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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5474, 12 October 1878, Page 2

There was almost a warm discussion in the Legislative Council yesterday on a motion by Mr. Bonar for leave of absence for himself; Colonel Brett said that to be consistent he must oppose leave being granted to his hon. friend ;—why, things were coming to that pass that a member who was the owner of an interesting baby would ask for leave, on urgent private affairs, to go home to look at it. But the feeling of the Council was not with Colonel Brett, and after a short but sharp discussion the motion was agreed to. The delegates in connection with the New Zealand Rifle Association met again last evening, and proceeded with the arrangement of rules for the guidance of competitors at the iirst annual meeting, to be held at Nelson in January or February next. The rules were cast upon the Wimbledon mould, and it was decided to have a cavalry tournament similar to that held at Wanganui, and also, if the funds would permit, an artillery competition. The Government gave another overwhelming proof of their unity and strength last evening. The Broomhall settlement question came up for discussion. The Attorney-General moved a clause validating the contract between the Government and Mr. Broomhall, and was followed by the Premier, who strongly opposed the clause, and advocated the repudiation of the contract. This extraordinary position rather took the House aback, and several members twitted the Government on the quandary in which the House was thus placed. Mr. Stout, however, was equal to the occasion, and repeated his stereotyped declaration that the members of the Government could not sink all their personal opinions. Major Atkinson gently protested against the doctrine as applied in this instance, and Mr. Montgomery pointed out that since the leaders were divided the House could not be expected to come to a conelusion without the fullest information, and he suggested an adjournment, to allow of the information being obtained. After Mr, Sheehan had supported the Premier as against the Attorney-General, the suggestion of Mr. Montgomery was agreed to. Really the Government is very unfortunate, and must be inclined to say, metaphorically, "Would it were bed time, Hal, and all were well.” Thursday's Gazelle shows the land sales in the Province of Wellington during the mouth to have amounted to 262 a. Ir. 26p. The price realised in cash was .£702 12s. 6d., and in scrip £790, a total of £1492125. Gd.—The hours during which goods may be unshipped and landed, and bonding warehouses open for the reception and delivery of goods, are declared to be in future, from- the Ist day of October to the Ist day of April, from 7 o’clock in the morning until 4 o'clock in the afternoon, except on Saturdays, when no goods shall be landed after 1 p.m ; and from 8 o’clock in the morning until 4 o’clock in the afternoon from the Ist of April until the Ist October, with the same, restriction on Saturdays. Bonded warehouses are to be open from 8 a.m. till 5 p.m. from October 1 till April 18, and from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. during the rest of the year, except on Saturdays, when they close at 1 p.m.—The following gentlemen are gazetted as duly .elected commissioners for the Johnson ville Local Board District ;—Charles Austin, Wil- - Ham Henson Saunders, John Bannister. -Thomas Bowler, and Francis Taylor. The preparation of electoral rolls under the Counties Act is ordered by the Governor.—We notice that patents have been taken out for an improvement in wire tramways, and for the manufacture of patent artificial stone. —The Christchurch Sun Company is declared fairly wound up. We hope it may rise again. A friend came into the office the other day when we were busy going through a pile of exchanges. Of course the scissors were in con-’ slant request,'and he sneered at the borrowed wit, and hinted that a more versatile man might ait in the chair. The simple explanation offered, that a good clipping was better for the public than a weak original joke, did not seem satisfactory ; a request that he should compose some witty pieces for the benefit of our columns at a fixed price, with a regular and unfailing supply of original matter, met with no satisfactory i espouse. At last we offered to ait down and write bad jokes quicker than our visitor could find them and cut them out of New Zealand newspapers, —American, Australian, and foreign wit being excluded. A fair exchange is no robbery was our beading, and we had begun to relate a story of another instance of the King of Pain’s wonderful cures, when our friend] having looked through several papers and thrown them into a corner in disgust, left hurriedly, saying ho had an engagement. We have received from Messrs. Morgan and Lightfoot a letter setting forth the particulars of a Band of Hope and of a Good Templars’ Society that were formed on board the ship Kakaia on her passage out. The captain of the ship took an active part in the proceedings of the society, and it appears to have been quite a success. The letter concludes with the following address to the Good Templars in this city:—“No doubt temperance friends in Wellington will hold oat the right hand of fellowship to those who have recently arrived in their midst. Groat praise is duo to the captain and Messrs. Morgan and Lightfoot for their disinterested efforts both on behalf of the passengers and the cause of sobriety.’ We regret to hear that Mr. Shrimski’ M.H.R., has been advised by his medical attendant to return to Oamaru in consequence of ill-health, and will loavo for the South on Monday. Tho Artillery Volunteer Corps, with their hand in all 53 members—started yesterday forenoon by special train for the Wairarapa. They took their three Armstrong guns, to fire a salute on the arrival of to-day’s train at Featherston. Tho whole are udder the command of Captain Moorhouse, We have to acknowledge tho receipt of tho Wellington Monthly Price Current and Trade Report. A comparative statement of the value of the imports of 1877 shows £6,973,418; 1878, £6,005,175. The statement of Customs’ revenue for the half-year ending Juno 30th, 1878, shows a total of £662,687, against £601,589 for the corresponding half-year of 1877. Wo may mention in connection with _ the Amateur Athletic Olnb sports that in addition to the programme already published they intend to have an open maiden race of 220 yards. This race no doubt will bring a number of runners to the scratch.

We have received notice that communication has been restored on the Port Darwin line. Mr, E. R. Lillingfcon has been provisionally appointed assistant master of the JVlonnt Cook Boys’ School. There were a number of ■ cricket matches fixed for to-day, but in all probability the heavy rain of yesterday will render the ground too sloppy and soft to play. In consequence of the wretched weather of last night, Miss A. Beaumont’s benefit has been postponed till Monday night. Tickets for last night will be available on Monday night. Mr. Robert Parker, the newly-appointed organist at St. Paul’s, will, it is expected, arrive from Christchurch by the Rotorua this morning, and will enter on his duties at St. Paul’s to-morrow morning. The United Cricket Club will play a scratch match in Mrs. Leitch’s paddock, Polhill Gully, this afternoon, weather permitting. Play to commence at two o’clock. In consequence of the inclemency of the weather the general meeting of the Ladies’ Christian Association, which was to have taken place yesterday, is postponed until Friday, October 18th, at half-past 3 o’clock. The meeting called for last night of gentlemen interested in the formation of a gymnasium was postponed until next Friday. The wretched weather no doubt kept many persons from attending. As an instance of the good work which the Local Bills Committee of the Council did, Sir Dillon Bell last night read a clause of the Inchclutha Bill, which, in a sentence, swept away the whole of the revenues of another district and gave them to Xnchclutha. Mr. G. D. Chaplin, the eminent tragedian, will commence a season of twelve nights at the Imperial Opera House on Wednesday next. His opening selection is “ Hamlet,” of which character he is said by the Australian Press to be the best exponent that has ever visited the colonies. Mr. Chaplin will be supported by a very strong company, including Mr, J. B. Steele, Mr. Musgrave, Mr. O’Brien, Mrs. Hill, Miss Lizzie Morgan, Miss Lily May, and others. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday two inebriates were dealt with in the usual manner. Alfred Anderson was fined 2s. 6d. aud costs for causing an obstruction on the footpath in Willis-street with his horse and dray. Alexander Craig was charged with deserting his wife, but the case was adjourned • for the production of fresh evidence. Mr. Mansford, R.M., presided. We are requested to call attention to an advertisement regarding a lecture to be given by Rev, Father Hennebery on the 24th inst., at the Catholic school, Boulcotfc-atreet, in aid of the convent. Father Hennebery expects to have a grand temperance demonstration on the occasion, aud requests all the members of the Total Abstinence Association to come with their medals and sashes. The Hibernian Band will give its services for the evening. ** Conrad and Lizette ” was performed for the last time at the Theatre Royal last night to a moderately filled house. The wretched weather no doubt deterred many from leaving their homes. To-night Messrs. Baker and Farron will produce their well-known sensatioual drama, illustrative of New York life, entitled “ Lisa Eccles.” Mr. Francis Sidey held a sale yesterday at the Arcade of a number of sections of land in the township of Featbcrstou. The attendance was limited, and the bidding not very lively. Twelve 10-acre blocks were disposed of at prices ranging from £2 12s. 6d. to £4 per acre, and eleven quarter-acre sections near the railway station were sold at from £4 ss. to £5 15s. each, when the auctioneer intimated to those present that the prices realised were so far below those anticipated that ho would not proceed with the sale until a future date.' The following tenders have been received by the Public Works Department for the Ngatoro permanent-way contract of the Waitara to Patea railway, viz. : —Accepted : D. Wilkie, Waitofcara, £2212. Declined : P. Hackett, New Plymouth, £1772 ; J. Macree, New Plymouth, £2411; R. McGonagle, New Plymouth, £2421 ; D. Glendinuing, New Plymoiitb, £2638 ; J. McLean, Wellington, £2663 ; Hursthouse aud Berry, New Plymouth, £3003; W. G. Bassett, Wangauui, £3184. A letter from a Marton correspondent draws our attention to the fact that we omitted to notice the very successful sale recently held there by Messrs. Harris Brothers, Those of our readers who read the particulars of the sale would be. able to judge for themselves. Our correspondent writes as follows ; —“As an evidence of Marten’s progress, I may mention that four sections were purchased about a year ago, and have since been cut up and sold at a profit of £BOO. Property is continually advancing in price in these towns, although so far we have very few outside owners. The farmers as a rule came here poor, and were obliged to mortgage heavily ; but I venture to say that there is not a moro prosperous class in the island than they are at the present time, in fact money is now so plentiful with them that they, can afford to invest in town sections, and consider the investments much better than leaving their spare money idle in the banks. Harris Brothers report that at their* last sale they went so far as to guarantee that property would double itself in two years, and they have the satisfaction of knowing that it has actually done so already ; still it is very low, and they would still venture to give the same guarantee. Marton is a centre for a very great extent of country, which of itself will make it prosperous, Halcombe and Feilding are blessed with an incalculable amount of timber, the revenue from which will drive them ahead at a very rapid rate.”