NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5260, 1 February 1878, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

SUMMARY fOR THE MONTH. JANUARY. For transmission hy the F.M.C.S . City of -Vow }orh from Auckland on the Oth February, to huroye, ■Wit Sail Francisco, Singe our last summary was published there lias been some stir in local politics, Mr. Travers, who is about to pay a visit to the old country, has resigned, ids seat, and Mr. Pearce,' the former member, who recently returned from a trip Horne, has again come forward for his old seat, with uvory apparent prospect of success. It is rumored, however, that he will oe opposed by no loss a person than the Premier, Sir George Grev, who lias been asked by some of the electors to stand, and has replied that if on his return from Auckland, where he is now on a political tour, ho is assured that he has a fair prospect of success, ho will place his services at the disposal of the constituency. Whilst visiting the Northern province tho opportunity will be taken by the Premier and Native Minister to visit the “ King country,” in response to an invitation from his Maori Majesty; but whether the event has any political significance remains to be seen. If Sir George Grev and Mr. Sheehan succeed in getting Tawhiao to open up his terra incognita to civilisation and settlement, they will accomplish a great work, which will redound immensely to their credit; but there are very grave doubts whether they will, be able to accomplish what so many'influential people have tried to do before and have signally tailed. iimo alone .can‘solve this problem. Itisnowdefinitelystated that Mr. Bcnny is about to resign his seat fur the \\ airarapa, and is to be provided for in some way or other by the Government. He has been offered the Under-secretaryship of Lauds- at £6OO a year, but did not think this quite good enough. .If the Ministry do not do something more substantial for him the probabilities are that he will oppose them next session ; and it is therefore almost certain that they will have to give■ him what he wants—what-, ever that-'may be. Several candidates are spoken of as likely to come forward for Mr. Buim-’s seat; amongst the must prominent of whom are Mr. Barton and Mr. 0.; Pharazvn, local settlers, and Mr. Hutchison, the ex- May or of Wellington, who will be supported by the Grey interest in the locality. , Tne Australian cricketibg team—comprising the eleven who are to proceed to England to do battle on. behalf of the colonies—have been playing in New Boaland. ' They were beaten at Canterbury, and although such was not the case here, the Wellington men did quite as much as was expected of them. The champion team comprise some very good cricketers, and the general impression here seems to be that they will be able to give a good ao-, count of themselves on their arrival in England,! The annual regatta took place hero on the 22ud nit.—the anniversary of the colony. Great preparations had been made, and the affair would have been most successful but for one drawback. The weather unfortunately was very unfavorable, rain and wind being the order of the day, and consequently a much smaller number-,of. .spectators .was present than there would have.been, had the skies been more propitious. This lessened the takings on the wharf, arid .in -the sailing races only those vessels which could carry a large quantity of sail had any chance.

The Wesleyan Conference is how sitting in Wellingtqn, and is getting through its business very satisfaclorily. A picnic in connection with this body, held on Tuesday last at Silverstream, was a very successful affiiir. f \ • ; ■ The Supreme Court has just concluded sittings in banco and appeal. There were no cases heard which call for any special remark, but the sittings are.noticeable from one fact, that one of the leading practitioners here, Mr. G. A. Barton, an English barrister, has been cotnmitted to gaol for a month, for contempt of Court in speaking disrespectfully to the Judges, and insinuating in open Court'that the Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Richmond were actuated by unfair motives in a case which was being argued. Before the expiration of the month, if Mr. Barton apologises, the Judges will probably be willing that the Governor should exercise his prerogative and remit the balance of the sentence, but unless that is done Ml - . Barton will have to remain in custody. Nothing definite has transpired in reference to the appointment of an AgentGeneral in London to succeed Sir Julius Vogel, who it is understood desires to resign the post ; but it is rumored that Mr. Reader Wood, a former Colonial Treasurer, and late member for Parnell, will probably be the man. Mr. Wood resigned his seat a few weeks ago, in order to . proceed to England on'a visit, and there seems good. ground for the rumor that ho is to be Sir J olios’ successor. That the colony will lose a most valuable -Agent-General when the present holder of the office resigns is beyond a doubt. He has both in the colony and out of it exerted his great abilities for the welfare of New Zealand, and there are few, if any, men who have done more essential service to the country than Sir Julius Vogel. If Ids mantle fall on Mr. Wood, we must hope for the best; but remembering a brilliant financial operation of his some years ago, when he went Horae to raise a loan, the terms of which were not very favorable to the colony, many people may reasonably doubt Air. Wood’s skill in such matters, whereas almost every one admits’that Sir J. Vogel is a most skilful financier, who has succeeded in raising loans on reasonable terms.

There is generally no lack of amusement in Wellington, and at, the present time there is an abundance of it. ; The Princess Theatre in Tory ■?,street, St. George’s Hall, and the Odd .Fellows’ Hall are open nightly, and. are drawing good houses, and on Monday the Theatre Royal will re-open. The new theatre in Manners-street, which will be one of the largest and handsomest buildings of the kind in the colonies, will also shortly be in full swing. The Grand Lodge of Good Templars has lately been sitting hero, and at the conclusion of their deliberations had a large tea and public meeting, at which the Venerable Archdeacon Stock presided and addressed the meeting, as .did also several other influential gentlemen. The affair was a complete success, and the movement is evidently gaining ground. The Wellington' races,- which are to take place on the 7th and Bth instant, promise to be a decided success. A larger number of horses than usual has been entered for the several eveiits, and the course and the approaches thereto have been much improved. The charge for admission to the grand-stand has been raised to 10s., and to the top of the stand 55., being the same rates as those charged at Christchurch, Dunedin, and Auckland,

but the charge at the gates has been fixed 1 at the low rate of Is., which brings the price of admission to the ground practically within the reach of everybody. Mr. Bright, a lecturer on Freethought,” well known in Australia and in Dunedin, has lately been on a visit hero, and given a series’of lectures which have been very well attended, and were undoubtedly very eloquent discourses. As a set-off, tv Mr. Harrington, a recent arrival, announced as coming from Mr. Spurgeon’s College, is about to give what lie terms some u Apologetic Lectures in defence of biblical Christianity.