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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4850, 7 October 1876, Page 2

The weather has continued fine in all parts of the colony since warnings were sent out, but the continuance of heavy seas on the east coast of this island at yesterday p.m. shows that there has very likely been some heavy weather in our vicinity. The glass commenced to rise in the South during the afternoon, and late telegrams show decreasing sea.

On the recommittal of the Counties Bill during yesterday afternoon’s sitting of the House of Representatives, Mr. Wm. Wood was proceeding to outpour- one of those bursts of eloquence with which he is accustomed to surprise and charm, the House, when the Speaker intimated that the hoh. member did not perceive that he (the Speaker) was out of the chair. Members were disappointed of the anticipated treat, and Mr. Wood was com-; polled to sit down amidst , the laughter of his co-legislators. , r The Wakatipu arrived from the South yesterday with about 160 diggers en route for the new rush. It is much to be feared that in one respect this field will not be an exception to the general run, namely, that hundreds of persons, possessed of the mania which attacks men on receipt of news announcing a new find, will go there only to discover that they have to return unsatisfied in mind and poorer in pocket. Mr. Vincent Fyke says that when we reported him yesterday morning as having in the House on the previous evening called the Dunedin people “ a rabble mob ” we were wrong. He alleges that he used the words “ rebel mob.” He was understood by gentlemen in the reporters’ gallery (quite unconnected with the paper), whose judgment is good, to use the former expression, but as he seems anxious in the matter, we have much pleasure in publishing the fact that anyway he intended to say “rebel” not “rabble,” and it may be added that there has been more “gabble” in connection with the subject than was at all necessary.

It has been determined by the Maori chiefs now assembled in Wellington that a meeting shall be held in March next, to consider the whole question of Maori lands in this island: how they are to dispose of their lands in the future, and what steps they shall take as to the restoration of the confiscated lands of friendly natives. The meeting will probably be held at Ohifiemutu.

The skating rink, in reference to which an advertisement has appeared in this paper for some time, will be opened this evening at the Odd Fellows' HalL The price for admission is moderate, as is also the charge for the use of the skates, and no doubt there will be a good attendance. .In various parts of the colony skating is now very popular, as may have been seen by notices in the papers at different times. In Wanganui it is a source of great amusement. It is an entertainment, a pastime, and a healthy exercise, and will in all probability be as popular in Wellington in a short time as it is elsewhere. We learn from the Southland Times that a memorial to the Ministry, in opposition to the Dunedin trick of making Otago into one county, is being well signed in Invercargill, between three and four hundred signatures of persons of all classes, and comprising the bulk of the intelligence and respectability of the town, having been already attached. It will be some satisfaction for our Southland friends to learn that the scheme has met with the failure it deserved, although owing to Dunedin influence, and the incapacity of their, own representatives, they have been robbed of a portion of the territory to which they, were justly entitled. There are now on view at Mr. Dutton’s bookseller’s shop, Lambton-quay, some very beautiful water color paintings representing scenes in different parts of the North and South Islands, Mr. Eawson, of Wellington, being the artist. There are in all six pictures, and they are to be disposed of by art union, the drawing to take place on or about the Ist of November next. Tickets, of which there only 40, arc sold at 21s. each, and we have no doubt that the list will be filled up by the date named, inasmuch as a number were already taken up before the fact of there being such an affair was made known through the papers. They are really handsome drawings, particularly that of Mount Egmont from Opunaki at sunrise, which has been the subject of much admiration. Any one of them would however be on ornament to a room.

A meeting of the Board of .College Governors will be held on Monday, at 12 o’clock, at the office of the Education Board. A man named John Cummins has been sentenced to six months’ hard labor for being illegally, on premises'nt Masterton. Wiltshire concludes his great feat of walking one thousand miles in one thousand hours to-day. -The first cucumber, of the season is now on exhibition in the window of Mr. Barlow, fruiterer. It is a fine specimen, and was grown by Mr. Henry Bussell, of the Hutt. The adjourned meeting of cricketers and otilers interested in the visit of the Ail England Eleven to Wellington will be held at the Post Office Hotel this evening.

Mr. Roberts, the billiard champion, by special engagement, plays a match at the Wellington Club room this afternoon at three o’clock, before a number of members of the Club and members of the General Assembly. The ninth meeting of competitors under the auspices of the Wellington Bifle Association will be held on the Polhill’s Gully Bifle Bange to-day, firing to commence at 1 o’clock sharp. Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co. advertise greatly reduced charges per the s.s. Easby. The saloon fare to Port Chalmers is now to be £3 10s.; steerage, £2. The keen competition in the coast trade is beginning to have its results. It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good. The travelling public will rejoice and be glad at these sweeping reductions.

Another crowded house .assembled in the Theatre Royal last night to witness the production of Mr. George Darrell’s new play “Transported for Life.” The performance ran very smoothly throughout. To-night the same piece will be played for the last time. Notwithstanding the success of Mr. and Mrs. George Darrell, they will appear for the last time in Wellington on Monday evening, upon the occasion of their joint farewell benefit. A liberal programme is announced embracing the classic tragedy of “Medea,” and Shakspere’s sparkling comedy of “ The Taming of the Shrew.” The benefleiares will appear in both pieces, and their universal popularity should suffice to ensure them a crowded house.

Messrs. Doneghue and Parr, Willis-street, carriage builders and wheelwrights, have lately built and completed' for Mr-. G. Dixon, of Cuba-street, a light and elegant waggon, specially constructed for the aerated water trade. The most noticeable feature is that the usual elliptical springs have been abandoned, and flat ones used instead. The effect of this change is to give more firmness and strength to the wheels when the brake is applied than is ordinarily the case. The “ fore-lock" also works excellently, and it is next door to impossible for the vehicle to capsize. The body of the waggon is built of English ash, being handsomely painted, the coat of arms. at the back being a chef d’ ceuvre. Mr. Quartly, of Taranaki-street, is the artist. We understand that Messrs. Doneghue and Parr have orders for the construction of two laudaus;and, wishing them every success, we can only hope that their business will progress as it has begun. The second annual meeting of the Wesleyan Rising Star Cricket Club was held last evening in the Dixon-street schoolroom. The report showed the number of members on the roll to be 23. Six matches have been played during the year, out of which five victories have been secured by the Rising Stars. The highest averages were—Danks, 17; J. Smith, 17; llae, 14; Singer, 14. The balance-sheet showed an income of £2O 3s. 6d., with an expenditure of £9 13s. 3d., thus leaving a balance in hand of £lO 10s. 3d. It was decided by the club to join the Wellington Cricket Association, and Mesrs. C. Godber, W. G. Tustin, and J. H. Smith were appointed to attend its deliberations. It was decided to have the rules revised by the committee and then printed. The officers elected for this year were as follows:—President, C. Godber; secretary and treasurer, W. G. Tustin; captain, J. H. Smith; committee, S. Kibblewhite, S. Singer, and J. Danks. The majority of the cases set down for hearing at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday were of an ordinary character, drunkenness, etc. ; but there was one of assault which appeared to be of a very aggravated character, the complainant being one Florence Banks against her husband, who is alleged to have treated her most brutally. Mrs. Banks, a respectable looking woman, appeared very delicate. After having sworn to the information she fainted, and it was some little time before she recovered. Banks was admitted to bail on the case being adjourned, and will to-day be called to answer the charge laid against him. The Acclimatisation' Society have successfully liberated 600 trout in the various streams and rivers in Wellington. They come from Canterbury in cans specially made for the purpose. So far as could be ascertained, there were scarcely any dead ones, and the society anticipate good results from the introduction of them. The trout liberated some years ago have been seen, and are now a good size, say 18 inches long ; and it is hoped that there will shortly be a good supply, and that the society will be enabled to give licenses for fishing. We have been requested to caution persons against destroying these fish, it having been ascertained that some persons have fished for them in ignorance of what they were. It may be mentioned, while writing of the Acclimatisation Society’s operations, that the quail liberated a few weeks ago have been seen, and appear to be doing well and thoroughly well satisfied with their new home.