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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5135, 7 September 1877, Page 2

What may be very.fairly termed “a warm debate” occurred in the House of Representatives last night. It will be found in our columns reported to as great an extent as was possible up to 11 o’clock. After that hour we cannot pretend to do more than indicate the conclusions arrived at. We may remark as a curious fact that the Government seem as anxious as do some members of the Opposition to have the letters which formed the gravamen of the debate produced. Perhaps when those letters are produced some members of the Opposition will regret their anxiety. The special jury in the Wahl Maori libel case- were relieved yesterday evening of the arduous duty imposed upon them—that is to say, the Judge having delivered his charge, all they had to do was to consider their verdict, which occupied them some little time, the result being, as stated elsewhere, a verdict for the plaintiff on all issues, damages £SOO. We may mention that the foreman of the jury represented that the fee allowed to jurymen was quite inadequate in such a case as that upon which they had been engaged, to which his Honor, while acknowledging the arduous nature of the duties which the jury had had to perform, pointed out that he was powerless to do anything in their behalf, the Act being distinct in its wording on the subject. The foreman then (by consent of the jury) handed back to the Registrar the amount of the fee, with a request that it might be presented to the Benevolent Society. A New Zealand Gazette published on Wednesday notifies that there will be a sitting of the Native Lands Court at Wangarei on the 14th inst. A Gazette issued yesterday notifies that Mr. Samuel Smith has been elected a Commissioner of the Lower Hutt Local Board. The election of the following members of local boards is also notified :—Marton —Messrs. William George Watt, David Cunningham Bett, Samuel Henry Bussell, Frederick Beaven, and Samuel Powell. Bull’s—Messrs. James Bull, Alexander Dalziell, Frank W. Evans, Stephen Fagan, and Thomas Flower. Mr. Peter Bourke is gazetted a member of the Licensing Court of Poverty Bay, vice Mr. C. D. Pitt ; resigned. David Murchie, Esq., of Riverton, is gazetted a Justice of the Peace. The appointments of J. Greenwood, jun., as a member of the Westland Education Board, of J. B. Stoney as Clerk of the Warden’s Court at the Thames; and of H. O. S, Baddeley to be Receiver of Goldfields Reveque at Wangapeka, Nelson. Tenders are invited for inland mail services in the districts of Auckland, Napier, Wellington, Westport, Dunedin, and Invercargill. The railway traffic returns are published for the four weeks ending 28th July. The total revenue on the Kaipara line is set down at £246135. sd. ; Napier and Takapau, £1553 ; Wellington, £865; Auckland, £1474 7s. 4d.; Foxton, £524 ss. Id.; Wanganui, £l2O 14s. 4d.; New Plymouth, £144 14s. 6d.; Greymouth, £728 3s. 6d.; Westport, £203 93? Id.; Nelson, £342,135, 10d.; Picton, £339 15a. Bd.; Christchurch, £16,354115. 8d (exclusive of wharfage); Dunedin, £6368 6s. Id.; Invercargill, £2674 18s. 4d. The Waste Lands Board met at noon yesterday. Present—Messrs. Holdsworth (in the chair), W. Johnston, M.H.R., and T. Mason. The land sales for the last fortnight amounted to 4637 acres, the receipts being £2667/ Leave was given to Messrs. Hastwell and Macara, coach proprietors, to occupy 100 acres at Maurioeville. The Chief Surveyor sent in a report of the progress being made in the surveys. The consideration of applications from Eketahuna and Manawatu were postponed until next meeting. Mr. W. P. Bryan’s funeral was largely attended yesterday. The Wellington Artillery corps, of which deceased was a member, followed his remains to the grave, the baud playing appropriate airs. A number of civilians also took the opportunity of paying a last mark of respect to Mr. Bryan’s memory by joining in the procession. A concert will be given next Tuesday, by the St. Peter’s choir, for the benefit of his widow and children. The Auckland journals record the death of one of the oldest settlers in the colony, Mr. Denis Browne Cochrane, at Hokianga on the 19th ult., at the great age of 96 years.

The police are looking for 7 an .owner for a set of studs and a silver watch and chain, which’ they.have in , their possession, and which are -supposed to ijave been stolen’. A football J match between the Athletic and ■Wellington lyilf- be played to-morrow : (Saturday)'yaßd, , will v aq.dqubt,belt:’eenly con- ' tested and watched with considerable interest by those who have a liking for the game. ’ A irfeeting -of licensed victuallers will be .held at Ames’ .Star Hotel at half-past two o’clock this* afternoon, when it is expected that business of importance will be brought forward. Mr. Graham, theTleiieying Officer of Auckland, states, according to the Herald, that the number of persons receiving relief is less now than it has been for several years previously. This is very satisfactory intelligence, ' THe latest question over which the Masterton papers have quarrelled is as to the next fruit crop being a ; good 'one and the grass being in a forward condition. The papers exchange their customary amenities in discussing this subject. The ladies and gentlemen who have kindly consented to assist in the concert which is to take place on the,. 17th instant, under the patrouageW his Excellency the Governor and Lady Normanby, in aid of the Karori church, are requested to meet at Mr. Hunter’s rooms at eight o'clock this evening for rehearsal. There was another full house at St. George’s Hall last night, the entertainment passing off as usual to the entire satisfaction of everyone present. To-morrow afternoon a special entertainment wi(l be given for schools and families, the admission being fixed at sixpence, and on Monday night Miss Lizzie Morgan will appear. , ■' At A meeting of the Wellington and Hutt Building Society on Wednesday evening, it - was resolved that the necessary steps should be taken to incorporate, the society under the Act of 1876 to consolidate and amend the laws relating to building societies,' by which they would he enabled to increase their borrowing powers and extend their operations. “ The Octoroon 1 ’ drew a good house at the Theatre Royal last evening, and was very creditably performed by the company. It is always a popular piece, and when played as Well as it was last night cannot fail to be a pleasing performance. To-night Onzalo, the aerial evolutionist, will take his benefit, when a “ monster bill ” will he presented, and several valuable prizes given away. • • The hand and vocalists of the Choral Society held their first' practice of the new season in Mr. Hunter’s rooms last night. There was a large attendance of members, and the practice was most successful. The great work, Spohr's “ Last Judgment,” is superb music, and generally admired. It will be performed for the first time in Wellington at the ensuing concert, and may be looked forward to as the greatest musical effort ever attempted by the Choral Society here. The usual monthly meeting of the Mannersstreet Young Men’s Improvement Society was held last night in the schoolroom, Dixon-street, and as the meeting was an open one, there wks a considerable _ number of visitors present. Among the readings and recitations were the following:—“Enoch Arden,” part first; “A Quack,” “ The Battle of the League,” “Shamus O’Brien," selection from “ Richard III,” “ Jugurtha’s Thoughts in Prison,” “ Lucy,” from Wordsworth ; a reading from one of Miss Braddon’s works, and a very humorous one from Wilkie Collins—“ Major Namhy.” Two oil paintings now on view at Mr. Myers’ shop on Lambton-quay are deservedly attracting a great deal of attention and admiration. One is an oil painting of fruit and the other of a Maori. They are copies from original pictures, were painted by a young lady amateur residing in Wellington, and are well worthy of inspection as works of art of a high class. All who can appreciate a good painting should not neglect the opportunity of looking at them. They are almost certain to find purchasers in a day or two, when they will be withdrawn from public view.