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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5319, 13 April 1878, Page 2

The San Francisco mail, which arrived here yesterday afternoon per the Taranaki, consisted of 5161 letters, SUO books, and 11,000 newspapers. It is notified by the Town Clerk that Queen-street not being constructed in accordance with the Municipal Corporations Act, the Council decline to grant permission for its formation, and will hold the owners of property abutting on the street responsible. A telegram from Port Chalmers yesterday states that the election was keenly contested. The numbers are given as follows :—Green, 269 ; Dench, 179. The returns from one booth have yet to come in, but are not likely to affect the result. A New Zealand Gazelle of Thursday last contains a notification of the season in which native game may be killed, viz., from the Ist April until the 31st July next. The regulations under the Fish Protection Act are gazetted, by which it will be seen that fishermen using nets must take out a license, which they can obtain from the collectors of customs on payment of £l. The 20th of April (the Saturday following Good Friday) is proclaimed a. bank holiday. A return of lauds sold and deposits received in the Provincial District of Wellington from Ist February to to the 31st March last shows that 1020 acres 1 rood 2 perches have been disposed of, and £1052 11s. Id. received. An order by the Governor-in-Couucil is published, altering the boundaries of the Nelson and Westland judicial districts. It is notified that the Court of Appeal will sit at Wellington on the 13th May next. The following revising officers are appointed :—Lowther Broad, F?n., for the electoral districts of city of Nelson, suburbs of Nelson, Waimea, Motueka, Oollingwood, Picton, and Wairau ; Henry Samuel Fitzberbert, Esq., for the’city of Wellington, the Hutt, Wellington country, Wairarapa, Manawatu, Bangitikei, and Wanganui ; George Andrew, Oliver, Esq., foi Napier and Olive ; and Herbert William' Brabant, Esq., for the- East Coast. ' ■ , ■ ■ ,

i The annual cricket match, Nelson v. Wellington, we, understand will cipme off on-Mon-day and Tuesday next. Nine of the Nelson players left Nelson by the steamer Wellington yesterday, and the other two are to leave by the. Kennedy on Sunday evening. Their names will be found in our telegrams of to-day.

The South British Insurance Company advertise that a dividend at the' rate of 25 per cent, is now payable at the company's office, Grey-street. • Tenders are invited by the City Council for the supply of pipes and other waterworks plant, including 1000 feet of hose for the fire brigades. The Borough Council of Palmerston North invite tenders for a loan for £2OOO for 7 years, at 7 per cent,, in debentures of not less than £25 each. A meeting of creditors in the estate of C. Broadbent, jeweller, was held yesterday, when Mr. D Asher was appointed' trustee of the estate and effects of the bankrupt. A lecture on the “ Moral attributes of Christ in relation to freethought ” is advertised to be delivered by Mr. Overton in the Pire Brigade Hall, 'Maimers-street, on Sunday e vening. There was a sitting of the Supreme Court in banco yesterday, of which a report will be found in another column. The civil sittings were formally adjourned until Tuesday next, but up to yesterday no cases were down for trial. The Nelson College cricket team, we hear, intend playing the Wellington men on the Basi l Reserve on Tuesday next. The Wellington team w ill be as follows : —Messrs. Martin, Heckle, Taylor, Horrah (2), Barnett, Cooper, Snow, Drausfield, Jackson, and Luxford. Yesterday morning Mr. Loudon and. MrBishop, of Poxtoc, waited upon the Minister of Public Works in reference to increased wharf accommodation at that place, the want of which is much felt, and iu view of the growing importance of the locality will be sure ere long to be still more urgently required. Mr. Maoaudrew said that the Government had already given instructions for the wharf to be extended so as to give accommodation to another vessel. This information was regarded by the deputation as so far satisfactory, and having thanked the Minister for his courtesy and attention to the matter, they withdrew. “The King’s Musketeer” formed the piece de resistance at the Theatre Eoyal last evening, and was enacted by a strong cast to an audience not lacking in appreciation. The drama was produced in excellent style, and the leading . characters were well supported by the rest of the company. A call before the curtain was made at the close of the piece. “The Loan of a Lover ” constituted the afterpiece, and sent the audience home in good humour. A change of programme is announced for this evening.

Mr. Murphy, the proprietor of the Cricketera Am a Hotel, made an application to the Resident Magistrate yesterday for a temporary extension of his license from 10 o'clock p.m. until midnight during the stay of Cooper and Bailey’s circus in Wellington. The Inspector of Police stated that the circus performance would be over by about 10 o’clock each night, and he did not think there was any necessity for an extension of the license. The R.M., having referred to the Act, said he was of opinion that it gave him no power to grant the application, which was accordingly refused. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before J. 0. Crawford, Esq., R.M., Messrs. Marks and Watty, commission agents, sued Mr. Williams, the proprietor of the National Hotel, for £62, being commission for the finding of a purchaser for the National Hotel. The plaintiffs were nonsuited. From the evidence it appeared that Mr. Williams employed the plaintiffs to sell the property in question, fixing the reserve price at £2IOO, and excluding from the sale certain furniture. Mr. Marks it appeared was in ignorance of this proviso, which, however, was imparted to Mr. Watty. Mr. Marks found a purchaser for the property, furniture included, for the amount above stated. Mr. Williams, however, declined to complete the purchase under the circumstances. The Court, after hearing the witnesses on either side, nonsuited the plaintiffs. Mr. Gordon Allan and Mr. Ollivier appeared for the respective parties to the suit.

Notwithstanding counter attractions else" where the “Blacksmith’s Dream” at the Arcade is not without its patrons. The exhibition is a most ingenious piece of mechanism by which a number of miniature figures set going by clockwork perform various feats, and imitate with great fide I 'ty the motions of artisans at various trades. It is said that the inventor, w’ho was a blacksmith, constructed the machine from ideas revealed to him in a dream, and hence its name. It is a most attractive exhibition, especially to young people. There will be an afternoon performance at three o’clock to-day for the special convenience of ladies and children, and it will also be open in the evening of each week-day unt s ’. further notice.

A general meeting of the members of the Loyal Britannia and Antipodean Lodges, 1.0.0. F., M.U., was held in their new lodgeroom, Lambten-quay, on Thursday evening last. There was a fair attendance of the brethren, and Mr. Daniel Susans preside!. The chairman read the advertisement convening the meeting, and explained the objects for which it had been called. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The seventeenth annual report and balancesheet of the Odd Fellows’ Hall and Building Committee were then read. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, made a few appropriate remarks; and, afterseveral questions had been answered, the report was adopted unanimously. The report stated the ccstof the new Lodge chambers to be £2030 12s. Sd., the contractor’s account being £1591 16a., and £l3B 16s. Bd. had been expended for furnishing, architect’s fees, &c. The property had been made a freehold, and the title is now under the Land Transfer Act. There was an overdraft due to the Bank of New Zealand of £903 14s. 7d., on account of cost of new building ; but since the accounts had been made up, £125 had been paid in, and the rents accruing would be sufficient to pay the balance in less than two years, if no other means were adopted to pay the overdraft ; but the trustees were about to take steps to obtain money at a less rate of interest than nine per cent., when the overdraft would be paid off. In concluding their labors, the committee congratulated the members on the handsome and convenient addition to their property, and expressed a hope that it would be the means of cementing the Lodges in the bonds of friendship, love, and truth, and of spreading the benefits of the institution. The auditors iu their report complimented the secretary (Mr. E. A. Marshall) “ on the very clear and accurate manner in which the books had been kept,” and the meeting voted a sum of £ls in recognition of his efficient services. £5 was also voted to the chairman, and £2 each to the committee, to be expended in the purchase of suitable testimonials, in recognition of their services. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings of the evening. A Melbourne paper states that at the Williamstown Police Court recently a seaman named Adolph Witt, belonging to the barque Cardiganshire, which arrived from Mauritius on the 13th ult., summoned the chief officer, Alfred McDonald, for assault ; and two informations were laid f.gaiust Witt for assaulting the chief officer and boatswain. It appeared from the evidence that on the 16th February Witt was confined in the lazaretto- for refusing to keep watch, and was handcuffed. On the 19th, In addition to the irons, the chief officer said he was instructed to fasten the man to a stanchion by a chain round his waist. Witt objected to having the chain put round his waist, and resisted the chief officer and boatswain when they tried to do so. In the scuffle it was alleged that the man struck the mate; in the eye, and bit the boatswain. The sailor did not deny it, but be justified what he had done by the extreme violence on the part of the mate. The boatswain, iu his evidence, said the mate hauled the chain so taut round Witt’s body that even a hand could not be pushed between. The mate also kicked Witt several times as the latter was lying down. The man was afterwards kept for over twenty days iiu the lazarette, a place infested with .rats, and admitting the fumes from the sugarcargo, with no light at night, and in chains as well as handcuffs. The Bench thought this treatment wholly unjustifiable, and while they dismissed both complaints against the man,

they fined the mate (McDomld) £5, with £3 3s. costs ; in default a month’s imprisonment, for assaulting Witt, to whom they awarded £2 2s. costs in one of the cases, which was dismissed. The sailor (Witt) has commenced an action for damages against the captain. • Disappointment awaited those who anticipated witnessing Messrs. Cooper and Bailey’s gigantic show last evening, the high winds prevailing making it necessary to strike the large tents. The evening was otherwise fine, and at seven o'clock, the time appointed for opening, there must have been nearly 2000 persons congregated in the vicinity of Mr. Martin’s paddock, where the exhibition has’ established itself. All the tents were hauled dowu except one, and this was crowded with a moving throng all the evening. It is only designated as an adjunct or side show, yet a very interesting entertainment was afforded those who visited it. The educated pig, Bismarck, which appears to be not only an instinctive but likewise an intelligent aniipal, satisfied his patrons that he could play cards without cheating or quarrelling over them, and demonstrated his remarkable faculties by intimating the time as indicated by a watch shown to him. The “fire-eater” allowed flames to proceed from his mouth, and placed a red-hot poker between his teeth; the ventriloquist caused his voice to appear to come from some one else, and the snake charmer allowed a serpent to coil round his body while he entered upon a narrative concerning it. There were also views of American scenery, enlarged by glass reflectors, and other objects of interest to be seen. The circus has attracted a large number of country 'visitors to town, the influx of Maoris being especially great. Should the wind go down the circus and menagerie will be open to the public this afternoon and evening. There are four tents and a stable for the horses, the elephant tent beiug 80ft. in diameter and 240 ft, in circumference, the menagerie tent 120ffc. in diameter and 360 ft. in circumference, and the circus tent being 210 ft. in length. The dress-circle portion of the latter contains 550 folding chairs. There is also a dressing tent 60ft. in diameter and 180 ft. in circu ufereuce, and a mess tent 90ft. by 30ft., where the members of the company who are required to remain on the ground have theij meals. In all respects the * show is a big one, and the expenses attending it are necessarily very great ; but its novelty, magnitude, and excellence combine to render it most attractive, and to draw nightly crowded audiences. If to-day be fine a large number of visitors may be expected both in the afternoon and evening. Indeed, notwithstanding the size of the tents and the great accommodation afforded to the public, we expect there w : ll not be room to hold the crowd that will be drawn to the exhibition to-day.— Australasian. A good story (says the Wairarapa Register) comes from one of the townships in this district. It appears that one afterqoon a middleaged woman called at a house occupied by a man who, by his thrift, had managed to build a comfortable little bouse for himself, and asked whether she might leave a small bundle. She was looking for lodgings, and would return for it so soon as she had found a suitable place. When she came back in the evening she looked tired and ill, and the good-natured housewife readily assented to the request to grant her a night’s lodging. She soon became worse, and a doctor having been sent for. that gentleman declared that she was about to give birth to a child. This was indignantly denied, and a soothing draught asked for. In the middle of the night the doctor was again sent for, and despite the further denials, a little baby soon arrived. Of course, mother and child were made as comfortable as possible : but the worthy hostess probably wondered, and wonders to this day, whether it was accident or design that put her in charge of the case. It was subsequently ascertained that the woman is the wife of a settler in the Forty Mile Bush, r and she doubtless would have gone to a lying-in hospital had such an institution been in existence.

The resignation by Mr. Stafford of his seat in the New Zealand House of Representatives is a noticeable event. It was not, indeed, unexpected, as it has been known for some time that Mr. Stafford was about to take a trip to England. But at the present juncture, when the political life of the colony is exposed to one of its severest trials, the loss from the deliberations of Parliament of a politician of the experience and ability of Mr. Stafford, whose influence has been used on the side of moderation, is a serious loss indeed. There have of late been many things which have tended to make parliamentary life in New Zealand distasteful to those who have know a it in better days and under better conditions. During the last couple of years there has been in the proceedings of Parliament a strain of virulence, reckless aspersions, and class prejudice that might well operate to make a selfrespecting politician, not bound by any party responsibility, desire to quit so uncongenial a sphere of labor. This is the most dangerous effect of the rampant demageguism which has lately been introduced into New Zealand politics. Men of respectable character are willing to take their fair share of the victories and defeats of political conflict. But they shrink from a contest in which, if uot defeated, they are sure to bo befouled and disgusted. And hence the danger that just that class of men who can least be spared—men with a sense of self-respect, 'a feeling of honor, and a care for reputation—will be driven by sheer disgust to abandon the field to unscrupulous demagogues and adventurers. An experienced New Zealand politician has declared that a great change for the worse has during the present Parliament been noticed in the tone of the debates. The stumping preoess so assiduously pursued by the Premier, as an appeal from Parliament to the mob, is likely to tend to a further demoralisation of public affairs. We in this colony can better than any appreciate the disastrous effect of men of high character holding themselves aloof from public life, and leaving polities to become a gambling game at which sharpers live and thrive and honest men’go to the wall. We hope a better destiny tor New Zealand, while recognising that, at the present moment, it stands in peril of a similar one. A wonderful snake story is related by the Smythesdale correspoadentof the Ballarat Star. A short distance from the Halfway House, on the road from Smythesdale to Oarngham, there is a shaft from 10ft. to 12ft. deep, which contains two extraordinary-sized snakes, one being represented as 12ft. in length, and the other about 10ft. Several persons have seen them, and on Sunday afternoon a party started from Smythesdale to reconnoitre them. On inquiring why not destroy them with a charge of shot, the reply is that the size of the reptiles would make them a welcome addition, if taken alive, to the Acclimatisation Society’s stock of such noxious reptiles. Many are the suggestions made as to the safest course to adopt to capture them alive, but as yet no person has essayed the task. Making every allowance for the exaggerated statement as to the length of the serpents, there can be no doubt that there are two snakes of unusual size in a state sf captivity as narrated, and their chief sustenance appears to be frogs and flics.

A commercial traveller has been victimising the people of Geelong. The local paper says that for some time back he has been urging hotelkeepers to buy port wine of the Diamond brand, worth about 40s. per dozen. He has been selling the wine for 30s. per dozen, and allowing 5 per cent, discount for cash, alleging that he had purchased the liquor at a sale of stock in an insolvent estate. A,publican in Malop-street, who has lately started in business, discovered, soon after making the bargain with the traveller, and paying for the wine, that the liquor he had purchased was colonial wine, and not of the very best description. This discovery led to others of : a similar character. One of the victimised publicans found the traveller, who j is well known in Geelong, just as be was about to enter a public-house in Mercer-street. The swindle was explained, denounced, and threats of imprisonment made, the result being the return of the money paid for the wine.

Our readers will please take notice that the gr«at clearance sale of drapery and clothing commences this day at the National Drapery Depot, and that it Is the intention of Mr. J. T. Steele to clear out the stock at extraordinarily low prices.