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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5020, 26 April 1877, Page 2

At the Education Board meeting yesterday the annual report was presented, but it was resolved not to publish it till forwarded to the Government; so that we were unable to embody it in the record of yesterday’s meeting, which appears elsewhere. The report is of considerable length, and goes to show that the progress made during the past year within the educational district of Wellington has been considerable.

The question of precedence amongst the barristers is exciting a good deal of attention, and we hear it is not only probable the assembled Judges in the Court of Appeal will be asked for a ruling, but that it is possible the question may be brought before Parliament. Of course Mr. Barton, whom we believe by no means concedes seniority to Mr. Travers or anybody else, has received no answer from the Judges beyond a mere acknowledgment of his letter. It is said that not long ago this difficulty of seniority assumed a practical phase. In a large case now pending two counsel high up in the New Zealand Bar received each a leading brief on one side. Both claimed to be senior, and neither would give in except for a consideration. The solicitor who was getting up the case, when the cause of action arose, said the barrister of his. choice should lead ; but the solicitor on,the record declared the gentleman be had retained had the right, and should lead. Eventually political considerations induced one of the barristers to retire, and then the difficulty was got over. It has been definitely decided to place the bust of the late Dr. Eeatherston in the Museum, Signor Luigi and Co. have nearly completed their work, and the committee inspected the bust the other evening, and expressed the greatest satisfaction at the manner in which the contract has been carried out. It will be finished off within a week or two. The bust is to be placed just inside the exhibition room at the Colonial Museum, and men are now engaged laying a cement foundation, upon which the pedestal is to be built. It is probable there will be some little ceremony at the unveiling of the bust.

The trustees of the Odd Fellows* Hall waited upon his Worship the Mayor yesterday forenoon in reference to a piece of laud belonging to the Odd Fellows* Society but which is now used as a footpath. Originally the ground on which the hall is situated was obtained from the Provincial Government, and should by right extend four feet beyond the boundary at present marked out. In consequence of this the trustees have been unable to get it passed throuh the Land Transfer office, the boundary not being correct. Hence the deputation’s object was to have the matter adjusted, and suggested that the Corporation should either purchase the land now occupied as part of the public thoroughfare or lease it at a reasonable rental. The Mayor received the deputation courteously, and promised to refer the matter to the City Solicitor. A meeting of the creditors in the estate of one Chappell, saddler, of Wanganui, was convened for yesterday at the Court House, but at the appointed hour only one .creditor put in appearance, and after half-an-hour had elapsed the meeting was declared to have lapsed. The fact is, all the creditors reside at Wanganui, and the estate .Is hot sufficiently large to' induce creditors to spend £i or ;£5 in looking after a bad debt hot much larger in amount. A number of small bankruptcies have occurred lately, in which this same failure, of meeting has occurred, and it does seem as if an amendment might well be made in the course, of procedure where a bankruptcy is so small. The debtor must per* .force come to Wellington to attend the meeting, and the result of the lapsing of the meeting generally necessitates his making a second trip to Wellington, to apply to the Court for a certificate of discharge. These trips are rather expensive, and the question is, where do the means to defray the cost come from, seeing that the bankrupt is supposed to give up to his creditors all his assets ? The Standard is glad to learn that a farmers* club is being organised in the neighborhood of Greytown.

There were no cases set down for hearing on the criminal sheet at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning. Being Wednesday there were no civil cases. We observe by advertisement in another column that the Phoenix Fire Insurance Company have commenced business in this city under the able superintendence of Mr. Mabin, whose temporary office is at the New Zealand Shipping Company’s building. Mr. A. De Brandon, junior, yesterday visited the Wellington College, where his young school days were spent, and at his request the boys were granted a half holiday. Mr. Brandon, we believe, was one of the first attendants at the Wellington College, and was the first of its pupils to take a degree. We hope many more will follow his example. The Theatre Royal was again well attended last evening, “ Lisa Bodes” being repeated. The performance seems to lose none of its attraction by repetition, to judge by the applause bestowed upon it, and the small volunteer army, trained by Mr. Baker, were encored twice. Last night’s programme will be repeated this evening. Yesterday afternoon as one of our politicians was walking down the Adelaide-road he heard a noise behind him, and turning saw a runaway horse with a cart careeriog along. Not being at all “ horsey ” he did not attempt to seize the infuriated animal, which soon had a stop put to its course by running against a telegraph pole, breaking the pole and a shaft of the cart, which was completely capsized. Strange to say, the horse escaped unhurt. The accident took place at three o’clock, and within a couple of hours after a new pole had been made to replace the broken one. It was intended that the question of increasing the salaries of the Secretary to the Education Board and the Inspector of Schools should be discussed at the meeting of the Board held yesterday, but at the conclusion of the other business it was determined to postpone it until the next full meeting of the Board to be held in July next, as there were several members absent yesterday. Rather an unusual scene occurred yesterday. A man named James Jones walking along the street met his daughter who had left her home some time previously, and he struck her on the arm with a whip he was carring at the time. A constable who witnessed the scene, took Jones into custody, and the latter was shortly afterwards made to appear before Messrs, Buller and Wallace, J.P.’s, to answer a charge of assaulting the girl, but as she did not wish to prosecute, he was discharged with a caution. In a report of the' matches in connection with the Star Boating Club, which came off at the latter end of last week, we stated that it was intended if possible to pull off matches next Saturday. Arrangements for this have now been made, and in addition to others there will be a race for pair-oars, in which the following four crews will compete :—l. Webb and Batkin ; 2. Walden and Smith ; 3. Sheppard and Gandy; 4. Eyton and Taylor. There also will be scratch races for four-oar crews ; post entries. In another column we reprint the evidence given against Moffat, charged with having made and supplied natives with powder. The trial took place yesterday, and we learn that Moffat was found guilty of a misdemeanor. Ho is the same Moffat who was convicted of passing cheques at Manawatu about four years ago, and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment in the Wellington gaol The second of the present series of lectures to young people will be delivered in the Terrace school on Saturday afternoon, 28th inst., by the master; subject,) “ The Locomotive.” The following is the synopsis of the lecture: —l. Necessity that existed for more economical and rapid traction power; 2. early inventions, sailing carriages, road engines, Murdock’s invention, Trevithick’s do, &c.; 3. primitive locomotives, Blenkinsop’s engine, Blackett’s Wylam engine, George Stephenson’s improvements, steam blast, &c., bis first engines—Bluoher, Locomotion, Rocket ; 4. modern locomotive; 5. broad and narrow gauge railways, Fairlie engine. The lecture will be illustrated by diagrams and working models. Admission free.

On Saturday next a match is to be played between the warehousemen and the banks. The cricketing season has now practically closed, but it would be well next season to effect some change in the management of the Basin Reserve. There has been a good deal of dissatisfaction at the manner it has been managed during' the past season, and we may instance the fact that for next Saturday the ground has been let to two distinct parties, both of whom have paid their money. A musical and literary entertainment on b'-half of the building fund of St. Mathias’ Church, was given in the North Makara schoolroom on Tuesday evening last, by a few local amateurs, and were assisted by a number of town friends who kindly lent their assistance. Notwithstanding the unpropitious state of the weather, the room presented a very crowded appearance, and the entertainment passed off admirably. The first part was entirely devoted to music, vocal and instrumental, the m st pleasing efforts being a pianoforte solo by a young lady, and the song “ Good-bye Sweetheart,” by the young lady who so ably took the part of the widow in “Naaman” last week. “ The Ruby ” was rendered with exquisite taste by a gentleman amateur. The second part of the entertainment was devoted to four scenes from Coleman’s Comedy of the “ Heir-at-Law,” which was rendered by the same gentlemen who so ably went through the same performance at the Polytechnic. Though all were excellent, the parts of Dr. Pangloas and Cicely, were particularly good, they being rendered in a manner which would have been no disgrace to professional actors. The magn ficent “ make-up ” of the gentleman who took the part of the latter calling forth the admiration of the fairer portion of the audience. After a little more vocal music, the room was cleared for a dance. Mr. Manning, with his usual kindness, presided at the pianoforte. Altogether we should say the funds of the church have been considerably augmented by this entertainment. Our Makara friends wish to thank the Wellington ladies and gentlemen who so kindly helped them on this occasion.