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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5484, 24 October 1878, Page 2

Before the House adjourned last night the Premier gave notice of hie intention to ask the House to sit on Saturday. The Counties Act Amendment Bill (another “ innocent ’’) was discharged from tho order paper of the Legislative Council yesterday, on the motion of the Colonial Secretary. An effective stone wall was erected in the House yesterday to bar the progress of the Regulation of Towns on Private Lauds Bill. Mr. Oliver was the leader of the stonewailers, and justified the action of those whom he was leading on the ground that the Bill was thoroughly impracticable, would act very inequitably, and would create great dissatisfaction throughout the country. Tho debate lasted five or six hours, and although each side stuck to their colors manfully, members who hod their little Bills on tho paper were chafing impatiently under the delay, which nodoubt will prove fatal to a good many promising bantlings. After a long time bad been wasted, the Native Minister suggested that lion, members should take a rest on a little practical work, and then return to the Bill if they pleased, and keep at it till daylight; and if they did not please to return to it, he would guarantee on behalf of the Government that the whole subject should be dealt with next year. But this did not assist matters much. Honorable gentlemen still fought, and towards tho time for tho usual adjournment for refreshment, at half-past ton, feelings became very warm, and biting personalities being freely exchanged. Mr. O'Eorke left tho chair a little before the usual hour, no doubt in the hope that a half an hour’s cessation-of hostilities might have a beneficial effect in soothing down ruffled feelings. Immediately on resuming a proposition to report progress was negatived by 23 to 21, and five minutes afterwards the House divided on the question that the chairman do leave the chair, when the number were 33 to 29 against the motion. Several divisions followed in quick succession, tho last shelving the Bill by 35 to 31.

We hear that the Hyderabad, when examined by the gentleme* appointed to report upon the wreck of tho Felixstowe, was appareptly almost uninjured; some water was in her hold, but although high up on tho beach she was not much more than a couple o‘ feet deep in tho sand, and hopes were entertained of her befog floated off again. This vessel was beached bows on, and was in a much bettor position to withstand the surf than her companion in misfortune, the Felixstowe. The latter was cast upon tho beach broadside on, with her deck exposed to the full fury of the surf, and speedily became a hopeless wreck.

Mr. Rees, in his address to his constituents jn Auckland last night, has in a measure prepared ns for: another and more extended tour on the part of the Premier. Tho next series of peripatetic orations is to take place in Australia. The working men's rights and manhood suffrage falk is about played opt in New Zealand, and Sir George must now seek “ fresher fields and pastures new" wherein to air his eloquence. The role to be undertaken is quite a now one, as this time he sets forth with the laudable object of promoting unanimlty among tho colonies. Upon the last occasion his object was to create class feelings of animosity. When tho Hinemoa was retained by the Ministry in full working order, some people wondered what tho Government wanted her lor. Mr. Rees has perhaps been instructed to take “a sounding.” If the proposal meats with too much ridicule or criticism, it can be withdrawn and disowned like tho Beer Bill. If not, then a pleasant yachting tour to the neighboring colonics is in prospect for Sir G. Grey and bis friends, A temperance lecture will bo given to-night by the Rev. Father Hennobory, in aid oj tho Convent fund. The lecture takes place at the Catholic school, Roulcol t-atroet, at 8 p.m. Tho case eot down for bearing ‘at the Supremo Court to-day is Blundell Brothers v. the Trcprietojs of the Evening Chronicle, fojr libel

The following cases were.disposed of at tho Resident Magistrate-Court;,yesterday afternoon ;—Charles Schmidt was charged by the police with stealing from the Empire Hotel ten hank notes of the value of £2OO, the .property of Mr. R. Cooper, Inspector Atcheson informed the Bench that over £BO had been found) and asked for a remand in order that tho rest of the notes might be traced. The prisoner (who had occupied the situation of night watchman at the Empire Hotel) was accordingly remanded.—William Robert Firth was charged on warrant with wife desertion, and was remanded until to-day.—Richard Galloway, who maintained that he was King of England, or should have been, was declared to be insane, and committed to the asylum.— Messrs. Holt and O’Neill, J.P.’s, were ou the bench. ,

Kelly, and Leon’s Minstrels and Burlesque Company open at the Theatre Royal on Monday, the 4th November. The Press speaks in most glowing terms of their entertainment. At the Imperial Opera House last night a dramatised version of the poet laureate’s famous poem “ Kuooh Arden” was produced. Tho whole representation.has beenhappily described as “ a scenic illust ation of the poem,” the more telling situations being reproduced with considerable accuracy. The interest of the play centres almost entirely in Enoch Arden, Philip Ray, and Annie Lee, and each of, the characters were exceedingly well played last night. The title role is a moat difficult one, but it was very abiy filled by Mr. Chaplin. Mr, Steele’s pourtrayal of Philip was not a whit less meritorious, and Mrs, Hill wo have seldom seen to better advantage. The fine stage of the house gave an excellent opportunity forsenic display, which was fully taken advantage of, the opening scene depicting a very pretty landscape. The same piece will bo played to-night. The circus on tho reclaimed ground was well patronised last evening, considering counterattractions, and the performance, thoroughly appreciated by those present. Tho mare Black Bess came in for a large • share of applause at the hands of the audience; and the performance of Benhamo, the clown, was greated with loud plaudits on several occasions during tho evening. Burton’s Circus opened to a very full house at the Theatre Royal last night. At the rise of the curtain the stage that was presented a peculiar appearance—that is, to those who have been in the habit of seeing the “ boards.” Tho show is decidedly one of the best of its kind that has visited Wellington for a long timo. Tho horses are well trained, four of them particularly so, and the command that the master of the ring had over them was something wonderful. The French vaulting by the youth Littlo Queensland was very clever, and the graceful performance of Wilson on tho invisible wire drew forth loud applause from tho audieuce, Some comic scenes by Messrs. Walhaller and Moffi.t were most laughable. Probably the cleverest performance is given by the Brothers Lozeile, Walhaller, and Moffit. The grace and quickness with which they go through some moat difficult acrobatic feats is surprising. The entertainment throughout is a very enjoyable one, and was highly appreciated by the audience. A word of praise is due to the excellent orchestra.

In our advertising columns will be found a notice of a loan about to be raised by the town of New Plymouth, for the purpose of providing waterworks for that city. With a view of giving further information on the subject to our readers, wo extract the following paragraph from tile Taranaki Neios ; —“ The Borough Council of New Plymouth is desirous of borrowing £25,000 for twelve years, for the purpose of enabling it to undertake some very necessary public works of a recuperative character. The interest offered is 7 per cent., which cannot he exceeded, as the law demands that the debentures of municipalities shall not be sold below par. The security offered is the rates of the principal town of a large and very imperfectly developed district within the borough and in the suburbs, and 2000 acres of forest laud in the neighborhood of the new township of Stratford-on-Patea. The public works contemplated are waterworks, for tlie supply of the borough with water; and the formation and metalling of the streets, many of which are iu a state of nature. The waterworks will he recuperative by the revenue they will command in the shape of water rates for household and factory supply, and the streets will produce a revenue by the increased assessment of the various properties having frontages on the improved portions. Besides this, the borough will reap a considerable pecuniary benefit by the redaction of tile rates of fire insurances saving to the supply of water. Taking these matters into consideration, in conjunction with t&* fact that the borough will shortly be in connection by road and rail with some of the richest pastoral and agricultural land in the North Island, and that this land is just now about to be opened to the enterprise of civilised man, also that a seaport for the borough is about to be constructed, the security will to all reasonable minds appear to be ample, and the investment, owing to the facility with which the debentures will be exchangeable, of an unusually inviting character.” Westland is suffering heavily from the weather. The West Coast Times notes_ that a striking unfortunate proof of the severity of tlie winter cropped up in the Waste Lands Board, when Mr. F. A. Lcarmontb, on behalf of Ward and Douglas informed the Board that that firm did not intend to renew their lease of run 67 on the Matakitaki, Ho stated that the run was situated on a mountain range, and every sheep had died through cold and exposure, the great depth of snow preventing their being able to get any teed. In reply to Mr. Robinson, he said that some 1500 hud met with this fate, and Ins clients did not care to re-stock the run under these circumstances. They had only tried the experiment ouo year, and wished to forfeit the fun. The Board declared the run forfeited accordingly. The spot in question is not likely, we should think, to be taken up again by any enterprising sheep farmer.