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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5473, 11 October 1878, Page 4

Sir Robert Douglas yesterday gave notice of his intention to move for leave to introduce into the House of Representatives a Bill to purge the Bay of Islands electoral roll. The Attorney-General withdrew the Licensing Bill last night, intimating that tho Government intended to bring in a measure dealing with the whole subject next session. By a decision Of tho Speaker last night, the Literary InktitntionslandlPublio Libraries Bill has been practically shelved for this session, as the Bill ought to have originated in the House of Representatives instead of the Legislative Council, because it dealt with the repeal of a Money Bill,

- A discussion which largely affects the holders of private property in and near Wellington, as well as in other parts of the colony, took place in the Council yesterday in committee on the Municipal Corporations Bill (No. 2). Among the new clauses proposed was one fixing the width of private streets at not less than forty feet. A vigorous effort was made to alter the word forty to sixty-six, which on a division was defeated by two votes, the numbers being 16 to 14. Forty feet was therefore settled as the lowest width fora private street. Mr. Vincent Pyke stole a march on the Attorney-General last night, and succeeded in having the Joint Stock Companies Act Amendment Bill shelved bn a motion that the Chairman do leave the chair. On the principle that those can laugh who win, the hon. member for Dunstau actually beamed with delight for some time subsequent to the announcement of tho division, while the AttorneyGeneral appeared to be rather disappointed at the result. ‘

The difference between the Hon. John Martin, M.L.C., and the Timaru Herald has, we are glad to hear, been settled without a lawsuit. We understand that a writ was actually issued aud preparations made for the defence by the employment of counsel both in Wellington and at Christchurch, when common friends of both parties used their good offices to prevent the action. The consequence was, it appears, that Mr. Martin stayed legal proceedings, and wrote to the editor of tho Herald assuring him that the rumors referred to by that paper wet# unfounded, and on that assurance the Herald tendered an apology for any wrongful expressions it may have used. The letter and apology are as follows :—“ To the editor of the Timaru Herald. —Sir, —Referring to your article of the 3rd of August, and to subsequent correspondence on the subject, I have to inform you that the statements or implications therein contained concerning myself have caused me a good deal of annoyance. I do not know who your authority for those statements was, but whoever it was, I desire to assert that there is no truth in them, and that you have been wholly misinformed. I expect, therefore, that on this assurance, yon will immediately withdraw the injurious expressions referred to.—l am, &c., John Martin. Wellington, 4th October, 1878.” —“The Hon. John Martin.—We readily publish Mr. Martin’s letter this morning, and accept his assurance that the statements which appeared in our article of the 3rd August concerning him were based on faulty information. Wo regret he should have been caused annoyance by any statements not justified by fact having appeared in our columns, and we beg to tender him our apology for their appearance.”

We understand that Messrs. Hayes and Benhamo’a International Circus opens on Saturday night next on the reclaimed land. The first mid-day performance will be on Tuesday next. Those who are desirous of procuring reserved seats may do so by applying to Mr. B. Levy, Lambton-quay. The company arrives to morrow by the Tararua from the South. They have a fine stud of splendidly trained horses, and amongst the troupe is Madame de Granville, who is known as “the woman with the iron jaw.” The Southern papers speak in high terms of praise of the circus, many of the feats being very wonderful. We believe the members of the company are really good artists, and the horses are equal to if not superior to those generally employed. Mr. Hayes arrived by the Taiaroa from the South yesterday.

From Dunedin we learn by telegraph that Mr. Justice Williams communicated with the Rev. Dr. Stuart as to the necessity of opening a subscription list in aid of the sufferers by the floods at Balclutha. Dr. Stuart at once telegraphed to the Mayor of Balclutha, and upon hearing that help was urgently needed a meeting to appoint a ■ relief committee was convened for to-day. Will Wellington follow a good example ? In the House of Representatives last night Mr. Byke drew attention to the fact that the revenue was being cheated by persons calling themselves colporteurs instead of hawkers, so as to escape paying for a license. Mr. Elkington, the agent tor Messrs. I'. W. Reynolds, of London, has just set up one of their imperial combination sawing machines at the furniture factory of Mr. James, Lamb-ton-quay, where anyone can see it in working order. The machine is specially adapted for hand power, and can be easily worked by a strong lad, and when desirable. it can also be applied to steam power. It has also a selffeeding apparatus, and is provided with two extra double cog wheels to regulate the speed of the feed motion according to the thickness and hardness of the timber. A fence-plate parallel to the saw maybe set at any angle for bevel-cutting, and a groove in the table serves to guide a cross-cutting and mitering fence. The machine has also a rise and falling spindle for grooving, tenoning, and rebating. The circular saw will cut timber up to 1 lin., and the band saw 54, and in fact the machine is complete in itself, and must prove invaluable to coachbuilders, wheelwrights, carpenters, cabinetmakers, builders, &o. Messrs. F. W. Reynolds and Co.’s saw-benches, mortising and drilling machines, mitre cutters, &c., were shown in working order under Mr. Elkington’s superintendence at the South African International Exhibition held at Capa Town last year, and received a gold medal for excellence. Some other particulars relative to the machines will be found in the advertisement which is published in another column. Referring to an advertisement of the King of Pain’s universal healing fluid, the Waikato Times has the following:—lt 13 said that when Professor Scott first discovered this wonderful medione, and wished to try its curative properties, he cut half the tail off a dog, and throwing it away, applied the mixture to the stump. • In two days the tail had grown to its original length. A new idea then struck him. Having found the portion of the dog’s tail cut off, he applied the lotion to it, and in ten days a dog, the complete counterpart of the original animal, grew from the toil. This simple fact at once proved the value of the specific. Between the hours of 10 a.m. and midday yesterday the following engagements were made at the immigration depot of the passengers by the ship Rakaia One married couple for farm work at £BO a year and found; 60 single girls as domestic servants, at from 10s. toJ6a. a week ; 2 nurse girls, at Bs. and 9s. a week ; a number of single men for farm work, from 18s. to 20s. a week and found. A number of those in the barracks are to be forwarded to Foxton and Wanganui to meet the demands in those places. At the usu d weekly meeting of the Wesleyan Young Men's Improvement Society, held last night, an interesting essay on “ The early history of New Zealand ” was read by one of the members. The next essay will be delivered on Thursday, the subject being "Chinese migration.” Mr. R. J. Duncan sold at his rooms yesterday afternoon one section (5 acres) farm land at the Lower Hutt, Mr. J. F. E. Wright being the purchaser at £6O per acre ; after which he submitted to the public of Wellington the township of South Kilbirnio. The bidding was spirited, and on the whole a very successful sale was effected. The following is the list of sections sold:—Lots 31, 32, 38, Mr. Brook, £55 per section; lot 51, Mr. A. G. Haines, £lO per section; lota 30, 36, 37, Mr. Gooding, £3l per section ; lota 38 to 02, containing fifteen sections, H. Mace, £2B per section; lots 60, 61, MoEweu, £27 ditto ; lota 62 to 68, seven sections, O. White, £2l ditto; lot 69, 3r. lip., R. J. Duncan, £IOO per acre; lot 70, 2a. Or. 6p., E. H. Beere, £BS ditto; lot 71, la. Or. Bp., O. Ardern, £IOO ditto; lot 72, la. Or. 7p., T. Tasker, £llO ditto ; lots'73 to 77, containing 6a. 2r. 16p., J. McLean, £IOO ditto ; lot 3,3 a. 2r. 10p., H. Mace, £4O ditto; lot 2,3 a. 2r. 29p., H. Mace, £SO ditto ; lot 13, 2a. 3r. 7p., J. O'Shea, £35 ditto; lot 14, la. 2r. 9p., O. Arderu, £4O ditto ; lot 15, la. 3r. 21p., R. C. Easby, £6O ditto; lot 16, la. Ir. 27p., J. Chegwin, £BO ditto; lot 17, la Or. 20p., O. Taylor, £65 ditto; lot 18, la. Ir. 27p., U. Easby, £55 ditto; lot 4, la. Ir. 3p., lot 5, la. Or. 23p,, lot 11, la. 2r. 21p., lot 12, la. 2r. 9p., H. Mace, £42 ditto. A few lots were subsequently sold privately at £SO per acre, which closes the whole of the townsliip of Kilbirnio, north and south. ,

The following aro the names of the teams that will compote in the rifle match on Saturday next, Wanganui v. Wellington :—Wanganui Team : Sergeants Lowe, Purnell, Armstrong, and Hughes ; Corporals Bates, H. Boss, and Hooper; Privates G. Boss, Graham, and Signal ; emergency, Sergeant Connell. Wellington Team : Captain Crowe, Lieutenant Walden, Sub-Lieutenant Mclntosh; Sergeants J. Ballinger, Bowie, and Harris ; Lance Corporal W. Ballinger; Privates A. Ballinger, Croucher, and Cording ; emergency, Hall. .... .

Messrs. Baker and Barron aro still drawing large audiences at the Theatre Boyal. Last night the performance was received most enthusiastically by the spectators. To-night will be the last production of. “Conrad and Lizette.” On Saturday there - will be an entire change of programme,,

A meeting of the Wellington Athletic Club is to be held at Mr. Ames* Star Hotel to night.

. The meeting of the Education Board held yesterday was of a private nature. The Press were not admitted. ' ‘

Miss Annie Beaumont’s complimentary benefit takes place to-night at the Princess Theatre, Tory-street. A most attractive programme has been arranged. Farther particulars will be found in our advertising columns. At a meeting of the Wellington Licensed Victuallers' Association, held on the 7th inst., the secretary, Mr, Charles Martin, tendered his resignation, and Mr. P. K. Watty was unanimously elected to fill this office.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency report under date London, 26th September ;■—The wool sales progress flatly ; competition by both home and foreign buyers is dull; up to date 223,000 bales have been sold. Of seven tenders sent in for the Brunswick contract of the permanent way contract of the Patea-Manawatu railway, A. Towes, Wanganui, was lowest (£3559 175.), and Coates and Gregory, Dunedin, highest (£-4612 55.) We understand that the successful tenderer has already, started, and means to have it out of hand in about two mouths’ time. —(Patca Mail) We have received a programme of the Marlborough Races, to take place in February next. A large amount of added money is notified in the programme. Among the more important events we notice the Marlborough Cup, £IOO ; the Blenheim Plate of £4O ; Handicap Hurdle, £4O ; and the Racing Club Handicap of £SO. There are thirteen events on the list. Mr. F. Sidey’s sale of country farm sections of JO acres ench takes place to-day in the Arcade. This will be a capital opportunity for anyone who wishes a comfortable sized block of land in the country obtaining the same at a reasonable price. The sale takes place at 2 o’clock.