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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4434, 5 June 1875, Page 2

Wb are not without hope that our contemporary, the Lyttelton Times, will come round to our view of the provincial question. If it be not thoroughly disgusted with the narrow spirit developed by provincialism, it is likely to be so before the present session of the Canterbury Council comes to an end. Our telegrams inform us that Mr. Wynn Williams has resigned office, on the education question ; and the Lyttelton Times declares that “the principle wliich actuates the majority ef the Council is that of locality ;—that appropriations of the public money are made in strict regard to situation.” Acting upon this principle, the votes for the Museum, College, and Post-office were refused, because the money would hare been spent in Christchurch, which is more meanly provided with public buildings than any other large town in the colony ; but, adds our contemporary, “when £13,000 are .put down for a bridge and road, which nobody wants, and which lead to nowhere, the money must be granted, for it is to be spent in the South.” We know nothing, and care nothing about the local jealousies of Canterbury ; but we regard the refusal of the Council to complete the noble educational institutions of the province, while it had the power to do so, as a public misfortune. With regard to the Christchurch Post-office, it is simply a disgrace to the city, and utterly inadequate to its requirements. The Lyttelton Times indicates the danger of all this on the abolition of Provincial Government. In that event, it says, “ the Middle Island must have some centre, some town where there are public buildings already in existence. That centre is not likely to_be Timaru ; but it is very likely to be Dunedin.” The reason is, that Dunedin

already possesses public buildings which are a credit to the colony ; but, not content with what it now has, a superior class of public edifices are to be built. Undoubtedly the tendency of trade and commerce in the Middle Island is to gravitate towards Dunedin, where there is superior business energy ; but provincialism, in Canterbury or elsewhere, is utterly selfish, and cares for nothing but its own petty gains. Let useless bridges be built, and roads leading nowhere be made, but let nothing be done to ornament the chief towns, thereby adding to the daily comfort and enjoyment of the thousands of residents and travellers, who never once perhaps visit the remote country districts.

Thebe was quite a pretty little leader published a couple of evenings ago, about the introduction next session of Parliament of a new Licensing Bill. The leader would have been all the nicer but for the circumstance that whatever in it was new was not true, and whatever waa true was not now. Thus the leader waa founded on words put into Mr. J. O. Crawford’s mouth, but assuredly never uttered by him. If Mr. J. C, Crawford be allowed to speak for himself, the arguments of the' article in question will bo found to bo based upon a foundation of sand. In other words, the idea that Mr. Crawford made any positive or direct utterance during the sitting of the Licensing Bench, upon the subject of the introduction of a new licensing Bill next

session, is purely imaginary. Mr. Crawford made no serious statement upon the matter at all. Mr, Buckley, it is true, made the remark that it was extremely inconvenient that licenses for now houses should be granted only at the annual licensing meetings, whereupon Mr. Crawford rejoined that as it had become the fashion to pass a Incensing Act every year, he supposed one would be introduced this year. Thus the mystery is solved. Mr. Crawford did not act as the medium of the Government or of any other high power. Ho merely indulged in a harmless joke, and it is but a poor compliment to Mr. Crawford as a humorist that when ho does condescend to become playful and jocose his little pleasantries should be heralded as words of weight and wonder.

The Provincial Secretary returned from Nelson on Wednesday evening, on item of news which is interesting in this respect, that the decision upon the tender for the erection of the new Provincial Hospital will now be shortly made known.

The bad weather experienced nearly all over the country between the 24th and 27th of last month, seems to have been even more violent at sea, for we have been informed that the brigantine Mary -Campbell-- has arrived at Hokitika in a disabled state, having encountered a gale of extraordinary severity from between south-west and north-west, on the 24th ultimo, while on her voyage from Melbourne. The weather report yesterday morning showed that a remarkably rapid fall of the barometer _ had taken place : over the Middle Island, principally between..Queenstown and Kaikoura, and amounting to about 7-10ths of an inch. By 3.30 p.m. a hard southerly gale had commenced at Queenstown and Port Chalmers ; by 4.45, it had reached Hokitika, where the wind suddenly changed from a moderate breeze at east to a gale from southwest ; and it appears to have commenced at Westport at 7 p.m. The barometer here was falling all day very fast, and about eight o’clock last evening the wind began to rise, blowing in hard and sudden gusts from the north and north-west. This change appears the more remarkable after the experience of the Rangatira, which was obliged to put back from Portland Island on Thursday, having met a heavy northerly gale and high sea, the wind here being southerly. His Excellency the Marquis of Normanby and Lady Normanby visited the convent and schools during yesterday afternoon. On arrival the vice-regal par-ty were received by a large number of the leading ladies and gentlemen belongingto St. Mary’s parish. His Excellency expressed himself greatly pleased with the arrangements of the schools, at the same time making one exception, which was the accommodation provided for the reverend sisters of charity. It was to “remedy tliis defect that notice was recently made in our columns of the proposed soiree to be held on the Sth of J une. A rather singular case came before the City Court yesterday, the particulars of which were interesting for many reasons. In the first place, it was singular to find a woman of fiftysix charging her husband, a decrepit old man of seventy-seven, with refusing to contribute to her support; in the next place, it was lamentable to find a man who had battled honorably with the world since the memorable year ’99, placed in such a pitiable position ; and lastly, it was more singular still why these aged parties should, only four years ago, enter into the bonds of wedlock. The case came before the Court in this way ; The defendant, finding himself unable to cope with the troubles of the world, determined to have whatever ease was obtainable by making over his property to his son, upon condition that the latter should maintain him during the remainder of his davs. These terms were aereed upon, and the son also agreed to allow his stepmother ss. a week, which was considered sufficient, as she was alleged to be a hale and hearty woman who could work for herself. She, however, took a different view of the matter, hence the proceedings which are reported elsewhere. The arrangements for obtaining a new organ for St. Paul’s Cathedral, Thorndon, are progressing very satisfactorily. By the outgoing English mail an order will be sent to Lewis and Sons, of London, to build an organ to cost £7OO, which it is expected will be in Wellington in about nine months. The order will take two months to reach Home, and after an organ is built it is customary to allow it to remain two or three months in the factory, during which time recitals are given and means taken to discover any defect or flaw. The instrument will then be three months on the passage out; so that even were the utmost expedition adopted, it cannot be in the colony before the time stated. This, however, will

have its advantages, for the vestry in the meanwhile will have time to carry out the alterations to the building (including the construction of an organ chamber), which are to be completed by the middle of next summer. Financially no difficulty will be experienced, for the contributions to the organ fund are already very considerable, and the choir is to give a series of entertainments for the purpose of augmenting the fund. A second attempt to obtain a member for Thorudou will be made on Thursday next, when nomination papers will be received up to four o’clock. Yesterday Mr. Pharazyn’s supporters made a futile effort to induce the Town Clerk to receive Mx-. Pharazyn’s first nomination paper, and thus put an end to the matter - , but Mr. Hester was obdurate. Whether they feared opposition or not was not ascertainable, but it is stated that a gentleman who has already been twice defeated in another ward intends to try his luck again. According to present feeling, there is every likelihood of Mi - , Pharazyn being returned, whether he is opposed or not. The election, in the event of a contest, will take place on Friday, the 18th instant. Upon the occasion of his farewell concert, on Monday next, Mr. Kainfox-d will be assisted by members of the orchestral band, who, under the oonductorship of Mr. Curry, with Mr. Schwartz as leader, have several selections in i-eheax-sal. In addition, a number of leading lady vocalists have consented to take part in the concert, which will be under the patx-onage of the Mayor and City Councillors. Mr. A. E. Whitaker, son of the once famous New Zealand Attorney-General of that name, argued his maiden case in a Wellington Court yesterday, being engaged for the complainant in Stewart v. Stewart. Opposed to him was Mr. Brandon, and in fencing with this legal veteran Mr. Whitaker exhibited some of that peculiar shrewdness which was highly characteristic of Whitaker the eldex - . Mr. A. E. Whitaker, who has only recently arrived from Auckland, is at present associated with Mr. Moorhouse.

Hopes have been entertained for some time past that the opening of the new road to Baker’s Hill would add another to the suburban retreats from city life. The impracticable steepness of the old road rendered Karori a sort of terra incognita, which was, however, known to possess charming scenery and healthful situations suitable for the erection of villa residences. The new road was to remove all obstacles, but scarce had it been taken over by the Provincial Government than

there arose numerous complaints as to the manner in which the work had been executed. These complaints may or may not be well founded, but in one respect at least the new road is a vast improvement on the old one, inasmuch as there is now an easy gradient of about 1 in 14—a gradual ascent which the most arrant “ jib ” in the cab ranks of the city need not fear to face. Unfortunately the batter in the cuttings is so steep that one-half the road is obliterated by slips of rook and clay, thereby stopping the watercourses and rendering the roadway in some places too narrow for two vehicles to pass each other. In many places, the roadway, instead of being of the necessary width “ out of the solid ” is partially composed of the filling up, and in consequence of the late rains, is so soft as to be positively dangerous for the heavily laden wood carts which are forced to the side of the

road by the earth slip occupying so much of the solid line of road. Somebody is to blame for this condition of affairs, and it is to be trusted that the provincial authorities, who arc the responsible parties, will take steps to remedy the matter before the traffic on the road is stopped altogether.

It has at length been determined to establish a post-office at the Pakuratahi. Under the present arrangement, letters addressed to this district are left at the post-office of the Upper Hutt, and have to remain there until forwarded by the coach, and it rests entirely with the coachman whether ho forwards them or not. The distance between the last postoffice at present on the road and the Pakuratahi is about fourteen miles ; it is therefore none too soon that an extra office should be established. The number of bauds employed by the contractor, Mr. Oakes, on the public works in the neighborhood, is about 200, and consequently the correspondence is very considerable. On the other hand, in the case of one of the residents wishing to post a letter for town, he has a journey of fourteen miles to go to tho nearest office, which in many oases is a matter of impossibility for working men to undertake.

We hear that a letter addressed to the Wellington cricketers, respecting the proposed Australian cricket matches, has arrived, and that a meeting of cricketers and the trustees of the ground will take place forthwith. Warren Smith, the city arab who was on Thursday sentenced to three years' detention on board the Government Training Ship, will be forwarded to Auckland in the Wellington, to take up his quarters at the Kohimarama recruiting ground. At the last meeting of the Wellington Benevolent Society the members present were Mr. Woodward (chairman), Rev. Mr. West, Rev. Mr. Harvey, Archdeacon Stock, Mr. J. Holdsworth, Mr. D. Lewis, and Mr. C. P. Powles. The subscriptions paid in were :—Bank of Australasia, £5 os; Mr. Blaker, £1 Is. Several cases o£ distress were relieved, and steps were taken to meet the increasing claims upon the society's funds. A Wellington Provincial Government Gazette of yesterday notifies that sealed tenders will be received at the Provincial Secretary's office, on or before Monday, 21st of June, from persons desirous of contracting for various supplies for the Provincial Government service. Particulars in reference to the contents will be found in a supplement to this day's New Zealand Times. _ Last evening being a "vice-regal command night there was a large attendance. His Excellency the Governor, and the Marchioness of Normanby and suite, arrived about eight o'clock, and were duly received with the usual honors. The bill in itself was very attractive, comprising the "Tragedy Queen," and Coleman's celebrated comedy, the " Heir-at-Law." Iu the former, Miss Colville's Mdlle. Dumesnil wasabrilliantperfomiance;andas forthe latter, Mr. Hosldns' Dr. Pangloss was simply irresistible, fully sustaining the prestige he has attained for this, his master-piece. The subsidiary parts in both pieces were well played, and throughout the performance was most enjoyable. The eighteenth monthly meeting of the Wellington Building Societywas held last evening at the offices of the society, Greystreet. Mr. Charles White, the secretary, was in attendance, and from the amount of business transacted it is evident the society is in a highly prosperous condition. Beyond the payment of subscriptions to a considerable amount, nothing of interest to the shareholders was done. Rafaele Portelli yesterday suffered vicariously on behalf of those shopkeepers who have fallen into the habit of sweeping rubbish into the side channels. Of course, the charge was denied, but the fine was inflicted all the same, the constable having taken all proper precautions to secure a conviction. Sergeant Monaghan stated in court that he intended, in furtherance of a request from the City Council, to proceed against other persons who offended in this manner. The bare intimation of such an intention 'will likely have the desired effect. The open drain at the end of Tory-street was recently the scene of another street accident. During the night Mr. Buck, a resident in the neighborhood, heard cries for help, and on going out found a man in the drain, out of which it would have been impossible for him to escape unassisted. In all probability he would have been drowned, there being a considerable amount of water in the drain at the time. There is not even the usual light provided, to warn passengers of the danger, although the street is a public highway. Geo. Piric opens to-day to the public his drapery and clothing establishment, at the corner of Cuba and Manners streets.