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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4814, 26 August 1876, Page 2

In the House last night Sir Julius Vogel, as will be seen by our report, announced that on Tuesday next he would make a Ministerial statement in which the intentions of the Government as to the appointment of an Agent-General would be disclosed. Should the appointment involve a reconstruction of the Ministry, it is understood that nothing will induce Mr. Stafford to take office, and we have reason to believe that a very different programme to those rumored hitherto will be brought forward. In particular it be noticed that the reconstruction of the Cabinet discussed in an evening paper last night, is likely to prove incorrect from beginning to end.

At a meeting of Wellington members, beld yesterday, it was agreed that it would be better to divide the Wellington province into six counties (rather than five as proposed in the Government measure), giving power also to further divide if necessary. Alterations in the boundaries of proposed counties were also discussed. The members will meet again on Tuesday and finally decide. Yesterday saw the last of the aluminium pen man in Wellington. Ho went away by the Zealandia. Previous to his departure he was interviewed by Mr. Stout, M.H.R., acting on behalf of a Dunedin client, to whom the aluminium man had sold some pens. Mr. Stout got fifty pounds in gold out of him. The business of the House of Representatives proceeded with so much ease during the absence of Mr. Stout on the matter just mentioned, that more than one honorable member was heard to say he wished an aluminium pen man would go away every day. It will be seen by our report of the meeting of the City Council, held yesterday afternoon, that it has been decided to purchase the Wellington Gasworks at £l4 per share. The shares are £lO paid up. The Mayor and Councillor Cleland dissented. A public meeting of citizens has been called on requisition to the Mayor to consider the question. Mr, J. L. Wiltshire is to-day to commence his herculean task of walking a thousand miles in a thousand hours. The feat is to be attempted at the rear of the Waterloo Hotel, Kaiwarra, but previous to this event a number of matches are to be run off. No doubt the sports will attract a large attendance at Kaiwarra to-day. There was a numerous attendance at the Theatre Royal last evening to witness the wellknown drama of the “ Octoroon,” produced for the first time by the Bates-Howard Company, To single out the special features of the play as it was produced last evening would occupy more space than is at our command; but it would be unjust, after paying well-merited recognition to Mr. and Mrs. Rates, to pass over the acting of Mr. Holloway, who played the villian Jacob McClosky. This young actor has appeared in connection with the present company but for a short time, and has already received a well-merited recognition from the habitues of the theatre as a rising and promising artist. Mr, Sam Howard as Uncle Pete was as usual in a happy vein, hit the character to a nicety, and drew forth continued applause throughout the evening. Miss Lizzie Morgan as Dora Sunnyside was as winsome as ever. The piece on the whole was produced in as perfect a manner, as wo remember it to have been put on the stage in Wellington, and reflected. creditably upon the management. To-night, for the first time, Hegarty’s Combination Troupe are to appear, and according to the credentials they bring with them from the colonies they have already visited, a great treat is in store for those who have a desire to -hear a good versatile entertainment.,, ' Mr. R. s. Ledger, late manager of the New Zealand Steam Shipping Company, is at present in Sydney selecting a steamtug for the service of the port of Wellington.

The Hon. Sir J. L. C. Richardson resumed his seat in the Legislative Council yesterday, after his short holiday. A scratch football match will be played on the Basin Reserve this afternoon, weather permitting. An Order in Council has been issued declaring lithofracteur to be specially dangerous within the meaning of the Dangerous Goods Act, 1869. The business at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday consisted in the disposal of several cases of drunkenness, one under the Assaults upon Constables Act, and one in which a person named Wilbrandt was charged with keeping unmuzzled a ferocious dog. There were also a few small debt cases.

The N, Z. Herald publishes each day quite a quantity of telegraphic political news from various Wellington correspondents. The news has the charm of variety, even if it lack coherency. The Editor, writing of it the other day, made the natural remark that the political intelligence from Wellington continued to be very conflicting. The entertainment at the Odd Fellows’ Hall last evening, given as a benefit to the widow of the late Mr. Henry Webb, passed off very successfully. It was under the patronage of Captain Suttie and the officers of H.M.S. Nymphe, and Captain Pearce, M.H.R., of the Wellington Artillery, and was well attended. The “ Cuban Slave ” formed the programme. The annual ball in aid of the Widow and Orphans’ Fund Society, 1.0.0. P., No. 20, took place at the Odd Fellows’ Hall on Thursday evening last. There were about fifty couples present. Mr. Hoskins’ excellent quadrille band played a fine selection of dance music, and Mr. Thomas provided the refreshments, which were of the best description. Quadrilles, galops, waltzes, and other dances followed each other in quick succession until half-past eleven o’clock. During a short interval that then took place the hon. secretary addressed a few remarks to the company, thanking them for their patronage, and giving a brief outline of the society’s operations during the past twelve months. The society had been in existence for upwards of twenty-seven years, during which time no opportunity had been lost of relieving the wants of the widow or assisting the orphan. Notwithstanding the demands upon its funds, the society’s exchequer had gone on gradually increasing, until it now had reached £723. After enumerating other interesting facts, dancing was resumed until early morn, when the company separated to their several abodes, expressing their extreme satisfaction at the delightful evening they had spent. The Otago Daily Times of Wednesday last publishes the following from its Wellington correspondent, whose sources of information it knows to be undoubtedly correct :—“Sir Julius Vogel goes Home as Agent-General. The Government is to be reconstructed. The changes will be as follows : —Mr. Stafford, Premier ; Mr. Ormond, Native Minister, Sir D. McLean retiring ; Mr. Stevens, Treasurer ; Mr. D. Reid is to be offered the position of Minister for Public Works, Mr. Richardson retiring.” We do not dispute the undoubted correctness of the sources of information whence the foregoing was denied. All we can say is that the correspondent did not telegraph the truth.

Tuesday’s Nelson Times says ;—There ought to have been a marriage notice in our columns this morning, but it is held over for this reason ; —The breakfast was prepared in Host Blank’s best style ; the cake was a masterpiece of the confectioners art; the horses, decked with white favors and resplendent with new harness, were waiting to be put to, and last, but not least, the bride, “Half smiles, half tears, like an April morn,” was ready to make the alarming sacrifice The hour arrived, but one essential was wanting—the bridegroom. Where was he ? “There was mounting ’tnong Graemes of the Netherby clan,” and a systematic search was commenced. The stables were visited, publichouses were examined—upon the suggestion that the poor man required Dutch courage to face the ordeal—but all without avail. Hour after hour passed away ; the April appearance of the bride had changed to a very wet and wintry one ; the cake remained untouched ; the bridal baked meats were ready to coldly furnish forth an ordinary table; and ere night the belief gained ground that the poor craven bridegroom elect had left by the Taupo, and we hardly know whether to rail at him for his cowardice, or praise him for his common sense. One thing is certain, the lady may be congratulated upon the loss of one who held her love in such light esteem. For obvious reasons we repress names, but if any person or persons would like a wedding cake at a liberal reduction on cost, particulars will be supplied upon application. Mr. Manders, member for the Lakes, in lately writing to a friend at Queenstown says :—“The land fund is doomed. It makes no differences what party is in power. Go it must; I cannot help it. Macandrew knows it as well as I do. He knows also, as well as I do, it is better to have a grip upon it while yet time, even if the South Island undertakes to pay £700,000 interest as against the North Island £196,000, and I say it is as well our district should have an early strong grip upon our land revenues.”