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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5024, 1 May 1877, Page 2

Great interest was felt in Wellington yesterday as to the result of the polling for Totara, and according to our telegram it would seem there was a good deal of excitement in the district. The result of the election is that Mr. Gisborne is once more a member of the House of Representatives, having a majority of twenty-one from the principal polling places, the others being of so little consequence that they cannot affect the result. The Bankruptcy Court was again occupied all day yesterday with the case of H. B. Tonks. Mr. Barton addressed the Court for nearly five hours on the facts out in evidence, and the law to he applied to such facts. Both on legal and equitable grounds he urged that the deed of arrangement between the debtor and his creditors should be set aside, his most important point being the construction of the Act with reference to what constituted a majority in number and value of the creditors of an estate, and the question as to whether the debt represented by a current bill of exchange must he proved for by the drawer or the bank which has discounted it. The case was adjourned till Wednesday at 11 a.m.

A woman named Mrs. Heffernan was arrested yesterday afternoon on a charge of attempting to murder a girl named Alice Parker by stabbing her with a knife. She will be brought up at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning and charged with the offence.

During the month of April, 1877, ending yesterday, 59 births and 24 deaths were registered in the city of Wellington. The number of marriage certificates issued during the month amounted to 24.

Mr. Crawford gave judgment in the case Cole v. Toxward yesterday. It may be remembered that it arose out of the case Toxward V. Hastwell, and the claim was for expenses as a witness and work done in surveying the spot on which the coach accident occurred. His Worship decided to allow 12s. per day expenses for attendance at the Court, and gave judgment for £i 16s. Mr. Ollivier, who appeared for defendant, intimated that he should appeal, holding as he did that no expenses should be allowed.

Our readers will notice by advertisement in another part :of ,our to-day’s issue that the agency of the South British Insurance Company in this city, which since its foundation has been conducted by Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co., will in future be carried on under the superintendence of Mr. Alfred Boardman, who has been appointed branch manager by the board of directors in Auckland. A considerable portion of the company’ stock is held by fortunate shareholder in and about Wellington, and their exertisns, together with the business-like management of Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co.; have succeeded in placing the South British Insurance Company at the head of 1 the list of the insurance offices doing business in our city. It is now considered by the directors that in view of the great competition between offices now existing here, their office should be represented by a gentleman specially trained in the head office, and we trust the step may result in increased benefit to the shareholders, ’

The entertainment to be given this evening by the Early Closing Association will be very attractive. The ladies and .gentlemen who have kindly promised to assist may fairly be classed among the best amateur singers in Wellington. Apart from, the musical attractions, the Early Closing Association should be supported in their endeavors to obtain a curtailment of business hours for drapers and clothiers. . The association wishes to establish the six o’clock movement on Saturdays, which is only fair, now that all other working classes are released from work at one o’clock on that day, and hope to enlist public sympathy in their cause.

We have received; several complaints about 'that slippery.concrete in Wiilis-street. The last was made at a late hour lost evening. A 'gentleman entered i the outer office and made enquiries for the editor, and as he limped very 'much with one foot, and at the same time wore •the appearance of an enraged brigand lately injured by an enemy, it was thought better to keep him in the outer office than admit him to the editorial sanctum. He then said if he couldn’t see the editor he would be obliged by being informed where the Mayor lived, ora |few of the Public Works Committee ; because !he had slipped on some of the Corporation’s 'concrete pavement, to the danger of his body generally, and damaging, one of his lege, to say 'nothing of the injury done to the shutters of a ;certain shop, in: contact with which his head icame. He was told to apply to the City Council for redress.

■ The members of the Wellington Chess Club ■met last evening for practice, when a further handicap match, wis arranged, to commence 'next Monday. Thirty-two players are required, and members who have not yet given in their names to the secretary are requested to do so before that day. Mr. Benbow will again act as handicapper, re-classifying the players and promoting those who distinguished themselves in the late match. At the close of the meeting, a handsomely-bound book of Longfellow’s poems was presented to Mr. John Bishop, as the winner of the match just terminated.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday E. R. Walter was charged ,on remand with stealing money and valuables to the amount of £25. Two witnesses were examined, viz., Mr. Bould, to whom the property (belonged, and Mr. Gillespie, proprietor of the Shepherds’ Arms Hotel, at which prisoner 'Stopped for a short time on the day he disappeared from Wellington. As the chief (Witness in the case was absent, a remand was allowed on the application of Sergeant Monaghan, who conducted the case for the prosecution.

The Dunedin Star thus discourses on the City Council’s mode of receiving the Governor: i—We think it is a subject for regret that the ■City Council were not better advised, both as to the matter and the manner of the address that was presented to the Governor at the railway station. We presume the committee [appointed for the purpose are responsible for the sentiments expressed in the extraordinary document read by the Town Clerk on Saturday. Who can possibly have been the perpetrator of the fiascos in grammar with which it absolutely bristles we are at a loss to conceive. Municipal bodies are not generally credited with any special qualities of erudition, but in this instance the large amount of money at their disposal might have enabled them to obtain the services of some person acquainted with and able to write the English language, in order to express to his Excellency what they really meant, “if so be” (to use a vulgarism) they knew themselves. Lord Normauby is an old politician and a diplomatist by genius and , descent, and no doubt thoroughly appreciates the position that he, the Queen’s representative, coming here in pursuance of his duty or pleasure, is attempted to be made the stalkinghorse of a defeated and insignificant cabal, who endeavor, under the semblance, slightly veiled, of great respect and loyalty, to saddle him with the exploded grievances of their party, and through their acknowledged organs in the public Press to go as near sedition as is prudent in consideration of their own skins.

The company playing under the direction of Mrs. Stoneham have received up to the present time favorable patronage, the attendances at the Odd Fellows’ Hall haying been on the whole favorable, when the inclement state of the weather experienced of late is taken into consideration. This evening an entirely new programme will be presented, consisting of the comedy of “ Used Up,” a musical interlude, and a farce to conclude the performances, namely, That Rascal Peter.”

The Supreme Court will sit in banco this morning.

The Hon. Mr. Ormond returned to Wellington in the Wanaka, which arrived late on Sunday evening. The members of the Wellington Football Club are requested to meet at Ames’ Star Hotel this evening at half-past 7. By a notice in another column, it will be seen that Mr. Moorhouse has taken into partnership Mr. W. B. Edwards. A coat was stolen from a shop window yesterday. A man named William Thompson is suspected of the theft, and he will be taken before Mr. Crawford this morning. A supplement ,to the New Zealand Gazette was issued yesterday, containing rules and regulations for the management of New Zealand railways generally. A man named Henry Jones, suspected of stealing £9 from the schooner Onward, was arrested yesterday, and will be brought up this morning charged with the oifence named. A meeting of creditors in the estate of David Moir was to have been held yesterday; but as only one creditor put in an appearance, it was adjourned until to-day. A woman named Catherine Palmer was yesterday committed to the Lunatic Asylum on the testimony of Drs. Bradford and Diver that she was of unsound mind.

The Chief Surveyor of the provincial district of Wellington, Mr. Henry Jackson, calls for tenders for the survey by authorised surveyors of about 8600 acres of bush land situated in the township of Palmerston, Manawatu District.

A man named Henry Strangleman was brought up at the : Greytown Police Court on the 28th inst., charged with having been guilty of indecency, and was committed to three months’ imprisonment. It may be mentioned that Strangleman had only been discharged from gaol about a month, after having undergone a sentence of two years for burglary. ■ Thomas Reader, the man who was picked out of the harbor on Saturday morning, was charged at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning with being drunk and disorderly. It appeared that when rescued by some of the Wolverene crew he was drunk, and when taken on shore became, very rowdy. He was fined 10s. and costs, or forty-eight hours’ imprisonment.. .Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, the attendance at the Theatre Royal last evening was very fair, and the entertainment as usual was favorably received, Messrs. Baker and Farron in their performance being exceedingly funny, as may be easily imagined by those who have the pleasure of seeing them. This evening a fresh programme will be performed, as will be seen by the advertisement. We are informed of a disgraceful piece of blackguardism perpetrated at the theatre service on Sunday night, says the Auckland Star. A young lady, after attending St. Matthew’s Church, went to the theatre. Upon leaving, she found that her silk dress had been slit and cut about the waist in several places. The mischief was apparently done with a penknife, and it is suspected that the perpetrator availed himself of the opportunity afforded by the large* audience standing to sing. ' ’ -