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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5092, 19 July 1877, Page 2

There will he a meeting of the City Council this afternoon at 4 o’clock. Notice is given that the Banks will be closed to-day at noon on the occasion of the opening of Parliament. The civil sittings of the Supreme Court will he resumed at ten o’clock this morning, when the case of Morris y. O’Malley will be proceeded with. Mr. Frederick Sutton, M.H.R. for Napier, arrived in Wellington last evening from the Wairarapa, where he has been staying for the past few days. Mr. Thomas Dugard, hotelkeeper, late ef the Upper Hutt, has filed . a declaration that he is unable to meet his engagements with his creditors. Notice is given in our advertising columns that the Karori-Makara Highway Board will on the 4th August strike a rate of Is. in the £ for the year ending 30th June, 1878. The ratebook is open for inspection at Mr. H. Page’s, Karori. The annual general meeting of the parishioners of St. James’, Lower Hutt, and Christ Church, Taita, was held in the church schoolroom on Tuesday evening last. The Rev. T. Fanoourt occupied the chair, and opened the proceedings with prayer. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the reverend chairman delivered an address, in which he briefly reviewed the chief events of the year, and referred specially to the proposed new church at the Lower Hutt. The following office-bearers were then elected ; Captain Hewitt and Mr Welch, sen., curate’s churchwardens ; Mr. Wilkins and Mr. W. R. Welch, parishioners’ churchwardens ; Captain Humfrey, Messrs. Hansom, Ashton, Collett, Beatson, Ed. Collett, Kayner, G. Collett, and Brann vestrymen. Collectors: Messrs Hansom, S. Smith, Wilkins, Collett, Braithwaite, and W. K. Welch. Eleven designs for the new church were laid before the meeting, the selection therefrom being entrusted to a committee consisting of the curate, the churchwardens of St. James', Sir William Fitzherbert, Messrs. Beetham, Barton, Braithwaite, Collett, Fitzherbert, and Kansom. The treasurer and trustees were authorised to expend out of the building fund the amount necessary to purchase the timber for the new church so soon as the design is fixed upon, and the quantities are known. It was also decided to hold a parish fete about Christmas time, the proceeds thereof to be devoted to tha building fund. A collision occurred yesterday afternoon between a hansom cab and a dray in front of Te Aro House, Cuba-street. No harm happened either to the drivers or vehicles, but Tom Wade, the driver of the cab, had a narrow escape. The collision, although a slight one, was sufficient to throw him from his seat, and in falling his foot caught in one of the iron fastenings of the seat, and he lay with his head on the roadway and his foot secured to the cab. Fortunately the horse did not move, and some of Mr. Smith’s assistants seeing the accident promptly removed Tom from his extremely dangerous position. He mounted the box again, apparently none the worse for his mishap, save that his temper was somewhat ruffled at the driver of the dray, who certainly did not allow the hansom a fair share of the roadway.

The Wellington Amateur Temperance Minstrels gave their second performance last evening at the Odd Fellows' Hall. On this occasion • the entertainment was for the benefit of the widow of the late Captain Anderson, of the schooner Kaikoura. There was a good attendance, and the audience appeared highly pleased with the manner in which the programme was gone through. The result, we are glad to hear, will be a substantial addition to the funds now being raised for the lady for whose benefit the Minstrels kindly gave their services.

For a long time past the inhabitants of Napier and its vicinity, especially of those residing north of the Spit, have been agitating for a bridge across the harbor, but up to the present time the necessary funds for the accomplishment of the work, a very important one, have not been forthcoming. In the meantime tenders are invited to be sent to the chairman of the Napier Harbor Board up to the 7th August for leasing the Spit ferry, the lessee being required to provide a steam launch capable of carrying twenty persons and a suitable punt for the carriage over the ferry of a dray and team of bullocks. Eventually the long looked for bridge will probably be constructed, but until that is accomplished the contemplated steam ferry service will: be a g eat convenience to the inhabitants and to the settlers in the northern portion of the Hawke’s Bay district. At the St. George’s Hall promenade concert (the sixth of the series) last night, considerable amusement was created during the skating part of the proceedings by the presence of several man-of-war’s men, who exhibited decidedly more daring than skill in the use of the skates. For the concert, a good programme was provided, the best songs being “ Come back to Erin ” (Miss Howarde), “ 0 say once more ” (Mdlle, Navaro), and “ The moonlight,” a duet by the before-mentioned ladies. The other pieces were rendered in a pleasing and effective manner. The Colonial Fortifications Bill, says the 7 Tome News, of May 31, is now printed, and set down for the second reading this evening, when Parliament meets after the Whitsun vacation. It provides that by an Order in Council any fortifications may be vested in the Governor of the colony in which they are situated. Every recommendation of such a transference must lie on the table of both Houses at least forty days before it is submitted to the Queen. Clause three excludes India, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man from the definition of the word “ colony.” It is more than probable, however, that the Bill, though on the paper, will share the fate of several others, and have its consideration postponed.

The Press, o£ the 16th inst., speaking of the doings of the Canterbury Hunt Club, says : 44 A large field mustered at the Kennels on Saturday afternoon to hunt for the first time in Canterbury a veritable hare. The dogs were cleverly laid on with fair law, and puss chose some tolerably warm cross country. The scent lay rather badly, and the spin, which extended for about two miles, was only fast in parts. Arrived at this distance puss doubled effectually, and left tbe dogs and leading contingent at a standstill. Mr. 0. F. Barker met with a nasty fall during the run, but fortunately without any serious result.” The Home News says 44 At opposite ends of the scale of general favor are the Viceroy of Canada and tbe ex-Governor of Barbadoes, Lord BafFerin has a full command of the golden secret of a brilliant and honorable popularity. When he speaks he is invariably felicitous, whereas Mr, Hennessy’s oratory is apt to offend and irritate, while even his wisest and most conscientious performances are misunderstood by a censorious and ungrateful public. The last act of the GovernorGeneral of Canada has been politic and graceful. It is known that Canada has made the Home Government a generous tender of military assistance, and now Lord Dufferin remembers the artillerymen—they are no mere amateurs or carpet knights—who have garrissoned Quebec for five years. He has proposed to give a medal for the best essay, 4 On the Supply, Care, and Repair of Artillery Material, including Small Arms and Ammunition, for the Canadian Militia.’ Officers who have served in the Home Artillery or in tbe Marines may not become candidates. The essays must be sent in before the last day of July, and maybe in French or English. Lord Bufferiu’s offer is a just tribute to that loyal and altogether admirable union of officers known as the Dominion Artillery Association/*

The business at the K.M. Court yesterday was nil, there being no cases for hearing either civil or criminal.

We have been requested to draw our readers’ attention to the notice in our advertising columns, announcing that the South British Insurance Company have taken offices in the Odd Fellows’ Hall building, Grey-street front.

The Union Bank has announced a dividend at the rate of 13 per cent, per annum on their paid up capital of £1,250,000; placing at same time £25,000 to the reserve funds, which now amount in all to £425,000.

Dr. Doyle, who has lately been suffering from severe indisposition, is recovering his health, and, acting under the advice of Dr. Harding, is about to leave Wellington for a time for change of air. We again remind our readers that the grand complimentary concert tendered to Mr. Hollister by the musical amateurs of Wellington will be held this evening at the Odd Fellows’ Hall.

Notice is given in our advertising columns that the third annual meeting of the investment members of the Permanent Equitable Building and Investment Society, will be held at the Polytechnic Hall, Featherston-street, at 8 p.m. on the 3rd August. The first meeting this session of the Wellington Philosophical Society will be held in the lecture hall of the Colonial Museum on Saturday, the 21st instant, at 8 p.m. Mr. Travers, M.H.8., president of the society, will occupy the chair. Several interesting papers will be read. The following sums have been collected for Mrs. Lewis, widow of a compositor at Nelson, who formerly worked at the Evening Argus and at the Government printing office, in Wellington :— New Zealand Times, £7 ; Evening Post, £2 Is.; Evening Argus, £1 12s. 6d.; Government printing office, from employes in the piece room only, £l. Total, £ll 13s. 6d. A select fancy dress ball, “in honor of the first sitting of Parliament since the passing of the Abolition Act,” will be held at St. George’s Hall on the 26th inst. Two oil paintings, of the value of £5 each, will be presented to the best dressed lady and gentleman representing characters on this occasion.

The promenade concert at the St. George’s Hall skating rink last evening was fairly patronised, and we have little doubt the same will be the case to-night. Arrangements have been made with Mr. E. W. Carey, who will appear to-morrow and in future ; and, until further notice, the programme will contain, besides the usual songs and duets, selections from operas, trios, quartettes, and choruses. There was a good attendance at the Theatre Royal last night, when the “ Overland Route” was again repeated with great success. This piece has evidently hit the popular taste here, and from its intrinsic merits it deserves, as it has received, the patronage of the theatregoing portion of the community. To-night the “Two Roses,” another new comedy, will be produced for the first time in Wellington, Mr. and Mrs. Tavares sustaining the leading characters. The Chronicle informs its readers that, at a meeting of the Wanganui Harbor Board on the 16th inst., the matter of the Putiki shipping wharf was considered, and his Worship the Mayor, with Messrs. D. Peat and T. Bamber, were appointed a committee to wait upon Mr. John Davidson in order to discuss the subject with him. The result of their conference will be brought up at the next meeting of the Board. A gentleman from the East Coast informs us that the natives of Poverty Bay and along the Bast Coast are preparing a petition for presentation to Parliament, praying the House not to pass the proposed new Land Bill in its present form. , The clauses which the petitioners object to are those relating to the native assessors, to the power of the chief Judge, to the limitation of ten grantees for each block, and the facilities proposed to be given for the natives to dispose of lands that have been set apart as inalienable reserves. The Home News of the 31st May, writing of Sir Henry Barkly, says :—“ Never has a colonial Governor left the scene of his administrative labors under more signal or more justly accorded demonstrations of honor, esteem, and regard, than the late Governor of the Cape. Almost the whole of the colony seems to have crowded to the docks to witness the departure of Sir Henry Barkly, and it is gratifying to know that he will find, on his return to England, a reception not less cordial than the adieu given him when he set sail from South Africa.. Before he went to the Cape of Good Hope, Sir Henry Barkly had been Governor of Guiana, Jamaica, Victoria, the Mauritius, and in each portion of the British Empire that he has been, he has exhibited the same self-sacrifice and devotion to his duties, the same sagacity, the same integrity, the same anxiety to reconcile, if in any instances they have seemed to conflict, colonial and imperial interests. At the Cape he has had a specially difficult and delicate office to discharge. It has been his duty plainly to state to the Home Government the obstacles in the way of South African confederation, and this he has fulfilled with a courage and a candour that are above all praise. In Cape Colony he leaves golden opinions and ennobling memories. He established and he has now witnessed the successful working of responsible government. He has seen the revenues of the colony nearly doubled. He has presided over the steady growth of its prosperity in other branches than those which are purely financial. Eor instance, the development of the Cape railway system dates from the administration of Sir Henry Barkly. Lastly, though the close of his governorship has been beset with troubles, which would have perplexed, discouraged, and baffled a less resolute nature, Sir Henry Barkly has so borne himself throughout that he has won the admiration even of those who were most disposed to dissent from the policy of which he was the representative.” Immediately after a luncheon adjournment at the Supreme Court, Dunedin, the foreman of the jury, says the Star, complained of tho luncheon with which they had been supplied, especially as regarded the quality of the food. His Honor said that perhaps the Sheriff was of the same opinion as himself, that heavy meals were not desirable for people having important business under consideration. He had no doubt that the Sheriff would take the hint, it being a very broad one, and have the matter attended. Ho (his Honor) could not be expected to review the bill of fare. The Lyttelton Times of the 17th inst., says the Government has decided that at present the application of the City Council for the use of the Provincial Council Chamber cannot be entertained. Councillor Hawkes, on hearing the intimation read, expressed his opinion that while it would be nice for the city to have the use of the chamber, such a room would be very unsuitable for the City Council to hold its meeting in. His Worship the Mayor suggested that the room might easily be divided, upon which Councillor Hawkes, with considerable warmth, and amid much laughter, wanted to know whether his Worship was a Goth, or a Vandal, or what he was, for venturing to entertain the idea of so barbarous a proceeding. We (Home Neios) took occasion to comment last year upon Heligoland, when Lord Rosebery detailed some of the shadowy grievances of that island in a clever and amusing speech. Now that Colonial Defence is a subject of the hour, people are again thinking about our little possession in the Baltic. We got it by conquest from the Danes, and intend to keep it. It is only forty miles from the mouth of tho Elbe, and is an invaluable strategical point. There is no commercial importance about the place, and its produce is only a small quantity of grain. It is a favorite bathingplace, and used, till we stopped gambling, to be a kind of homelier Monaco where the portly merchants of Hamburg risked their thalers. Heligoland would always give us the command of the Baltic in time of war, and therefore it would be highly imprudent of us ever to cede or sell it to Germany. We cannot too much emphasise the fact that the Germans have no right to Heligoland. If the millenium were to come, and if everything were to be set ideally

right, the reversioners of this decoying little sandbank would be the Danes, for it used to he part of the Duchy of Slesvig-Holsteiu, which, with all respect to German diplomacy, is not dc jure Teutonic property at all. That strange political sect which was founded by A-Uguste Comte, and tire high-priest of which in England is that amiable medical man Mr. Richard Congreve, would have us give India back to her pristine anarchy, and would have us return the Cape Colony to Holland, Gibralter to Spain, and so on. But common sense suggests that we should not allow the British Empire to be disintegrated. Affairs (according to the Home Netos) are in a disturbed state in the Navigator Islands, and it is rumored that an application will be made for a British Protectorate over the Islands. It is not likely, however, says the above journal, that her Majesty’s Government will think it either necessary or expedient to assume so costly a responsibility. The Lyttelton Times of the 17th instant states that at a meeting of the National Steeplechase Club, held at the Grosvenor Hotel, Timaru, on the previous Saturday, a letter was read from the Secretary of the club, Mr. Egan, stating that £BO was still to the credit of the club in the bank. It was resolved that the amount of subscriptions already collected should be paid to the club’s credit at the bank, and that a race meeting should take place on August 22 next in the immediate neighborhood of Timaru, and that the same should be at once advertised in the papers. The following programme was decided upon :—Grand National Steeplechase Handicap of 100 sovs., about 4 miles ; Maiden Plate of 50 sovs., about 2 miles ; Hunt Club Cup of 60 sovs., about 3 miles ; Consolation Handicap of 40 sovs., about 2 miles. A committee was elected to lay off the course.