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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5430, 22 August 1878, Page 2

We understand that subject to the approval of his Excellency the Governor and Lady Norman'oy the Assembly uall will take place on Monday the 26th lust. The police have received information that a violent lunatic named Charlotte Taylor has been remanded from Foxton to Wellington for medical examination. Tho unfortunate woman will arrive in the steamer Jane Douglas, which is expected here this morning. There was a slight difficulty between two Legislative Councillors yesterday on the question of scats. Mr. Pharaayn complained to the Speaker that Mr. Robinson had " jumped" his claim. This was altogether denied by Mr. Kobinmn, who said it there had been any “ jumping ” it was on the part of Mr. Pharazyn. Mr. Miller deprecated such trivial matters being brought before the Council. The Speaker stated the practice that had obtained here, as also .that of the House of Commons, the result finally being that the Hon. Mr. Robinson formally kept possession of the disputed position. A trial of the city tramway was made yesterday afternoon, but was not so satisfactory as could have been wished. The engine and one car came as far as the corner of Manners and Cuba streets. As the couplings were not long enough there was some little difficulty in getting safely round the corners. This defect, however, c m be easily remedied, and no doubt on Saturday everything will work satisfactorily. The Wellington College Football team will, we understand, leave for Nelson by the s.s. Wellington to-day, to play the return match against the Nelson College. The following are tho names of the Wellington team : Cooper (captain), Crawford, Dransfield, Field, Gair, Gore, Kirk, Knight, Luxford, Moorhouse, Morrah, Snow, and Taylor. Yesterday was undoubtedly one of the coldest and most unpleasant days that has been experienced in Wellington this season. The state of the barometer, as shown on the weather report at the Telegraph Office, was indicated to be 54. At Dunedin it was as low as 40. The Eev. A. lleid will deliver a lecture in the schoolroom, Dix-on-street, this evening, on the subject of “ Woman’s influence on the World’s weal.” At the close of the lecture a collection will be made in aid of the Thorudou Sunday school building fund, for which object we understand a bazaar is also being got up. Mrs. Qooi’ge Cottcrell's concert at the Theatre Eoyal took place last night under the patronage of his Excellency the Governor and the Marchioness of Normanby, Captain Townsend, 8.N., and the officers of H.M.S. “ Nymphe,” Sir George Grey, K.C.8., Sir John Richardson, Sir William Fitzherbert, and the members of the General Assembly. There was a very good attendance, especially in the dress-circle, and this may bo taken as a sure testimony of the high apprecation in which Mrs. Cotterell is held by the musical portion of the community. Mrs. Cotterell was very ably assisted by most excellent local talent, and the entertainment, as was proved a most brilliant success.

Notwithstanding the inclomenoy of the weather last night and counter attractions elsewhere, there was a good attendance at the Imperial Opera House. The first piece presented was Goldsmith’s delightful comedy of “ She Stoops to Conquer,” in which Miss Colville sustained the part of Miss Hardcastle in her usual admirable style, Mr. Hoskins taking the rolo of Young Marlow. The various performers acquitted themselves well, and a very laughable burlesque, “Ye Honeymoon,” brought the entertainment to a close. This evening Miss Ruby D'Arcy will make her ■ first appearance in the sparkling musical comedy entitled “The Irish Heiress.” Wo anticipate a full house. The meeting of the footballers which was to have taken place at the Star Hotel last night lapsed for want of a quorum. A Melbourne, exchange says The latest flaw in the Education Act has just been discovered. A man who had been fined by the Hamilton Bench for not sending his child to school appealed to the Supreme Court to prohibit the justice enforcing the order, on the ground that there was no evidence that he was the parent. The Court held that the omission was fatal, and the order as prayed for was granted. According to Launoelot, “Itis a wise father that knows his own child;” but here the Supremo Court demands that local benches and truant officers shall show wisdom that is hardly expected from an ordinary father. The case will be a warning to justices not to take things on trust. The Chinese lottery appeals (says the Melbourne Leader of the 10th inst.) came before the General Sessions on Tuesday, the appellants being Edward Tipper, Mon Yeng, Eong Eat, and Ah Ling, They were summoned before the Melbourne justices in June last on a charge of illegally selling tickets in a lottery, and they were fined £25 each, with £3 3s. costs. Against this conviction they now appealed. Sir. McDermott appeared for Mon Yeng and Tipper ; Mr. Eisher for Eong Eat and Ah Ling. A batch of technical objections to the conviction were raised by counsel for the defendants, but they were successfully replied to by Mr. A. O. Smyth, the Crown Prosecutor, who appeared to sustain the convictions. Judge Cope overruled all the points raised, and confirmed the decision of the justices, with £5 ss. costs in each ease. The Melbourne Argus of the Bth inst. says ; —“ Colouol Scratohloy, R. 8., has just returned to Melbourno after a short visit of inspection to the defence works now being carried out at Brisbane by the Queensland Government. Whilein Brisbane Colonel Scratchley inspected the newly-formed volunteer corps, and the result of his inspection was embodied in a report forwarded to the Colonial Secretary. As some of his remarks arc equally applicable to other volunteer corps they may bo read with interest. Ho says :—‘ A field force should possesp three qualifications, which are absolutely essential for its efficiency—accurate shooting with gun and rifle, good and steady marching, rapid movements in extended order. . . . The field artillery should bo put through a regular course of shot and shell practice, and a small number of field movements ; and arrangements should bo made for the regular horsing of the guns. . . . The infantry should bo subjected to a regular course of musketry instruction in their drillsheds as well as on the rifle ranges. It is desirable to exorcise the garrison artillery at field-gun drill without field movements as well as heavy gun drill They should also bo put through a course of shot and shell practice, together with musketry instruction, in order that they may' be able to defend a battery , against assault in ■ case of need. As to foot drill, it is only necessary that the garrison artillery should be taught such movements as are needed for inspections and general parades,’ ”

-There is, nays “ Angles ” in tha Australasian, a gentleman bolding a prominent office in Victoria who makes ready promises, which he almost invariably—X won’t say intentionally—forgets. His reputation for loose statements has led to what I think to be the unjust conclusion —that he is deliberately mendacious. He could not, for instance, rank with William Murray, Lord Mansfield, whom Sir Thomas Clerk thus described a century and a quarter ago :—“ You and I,” said the Master of the Rolls to Sir Eardly Wilmot, “ have lived long in the world, and, of course, have met with a great many liars, but did you ever know such a liar as Will Murray, whom we have seen capable of lying before twelve people, every one of whom lie knows knows also that he lies." Our Premier, it is understood, has shaken hands with the Chief Secretary of Victoria, across the water ; have, we any gentleman here “ holding a prominent olllee ’’ who could say “ hail fellow well met ” to “ .'Egles' ” friend!

Speaking of the remains of the female found a few Jays ago on the island upon which the Loch Aid first struck, tho Belfast Gazette says that some nautical men are of opinion that the unfortunate woman must have lodged there from the rigging of the ship. It is thought that others of the crew and passengers must have met with a similar fate on the ledges of the cliffs and oaves of tho rocks, who might have been saved had help been near after tho wreck took place. . The news from Hew Guinea is not encouraging, says the Australasian of tho 10th August, to the Australasian Colonisation scheme. One correspondent, who writes to Oooktown, gives a most lugubrious account of the state of affairs. He says that they are very reluctant to send news, and any one suspected of corresponding with the papers is viewed with great suspicion. So far as can be gleaned no gold whatever his been found, and many, or most, of the party were prostrated with sickness. It is the same tale of failure, disappointment, and cruel fevers in which so many New Guinea expeditions have issued. Possibly Mr. Dods’ ironclad fort may not be needed, and wo may yet escape being embroiled in war with Sir Arthur Gordon on one side and the Dutch Government on the other.