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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5126, 28 August 1877, Page 2

We understand that yesterday there was rather more serious consultation amongst what is left of the Opposition than has taken place since the session opened. They seemed to think that “ something definite should be done but up to the date of our last information they had neither decided upon the something, its definitivehess, nor the. mode of doing it. 1 It is said, however, that there appeared a certain tendency on the part of the tiny cliques which form the Opposition to really coalesce. This is a condition which has not’hitherto prevailed. A cheque for £SOO has been sent to the Bishop of Wellington for the Diocesan fund. Mr. Sheehan’s motion in reference to MrBarton’s petition is to be brought on to-day in the House. A New Zealand Gazette published yesterday contains proclamations authorising the Wellington City Council to take certain lands for the; purpose of extending Cuba and Taranaki streets. . It is notified in our advertising columns that subscribers of one giiinea are entitled to two ■'tickets.to each of the four concerts to be given by the Choral Society this season. The case of Gillon v. Macdonald, a newspaper dispute, occupied the Resident Magistrate’s Court a considerable portion of yesterday] At its rising; the Court took, time to consider several nonsuit points raised by the attorney for the defendant. Preliminaries are, being arranged for the formation of a Working Man’s Club in Napier, where there is every probability of its being as successful, although on a smaller scale perhaps, as similar institutions have been here and in Dunedin. ■ > There was a very good attendance at the Theatre Royal last evening in the lower parts .of the house, when the Vaudeville Troupe went through their excellent performances and a comedy was played by the, stock company in excellent style.' . At usual the Odd Fellows’ Hall was wel filled yesterday evening, and in connection with the entertainment a number of. prizes, some of them being valuable, were given away. The proprietor of the Diorama did well to engage Lieut. Herman, the ventriloquist, whose really remarkable performances have been received with great applause on each occasion of his appearance on the Odd Fellows’ Hall stage. ; The inquiry into the wreck of the Robina Dunlop was resumed yesterday, and the evidence, a report of which will be found in another column, was brought to a conclusion. The Court then adjourned until to-day, when it is understood judgment will be given. What remains of this unfortunate vessel has been sold for the small sum of £lB to Mr. G. Blair, who will probably make a good thing out of his bargain, as there are anchors and chains new'set 'of sails, and a considerable quantity of driftwood, to be recovered. The following is a list of the successful and unsuccessful, tenders for the Huruuui (Greta) cart bridge contract received at ; the Public Works Office, Wellington Accepted : W. Simms, ■ Auckland, _ £5120. Declined : McGrath and Johnston, Christchurch, £5343; Thomas and Hill, Amberley, £6478; Evans and Brett, Kaiapoi, £0072; Allen and Stumbles, Timaru, £6672 ; Thornton and Bull, Christchurch, £6709. Informal: Stocks, Christchurch. , The interest in the Russo-Turkish war, though-somewhat intense yesterday, was modified by the interest taken in Jones. So much was ; public attention directed towards this gentlemen that he received several lucrative offers from enterprising tradesmen. Mr. Huxley pressed one of his’best suits for nothing upon Jones, with the trifling condition that Jones should wear the suit and a placard on his back', running “ Huxley turns ’em out in this style at £4 10s. Patronise local industry.” As Jones walked about the streets, the fortunate people who knew him nudged, the unfortunate people who did not, and said “ That’s him.”,, He was passing the Supreme Court whilst the Waka Maori case was being heard, and 'the Court at once adjourned for five minutes in order tb. have a look at Jones. . The plaintiff and defendant, with the counsel on either side, in the case of Gillon v. Macdonald, being tried at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, jostled each other, when that Court also adjourned, ostensibly for lunch, but in reality to see Jones. One of : the (Messrs.- Blundell was seen! on the roof of hisi business premises at broad noon hoisting on to a flagpost a red 'lantern alight, . and signals ('indicating that half-a-dozen mails and war news from various diieotidns had arrived. He subsequently explained to our reporter that he wanted to let the people know that Jones was hero. From all these facts it is plain that people think a great deal of Jones, and that there will be a good .crowd to see him fetched'up at the bar of the House to-day. We are authorised to state that it was not Mr. Jsnea who sent the cheque'for-the Diocesan Fund to Bishop Hadfield which is mentioned in another place.

• A special general meeting o£ the New Zealand Reformer Company (Limited) was held at Mr. Fraser’s rooms, Manners-street, last night. The principal business was to consider the finances of the company and the future of the paper. It appeared that a loss had accrued owing to adverse circumstances at the commencement of its publication-; but considering its general favor with the public and its widely extending circulation, it was resolved to carry it on, but in its old form instead of the broadsheet., As in the old country so it is in these colonies. The native-born youth is fond of boating, and will generally avail himself of every chance of being on the water. It is a practice, however, requiring caution, and . should never be undertaken by-lads too young to manage a boat. The Melbourne Argus of the Ist. inst. thus records a narrow escape from a serious boat accident :—On Sunday afternoon five small boys took a boat'for a row on Hobson’s Bay. Owing to the strong northerly wind that was blowing, they were unable to manage the boat, and were blown out in the bay in the direction of Schnapper Point. Mr. John Ladner, a waterman stationed at the railway pier, Sandridge, observed the boys making signals, and seeing- their imminent peril, at once put off to their rescue, and brought the boat and its occupants safely to Sandridge. But for this timely aid, there is little doubt that the boys would have been lost.