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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5331, 29 April 1878, Page 2

Mr. Baird, city engineer, returned to Wellington on Saturday evening from Palmerston, but Mr. Clarke, 0.E., is not expected back until, Tuesday.

The outward English and American mail despatched per the Rotorua on Saturday consisted of 5381 letters, 329 newspapers, 8283 book parcels for England, and 338 letters, 21 book packages, and 363 newspapers for America.

It was rumoured in the city on Saturday thatrxne 'lloiv. WKqor -.franusou -contemplated resigning his seat in the House of Representatives.’ We have not been able to verify the report, but it is to be hoped that the honorable gentleman does not intend to retire from Parliament.

One of the prettiest sights in. Wellington was, until lately, that part of Sydney street between Government House and Parliament buildings. Well grown and graceful trees on each side gave it the appearance of an avenue, and looking from either end of the street the scene was quite picturesque. It has been determined that trees shall not overhang . the footpaths to the inconvenience of foot passengers, and this rule, wise when well applied, has led to an act that is little short of : a piece of vandalism. These trees on the Government House grounds which are close to the path are now remarkably symmetrical, that is to say they have been so cut as to form an apparent continuation of the iron fence, and wlvere there formerly was a mass of luxuriant foliage, pleasant for the eye to linger on, there is now a mixture of branches and twigs that have been rigorously trimmed just as a surveyor would out a line through thick manuka scrub. Of course nobody is to blame for this offence against common sense and good taste, but it would be easier to forgive a man who broke even a . city by-law than to pardon those who by too exactly obeying one became guilty of such arhoricultural spoliation. What will the Governor say when he returns to Wellington? What will members of Parliament think when they view from Bellamy’s and the library this mass of disfigured trees and shrubs? The residents at Oriental Bay are vigorously opposing the erection of a patent slip by Messrs. Coffey and Dixon at the point on the city side of the bay. On Saturday Messrs. Stevens, Wilson, and Wilkins waited on the Hon. Mr. Maoandrow, as a deputation from the residents, to protest against the construction of the slip at the site proposed. The Minister for Lands promised to have full inquiry made into the matter. A report of the interview appears in another column. It will be seen that one of the deputation feared that mooring buoys put down in connection with the slip might obstruct steamers going to the wharf. The Minister was surprised that this objection had not been seen by the harbor authorities, but that is accounted for by the simple fact that this particular objection is unfounded. It is too absurd to suppose that three or four mooring buoys would form' any obstruction in our harbor.

It is probable that the Railway Department will put on a special train to the Upper Hutt this evening, for the convenience of: residents of Wellington, the Lower Hutt, &0., who desire to hear the Hon. Sir Wm. Fitzherbert's address.to the electors. Should arrangements be made for running a special the fact will be notified in this evening's papers. “Belphegor the Mountebank” was th e play produced at the Royal on Saturday evening. There was a good downstairs audience to witness it; but the piece itself lacked in many,instances both spirit and energy, the result being that it frequently fell flat uponthn the listeners. However, as a whole, the piece was gone through both creditably and smoothly. To-night “Monte Christo” is announced. A middle-aged man was charged on remand at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Saturday with lunacy. It appears that the medical men who examined him cannot agree as to whether the man is a lunatic or not. The unfortunate fellow has an idea that every woman ho meets is in love with him. Mr, Crawford, R.M., said on Saturday that he would remand him once more, but that if the medical men could not then agree he would be discharged, when if he pursued his old ways the police could arrest him as a vagrant. Arrangements are at present being made to organise a series of popular scientific lectures, to be delivered on Saturday nights in the lecture hall of the Athenceum. The charge for admission will be the nominal sum of sixpence. We understand that the Hon. Sir - George Grey, Dr. Hector, W. T. L. Travers, ; Esq., Dr. Buller, and others-have promised to lecture. By treating scientific matters in a popular way many persons would be enabled to understand things which are now regarded as mysteries, and which the unassisted student would not master without much study. The committee: wish to take as their model the Manchester science lectures, for these are well known to have produced most beneficial results. Refer Podmore, wheat : merchant. South Australia, baa been sentenced, to three years’ imprisonment for fraudulent insolvency.

A brief report of the opening football match will be found elsewhere.

.Through an error it was made to appear in our Saturday's issue that Christopher Hall was enly fined 20a. and costs on Friday for sly-grog selling. The penalty imposed was £2O and costs.

Albert Carver and L. Hancock, two little boys, were brought before Mr. Crawford, R.M., on Saturday, charged with petty larceny. On the application of Sergeant Smith they were both remanded.

Several larrikins are in the habit of sliding on the pavement in front of the Theatre Royal, much to the annoyance and danger of pedestrians. On Saturday night a gentleman fell down and dislocated his ancle. The committee of the Athenaeum announce that on Monday next the first of a series of popular concerts will be given, similar to those which for several years have at St. Peter's and St. Paul’s schoolrooms been deservedly popular. The proceeds will be devoted to the building and furnishing fund, the committee holding the opinion that sums expended on account of the building and furniture should not be a charge upon ordinary revenue. We hope the concerts will be highly successful. Recently the Wellington correspondent of the Wanganui Chronicle, in referring to an article which had appeared in the Wanganui Herald on Judge Richmond, said ; “ As emanating from Mr. Ballance, till lately Acting Minister of Justice, the article has its own special significance.” The Herald thus refers to this statement: “We may be allowed to observe that the article was not written by the Hon. Mr. Ballance, whose editorial connection with this journal has been severed for some time past.” It is to be presumed that the Chronicle will now retract the insinuation.

The Victorian papers abound with tales of strange doings at the recent election for West Melbourne. The contest was between Sir Bryan O’Loghlen, the newly-appointed Attorney-General of the Berry Ministry, and Mr. Francis, one time Premier of Victoria. The former won the victory, but it would seem it was not altogether an honorable one. Writing of the . polling, tho Melbourne Daily Telegraph says “In the St. Patrick’s booth a, most impudent attempt at personation was exposed ; but Dr. Kuaggs allowed the culprit to go free. It appears that Mr. John Spence, merchant, of Flinders-lane, voted early in the day. Mr. Spence being personally known to tho scrutineers, the fact of his having voted was easily remembered. When, therefore, some time afterwards another Mr. John Spence, merchant, Flinders-lane, applied; to vote, he was immediately challenged. He smilingly acknowledged he . was ;not the 'man, ‘and turned to walk away, as though he had just missed perpetrating a good joke. Mr. Francis’ representatives demanded that he should be arrested, but the returning officer positively refused to give him in charge. In striking contrast with this was the treatment by Dr. Knaggs of the vote of Mr. Thomas Loader, the well-known and respected - merchant. When Mr. Loader demanded : his ballotpaper he was insolently asked it he had not already voted in some other division. Being annoyed at this Mr. Loader, after marking his ballot paper, brought it open to the table, and showed that he had struck O’Loghlen’s name out. One of Sir Bryan’s scrutineers objected to the vote being received, as Mr. Loader’s act meant intimidation, and preposterous as it is, the returning- officer allowed the objection, and: put Mr. Loader’s ballot paper among the protested ones. Thus, for ah offence utterly unknown to the, law, a reputable citizen is insulted and - disfranchised, while an offender, who is detected .in perpetrating the gravest crime known to the electoral law, is not even told that he has done wrong.” f The following is from the Auckland Herald of the 22nd instant ;—We hear from Waikato that the Kingites' are anxious to have a meeting with the Premier and Native Minister, but nothing can be learned as to whether they have anything to propose, or whether they have made up their minds to accept any proposal that may be made. The Kingites are evidently not united amongst themselves, and the breach between Ngatimaniapoto and Waikato is becoming wider. On the other hand, the Queenites talk of having a meeting on their own account, after Sir’ George Grey has seen Tawhiao and Rewi. It will likely be held at Tamahere, and will be attended by the Ngatihaua, the. Ngatiraukawa, and the Ngaiterangi, from Tauranga. A very disgraceful case, in connection withthe boarding-out system was brought to light on the 11th inst., (says the Melbourne Argus), when the Brunswick Borough Council were sitting as a local board of health. The mayor stated that he had been informed that day of a very disgraceful case, and one about which he felt bound, in his mayoral capacity, to make further and strict inquiry. He had been informed that a person with four children of her own, and no less than five others from the industrial schools as hoarders, was living in a hovel scarcely fit for human habitation. Councillor Fleming said he could support tho averments of the mayor. The thing was a disgrace to civilisation, and called for the immediate interference of the council.

Referring to tlie taxing of coats in the Bar" won petition case, the Melbourne Argus of 12th April says:—“Costs in this case were taxed yesterday. The proceedings were of much interest, inasmuch as this is the first case which has come before the Clerk of the Assembly, who has been appointed taxing master for the House under an Act passed last session, and, moreover, the charges made by the petitioner were known to be of a monstrous character. Mr. Levien, it will be remembered, was saddled by the Elections and Qualifications Committee with the. costs of his opponent, Mr. luce, and it. was Mr. luce’s little bill which was under review. The parties were represented by Mr. T. Fink and Mr. W. F. Barrett, their respective Parliamentary agents. Mr. 1 Webb also at- f tended, on|behalf of Mr. Levien, to protest against the proceedings, on the ground that the first report of the Elections and Qualifications Committee, which declared the election void, was the legal finding, and not the second report—obtained under pressure—; which seated Mr. luce. Mr. Barker, however, decided that he could not go behind the decision of the Legislative Assembly. Taxing was then proceeded with, and Mr. Ince’s bill was found to amount,to £llß6 15s. 3d. The legal charges were £437, but Mr. Ince admitted that £l3O of this sum was for expenses prior to his putting the case in the hands of Mr. Barrett, and, in fact; was for work performed by himself. These charges were struck out. Mr. Barrett’s charges for legal expenses, &0., were £350,' of which Mr. Barker allowed £230, the deductions being principally in the amount for fees to counsel. Then Mr. Ince.charged £l7O for the expehsess of witnesses and dependents, who were kept at the White Hart and elsewhere ; £2O was allowed for men who put in an appearance before the committee, and the balance was struck out. For his own services in collecting evidence and attending the committee, Mr. Ince i charged the modest sum of £4BO, which was disallowed Mr. Ince also charged £92 Bs. for work done on his behalf by the herdsman of. a town common, who is also secretary to the Geelong Reform League, but the item was struck out, and at the conclusion it was found that the £llß6 15s. 3d. had dwindled down to £260 —an amount quite heavy enough in'itself to be cast upon Mr. Levien, in addition to his own expenses, and as the result of an unjust and party decision. In justice to Mr. luce’s agent, it should be pointed out that the reductions were made not in his costs, but in the personal charges of the f hon.’ member for the Bar won.” . The Ballart Star mentions that Sir Samuel Wilson has snceeded in hatching a very fair percentage of the English salmon ova received per s.s. Chimborazo. They have hot, so far, divested themselves of umbilical appendage, and appeared to represent two distinct varieties of salmon. Sir Samuel has a few of the Cali fornian salmon left in his ponds. These fish are from 4in. to 6in. in length. A writer in the 'Paris Constitiitlonncl says ; —“ At the opera the other evening attention was attracted to a colored lady in one of the boxes very elegantly dressed, and surrounded by a number of bther ( persons of ebony complexion. It was the Princess Celia, daughter of Soulouque, once .Emperor of Hayti, and her family. This descendant of the sovereign who was the first to place the Imperial crown .on his woolly.head-covering usually resides in England. ;It may beiremembered that Soulouque, having declared himself Emperor of Hayti in 1849, created among the negro population 480 nobles (of whom four were princes) 59 dukes, and ,12 marquises. The others were counts, barons, and knights.. Ho also created two orders for men—one military, that of St. Faustin; the other civil, the Legion of Honor; also two for women—those of Salute Madeleine and Sainte Anne, of whom the : two daughters of the Emperor were Grand Mistresses. Soulouque could not write more than his signature, and he could only read print.” -