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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4775, 12 July 1876, Page 2

In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, Mr. Pearce gave notice to introduce the Wellington Corporation Municipal Loans Consolidation Bill ; and Mr. Brandon gave notice to introduce the Wellington College Reserves Bill. In the Legislative Council to-day Mr.Chamberlin will ask the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer if it is the intention of the Government during the present session to bring in any Bill for the better preservation of the New Zealand fisheries. Warnings to expect easterly gale were sent to North Island stations on Monday. By yesterday morning the winds were fresh from that direction, and during the day the glass began to fall quickly. Last evening, on receiving a copy of the important cablegram which appears in another column this morning, Sir Julius Yogel rose in the House and read the news. The announcement of the calm prospect in Europe was received with cheers. .From what was stated by Inspector Atoheson yesterday iu the Supreme Court, it would appear that in getting hold of Coyne and Buchanan, convicted of larceny, the police have succeeded in putting out of harm’s way, for a time at all events, two members of a notorious gang of thieves. It may be hoped that the sentence passed on these two may have the effect of breaking up the gang. In the Supreme Court yesterday the Chief Justice took occasion, while passing sentence on Buchanan, to call attention to a misapprehension which appeared to exist as to the citing of previous convictions. His Honor held it to be clearly the duty of the police to produce such where obtainable, as it was his duty to take them into consideration iu passing sentence. The Juries Act Amendment Bill exempts railway officials and workmen from service on juries, and the 6th section provides—Jurors after having been sworn may, in the discretion of the Judge, be allowed at any time before giving their verdict the use of a fire when out of court, and be allowed reasonable refreshment, such refreshment to be procured at their own expense. The motion by Dr. Pollen, in the Legislative Council yesterday, that until otherwise ordered the Council meet at half-past two, instead of two o’clock, called forth quite a lively if not interesting discussion, although the Council have had very little to do up to the present time during the present session, and are not likely to sink under the weight of their labors for some time to come. The lion. Mr. Hall must have entertained some such opinion as above expressed, for he treated the discussion which had preceded his remarks in a funny way. He thought some arrangement might well be made so that the Council would only sit once a week, (they could got through their business, with decent expedition, iu one day), and thus give hon. gentlemen an opportunity of improving their minds by an inspection of the surrounding country, which at present they could not do. Perhaps there have been less sensible remarks made in the Council than those of Mr. Hall.

Diphtheria is stated to be prevalent at Marton. The Canterbury Press quite approves of Sir Julius Vogel’s land proposals, as it is not proposed to pillage Canterbury. In a paragraph in our issue of yesterday it was stated in reference to some brick-making machinery that it was capable of turning out 11,000 bricks per week. The machinery, we are informed, can make 11,000 per day. From the North Otago Times we learn that the lambing season has commenced very early in Oamaru, as on Tuesday, the 20th iust., two ewes had dropped a fine lamb each., on the farm of Mr. E. W. Eoxby. It has been resolved that the annual ball in connection with the Wellington Artillery Company shall take place early in August, and a committee has been appointed to make the necessary arrangements. When Sir Julius Vogel, in the House last night, read the telegram announcing the death of Abdul Aziz, late Sultan of Turkey, -Mr. Andrew was heard to mutter, “Then, ‘ Abdul - as-ia’ is now ‘Abdul-as-was.’ ” The Artillery soiree, it will be seen by advertisement, is to be held on Monday, the 17th of July. The affair is likely to be more than usually successful, great care having been taken by the committee in preparing for the event. ■ _ The Wellington Christy Minstrels kindly visited the Mount View Asylum on Monday night and gave their enjoyable entertainment, which appeared to be highly appreciated by the inmates. Every courtesy and attention was shown by Mrs. Seager and Mr. Ingwersen to the visitors, and both expressed their thanks to the troupe for their kindness in giving the performance. “Frou Frou” was performed at the Theatre Royal last night with much success, Mrs. Bates’ Gilberte, an assumption well known to Wellington playgoers, being particularly admired. To-night a new drama,- “Nobody’s Child,” is announced for presentation, and from the favorable notices it has received in other places, we may judge that it should prove most attractive and have a good run. We would direct Sir George Grey’s attention- to what at first sight appears to be a breach of officialetiquette. Thelnangahua Times acknowledges the receipt from the Government of the new Local Government Bill. Now the House is not in possession of this Bill yet, and it is carrying patronage too far to treat the House in this manner. The Government may say the whole thing is a mistake, and the paper really refers to the Local Elections Bill, but then a corrupt Government will say anything to screen itself from the consequences of its acts.

Mr. Joseph Blackstone, stonemason, has discovered a quarry of hluestone at the back of the Tinakori range, running from Mr. Gawith’s house towards the property of the Hon. W. B. Rhodes. There is an unlimited quantity of stone, which can easily he quarried. The stone is suitable for pitching, kerbing, and building purposes. There is no reason to doubt the genuineness of this discovery, and should the “ find,” as diggers call it, turn out to be as successful as is anticipated, it will prove of immense advantage and profit to Wellington. The usual weekly meeting of the Wellington Literary Association was held last evening in St. John’s schoolroom. There was a larger attendance than usual, the Rev. J. Paterson, president, occupying* the chair. The business of the evening was the reception and discussion of two essays on the Maori race, one being contributed by Mr. Wilson, who, as is well known, takes a great interest in the natives, and the other by Mr. J. Kirker. The former treated his subject from a poetic and heroic point of view, the other being more of a practical kind. The discussion which followed was very interesting. The Sydney Morning Herald of a late date says; —Let New Zealand accept the Bay of Islands as the port of call, let the necessity for detention at all other places be reduced to a minimum, let every steamer which the company puts on the line be equal to the Zealandia, and let there be the same consideration for the comfort of the passengers which those who made the last voyage gratefully acknowledge, and there can be no ground for doubt that the Pacific service will become thoroughly efficient in less time than the P. and O. Company did, and win its way in a few years to a foremost place among the great lines of steamers that conduct the world’s traffic, and have already paid Australia the compliment of acknowledging that her commerce is worthy of their competition.