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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5159, 4 October 1877, Page 2

The Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill was read a second time in the House of Representatives last night. The Bill was drafted by M--. Travers, under instructions from the Wellington City Council, to enable the Corporation to purchase lands outsidethe city boundaries necessary for the purpose of carrying the sewage of the town to the sea, the holders of property to be compensated in the ordinary way. Mr. Macandrew said he would move in committee on the Bill that the same powers be conferred upon the Dunedin Corporation; but the Attorney-General informed him that although the Bill was brought in at the instance of the City Council of AVellington, it applied to all municipal bodies in the colony. Mr. Stout proposed that the committal of the Bill be postponed till the following day, as he desired to add a clause to in reference to the tenure of the office of the Mayor of Dunedin. Mr. Whitaker stated he would have no objection to the committal being taken next day if he was assured the passage of the Bill would not for any time be , delayed. Mr. Stout pointed ont that it would be fourth on the Order Paper : and the committal of the Bill was ultimately postponed till to-day. We understand that the plan of the Te Aro reclamation is hung up in the Mayor's room, Provincial Buildings, Custom House-quay, where it can be inspected by the ratepayers. It extends to the 12ft. line, instead of 20ft. deep, as first proposed. Intelligence was received in town yesterday from Palmerston North that the bodies of Paul Christiensou Niaaen and Jens Lund, two Scandinavians, who have been missing since the 25th July last, have been found in the Manawatu Elver.

A telegram was received by the Inspector of Police yesterday from Otaki, stating that a house caught fire the previous night, and that two Maoris, viz., a man named Hare Wirekake and a woman named Kararina Whawhe, ware burned to death.

Messrs. James McDowell and Joseph Paul, of Wellington, merchants, have filed a deed of assignment for the benefit of their creditors. Mr. W. J. Salmon, of Masterton, draper, makes a similar announcement.

We understand that Wellington theatre, goers will shortly have the pleasure of again welcoming Mr. Charles Wheatleigh, who is to appear at the Theatre Eoyal with a strong company from Sydney, and under the management of Mr. De Lias. A largely attended meeting of the Cricketers’ Association was held last evening at the Pier Hotel. A report of the proceedings appears in anoDhercolumn,by which it will be seen that the association have reconsidered their former proposal to the Australian team, and now offer them half the gross takings. This, we apprehend, will be considered a sufficiently liberal offer. The terms offered by the Auckland cricketers were the whole of the proceeds of the ground, less 10 per cent, after payment of expenses.

St. George’s Hall was exceedingly well attended last evening. “ Trial by Jury ”'was performed for the last time, and succeeded in sending the audience away thoroughly convinced that the Judge was a good Judge too. The prizes, some very valuable, were given in the usual manner. To-night a good bill is advertised, namely, ” Aladdin.” The cast, which is a strong one, together with the prizes, cannot fail in filling the house,-

A meeting of the committee of the Star Cricket Club was held at the Pier HoteMast evening. Messrs. Lister-Kaye, Turner, and Siggings were elected members of the club. The following team was chosen to play in the match against the Hutt, to be played at the Hutt on Saturday afternoon next ;—Messrs. Robinson (captain), Haughton, Humphries, Gascoine, Glassou, Laurence, Boss, Waters, Holmes, Wills, and Turner. The team will meet at the Wellington station at I o’clock sharp. The Secretary informed the meeting that the trustees declined to allow the club to build a room on the Basin Reserve,

At the Theatre Royal last evening there was a good attendance in the stalls and pit, but the upper part of the house was not very full. Sheridan’s drama of “ Pizarro, or the Conquest of Peru,” was placed upon the stage with new scenery and effects, and was very effectively performed. It is a piece not often played now-a-daya, and is somewhat heavy, but has sterling merits worthy of the great author by whom it was composed. The parts of Rolla and Elvira were well sustained by Mr. and Mrs. Tavares, who were ably supported by the company. The piece will be repeated to-night, and as it well worthy of the patronage of all lovers of the legitimate drama we hope to see a full house.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Mary Finable, a vendor of milk, residing at Karori, and who has been several times before the Court, was charged with being drunk in Willis-street the previous day, and was fined 10s., with the alternative of forty-eight hours imprisonment in casp of non-payment. On the civil side judgments were given for defendants in the following cases :—,l. Sinclair v. W. F. Mason, £2 12s. 6d. ; Same v. R. Worth, £1 6s. 6d.; Same v. A. 15. Shephard, 17s. The ball given by the members of the Wellington Club last evening in their handsome, and commodious new Club House was a very brilliant affair. A large number of invitations had been issued and responded to, as was evinced by the numerous assemblage present, which comprised members of the Legislature, the leading citizens of Wellington with the ladies of their several families, and many visitors from other districts. The supper reflected great credit upon the caterer, and the affair was pronounced one of the greatest social successes of the season.

It is understood that in Haggerty’s trial for arson eleven jurors were for an acquittal and one for conviction. A now trial is ordered for ten o’clock this morning. We notice that the barbarous practice of not allowing the jury food or drink when considering their verdict was nob followed in the late trial for arson, and that his Honor Mr. Justice Richmond gave orders that the twelve men good and true should receive necessary refreshments.

A meeting of creditors in the estate of Charles Best, of Masterton, blacksmith, will be held at eleven o’clock this morning, for the purpose of declaring the liquidation closed, and recommending the debtor’s disohax-ge. An old settler at the Hutt, named Daniel Cooley, who has for a long time past been employed as gardener at Mr. N. Valentine’s, was found yesterday morning with his throat cut, apparently by his own hand. An inquest will be held to-day. In accord with public opinion, the directors of the Northern Loan Company, at a meeting held yesterday, have determined to register the company under the Joint Stock Companies Act, instead of under the Building Societies Act, 1876. The principal objects of the company remain the same. It will be seen that in our advertising columns applications for the office of secretary are invited. It is announced that that bn Friday Mrs. Morton Tavares (Miss Surtees) will take her benefit, when “ Kernoodling ” will be produced, by particular request, to be followed by “Checkmate.” This will be the last appearance but one of Mr. and Mrs. Tavares this season.

How to get rid of the rabbit is a problem with our legislators. In previous sessions that prolific little animal has been the object of legislation, and last night another Bill was passed aiming at the existence of bunny. Members do not appear to consider the matter at all a small one, especially those hailing from. Otago and Southland. When the youthful Mr. Hursthouse stood up for the children’s pets, Dr. Hodgkinson implored him to consider the fearful ravages the obnoxious little animal had wrought in the southern parts of the colony—that it was one of those great subjects where the individual interest should be sunk in the interest of the whole. The present Bill makes it a penal offence to take rabbits from one part of the colony to another without permission of the authorities on such matters. Neither are rabbits allowed to be kept in certain parts without the permission of the trustee of the district. Mr. Hursthouse thought that the word “ liberate ” should be inserted for “kept;” but Mr. Fox pointed out that rabbits liberated themselves, and in one instance that he knew of a nuisance had been created thereby. Some hon. members thought the operation of the Bill should be extended over the colony. Mr. Woolcock did not think there was much occasion for it in his district, for there difficulty was found in raising enough for sport. To further the work of extermination, a sum is to be paid on the production of a certain number of skins, and the Hon. Mr. Reid was ,of opinion that the moneys should be paid out of the land revenue of the district, and Mr. Reynolds also thought it would be unfair to make it a charge upon the Consolidated Revenue. However, they did not press their views, as Mr. Stout pointed out that it would interfere with various clauses in the Bill, and that their object could be obtained otherwise. Altogether the signs of the times are not favorable to bunny. A promoter of the Alliance Insurance Company of New Zealand, Fire and Marine, telegraphed from Christchurch last evening that the prospectus will appear in the morning papers. The promoters state that sufficient support has already been secured to warrant the commencement of business forthwith, and that they hope to have the company in full operation by the first week in November.

Messrs. Todd and Johns notify in our advertising columns that they have taken the old-established premises formerly in the occupation of Professor Rowley, in Willis-street, where they will carry on the business of hairdressers and retail tobaconists, and will doubtless receive that liberal amount of support accorded to their predecessor, Mr. Rowley.

Messrs. F. H: Wood and Co., auctioneers, etc., Greytown, Wairarapa, notify that they have taken into partnership Mr. Robert McLaren, whose thorougli knowledge of stock and station property will enable the new firm to go more fully into that branch of the business.