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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5481, 21 October 1878, Page 2

Mr. Barton's speech has been the chief topic of conversation daring the post two days. Most people seem to think the Judges may respond with force and dignity in Scriptural phrase, and say, “Too much learning hath made thee mad." Some feeling in favor of Mr. Barton has been evoked, because Englishmen naturally sympathise with, and like to sec every opportunity of a fair hearing given to, the weaker party. The Judicial Commission Bill nominally afforded Hr. Barton such an opportunity, but if passed it would have boon generally held to oast a grave imputation upon the honor of the Judges, which had never boon doubted by the House. Most people think that the charges made by Mr. Barton arc totally unfounded, and fear that any enquiry might result unfavorably for him. In fact, they believe that it would bo doing him a kindness to refuse to take any notice of jds complaints. We hoar upon good authority that Mr. Barton has been requested by the Government to state his charges specially in writing. If Mr. Barton agrees to do this, and repeats in writing what he said in his speech the other night in the House, an inquiry will be granted. No one doubts that Mr. Barton thoroughly believes that ho has been very badly treated, but the general belief is that his wrongs aro purely imaginary. The opening of the boating season, which was f o have been celebrated by a procession in the harbor on Saturday, did not take place, on account of the strong witfd. It is very doubtful whether there will be any procession at all this season.

The unfortunate man Olarke, who hurt hia spine while bathing at the baths, died at the Hospital yesterday morning. The chief officer of the barque Felixstowe was found washed ashore on Saturday about five miles south of the vessel. Special jurors summoned for to-day to try the case of the Mayor and Corporation v. Port will not be required to attend until next Monday, the 28th inst. Tho meeting of ticket-holders in the art union of the Working Men’s Club will be held to-night for the purpose of appointing scrutineers and for making arrangements for the drawing. The meeting will take place at the Club-rooms, Manners-street, at 8 p.m. Henry Schultz was arrested on Saturday at the Lower Hutt for attempting to commit suicide. The man was brought into town on Saturday and conveyed to the Hospital. He attempted to cut his throat, but only inflicted a slight wound, not at all dangerous. Captain Crool, of the barque Malay, and Captain Armit, of the Young Dick, had collected up to Saturday night £26 as subscriptions on behalf of Mrs..Piggott, whose husband was drowned while getting ashore from the Felixstowe, which vessel was stranded at Otaki last Sunday week. We understand that several suras have been promised, so that no doubt a respectable amount will be collected. The case of Daley v. Wilson was set down for hearing at the Supreme Court on Saturday, and a special jury had been summoned to bo in attendance. As the case of Maclean v, Nicholson was not concluded, the jury were informed that their attendance was not required. Mr. Tolhurst, one of the jury, complained, and suggested that au officer of the Court might have been sent round and made the fact known. The Sheriff explained that there was no such officer at his disposal, and that the present staff was overworked. His Honor observed if such* was the casojthe staff ought to be increased. The r telegraphic chess match between the Wellington and Christchurch Chess Clubs commenced on Saturday night. AU the members were in their places, with the exception of Mr. White, who was unavoidably absent on business. The Hon. Mr. Ballance, the president of the club, who has always taken the greatest interest in its welfare, was present during the evening, and on tho Christchurch team pressing for an emergency man, kindly consented to take the vacant board. The highest number of moves recorded in any one game was eleven. Great credit is due to Mr. Smith for the admirable arrangements he had made for the players, and tho success which attended the first night of their play. The large new gasometer at the Wellington Gasworks is now completed. Work was started for its construction on 15th May, and there have been engaged working at it 36 men, including several engineers. The whole of the castings and iron work were made by Messrs. Leadlow and Sons, of Glasgow and London, and were sent out ready for fixture. The diameter of tho iron tank, the receptacle for the gasometer, is 82 feet, and the depth 20 feet. The uprights or supporters for the gasometer, 18 in number, are 45 feet high. It is very seldom that so many uprights are used, but it was thought it would be better to be on the safe side, on account of the strong winds. During the late heavy gales the gasometer was inflated with air, and was at its full height. It is as well, perhaps, to notice that the wind, strong as it was, had not the slightest effect upon it. What is known, as the “holder” works on telescopic principles. The inside lift being 75 feet by 20 feet, and the outside lift 80 feet by 20 feet. The storing capacity of gas is about 20,000 feet, and the total weight of iron is 600 tons, Mr. S. Brown was the contractor, and the work has been carried out under the supervision of Mr. William Sinnott. This gasometer is the largest in New Zealand, and is now all but ready for use. There was only a short sitting at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Saturday. Two men aud a woman were charged with drunkenness, The former were fined ss. each, with the usual alternative of 24 hours’ imprisonment. The woman was still suffering from the effects of her debauchery, and was remanded until this morning. A young man named S. L. Willis, alias Matthews, was charged on warrant from Nelson with committing a breach of the Masters and Apprentices Act. On the application of the police accused was remanded to Nelson. Thomas Jones, boatswain of the ship Rakaia, was charged with wilful disobedience of lawful commands. Prisoner, who said he was unwell, was remanded until to-day. Messrs. Wallace and Tolhurst, J.P.'s, were on the Bench. The circus drew another good attendance on Saturday night, and the performance was as highly appreciated as on previous occasions, Messrs. Bethune and Hunter will offer for sale to-day, at the Exchange Buildings, the wreck of tho barque Felix Stowe ; also 500 tons of coal. We hear that the Great Barrier estate, containing about 26,000 acres of laud, will bo shortly offered for sale. The estate has been placed in the hands of a well-known commission agent of this city. Further particulars will appear in a few days in our columns. “ Struck Oil” was repeated at the Theatre Royal ou Saturday for the benefit of Messrs. Baker and Farron. This being the last performance of the season ; there was a very good house despite the rain. The piece went well throughout, the acting, the songs, and the dances being frequently applauded. A cricket match was played in Leitch’s paddock on Saturday last, between the United and Rising Star Clubs, Tho match, as tho scores will show, was greatly in favor of the United Club, but was not finished, owing to the captain of tho Rising Stars refusing to send in his last two men on the plea that tho ground was too slippery. Tho umpires gave their decisions in favor of the United. Appended are the scores,:—United C. 0., 101 ; Rising Stars, 50, with two men to go in. ’ E. Linley with 26, and W. McGirr with 14, made the best scores.

The steamer Wellington, on her next trip from Nelson, will bring Burton’s Australian Circus Company. Our Nelson correspondent reports that the largest attendance over known at any entertainment in that town was pre • sent at the opening of the circus on Friday night. Special trains brought numbers of persons from the adjacent towns. It is estimated that over four thousand persons were seated in the tent. At the day performance on Saturday from nine to ten hundred children were present. The circus is advertised to open here on Wednesday next. “ Macbeth " was played at the Opera House on Saturday night. Mr, Chaplin’s impersonation of the Scottish King is a grand conception —it is one of the moat masterly performances that have ever been witnessed in Wellington, His realisation of Macbeth's nature, and his representation of the blood-stained and guilty king, was almost perfect. His soliloquies in Macbeth, as in Hamlet, displayed his fine elocutionary powers, and he was several times called before the curtain. Mr. Steele’s support as Macduff was excellent, and the assistance he afforded Mr. Chaplin went far to render the piece a success. Mrs. Hill is not physically adapted for the part of Lady Macbeth. She gave a careful, but not very forcible, rendering of the part, Mr. O’Brien, as Banquo, showed that ho is fast improving in his profession. The accessory parts were fairly well sustained by the other performers, and altogether the entertainment was a most meritorious one, To-night the Lady of Lyons will bo produced, with Mr. Chaplin as Claude Melnotte.

A few days since (says the Timaru Herald) we were shown a number of apparently precious atones, which had been collected in the gorge of one of the Mackenzie Country rivers by a shepherd who had been living there for a number of years. Soon after settling there he transmitted a quantity of similar stones to Edinburgh for examination, and received a reply that they had been submitted to the inspection of a high-class lapidary, who pronounced them to include, amongst other gems, very valuable samples of emeralds, jaspers, garnets, rubies, and opals. Acting on this assurance, the person in question set to work and got together the collection he showed us, and which he is sending Homo by the outgoing Suez mail.

The Tmpelca Tiines has the following about the Balclutha bridge;—“None of man’s handiwork in the form of dray or waggon bridges has proved capable of resistitg the mighty torrent of the Molyuoux. The Clutha traffic bridge, which cost the country £14,000, and which, it was thought, was proof against all floods, has at last [given way. The piers, which consisted gt a series of piles closely built together, seem been its weakest part, for one of them got undermined and was completely washed away, submerging the platform [at the centre two or three feet In the stream. These casualties on the river will take along while to repair, and without largo Government assistance, the counties cannot possibly do anything.”

We notice that the dates for the election of members of the Hutt County Council have been postponed. The first election will take place on the 4th of November instead of on the 30th of October, as previously advertised. We take the following from the Thames Evening Star of the 18th inst.:—“ Crushing of about 40 tons of general stuff from the above mine is in progress at the Prince Alfred battery, and this morning the plates were showing up for over two ounces per ton. Yesterday the manager (Mr. W. Rowe, juu.) had the specimens and picked stuff on hand, amounting in all to about two hundredweight, crashed at the Moanatairi single stamper, when the good yield of 2700z5. of amalgam was obtained. This will probably be retorted with the result of the general stuff, when a first-rate yield is expected. The operations of this company are confined to the portion of the mine adjoining the Belfast section of the Kurunui Hill, out of which Mills and party did so well some time back. The lode is about Biu. thick, aud gold is seen constantly. The block now being operated on is of considerable extent, bing two or three hundred feet long, and is intact to surface. Mr. Rowe informs me that as the claim is now in fair working order, he hopes to be in a position to take out regular monthly crusbings.” The Ministerial fish dinner was signalised by a curious freak of literary effort in the preparation of the menu. This was composed in very elaborate old English, being headed, “ Ye annual© Whytebaite Dinner of hyr Majeatye’s Ministers, on Wecluesdaie, ye 14th August, 1878, atte ye hostelrie yclept ye Shippe, atte Greenwiche. This bilie of ye fare is drawn in playne Englyahe, without any clcalce of Frenche or other foreygao tongue, for the sadde and sobere comforte of frieudes, and that ye maye knowe, what ye are asked to accept.” The salmon collops are described as, “Ye salmonne iune collopes, with ye sauce in ye Cyprus fashonne.” Aud the bill of faro ends with, “ Ye dinner will be servyd after ye manners of ye Russian people. Y© guestes are bydden to eat after ye Hungarie manner©.” The Spectator says;—“ It is certainly odd how the spirit of antic is spreading under the present Government. This certainly is a harmless antic, but as certainly quite devoid of humor, and only defensible as being appropriate to the session of much less harmless antics wich it concludes. The political harlequinade ends, fitly enough, in grotesque spellings and in a flat pun.” ■We draw attention to tho land ,sale to be held today by Messrs. T. Kennedy Macdonald and Co., in their mart, at half-past two o’clock, when a valuable lot of prt>perties will be offered. The lind at Pnkaratahi should fetch fair prices, as it is level and within an easy distance of tho city. The fact that Feathers ton is now connected by rail with Wellington, should be sufficient to induce speculators to purchase the sections in Featherston, which are immediately opposite tho railway station.