Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5467, 4 October 1878, Page 2

The New Native Policy. —The Auckland correspondent of the Canterbury Press give* the following information, which we find published in that journal* on the 28th ultimo : —Mr Fisher, son of Mr. Fisher, PostmasterGeneral, is at Hokianga. negotiating for THE PURCHASE OF FOUR BLOCKS OF NATIVE LAND.

The Government were, this morning early, beaten on one of the cardinal points of their policy—the Gold Duty Bill—by 30 to 28, and the adjournment of the House was moved, not to allow the Ministry to “ consider their position,” as the phrase goes, but to enable them to whip up their supporters and to retrieve lost laurels to-day. It all arose about the pairs, and the full explanations will be found in our Parliamentary report. Evidently mistakes occurred, and all would have been right had not the Attorney-General risen to the occasion in his usual style and began to cast imputations broadcast. The Opposition, however, showed no desire to take advantage of the Government, and immediately consented to an adjournment till to-day, although had they chosen to stick to the point they might have had the Bill rejected last night. The position of parties on this Bill is very even, and so far as could be calculated after the House rose, there will not be more than a majority of one on the Bill for the Government.

We had heard it whispered that the passage of the Electoral Bill with the obnoxious Maori franchise intact through the Upper House was unlikely. This rumor was to ome extent substantiated by a remark of Mr. Waterhouse’s in the debate on the second reading. He said it was not desirable-to allow one branch of the Legislature to absorb all the legislative functions in the colony ; this was a case in which hurried legislation was very much to be deprecated. The Hon. Dr. Grace inveighed against the injustice of the proposal in no measured terms. Both gbntlemen were agreed that the results of manhood suffrage iu other countries were not such as to recommend its introduction either here or elsewhere. The Government bad almost a hairbreadth escape from a defeat yesterday afternoon, on Mr. Wakefield's amendment for a re-commit-tal of the Land Tax Bill. The House divided, and the result was that the Government had two of a majority. At the time of the divisi -n, the Hon. Major Atkinson and Mr. Hursthouse (who would have voted for the amendment) were out on the tennis ground. Had their votes been recorded the lists would have been equal ; and under the circumstances the Speaker would most probably have given his casting vote in favor of tho-re-committal of the Bill

The Hon. Colonel Whitmore said yesterday in the Legislative Council that he hoped some day or other the boroughs might find some way of arranging a fair distribution of reserves granted to municipalities. If this system of grants of land were continued it would lead to claims of endowments and reserves from every petty borough. The Government could not stand the drain upon its land, and ho wound up by asking if this system were continued where the colony would go to ? An hon. memberraised a laugh by saying ha hoped it would go to a much better place. In committee on the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill in the Legislative Council last night, Colonel Whitmore moved for the insertion of a condition by which no street should be of a leas width than 66ft. He mentioned Willis-street as a case in point. We consider this a salutary provision in this Bill, and one worthy of adoption elsewhere. The usual meeting of the Waste Lands Board was held yesterday. Present—Messrs. Holdsworth, Mason, and Pearce, The land sales for the fortnight ending 2nd inst. were shown to amount to £lls. An application from Mr. Zohrab for a license to occupy iu Government reserve, as shown on the plan of the City of Wellington, in terms of the Land Act, 1877, was declined. An application from settlers at Mauriceville to get it made a condition of the sale of certain lands in that district that they be improved iu terms of the special settlements arrangement, was agreed to. A Hew Zealand Gazelle issued yesterday notifies the following appointments :—J. M. Roberts,. Esq., J.P., to be E.M. at Tauranga ; D. Scanuell, Esq., J.P., to be 11-M. at Taupo ; H. W. Northoroft, Esq., to be a J.P. and E. at Waikato ;G. W. Cullen, Esq., to be Deputy-Registrar, &c,, of the Supreme Court at Napier during the absence of Duncan Guy, Esq.; C. Gray, Esq., to be a member of the Licensing Court for the Poverty Bay District', in the room of S. Parsons, Esq., deceased ; W. H. Hall, Esq, to be Examiner of Titles for the district of Otago ; K. Stuart, Esq., of Napier, to be a Trust Commissioner under the Native Land Fraud Prevention Act, 1870, vice E. Beetham, Esq., resigned. This being the last day of the Wesleyan bazaar iu the Athenmum Hall the articles still on hand will be offered for sale at greatly reduced prices. We understand that a number of really useful articles ate yet awaiting purchasers, and as the ladies are anxious to see their stalls quite cleared, persons visiting the bazaar are likely to secure some good bargains. What goods may remain after the afternoon sale will be put up to auction in the evening. The receipts yesterday were about £IOO.

The promoters o£ the Tramway Company havo done more, it is said, than they anticipated when they initiated the movement for establishing tramways in this city. It is stated that one effect of cheap and speedy means of communication is to materially lessen the consumption of spirits and beer, so much so as to seriously affect the receipts of the publicans. Wo wish no harm to the hotelkeepers of this city, who as a body are essentially respectable men ; but if the effect of tramways is to mitigate the curse of modern civilisation (drinking habits) then let tramways bo made in every practicable direction. At the Theatre Boyal last evening Wilkie Collins’ popular drama of the “New Magdalen” was repeated by particular _ desire. There was a very good house, and the piece ran remarkably well, and to'the evident satisfaction of those present, who testified their approval by frequent applause. To-night is announced as the last appearance of Hr. and Mrs. St.eelo and company for the present season, when a bumper house may be confidently anticipated on the occasion. The funeral of the late Mr. John Aplin, of the Kaiwarra llifle Volunteers, will take place on Saturday, the procession leaving his late residence in the old Porirua-road at one o'clock in the afternoon, and Kaiwarra at two o’clock. The above corps will parade at one o'clock, and members of other corps are also invited to attend. The deceased had been a member of the Kaiwarra Rifle Volunteers since 1870,* and was one of the oldest and most efficient members of it. He was a “crack"' shot, and was much liked and esteemed by his comrades, and by all with whom he was acquainted. We are glad to hear that the boy James Lyall, who was severely hurt by being thrown down by a horse last week near the Constabulary Barracks, is progressing favorably, and is how coudldeW oqt of danger. ‘

Tenders ace invited for the office of overseer o! roads in the Wellington Highway District.

Mr. R. J. Duncan offered for sale yesterday 3000 acres of land at Taueru. The property was bought in at £5 10s/pet acre. Mr. D. Clinton’s Star Dramatic Company were passengers by the steamer Manawatu from Wanganui yesterday morning. The Parliamentary ball will take place this evening at the Imperial Opera House, and promises, from what we hear, to be a brilliant affair.

Messrs. Baker and Farron’s company is expected by the Rotorua to-day, and will appear at the Theatre Royal to-morrow evening, as previously announced. R. Hart of Picton notifies inbur advertising columns that he has excepted the challenge of F. Woods to run him 100, 150, and 200 yards under the conditions specified. The municipal by-law for enforcing the laying down ot pavements within the borough of Wellington, which is to come into force on the 11th inst., is published in our advertising columns. * . -

We hear from very good authority that Mr. Watty has sold Mr. Haynes' interest in the Newtown Hotel to Mr. Horace Ames, late of the Provincial Hotel, Upper Hutt, for the sum of £2OOO. Possession to be given shortly. We (Napier Telegraph) understand that both Messrs. Ormond and Sutton will come up from Wellington to be present at the Hawke’s Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s Show, to be held on the 9th Mr. Baird, city engineer, in answer to his Worship the Mayor at the Council meeting last night, stated that the supply of water in the reservoir would last for fourteen weeks, at the present rate of consumption, without there being any rain. The usual weekly meeting of the Wesleyan Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Society was held in the church vestry last evening; the president in the chair. The evening was devoted to an elocutionary meeting, when several readings and recitations were capitally rendered by members of the society. Next Thursday will be devoted to an essay on ** The Early History of New Zealand.” We (Napier Telegraph) learn from Wellington that Mr. R. Stuart’s appointment to the Resident Magistracy ot Napier is not a permanent one. W© can obtain, however, no information as to his successor further than that whoever he may be he will fill the office of District Judge and Resident Magistrate. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday (before Dr. Diver, J.P., and W, Hutchison, Esq., J.P.) the only case before the Court was that of a woman charged with drunkenness and vagrancy. For the former offence she was fined ss, the latter charge being on her promising not to appear before the Court again. -

A procession of children -attending the Catholic schools in the city will proceed to the wharf when the Albion is signalled to-day, to welcome the Sisters of Mercy, who will call here on their way from Melbourne to Hokitika, at which latter place they are about to establish a convent school similar to that which has proved so great a success in every way here. The Imperial Opera House was again well patronised last evening on the occasion of the farewell entertainment by Mr. and Mrs. Hart, La Petite Louise, and Herr Geyger. The programme comprised “ Diamond out Diamond,” “My Wife’s Eelations," and a variety of character songs, duets, &c., and was heartily received by the audience.