Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4819, 1 September 1876, Page 2

As might have been anticipated, there was a very large attendance at the House of Representatives at 7.30 last evening, although the news as to what was intended to be done in regard to the future Ministry had become pretty well known during the afternoon. Those who had attended the House for the purpose of hearing Major Atkinson's statement had their patience tried, for an hour was frittered away in splitting a constitutional hair. This being at length accomplished to everybody's satisfaction by the whole thing being put off till next week, the hon. Major Atkinson made a short statement, mentioning that Mr, Hall, Mr. "Whitaker, and Mr. Ormond were to be taken into the Ministry. And here it may be Btated that it is understood that at the end of the session Mr. Richardson and Dr. Pollen will retire, making room in their respective departments for Mr. Ormond and Mr. Hall. Major Atkinson atated also that to-day the names of the gentlemen formingjthe Government would be submitted to his Excellency for his approval, and on Monday evening at 7.30 the policy of the new administration would be presented to the House. Mr. Manders created considerable amusement by imploring the new Government to consider the question of payment of member* amongst other things; and the pert and gassy Mr. Wakefield made some ill-natured remarks about Major Atkinson alighting his Excellency by mentioning the names of the members of the Government before they had been submitted to his Excellency for approval.

The City Council yesterday received formal intimation from the Gas Company directors that they were willing to recommend the shareholders to accept £l4 per share ; and a letter from the City Solicitor was also laid before the Council, explaining that fresh powers would have to be secured before the purchase could be completed. The Council passed a resolution deciding to ask power from Parliament to complete the purchase, unless a petition against such a course were presented by one-half the ratepayers. It will be seen by our report of the public meeting held last evening that the feeling against the proposed purchase was very strong. On the civil side of the Besident Magistrate's Court yesterday the business was as follows :—E. W. Mills v R. H. Paterson — claim of £9 18s. 55.; judgment for amount and costs. Freeman v. Barnard —claim, £5, for services rendered as nurse. Mr. Stafford appeared for plaintiff; Mr. Allan for defendant. The evidence was of a most contradictory character, but that for the defendant was the strongest and most plausible; judgment was therefore given for defendant, with costs. Gilchrist v. Oakes—claim, £BO, for damages arising out of breach of contract, plaintiff having been employed by Mr. Oakes as a ganger, and, as alleged, had deserted his work, which in the first place he had improperly performed; £5 14s. was paid into court, as the entire sum due to defendant. The evidence was very extensive, and a good deal of time was taken up by Mr. Barton (who appeared for plaintiff) in cross-examination; Mr. Travers appearing for defendant. His Worship recorded a nonsuit. Ono other case was heard —Barlow v. Belcher —claim of £2 2s. 3d., in which judgment was given for plaintiff for amount claimed and costs. The remainder of the cases on the list were either withdrawn, settled, or adjourned. A correspondent, signing himself " Fairplay," writes to us as follows : —" Sir, —I hear that Mr. Gillon in the course of his canvass is making the objection to Mr. Moeller's candidature for" Te Aro Ward that Mr. Moeller is not a Britisher. Now, what the _ "(a word used by our correspondent is omitted, in deference to the susceptibilitius of readers) " is Mr. Gillon ? A Manx man, I believe. Well, all I know of that country is derived from seeing Bome of its circulating medium in the shape of inferior pennies, stamped with three legs, all endeavoring to run away. The coin is singularly emblematical of Mr. Gillon. That gentleman endeavors to take a three-legged attitude on every question—instance the gas—that is to say, he tries to lean to both sides, and still have a chance to stand in the middle, and finally, being beaten at all points, he is quite prepared to run away."

Wiltshire did not choose the best time of the year for the task of walking a thousand miles in a thousand hours. At intervals it rained heavily yeßterday, and this must needs affect the walker a good deal. Ho is beginning to betray symptoms of weariness, and is very nervous, waking up occasionally in a startling mannor during the short periods he has for sleep. He does not, however, appear to havo lost either pluck or strength, though his pace is somewhat slower, naturally, than it was at the outset. He had need to be in good condition, for he has a long and weary road to travel yet.

The Inspector of Nuißances complains greatly about cattle wandering, and says it is impossible for him, without efficient assistance, to put a stop to it. He says, " the police, if instructed, might lend me a_ few men some night to make a general 'run in."' No post-mortem examination was held on the body of the late Mr. Barnard, nor is there likely to be. It appears that he had been ailing for some time, and it is supposed that death was eaused from general debility.

A meeting of the Board of Education will be held to-day at 11 o'clock a.m. The Theatre Koyal was well attended last night, and the performance was as successful as ever.

The third of the series of the Wellington Assembly balls will take place in the Provincial Council Hall on-Monday next.

A meeting of the Wellington Building Society, for payment of subscriptions and sale of shares, will be held this evening at 7 o'clock, at their office.

At Masterton yesterday a boy named Alfred Minifie was arrested on two distinct charges of stealing letters from the local postoffice.

According to the report of the Inspector of Nuisances, read at the Council yesterday, there are several cases of scarlet fever in Wellington at the present time. Bradshaw's Guide for September is to hand. This useful publication is assuming quite large proportions, and must be invaluable to men of business, travellers, &c. We are requested to state that the annoucement that the Boulcott-street school closes is quite incorrect. That school ceases to be under the management of the Education Board, but will henceforth be conducted by a Catholic teacher, under the supervision of the Christian Brothers.

A well-known old gentleman, John Johnston, who has for a considerable time past been amusing himself in the endeavor to drink himself to death, was again brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment, which perhaps was the most merciful thing Mr. Crawford could have done for him.

Did not Councillor Greenfield's speech bewray him, it might yesterday afternoon have been supposed he was a near relative of the Irishman who figures so prominently in stale jokes and excruciatingly funny stories. Speaking of some broken-in drain, and picturing the catastrophes that might occur were it not repaired, he informed the Council that if a man had happened to have gone along in the dark and fallen into the hole, " he must have broken his arm or neck, or something worse." A man may put up with a broken leg or a broken arm, but surely when he breaks his neck he cannot meet much more misfortune in this world. An advertisement in another column announces that Mr. McGrath, of Porirua, has a pure-bred Clydesdale entire, Duke .of Edinburgh. This horse has been tried, and is warranted to be a good worker either at the plough or in harness, and his parentage is unquestionably illustrious. Duke of Edinburgh has been shown at Christchurch four times, and took one first prize and three second. A good deal of amusement was caused by the evidence of a Chinaman in the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday (civil side). The case was Gilchrist v. Oakes, an action to recover a sum of money for breach of agreement. A Celestial named Won Yong was called as a witness for defendant. He said he was a Christian, and was sworn in the ordinary way, appearing thoroughly to understand the form. But it appeared subsequently that his description of himself was somewhat doubtful. Mr. Barton in his cross-examination said " How long is it since you became a Christian ?" to which he vouchsafed no answer, but in broken English began with great volubility to discourse of something wide of the question. However, he was made to confess that he had once before been engaged in a court case at Kiverton. Then Mr. Barton slyly asked him whether he had on that occasion blown Out a match before he gave his evidence, to which the simple Chinee said yes. There was a general burst of laughter at the Celestial being thus caught tripping, and he began to look as if he thought there was something wrong somewhere, presently got muddled, and eventually stated that Mr. Oakes, the defendant in the action, had before his entering court told him to call himself a Christian.

Those who complained of irregularities in the Post and Telegraphic Office at Masterton, (says the News Letter), will probably not be surprised to learn that a little boy employed in it has been found out in some pranks which account for everything. Letters known to have been posted have never reached their destination, while others were never delivered here. Doubtless the youngster did not know the gravity of his offence, otherwise he would not have gone so far. What will be done with him we do ■not know. He is the son of most respectable people here, who will feel the matter most severely. The Inspector of Postoffices is here to inquire into the case.