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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5051, 1 June 1877, Page 4

We are very glad to learn on good authority that the Government have decided upon carrying out the plan suggested by the Chamber of Commerce, and instead of proceeding with the erection of the proposed railway wharf will at once commence reclaiming a large block of land extending from Mr. E. W. Mills' foundry as far as the second T on the south

side of the Queen's wharf. We consider that the Government have come to a very wise determination. Specifications are being prepared, and tenders will be invited for the immediate execution of the work.

The polling for the election of city auditors will take place to-day at the sideroom of the Odd Fellows' Hall. The candidates are Messrs. G. M. Kebbell, C. J. Pownall, and J. W. Stevenson. Under the Local Election Acts, there will be no cumulative voting. Whilst the Corporation laborers were yesterday at work excavating the street opposite the Bank of New Zealand, for the purpose of laying down a wooden crossing, they found their picks come into contact with a relic of the past history of Wellington, viz., the wooden facing of the old breastwork. Residents of the city who mark the quantity of land that has been reclaimed, and the fine warehouses which now stand upon the land reclaimed, will realise the progress the city has made of late years. AVhen referring yesterday to what took

place at the general meeting of the members of the Wellington Club, we neglected to mention that it was resolved to postpone the usual annual ball until the new clubhouse is ready for occupation, when it will be opened with a grand housewarming and ball. We make the announcement in order to allay the anxiety of a number of ladies who expected it would take place as usual before the session commenced, and feared they would not be allowed sufficient time to make proper arrangements for such an important event as the annual Club ball. The case of Mr. Sinclair, teacher of the Taita school, has been at last definitely settled by the Education Board. Mr. Lee, the inspector of schools, has succeeded in substantiating all that he said in connection with the conduct of that school when he made his annual report, and Mr. Sinclair is to receive notice to leave his situation under the Board. The Board were not long in arriving at their decision, having as it were the " tail end" of the case before them, and possibly they would have been still more expeditious but for Mr. Toomath finding cause of perplexity in something in the letter written by Mr. Sinclair. The latter gentleman had stated, in fact, that Mr. Lee had said to a pupil teacher (who had brought up some exercises 1 stuck together with a pin) that he should be a handy boy and not bring up exercises skewered together like cats-meat hawked round the streets of Loudon. This " exercised " the mind of Mr. Toomath. He could not get it out of his head. He wanted to know what cats-meat had to do with the Taita school, and what relation skewers bore to pinned exercises. He regarded this, apparently, with something of the same feeling expressed by Sergeant Buzfuz in the celebrated Pickwick Trial did the defendant's allusion to chops and tomato sauce, which conveyed some hidden meaning ; and in the great cause of education and of justice, he felt bound to have this catsmeat and skewer business cleared up. Eventually, however, he was induced to believe that it meant nothing more than a figure of speech, and so discussion dropped. James Harris was charged at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday with stealing a velvet coat belonging to Messrs. Kirkcaldie and Stains. Jacob Frankel deposed that he bought the coat from defendant (who, by the way, called himself David Smart) for the sum of 135., and a person in the employ of Kirkcaldie and Stains identified the coat as belonging to that firm. Hams pleaded guilty, excusing himself by saying that he was drunk at the time, and was not conscious of the crime he was committing. He was next charged with stealing a waterproof coat, which was found on him when he was arrested by Constable Smart. Ho pleaded guilty to this charge | also, and the coat was identified as belonging to Mr. James Smith. The defendant was sentenced to six months' imprisonment on the first charge, and on the second charge six mouths, one term to take effect after the expiration of the first. luspector Atchesou remarked upon the practice of hanging goods outside shop doors, saying, very truly, that it presented a temptation to the needy, and, as had lately been demonstrated, cases of shop lifting had thereby increased. Mr. Crawford assented to this; and we think there can be no doubt that the remarks of the Inspector were justified by late experience. The young man Joseph Sturgess, who stands charged with having in February last stolen a valuable watch belonging to Mr. Mace, again made his appearance before Mr. Crawford yesterday, and was further remanded owing to the absence of an important witness, the ex-chief steward of the unfortunate ship Ocean Mail. He will be brought up to-morrow. The Georgia Minstrels repeated their entertainment last evening to a good house, and were well received by the audience. As the stay of the company here is drawing to a close, we expect to see their admirers muster in great force this eveuiug and tomorrow.

The last practice of the Wellington Choral Society for the next concert took place at Mr. Hunter's rooms last evening. There was a good attendance both of the band and and vocalists, and everything went well and gave promise of a most successful concert next week.

_ The next meeting of the Hufct County Council will take place on the sth iust. The June number of " Bradshaw's Guide" has been published with commendable promotness.

During the month of Hay 6i births and 23 deaths were registered in the city of Wellington ; 27 marriage certificates were issued. Yesterday afternoon the Boulcott - street Hall was sold by Mr. Burnett, auctioneer, to Mr. W. H. Spiller, for the sum of £650.

There were a number of civil cases set down for hearing on the list at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, most of them being for petty amounts. There was one iu which the claim was for £6O, and another for £4O odd: but these were adjourned. Notice is given that the forty-third general meeting of the Wellington. BuildinoSociety, for the payment of subseifptions and sale of shares, will be held at tlie"affiee of the society, Panama-street, this e\vnin<r at 7 o'clock. °

We have been favored with a copy of an exquisite morceau, "Un Sospira mazurka," composed for the piauo by F. Bonaccorti, and dedicated to Mrs. Charles Johnston. We are in a position to state that it is a most beautiful piece of music, having heard it executed by an admirable pianist. It may be had ef all the music-sellers in the city. The Hon. Wm. Fox having offered to make a present to the Education Board of half an acre of land at Crofton, it has been decided to erect a sehoolhonse in that village at a cost of £l5O. We understand that this will supply a great want, as cases have been known of people who would have settled in the district having been prevented from doing so owing to their being no- school at which their children could receive education.

A man whose face had somewhat the appearance of a damaged turnip was brought before Mr. Crawford yesterday, charged with having indulged too freely in alcohol. He pleaded guilty in original terms. Addressing the Court generally he said: "I am sorry to say, gentlemen, that it is a fact. I took a little drop too much, and was overcome. It is » l'i'ji gentlemen, because when not in liquor I am as good as good can be."

The latest deliverance of the irrepressible editor of the Z?/ell Argus is as foil ws : " Matrimonial.—We hear that Little Cupid is up to his little pranks again, Three well known bachelors having caved in and a heavy wager has been laid by a Buller Squatter— That lie gets married before Ye Editor. (If its to that Red Headed Nelson Girl, that I saw him squeezing the other day at Hampden by gum old chap you can have her and welcome. ..E. A.)"