Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4799, 9 August 1876, Page 2

We regret that the lateness of the hour at which he spoke, and the length to which our report had already gone, prevent our giving the Hon. Mr. Bowen’s speech in the House last night in this issue. It was one of the best ever addressed to the House, and we hope to take an early opportunity of presenting it to our readers.

In the House of Representatives yesterday Sir Julius Vogel read a telegram received by the Government from the Crown Agents, London, announcing that the balance of the £1,250,000 5 per cent, debentures, not previously tendered for at a premium, had been taken up readily at par. The Premier stated that he had doubts whether, after deducting the usual commissions and allowances, it would be found that this loan had netted as much pro rata as that last placed. The Fritz Reuter’s immigrants were landed yesterday, the steamer Moa conveying them from the ship. They at once took up their quarters in the barracks. These immigrants seem in many respects a superior class of people to the foreign immigrants we have received in Wellington previously. We hear that it is probable a number of them will be taken to the Manawatu district.

Mr. Karaitiana Takamoana, M.H.R., waa yesterday introduced to the Speaker by Sir George Grey and Mr. Curtis, and took the oath. On proceeding to hia seat the new member was cheered by the Opposition. A meeting of the Empire Gas Company provisional committee was called for last evening, but as the weather was so wretched it was decided to postpone the meeting until a day of which notice will be duly given. Wo understand that a challenge has been received by the Secretary of the Wellington Chess Club, through Mr. Lusk, M.H.R., for five members of the General Assembly to play five of the best players of the Wellington Chess Club (not including, of course, those members of the Chess Club who are members of the General Assembly). Ten gentlemen of the club have been selected to play off one against the other, the winners to play the members. Their names are as follow :—Messrs. Benbow, Brown, Skey, Kennedy, Hullett, Barraud, Reeves, White, Whittem, and Orbell. They will play off among themselves on Monday next, tho match to follow on the following Monday. Wo believe the names of tho members who play are Messrs. Ballance, Bryce, Lusk, and Rees, and Dr. Greenwood.

. A meeting of ..the Wellington Education Board will beheld this day at 12 o’clock. The principle of proxy voting being allowed under the Regulations of Local Elections Bill was finally 1 negatived in the Legislative Council yesterday. The new clause, proposed by the Hon. Mr. G. E. Johnson, and which permitted the use of proxies under restrictions stated, was lost on a division of 12 to 10.

lima De Murska and company appeared for the last time at the Odd Fellows’ Hall yesterday evening, when, as might have been expected, there was a large attendance, notwithstand the inclemency of the weather, and the - performances as usual gave intense delight. The company next appear in Napier. The lecture by Mr. Ffrost on Phrenology at the Dixon-atreet schoolroom last evening was largely attended, and passed off most successfully. Much amusement was created by the antics of two or three subjects who were placed under the influence. It is probable the lecture will be repeated. The regular weekly meeting of the committee of the Wellington Benevolent Institution was held yesterday afternoon. Present—Bishop Hadfield (elected chairman), Archdeacon Stock, Rev. B. W. Harvey, Rev. F. Petitjean, Rev. J. Paterson, Mr. L. Levy, and the secretary. Received from Mr. B. G-. Staveley, hon. secretary and treasurer of the Upper Hutt Athletic Sports Committee, the sum of £BO 7s. Id., for the benefit of Paul, Reidal, and Young. Anniversary services in connection with the Congregational Church, at Courtenay-plaoe, were held last Sunday. Mr. C. E. Button addressed the children of the Sabbath-school in the afternoon, and the Rev. H. B. Redstone preached in the evening. The services were brought to a close last evening by a tea and public meeting. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather there were a large number present, who partook of the excellent tea provided by the ladies of the Woodwardstreet church. After the -tea a public meeting was held (the Rev. Mr. West in the chair), when a report was read by Mr. Knowles which set forth the satisfactory progress that had been made during the past year. Ad-, dresses were delivered by the Revs. Messrs. Moir and Ogg and Messrs. Woodward and Holdsworth. ’

The very boisterous weather which prevailed last night did not prevent a good many attending the Theatre Royal. The Bates company are becoming more popular as the season advances. “The Will and the Way” was played for the_last time, with the same cast as on previous occasions, and met with due appreciation, as also, it is needless to say, did the vocal performances of that charming actress Miss Morgan. To-night a 'special treat is offered—the drama of “ Camille,” with the attractions of which most patrons of the drama will be well acquainted. Mrs. Bates will appear in the character of Camille j Mr. Bates as Annaud Duval. There should be a good attendance, the weather being favorable, i In the Resident Magistrates’ Court yesterday the business was as follows : —Wm. Kay was charged with assaulting the mate and the cook of the barque Duke of Edinburgh. He admitted both charges to be correct in effect, but as to the first said the evidence had in it more of strength than truth. One case of drunkenness was disposed of in the usual way. James Warren, who had been drinking himself into a state of madness, was discharged from custody, as he had recovered completely. Jas. Anderson was committed to gaol for seven days for being drunk aud fighting in the public street at the Upper Hutt; and Robert Graham, for being drunk and damaging property, was fined 10s. and costs, or 48 hours imprisonment in case of default, his Worship recommending the person whose property was damaged (a Maori living in the pa) to take proceedings civilly, defendant having broken windows to the value of 255. A case in which one person charged another with using language calculated to provoke a breach of the peace, was struck out, as neither party appeared. There was no other business on the sheet.

A special meeting of the Wellington Gas Company was held yesterday at noon, in the sideroom of the Odd Fellows’ Hall (Hon. G.-J. Bharazyn in the chair), for the purpose of considering—lst. A proposal to increase the capital of the company, with a view to extending its operations ; 2nd., the advisability of reopening negotiations with the Corporation, for the sale of the company’s plant. The proposal to increase the capital was negatived ; and as to the other question, it was resolved that the directors be empowered to sell the company’s works to the Corporation, at a price to be settled by arbitration. It was suggested that should an Act be jSassed to enable the Corporation to purchase or erect gasworks, that body would be in a position to render private competition impossible, by charging an extremely low price for the gas, and imposing a gas rate to make up for the deficiency thus created. Mr. Pearce stated that in his opinion such powers would not be granted by the Parliament. The majority of those present expressed a wish that the price of gas should be immediately reduced to 10s. per 1000 ft., and it was pointed out that had the price been reduced to 12s. fid. in time,'the present opposition (namely, the Empire Gas Consumers Company) would not have been started. No notice having been given of such a-motion, however, the matter could not be considered at that meeting, so that. nothing was done in the way of reducing the price charged by the company for gas. In yesterday’s issue we reported the occurrence of a disturbance in the Theatre Royal, occasioned by the rowdy conduct of a young man occupying a seat in the stalls. When taken to the station he gave his name as Richard Richards. Ha was bailed out, and when called upon at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, did not appear. Detective Farrell stated that he was in the Theatre Royal between 9 and 10 o'clock on Monday night, and saw Richards conducting himself in a most unseemly and blackguard manner, and insulting Mrs. Emeny, of the Royal Oak Hotel, Manners-street, who was in the stalls with a little girl, her daughter. So objectionable did he make himself that Mrs. Emeny had to leave. Several gentlemen remonstrated with him, but without effect, and eventually he was turned out. Ho became fightable in the entrance hall, and endeavored to strike Detective Farrell, when he was taken into custody by a constable. Mr. Crawford ordered his bail to be forfeited.