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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5438, 31 August 1878, Page 2

The Colonial Treasurer is going to ask for further imprest supply on Monday. . :Tho Horn -Mr. Sheehan will make his annual statement of Native affairs and land purchases on Tuesday evening. Mr. Bunny yesterday gave notice of his intention to Ask for loavo to introduce a Bill to enable the trustee, of the Wellington Hospital to sell certain lands. The Hon. Colonel Whitmore stated in the Legislative Council yesterday that' ho hoped the Counties Act Amendment Bill would bo circulated by Tuesday. At all events, it would be distributed in a few,days.

The amount of revenue collected at the Custom House, x Wellington, for the month of August is over £21,000. This, we understand, is the largest aum that has ever been collected ia one month at this port, and is accounted for by tho fact of so many Home ships having arrived much about the same time. The ordinary revenue for a month averages about £15,000, and it will be thus seen that there is an increase this month of over £6OOO. The Hon. Hr. Fox in the House yesterday drew attention to a peculiar error in the Land Tax Bill. The tax was represented to be a half-penny in the hundred pounds instead of in the pound. Hr. Ballance said he was aware of tho error. It was a printer’s mistake, but was so obvious that the Government did not anticipate any inconvenience therefrom. The present Ministry might be described as a Ministry of big men with small voices. Tho usual answers given to the [questions put to the Government are so very inaudible in the reporters' gallery that it is a matter of conjecture what the purport of the reply given may be. The wording is hopelessly obscure. It is hard to say to what extent the waves of sound are obstructed by the heavy box-like structure that is called the Speaker’s chair. The effect of it is certainly to render inaudible more than half the sayings of its occupant. Interesting points of order and mluute technicalities of parliamentary law, if not taken down with perfect verbal accuracy are harmful rather than useful. At present this accuracy is well-nigh impossible, Mr. Stout, Mr. Sheehan, and Mr. Ballance are each and all readily and distinctly audible when delivering a speech or warmed in debate ; but in replying to questions they adopt a conversational tone that reduces their answers to’ a series of distracting puzzles to those whose’ duty it is to give truthful and accurate reports , to the public. A grand concert and dramatic entertainment will be given at the Theatre Royal this evening, under the auspices of the Wellington Typographical Association, in aid.of a sick member of that body. Some of the best local talent has, we understand, been obtained, and an excellent programme will be placed before the audience. The excellence of the object in view—to relieve a case of peculiar hardship—and the intrinsic merits of the entertainment, will doubtless combine to draw a crowded house to the Theatre Royal to-night.

The Imperial Opera House was crowded Inst evening, as was' expected to be the case on the occasion of Miss Colville’s farewell benefit, under the patronage of Captain Townsend and the officers of H.M.S. Nymphe. The pieces chosen for the occasion were “ The Jealous Wife ” (Mrs, Oakley, Hiss Colville, Mr. Oakley, Mr. Hoskins), and “ Tho Game of Speculation, in which Mr. Hoskins appeared in his great impersonation of “Mr. Affable Hawk,” which is undoubtedly one of his best characters. The piece ran remarkably well throughout, the leading characters being well supported by the company, and the audience testifying their approval by repeated applause. At the conclusion of the first piece, Mr. W. F. Baker, who had kindly volunteered his services, sang the exquisite song, of u The sweet little shamrock,” and received quite an ovation. He was encored repeatedly, and the feeling of tho audience was unmistakable as to their appreciation of the song itself and the masterly manner in which it was rendered. To-night “ Formosa ” will be played. The annual meeting of the Young Men’s Christian Association was held yesterday. There was a very good attendance, and amongst those present were tho Revs. West, Thorp, Paterson, J. Woodward, Esq., and J. G. Hoklsworth, Esq. The proceedings were opened by tho reading of a Psalm by Mr. Woodward, after which prayer was offered up by Mr. Kirk. This was followed by the singing.of a hymu, tho delivery of the president’s address, and the singing of another hymn. tylr. Price, late secretary of the kindred society at Nelson, addressed the meeting, and spoke eloquently of the part which the Kev. Dr. Somerville had taken in the founding of these Christian Associations, and of the benefits likely to flow from his visit to the colony. He urged upon all, aud especially the youug men, to be zealous for the advancement of true and to study self-culture. The Rev. Mr.''West'also delivered some appropriate observations to the same effect, as did also Archdeacon Thorpe. (Hr. Holds worth spoke of th? Syndaylvfrork of the association, and showed how the'services were attended by seamen and others, who, from a variety of reasons, did not go to church, and who thus had the opportunity of hearing God’s word read and preached, who might otherwise .not have such an opportunity. After some other addressee, and prayer by the Rev. Mr. Paterson, the meeting, which was of a most encouraging character to the friends of the association, was brought to a'close.

The artillery ball to be held on Monday next at the Provincial Hall promises to be one o£ the most enjoyable affairs of the season. The arrangements in connection with it are upon the most liberal scale, and everything seems to have been done to secure the enjoyment of all those who patronise' it. The baud attached to the corps will provide the requisite music, and their excellence is so well known that it requires no comment from us, but wo may mention that the bandmaster, Mr. Cemino, has composed two waltzes especially for this occasion. His 'Excellency the Governor, Lady Normanby, and suite, Colonel Reader, Major Pearce, Major Stack, the officers of H.M.S. Nympho, and the commanding officers of various volunteer corps, have signified their intention to be present. The members of the artillery are reminded that they are to assemble at the Provincial Buildings at 8.30 o’ clock in full dress uniform, with arms and accoutrements, for the purpose of forming a guard of honor to his Excellency on his arrival. ", The following additions and alterations have been made in the rules and regulations of the Educational District of Wellington .-—Prizes will be given to the two highest boys and two highest girls in each of the following standards, viz,, i, 5, and C, and in scholars’ certificate examination. The prizes are to be given irrespective of age. Schools to be maintained when the average attendance is 25 and over. When the attendance is under twenty-five the Board will subsidise the schools, and give £4 per head on the average attendance. The salaries of the teachers have been raised generally, not uniformly, but according to a new scale, the principal point being that the lowest salary paid to a certificated teacher in charge of a school will be £l6O, and no teacher in charge of a school will be paid less than £IOO a-year. A man who, we understand, has lately been liberated from the Lunatic Asylum, made his way down the wharf last evening and indulged in several acrobatic feats on board tho Abeona. He was noticed by several of the crew to be climbing aloft, and on being questioned by them as to “ what his little game was,” he replied that if anybody interfered with him ho would hang himself at tho yardarm. He eventually left the vessel, and said he was going to tho Botanical Gardens. The police will no doubt keep an eye upon the unfortunate man’s movements, and, if necessary, bring him before the R.M. Court with a view to his being taken care of. Tho microphone promises to bo one of the most amazing discoveries of modern science. Its application in medicine is already demonstrated by tho fact that it can detect small particles of diseased bone at the bottom; of a deep wound. Re the visit of the Australian cricketers to England, Punch indulges in the following lines : Tho Australians came down like a wolf oh tho fold, The Mary’bono cracks for a trifle wore bowled; Oar Grace before dinner was very soon done, Our Grace after dinner did not got a run. His Excellency the Governor of New South Wales has received a letter from the British Minister at Yeddo (Sir Harry Parkes) dated 28th June, 1878, of which tho following is a copy : —“I have the honor to inform you"that X have received a note from the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, communicating to me the return to this country of, the Japanese ship of war Tsukube, which has recently visited Sydney, and to the captain of which ship I furnished, at the request of the Japanese Government, a letter of introduction to your Excellency in January last.. In making to me this communication tho Foreign Minister desires me to convoy to your Excellency tho grateful sense entertained by tho Japanese Government of the extremely kind and friendly treatment which the captain and other officers of the Tsnkuba received both from your Excellency and from every one with whom they were in relation during their interesting visit to New South Wales. I may add that I have also received a visit from Captain ’ Matsumura, .who expressed himself deeply sensible of the kindness universally ajiown to the officers and crow of his ship while in your colony; and also of the care bestowed by the authorities to ensure their seeing everything of interest within the limits of the time at their disposal. In forwarding tho acknowledgments of the Japanese Government for these attentions paid to their countrvraeu, 1 beg to add my own thanks, to your Excellency for having so freely responded to my request for your good offices ia this matter,’’

A notice respecting tho Municipal by-law for enforcing the laying down of pavements in the borough will be found in our advertising columns. A meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society will be held at 8 o’clock this evening, when papers will be read by Dr. Hector, Messrs, A. P. Maxwell, W. Skey, and others. A requisition, already numerously signed, is being circulated amongst the ratepayers, requesting Mr. R. Port to allow himself to be put in nomination for Cook Ward, Applications have been received by the Education Board for the erection of new schools at Collerville, near Greytown, and at Hungaroa. The Board, we understand, will not be able to erect all these at once. A school under the Board of Education ia to be erected at the Small Farm Settlement at Pahaubanui, and if a suitable building can be obtained a school will shortly be opened at Newtown., A meeting of the provisional of the proposed New Zealand Rifle Association was held last evening, at which a circular was drawn up iuvlting the co-operation of volunteers generally throughout the colony ; copies will be sent to every company. Tenders are invited by Mr. J. H. Gibbon, marine surveyor, up to tho 7th September, for the conveyance of the whole or a portion of the cargo of the ship Hydrabad from the Horowhenua beach to tho Mauawatu River. Particulars will be found in out advertising columns. The Bruce Herald says :—lf the coming spring should turn out unusually mild, and be accompanied by soft rains, such is the prodigious quantity of snow up country that will be melted, that tremendous floods in the Clutha River may be expected, and, indeed, damage to the township of Balclutha may itself be apprehended. A correspondent of the Sydney Hail writing from New Caledonia on August 2 says:—There is nothing new from the revolted districts. The other parts of the island are perfectly quiet, except the native feud at Poya, north of Bourail. The weather continues very hot during the day, but the nights, since a heavy fall of rain on Sunday week, are pleasantly cool. The season is remarkably dry, no regular rainfall - having yet taken place throughout tho country.' Settlers look forward to another hard summer, if plentiful rains do nob soon come. The report that there is a reinforcement of 1000 troops on its way from France per the Finisterre or the Pei-ho is merely a report. The only official information received is to tho effect that troops will arrive from France and Cochin China. Nothing has supported the rumor of the descent from the islands of the fighting part of their population. The French paper here, after calling attention to the report, has wisely added : “ All these noises up to the present day rest upon no foundation.” Therefore, if they are published in Sydney, their value can be estimated. The health of the troops and of the general public is very good. Whatever may be thought or said of Sir Julius Vogel (says the Sydney Hail of the 17th instant), it will never be charged against him that he had nob tho interests of New Zealand at heart. We hear more of him than of any other of the Ageuts-Geueral for the colonies. He seems to be ever on the alert, pushing New Zealand as au eligible field for settlement under tbe notice of the people at Home. . TTia last move in this direction is characterise tic, and if his proposal succeeds, New Zealand will gaiu immensely both in population and prestige. He has’ written to the Government, forwarding a proposal that 30,000 to 50,000 acres of land shall be set apart for immigrants of a superior class possessing some capital, a higher price to be charged them for the land than if purchased in the colony, and deferred payments to bo allowed to some extent. He also suggests that a number of young men, say twenty, possessing capital, should be sent out from England to learn farming in New Zealand ,* their capital to pay such amount. as would entitle them to receive land when they had practical experience to work it. Some of the Now Zealand journals are jubilant at this novel proposition, aud are entering into calculations to show how much - capital, combined with bone, sinew, and intelligence, might he introduced to the colony if the scheme be carried out. It is quite true that if 1000 immigrants, each with £3OO in his pocket, arrived in tho colony, tho cash capital of the country will be increased by £300,000. But : then the difficulty has always laia at the other side of the globe. In regard to immigration systems many castles have been constructed of airy nothingness. Persons with small amounts of capital have usually been tbe most obstinate stay-at-homes. What the wily influence of Sir Julius may accomplish has to be seen. If he succeeds, the other colonies will not perhaps be alow to follow suit.

A satirical acquaintance, says “ AEgles ” in the Australasian, one day this week called my attention to a small patch on his boot, “Ton see that ?” “ Certainly,” I replied. “ Now that patch,” said be, “X regard with great interest. It was put on last week—charge, sixpence—by the Mayor of Mullookton, and the same day my hair was cut for a shilling by a newly-appointed Justice of the Peace.” Petroleum was used as early as 1806. Nat Carey, a pedlar (,saya an exchange), was the first person to do so. He gathered it by floating flannel cloths on Oil Creek, P., and when they became saturated with the oil floating on the surface he saved it by wringing out the cloths. The oil thus collected he sold as liniment, under the name of Seneca oil, and it became famous. The following regulations were recently published in the Victorian Gazelle :—“ Treatment of Sheep when lauded : Every sheep introduced by sea into the colony shall, immediately on being landed, be removed to some quarantine ground determined by the Governor in Council under the said regulations, or to some store or place in the city of Melbourne, of which the Chief Inspector of Stock, or Officer acting for him, may, by writing under his hand, approve for that purpose, and whch shall be deemed a quarantine ground, and shall bo detained there for not less than twenty-one days, and until the Chief Inspector, or the officer acting for him, shall, by writing under his hand, authorize their removal, and such sheep shall, whilst so detained, bo dipped not less than three times at intervals of from eight to ten days, the first of such dippings to take place within four days of their lauding, and in the medicaments provided by the regulations under the Scab Act, 1870 (No. 370), under the direction and to the satisfaction of the Chief Inspector of Stock, or the officer acting for him." From this it will be seen that the protests from the breeders and the Press of this colony have had effect. It is also satisfactory to learn that a proper quarantine ground will be provided. Land in the possession of Mr. W. Bi Jones, on tho south side of the Yarra five acres three roods and five perches in extent, has been proclaimed a quarantine ground for the reception of sheep arriving from sea.

The stamping-out process, which wo apply to some cattle diseases in England (says the Mark Lane Express) is recommended by an American paper, the Prairie Farmer, iu order to get rid of “the pests of the household.” Tho means which are proposed for stamping out what our American cousin, after an apology to “ ears polite,” styles “ the festive bed-bug,” are thus stated : There is nothing more disagreeable to his constitution than oil of cedar ; in lieu of this, the fat fried from salt pork will answer. Wash the bedsteads thoroughly iu cold wator, using plenty of soap ; dry and apply the dripping with a feather to every crack and crevice. Keep the fat on a pan of coals, as it must be used while hot. Wherever it ia used they will not appear again. , The merchants of Hongkong have petitioned tho Government, complaining that a junk laden with gunpowder for Macao had been stopped by Chinese officials outside Macao harbor, and compelled to return. The Government communicated with the authorities of Canton, and was informed that Macao was part of China, and that the importation of munitions of war was subject to stringent regulations. The Governor of Macao strongly protests, and says ho asserts tho sovereignty of tho King of Portugal over Macao, seeing that the Portuguese flag has waved over the peninsula tor throe centuries. Mr. Francis Sldey’s great sale of sections in the township of Woodvlllo takes place this day in the Arcade buildings at 2 o’clock (particulars of which will bo found In our advertising columns); also, a quantity of uselnl furniture, stock of groceries, fancy goods, and sundries, at tho same place at X o'clock. Messrs. Deary, Campbell, and Co. will sell at the Nag's Heart yard this afternoon, horses, carriages and harness ; also, two cows, &o. .IVo are requested ,to call tho attention.of German residents to an advertisement in reference to tho on. tertainmont which is to take place on Monday. Tickets can bo obtained on application to any member of the committee. ' We have been requested to call attention to Messrs. J. H. Bothuno and Go ’s sale of a choice collection of Now Zealand variegated shrubs, plants, and fruit ttees thlg day, at their rooms, corner of F.ethorston and Brandon streets, commencing at 11 o'clock as advertised, .