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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5372, 15 June 1878, Page 2

His Excellency tho Governor left Lyttelton at half-past four o’clock yesterday afternoon, for Wellington, in the Wakatipu. We understand that Mr. William Finlay, well known in Hokitika and tho West Coast ns a partner in the old-established firm of Hall and Finlay, has been requested to stand for Hokitika. Fr..m the well-known abilities of Mr. Finlay, and tho independent position ho occupies, together with the personal acquaintance ho has with almost every individual elector in the district, we boliovo there will bo no doubt of his success over the nominee ot Sir George Grey (“ tho nephew ot my uncle”). Wo regret that Mr. Finlay’s political views aro rather Greyish. Had it been otherwise, we have no doubt but Mr. Finlay, should he acquiesce in the requisition, would stand at the top of the poll.

Wo have been requested to state that the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce wishes the members of the committee to meet at tho chamber this day at one o'clock, for the purpose ot considering the subject discussed at tho general meeting yesterday, with a view to giving effect to tho resolution carried “ That it is expedient that the committee of this Chamber do place itself in communication with tho City Council and tho Government, with ttie view of discovering moans for meeting tho difficulty arising out of the presence in tho city ot considerable stocks of kerosene oil, which has been reported to be dangerous, and to report tho result to the Chamber as soon as possible.”

A rather serious falling-in of earth took place last night in Dixon-strcet, a little below tho Working Men’s Club. In consequence of tho late rains and the increased rush of water through tho TV Aro stream from Polhill Gully, a portion of Dixou-stroot under which it passes caved in, and tho hole threatened to become larger, judging from tho way in which the earth was cracked in its vicinity. Sergeant Smith caused a light to be placed at the locality, to prevent accident ; and no doubt the necessary repairs will be carried out during tho course of to-day. Applications aro invited by advertisement for the office of assistant engineer for Vincent County at a salary of £250 a-year.

Commercial men will he glad to learn that two new postage stamps will be issued shortly. They are of the value of 2s. and ss. respectively, and will prove a great convenience. Both are of neat design, and the dies have . been very well executed in the Government Printing Office, by Mr. Davies, thepostage stamp printer, and Mr, Kirk, who has charge of the electrotyping for, the Government. By a very ingenious process they used the Queen’s head on the die of the 2d. stamp as a basis for .the new dies, and have produced capital results. The color of the ss. stamps is a very pretty silver grey, and these will be ready for issue on the Ist July. There is some difficulty iu selecting a tint for the 2s. stamp, as it is not easy to choose one that will make it sufficiently distinct from other stamps now in use, and its issue may be delayed in consequence. It is probable that a now penny duty stamp, about half the size of the present one, will be sold on the Ist proximo. The boy Leonard Hancock, who made his escape from the lock-up on Thursday night, was re-captured yesterday morning, brought before the 11. M. Court, and remanded until Tuesday, on the charge of petty larceny at Mrs. Davis’s, .Cuba-strect. The boy, who is only ten or eleven years old, says after he ran away from the watch-house ho went up Plimmer’s steps and on to the Terrace. He then went past his old quarters at the gaol, where he recently underwent the punishment of seven days’ imprisonment and a sound flogging, the reminiscence of which one would have thought would have kept him out of mischief for some time. From the gaol he made his way towards the To Aro brickfields, and finding an empty cart got into it, and rolling himself in some bags which he found near at hand, slept until next morning. He then went on to the top of the Barrack-hill, and says he looked round to see if a" policeman was coming. The police were hunting for him all night, and once or twice passed very near him. Not seeing any of the men in blue, he ventured, as ho was getting very hungry, to go to a sister of his, who gave him some breakfast. He then took a walk, keeping a bright look-out for the police. As all appeared sate, he joined some companions who were playing at marbles, but the game was interrupted by the arrival of an officer iu plain clothes, who came almost close up to the lads before danger was discovered. As soon as the boy Hancock realised who - the visitor was he made tracks rapidly for home, but was captured and again taken to the lock-up, with the result above described. The boy appears a very sharp and intelligent youngster, with a good deal of pluck about him, and it seems a pity that his energies cannot be directed into a better channel than pilfering shops and dodging the police. Probably some years in a reformatory or training ship would be productive of benefit in this case, and might be the means of making a useful citizen of a lad whose career at present is evidently a downward one. Mr. Conyers and Mr. Lawson, the heads of the Railway Department for the Middle and North Islands, respectively, proceed to Auckland to-day, for the purpose of examining the working of the railways there, with a view to improvement. It does not need a prophet to foretell that changes will follow. Both officers have had large experience in the South, and Mr. Conyers has had the charge of all sorts ef railways from the Invercargill and Bluff line to the whole of those in the Middle Island. The Hon. Mr. Maoandrew is desirous of visiting Auckland in connection with public works, but pressing demands upon his time prevent him from leaving Wellington at present. Considering the wretched weather last night the Bijou Minstrels entertainment at the Odd Fellows’ Hall was well attended. The performance was in aid of the Wellington Amateur Atiilotic Club. The first part of the entertainment was confined solely to Christy Minstrel business, which passed off well. The corner gentleman who beat the tambourine was exceedingly good, in fact, if it had not been for his humor the performance would have been somewhat tame. The entertainment concluded with several little negro sketches, iu which considerable merriment was occasioned by the comicalities of those who took the chief characters. It was stated from the stage that owing to the boisterous weather the performance would be repeated at the Princess Theatre next Tuesday, when those persons who had tickets for last night, and did not avail themselves of them, cau use them. The working hands of the Theatre Royal will take a benefit this evening, whoa they will be assisted by Miss Lizzie Morgan, Messrs. Sam Poole, D. Clinton, and a host of other talent. The programme will comprise “The Swiss Lovers,” a musical melange, and the negro farce entitled the “ Bal d’Afrique,” in which the whole strength of the company will appear. Those who know anything at all about the internal working of a theatre arc well aware how much the success of any piece depends on the stage hands. They aro a hardworked lot of men, holding responsible, it not very remunerative, positions, and the working hands of tlio Theatre Royal aro no exception to the rule. We hope, therefore, that thenbenefit to-night will bo attended by a crowded audience.

Tho alterations to be made in the Wanganui to Foxtou railway time-table, for tho purpose of giving more time for shunting ami changing goods trucks, will cause the hours of arrival ami departure of trains to be as follows :—Leave Wanganui at 6.45 a.m., and arrive at Poston at 12.20 p.m.; leave Wanganui at’ 4.15 p.m., and arrive at Foxton at 10.35 p.m.; leave Foxton at 0.5 a.m., and arrive at Wanganui at 12.25 p.m.; leave Foxtou at 4.20 a.m., and ari’ivo at Wanganui at 10.40 p.m. These changes will add very largely to the length of time occupied in the journey. His Honor tho Chief Justice yesterday admitted Mr. K. C. Ilamerton, who lias sucoesfully passed the barrister’s examination required by law, as a solicitor and barrister of the Supreme Court, Some ot our readers will recollect that before bis appointment as permanent head of the Stamp Department, Mr. Hamerton held tho office of Deputy-Kegistrar of the Supremo Court here. Some time ago the proprietors of the Saturday Advertiser offered a prize of ten guineas for the best musical composition to tho national hymn, “ God defend New Zealand,” written by Mr. Thomas Bracken. Tho judges appointed were Messrs. Zelmau, Zeplin, and Siede, of Melbourne. There were several competitors. The composition of Mr. John J, Woods, of Lawrence, Otago, was selected as tire best, and to him the prize was unanimously awarded. Wo beg to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of a copy of the work, received yesterday, which is in every respect a very creditable production.

Enquiries have been made lately as to the whereabouts of one William Morgan Harris, a native of Pembrokeshire, Wales, who has, it is said, come into a fortune of upwards of £30,000. The matter was recently placed in tho hands of a solicitor in town, and a reward of £SOO, we hear, was offered for tho discovery of the heir. He has at length been found working ns a bullock driver at Mr. Booth’s mill, near Carterton, where ho was known as “ Black George,” being a man of dark complexion. Ha is now in town, and we hear will shortly proceed to the Home country, where, on satisfactory proof being given of his identity, ho will come into possession, as report has it, of tho above handsome fortune. At tho quarterly licensing meeting, held at Tenui on the 4th instant, tho following hotel licenses were granted :—Renewals : C. E. Miller, Tenui Hotel ; F. G. Maguerson, Marine Hotel ; J. Stollin, Ohouga Perry Hotel; A. Burling, Akiteo Hotel. A license for a new house at Castlepoiut, to be called the Club Hotel, was also granted to 0. Kogers. This afternoon tho members of tho City Council intend to visit the Town Bolt at the south of Newtown to select an area to bo used ns a recreation ground. A start will be made from the Provincial Hall at half-past 2 o’clock, and tho Mayor intends to treat his brother Councillors as his guests on the occasion. Should the day bo fine tho trip will bo a pleasant one.

A desirable change is about to bo made in the management of the Stamp Printing Department, Hitherto stamps have been struck off at the Government Printing Office, but after the first of next month four rooms on the ground floor ot tho Government Buildings will be used as a stamp printing office, and tho staff will be directly under tho control of the department of the Commissioner for Stamps. Hero all postal and duty stamps will bo printed.- This alteration will relieve the head of the printing office of a good deal of work and responsibility, and should add materially to tho efficiency of the Stamp Department. Mr. W. H. Warren has received the Judge’s certificate authorising him to act as accountant in bankruptcy under the Debtors and Creditors Act, 1878. Mr. Robert Niedergesaess, of Newtown, near Wellington, notifies that he intends to apply for a patent for a double-acting anti-friction brick machine. All objections must be lodged with the patent officer on or before 11th October.

Mr. S. Carroll, of Wellington, lias been appointed trustee in the estate of Thomas Love. A general meeting of creditors is advertised to be held at the Supreme Court buildings on the 19th iust. Cospel addresses by various speakers will be delivered in the Odd Pillows' Hall to-morrow (Sunday) evening, at half-past seven o’clock. Sankey’s hymns will be used, and no collection will be made. A public meeting of Catholics, will be held at the Catholic Church, Bouloott-street, immediately after vespers, to-morrow (Sunday) night, to take into consideration the question of erecting new schools in Dixon-street for the Sisters of Morey. The Eight Eeverend Eishop Redwood will preside. Should the weather bo fine it is to be hoped that there will be a good muster of footballers on the reserve this afternoon. Two scratch teams will be picked, from which will bo chosen the players to take part in the match next Saturday. At the Resident Magistsate’s Court yesterday, the charge against Charles Taylor for depositing building material on the public highway was dismissed. The cases against R. Hardio, W. Mabin, and J. Collins, for stacking timber on the roadway without the authority of the City Council, were dismissed with a caution, defendants to pay costs. '

A carpenter named Jonathan Jackson has been missing from Palmerston North sines the 7th instant. A message received in town yesterday states that repeated search has been made for him by parties of volunteers, assisted by the poliac, but no trace has been discovered of him. It is supposed ho has been drowned in the Manawatu River. Messrs. J. 11. Bethuue and Co. sold at their mart ytsterday, by order of the Registrar of the Supreme Court, .section No. 9, Karere Block, near the township of Palmerston North, and on the line of railway, containing 90 acres. Mr. Wingate was the purchaser at £330. Section "No, 33, Pakuratahi, was withdrawn, as the lot above referred to realised sufficient to cover the claim of the Court. Messrs. J. H. Bethuue and Co. also sold towu acre No. 1035, InStauloy-streetjfor £250. Mr. Zohrab was the purchaser. We understand that a very desirable block of native land, situated between Waikanae and Otaki, containing' about 2000 acres, changed hands on Thursday last. It appears that a good many settlers on the West Coast between Wellington and Pox ton have “spotted” this as an eligible property, and have been in treaty with the natives for its purchase. After many “ koreros ” it was agreed that the settlers should tender for it, and the following tenders, we understand, were sent in :—Mr. Hadfield, 28s. per acre ; Plyger and Co., 255. per acre ; Smith (Pahautanui), 20s. There were also tenders at lesser amounts from Messrs. Davis (Foxton), and Smith and Bright (Otaki). Mr, Hadfield’s being the highest tender, was accepted by the Maori owners.

The electric light, says the Sun, is being used in New Zealand in connection with Messrs. Proudfoot and McKay’s contract for dredging Dunedin harbor. Part of the apparatus was imported and part made there. Six lights are used, and it is expected that the contractors will be enabled to continue their work night and day without intermission.

It has been decided to establish a Foresters’ Court in Ashburton.