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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5216, 10 December 1877, Page 2

It is understood that a deputation will wait either to-day or Tuesday on the Hon. the Minister for Justice in order to draw his attention to the working of the present licensing law—especially in the City of Wellington. A public meeting on the same matter is likely to be called before long.

After the conclusion of the ordinary business of the session in the Legislative Council on Saturday night, the Hon. Colonel Whitmore read a letter from a number of medical gentlemen in refutation of certain reflections which were made upon them in the Council by the Hon. Mr. Buckley and the Hon. Colonel Brett. The main accusation was that no medical man in Christchurch, except Dr. Campbell, could bo got to visit the Hospital when typhoid fever was raging there. This the medical men of Christchurch indignantly deny. In the first place, they say that they do not recognise typhoid fever as infectious in the ordinary sense ; and even if it was they would regard themselves as guilty of rank cowardice if they shirked their duty in attending to the sick, no matter what the disease. A doctor they say is like a soldier—his is the post of danger. To conclude, nothing could be more emphatic than their denial of the serious charges which had been made against them. Some discussion ensued as to whether the letter should be published in

Uansard, as the charge against them was iherein contained. Several members were of jpinion that it would only be fair to give the refutation the same publicity as the accusa;ions. However, it was pointed out that this would be exceedingly inconvenient, as estaß ashing a right which others might claim when members in the di-charge of their duty to the public had occasion to say hard things of outsiders. Parliament will be prorogued at half-past two this afternoon by commission, thereby dispensing with the pomp and ceremony of previous occasions. Immediately before the Upper House adjourned on Saturday night one gentleman asked when the prorogation would take place. The Colonial Secretary did not know, and said “ What is the usual hour V' “ Twelve o'clock,” promptly replied one of the Lords. Colonel Whitmore fixed that hour, and the Council adjourned till twelveo'clock on Monday. Ten minutes previously Sir George Grey intimated that members of the Lower Chamber would be requested to meet at a quarter-past two on Monday. So if Legislative Councillors put in an appearance at noon they wiil have to wait for their fellowlegislators of the Lower Chamber. A deadlock between the two'branches of the Legislature would be inconvenient at any time, but particularly so at this late period of the session. On Saturday the Speaker of theLegislative Council announced in the Chamber that there had been a “ tack” to the Appropriation Bill, as sections 13, 14, and 15 seemed to him a breach of the privileges of the Legislative Council. However, as he did not believe it was intentional, he thought it would be better to let the Bill pass, and simply enter a protest. Sir John Richardson then read a paper which he had drawn up, in which it was stated that the Council, in passing over the “ tack,” did so in the full belief that it was an unintentional act. This was agreed to by the Council, and the Bill was allowed to pass, the Colonial Secretary stating that there was no desire to infringe upon the privileges of the Chamber. The sections were only an extension of an Act of last year, enabling the Government to deal with what was known as the “ great pump” at the Thames. A seaman belonging to one of the ships in harbor had a narrow escape from drowning on Saturday evening. It appears he had been imbibing rather freely, and tumbled off the wharf at the time of the heavy shower about six o’clock, when consequently there were few people on the wharf. Fortunately the occurence was noticed by Mr. 0. J. Kemble and one or two others. The man in falling off the wharf came into contact with the woodwork, and he was rendered almost insensible and completely helpless, in fact he appeared lifeless. Mr. Kemble immediately jumped from the wharf, and succeeded in keeping the man’s head above the water, till a rope with a noose was thrown to Mr. Kemble from the barque Carlotta, which he succeeded in placing beneath the arms of the man, and he was quickly hauled upon the wharf, not much the worse for his ducking. However, had it not

been for the prompt assistance of Mr. Kemble he woul 1 very likely have been drowned. The comedy of “ Two Hoses” was repeated on Saturday evening at the Theatre Royal to a rather thin house, the paucity of attendance being probably due to the unfavorable state of the weather. We have already expressed our opinion that the piece itself is not a very taking one, but the capital comic acting of Mr. Walton and Mr. J. P. Hydes redeems it from being as tedious as it otherwise would be. This evening the popular comedy of “ Playing with Fire,” from the pen of Mr. John Brougham, to be followed by the “ Widow’s Victim,” will be played. Mr. Walton will give his imitations of some of the leading celebrities of the London stage. The Australasian gives him great credit for his delineations. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Saturday Henry Victor Clifford was brought up on remand, charged with embezzling 10s., the property of his employer, Mr. Hamilton, of Oamaru. Th» prisoner was remanded, to be dealt with by the local authorities there. The sum of 10s. is a portion only of his defalcations, which is said to amount to £3O.—H. McCulloch, A. B. Goldsmith, and L. McGovern were each fined ss. and costs for driving at a faster pace than a walk round street corners, and a similar charge against Matthew Livingstone was dismissed with a caution.—On the civil side judgments were given for plaintiffs with coats in the following cases ;—G. Crawford v. Rowlands and Co., £54 Bs. Id.; Same v. Same, for a like amount ; F. Simeon v. A. McDonnell, £2 10s. The young salmon which have been hatched out at the fish-breeding establishment of Mr. Johnson, near Christchurch, continue to grow and thrive well. The eggs are nowall hatched and many of the young fish have absorbed the umbilical bag and begun to feed. AVhen once hatched, these American variety appear to stand a higher temperature of water much better than the English salmon ; the recent hot weather has produced no injurious effect, notwithstanding the crowded state of the boxes. A portion of the fish will shortly be forwarded for distribution in the Wellington rivers.

On Friday last a man named Michael Driscol met with a serious accident on the railway line near Kaitoke. He and several of his fellow-workmen were on some ballast trucks, which, by some means, got detached from the engine, and, getting into motion, came rapidly down the incline. The men, except Mr. Driscoll, jumped off, and escaped with slight cuts and bruises, but Driscoll, who was at the break, stuck to his post, and when the inevitable smash came at the bottom of the incline he was thrown down with much violence, and sustained serious injuries. He was removed as soon as possible into town and taken to the Hospital, where every attention was paid to him. Mr. Dillon (a popular English actor), who arrived here on Saturday by the Tararua, will appear at St. George’s Hall on Wednesday evening next. Mr. Dillon has chosen for his opening piece, “Belphegor the Mountebank," in which play he will sustain the title role. The London Times says, “ It is a performance which at once stamps him as one of the best actors of the day.” This gentleman has appeared lately in Melbourne at the Academy of Music, where he had the unprecedented run of nine weeks. Mr. Dillon brings with him the talented young actress Miss Edith Pender, who will appear as Madeline in “ Belphegor." These artists cannot play longer here than seven nights, owing to the “Christmas Pantomime,” and during that time the programme will be changed nearly every night. St. George’s Hall was well attended on Saturday evening notwithstanding the wretched weather. “ Girofle Girofla ” was the piece de resistance, which went better than ever. There is no doubt it is the best piece the management has produced this season. The music is bright and sparkling, the dialogue full of fun, and all the performers well up in their respective parts. To-night is the last but one of the piece ; also of the Lydia Howarde Troupe and Herr Schott, the great oboe soloist. To-morrow eve- ing a grand complimentary benefit will be tendered to Herr Schott, when no doubt there will be a full house. The anniversary services at St. John’s Presbyterian Church were very well attended yesterday. The Kev. Mr. Somerville preached in the morning, and the Kev. Mr. Hill in the evening, and on each occasion a very eloquent and appropriate discourse was delivered. In the afternoon the Kev. Mr. Treadwell made a very beautiful and touching address to the children, of whom about 400 were present, and these with their parents and friends must have brought the number of the congregation up to about 700. The spectacle was a very pleasing and impressive one. The amount of the collections of the three services reached the handsome sura of £SS 7s. 6d. A match between the Wellington and Armed Constabulary Cricket Clubs was played on the Basin Keserve on Saturday, resulting in a victory for the former team by ten runs. The game was greatly marred by a very bad wiclcet, which caused the batsmen to look after their heads rather than their stumps. t Mr. It. .1. Duncan will sell on Tuesday hind at the Ifutb, Tnpurupuru, Mnsterton, and lluur.ythorpe. The terms are most liberal, ami the auctioneer especially calls the attention of bis friends and the public to tii- opportunity offered. Particulars will bo found in our advertising columns.