Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4551, 21 October 1875, Page 2

In the House yesterday afternoon Sir Donald McLean intimated that the prorogation would take place at 3 o’clock this day. The whole of yesterday in the Vice-Admiralty Court was taken up in hearing evidence in the case Jane Spiers v. Young Dick. Most of the Southern and Northern members left by the steamers Taupo and Hawea yesterday, as mil be seen by the passenger lists of those vessels. The former steamer, for the convenience of [Representatives, was detained until six o’clock.

During the sitting of the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, Mr. Brandon asked the Native Minister what Court of Appeal had decided that Matiaha Mokai had no claim to the land in the Wairarapa for which a certificate had been issued to him and others, but which is occupied by Ngatuere, and how that Court was constituted ? In reply, Sir Donald McLean said that the Court of Appeal had not yet decided in the matter, but that on good grounds of public policy the Crown grant had been issued. Mr. W. F. Oakes, contractor' for the Pakuratahi portion of the Masterton railway, is displaying an energy and promptitude in the work he has undertaken that call for special notice. Forty men came to Wellington from Wanganui on Wednesday, and before that a party came from the West Coast on Tuesday. Thus by the time these men reach the works Mr. Oakes mil have upwards of 300 men employed, and the work will be proceeded with as rapidly as possible. The members of the No. 2 Company Wellington Volunteer Fire Brigade attended practice last evening, under command of Superintendent Whiteford. Twenty-five members were present, and Captain Hutchins was 'in charge of his company. The hosereel and plant located at the Thorndon station were found to be in perfect working order, a fact that goes far to disprove statements which have been made in reference to this subject. It is to be hoped the inhabitants of Thorndon ■will still continue to support this valuable brigade.

“ Black Sheep” was performed last night at the Theatre Royal. The attendance was good, and the representation excellent. So far as Mrs. Darrell was concerned it would be difficult to conceive of a superior rendering of Harriett Eouth to that which the character received at her hands, hut the same might be said of every task undertaken by Mrs. Darrell. Mr. Darrell’s Stewart Eouth was a good piece of acting, albeit he may appear, in the opinion of some, to better advantage in other pieces. With respect to Mr. Oily Deering (who played Mr. Carruthers), it may bo said with confidence that the part could not have been placed in better hands. He makes an excellent old man. Mr. Inglis impersonated George Dallas, and Mr. Burford Phillip Dean. The latter part was carefully performed, and with much less of that fussiness that Mr. Burford, good actor though he be, so often is guilty of. The remaining characters were fairly sustained. This evening “ The Stranger” and “ Black Eyed Susan” will constitute the programme.

An act of roguery very often commands our admiration rather than our censure, in consequence of the peculiar grace with which it is accomplished, and is regarded as something in the way of fine art. Such an act was committed recently by a new arrival from the Emerald Isle. Having put up at a certain hotel in Wellington, he stopped there over a week, and succeeded in winning the esteem and regard of the worthy host, being possessed of manners that were quite irresistible. One morning this young man got up very early and left. He did not tell anybody he was going, but left this note on his dressing table ; “ Many thanks for your hospitality. God will reward you.—Affectionately yours, Stannus.” The young man owed for a week’s board. The Rangitikd Advocate reports the sudden death of an immigrant. “ A spirited employer of labor in the neighborhood let him some ditching and banldng at the liberal price of Bs. per chain, at which ho worked two days, when he came home exhausted, and received another shock from which he never recovered, by receiving a letter from his employer threatening to summons him to complete his contract, and, even although he was so ill, refusing to pay him for the two days he had worked. The poor man leaves a widow and one child totally unprovided for, except the proceeds arising from the subscriptions which we are making.” At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before J. Dransfield, Esq., J.P., one drunkard was brought before the Court, and dismissed with a caution.

A cricket match will be played to-day between the officers and ship’s company of H.M.S. Sappho. The Lyell Argus has an article in its leading column, twenty-eight lines long, and on the subject of a sale at Hampden. In its first local paragraph it states ; —“ By telegram the Commissioner of Crown Lands intimates that the sale of Hampden suburban sections is postponed till further notice. The telegram arrived too late to allow of us altering our ‘ leading article.’ ”