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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5189, 8 November 1877, Page 2

There was not much excitement in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon when Major Atkinson tabled a vote of no confidence in the present Ministry. It was the fourth resolution of the kind tabled within the past fivd weeks, and members are getting somewhat used to them. However, it was only natural to expect the motion of yesterday, seeing the position of the present Ministry, notwithstanding the remarks of Mr. Sheehan that the Government apprehended that the time had arrived when party fighting was at an end. Mr. Sheehan's cool assurance created laughter on both aides of the House. Major Atkinson’s no-confidence motion immediately followed the remarks of Mr. Sheehan, and again the House was amused ; but this time the laughter sounded hollow from the Ministerial ranks. Mr. Sheehan’s assurance again came to the fore. He said, “The Government will not interrupt the ordinary business, but will throw upon the Opposition the responsibility of obstructing the public business.” This was cool' from a member of a Government which has never possessed the confidence of a majority of the House. In the House last night, Mr. Ballauce succeeded in having inserted in the Local Option Bill the compensation clause, of which he had given notice. At a previous stage of the Bill Mr. Fox had stated that if the clause was adopted he would abandon the Bill, and this promise he fulfilled last night, when he moved that the further progress of the Bill be delayed for another fortnight. This, of course, at this late period of the session virtually shelves the Bill. The question of the excision or retaining of the Bth or money clause of the Education Bill is at last settled. In the Legislative Council yesterday, by the casting vote of the Hon. the Chairman, who prefaced the giving of his vote with these words, “ I will not bring about a collision between the two Houses on a money clause,” the clause was retained. J The Court of Appeal will sit on Monday next, the 12th iust. The cases set down for hearing at present are—Calder v. Duff, the Solicitor-General and others v. Quick aud others—both special cases from Dunedin. Some more cases are expected to he added to the list before the day of hearing. The Full Court will sit under the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act on Monday, the 19th iust. The following causes are set down for hearing; —White v. White and Bennett, Atldnson v. Atkinson and Morgan, Cooley v. Cooley and Murtagh, and Lloyd v. Lloyd. There will be a sitting of the Vice-Admiralty Court to-day, for the adoption of the Registrar’s report in the matter of the Taupo and EH Whitney case. There will be a sitting of the Supreme Court in banco to-day. The following cases are set down for hearing :—Peters v. Joseph, Wilson v. Lawrence. The following cases stand over until the next sittings :—Corporation of Wellington v. Schultz and Schultz v. the Corporation of Wellington, Harrison v. Beck, Orbell v. Mountain, aud Davis v. Lyon. In the course of some remarks in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon, Colonel Whitmore said that it was to be hoped that by the end of next week the Ministry would be in a position to advise his Excellency to prorogue Parliament. To this, however, Dr. PoUen seemed to dissent, for he said that whilst his hon. friend was speaking he was reminded of the expression of wonder at how it was that any two Romau augurs could evermeet each other without laughing. He had looked at his hon. friend, and his hon. friend had looked at him, aud they had both laughed. The signs of the times did not enable either his hon. friend or himself to augur very accurately about future events. At the Theatre Royal last evening there was a very fair house down stairs, and the play entitled “ Behind the Scenes” went very well and called forth continued applause. To-night the “ Lottery Ticket” and “ Woodcock’s Little Game” will be presented, The leading presents to-night consist of a silver-plated tea and coffee service, an album, one sovereign, a toddy kettle, a cruet stand, and various other artiides that are useful as well as ornamental. We were invited behind the curtain last evening to inspect the new scenery and effects that are being prepared for the production' of the ‘ Old Corporal ” on Saturday night, which will be the opening effort of the Majeronis, the renowned Italian artists. A crowded house may confidently he expected on that date. At the evening sitting of the Legislative Council a certain Bill was passing through committee (the City of Dunedin Loans Consolidation Bill). The clauses were being disposed of one after another without any discussion, when Mr. Hart rose and drew the attention of the hon. the chairman to the importance of the clauses which were being thus passed into law, and also to the small number of hon. members present. Sir J. Richardson suggested that if the goug were rung it might be the means of bringing some absentees into the chamber, as he thought it very hard that those hon. members who were prepared to do their duty should be prevented from so doing by the absence of others, who were away, though they might be within the precincts of the building. The gong was accordingly rung, but apparently without much effect, as only one hon. member presented himself. During the course of his remarks Mr. Hart observed that at the plebiscite taken for the drainage of the city of Wellington onefifth of the voting power only was expended, and he felt sure that not one-fifth of the people of Dunedin so much as knew of the existence of this Bill. The Public Health Act Amendment Bill came on for committal in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon, and Mr. Peacock, who was supported by Captain Fraser and Colonel Brett, moved that the Bill should be read again that day three months. ■ A division resulted in Mr. Peacock's motion being negatived by a majority of 11, aud the Bill was subsequently committed, but progress was soon reported and leave obtained to sit again on Friday next.

His Excellency the Governor has signified hia intention of being present at the Prince of Wales Birthday Sports on the 9th inst. ■ The cricketers who are to play: the Wanganui and Marton men, whose names,were given in our issue of yesterday, will leave this evening for Wanaanui by the Stormbird, and they are requested to meet on the wharf at halfpast 5 o’clock p.tn. preparatory to starting. The drawing in the great art union of £IOOO toik place last evening at St. George’s Hall. The excitement was very great. When the last number was announced it was midnight. A full list of the fortunate winning numbers is published elsewhere. We are requested to state that the Post Office will be closed on Eriday next, the anniversary of the Prince of Wales’ Birthday, and that Sunday hours will be observed at the Telegraph Office. This holiday is given at the Post and Telegraph Offices in lieu of that which used to be observed on the day of the anniversary of the late province. At a meeting held yesterday of the creditors in the estate of Thomas Upton, of Wellington, builder, Mr. Palmer was appointed trustee.— la the matter of D. Scally there was no attendance, and the meeting, which was called to consider bankrupt’s application for discharge, lapsed, and the question will be dealt with by the Court at a future day. St. George’s Hall was crowded last night, “ Ali-Baba” being performed for the last time. To-night an entire change of bill is announced, commencing with a Scotch piece entitled “King James the Fifth” and Byron’s burlesque of “ Giselle.” A number of popular songs and dances will be introduced. Tomorrow night a special bill will be given in honor of the Prince of Wales’ Birthday. We regret to learn that Mr. Alexander Munro, late Government engineer at Masterton, died at Reefton on Monday last of dysentery, after a fortnight’s illness. Mr. Munro had been a resident of the Wairarapa- District for four years, and a few mouths ago was appointed engineer to the Inangahua County Council. Thd deceased gentleman was the son of Mr. Munro, who for many years represented the district of Marsden in the House of Repre entatives. The Hon, the Speaker of the Legislative Council again had occasion to draw attention yesterday afternoon to the great disrespect shown by members of the House of Kepresentatives in sending up their Bills without first securing some one in the Upper House to take charge of them, especially as frequent complaints had already been made on this subject. Major Richmond cordially supported what had fallen from the Hon. the Speaker, and suggested that Bills coming from the House of Representatives, and not being in charge of any hon. member, should be thrown into the waste paper basket. A very successful entertainment was given by the pupils of the State school, Lower Hutt, on Tuesday evening, in aid of the Indian Famine Relief Fund, to a crowded audience. The recitations were exceedingly well rendered, and indicated that clear enunciation and intelligent expression occupy a prominent place in the teaching of reading in this school. Hot the least attractive portion of the programme consisted of musical selections, vocal and instrumental, by some friends who kindly gave their assistance. The pupils of this school have contributed themselves upwards of £lO to the fund. The Rev. Mr. Nixon, of the Primitive Methodist Church, Webb-street, is, we hear, about to be removed to another sphere of spiritual labor at the Thames, much to the regret of his congregation here, to whom he is much endeared. Mr. Nixon has been here for about two years and a half, and has been acting as the colleague of the Rev. Mr. Ward with much success. The congregation at the Thames over whom Mr, Nixon is to act as pastor may be congratulated on the choice which the Church authorities have made. A Chinaman named Ah Chow, supposed to be concerned in the attack upon the Goldfield Warden’s camp at the Palmer, was being sent to Rockhampton Gaol. He was in the steamer Wentworth, and when being transferred to the Bunyip in Keppel Bay, he deliberately jumped overboard. The Bulletin says : “ Mr. Albert G. Ascher, of Sydney, had only just come on board the Bunyip, and seeing some one overboard, his coat and waistcoat were thrown off and a plunge made from the taffrail of the Bunyip, near which he was standing, without a moment’s delay. The tide was running strong at the time, but be succeeded in grasping the Chinaman and keeping his head above water. Praise is equally due to Captain Dunlop and one of his men who so promptly and energetically brought their boat to the rescue of both. The whole affair was characterised by presence of mind and promptitude in a high degree. ‘ Man overboard ’ was the cry, and ‘ Lower away the boat ’ carae instantly from the officer on board the Wentworth ; but before a rope was touched Captain Dunlop and his man had secured the parties.” The Northern Argus says ; —“ The current, as we have already observed, was running at a tremendous pace, and though Mr. Ascher’s heroism is to be applauded, it is doubtful whether his risking his life for the sake of a ‘ heathen Chinee,’ who was evidently bent upon destroying himself, was altogether prudent. However, the gallantry of the deed is beyond praise. The Chinaman, who was not manacled or hampered in any way when he took his leap from the deck, was duly handed over to a constable, who happened to be on board the Bunyip, and is now being taken care of, which, under all circumstances, is possibly for the best, although had Mr. Ascher allowed him to become food for fishes the country would have been saved the expense of boarding, lodging, clothing, and physicing a man who passed sentence of death upon himself and attempted to carry it into execution."