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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5210, 3 December 1877, Page 2

The new Land Bill brought in by the present Government was circulated on Saturday. It is a very short measure, consisting of only nine clauses. The whole gist of the measure is contained in clause 4, which states that from and after the coming into operation of this Act, and until further provision is made for the classification of waste lands by the General Assembly, all waste lands shall be sold in accordance with the law in force in the land district where such lands are situated, but not in any case af a less price than two pounds per acre, if by free selection ; • and • where in any land district waste lands are sold or disposed of by public auction, at an-upset , price of not less than one pound per acre. Clause 5 provides that the Waste Lands 1 Board in any land district, or the Governou in Council, may increase the upset price of waste lands that

may be deemed lands of special value from situation or quality, and such power may be so exercised from time to time as occasion shall require. No town, village, or suburban lands are to be sold at a less price than £3 per acre.

The Napier Daily Telegraph, which is likely to be well-informed on the subject, says that the new Attorney-General will be the Hon. John Nathaniel Wilson, who has been lately, as our readers are aware, nominated a member of the Upper House. The artillery corps succeeded in getting the “ time-gun ” to its place of destination on Mount Victoria on Saturday evening, and shortly after 6 o’clock a salvo was fired, which was heard distinctly in all parts of the city. The volunteers deserve much credit for the plucky manner in which they have accomplished the task, which was no child’s play, when the nature of the ground and the weight of the gun are taken into consideration. The new Arcade, Manners - street, was thrown for the inspection of the public on Saturday evening, and several thousand availed themselves of the opportunity of visiting this new place of business, which henceforth will form a marked feature in the shopping facilities of Te Aro. The gasfitters were unable to complete the arrangements for lighting by Saturday, and hence the Arcade, as far as lighting was concerned, did not show to its full advantage, the large central light of the building not being finished. Still the place was sufficiently lighted for all purposes of trade ; indeed in every part of the building the smallest print could easily have been read. We repeat, after an inspection of the Arcade on Saturday night, that it is in every respect well adapted for the purposes for which it is intended. The success of an establishment of this kind depends in a great measure upon a central position, and the extent of the population whose wants it is intended to supply. Wellington is now a city of close upon twenty thousand inhabitants, and it is a matter of some surprise thatasimilar establishment has not been started ere this. With regard to the site of the Arcade, none better could have been chosen, as Man-ners-street is the great arterial thoroughfare connecting Te Aro with the other parts of the city, and with the shipping, chief places of business, and public institutions of every kind. The advantage of position may be easily understood when it is stated that fully half the population of the city reside to the south of Man-nera-street. And here we may incidentally remark that that street has not hitherto taken auch’a place in the city in a commercial point of view as might naturally be expected, and the same thing may be said of its buildings as far as size and appearance are concerned. However, affairs are now changing, and several handsome and substantial structures have lately been erected in that thoroughfare, and when the Arcade and Theatre are opened Manners-street will present a more lively and attractive appearance of an evening than heretofore, and no doubt improvement will take place in every other direction. Mr. H. W. Waite, the headmaster of the public school at Palmerston, died at that place on the 25th November at the early age of 28. The local journal passes a high eulogium on the many excellent qualities of the deceased, who appears to have made many friends in the district. He is reported to have said when on his death-bed that one good thing his illness brought to him was a knowledge of the many genuine friends he possessed. He was made to feel that, although far away from relations, he did not suffer the fate of a stranger in a strange land. There were many willing hands and anxious hearts exercised in his behalf.

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church will hold its annual meeting this year at Wellington. The opening services will be held in St. John’s Church, Willis-street, on Thursday evening next, 6th December, at 7.30, the Rev. James Paterson, the present moderator, will preach on the occasion, and after constituting the court will nominate his successor in the office, who, on being formally elected, will deliver an address. It is understood that the succeeding moderator will be the Rev. Mr. Barclay, of Geraldine. The Presbytery of Wellington will meet in ot. Jehu’s Church on Wednesday, sth December, at 10 o’clock a.m.

A meeting of the Karori-Makara Highway Board was held on Saturday. Present ; Messrs. C. C. Graham (chairman), Bowler, Cook, Wright, and Page, The correspondence outward was read. The clerk was instructed to write to the Wellington County Council, asking that they would instruct the engineer to prepare estimates and call for tenders for raising the Karori bridge and widening the approaches on each aide, that the proportion of the county funds due to the Karori-Makara Riding be expended in this direction, and that the Highway Board would be prepared to assist in the same. The attention of the Board having been called to the fact of the Government subsidy having been shut out of what was due, in accordance with a Treasury circular, dated February 21, 1877, the chairman was authorised to bring the matter under the notice of the authorities. With reference to the complaint made as to the state of Mr. Toohill’s premises, Mr. Wright st ited that it was at tho instance of several of the neighbors thatthecomplainthad been made. It was decided to let the matter stand over until the chairman could have an opportunity of visiting the place and reporting to the Board. The chairman was authorised to call for tenders for metal to be laid at intervals along the road between Wellington and Karori junction. The following accounts were passed ; —R. Duignan, £4l and £4 10s.; J. Robinson, £2O 14s. 6d. Mr. J. Robinson’s tender for the valuation of the district, for £lB, was accepted. The clerk was instructed to prepare an estimate of ways and means up to 30th June next. The chairman was authorised to have a hole on the roadside of Church hill filled up. Mr. Page undertook to have estimates prepared tor making good the South Karori bridge, to be brought up at next meeting.

Mrs. Griffin (Miss Gassy Matthews), a few years ago a leading and very popular actress, who has been in ill-health for some time past, died yesterday in tho Hospital. The members of the profession and many of the theatregoing public who remember her in her palmy days will regret her loss. The.lady members of the theatrical profession have been very kind to the deceased in her last illness, and one of them has been almost constantly with her. We hear that tho Rev. Charles Clark is likely to revisit Wellington during Christmas week, and that his series of entertainments will include one or two new lectures not previously given here. The popular orator is at present on the West Coast, lecturing nightly to overflowing houses, the halls there, as here, being too small to contain the crowds that flock to hear him. In Hokitika alone he gave seven lectures. After spending the Christmas and New Year holidays in Wellington, Mr. Clark will visit Wanganui and neighboring towns, Taranaki, &c. In our issue of Saturday we called attention to the large and important land sale by Mr. R. J. Duncan which will take place to-day. Wo are requested to call particular attention to ten sections of land, varying in area from 80 to 150 acres, in the Rangitikei District, which will be offered on exceedingly liberal terms, on deferred payments, at the very low upset price of 20s. an acre.

Mr. GilHgan, who has lately been over to Melbourne, returned yesterday, and has brought with him quite a menagerie of Victorian animals—cockatoos, parrots, love birds, and a remarkably handsome pair of small terrier pups, by descent and appearance evidently genuine “ratters.” These “pups” have been greatly admired by some excellent judges of dogs/ W. S. Moorhonse, Esq., has been gazetted as Captain of the Wellington Artillery Corps, and .the resignations of Lieutenant Yates and Sub-Lieutenant Harris, of the Kaiwarra Rifles, have been accepted. The regular monthly meeting of the Central Volunteer Fire Brigade is postponed from this evening until Monday next, 10th inst. Mr.' Brunton preached again at the Theatre Royal last evening to a large congregation.

Mr. 0. P. Sisson has been appointed Eegistrar of births, marriages, and deaths for the Wellington District.

Gr. M. Snelsou Esq., has been re-elected Major of Palmerston North without opposition.

Intelligence was received in town yesterday of the sudden death of James Gough, described as a “ swagsman, late of Wellington,” at the Empire Hotel, Masterton, the previous day.

The balance of unsold sections at Beaconafleld will be open for private selection at Mr. Finnimore’s office from to-day at 10 a.m. until Wednesday next at 8 p.m. A cricket match was played on the Basin Eeserve on Saturday between the Star Club and the Armed Constabulary Club, and resulted in favor of the Star Club by 125 runs on the first innings, the respective scores being—Star, 161 ; AC., 38. In their second innings the A.C. had put together 29 for the loss of 4 wickets. I. J. Salmon and Armitage for the Star bowled remarkably well, while the longstopping of Speed and Wyatt for their respective clubs could not have been excelled. Several of the Star Club succeeded in making .double figures, viz. :—Blaoklook, 38 ; I. J. Salmon, 37 ; Glasson, 21 (not out) ; Lockett, 19 ;J. A. Salmon, 10 ; Eobinson, 17. Webb, of the A.C., was the only one on their side who obtained a like distinction, making 10 in the first and 11 in the second innings.