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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4903, 8 December 1876, Page 2

Several letters to the editor are in type. A notice appears elsewhere that an election under the Counties Act of 1876 of one member for the Mungaroa riding, County of Hutt, will take place at the schoolhouse, Upper Hutt, on Friday, the 22nd day of December. In yesterday's issue we called attention to the meeting of the Fidelity and Accident Guarantee Company of New Zealand, The objects of the company are to provide security to employers for clerks and others in a position of trust and responsibility, and to grant insurances against injury or loss of life resulting from accidents of whatever character. The premiums will be on the most moderate scale possible, consistent with prudence. _ The institution is not to be merely local in its character, but colonial,, and the boards of directors appointed for the different cities throughout the colony are a guarantee that it will be carried out on wide principles. For Wellington the Board consists of Messrs. Dransfield. Hunter, M.H.R., Krull, Levy, Mills, and Mountain, and the Hon. W.Fitzherbert (chairman) ; for Auckland—Messrs. Campbell, Heap, Shera Pierce, and B. Tonks, M.H.K., (chairman), with Mr. Jno. Eeid as local agent; for Dunedin the Hon. W. H. Reynolds, Messrs. Wilson, Reeves, Mills, and E. B. Cargill (chairman), with Mr. Hawkins as local'agent ; and for Christchurch Messrs. Craig and Nathan and the Hon. John Hall, M.L.O. (chairman), with Mr. Walton as local agent. The head offices are in Wellington, on Lamb-ton-quay, Mr. S. Carroll being secretary, Messrs. Moorhouse and Stafford the solicitors, and the Colonial Bank of New Zealand being bankers for the company. The company will be prepared to commence business operations on the Ist January next. The nominal capital is £IOO,OOO, and terms and forms of application may be had from the various agents, or at the head office, Wellington. Considering the high standing and great experience of the directorate, and that similar institutions in th 1 old country have not only been,a successfu speculation, bqt have also been a great boon to the commercial community, we have no hesitation in predicting a great future for the proposed enterprise, more especially since, as has been already noticed, it is of a thoroughly colonial character, whether as regards the distribution of its directorate, the number of Its shareholders, or the objects to accomplish which it has been established.

The enquiry into the cause of the fire that occurred in Majoribank-street on Friday last was concluded yesterday afternoon. From a full report of the proceedings, to be found in another column, it will bo observed that! the jury returned an open verdict, but regarded the surrounding circumstances as suspicious, and added a rider which is, well worthy the attention of insurance companies. We understand that the insurance on the building will be disputed ; that is to say, the policy of £2OO, which it is alleged by the owner of the property was taken out in February last. Mr. Wallace, acting manager for the office of the National Company in Wellington,' stated at the inquest yesterday that the books showed no such entry. Wo have received a supplement to the Now Zealand Gazette ol Thursday, November the BOth.

Mr. Bunny returned from the Wairarapa yesterday. Coaches are now run by Mr. Hastwell twice a week between Masterton and Palmerston. One of the “ fair sex” was arrested yesterday on a charge of committing aii offence known to the learned as “ snow dropping,” that is, stealing linen from clothes' lines. A meeting of the Wellington Cricket Association will be held at the Pier Hotel this evening at 7.30 o’clock, to consider a letter received from Napier. A start has been made towards the erection of the new Athenseum building, the work of excavation having been commenced on Tuesday. In another column it is announced that Thursday, the 14th inst., has been appointed for the nominntion of two members for the County Conncil, under the Counties Act, 1876, at the Courthouse, Lower Hutt, at the hour of twelve o’clock noon.

A concert was held in the schoolroom, Kaiwarra, yesterday evening, for the purpose of raising a school prize fund. The room was literally packed, and many persona could not obtain admittance. The performance was successful.

In a local yesterday recording the discovery of a piece of timber under singular circumstances near Waikanae, the timber was by an error mentioned as rata instead of totara. We are informed that there are two brackets on the flat surface, with holes through them for the lashings. There are two holes at each end. A telegram in our shipping column states that the steamer Wanganui had arrived at tho Bluff, after calling in at Chasland’s Mistake on the passage from Dunedin. They found the Otago holding together well, and state that if expedition is used the'gold and some of the cargo may be saved. At Rochester, on September 27, during a performance at Messrs. Sanger’s circus, a trained horse lost his temper, and seizing a rider named Bell by the neck, it ran round the arena, shaking him as a cat would a mouse ; and afterwards seized him by the side and ran round with him in a similar manner. Bell was much lacerated, but sustained no permanent injury. A fatal accident occurred in Francis-street, off Tory-street, yesterday. A child named Elizabeth Matilda Bryant, about sixteen months old, was playing with other children in Mr. Chapman’s yard next door, and fell into a small tub containing water 18in. deep. She was quickly taken out, and Dr. Munroe was sent for, but the child was found to be dead.

There was a very successful practice of the Choral Society at the Provincial Hall last night. The conductor announced that there would be a special practice, for ladies only, at Mr. Hunter’s rooms this evening, and that the band and soloists would meet for practice as usual on Tuesday evening at the same place. He stated that as there would be a great deal of work to get through on Tuesday, he hoped members would endeavor to attend at half-past seven o’clock.

One of the sailors belonging to H.M.S. Sapphire got into trouble last evening. He Had enjoyed his leave of absence by taking a little more refreshment than was good for him, and he became quarrelsome in consequence, began fighting with some civilians, and was stopped by Constable Fleming, who then became the object of his attentions. He was desparately intent on fighting in fact, and made two or three blows at Fleming, who ultimately took him to the Police Station, with the assistance of two members of the Armed Constabulary Force, and Jack was accommodated with a night’s lodging in one of the cells. The performance at the Theatre last night commenced with the farce “ A Quiet Family.” Mdlle. Franzini’s bicycle performancecamenext. Her first appearance was in riding costume. After this five and twenty champagne bottles were placed in a square on the stage, and the marvellous manner in which the talented lady steered her bicycle in and out, at one time passing round groups of. five, then of four, and last of all round a single bottle, was very astonishing, and literally carried away the house. The lady . bicyclist has evidently made a hit with the Wellington public. The third portion of the performance consisted of a musical melange. To-night Mdlle. Franzini will make her second appearance, and should herself guarantee a crowded house. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday George Harvey, for being drunk and incapable in Manners-street, was fined 55., and costs. Archibald McAffen, fireman on the 3.8. Hinemoa, was charged with drunkenness, and fined 55., and costs. Donald McDonald, for being absent without leave and assaulting the mate on board the ship St. Leonards, was committed to prison for seven days. George Drew, charged with a criminal assault at the Hutt, was remanded until Monday. In the case Reginald H. Vincent v. Peter Daley, an information for abusive language, there was no appearance, and it was struck out. The charge against Geo. Russell, for refusing duty on board the Panola, -was remanded until to-morrow, when, according to the statement of counsel, an arrangement will probably be effected. In Nicholls v. Maher, an information for assault, the defendant appeared to be intoxicated, and was remitted to. the charge of the police until to-day, when the facts will be gone into. At the usual monthly meeting of the Wellington Districts Highway Board there were 'present Messrs. Mason (chairman), Speedy, Taylor, Baylis, Dick, and Smith. The clerk was instructed to ask Messrs, TraVers and Ollivier to complete the conveyance of the laud part of section 135. Lower Mungaroa, given to the Board by Mr. Cruickshank, for the deviation of the road leading to the properties of Messrs. Cooley, Collett, and others; and also to employ professional assistance to obtain the requisite plans., It was resolved that the chairman should communicate with the Government, asking whether the rate of Id. in the £, levied last July, can be collected, or whether three-fourths only can be collected. Resolved also that the contribution in aid of rates of J. and D. Sinclair of £4 18s, towards the repairs of the Wainuiomata road be accepted with thanks, and that it be banded over to Robert Hunter, for work done in Wards 4 and s—£l Bs. to No. 4 Ward, and £3 10s. to No. 5 Ward. The road leading to Whiteman’s Valley, laid off by Mr. Beere, was approved of, and it was decided that the Government local agent should be requested to gazette it. The tender of Joseph Hall for valuation of Wards Nos. 3,5, and 6, for the sum of £4B 15s, 6d., was accepted, and the tender of Brown and Mullins, of £57 10s., declined. The Board then adjourned. One of the Wairarapa waggons was stopped opposite Mr. Levy’s door yesterday. Mr. Levy contemplated the team with satisfaction, and thought that the heavy load of general goods on its way up country was a further indication of the progress of the interior. Finding out, however, that the waggon contained a large number of barrels of gunpowder, he intimated most politely to the carrier that perhaps a shady spot, some 100 yards down Lambton-quay, would be a nicer place for him to atop at. The carrier took the suggestion. Mr. Levy was not at all apprehensive of any evil consequences that might arise from the explosion, in a crowded street, of half a ton of gqnpowder. Nor does anyone think that there is any danger in taking such quantities of gunpowder about without any precaution. One gentleman did indeed suggest that it would Have been as well had a tarpaulin been thrown over the load ; but he was looked upon as an unnecessary alarmist. When the carrier gets out of town into the country, and lights his pipe whilst sitting on his waggon, there will neither be danger to passing vehicles, nor of himself, his team, his wagg'on audits load being reduced into molecules, ns it wore in the twinkling of an eye. It is to be trusted that the Chamber of Commerce, or the City Council, will not take any steps to prevent the carriage of gunpowder in the most unrestricted manner, and so fetter the liberty of trade. This last remark is offered, because not ,a few people yesterday thought that “ something should be done.” It is stated that Sir Salar Jung spent £2OOO on flowers alouo during his stay in London.