Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5452, 17 September 1878, Page 2

We understand that the Committee of Selection of the Assembly have decided that the Te Aro Reclamation Bill must be regarded as a private Bill. In that case,-unless the House shall consent to suspend the standing orders relating to private Bills, no progress can be made with it in the present session. The Hon. Mr. Sheehan will make his statement on native affairs at half-past 7 o’clock this evening.

A meeting of the stewards of the Wellington Racing Club was held at the Empire Hotel last evening, when the programme for the annual meeting, to be held at the Hiitt Park Racecourse ou the 6th and 7bh February next, was arranged, and will be published immediately. On the first day the following events will come off :—Maiden X’late, of 75 sovs.; Hurdle Race, of 50 eovs.; Wellington Gold Gup, vjvluo 100 sovs., with 500 soya, added; Hutt Park Stakes, of 60 hoys.; Flying Stakes, of 50 sovs. Second day ; Wellington Derby, of 100 sovs.; Hurdle Handicap, of 75 sovs.; Racing Club Handicap, of 200 sovs.; Free Handicap, of 50 sovs.; Empire Plato, of 100 sovs.; Consolation Stakes, of 50 sovs. This is the most liberal racing programme ever published in Wellington ; the total amount of money to be run for amounts to £llOO, and some good sport may confidently bo expected on this occasion.

A supplement to the Nov/ Zealand Gazette of Thursday last, published yesterday, contains n notification of an alteration in the rates of postage. Half-ounce letters to North America via San Francisco will be charged fid. each ; via Suez and Southampton, Bd.; and via Brindisi,’ lOd. Regulations are published establishing an inland pattern, sample, and parcel post. Newspapers can bo sent to all parts of the colony by affixing a halfpenny stamp. Tenders are invited until the sth October for the conveyance o[ inland mails to and from the several post offices in the colony. In the House of Representatives last night Mr. Pyko intimated that when in committee on the .Electoral Bill ho would move an amendment to the effect that no elector should be able to vote for more than one candidate in a district. This would effectually prevent less popular candidates from getting into ParliaJnc nt on the back of others who were more popular than themselves, and when he looked around the House he could see several hon. members who had so got into Parliament. The very successful entertainment given at the Catholic Schools, Boulcott-street, on Tuesday last, will, we understand, be repeated next Thursday, and will no doubt attract a large and appreciative audience, ns it did on the former occasion, notwithstanding most unfavorable weather.

Mr. Light, of Barrett’s Hotel, has sold out his interest in that establishment to Mr. N, Guthridgo. The now proprietor took possession yesterday, and in the evening entertained a number of gentlemen at dinner.. Wo are requested to state that Iho annual Parliamentary ball given by members of both branches of the Legislature will bo held on Friday, the 4th-of October next, in the Imperial Qpura House, Manncrs-slroul,

A memorandum received from the Telegraph Department yesterday states that the Port Darwin lino is interrupted north of Alice Springs. * ■ There will be a tea and public meeting •in connection with the Wesleyan Church, Manners-street, this evening, when several clergymen and laymen will deliver addresses.

The Athemeum Hall was again crowded last night. The performance as usual was most successful. Several local amateurs made their appearance for the first time, and were most enthusiastically received. The accompaniments were played on the pianoforte by Madame Moller, and contributed in no small degree to the success of the concert. A complimentary benefit will be tendered to Mr. H. Eastwood at ’the Opera House on Saturday evening next, on which occasion Mias Ruby D’Arcy has kindly volunteered her services. Further particulars will be published.

A correspondent writing from Pahautanui yesterday says.:—The late heavy rains have caused most of the river banks to overflow, and at Duck Greek one of the approaches to the bridge has been undermined so much that when a loaded cart went over to-day the earth at the top gave way.and sunk, taking the first row of piles with it. This bridge was erected about thirty years ago, and the original parts of it are thoroughly rotten and unsafe. It has been patched up from time to time, until it is now hardly worth mending, and it is high time that step-* were taken for building a new one. When that is decided upon I think the Government will see the desirability of erecting it further out towards the mouth of the river in a line with the old causeway. By this means a considerable distance will be saved (fully a quarter of a mile), and as this is ou the main trunk line of the .West Coast road, such a saving of distance- would be of importance to the travelling public, to say nothing of the benefit it would confer by doing away with a very dangerous fording place. At the present time many travellers are tempted to cross at the month of the river in order to save going round the deep bend, and several of them have had a ducking .in Duck Creek, and have been fortunate in not losing their lives. A bridge could be erected oa this spot with perfect safety, and would not coat more than to build one on the old site. Of course there would be a necessity for making four or five chains of causeway, but the distance saved would quite warrant the expense, and there would be a quarter of a milo less of road to keep in repair.

The entertainment in aid of the Benevolent Society at the Opera House to-morrow (Wednesday) will, we hear, be under the patronage and in the presence of his Excellency the Governor, the Hon. Mr. Sheehan, and others. A good deal of interest is taken in the affair, especially by those who have never seen a native war dance. Judging from the result of several rehearsals that have takenplace there can be very little doubt of the success of this portion of the performance. The dances will be interspersed with musical selections, both vocal and instrumental. As there is almost sure to be a great demand for seats persons desirous of being present will do well to procure tickets, which can be obtained at the box office at the Athemeum Bazaar. Full particulars will be announced in to-morrow’s issue.

Professor Scott, “the King of Pain,” gave his first entertainment in the Theatre Royal last night. There was no charge for admittance, and there was a very large audience. The professor during the first part of the entertainment sang several descriptive and local songs, and accompanied himself ou the harmonium. At his request several sufferers from headache, toothache, and other pains stepped ou to the stage and partook of his specifics, which appeared to give immediate relief. A number of those present purchased b -ttles of the professor’s medicines, and a good “ line ” was done in this direction. His efforts to amuse the audience were very successful, and as the entertainment will be repeated tomorrow night many who were not present yesterday will doubtless visb the theatre and judge for themselves of the merits of the professor aud his specifics.

Sir. V. Sldey will sell at the Arcade at noon to clay the whole of Mr. Meech’s stock, consisting of flower and kitchen garden seeds, growing tree ferns, nikaus, a number of valuable books, and sundries.

Messrs. Laery and Campbell will sell by auction at noon to-day, without reserve, fifty shares In tho D’Urville Island Copper Mining Company. Wc have been requested to call attention to Messrs. J. 11. Bethuneand Co.'s sale of household furniture, &c., being tho whole of the stock-in-trade of Mr. G. If. Munt, cabinetmaker and upholsterer, which takes place this day on the premises, Lambton-quay, commencing punctually at 11 o’clock. Mr. George Thomas holds a sale of timber, in the estate of Beck aud Touks, in Manners-street, at 2 o’clock to-day.