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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4832, 16 September 1876, Page 2

The Opposition have raised their stone wall. We stated yesterday that when we went to press the House was still Bitting. It continued to sit till 6 o'clock in the morning, when an adjournment for four hours was taken. At 10 o'clock Mr. Bees, who had" commenced to speak at 3 a.m., resumed his interesting narrative. . The Speaker did not put in an appearance, and the Chairman of Committees was called upon to preside, Mr. O'Eorke was not allowed to feel the tedium of the thing too keenly, for it was most difficult to keep a quorum, and he'was continually appealed to to count the House, his decision generally being followed by the ringing of the bell and the trooping in of the faithful watchers, who as religiously filed out in five minutes and necessitated the repetition of the performance. Mr. Rees kept on in high good humor all the dreary morning, afternoon, and evening, the members on duty lying asleep on the surrounding benches. Occasionally a wakeful gentleman would exchange a shot of wit with the Speaker. Tor instance, when Mr. Rees, declaiming vigorously about the impossibility of retaining Ministers their seats by Act of Parliament, said they might as well pass a Bill to make a chair a member of Parliament, Mr. Sharp retorted, "or pass a bill to make a blockhead talk sense." Subsequently Mr. Rees caught Mr. Sharp napping. Mr. Sheehan rose to a point of order—the hon. member for Nelson was reading a newspaper. Mr. Sharp excused himself on the score that he was studying constitutional law. Mr. Rees begged that the hon. member might be allowed to continue reading. The hon. gentleman had shown such a lamentable ignorance upon all subjects, especially constitutional law, that it was quite refreshing to find he was studying to do better for the future. Mr. Rees continued speaking till 1.10 a.m., when he was succeeded by Mr. Thomson, who found it exceedingly difficult to induce a quorum to patronise him. The next sitting at Wellington of the Judges of the Supreme Court to try divorce and matrimonial causes, is fixed for Monday, 20th November.

■ Yasterday the Hon. John Hall resumed his seat in the Legislative Council. It is pleasing to be able to state that the hon. gentleman did not appear much altered by the scathing ordeal through which he had gone.

; A correspondent wants to know if Ministers could be legally served with writs, seeing that members of Parliament during the session are exempt from liability to civil process. We believe not.

Three boys, who were to have been charged with a breach of the Constabulary Ordinance at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, caused some amusement by their mode of conducting themselves when in court as witnesses in another case, and subsequently avoiding the charge against themselves. One boy charged with a similar, offence, consisting in the firing of a pistol on the road at Kaiwarra, successfully proved that it was not he who had fired the pistol, but some boys in whose company he had been, and who had judiciously disappeared just as the constable made his appearance on the scene, and he was dismissed. The other boys, who were witnesses in the case, displayed a shrewdness in avoiding committal of themselves that was excessively comical; and just as their case was coming on two of them escaped from the court, making such a speedy exit that they were not at first missed. The third, who remained to face the Magistrate, was discharged, and the others were not pursued. The editors of the Wairarapa papers like each other. This is what he of the Standard says to him of the News Letter : —" Again the editor of the News Letter has been hoaxed by some heartless person who told him that a cow had eaten the seat out of a pair of trousers. The editor, thankful for such a piece of information, builds up a solemn local cautioning the public against cows. Had he warned his readers againßt goosey ganders instead he would have done them better service."

Mr. Wiltshire, the pedestrian, has determined upon changing his ground for the remainder of his performance, and will walk on the Victoria Ground, Te Aro, until he has finished his task. The change will be advantageous in one respect at least—the distance not being so great, he will probably have more visitors than he did at Kaiwarra, and be thus benefited in a pecuniary sense, while company assists: him to bear up against fatigue. He will have i completed 500 miles to-day at 12 o'clock, and will then proceed in a carriage to the Victoria Ground, where he will arrive in time to start his 501st mile. Wiltshire does not seem so fatigued as might reasonably be expected after the walk he has already done. It is to be hoped that he will succeed in the feat he has set himself to accomplish, being one which one man only, Captain Barclay, has successfully performed. Wiltshire has a, powerful frame, a good constitution, and is confident of success,

We (Whitehall Review) are abla to state that an eminent engineering firm in London has received letters from its representatives _in Kussia which announco that the Bussian squadron in the' North Pacific is to be at once reduced' to two small vessels, the others being ordered Home, via the Suez Canal, as soon as possible.. It is added that the Black Sea squadron is: to be at once reinforced by three ironclads from the Baltic, which are to sail for the south as soon as they can be got ready, but not in company, so as to avoid anything like a demonstration. Some hands have actually been taken from the private Russian shipyards in order to push on the refitting of these ironclads in the briefest practicable period.

The Canterbury Press thinks that the amount sought to be recovered by Sir George Grey from Ministers is outrageous, and says:—lf Sir George Grey were honestly acting as a matter of public duty—if he wished to bring the case into court for the sake of establishing a principle—lie could have gained his end by demanding the penalty for a single day. The attempt to exact the whole pound of flesh—to "recover penalties up to the last penny that can be extdrted—puts'.him .in a despicable light. Can his political animosities be satisfied by nothing short of the pecuniary ruin of his opponents ? Or is he being made a cat's-paw by some harpy followers, who have scented the prey from afar) and are rushing open-mouthed for their share of the plunder.

We have to acknowledge receipt-, of Tickle's Export and Prices Current and other commercial circulars. ;" \ A dinner has been arranged to he given at the Club Hotel, Masterton, this evening, to W. H. Beetham, Esq., on the occasion of his departure on a visit to the old country. . Mr. Mantel!, in his monthly- meteorological report for August, states the maximum temperature in the shade in Wellington at 63deg.; minimum, 30deg. Messrs. P. Moeller and George Allen took their seats in the City Council yesterday. A report of the proceedings, which-were of a varied character, will be found elsewhere. It is notified in another column that Bishop Eedwood will celebrate Mass, preach, and administer confirmation in the Town Hall, at Masterton to-morrow.

A meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society will be heldthis evening in the lectureroom of the Colonial Museum, when several papers will be read. Some extra enthusiastic gentlemen, aB the Times says, evidently intending to get into good form for next cricketing season, have already commenced practice on the Dunedin cricket ground. His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint J. D. Baird, Esq., to mark out and survey roads passing through lands granted under the provisions of the Native Land Act, 1873, on the west coast of the province of Wellington. A correspondent from the Forty-Mile Bush writes to a Wairarapa paper, saying :—" Hailstones as large as. beans fell here the other day, and I am informed by a person whose veracity I have ho reason to doubt that on eating some they tasted salt."

Mr. N. J. Isaacs' auctionsale was wellattended yesterday notwithstanding that the weather was very dismal and truly inclement. Satisfactory prices were realised for the goods sold, particularly the teas and wines. Anniversary services in connection with the Manners-street Wesleyari Church will be held to-morrow. On Monday a tea and public meeting will be held, and several Ministers and other gentlemen will deliver addresses. In the City Council yesterday the Mayor introduced the question of fire insurance, and some Conversation took place in committee. The subject will very likely come under the consideration of the Council at the next meeting.

The following particulars of the estates of deceased persons, which have been placed under the charge of the Public Trustee during the month of August, have been published :—Daniel Keefe, Wellington, estimated value of personal estate \mder £3OO ; Isabella Taylor, Wanganui, under £IOO ; Peter Milne, Eangitikei, under £IOO ; Fred. John Cawill, Upper Hutt, £SO. The elegant silver cup now on view in Lyon and Blair's window, to be run for this afternoon at Kaiwarra, should prove a great attraction ; for, as will be seen by the following handicap, most of our best men intend to compete. The race starts at 3.30 p.m. Major, scratch; F. Jones, 3 yards start ; E. Reese, 3 yards start; W. Scott, 4 yards start ; J. Moran, 5 yards start; J. Hill, 7 yards start; and W. Moran, 7 yards start. Of the first performance of "Our Boys" with the Lingard and Hoskins Company at Christchurch the Lyttclton Times says :—" As the new 'stars' made their first appearance they were welcomed with most hearty applause, while Miss Florence Colville, on her reappearance, was received with marked demonstrations of popularity, which lasted for some minutes."

The Legislative Council at its rising yesterday adjourned till Monday at 7.30. Monday sittings have hitherto been premonitory of the close of the session. It may be hoped, seeing that the session is now in its fourth month, that the sign may be so read in this instance also. The public are likely weary of the steady flow of talk which ha 3 been poured forth in "another place." Of a verity newspaper men will hail with acclamation the end of so much. " sound and fury signifying nothiDg." The attendance at the Theatre Eoyal last night was not large, owing to the miserable condition of the weather; indeed it was almost a wonder that the audience was not more sparse. A capital house may be expected tonight, however, for a programme of unquestionable merit has been provided. In addition to " Caste," which the Bates company play very well, the burlesque of " Lalla Eookh" will be repeated we believe for the last time. A meeting of the committee of the Wellington Horticultural Society wil be held on Monday evening next, and we believe the first show will be held at the latter end of this month. The committee have gone to a great deal of trouble in endeavoring to make the sociaty shows a success, and an improvement on former ones, albeit those were acknowledged to be anything but inferior. Subscriptions have been liberally bestowed, and the prizes to be given for exhibits are in proportion to the funds at disposal.

The Martin fountain has since its erection been in need of paint, forasmuch as its color has been very much that of a rusty water tank. It is to be improved in appearance now, the Corporation having determined on giving it another coat. There were several tenders for the job opened at the City Council meeting yesterday, and the tenderers appeared to hold widely different opinions as to the importance of painting Wellington's only possession of the kind. One painter tendered at £2O, another at £l3, and a modest artist put in a tender for £7 ; this was accepted. The new schoolroom in Courtenay-place will be opened for public worship.in connection with the United Methodist Tree Churches, tomorrow. The Rev. R. Ward will preach in the morning, the Rev. J. Paterson in the afternoon, and the Rev. H. B. Redstone in the evening. On Tuesday next a public tea meeting will be held ; and afterwards a series of sermons will be delivered, the dates being mentioned in an advertisement which may be seen in another column ; and on Tuesday, the 3rd October, the Rev. S. Macfarlane will deliver a lecture on " The art of opening and shutting the mouth."

Last evening, shortly after 6 o'clock, an accident occurred at the junction of the Grant and Tinakori roads. A carriage and pair belonging to Mr. Somerville were engaged to take Mrs. J. E. PitzGerald, with her son and daughter, up to Mr. Levin's. In. crossing the Tinakori-road to go into Grant-road the carriage went over the bank into the ditch on the left-hand side. The horses after plunging for some minutes succeeded in throwing the carriage over on its side, so that one of the windows took the position usually occupied by the roof.' Lights were procured, and several people having appeared on the scene, the horses were cut adrift; and, with a little difficulty, managed to extricate themselves, apparently uninjured, from the mud-and-water-bath in which they had been indulging. Then the inmates of the carriage were assisted out of their involuntary imprisonment, wonderful to say unhurt, and even to all appearances quite composed, though rather puzzled at first on setting their feet on terra firma to know where they were. Mrs. JTitzGerald may be complimented on her presence of mind in the precarious situation which she occupied for fully fifteen minutes. It was too dark to ascertain for certain to what extent the carriage was damaged, but it must have been considerably shaken. We must congratulate the City Council on the perfect way in which they have succeeded in not lighting the city. If the lamp near the Princess' were removed a few yards nearer to Grant-road, where a lamp is absolutely required, any Buch accident as this might be. prevented, or at any rate the chances of it greatly diminished. But instead of thus putting a light where it would be useful, the Corporation erect one where it is quite unnecessary to do so, as the hotel lamp supplies the,.street at this point with sufficient light. It Svould be hardly fair to attaeh much blame to the driver for this accident, as not only was the night quite dark, but the wind and rain blowing as they did directly in his

face atoost-blinded him. We strongly urge on .the, ; Council the necessity of illuminating this dangerous, embankment before other and more serious, mishaps occur.

There was a very good attendance at the Odd_ Fellows' Hall last night notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather. The panorama,.as it well deserves, again met with a favorable reception, the frequent applause of the audience testifying their appreciation of it 3 merits. There will be an exhibition of the beautieß of old Father Thames this afternoon, at half-past two, for the juvenile portion of the community, and Mr. Kennedy promises to make his explanation as clear as possible. Tonight and Monday night will be the two last exhibitions of the Panorama in' Wellington, and we can only say to those who have not yet availed themselves of the opportunity offered them, that they will not regret a visit on one or both of these occasions, as altogether the "Mirror of England" is one of the most artistic productions with which the city has been favored. ..