New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5025, 2 May 1877, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 1877.

Political speakers are sometimes asked very funny questions, and Mr.’ Fitzroy, who addressed his constituents last week, had, to answer a long series of peculiar questions. We can forgive the absurdity of . the . following question, in consideration of the compliment to Wellington paid by Mr. Fitzroy in answering it ;—Will you tell us it you disband the volunteers what will become of us in the event of a war with Russia, and the visit of a Russian cruiser to New Zealand? Mr. Fitzroy: If a Russian man-of-war came on a hostile ex. pedition to-morrow I think you would be as

wtill off without the volunteers as you would be with them. At the same time X don’t wish you to suppose I mean anything disparaging to the volunteers ; but in the present state of the finances, the indebtedness of the colony, I don’t think we are justified in spending money to keep up this force. The Elector : I would like you to express an opinion on the question of the defences of our harbors, and their utility as a safeguard against the sudden appearance of an enemy. Mr. Fitzroy : I should like to see them defended by means of proper guns — if they could he obtained —aud by torpedoes. As a means of defence, X believe in a good body of artillerymen, if they could be made thoroughly efficient. The Wellington Artillery are second to none in the colony. This is certainly a question that some members take a great deal of interest in, and there Is a great deal of reason in it. At the same ti i o I hardly think we can be ready for the Russians now that we are on the eve of war.

The ordinary meeting of the committee of the Benevolent Institution was held yesterday afternoon. Present—Bishop Hadfield, elected chairman, the Revs. J. Paterson, B. W. Harvey, and W. H. West, Archdeacon Stock, Messrs. L. Levy, D. Lewis, J. Woodward, and Jos. G. Holdsworth. Subscriptions received —Mr. H. Willcox, £1; Miss Willcox, £1 ; Mr. Sloan, IDs.; Mr. Freeman, XOs.; Messrs. Greenfield and Stewart, £1 Is.; Messrs. Halley and Ewing, £1 Is.; Edward Pearce, £lO 10s.; Mr. Willeston, £1 Is. The treasurer reported that the balance at the bank was very small, and that vouchers had been forwarded to the Colonial Treasury for £37 10a.; but the cheque had not yet come to hand. Several cases were considered and relieved. We often hear repeated a mythical story as to how an old Judge once told a young beginner never to give reasons for his decisions, because while the former might be very just and proper, the process by which they were arrived at and the reasons for them might be quite wrong. The wisdom of the advice was aptly illustrated yesterday in the Supreme Court. Counsel, in an argument to show why the decision of a magistrate should not be set aside, advanced reasons very different from those which induced the magistrate to give his decision. The judgment of the magistrate, he contended, was perfectly sound, but he could not adopt the magistrate’s reasons. A well attended meeting of the Wellington Football Club was held last night at Ames’ Hotel. The. following new members were elected :—Chapman, Grant, Castelli, Holmes, Thompson, Piekett, and Flannagan. The Secretary informed the meeting that the club now numbered some forty members, and was generally in a good condition. A letter was received from the Dunedin Club asking whether arrangements could be made to play a match during August, and also whether it could be arranged that they should meet the Auckland and Nelson teams here. The letter was referred to a joint committee of the Wellington aud Athletic Clubs. It was decided to send a challenge to the officers and men of the Wolverene to play a match on Saturday week. A challenge from the Athletic Club was accepted for Saturday fortnight. Mr. Palliser was elected captain of the club. It was decided to adhere to the uniform of last year, a fresh supply to he ordered from Nelson. Some other purely club matters brought the meeting to a close, after the usual vote of thanks to the chairman.

There was a very good house at the Theatre Royal last night to witness Messrs. Baker and Farron in the new piece which they presented, “ The Govenor.” The incidental songs and dances were given with the verve and elan which have made these gentlemen such great favorites in Wellington, and the whole performance was unmistakably successful. The same programme will be repeated this evening. Margaret Heffernan was brought up at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday charged with attempting to murder a girl named Alice Parker. The evidence was rather peculiar, as it seemed to show that the affair was rather more comical than serious. Mr. Allan appeared for the prosecution; Mr. Barton for the defence. Alice Parker, Maria . Parker, aud Mrs. Elinor Parker, the mother of the prosecutrix, F. Wilkinson, and "Valentine S. Aston were examined. The evidence seemed to warrant the conclusion arrived at by the magistrate. Considering all things, he thought it would be absurd to send the case to the Supreme Court. At the first blush an assault committed with a knife seemed a very serious matter, but knives were of different kinds. The present assault appeared to have been committed with an ordinary table knife, and a very" old, rusty, and blunt one too. It had been stated that the knife had gone through Miss Parker’s dress and stays, but the outs on those articles differed very much from each other in appearance, and it was hard to believe that they were inflicted by one and the same instrument. ■He was disposed to look upon the case as one of common assault, and therefore he would bind Mrs. Heffernan over to keep the peace for three months in her own recognizance of £2O and one surety in the same amount.

Shortly before four o’clock yesterday morning Mr. Turner, the night-watchman on the wharf, noticed the glare of fire reflected in the sky over the Thorndon end of the city, and judging that there was some serious fire in the locality, immediately gave the alarm, and informed Mr, Moss of what he had seen. He then ran down to the Central Fire Brigade Station and gave the alarm there also, and soon the brigade, under the charge of their captain, were in the locality of the fire, which was found to be raging in an old house in Murphy-street, opposite Staples’ brewery. The Wellington Brigade were first on the spot with their reel from Thorndon, and both brigades working well together, the fire was soon got Under control. , The house was entirely destroyed, but the adjoining buildings were uninjured. The cause of the fire is unknown. The township of Tokomairiro, in Otago, was greatly insulted the other day owing to the train conveying the Governor having passed through without even stopping. An explanatory telegram was sent by his Excellency to the Mayor of Milton, in which he says :—“ On inquiring at Waihola, I was given to understand the train bad to stop at Milton ; and relying on your arrangements with the traffic manager, it did not occur to me that any further precaution was necessary.” A meeting of the Wesleyan Literary Association was held last evening, when essays were read on “A mother’s influence,” “ Temperance,” and “ Forgiveness.” To fill up the remainder of the evening, impromptu speeches were made on “ Helping one another,” and on the question, “ Ought New Zealand to borrow more money ?” To-night Mrs. Stoneham takes a benefit at the Odd Fellows’ Hall. As this is the first benefit this talented and deserving actress has received in New Zealand, and as her merits' are many, we hope to see a crowded house. . Return of patients in the Provincial Hospital, during and ending the month of April, 1877 :—Admitted, 27 males, 3 females ; discharged, 21 males, 3 females ; died, 1 male, 2 females ; left in hospital, 40 males, 5 females; total remaining, 45. We have received a copy of the May issue of that exceedingly useful publication “ Bradshaw’s Guide. Messrs. Dalgleish and Reid are to be congratulated on the general popularity of their band; little book. The man referred to in yesterday’s issue as having been arrested on a charge of stealing a coat from a shop window, was yesterday found guilty of the offence, and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.

In consequence of the importance to the mercantile community of the points involved in the case of H. E. Tonks, we publish a full report of the case in another column. The last cricket match of the season will probably take place on Saturday next, on tho Basin Reserve, when the Banks and the New Zealand Times may meet, A notice in another column intimates that Mr. J. 11. Mabin has transferred the management of the local branch of the Phoenix Fire Insurance Company to Mr. J. H. Wallace. A man named Robert Thompson, charged on suspicion of lunacy at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, was remanded for a week. We are requested to draw attention to the fact that Mr. George Thomas will offer for sale to-day by auction the whole of Mr, Vv’. 11. Clayton's household furniture.