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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5266, 8 February 1878, Page 2

It will be seen by a notice published in another column that a writ has been issued for tho city election, to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Travers’ resignation, the writ to be returnable on the 21st February. The nomination will take place on Saturday the 16th instant, and the election, in the event of their being a contest, on Tuesday the 19th instant. We understand that it is Mr. Pearce’s intention to address the electors some evening next week in tho Odd Fellows’ Hall, Amongst the passengers from the South by the Arawata yesterday was the Hon. Mr. Larnach. The Bank of New Zealand, which has always from its first establishment to the present time maintained a character for being one of the foremost in enterprise amongst our commercial establishments, possesses in the several provincial districts of the colony some very handsome buildings. The head office in Auckland, built of Hobarton stone, is one of the most striking and tasteful of those which adorn the chief thoroughfare. Here in Wellington this bank has lately erected a handsome and commodious branch office in Manners-street, which is a great convenience to : its customers at the Te Aro eud of the town. The chief office here, at the junction of Lambton and Custom House quays, one of the most central and eligible business sites in. the city, has , lately been greatly altered and improved, so much so, indeed, that as regards the interior it looks like a new building altogether. The public room now takes in the whole frontage to Lambtonquay, a length of 64ft., by 24£t. in width, having at each end a vestibule through which access to it is obtained. Over the vestibule at the Willis-street end is a room for keeping deeds and other documents in safe custody. The public room referred to has accommodation for an aocouhtant, three ledger-keepers, and sixteen clerks, and there is ample space for the customers at all ordinary times, although on a Saturday at about noon this portion of this very capacious apartment is none too large. All the fittings hare been remodelled. They are of Sydney cedar polished, and have a very good effect. The windows are all of plate-glass, and for light and ventilation the building can challenge comparison with any in the town. The manager's room, and also the inspector’s room, the stationery, and strong rooms are each well adapted for their respective purposes. As our readers may remember, the adjoining premises, lately belonging to Mr. Brandon, son., were purchased some time ago by the bank, and it is in contemplation, we understand, to pull this building down, and erect a new one in its place. The improvements and alterations of which we have spoken were 'carried out by Messrs. Secular and Archibald, the contractors, in accordance with plans prepared by Mr. Turnbull, the architect, and the work has evidently been well and carefully carried out in all its details, and reflects credit on all concerned in the undertaking. Last night, at the Theatre Royal, Miss Ada Ward submitted the credentials accorded her by the press and public of many other towns in this and the neighboring colonies to a Wellington audience for endorsement. Her list of notices contains many columns of eulogies of her personal charms, rare abilities as an actress,

and keen appreciation of the meaning of the great masters of dramatic literature. A lady who electa to appear in Shakspere’s sublime creation, and impersonate his greatest heroine, at oace claims a position as an actress and challenges criticism. There were few in the Theatre Royal last night who would grudge her a high meed of praise for her rendition. The subtle wit and rare piquancy demanded from the sprightly Rosalind, the verve and untiring attention to detail, the mastery of elocution—in fact, all the many qualifications and advantages of education, training, and personal charms required for a successful pourtrayal of the part, are possessed by Miss Ward in an eminent degree. In the lighter seenes, where keen wit is set down for her, she charmed everybody ; and when anything that taxes her powers as a delineator of passion or pathos was required, she proved herself a true actress, and gave evidence that in the pieces to follow the opening one wo shall see her to even greater advantage. A detailed notice of a piece so often played is unnecessary, and it is sufficient to say that Miss Ward achieved a thorough success, and does not suffer by comparison with anybody who has preceded her. The audience testified their satisfaction in the heartiest fashion. The support was in every way creditable, and there were several characters played in a manner that would iu less busy times secure long notices for those appearing in them. We may mention Miss Willis's Delia, Miss Morgan’s Amiens, Mr. Howard's Touchstone, Mr. Lawrence’s Orlando, Mr. Hesford’s Adam, and Mr. Burford’s Jaques. In fact the whole piece went off without a hitch, and the mounting and presentation were excellent. To-night we are to see Miss Ward in tragedy as Leah under the special patronage of the Jockey Club. The Princess Theatre was again well attended last night, when the management put before the public the sensational drama of “The Blue Kibbon of the Turf.” The general arrangements in connection with the production of this groat drama were immense. Mr. W. 0. Dillon excelled himself as Nick Simms, the jockey; and Miss Udith Pender and the other members of the company admirably acquitted themselves. To-night we notice the performance will be under the patronage of the stewards of the Wellington Jockey Club, when Mr. Tom Marietta will present to the winner of the cup a gold mounted whip, and any gentlemen interested in the turf are respectfully invited to be on the stage. With these great attractions a large house may confidently be anticipated.

..vAb'all.wiw held in the Atheuteum Hall last evening, at which there was a goodly muster. Dancing was J;ept up with spirit, to the strains of an efficient orchestra, until 'an early hour this morning. “ Cup ” sends ns the following tips for today’s racing. Hurdle "Race : Te Whetumarama, 1; Tawera, 2. Wellington Cup : Lara, 1 ; Trump Card, 2. Hutt Park Stakes : Isaac Walton, 1. Provincial Plate : Songster, 1 ; Te Whetumarama, 2. We received yesterday a copy of the Jurist for January last. The editor, in explaining the reason for this number not making its appearance at an earlier date, says :—“ The publication of the present number has been delayed for the purpose of enabling us to commence the volume uniformly with the year ; but it is hardly necessary to point out that the great demand which a legal publication must necessarily make upon the editorial time renders delay unavoidable in any case." St. George’s Hall was reopened last evening with a panorama of the Eusao-Turkiah War, painted by local artists. The entertainment was deservedly wall attended, as the pictures pourtray events of great interest at - the present time, and are meritorious from an artistic point of view. They occupy 7000 feet of canvas, and illustrate some of the most striking features of the war. The panorama concludes with a mechanical and very effective scene, showing an action between Russian torpedoes and a Turkish ironclad. Mr. Harry Stoneham delivered the descriptive lecture in a very pleasing manner, and is to be congratulated upon his success in his new role. The U.S. Minstrels again succeeded last evening in drawing another crowded house to witness their very clever performances. The first part of ths entertainment was received as usual with hearty applause. The songs were rendered in first-class style, and Mr. O. Conduit's accompaniments were all given in the most finished manner, proving him to be a good artist. To-night there will he an entire change of programme, of which some of the leading items are as follows ; “The Fakirof Wooloomooloo,” Messrs. Hudson and Holly’s “Morning Glories,” a grand vocal quartett, “The Wandering Minstrels;” Mr. L. Braham will give one of his many famous songs, and there will be some of those inimitable farces for which the U.S. Minstrels .always succeed in getting’ roars of laughter from their audieuce, who never fail to show their thorough appreciation of the whole performance.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before J. C. Crawford, Ksq., R.M., Elizabeth Downey, charged with drunkenness, was discharged with a caution. Charles James was brought up on remand, charged with neglecting to support his wife and family. He paid £5 into Court, and promised to pay another sum of £5 next Saturday, to which day he was remanded. The Court directed that in the case of Mrs. Spoor, who sought for a married -woman’s protection order against her husband, the summons should he reissued.

The Timaru UmiM, writing on the resignation of Mr. Travers, says ;—“ Mr. Travel’s, member, for the city of Wellington, would have been an influential member of the House, if he had been capable of good faith. His long and varied political career, however, displays him unmistakeably in the light of a man who is not true to himself, and who, therefore, to turn Polonius’s maxim inside out, cannot be true to any man. That he has been a prominent member, nevertheless, canaot be questioned. With a voico like Boanerges, the son of thunder, and a flow of language which, like Tennyson’s ‘ Brook,’ goes on for ever, he early acquired the epithet of ‘leather-lungs.’ With a remarkably quick, lawyerlike habit of grasping all the points of a case, and putting only tho-e which were favorable to his own side forward, he was undoubtedly a power in debate. With great boldness and fortitude, unusual physical advantages, a cultivated mind, and an exceedingly comprehensive experience, it would have been strange indeed if he had not made his presence felt in any assembly that he might be in.”

The Jurist in its last issue, in speaking of the usual custom of conferring the honor of knighthood on colonial Chief Justices, says:— “We should be glad if some of our English contemporaries would explain the principles which are supposed to regulate the distribution of honors among colonial Judges. The honor of knighthood is usually conferred upou Chief Justices, and sometimes on puisne Judges, throughout her Majesty’s dependencies; but New Zealand seems to be an exception. It has recently been announced that the Queen has been graciously pleased to confer, the title on tire following Judges:—‘ Mr. William Buell Richards, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Canada ; Mr. Antoine Aime Dorion, Chief Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench, Quebec; Mr. Bryan Robinson, late Judge of the Supreme Court, Newfoundland ; Mr. John Henry de Villiers, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Cape Colony ; ami Mr. John Budd Phear, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Ceylon.’ Here are five colonial Judges ennobled at one breath—one of them, the Chief Justice of Oeylou, being newly appointed to the Bauch, and another being a ‘late Judge’ of Newfoundland. The Chief Justice of New Zealand appears to be the only Chief Justice in her Majesty’s dominions who has not been knighted. The matter is rendered the more peculiar by the fact that two of our ‘ late Jedges ’ have been graciously allowed to assume the prefix of Honorable. This is dreadful. Every old gentleman who is summoned to the Legislative Council is created an Honorable ; but a retired Judge is surely entitled to something more than that. The honor of knighthood is cheap, and seeing that the colonial Judges have not the privilege of being addressed as ‘My Luds,’ it might as well be handed to them with their commissions.” ; r

In reference to the Deep Sea Fishing Com,pany lately launched into the commercial world of Victoria the Australasian of the 26th January says ;—“ Sufficient funds having been subscribed for the purpose of making the trial trip as the prelude to the establishment of the Deep Sea Fishing Company (Limited), arrangements are now in progress for a start early in February. The proposed programme of operations, subject to such modifications as winds and weather may necessitate, is, in the .first place, to test the water between Julia Percy Island and Caps Northumberland, which all reports concur in representing as abounding with fish in all seasons ; then about King’s Island and its neighborhood, ami along the north coast of Tasmania ; and, finally, the bight from Wilson’s Promontory and Cape Otway to the Heads. Portland being at present the only outport with which regular communication is established will, if the prospects be favorable, probably be the first point of operations, Queensoliff being proposed as a second place upou the completion of the railway from Geelong. The first absence of the expedition will be for a week or two, during which time as much as possible of the above proposal will be carried out. With average weather it will probably be completed. Afterwards, if it be then considered necessary or desirable to prolong the experiment, the trials will be extended to the eastward of the Promontory, or to any omitted places, or they will be repeated in any previously visited locality." The Pittsburg grand jury has made an extraordinary finding with respect to the railway riots last July, having found a true bill against {IOO prisoners, but accompanying the finding with an attack on the State authorities, pronouncing tho killing of the rioters by the . soldiers ns murder, throwing the whole responsibility of the disorders upon the civil and ’military authorities, and charging them with a discreditable attempt to thwart the grand jury's investigation. There is a report, according to the Army and Navy Gazette, that the authorities are alarmed at the “ugly rush” for retirements under the new warrant, and that they are thinking of asserting their right to limit the number of officers who may retire. The net yield of gold for the colony of Victoria last year, according to calculations of the Melbourne Aryus, is 792,839 ozs., showing a decrease on the previous year of Hi,421 ozs.