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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5440, 3 September 1878, Page 2

Mr. Wakefield, in his admirable and critical review of the financial policy of the Government, compared the Colonial Treasurer and the Minister of Public Works to two bears climbing up a pole for a seat at the top, on which there was room only for one. The seat referred to was the land revenue accruing from the land sales in the Middle Island. The carrying out of the Public Works policy, .to avoid excessive loans, will require the whole of tiiis fund. But the Consolidated Fuad will also require its assistance to meet ordinary revenue and the interest on loans already spent. Which bear shall occupy the scat ? Mr. Wakefield decides in favor of the Minister of Public Works, whose general policy he approves. Having criticised the beer-tax generally as costly to collect, and small in its result, he objected to the tax on the profits of the joint-stock companies as tending to drive away capital. If a critique like Mr, Wakefield’s is the candid advice of a friend, the Government may well echo the sentiment expressed in the words, “ licavo me my enemies, but save mo from my friends.” A long discussion took place yesterday on the question whether a lawyer in the House of Representatives should bo allowed to accept the post of Judge. The Attorney-General remarked that the post so far from being a prize generally entailed a loss upon the person accepting the office, as the salaries of Judges were only half what was current in Victoria. Mr. Bryce did not see why a privilege should be conceded to a lawyer that was denied to a lay member. It appeared to him that what was disgraceful to an ordinary lay member was considered a credit to a lawyer. A judgeship ou the bench was as likely to act as a bribe to a lawyer as an appointment to the Civil Service to influence the vote of an ordinary member of the House. The question afforded an opportunity to Mr. Barton to give a dissertation on the value of precedents in Courts of Law, and the advantage of having a lawyer appointed as Judge who had been trained in the contests of the House. Further training in argumentative contests might seem almost superfluous in some cases. There will be a sitting of the Supreme Court in bankruptcy this The following cases are set down for hearing ; —ln rc E. T. Gillon (for examination); in rc Alfred Colson (application for discharge); in rc John Head (application for discharge.) A notice received yesterday from the telegraph authorities informs us that cable communication between Singapore and Batavia is now totally interrupted. A cable steamer left Singapore on Friday last to repair the break. A later telegram from Batavia, dated Ist inst., states that the Edinburgh is now repairing the cable. One fault has been removed, and it is expected that communication will be completely restored in a day or two. Yesterday some person or persons, at present unknown, placed several stones on the tram.way. line on Keut-terrace, it is presumed with malioioiis intent. The manager of the company offers a reward of £5 for such information as will lead to the conviction of the offenders.

A special meeting of the Provincial Grand Masonic Lodge for the North Island of New Zealand, 5.0., was held last evening for the purpose of installing Brother A. Johnston as O.P.G.M. and other oilicera elect. After the ceremony a banquet was hold at the Occidental Hotel.

Mr. Andrevj Young was amongst the passengers to Wellington . by the s.s. Taupo yesterday. Councillor Maginity requests the Thorndon ratepayers to meet him this evening at the Princess Hotel, Molesworth-street, at 8 o’clock. Councillor J. A. Allan notifies to the ratepayers of Jjambton Ward that he intends to stand for re-election, and will take an early opportunity of addressing them. A numerously signed requisition to Mr. R. Port, asking him to allow himself to be nominated for Cook Ward, appears in our advertising columns, and also Mr, Port’s consent to stand for the vacancy. We (Napier Telegraph) hear that a writ has been taken out by the contractor for the harbor works against tho Harbor Board for the recovery of £12,000 damages. Tire number of names on the new electoral roll for Wellington City is 3420, for Wellington Country District 720, and for the Hutt 490, making a total for the three districts of 4030.

7ho quarterly licensing meeting will 'be held at tho Resident Magistrate’s Court today. Wo have already published a list of the applications for transfers, &c. It will be seen by reference to our advertising columns that the Panama Hotel has changed hands, Mr. Nicholls being succeeded by Mr. Williams, the late popular landlord of the National Hotel, Lambton-quay. Notice is given by the Town Clerk that on and after Monday next no goods will be allowed to be delivered for shipment on the wharf unless each cart has a delivery ticket, which is to be left with the export clerk. | The Cheevera, Kennedy, and Bent Minstrels, of whom report speaks most highly, will make their first appearance at the Theatre Royal tc-night, and will, we have no doubt, be greeted by a crowded house. A requisition to Mr. J. S. M. Thompson, asking him to allow himself to bo placed in nomination for Lambtou Ward, and his reply consenting to come forward as a candidate, will be found in our advertising columns. The names of a largo number of influential ratepayers are appended to the requisition, The Volunteer Artillery ball, which took place in the Provincial Hall last night, was a very brilliant and successful affair. The hall was tastefully decorated, the music excellent, and the attendance most numerous. Dancing commenced at about nine o’clock, and was kept up with great spirit until an early hour this morning. All present seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed themselves. During his excellent speech last night Mr. Wakefield “brought down the House” by a little pun which, constructed on tho spur of tho moment, and let off in an instant, was irresistibly funny. “ If,” said tho hon. gentleman, “ the proposals of the Government with refreuce to the beer tax are calculated to make men sober, there can be- not the least doubt that their action in regard to joint stock companies will inevitably make money tight.” Considering ths many counter attractions elsewhere last evening there was a good attendance at the Athemeura concert, when all tho singers acquitted themselves very well, as did also a young gentleman who gave a recitation. Mrs. W, 3T. Baker gave the “ Skipper and his boy” with much taste and feeling, and the duet, “ The Cousins,” by her and another young lady, went trippingly, and elicited a hearty encore. Mr. Baker sang “ Madeline” with much pathos, his voice filling the hall to great advantage.

The German residents of Wellington celebrated the unification of Germany by a supper and ball, which cook place at the Polytechnic last night. There was a large attendance. Mr. Krull, the German Consul, occupied the chair. The supper was catered for by Mr. Tafuer of the Temperance Hotel. After supper, to which ample justice was done by the assembled guests, the following toasts were proposed and duly acknowledged :—“ Her Majesty the Queen,” “ The German Emperor,” il The Crown Prince,” “ Frederick Charles,” “ Prince Bismark,” “ Moltke and the Army and Havy,” Germany,” “ The German Consul,” ** New Z inland, our Adopted Home,” “The Ladies,” and “The Press," The hall was then cleared, when dancing commenced, and was kept up with much spirit until the small hours this morning. This evening £tlie adjourned meeting of the law clerks of the city of Wellington will be held at the offices of Mr. F. M, Ollivier, when the rules will be submitted, and a president, vice-presidents, and officers elected. The promoters of the association have determined to extend its privileges to'all persons engaged in law offices, and not confine them, as was originally intended, to articled clerks only. Probably some members of the profession will assist the society by donations of books and by giving lectures, and possibly also by pecuniary assistance, which we understand will be wanted at starting. When the preliminary difficulties are overcome a flourishing Law Society may spring from the present movement, which appears to be one deserving of encouragement at the hands of lawyers. Mr. Fitzherbert, solicitor for the plaintiff in the case of Mclntyre v. Macfarlane, in which judgment was recently given for the plaintiff for £62 10s., made a complaint to the R.M, yesterday morning relative to a distress warrant. Mr. Fitzherbert said he went ‘to the Court last Tuesday and instructed the clerk to issue a distress warrant against Macfarlane. The clerk told him that it would be issued the following day (Wednesday). On Friday Mr. Fitzherbert inquired if the warrant had been executed, and was told that there was 11s. to pay. Mr. Fitzherbert immediately sent his clerk to the Resident Magistrate’s office with the money, when he was promised by one of the clerks in the office that the warrant would be issued at once. It, however, was not executed until yesterday morning. One of the bailiffs, named Bowden, stated to Mr. Fitzherbcrt’s clerk that the defendant (Macfarlane) was a particular friend of his (the bailiff’s), and added that “ there was no good in taking out a .warrant, as he (the bailiff) knew the money would he all right.” Mr. Fitzherbert said that it was not the first time he had had to complain about the manner in which the business was conducted in the office. His Worship said that he would make inquiries, and if he found that any of the officers of the Court were to blame in the matter he would make them pay the damages out of their own pockets. “ Formosa ” was repeated at the Imperial Opera House last evening, and to-night “ Richelieu ” will be performed, Mr. Hoskins appealing in his great impersonation of the Cardinal, and Miss Colville as Julio de Mortimer. As this will be the last opportunity which the Wellington public will have of seeing Mr. Hoskins in what is usually considered his masterpiece, a large and appreciative audience may confidently be anticipated on thojjoccasion. We have received a copy of “ Bradshaw’s Guido to New Zealand” for the month of August, The present number of this useful publication is quite up to its usual standard of excellence. The work is becoming a necessary to almost every traveller in the colony, and as the railways are extended it will be of still greater use. Before the next issue of the Guide the line froni Christchurch to Dunedin will be open throughout, and also that from Wellington to Featherston, unless any unforeseen delay occurs. The Banhury Guardian (England) thus refers to the successful reclamation of laud near Aberystwith, undertaken by private enterprise ;— u In the construction of the railway which now convoys many thousands of visitors every summer to Aberystwith—the Brighton of Wales—the lino had to pass through a tract of country covered with sea-water which attracted the notice of an enterprising firm of Manchester men, who have for three or four years been reclaiming it by the use of a set of steam cultivating machinery, constructed by Howard, of Bedford. The surroundings of the locality are so treacherous and difficult that the engine had to bo placed somo 700 or 800 yards distant from the land cultivated, indeed before tho aid of steam was called in, the attempt to do the work with horses was not only dangerous but impracticable. With the aid, however, of steam, the difficulties of the work were all overcome, and it may now be said that the great scheme has become a remark-, able success, for, where but three years ago all was a watery waste, this year there are hundreds of acres of promising corn crops,”

Mr. F. Sldcy will soil by auction at 2 o’clock this afternoon a stock of clothing valued at £2400. The articles arc guaranteed of superior quality and in firstclass order, and tho sale la well worthy the attention of country storekeepers and others in the trade. Further particulars will be found In our advertising columns. Mr. H. J. Wallace will soil at 1 o’clock to day, at tile Mungaroa Hotel, Upper Hutt, tho whole of the furniture ami effects of Mr. T. Wagg (who is retiring from tho hotel), also horses, pigs, and sundries. Mr. K. J. Duncan will sell by auction at 2 o’clock tills afternoon; a number of valuable proprieties, including sections at Palmerston North and Fltzherbort, two freehold cottages adjoining tho residences of the Mayor and Mr. E. Pearce, also ten shares In tho D'Urvillo Island Copper Mining Company.