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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5459, 25 September 1878, Page 2

We do not weary of giving assistance to the Government in the matter of official advertisements. We have' in view in doing so the interest of our subscribers and readers, who have as good a right, as forming a tolerably large section of tho people, to that kind of information about projected public works and the sale of the public estate, &c., &0., as that section of the people who read only the subsidised journals or the Ministers’ own paper. In another place there will be found some official advertisements inserted on our usual terms —“ gratis.” On Mr. Richardson's resolution, to the effect that it is inexpedient to allow any sums to be expended in future on railway contracts without the money having been appropriated by Parliament, the Government raked over the annals of history in search of precedents to justify illegality and wrong-doing. The only two cases they could find were Brogden’s contracts and the ’Frisco mail service, and they made the most of them. However, Mr. McLean and others pointed out that in both instances the contracts had been expressly let subject to the consent of Parliament being obtained. In the Tapanui contract no such provision had been inserted, and the proceeding was aptly characterised as having been carried out in contempt of tho opinion of the House. Mr. McLean pointed out that all the-speakers bad avoided touching on the constitutional aspect of the question, and he showed that the resolution was simply brought forward with a view to ensure tho observance of a proper course in tho future, and not expressly to censure anything in the past. The House ap■ peared not to disapprove of this Tapanui contract, members oidy thought the system under which it had been let a dangerous ono to constitute a precedent. Tbs remarkable point was that on July 29th tho tenders were received in Dunedin, and upon the very next day, July 30th, they were accepted by telegram. Mr. MoLeau asked why was all this hurry when the House was' sitting, and showed that it was apparently only done iu order to hurry ou the work, and to avoid submitting the item to the Legislature. Mr. Bryce begged the mover to withdraw the resolution, because if carried it would be considered a vote of censure in spite of his disclaimer that it was-not intended as such. In point of tact, nine members oat. of ten agreed with the resolution, and many felt relieved by Mr. Do I,auteur’s suggestion that the resolution would not really be put to the vote, but that tho question on which the voices would be taken was whether or not the House should go into Committee of Supply. Major Atkinson argued that tile Opposition bad tried hard not to treat this question as a party question, but the Government would not permit this, and must take note of the pressure which they were putting upon.the consciences of their supporters, and abide by the result. Ultimately the House decided to, no into Committee of Supply, and thus shelved the resolution by 44 to 30. In reference to tho Moumahaki murder, the Hon. Mr. Sheehan received a telegram yesterday stating that the murderer had been seen tho previous evening at Okotuku, and stated ho was making for Parihaka, To Whiti’s place; further that Kateno had gone to Hawera to intercept him. A telegram from Captain Kay stated that men had been placed along the line to intercept tho murderer. Mr. Sheehan telegraphed to Te Whiti, saying that the murderer was going to him, and that the Government expected him to be delivered over to the authorities..

A special meeting of tho Wellington Wanderers Cricket Club was held iu Mr. Ollivier’s office last night. Mfl J. M. Speed was in tho chair, and there was a good attendance of members. Tho chairman explained that the object of the meeting was to adopt tho club's rules, and for the election of office-bearers, which took place as follows ; —President, Hon. Eandull Johnson; vice-presidents, Messrs. Rees and F. M. Ollivior ; committee, Messrs. H. Burns, H. S. Hickson, J. M. Speed, C. Franco, and E. Leokio ; secretary and treasurer, Mr. A. W. Leokio. The remainder of the business was of a routine nature. A vote of thanks to tile chairman terminated the proeveings.

At a meeting o' tho Bishop’s residence fund committee .held yesterday iu the Provincial Library, at which his Honor tho Chief Justice occupied the chair, the amount of subscriptions up to the present time in aid of tho object in view was stated to be £1450, and it was expected that about £IOO would bo contributed from tlie Wairarapa District, £2OO from tho Diocesau Fund, and £ I OO from the parishioners, of Sfc. Peter’s. At a meeting of the parishioners of St. Paul’s tho previous evening it was resolved that their contribution should be £2OO.

Tho Manaaatn Times of Saturday last gives tho following particulars of a recent fatal accident at Perilling ; —“ We regret to state that a melancholy accident occurred on Thursday near Feilding, which resulted in the almost instantaneous death of a man named Thomas Harvey. It appeal's that tho deceased, who was a la'o arrival from Auckland, was employed iu bush falling a few miles from Feilding. Ho was mates with a German, and both men being inexperienced bnahmen,_ a tree had been felled in such a manner that in falling it struck against another, glauoed off and fell on Harvey, killing.him on the spot. His mate arrived at Feilding with tho sad nows, and in search of assistance to move the tree off tho man, It appears that there were men working within a mile of the scene, and some blame has been attached to tho German for not having sought the nsarcst assistance, but as it is admitted that death was almost instantaneous, wo cannot see that it would have made any .difference. Harvey leaves a widow and three children destitute among strangers.” We regret that Sir John Richardson, Speaker of tho Legislative Council, continues iu bad health. An extension of the leave of absence granted to the 'him, gontleipan to tho 4th October won moved yesterday by the Colonial Secretary and agreed to.

The San Francisco mail, which arrived at Auckland yesterday, is expected to reach Wellington by the Taranaki ou Thursday next. The only .case: set down for hearing at the Supreme Court iu banco to-day is that of Firth v. Brownlee, an argument on demurrer. A fourth Imprest Supply Bill was passed yesterday. The sum voted on imprest this year so far totals up a million sterling. We notice by advertisement that the Marine Insurance Company of London have commenced business in Wellington, Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co. acting as agents. At a sitting of the Supreme Court in bankruptcy yesterday the only business before the Court was the application for an order of discharge by Mr. K T. Gillen, which was unopposed, and was granted accordingly. The opening match of the Star Cricket Club —Married v. Single—is to take place next Saturday. A suitable ground has, we understand, been obtained in the neighborhood of the Hutfc.

Mr. Mansford, E.M., yesterday morning acknowledged the receipt from Messrs. Cooper and Cary, for the poor-box, of £3 10s., being a portion of the proceeds of the entertainment given at the Imperial Opera House last week. Mr. E. J. Duncan sold yesterday Mrs. Howard’s property, Sussex-squaro, 39ft Ciu frontage, at £8 lOs. per foot, and 4Gft Gin frontage to Tasman-street at £8 ss. per foot. The other two lots were sold afterwards at £7 10a. per foot. A meeting of the volunteers of the district will be held at the Provincial Hall this evening at half-past 7 o’clock, for the purpose of appointing a delegate to represent the district at the conference of the New Zealand Kifle Association to be held ou the Bth October.

The Town Clerk notifies that a by-law for tho regulation of vehicles, prohibiting them being driven without being properly lighted at night, will be taken into consideration at a special meeting of the City Council ou tho 3rd October.

To-morrow (Thursday) evening Mr. W. L. Eees, M.H.K., will deliver a lecture at the Athenaeum ou the subject of “ Tho Identity of the British People with the Lost Tribes of Israel.” The chair will be taken by Professor Kirk, and a large audience may bo expected on the occasion.

A coroner’s inquest was held at Tiuui yesterday on tho body of a man named Hansen, who was found banging from a- tree at Maungapakoha the previous day. Tlie jury returned a verdict “ That the deceased hanged himself while in a state of temporary insanity.” The Otago Daily Times of the 21st instant says :—An auction sale of a rather extraordinary character was held in Barnett's rooms, Princes-street, yesterday afternoon. The body of a double-headed infant preserved in spirits of wine was submitted to public competition, and after some spirited bidding wo? knocked down to a local turfite for £47. This remarkable freak of nature formed part of the effects of tlie late Dr. O’Donoghue, of Port Chalmers. It is stated that the birth occurred' twelve years ago, and that the appearance of tho child so alarmed the mother that she died almost immediately. The annual meeting ,of the Wellington Cricket Club was held last evening at the Pier Hotel; Mr. Knapp in the chair. The secretary's report was read and adopted. The treasurer’s balance-sheet showed the receipts to be £36 18s. 9d. and the expenditure £23 7s. Bd, leaving a balance of £ll 11s. Id. B. Pearce, Esq., was re-elected president, and the Hon. G. Randall Johnson, M.L.0., and W. S. Moorhouse, M.H.8., vice-presidents. The following officers were elected ; —Mr. J. P. Kennedy, Iron, secretary and treasurer ; committee—Messrs. Adams, Armitage, Bate, Horwood, Knapp, and Werry ; delegates to the association—Messrs. Armitage,’ Adams, and Kennedy. It was resolved to bear the club’s share of the association’s debt. Several new members were elected and other routine business transacted. A vote of thanks to the retiring officers and the chairman concluded the meeting. Visitors to the Hot Springs, who intend trying the efficacy of the waters in a sanitary point of view, should remember that their ailments are occasioned by disease m the blood, and that they should thereioro complete their cure and gain the fuff advantage of the baths, by taking at the same time n proper course of tlie Rup.un.vtissi Mixcuhe of those exceedingly curative medicines, ” Unor.LAii's Great Indian Cures.” They can bo had of all Chemists, where obtain a copy of testimonials from many of those who have been benefited. —[ Advt.]

Mr. I’. Sidey will hold a large sale of town sections at Carlyle, Patoa, on Friday next, particulars of which will be found iironr advertising columns. Messrs J. H. Hethune and Go’s sale of valuable properties, to which we called attention in our issue of yesterday, will take place to-day at their mart, Featherston-street, at 2 o’clock.

Mr F. Sidey will hold a clearing sale to-day, com. mcncing nt half-past 1 o’clock, at the Arcade. Particulars will be found in our advertising columns.