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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4152, 11 July 1874, Page 2

Our report of the meeting of the City Council on Thursday evening was necessarily short and incomplete, our reporter having had no opportunity of examining the reports and correspondence in the hands of the Town Clerk. We are now in possession of further particular's of the proceedings of the meeting, but are compelled to hold them over until Monday. It may be well to mention that, by miscarriages in correction, some sentences appeared in an article yesterday, implying that Judge Ward was at present a Judge of the Supreme Court. The fact, of course, as is well known, is that Mr. Ward is Judge of the District Court in the Timaru district. In the same way, it happened to be stated as a fact, while it was merely a presumption, which may not prove correct, that information as to certain telegrams had been received from Wellington. Among the bills that were read a first time in the House of Representatives last night, was the State Forests Bill, Civil Service Bill, Supreme Court Act Amendment Bill, Westland Land Act Amendment Bill, Post Office Savings Bank Act Amendment Bill, and the New Zealand University Act Amendment Bill. A Bill to enable the Government to carry out the policy indicated in a paragraph of His Excellency’s Speech, as to the Government system of Assurance and Life Annuities, was introduced." The Premier took the opportunity to correct a misunderstanding that had gone abroad in the matter as to the intentions of the Government. It was proposed to divide the profits among those interested at the end of ten years after the commencement of the system, and every five years afterwards, on the report of an actuary to be specially employed from time to time to examine the affairs of the institution.

The port of Oamaru, if it does not get all that it wants, in the matter of a lighthouse, is likely to receive such an amount of attention at the hands of the Commissioner of Customs as will satisfy it. In answer to Mr. Steward, who last night asked why a lighthouse had not been placed on Cape Wanbrow, in accordance with a resolution of the House, agreed to last session, Mr. Eeynolds read an official report as to the ports of Timaru and Oamaru, which stated that the former was situated in a deep bight, and was not approached by any vessels but those which were bound there. The same remark applies to Oamaru. The soundings as the former was approached were regular, and though those off the latter were less so, they were still such as clearly to indicate the approach to the shore. A lighthouse on Cape Wanbrow would be of no advantage to vessels making the land there ; but there was a reef lying off Moeraki, there was a reef known as the Fish Beef, which was dangerous to the navigation of vessels bound from Port Chalmers to the Northern ports, which had to go near it, and it was therefore proposed to place a light at Moeraki. Mr. Steward stated that such a light would satisfy the people of Oamaru.

It will be seen from an advertisement in another column that the fine steamship Atrato will be despatched for London, via the Cape of Good Hope from Lyttelton, on the 31st of the present mouth. The rates of passage money are not high, and as the vessel undoubtedly is a comfortable one, and is the first steamer which has been placed on the line direct from New Zealand to England, she should be well patronised both by passengers and freighters. Mr. John Smith’s very talented Combination Troupe gave another of their clever performances last night in the Theatre Royal, when a programme, in most features new, was gone through without a hitch. It is somewhat extraordinary that the public of Wellington have not yet, apparently, been able to appreciate the real talents of this company. There is not a member of it who is not superior to any per* former in the same'line of business who ever before appeared in Wellington. The performances of Airec, the “King of the air,” are perfectly original, never having been attempted before by any performer. So of Val Vose, the ventriloquist. He is an artist in a peculiar walk, and shines in it. The City has never seen anything like him before, and will not do so again for many years tp come. The De Castro family are wonders, while Mademoiselle Montebello is as superior in style to Lizzie Watson as one artist can be to another in their peculiar walk. Mr. St. Yincent has a good appearance, an excellent voice and original talent, while Professor Saunders, on the harp, reminds those who have heard them, of the best harpists of Wales. Such a combination of talent should certainly have been better patronised than it has been. This afternoon there will be a performance, especially intended for ladies and young people. In the evening there will also he a performance. A new programme will be submitted on these occasions. It is to be hoped that both performances will be encouragingly patronised. Sensationalist newsmongers appear to have arrived in Wellington with the representatives of the people in Parliament. The handiwork of one of the number, first seeing the light in Auckland, has already been talked about in Parliament and universally condemned. A second performance—perhaps that of another member of this band of performers on the flying trapeze of untruth—appears to have been telegraphed to Dunedin. A private telegram received in town yesterday states that the Otago Daily Times had issued an extraordinary containing a telegram from a Wellington correspondent—this time not the regular correspondent of that journal—to the effect that the Premier would proceed to England at the close of the present session, to supersede the Agent-General ; and that Mr. E. Stafford would assume the Premiership with the common consent of all parties. The subject of steam-colliers is thus referred to by a correspondent of the Grey River Argus in Tuesday’s issue. There will be, practically, no reasonable limit to the quantity of coal that will leave here when the harbor works are completed; perhaps a few years hence. It will never do, however, ( to wait for harbor works ; doubtless the mere force of competition will force a trade for the coal, and the most likely outlet this will take will bo by building steam-colliers. It is to be regretted that the Wellington and Grey Company formed for this purpose fell through. Steam colliers may cost a considerable sum, but a great harvest is to be gleaned. Coal can now be r shipped in Greymouth at 16a. per ton, and in eight months hence, when the railway is completed, at 125., which will be 2s. less than at Newcastle. Suppose one steam-collier were built, capable of carrying 300 tons, there is no reason why it should not make three trips per month to Nelson and Wellington, carrying a total for the twelve months of 10,800 tons. Those versed in the value of such vessels, and the cost of working, will know whether it will pay or not; four of such vessels would meet the requirements of the place until other provision could be made. This is a question which is well worth the attention of investors."

Leave of absence for ten days was formally given in the House last night, on various grounds, to Messrs. Creighton, Luckie, Montgomery, and Rolleston. There was no work done in the Legislative Council yesterday. Mr. Waterhouse’s motion, on the indebtedness of the Colony, tho only subject on the Order Paper, being postponed until Tuesday. The business done at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday consisted of fining one drunkard. Of two civil coses which were set down for hearing, one was adjourned, and the other withdrawn.

Mr. Vogel stated in the House yesterday, in anticipation of a question by Mr. Sheehan, that a Bill to amend the Native Land Act, 1573, had been prepared. An Imprest Bill, for a sum not exceeding £250,000, was passed through committee inflm House yesterday and reported. The third reading of the Bill was made an Order of the Day for Tuesday next. A question was put in the House yesterday as to whether steps had been or were being taken to bring the murderer or murders of Timothy Sullivan, in April, 1873, to justice. Mr. Vogel stated in reply, that the matter had not escaped the attention of the Government. Native matters required great delicacy in treatment, and he was not at liberty to give any information on the subject. On Monday next Mr. B. Levy will sell by public auction those premises in Willis Street lately occupied by Mr. Miller, baker. The buildings will then be immediately pulled down, and on the site will be erected large brick stores for Messrs. Jacob, Joseph, and Co. Mr. John McKenzie, builder, is the successful tenderer for the building, which will be supervised by Mr. Toxward. The cost, it is stated, will be uptvards of £IO,OOO. A formidable rival to cremation, says the European Mail, has appeared in the form of a project for petrification, suggested by an eminent Italian medico. By this means, instead of ornamenting our chimney-pieces with the urns containing the ashes of our forefathers, we are to embellish our staircases, conservatories, and gardens with our dearest friends, turned to stone in the attitude we liked them best in life. Apropos of cremation, the Cambidge University Union has adopted a motion in its favor by 101 to 42 votes, while in the United States a case of cremation has actually occurred. The “cremates" was George Opdyke, son of Dr. Francis Opdyke, a native of Heidelberg. The body, which produced “a quart of whitish grey ashes,” was burnt in a chimney of “ peculiar construction,” which had been constructed in ptre Opdyke’s house, and the ashes, placed in an um, now ornament his study mantelpiece. There is one other little fact, however, the experiment cost £2OOO. Information, somewhat plainly put, is thus given to the writers of letters to newspapers, by the New Zealand Herald ; the information being supplied directly to a correspondent to that journal, Mr. F. S. Peppercorne ;—“ Your letter is in type, and will be inserted at our convenience. It is not usual for correspondents to dictate to the editors of journals the date when their communications shall appear ; nor is it likely the insertion of your communication will be at all hastened by such a letter as yours of yesterday’s date in reference thereto. It was your pleasure to send the correspondence ; it is ours to determine the date of its appearance, if it goes in at all.” “Augur,” the principal contributor to the sporting columns of the Australasian, uniting of the handicap for the Melbourne Cup, says of our best representative from this Colony : “Bearing in mind the great reputation that Lurliue brings with her from New Zealand, I don’t see how Mr. Barnard could handicap her at less than Sst. 111 b., seeing that as a four-year-old she carried up to 9st. 121 b., and spread-eagled her fields. Mr. W. Kobinson, who ran third for the English Derby, with Eltham, and owned many good horses in the old country, believes her to be quite as good a mare as any that he saw in England, and other good judges who have seen her perform pronounce her to be the equal of Don Juan or Dagworth. If so, she should have a rare look in for our Cup.” If Mr. Bedwood decides to start his mare for the Hawkesbury Handicap, to be run in August, for which she is weighted at Sst. 121 b., or for the Sydney Metropolitan in September, in which she is treated to 81b. less, her running in either race should give a very good line for her Cup chance, in which she carries Sst. 111 b., which is 171 b. less than Dagworth, a horse she is pronounced by some to equal. Seeing that the latter horse, with only 61b. more than he carried into second place last year in the fastest run Melbourne Cup ever seen, is now backed at two points less than the favorite, Lurline should see a short price in the market before the race.

At a recent meeting of the Zoological Society of London a communication was read from Dr. Julius Haast, containing the description of a new species of Euphysctes (Euphysctes pottsi), a remarkably small catodont whale, which had been found on the coast of New Zealand. WESTLAND. Some scenes have lately occurred in the Westland Provincial Council and Borough Council of Hokitika. At the last meeting of the latter body, says the W. O. Times ;—Councillor Barrett rambled away into a variety of matters, with the apparent intention of condemning the Mayor, without proposing any definite motion, as repeatedly requested, and a very disorderly scene occurred, during which the Mayor remarked that he would not sit for many nights more. Though nearly an hour was occupied there was no motion whatever brought forward, and the Mayor eventually left to attend to his duties as Provincial Treasurer in the Council As he went out Councillor Barrett fired off a last volley, characterising his departure as impertinence, and his ruling as ignorance. Councillor Higgin was voted to the chair, but as the official to be baited was beyond hearing, the Council, on the motion of Councillor Barrett, was adjourned till Friday next.” “If councillors,” adds our contemporary, “do not desire the Corporation to fall altogether into contempt they will not suffer a repetition of last night’s proceedings, nor allow Mayor-baiting to be one of the legitimate weekly spirits. No matter how strained the Act or Standing Orders may be they were never intended to provide such, amusement, and the Council by permitting it disgraces alike itself as a body, and those who elected them." The port of Okarito was physically closed a few weeks ago by the formation of a sandspit across the mouth of the lagoon of which it consists, and now it is officially closed as a port of entry for Customs purposes. Okarito was once the port of the richest beach diggings on the West Coast, and may again be found to be the easiest entrance to a rich reefing district, but for some time the direct trade with other Colonies has been reduced to a mere nothing, and it has scarcely been necessary to maintain the port as a port of entry. For a number of years, an experienced Customs officer, Mr. Tizard, was doomed to seclusion at Okarito, acting also as Warden, but he has recently been removed to Westport, and was succeeded by Mr. La Nauze, formerly Resident Magistrate in the Chatham Islands. OTAGO. The first of a series of religious meetings, coming under the designation, “ Week of Prayer,” has been held in the Masonic Hall, Moray Place. The scene is thus described by the Daily Times : —The hall was crowded to excess with worshippers of various denominations, and on the platform were some ministers, church brethren, and one or two females. The chair was occupied by Mr. F. Fulton, who, after a short opening address, in which he read a code of approved rules to be observed during the meetings, gave out a hymn. Special prayers were then offered for “Two Day Schools and a Sabbath School," and “ A young . woman, that she might be brought to the Lord," in which some of the audience took part. Mr. Wm. Johnston, of Caversham, delivered a brief and earnest discourse on a portion of the 22nd verse, 11th chap. Mark, the subject •being “ Faith.” After this dissertation another hymn was sung, no iustmmental or choir assistance being given, and with a few remarks from the chairman, who announced that the meetings would be continued during the week, being limited to an hour, the congregation dispersed punctual to the stated time, the Benediction being pronounced before leaving.

The case of “M‘Lean v. Macandrew and others ” has been before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Sir R. Collier gave judgment in a case from the Appeal Court of New Zealand, which set aside a judgment of the Supreme Court, and dissolved an injunction, as to some proclamations of the Gold Fields’ Act. His Lordship went over the case, and

Whilst the laying and ballasting of lines is being pushed forward by the contractors, equally rapid progress, says the Daily Times, is being made in the 'fitting up of rolling stock for railway communication in the 'Province. Two new engines, of the approved tank pattern, six coupled, the description of the one now in use on the Clutha line, have been put together in the newly-built engine shed on the reserve facing the Dunedin station by Mr. T. 0. Burt, under the superintendence of Mr, Turton. The Port engines being out of order and in want of repair, it ■will be employed as a relief on that line in a few days. The large tanks'attached thereto enable these engines to go a considerable distance—about six times that of the Port ones—with a new supply of water. The other one will be engaged for passenger traffic on the Green Island line. CANTEEBUKY. A clear case of death from drink was the subject of an inquest held last week at Christchurch. Wixiam Davison was the name of the deceased. The evidence went to show that the deceased was addicted to fits of intemperance, and that on the Tuesday evening when he returned home from work he went out and procured a bottle of brandy, all of which he drank himself. When his wife woke up next morning she observed him sitting on the edge of the bed with the bottle in his hands, and between his knees, and apparently very unwell. She obtained the assistance of Mr. and Mrs. Guy, neighbors, who applied remedies, but he died a few moments afterwards. The jury returned a verdict of “ Died from alcoholic poison, administered by himself.”

said the committee would advise Her Majesty that the judgment of the Appeal Court be affirmed, and the present appeal be dismissed with costs.