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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5476, 15 October 1878, Page 2

We print in another column the Mangomii and Bay oE Islands Electoral Bill, introduced in the House of Representatives by Sir Robert Douglas and read the first time. It purports to impose upon the registration officer of the district the duty of renewing next year, and of prosecuting before the revising officer, the objections to the Maori claims to vote which Mr. Williams had made this year, ami which the Government prevented him from prosecuting by dismissing him from his office. In answer to a question put by Mr. Stevens last night, the Native Minister replied that no decision had yet been come to with regard to the report of the Police Pay Committee, but lie would probably lay that report before his colleagues next day, and would indicate as soon as possible what course the Government intended to pursue. ' Colonel Brett, in the Council yesterday, : gave notice that he would to-day move that the Acting-Speaker be requested to telegraph to the Hon. E. Gray, asking him to explain his absence from the Council in contravention of Standing Order No 86. , In the evening Mr. Hall gave notice that he would move next day that leave of absence should be granted to Mr. Gray from the 14th instant. The police received the following telegram yesterday regarding the stranded barque Felix Stowe Vessel has suffered great damage by this mornings tide. The planking of the deck is stove in amidships, and the vessel is full of water. The crew have left her, and state that her back is broken and she will shortly break up.” Messrs, Bethuno and Hunter, Lloyd’s agents for Wellington, have arranged to have a survey here on the barque Felix Stowe, now lying on the beach near Otaki, and Captain Bendall, marine surveyor, and Captain Sellars, of the Zealaudia, will proceed to the scene of the disaster in the Jane Douglas. They will be landed at Otaki if the weather will permit ; if not, they will proceed to Poxton, and come down the coast by the coach. On receipt of the survey, report the owners will bo ooninranicated with if it is considered advisable to take steps to attempt to float the vessel off, with a view to bringing her round to this port.' Tlie cargo of coals, or a . considerable portion, will have to be sacrificed in,order to lighten the vessel. The Mayor of Dunedin has addressed a telegram to the Mayor of Wellington to the followingoffect: —“The Floods Committee have decided not to ask for any aid outside of Otago at present.” It is a' good sign when a district shows a self-reliant • spirit and declines to accept alma unless pressed by urgent calamity. If Dunedin at any future time should be so unfortunate, as to be a heavy sufferer from plague, flood, fire, or famine, the spirit of self-dependence she has now shown will bo .remembered in her favor. The business at the Supreme Court yestqr-’ day terminated rather, strangely. His Honor Mr. Justice Richmond took his seat on the Bench at ton o’clock to hear the charge against A. H. Maclean for forgery. I It, however, transpired that no jurymen had been summoned. Ilia Honor remarked that it was very clear some one was to blame, hut he could not at present say who. Considerable delay would bo occasioned by the mistake, as there would have to be three clear days’ notice given before another jury could bo empauuellod, and the business of the Court would have to be delayed until then. Mr, Travers pointed out that the delay was, another inconvenience resulting through the Into appointment of tile Sheriff. ..The Sheriff had no officer, and the summonses had now to be served by tho police. His Honor remarked that ilia was afraid tho change would cause a good deal of trouble. After some other conversation between tho Bar and the Court, his Honor observed that ho would fix no day for the hearing of tho case. Ho expected tho Chief Justice to arrive to-day from Nelson, and would consult with him before arranging definitely. Tho .Court then adjourned. If tho clerk of tho weather will permit, the opening of the boating season will be celo-: brated by a procession of boats.dn Saturday, 1 the 17th inst, Gentlemen wishing to join are requested to send in their names and a doaofiption of the boats to bo used. A deputation of .cab-drivers waited on tbo Governor yesterday, and presented a petition against the employment of steam on tho tramway. His Excellency promised to rotor tbo petition to the Ministers. -v,.; (

The person who was riding a roan horse at a furious pace along Mulgmve-street yesterday afternoon is warned that his name is known and will be reported to the police, so that an eye may he kept upon him in the fdture. .The cricket match, Wanderers v. United, has been indefinitely postponed on account of the former club being unable to get a team together, five of their eleven being unavoidably absent. “ Lisa Eccles,” at the Theatre Royal, drew a large house last night. The audience were kept in one continual roar of laughter, and the curtain bad to be raised at the termination of each act. The same piece will be played tonight. -We are -requested to state that owing to tomorrow having been declared a public holiday the usual weekly meeting of ihe Wellington Literary Association will not be held. At the meeting* on Tuesday-next the subject will bo “ Sketches on Local Topics,” by three of the members. The Wellington-Wanganui rifle match, which was concluded yesterday, has resulted in a victory for the Wellington team by 34 points. A telegram received shows that the total score of the Wanganui team was 609, the Wellington te«m haring scored 643. The weather is reported as having been unfavorable for the Wanganui men yesterday morning at the first range, the highest score being 68, and the lowest 45. The Wellington team’s highest score was 71, and lowest 69. Hayes and Benhamo’s Great International Circus Company gave their first performance last night. The tent, as wo before stated, is erected on the reclaimed land, and ia roomy and comfortable, and was last night crowded. The programme contains tho usual equestrian and acrobatic feats, connected With circuses. The performance on the double trapeze by the Duvalli Brothers, and also the three parallel bars, are very clever feats. The performance of Madame He Granville, “ the woman with the iron jaw,” is a remarkable exhibition of extraordinary powers. The clowns, llenhamo and Matthewson, cause much merriment by their witticisms, apd were several times loudly applauded. At the - Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Mr. Samuel, solicitor, complained that he had been unable to get some summonses issued in a case for which ho was retained. It appeared that Mr. Baker had not received any of tho proper forma, and could not consequently issue the summonses. Mr. Mausford explained that he had applied to the Government for the necessary forma, hut up to the present they had not come to hand. Tho amateur performance at the Imperial Opera House last night, tendered by lady and gentlemen amateurs in aid o! the charitable and library, funds of the X-0.0.F.M.U., was a great success. Shortly before eight o’clock a number of the order formed a torchlight procession, and marched through the principal streets, headed by two bands of music. The curtain rose to a romantic and sensational drama entitled, “ The Seven Clerks ; or, the Denouncer,” which was tolerably well played by the Wellington Young Men’s D amatic Club. The second part of the entertainment consisted of vocal music, one of the moat noticeable pieces being the quartette entitled, “Orpheus.” The song, “ Joyous Wife,” by a lady, was prettily rendered, and deservedly encored. Several gentlemen who promised to take part in this part of the programme did not appear. The evening’s amusement was brought to a close by a laughable farce entitled, “The Careful Servant,” which sent everybody away in a good humor. The following clipping from the Patea Mail has a comical bide. Tho one thing of sufficient importance to deserve especial mention is tho dinner. As a sort of counterpoise to this extravagance the members are going|jto collect the entrance fees. If they undertake the arduous office of gate-keeper. they _ will surely deserve a dinner :—“ A meeting of the committee of the Patea Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held at tho Secretary’s office, Carlyle, on Saturday last, when further arrangements were made in connection with the coming show. Amongst other things it was deckled to hold a dinner at Carlyle after the show. Members will themselves collect entrance fees at tho gates on the day of the show.” Tho Marlborough Express has the following: —“ Poor, little bankrupt Marlborough,” was the phrase once used by Sir Julius Vogel, and occasionally repeated by journalists who know no better. It is quite true that wo are not a very quick, impulsive community, but we can prove our solvency at any rate. The report of the Registrar of Lands for the year ending June, 1878, gives the following figures, which show that Marlborough of all the provinces alone has paid off a larger amount of mortgage money than has been borrowed. This is an iucontestible proof that we are a prosperous people:— Mortsapos. Releases.

Total .. .. £3,329.570 £1.224,405 . The total amount secured by mortgage in the colony is £7,044,972, distributed as follows Canterbury, £3,147,450 ; Otago, £1,632,028 ; Wellington, £780,109; Hawke’s Bay, £691,058; Nelson, £161,862; Southland, £98,427; Marlborough, £67,163 ; Taranaki, £49,163 ; Westland, £35,729. We have received a supplement to the New Zealand Gazette , dated October 14th. Provi- [ sion is made for altering the boundaries of Nelson south-west mining district; for constituting a district in Otago under the Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough River Act, 1863 ; for reserving several sections of land in the Provincial Districts of Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, and Taranaki ; land has been taken for public roads near Reefton ; managers have been appointed of tho Queenstown Acclimatisation Reserve, and also trustees for the maintenance of Christchurch public cemetery. The Governor has made some amending regulations under the Mine* Act, 1877, relating to water rights and races, ■ «

Auckland .. £183,214 £110,733 503.160 193,354 Canterbury .. 1,482 340 430,920 Wellington 393,838 90.787 Nelson .. 11,327 Southland 881,093 2S2.C66 Hawke’s Bay .. .. 309,039 08,246 Westland 14.301, 5,435 Taranaki .. 15,002 10,790 Marlborough .. 6,742 8,243