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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5112, 11 August 1877, Page 2

Our report of proceedings at the sitting of Parliament yesterday, and a notice of the Choral Society's concert last night, will be found in the supplement published with the present issue of the New Zealand Times. The Public "Works Statement, delivered last night, disclosed the intention on the part of the Government to test the expediency of leasing certain of the railways of the colony. It may be remembered that this is a course which has been often urged by individual members of the House. The Hon. the Premier showed at his best' in the House yesterday. Mr. Rees in a blatant manner had attacked the Financial Statement. On the momentj in a speech which could not be bettered/ Major" Atkinson for once silenced a gentleman whose ignoraut self-complacency generally carries him over any defeat. The Premier's utterances won good opinions from friendV and foes alike, all knowing that Mr. Rees is ;as innocent of financial ability as a certain domestic animal is of a holiday. Tho Vice-Admiralty Court sat again yesterday in' the case of Captain Williams against the owners of the steamer Taupo. The evidence was concluded, Captain Carey (who Iwas master of the Taupo at the time of the collision) and Mr. Smythe, a passenger by heron that trip, were examined for respondent. ;The former stated that the course he adopted on the night in question was the only one he could 'have taken; and Mr. Smythe said that the 'night was very dark when the collision took place. At the conclusion of the evidence it was agreed to adjourn until Friday next at 11, o'clock, when, if convenient for counßeL argument will be heard, [

Several gentlemen from the South Island and other visitors now staying in Wellington were escorted over the waterworks yesterday by the'contractor, who explained to them the details of the undertaking. These works have been bo frequently described in our columns .that, it is unnecessary for; us to go over, the same ground again. We may, however,! Bay that good progress is now being made, and there is every probability that .before the; end of the year the whole will be finished. ; The: young man named Wentworth, with several aliases, on remand for horse-stealing in Queensland, was brought!up at the Resident Magistrate's-Court yesterday afternoon, land 'disohhrged,' a telegram' having been received from the authorities Sat'Brisbane declining to proceed' with the'' case..-• Wentworth was re--lirrested-last -evening-on- a; charge of; ujsing abusive language to 1 a constable. \i' j j^j; It has been suggested "to us that an additional' cab-Btaad in some central part of say the middle 'of Lambton^piay,''would be'n great convenience to the public, and especially to strangerß visiting the city. ■ . ■ 1 ".

( The promenade concerts continue to prove attractive, the attendance last night being good; and as to the performance it was admirable.

There was a fair attendance at the Theatre Eoyal last evening. " The Female Gambler" and a farce were played. To-night the " Ticket-of-Leave Man" will be produced.

A meeting of the creditors in the estate of Mr. A. P. Morris will be held at the Post Office Hotel, 'on Wednesday next, to declare a final dividend.

We understand that out of a total of 100,000 shares to be allotted in the New Union Insurance. Company, 30,000 have been applied for in thisLcity alone. .This young institution bids fair to be a great success. Mr. Thompson, with the Diorama of the American War, to which we called attention in a recent issue, arrived last evening from Napier, and will open at the Odd Fellows' Hall this evening. The Sappho was despatched yesterday in search of the missing boats belonging to the wrecked vessel Queen Bee. The Government made an announcement to that effect in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. Mr. J. H, Wallace sold yesterday an allotment of land, having a'frontage of 40ft. on Hopper-street, to Mr. J. Brown for £l6O. Town acre 1057 was: knocked down to Mr. J. Madden for £177 10s.

There was a good attendance at the Princess Theatre last night, and the performance ran very well. This afternoon at 3 o'clock there will be a grand matinee, with a programme prepared expressly for the occasion. In the evening an excellent bill of fare will be placed before the audience. -

A meeting of the creditors of Thomas Frederick Evans, of Featherston, baker, was convened for noon yesterday at the Supreme Court buildings; but at the time named there was no attendance, and consequently no business was done. The meeting was'adjourned until noon to-day. ■ ' At the Resident Magistrate's Court yester-.-day charges of drunkenness were preferred against four persons, of whom three wore discharged with a caution, and one on bail had the amount of' his recognisance forfeited. Ann Crowbert, charged with permitting the chimney of. .her house to catch fire, was discharged with a caution.—Richard Gordon, charged with using abusive.language towards William Smart; was bound over in his own recognisance of £lO-to keep the peace for the next three months.—A charge of assault preferred ;by Charles Penpell against Francis Deverill was dismissed.—David Mair, charged with drunkenness and with illtreatment and neglect of his wife and family, was ordered to contribute 15s. a week to their support.—On the civil side the following business was disposed of: — Dembiscke v. Fraser, claim for £2 lis. 6d., for wages. The defendant claimed a set-off. Judgment for defendant.—Beauchamp v. Parkinson. In this case a judgment summons had been obtained against defendant for £3 14s. lid., who was ordered to pay the amount by monthly instalments of 155.; or, in default, go to gaol for a fortnight. In the Legislative Council yesterday, Mr., Miller asked the Government whether they intended to send out another steamer to search. for the then missing boats of the Queen Bee, the Manawatu not having, so far, arrived in time to be sent. Dr. Pollen replied tha? he could not say, he did not know, that the Government intended to send any other steamer.- Hereupon Colonel Whitmore jumped up, and said. he ' was ,;sorry to hear what had fallen from the Colonial Secretary; he thought the action of the Government in this matter did not compare very favorably with that of the House of Commons, at the time when certain miners in South Wa'es had been accidentally entombed alive by the flooding of their works. Dr. Pollen replied that Colonel Whitmore had placed a most unfair construction on what he had said. The Council must not come to the conclusion that the Government had not taken any steps in the matter, because he • (the Colonial Secretary) had happened to say that he did not know of the Government having taken any such steps. The ladies of Wellington have now an opportunity of inspecting at Mr. J.'H. Wallace's , salerobms/Hunter-street, a very choice collection of beautiful works of art and manufactures from' the continental markets of Paris, Vienna, and Italy ; and the gentlemen have at the same an opportunity of Beeing a most unique selection of. articles suitable to the requirements of thi3 advanced age. The whole are to be sold by public auction on Tuesday next, as advertised and catalogued. Too much cannot be said about this magnificent and tasteful collection.