings it was resolved to expend a sum of £25 in securing books of reference, and Mr. Levin, the secretary, and myself were appointed to select the books, but so far we have not performed our duty in that respect. However, I hope Mr. Levin will call us together immediately, and that we shall have the books in a few days. A deputation from this Chamber has waited upon the Government since our last quarterly meeting ia reference to several matters. We discussed among other things the question of a steam for the harbor. We urged that it was desirable to do away with the present pilot station, and to make the tug a sort of floating pilot station. 3ir George Grey and the secretary to the Marine Department, Captain Johnston, both apparently looked upon the idea with great favor, and we are in hopes that our suggestions will be carried out. There is no doubt a steam tug is wanted much for the harbor, and that it would be a good thing for the port if the proposal were given effect to, not only because it would give us a steam tug, but also because our pilot service would be more efficient. Steam could be got up in the same time that it now takes to get a boat ready, and there would be the great advantage that the pilot could be taken out, and the vessel brought in, no matter what the weather might be. The new duties Act was also the cause of some little discussion. Mr. Harcourt pointed out to the Government the unfair operation of the present regulations as to exemptions of discount from duty. Thus, if a merchant makes a cash purchase in England amounting to £2OO, he gets a discount perhaps of 5 per cent., and he only has to pay duty on £l9O ; whereas a merchant who trades on his credit, and gives a six months' bill, has to pay duty on the full £2OO. Manifestly a wrong is thus done to a merchant simply because he has good credic at Home. It is scarcely likely that we shall carry our point, but the Chamber will not lose sight of the matter. The next point on which we saw the Government was the Sailors' Home question. We had an interview with Sir George Grey, and Captain Rose, as a result, wasto have written to the Government, but I believe has not done so. Perhaps he will give the meeting some information on that point. During the quarter the question of the site for the Wellington terminus or passenger station of the Masterton railway has been brought under the notice of the committee ; but as on a former occasion there was some difference of opinion on the subject, it was deemed advisable to remit the whole question to this meeting, and it is now open for .your discussion. This, I think, is a fairly full and correct account of our stewardship for the past quarter, and we hope the Chamber will affirm what we have done. (Applause). THE RAILWAY STATION QUESTION. The President drew the attention of the meeting to a plan of the reclaimed land, as laid out by the Government, copies of which were on the table. Mr. J. H. Wallace : Can you tell us what the proposals of the Government are ? The President : This plan shows the intention of the Government to be to keep the station on its present site. Mr. J. R. George : I have to submit the following resolution to the Chamber:—-That this Chamber desires to call the attention of the Government to the extremely inconvenient position of the present railway terminus, and to request that a site nearer the business centre of the town be reserved on the Thorndon reclaimed land, for the purpose of erecting a terminus in a situation more suitable to meet the requirements of the public. I think it is unnecessary to make many remarks upon this question. It is quite evident, according to these plans, that the most unfit position in the whole town has been selected as site for bhe railway station, and it is high time that that this Chamber woke up to its duty when we see that the most suitable site in the whole of Thorndon is about to be sold, no reserves being made for railway purposes. According to the old plan of the reclamation there was a large reserve made for railway purposes; but that plan appears to have been altogether dropped, and the Government seem to intend to keep the station where it is. This ought not to bd . consented to by the Chamber. If only for the purposes of a passenger station, the site originally selected, near the Lion Foundry, should be retained and built upon, or else there should be special reclamation even nearer the wharf, and a passenger station at least built upon that. . : Mr. B. W. MILLS : I have great pleasure

in seconding the resolution, because X think i£ we agree" to it we shall be taking a muchneeded step in the right direction. The idea of leaving the station where it is now is one which should not be entertained" for a moment by the inhabitants of Wellington. It may be that by selling this land instead of reserving ifc for a railway station site a little more money will be obtained by the Government; but as a matter of convenience to the citizens, which is of paramount importance, the station should be put where it was originally intended to be put —a spot which is eminently suitable for all purposes, being close to the centre of population, and close to the business establishments, and therefore especially suited to the country people. It is to the mercantile establishments, to the banks, and to the public offices that country people generally wish to go on their arrival, and to have the railway station handy to these places will be a matter of great convenience to them, seeing that the day in town is generally so short. Therefore I have much pleasure in seconding the resolution. Mr. J. H. Wallace: Does the lithographed plan now before us embody the proposals of the Government ? The President : I believe so: Mr. Carroll, our secretary, tells me that he got it from the Public Works Office this morning. But perhaps Mr. Duncan will be able to give us some information. Mr. R. J. Duncan : I can only say that I believe the Minister for Public Works, Mr. Macandrew, had it in contemplation to bring the railway right along outside the reclamation, and possibly to extend it to Te Aro aa soon as that foreshore should be reclaimed. That was one of the ideas of which he spoke to me some two or three months ago. As I understood him, he proposed having a platform or screw piles right outside the reclamation, along which to carry the railway, it being considered that the land was too valuable to be taken for a railway line. I believe there was a report by Messrs. Carruthers and Blackett to the effect that too much room would be taken up in providing for a general station nearer town than Pipitea Point, and that while it would be desirable to have a passenger station in the .centre of the town, the better plan would be to keep the principal terminus where it is. As to thepassenger station, I believe it was proposed not merely to extend the line to near the wharf, but to carry it over to Te Aro, the largest centre jof population, and have not one but several stations ; but what the present plans are I cannot possibly say. There seems, however, a strong feeling thet the reclamation should not be interfered with for railway purposes, and that the station should be kept where it ia, at Pipitea Point. Mr. Wallace : In support of the resolution I may say this, that the public- would be greatly inconvenienced if the station is not to be placed in a more central position than ifc at present occupies. It is really absurd to place the railway terminus at the other end of Thorndon. It is in the middle of the towc t where the population is, and where trade and commerce has its home and habitation, that the railway-station should be placed. Mr. Levin : There is no doubt that this question deserves very careful- consideration at the hands of the Chamber. Mr. Wallace and others have spoken of the inconvenience likely to accrue from the site of the present station being chosen as that of the permanent terminus, but I think there ps more than the mere inconvenience to be considered.. It seems to me that the Government in dealing with such questions aa these should go to work in the same way exactly as private persons go about their business; There should be a desire and a strong purpose to make things pay, and also an endeavor to make the railway > attractive to the people. It should be brought as close to them as possible, so that they may be induced to use it and thus derive all possible benefit from it. There can be no question that to put the terminus where proposed, at the other end of Thorndon; would result in great disadvantage to trade and commerce, because the cost of cartage to and fro between the business part of the city and the station would be very great, and would prove a serious hindrance in the , way of commerce. If the terminus were' placed where it was originally intended to* be placed, near Mills'foundry, it would be easily . accessible to town business men, and would,, moreover, bring country business men into the midst of the mercantile establishments, by which I mean banks and commercial institutions of all sorts. Most in this room have had experience beyond New Zealand, and must see that while all over the world it is the constant endeavor nowadays to bring railway termini into central positions, it would be a retrogade movement on our part to adopt the scheme the Government propose. In England, for instance, enormous sums are being spent by railway companies to bring their termini to the most central points. Why, it is constantly said that the last few miles of railways lines which penetrate the very heart of London have absolutely been paved with gold so large have been the t sums expended. Here we have an opportunity of bringing the railway right into the midst of Wellington city at little cost, and to fail to do so at once would be exceedingly unwise. Mr. Duncan : I may say that in course of conversation I have heard that the Government intend to make a railway wharf just beyond Pipitea Point, and that they intend to proceed with it as quickly as possible. Mr. Hunter: The whole of this question has been discussed at great length in different places at various times, and it is hardly necessary perhaps to go into the matter very fully. Most gentlemen no doubt are aware of what was originally designed, and I may say absolutely agreed upon between the late General Government and the late Provincial Government, by whom all arrangements in connection with the reclamation were made. It was arranged that a certain qu-vnticy of the land should b'e reserved as a site for

railway purposes generally, and upon which this station was to be erscted. At the same time it was not doubted that the line would sooner or later have to be carried over to Te Aro. That probably was never lost sight of ; but nevertheless a reserve of considerable extent was made on this land, near Mills' -Foundry—from five to seven acres, I should think, though I am not certain Mr. George : Fifteen acres. Mr. Hunter : Scarcely so much as that, I think. At any rate, the reserve was made, and it was arranged that as soon as the reclamation was complete the line should be carried up along a narrow strip at the outer edge from the present site of the station to Mills' foundry. That was absolutely agreed upon, and had no reference to a probable extension to Te Aro, which waa always thought of, because it was at once recognised that the bulk of the population of the city must be located at Te Aro. This was agreed upon by the Provincial Government and by the General Government of which Mr. Richardson was then a member, being Minister for Public Works ; and when the grant was made out this strip of which I have spoken was treated as a reserve, —so that until very lately it clearly was not in contemplation to sell the land. The question now is, however, whether it is desirable to bring the railway up to the spot originally contemplated, and occupy fifteen acres, as Mr. George says ; but I scarcely think it is so much. Certainly I think the station ought not to be left where it is. During the debate on the Reclaimed Land Bill during last session of Parliament the argument brought forward by the Minister for Public Works was that the land was too valuable to afford space for a large terminus, and that therefore it would be better to have the main terminus lower down, but I certainly understood that there was to be a station in the centre of the city, and whatever may be done now it is clear that there must be a station nearer town than Pipitea. Not only that, but a station in Te Aro before a much longer time has expired. It is stated that the Government only propose to deal with a certain portion of this land at the present time. They propose, as I understand, to sell only so much land as will recoup the amount of the advances. Mr. Duncan: £120,000 worth.

Mr. Hunter : I understood it was but £89,000, the cost of the reclamation, because the £30,000 on account of the hospital could stand over for a year or two. However, no doubt Mr. Duncan knows. If the Reclamation Bill had passed through Parliament this property would have gone to the Corporation, but, unfortunately, the differences which arose defeated it, the main one being the disagreement as to whether the surplus land ought to go to the Corporation or to a Harbor Board ; but this ought not to interfere with the original agreement as to the site of the station. I think the Government are making a mistake in their present proposal. No doubt the station might occupy a good deal of valuable land, but there is much to be gained by the original intention being carried out. Mr. Pearce : I heartily support the resolution. Indeed, I look upon the action of the Government in this matter as a grievous blunder—as a blunder of the class which are said to be worse than crimes-—because this land is sure to be required eventually, and then a large sum of money will have to be paid for that which should never have been alienated. . There is also this view to be taken —Suppose the Government do lose a few acres, the other sections close to the station will be so greatly enhanced in value that the additional proceeds from them will more than recoup any los3 that may be sustained in regard to area. If the railway station is to be kept down at Pipitea Point, this land will not be nearly so valuable as it would otherwise be, or as it has been imagined to be. The decision of Mr. Richardson as to the station was arrived at after great thought ; and in deference to that, to say nothing of the agreement arrived at by the Provincial and General Governments, not an acre of this reserve should be alienated.

The President, in putting the motion, said : I endorse entirely all that has been said on this question. If the land is sold, inevitably it must be rebought sooner or later at an enormously increased price. The motion was then put, and carried unanimously. Mr. Harcourt : I beg to propose this further resolution, —That this Chamber forward a requisition to the Mayor asking him to call a meeting of citizens to consider the question. A deputation from a meeting of citizens, combined with a deputation,from this Chamber, I have no doubt would carry great weight. Mr. Gardner : I have great pleasure in seconding that resolution, because I think it is high time we took some definite action. We have, it seems to me, been too remiss in regard to this reclamation hitherto, and we ought now to set our foot down and say exactly what we mean. The Chamber has unanimously expressed its view, and if a meeting of citizens were held and endorsed the action of the Chamber, its hands will be materially strengthened. No doubt now is the time to take action. If the Mayor were requisitioned a meeting could be held at once, and the voice of that meeting would add great weight to anything this Chamber could represent. I agree entirely with what fell from Mr. Levin, as to its being a retrograde movement to establish the station permanently at Pipitea, when we have the example before us of places all over the world spending large sums to bring the railway termini into the business centres. Mr. Levin has told us what has been done in London, and of my own knowledge I know that the same action has been taken in Glasgow. To come nearer home, we find that in Sydney the people for years have been agitating for the continuation of the railway from Prince Alfred Park to the Circular-quay, and are likely soon to be successful. In Melbourne, too, the Government have recently purchased the Hobson's Bay Company's lines, so that all the country lines may be carried to the Hob-

I Bay station, at the foot of Elizabethreet, and in the centre of Melbourne. With hese examples before us we certainly should not consent to a step which, if taken, we shall always afterwards regret. Mr. Levin : While fully sympathising with the motion, I think this Chamber would he making a mistake to move the Mayor to take action. Who are we that we should dictate to the citizens what they should do ? We have done our part as a Chamber, and it is for the citizens to endorse or disapprove of our action as they please, but at the same time any of us, as individual citizens, may exercise our rights to assist in the promotion of such a meeting. After some little discussion on the point the motion was withdrawn. NEW SOUTH WALES EXHIBITION. Mr. Levin said he had noticed a good deal in the papers in reference to the projected exhibition in New South Wales, and he thought it highly desirable that New Zealand should be represented thereat as prominently and as favorably as possible. It was a matter for the Government to initiate, and it was also the duty of the Government to see that proper space was allotted to the colony. He therefore should move that the Government be requested to inform the Chamber whether they have in contemplation the representation of the colony at the forthcoming New South Wales Exhibition. There was every appearance of its being a success, for interest was taken in it at Home, and no doubt there would be visitors from all parts of the world. Mr. George seconded. —Carried. THE SAILORS' HOME. Captain Rose gave certain explanations on this subject, from which it appeared there had been some misunderstanding in regard to corresponding further with the Government. He then proceeded to say that though Wellington had been the first to moot the desirability of establishing sailors' homes, he was afraid it would be the last places in the colony to possess an institution, owing to the difficulties in the way of getting a site. The Government had promised £SOO as soon as a site was obtained, but as there was no harbor board or any other body endowed and enabled to give a site, as in Otago, Auckland, and other places, there was no knowing when the £SOO could be claimed. The City Council had been willing enough to assist had the reclaimed land been secured; but it had not been, and Sir George Grey said the Government had no power to give a site. He must also say that he had been rather disappointed at the aotitude of Sir George Grey on the last occasion he was spoken to. On the first occasion he seemed to fall in with the idea that the home should be centrally situated, and a shipping office connected therewith, but lately he suggested a site the other side of Te Aro somewhere. Pei-sonally, he (Captain Rose) was very anxious to have the home established, and would do all he could. Captain Williams spoke of the great necessity of a sailors' home in Wellington, and suggested that the question of site should again be brought under the notice of the Government. After some conversation Captain Williams promised to bring tbe matter before the next committee meeting. hours op business. The President suggested that the lunch hour at present in reality observed by most firms should be formally recognised by the business places being closed for an hour. He said it was done on the Continent. As the idea did not met with much favor the proposition was withdrawn. HUTT-WATKANAE RAILWAY. Mr. J. S. M. Thompson : I would suggest that if any matters are to be brought under the notice of the Government by a deputation or otherwise, it would not be out of place to ask what is being done in reference to the Hutt-Waikanae railway. This is a matter of vital importance to as everygentleman present at this meeting must be aware, and at the preseut time little or nothing is being done concerning it ; at any rate I can hear of nothing being done,- and I believe that my experience is that of almost every member of this Chamber. We should all like to know very much if the line is being surveyed, or what is being done by way of preliminary work. It was resolved to communicate with the Government on the subject. THE NEW COURT HOUSE. Mr. Thompson : There is another matter upon which at the same time we might ask for information —that is in reference to the new Supreme Court House. The site of the old Court House has been sold for some months, but as yet nothing has been done, so far as I know, in regard to the building of a new Court House. I have not heard even of the plans and specifications having been prepared. It is about time something should be done, and the Government should be asked for information. It was also resolved to communicate with the Government on this subject. NEW MEMBER. Mi-. Waddell was elected a member of the Chamber. The proceedings then terminated.

NEW SUGGESTIONS RE WHARF ACCOMMODATION. Mr. H. P. Kealls, the bonded warehousekeeper, has put forth some suggestions as to proposed wharf accommodation, reclamation, &c, for Wellington harbor. After referring to the proposals on the part of the Government to reclaim land between Pipitea Point and Featherston Hill, and the proposed Te Aro reclamation, Mr. Kealls suggests (1) to reclaim a portion of land along Custom Housequay, commencing from near Mills' foundry to the north end of the first T, Queen's Wharf, for the purpose of erecting railway station and goods sheds ; (2) to reclaim a portion of land adjoining the Hutt-road, near. the bottom of Featherston Hill, for the purpos e of constructing a dry dock ; (3) to construct a wharf near the railway station, which would accommodate

about 18 vessels, half of which might be fullrigged ships (there is a swing bridge shown on the drawing, for the passage of vessels, traffic, &c); (4) or t >construct a wharf close to the above, as shown on the drawing, capable of accomm .dating eijrht ships ; (5) or join second and thirl Ts of Queen's Wharf, on the north side, with the breastwork, constructed in position shown, with swing bridges, as also shown on drawing, for the purpose of vessels passing in and out; (6) To join south-end of second T Queen's Wharf with the breastwork of the proposed Te Aro reclamation, and a swing bridge placed a 3 shown. (7.) To construct a wharf starting from the breastwork of the Te Aro reclamation in a line with Tory-street, on the angle shown, for the purpose of vessels discharging coal and timber. (8.) To raise a platform along the sides of Queen's Wharf to facilitate the loading and unloading of the trains, &c. (9.) That the sheds on each ends of outer T and also sheds on the south-end of second T of Queen's Wharf be raised and supported on columns so as to form two-storyed sheds, in place of one as at present. The rest of sheds are proposed to be removed on to the reclaimed land, as shown near the wharf approach, and wharf offices erected adjoining the same. Mr. Kealls has prepared rather elaborate drawings explanatory of his suggestions, and showing that all these works could be connected with the railway. The plans, &c, were exhibited in the Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon, and were much admired, though considered a decade or two in advance of the times. M . THE NEW HOSPITAL. Few people, we imagine, have any conception of the progress which has been made with the work of erecting the new hospital. The whole of the brickwork is pretty well finished, and the plastering is being pushed on vigorously, but the contractors have had a great deal of difficulty to contend with in this matter, owing to the great scarcity of plasterers. Hitherto, strange as it may appear to those residing outside the provincial district, little or no plasterers' work has been done in Wellington, and therefore when work of that class is undertaken on so large a scale as is the •case in the building under notice, labor has to be imported from the other colonies, principally from Victoria. Of course, as heretofore, with the probability of scarcity of employment, it has been difficult to get artizans to come to Wellington for a single job, but as building in brick is likely to become the rule rather than the exception in the principal streets of the city in future this difficulty will not trouble contractors. However, Messrs. Barry, McDowell, and Co. have managed to get very forward notwithstanding the difficulties in their way. The whole of the outside of the building has been cemented except the portico and a few of the back buildings, and inside also a great deal has been done, the large corridor, the resident surgeon's quarters, the waiting rooms, and some of the wards having been completed. The work seems to have been thoroughly well done, with mouldings and cornices, window sills and skirtings in a very fine cement known as Keene's cement, which in appearance is almost equal to marble. The floors have yet to be laid and a variety of timber fittings to be fixed, but sufficient is done to enable the general observer to gain an insight into the plan of the building and the accommodation it will afford. In every respect it is so entirely different to the class of buildings, public and private, in Wellington, that the visitor is apt to forget that he is in a land of earthquakes. All around is brick, stone, and cement. Massiveness. and solidity (comparatively of course), are the reigning features. The main corridor for instance is 300 ft. Ions:, 12ft. 4in. wide, and 18ft. high ; and the smaller corridors are of about half tbe dimensions ; while the four principal wards are 90ft. by 24ft. each, with a pitch of 20ft. Besides these there are the private patients' wards and the resident surgeon's quarters, all of large size. At the rear there are a very large kitchen, fitted with a nine feet range (in addition to the small kitchen complete with ranges, &c, to each of the four principal wards), scullei-ys, baths (plunge, shower, and vapor), and a variety of other offices incidental to hospitals. Altogether apart from and some distance away from the main building, are situate the fever wards, the laundry, storeroom, fumigating-room, &c, all of cemented brick. There are to be three large exercise and recreation yards, partially covered in by verandahs, and all thoroughly protected from the winds, the walks in which are to be cemented and thus always kept dry, while the centres are to be laid out as flower gardens. On the whole, the new hospital will be an institution on which the citizens of Wellington may reasonably pride themselves, and will, it is to be hoped, be the precursor of many such substantial buildings, to take the place of those now in existence. The contract price, exclusive of the cost of foundations and of bricks, is £26,000, and no doubt the estimated actual expenditure of £30,000 will be fully reached. As is pretty well known, Mr. Toxward is the architect. An article on the new building could not be complete unless some notice were taken of the work of brickmaking. This has been done almost entirely by convict labor, only a few free hands having been employed. Although there is not to hand any account of the financial result of the experiment, from a cursory inspection one would be led to think it had been very successful. During the past eighteen months, or two years say, these men have turned out at least four million bricks of the best possible quality. Better could not be wished for, and the cost to the hospital trustees cannot be much more than one-third the market price —£l a thousand, instead of £3. They are well made, well burnt, hard and flinty as rock, and thoroughly free from porousness; the only defect, if it may be called such, being that they are rather smaller than the ordinary market brick. A machine was imported from Ame-

rica, and its moulds were rather smaller than were expected. However, this machine ha 3 been a great success. It has worked smoothly trom the time it was first put together, and turns out a very large quantity daily. The process seems very simple yet very complete. The clay as excavated is shovelled into a hopper, 2ft. or 3ft. deep, and when it falls to the bottom is worked through a wooden trough sor 6 ft. in length laterally. Inside thi3 there is a shaft fitted with knives by means of which the clay is thoroughly "teased," "puddled," and pressed, and is then forced into cavities in a large wheel. This revolves, and on a certain point being reached the moulded brick is shot out ready for the kiln. The kiln, too, is of a character that rather astonishes the natives. It is a large circular affair divided into compartments, and is everlastingly burning. The fire starts at one compartment, and works its way round gradually, the result being that before a revolution is completed the bricks in the first compartment have cooled, have been carted away, and the space refilled by unburnt ones. The process is most interesting and thoroughly efficient. It is known, we believe as Hobbs' patent. Connecting the hospital building and the brick kiln is an endless tramway, by means of which full trucks are continually taking down bricks on one side and the " empties " are returning on the other side. All the bricks required for the building itself have been manufactured, bub a few are now being made, to be kept in stock. What it is intended to do with the machinery hereafter is not known, but in view of the many brick buildings now in course of erection, and likely to be in the immediate future, the plant and the site of the clay bed should be very valuable.

ST. JOHN'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The annual soiree in connection with St. John's Presbyterian Church, Willis-street, was held in the schoolroom at the rear of the church on Tuesday evening, and was a great success. Tea was on the tables at half-past six o'clock, and was partaken of by about 300 of the congregation and their friends. The catering was done by Mr. A. Macdonald, of Mannersstreet, and gave the highest satisfaction. The expenses of the soiree were borne by the ladies of the congregation, and the whole affair reflected the highest credit upon them. After tea a public meeting was held in the church itself, and there was a very numerous attendance. The chair was occupied by the Rev. J. Paterson, and there were several ministers on the platform. The proceedings were opened by the singing of the 100th Psalm, after which the Rev. Mr. Moir engaged in prayer. The Chairman tlien made a few prefatory observations, in the course of which he expressed the pleasure he felt at meeting with his people on occasions of this kind during the past ten years. The present was the third anniversary of the new church. He was glad to say that the congregation was in a most flourishing condition, and he could not refrain from speaking in the warmest terms of praise with regard to the liberality which had been displayed by the congregation in reducing the debt upon the church. There was a debt of £2000 existing upon it, but the congregation had so liberally responded to the appeal to reduce it that it had actually been reduced by the sum of £IOSO. It was now proposed to paint the church and to carry out some necessary repairs, and the collections of Sunday last and the proceeds of the tea meeting would be amply sufficient to meet the required amount of expenditure. While the congregation had been prosperous financially, still that was not the highest indication of real prosperity in a congregation. He was happy to say there had been an addition of fifty new members to the Church during the past year, and of these about one-third had entered into the fellowship of the Church for the first time by examination and profession of their faith. In looking back over the past ten years of his connection with this congregation, he felt that he had much cause for thankfulness and encouragement. They had been ten years of happy work amongst his people ; and while there were many things done which should not have been done, many things left undone which ought to have been done, and many things done imperfectly which might have been better done — and in this there was cause to be humbled — yet there were tokens of God's presence and favor sufficient to give encouragement for the future. The Rev. Mr. Brown, who had only arrived in Wellington that afternoon from the old country in the ship Otaki, next addressed the meeting. He expressed the great pleasure he felt at meeting with so many Christian friends on this the first evening of his arrival in the colony. He felt so much at home amongst them, and they seemed so much like the Christian people he was wont to associate with, that he felt as if he were back again to his old charge in Glasgow. [The rev. gentleman is a minister of the Presbyterian Church, and will be placed in some vacant charge, most probably the Wairarapa.] The Rev. Mr. Habens, Inspector-General of Schools, delivered an able and instructive address on general subjects connected with Church life and work. The Rev. Mr. Treadwell, of Wanganui, addressed the meeting on the subject of a sustentation fund which is about to be established in the Presbyterian Church. He showed the necessity for such a fund, and how, by its efficient working, it would tend to weld the Church more closely together, and would give effect to the great Scriptural principle, that the strong should help the weak. It was proposed by this fund to secure a minimum stipend to their ministers of £250 a year. The Rev. Mr. Ogg followed in support of the same subject. The Rev. Mr. West delivered a very thoughtful and eloquent address on the subject of the claims on Christian ministry in present day. The Rev. Mr. Moir addressed to the con-

gregation a few hearty words on the subject of Christian unity, urging that the love of Christ was the true bond of union amongst the Churches. The Rev. Mr. Dumbell addressed a few congratulatory observations to the meeting on the success of the anniversary of the church, and the prosperity of the congregation. The Chairman said he thought they had all reason to be pleased with the proceedings of the evening, which were alike instructive and interesting, and he felt he could not bring the meeting to a close without acknowledging the great service which had been rendered by the ladies of the congregation in providing so excellent a soiree at their own expense. He thought the ladies were entitled to a special vote of thanks. A vote of thanks to the ladies was carried by acclamation. Hymn No. 467 was then sung, and the Benediction having been pronounced by the Rev. Mr. Redstone, the proceedings terminated. It should be stated that at intervals during the evening the choir sang several anthems and hymns in a highly creditable manner, under the excellent leadership of Mr. Raymond.

TEMPERANCE MEETING. A large temperance meeting was held at the Imperial Opera House on Sunday afternoon, at which several addresses were delivered on the subject. The stalls, dress-circle, and boxes were well filled, and there was also a sprinkling of people in the pit and family-circle. On the platform were the Hon. Mr. Fox, M.H.R., Dr. Roseby, and Mr. Jago (of Dunediu), who are both on their way to Nelson to attend the annual session of the Grand Lodge of Good Templars, Mr. Adams, solicitor, the Rev. Mr Westall, &c. The proceedings were opened by the singing o£ the first hymn (Moody and Sankey), "Oh, my comrades," after which the Rev. Mr. Westall engaged in prayer. The chairman (Mr. Wardrupp) explained the object for which the meeting was held, and presumed there were few present who would not admit that drunkenuess was a sin. Yet strange to say very little notice was taken of it by any of the Churches, and hence it was all the more necessary that meetings like the present should be called. He would at once ask Dr. Roseby to address the meeting. Dr. Roseby delivered a very eloquent address on the subject of temperance, in the course of which he pointed out that in the United Kingdom upwards of 60,000 persons annually passed to a drunkard's grave, and 60,000 died annually in the United States from the same cause. He could not belive the proportion to be any less in New Zealand, and he would strongly appeal to those present to assist in the cause which he had come there to advocate. Hymn 259, "Will you meet me at the Fountain," was then sung;" after which Mr. Jago addressed the meeting. Some people, he said, might object to meetings of this kind being held on the Sabbath afternoon, but he contended that if it was lawful, according to Scripture, to rescue an ox, a sheep, or an ass from the pit on the Lord's Day, it was equally lawful to stretch forth their hands and rescue multitudes of men and women from the pit of degradation, demoralisation, and vice into which they had fallen through intemperance. If they were to deal effectively with the evil of intemperance, they must go to its foundation and stop drinking, that which alone made drunkards — they must stop drinking alcohol. Mr. Adams was the next speaker; he advocated prohibitory legislation, and the creation of a popular opinion on the subject. On the invitation of the Chairman, the Hon. W. Fox also spoke. He said that he had come there, not with the intention of speaking, but of listening to the addresses of their friends from Dunedin, and he had certainly listened to them with a great deal of pleasure. At that late period of the afternoon, he believed he would use the wisest discretion in saying as little as possible. What more arguments oould he use than those which had been already advanced by the gentlemen who had preceded him? If their arguments could not induce people to become friends of the temperance cause, anything he could say would have little effect. - There were only two sides to the question—God's side and the devil's side. There was no third side on which God and the devil could shake hands. Was there, he would ask them, a shilling which was bad on one side and good on the other? Drunkenness would be trodden out if only the respectable classes of society would set a good example. The present habits of society were certainly to be deplored. If a child were born, people must drink over it; if a relation died, they must drink over it; if they elected a Mayor, they must drink over it; if they launched a ship, they must drink over it; and if they clenched a bargain, they must go to the publichouse. He therefore appealed to respectable people to put their shoulder to the wheel, to discountenance and discourage such practices, and to lend a helping hand to those who had nailed their colors to the temperance cause for bo many years. The Chairman said he had listened to the various addresses which had been delivered with a great deal of interest and pleasure, and he believed the meeting would be productive of a great amount of good. The Doxology was then sung, and Dr. Roseby having pronounced the benediction, the proceedings terminated. THE WELLINGTON BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. A meeting of the committee of the Benevo lent Institution was held on Tuesday. Present— The Bishop of Wellington (in the chair), Archdeacon Stock, Rev. B. W. Harvey, Rev. W. TT. West, Rev. J. Harrington, Rev. A. Reid, Messrs. L. Levy, J. E. Smith, D. Lewis, J. G. Holdsworth, H. C. Wilson, and the secretary. The following subscriptions were received : — £5, C. Campbell, art union; £5, F. T.; £2, W. Best ; £l0 10s., J. Burne ; £2 2s., Bishop of Wellington; £1 1s,, G. Thomas j and 5s., forfeit.

Several cases of distress were considered and relieved. A letter was read from the Government stating that after January 1st they would cease to distribute charitable aid through the police. The amount now distributed through the police is: — ln rations, at rate of £144 per aunum; in money payments, at rate of £539 10s. per annum; total, £683 10s. per annum. The committee have, as already noticed, declined to take over the distribution of all charitable aid, for the following reasons: — 1st, That the amount of work involved thereby would require constant supervision, and considerable expenditure in salary of a relieving officer, office, &c. 2nd, That a class of cases will have to be relieved such as this institution has hitherto left to the police, they being better informed, and better able to deal with them. 3rd, That it would alter the character of the institution, and put its committee in the place of a relieving board, from which assistance could be demanded. The following is the correspondence which has taken place between the society and the Government : "Colonial Secretary's Office, "Wellington, November 4, 1878. "Sir, — The Financial Arrangements Act, 1878, just passed, provides for the relief of persons requiring charitable aid, on a liberal scale of subsidy. The relief of destitution in Wellington has hitherto been partially carried out by the local committee, subsidised by the Government; but a great deal has been done by the police. This the Colonial Secretary trusts your society will now undertake, and include in the general relief of destitution in this city on the principle laid down in the Act. "The head of the police has been directed to afford your society every information in his power, in order to facilitate the change. — I have, &c, "G. S. Cooper. "The Chairman of the Benevolent Institution, Wellington." "Wellington, November 28, 1878. "Sir, —In reply to your letter of the 4th instant, with reference to the general relief of destitution in this city, I am directed to state that the matter has been brought before the committee already on two previous occasions; that the committee has very carefully considered the question of administering all charitable aid in the city, and has decided that it cannot undertake responsibilities beyond those with which it is already entrusted.—l am, &c, "Charles P. Powles, " Secretary Wellington Benevolent Institution. "G. S. Cooper, Esq., Under-Secretary." "Colonial Secretary's Office, "Wellington, Decembers, 1878. " Sir, — l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th ultimo, and in reply am directed by the Colonial Secretary to express his regret that the committee of the Wellington Benevolent Institution has decided not to undertake responsibilities beyond those which it is already entrusted in the matter of relief of destitution. "Colonel Whitmore at the same time desires me to inform you that the Government regret that they will be obliged to adhere to their decision that the distribution of relief by the police shall cease from the Ist January next.—l have, &c, "G. S. Cooper. "C. P. Powles, Secretary to Wellington Benevolent Institution." RIFLE SHOOTING. The third competition for the City Rifles challenge medals came off on Saturday last at the Polhill Gully range, when the weather was very uufavorable for shooting, as it rained considerably throughout the day. There were 17 competitors on Saturday. The highest scorer was Private A. Ballinger, with 65 points, he being the holder of the second medal for last month. Sergeant Harris, the holder of the first medal last time, just lost the second one this time in shooting off a tie. The competitor that beat him was Sergeant Bowie, he making 61 points, which entitles him to the second medal. A protest was entered by SubLieutenant Mcintosh against A. Ballinger ; if withdrawn another one will be entered by Sergeant Bowie. The following is a list of the scores:—

THE LOSS OF THE SOUTHMINSTER. The following judgment was delivered on Tuesday by Mr. Graham, J. P., chairman of the nautical assessors : " We are of opinion that the loss of this ship is mainly attributable to the existence of a Hood tide on the coast, of which the master had no knowledge, a note on the Admiralty chart stating that there is no tide. That the ship struck some distance seaward of her present position, and about the time of high water. That possibly, or even probably, under the special circumstances, had the anchor been let go in 25 fathoms the ship might have been saved ; but as the sounding gave the ship an offing of two miles clear of all dangers marked on the chart, the ship goiner at the time about two knots through the water, heading N.E. by N., and the wind freshening, with a risiny glass, the master was justified in holding on tc his course, which would have carried him well clear of Cape Campb 11, had not some adverse influence, such as the flood tide already men tioned, prevented it. That the ship appears t< have been well found and properly manned, and the master appears to have used all proper care and diligence in the navigation of tin ship, having remained on deck nearly the whole passage from Lyttelton. We are, however, of opinion that after th 6 ship struck greater efforts might h&TS bsan made to save tfis pro*

perty. Under all the circumstances, we do not consider that the certificates of the master and his officers should be retained. We desire to call the special attention of Government to the evidence given by Captain Fraser as to the incorrect information given in the charts published by the Admiralty in 1857 and 1870, and now in use." The Collector of Customs asked for costs, but the Chairman said he had no authority for granting them. THE NEW ZEALAND " GAZETTE." In Thursday's Gazette, received by us yesterday, the traffic returns of the New Zealand railways for the four weeks ending October 19 are published. From them we learn as follows : WELLINGTON SECTION.

RAILWAYS WORKING ACCOUNT, Showing the total receipts and expenditure during the financial Year 1878-79, to the termination of the four-weekly period ending October 19, 1878.

The following gentlemen have been gazetted J.P.s :—Robert Alcorn, Esq., of Ahaura ; Patrick Brennan, Esq., of Reefton ; David Donald, Esq., of Totara Flat, Grey "Valley ; Thomas Bamber, Esq., Mayor of Wanganui ; Thomas Bullock, Esq., Mayor of Ashburton ; William Coleman, Esq., Mayor of Parnell; Thomas William Porter, Esq., Mayor of Gisborne ; and William Syms, Esq., Mayor of Picton. A number of minor appointments are also gazetted. Every commissioner under the Land Tax Act is required to take an oath to perform his duties faithfully and honestly within fourteen days after his appointment.

THE CHINESE IMMIGRATION QUESTION. It is probable that in a few days the citizens of Wellington will be asked in public meeting assembltd to express their opinions on the question of Chinese immigration to this colony. The Mayor has been communicated with by the persons who are agitating the question, and he has expressed his sympathy with the feelings of those who have written to him, and has promised to convene a public meeting if a requisition is forwarded to him containing a sufficient number of signatures to warrant him in doing so. A petition to the House of Representatives has been drafted, and will be submitted to the meeting if one be called. This sets out (1) That the petitioners firmly believe that the Empire of China, possessing four hundred millions, is able and will most certainly send, if permitted, during the next few years, many millions of a most servile and otherwise objectionable class of immigrants to these colonies, who on account of their cheap means of living will to a great extent supplant our people in all departments of labor where they are physically able to compete with us. (2,) That the Chinese emigration to these colonies is almost equivalent to slavery, and in some respects worse than the Coolie labor system in the tropical colonies (which has often been objected to in the British Parliament), inasmuch as the Coolie trade is usually under immediate supervision of British officials, whereas the Chinese Australian immigrants are entirely under the rule of their native headmen, both on the passage and for years after their arrival in the colonies. Reference is then made to the exclusive trading of the Chinese, ind to the fact that as soon as they make money they leave the colony, and then on their arrival in China purchase for a term of years vast numbers of their countrymen, in order to send them to the colonies, and will in all probability continue to do so " until your honorable House and other similar assemblies enact laws to preveat the total swamping of the white

races with semi-barbarous serfs." Allusion is then made to the danger to passengers involved in allowing Chinamen to be sailors, also to the baneful effects arising from the immorality of the race, as proved to exist in centres of population on the Australian continent. It is further alleged that nearly 30 years experience has proved that the Chinese are not capable of understacding our political institutions, and cannot therefore be trusted with political power, and for that reason alone are undesirable colonists. Petitioners therefore urge that a tax of £ — per head should be placed on all subjects of the Emperor of China coming here, &c, &c.

HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL. The ordinary meeting of the Hutt County Council was held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday. Present —Messrs. Mason (chairman), Morgan, Chew, Taylor, Smith, Speedy, Lancaster, Dick, and Monaghan. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. SURVEYS. The Chairman stated that" he had received a letter from the Surveyor-General, stating that nearly all the surveys in the KaroriMakara District had been completed. The rest would be finished in about six weeks. ©LD PORIRVJA ROAD. Considerable discussion occurred with regard to the erection of a fence by Mr. Thomas Hawkins at a certain section on the Old Porirua road. It was ultimately agreed to refer the matter to the Wellington Highway Board, Councillor Chew alone objecting. DAMAGE BY ELOOD. A letter was read from Mr. F. Bill , Pahautanui, enclosing an account of damage done in consequence of his store being flooded through the culvert put' in by the Council being to small to carry off the storm water. The writer expressed a hope that he would be recompensed for his loss as soon as possible. The surveyor to the Council (Mr. Fitz-. herbert) stated there was no doubt the culvert was too small, but Mr. Bills' store was below the level of the road, and he did not think the Council was in any way liable. Before the culvert was put in those most interested were asked if it would answer the purpose, and they said it would. Uounciii-jr oMii.H said there was no doubt Mr Bills had suffered considerable loes through the culvert in question, which had been very badly put in. The Surveyor stated that the culvert would ' be repaired without delay, as the timber was on the ground. It was decided that the Couneil could not recognise Mr. Bills' claim for compensation. ' the county subsidy. A letter was read from the Colonial Treasury, stating, in reply to a letter from the Council, that payment of the subsidy to the Hutt County Council would be made immediately, and explaining that the delay had arisen in consequence of the difficulty experienced in determining the amount of deductions for hospitals, under the sth section of the Financial Arrangements Act of last session. finance committee. Councillor Taylor moved, without notice, for the appointment of a Finance Committee, consisting of the chairman, Councillor Lancaster, and the mover, whose duty it would be to meet at 11 a.m. on the days on which the Council met, and examine the accounts submitted for payment. The motion was agreed to. report. The following report was handed in by Mr. Fitzherbert : "Horokiwi Valley, December 8, 1778. " Sir, —There are five large culverts washed away and twenty slips down between this and Paikakariki. lam going to try and get men; but they seem to want more than 6s. 6d. a day. The water has washed the road away in several places, and I would like if you could come up. "Wm. Mitchell. "P.S. — The Pahautanui bridge is also washed away.—W. M." Mr. Fitzherbert said it was the approaches to the bridge which were referred to. He had instructed Mitchell to put on as many men as he could get, to have the damage repaired as soon as possible. It was resolved that Mr. Fitzherbert and Councillors Smith and Taylor should inspect the damage done, and make a report on the same to a special meeting of the Council to be held on Tuesday next. ACCOUNTS. Several accounts were passed for payment, and the Council adjourned. KARORI-MAKARA ROAD BOARD. The usual monthly meeting of the KaroriMakara Highway Board was held at the old schoolhouse, Karori, on Saturday, the 7th instant. Present —Messrs. Graham (chairman), Cook, Bowler, and Page. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The correspondence (outward) was read. Mr. O'Shea applied for a road to his land in the Terawiti district. The matter was postponed till next meeting. An application was read from settlers on the Evans Bay-road, praying for the removal of the gates on the road. The Board considered it was time they were done away with, and the clerk was directed to notify the owners that unless they were immediately removed summary proceedings would be taken. The clerk was directed to supply the Laud Tax Commissioner with the information required in his circular of the 27th ultimo. Mr. Thomas Robinson was appointed assessor to the Board under the Rating Act. Mr. Cook applied for a sum not exceeding £SO towards repairing and metalling the North Makara-road, which was agreed to. Accounts amounting to £B2 13s. 2d. were ordered to be paid. After transacting soma further routine busi* aees tho tacating adjourned

200 400 500 600 yards, yards, yards. , yards. Tl. Private A. Ballinger .. 10 17 17 12 — 65 Sergeant Bowie .. .. 14 18 13 16 — 61 Sergeant Harris .. .. 17 17 15 12 — 61 Sub-Lieut. Mcintosh .. 13 17 16 14 — 60 Bance-Corp.W. Ballinger 20 17 15 7 — 59 Private H. Dee .. 14 18 11 14 — 57 Sergeant J. Ballinger .. 17 15 12 13 — 57

Passengers, parcels, &c. . Goods and live stock ( Eeceipts, 187S. £ s. d. ,. 1,066 17 9 681 4 9 Corresponding four weeks, 1877. £ s. d. 651 10 11 407 18 0 Total reveuue . £1,748 2 6 £1,059 8 11 WANGANUI. i Eeceipts, 1S77. £ s. A. Passengers, parcels, &c. .. 1,146 9 10 Goods and live stock .. 1,056 8 4 Corresponding four weeks, 1878. £ s. d. 320 18 5 513 17 11 Total Wharf dues . 2,202 18 2 76 13 6 834 11 4 99 14 10 Total revenue . £'2,279 11 8 £934 6 2

Percentage of For a TwelveLength FourTotal Total monthly period, Average to Date. Section. open for Traffic. Weekly Receipts. Receipts to Date. Expenditure to Date. Expenditure to Receipts Expend!- j Rec 'ipts per Mile of Railway. ture per i Mile of Railway. ! £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 16 341 6 7 1,381 19 0 1,425 0 9 103 11 280 14 2 289 9 2 Auckland 97 3,657 15 8 13,797 6 1 12,235 17 2 88-68 462 5 7 409 19 2 65 2,238 5 10 7,572 5 9 5,622 1 5 74'24 1 378 12 2 281 2 0 Wellington 28 1,748 2 6 5,996 15 11 4,354 9 1 72'61 ' 096 1 0 505 8 7 ' Wangamii 86 2,279 11 8 8.325 5 3 6,064 2 4 72'84 314 12 2 229 3 2 New Plymouth 21 387 1 6 1,618 10 4 1,642 13 1 101*49 250 9 7 254 4 5 Greymouth 8 65S 11 9 2,616 8 6 1,455 7 3 55 62 1062 18 4 591 4 10 Westport 19 203 19 3 814 17 6 954 10 7 117*13 139 7 7 163 5 5 20 484 13 10 1,896 9 11 1,586 10 8 83-65 308 3 7 257 16 2 18 402 11 10 1,557 15 8 1.502 4 4 96*42 281 5 2 271 4 7 Christchureh-Dunedin 532 30,771 13 5 120,204 0 7 87,763 13 3 73-01 741 7 7 541 6 0 1 Invercargill .. Totals 167 3,852 11 7 14,254 13 2 12,768 10 1 89*57 277 8 2 248 9 9 1068 47,026 15 5 180,036 7 8 137,375 0 0 76-60 1