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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5139, 12 September 1877, Page 2

Failing fault-finding with Ministerial measures, the Opposition have fallen back upon fault-finding with Ministerial English. Last night Mr. Wakefield felt himself pained by the adjectives contained in the Education Bill, whilst Mr. Stout was disgusted at the construction’ of the sentences in the same measure, • This is strange. Mr. Wakefield, should not dislike adjectives, because he is ■probably the subject of more remarks containing them than any other member of the Mr; Stout quarrelling with the construction of sentences parallels Satan reproving sin. When Mr. Stout speaks the difficulty is to find a complete sentence among his utterances. His oratory depends for its success upon a conglomeration of involved phrases. A private letter from Melbourne states that we may shortly expect the visit, contemplated for some time past, of an Australian eleven, who contemplate playing a series of cricketmatches in Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and perhaps also may challenge the entire strength of the colony in a final match at Christchurch. .An agent will come over in advance of the team to arrange the preliminaries. In the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon, the Dunedin Drillshed Reserve Act, 1876, Amendment Bill passed its second reading on a division by a majority of three. The hon. member who had charge of the Bill, Captain Fraser, laid particular stress on the necessity of erecting a drillshed on the reserve, .which was situated in the town itself, as he thought that otherwise it would merely become a place for “ shooting dogs and cats.” He defied the whole colony to show such an artillery force as there was in Dunedin, but considered that the volunteers throughout the colony were simple “ shooting clubs,” travelling with free’ passes, and whom the Government ought to be ashamed to support. Colonel Brett did not hold a very high opinion of the volunteers. He compared them to the Russians, and said that by “being defeated they became demoralised.” He considered volunteering was on its last legs, and the sooner it was wiped out the better. Dr. Pollen, on the other hand, said that since he became Defence Minister, the volunteering spirit had, never been more active in the larger cities than at the present time. Especially was this the case as regarded the artillery, who seemed to enjoy the larger share of public favor. Count Marescalchi, a native of Bologna, Italy, and the Chevalier L. Marinuooi, ConsulGeneral for Italy at Melbourne, arrived in Wellington by the Tararua on Sunday last. The count, who is travelling round the world (says an exchange), is a nephew of Marshal MacMahon, President of the French Republic, and we understand holds an office under the French Government. These two distinguished men visited the School ,of Mines, Ballarat, recently, expressing themselves as pleased with with what they saw there, and, under the guidance of their host, inspected the Gong Gong works, the Llanberris claim, the hospital, and other places .of interest. Afterwards the two gentlemen were shown over the city of Ballarat and Winter’s claims by Mr. Andrew Brown, but did not go below, as Signor Maresoalchi had had an experience of that sort of thing in New Caledonia. The visitors left Ballarat by the afternoon train, en route for Maryborough and Castlemaiue. -We notice an accession to the ranks of our local auctioneers in Messrs. Bethune and Co., who hold their first sale of an extensive line of sugars, &c., under directions from Messrs. Turnbull and Co., on Kriday next. The head of the new firm is Mr. J. H. Bethune, who has been so long and so favorably known in mercantile circles in Wellington that it is unnecessary to say he enters upon his new business under the most favorable conditions. The third annual meeting of the Rising Star Cricket Club was held in the schoolroom, Dixon-street, last evening, when there was a good attendance. of members. The report showed the number of members on the roll to be twenty-one, against twenty-three last year. There have been during the past year eight matches played by the club, in four of which they have come off victorious. The treasurer’s statement showed the receipts for the year to have been £29 Bs. 6d.; expenditure, £23 18s. 9d.; balance in hand, £5 9s. 9d. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing season:—President, Mr. Carty; secretary and treasurer, Mr. W. G. Tustiu j committee, Messrs. S. Kibblewhite, O. Godber, J. Danks, and W. J. Helyer. Delegates to the Cricket Association ; Messrs. Danks, Kibblewhite, and Tustin. Practice is to be resumed on the Basin Reserve on Saturday afternoon next.

Messrs. Hunter, Greenfield, and George will meet the burgesses of Cook Ward at the Albion Hotel at 8 o’clock this evening. Mr. N. B. Murphy’s address to the ratepayers of Cook Ward will be found in our advertising columns. The General Assembly ball on the 20th inst. is to be held in the new building of the Wellington Club, which has been lent for the purpose, and for which it is admirably suited. Messrs. Eainie and Cleland will address the ratepayers of Thorhdon at Mr. Brady’s Thistle Hotel this evening at eight o'clock, and Messrs. Gillon and Maginity at Gillespie’s Hotel, Tinakori-road, at half-past seven. . The entertainment given by the St. Peter's choir at the Ghuznee-street schoolroom last evening, in aid of the widow and family of the late Mr. Bryan, a member of the choir, was well attended, and passed off very successfully. Tenders are invited up to noon on the 25th inst. for the construction of about 83 chains on the Mungaroa to Waikauae line of road. Plans, &c., may be seen at the office of the Hutt County Engineer and at the Provincial Hotel, Upper Hutt. The Choral Society’s band had a capital practice last night. Several beautiful selections were gone through, including “Don Giovanni,” “Zampa,” and the two symphonies in the “Last Judgment,” for the society’s forthcoming concert on the Ist November. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday one person was charged with drunkenness and dismissed, in consequence of its being his first offence ; and a man named Frederick Danake, being -convicted of petty theft, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. There was a fair attendance at the Theatre Royal last evening, when the stock company of the Theatre and the Vaudeville Company went through a performance exceedingly attractive. This evening the drama of “ Uncle Tom’s Cabin” will be produced, and the Variety Troupe are announced to go through an entirely new programme. Notice is given that a general meeting of the creditors in the estate of Mr. James O’Shea will be held in the Grand Jury room of the Supreme Court, on Friday, the 21st inst, at 3 o’clock p.m. The meeting is called at the request of the bankrupt, who desires to apply for a certificate recommending his discharge. The entertainments at St. George’s Hall in connection with the now famous Fine Arts Exhibition continue to attract large audiences, and it should be mentioned that the performances of Miss Lizzie Morgan form a chief feature of attraction. Her return to the Wellington stage has been a source of gratification as that young lady has attained a high reputation here and elsewhere as a vocalist and actress, : • The following tenders were received at the Public Works Office, Wellington, for the Motueka Bridge contract :—Accepted : John Brittain, Auckland, £5159. Declined : A. Watson and Co., Auckland, £5704 ; W. Stock, Christchurch, £5976; Blair and Watson, Dunedin, £6600 ; J. Goodall, Auckland, £6959 ; Moley and Freeman Bros., Nelson,-£7757; W. Cameron, Auckland, £7960; J. Gibberton, Nelson, £9587. The Wellington correspondent of the Poverty Bay Herald says :—lt is not nice to write unkind things about people; but I must say Travers was awfully “ sold ” in the House the other night during the discussion on the Native Land Court Bill. The honorable and learned gentleman with his usual eloquence was denouncing the tardiness of the Government in delaying legislation in respect to native lands. He condemned with forensic vehemence the idea of deferring the matter till next session, even though the Government should decide upon bringing in a Bill to stop for a year all further purchases in native land. And with a view of supporting his argument,, arid pointing out the evils of such a Bill, he related a conversation which had taken place that morning between himself and Mr. Cooper, whom he designated in the House as “oneof the largest land speculators in the North Island.” It must be explained that Mr. Cooper, knowing the antagonism that Mr. Travers has to any fortunate speculator in native land, combined with his natural obstinacy, confidentially requested the gentleman of the law and Wellington's representative to say in the House several things that he (Cooper) was positively averse to. Inter alia was Mr. Travers to support a Bill to prevent for twelve mouths all further speculation in native land. This, Mr. Cooper alleged, would keep land speculation out of the field for a year, and thereby enhance tenfold the land . that he (Cooper) had already acquired. The guileless aspirant for a Ministerial seat drank in the plausible story with eager ears, and in the House that evening endeavored to make capital out of what,T believe as fay as he was concerned, was purely a private conversation. The majority of the members and many of the Ministry were aware beforehand of what Mr. Travers was expected to say, and when he verified their anticipations their mirth was ill-concealed. Captain Morris, the member for the East Coast, was the only one who attempted to enlighten the misguided barrister. He told the House that Mr. Travers had been severely “had,” and said, “if the East Coast land speculator he would chuckle greatly.” I think Mr. Travers saw the joke afterwards when it was explained to him in the lobby by laughing legislators. Wo direct attention to Mr. J. H Wallace’s sale this day as advertised of pianos, oleographs, statuettes, &c.