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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5492, 2 November 1878, Page 2

The prorogation of Parliament will take place to-day. From a statement made by the Hon. Mi - . Sheehan yesterday it is probable that Dr. Giles, Mr. Whiteford, K.M., and Mr. Bunny, M.H.R., will be .appointed a Royal Commission to inquire into matters connected with the Jackson’s Bay Settlement. The following reached ns from the Telegraph Department yesterday:—Communication has been restored on the Western Australia and Port Darwin lines, but the Batavia and Singapore cable is still interrupted. We have received copies of tho Appropriation Act and also of the Immigration and Public Works Appropriation Act. The following is tho schedule of tho. sums granted to defray the charges on the Consolidated Fund for tho several services therein particularly mentioned, which will come in the course of payment during the year ending 30th Juno, 1879 : Abstract of Schedule TL £ s. d.

Total .. £2,301,003 15 8 Thursday’s Gazelle contains the following matter of general interest: —The value of the imports for the quarter ending 30th of September, 1878, is set down as £2,003,730, and for the corresponding quarter, 1877, £1,891,481. Exports, 1878, £882,295 ;. 1877, £914,209. It is satisfactory to note that in grain there is an increase of our exports in every item. The table standing thus— ,

Totals .. .. £113.0-10 £40,382 Rabbit skins exported aro valued at £8963, against. £2419 last year; wool, £200,110, against £191,733. Flour shows an increase of about £6OOO ; meats an increase of about £BOOO. The principal articles in which a decrease has to be noted, as compared with the corresponding quarter of last year, are in the export of gold, a decrease in value from £432,219, in 1877, down to £295,633, a difference of £136,586. Our other exports have increased about £105,000 as compared with the coresponding quarter of last year ; the total decrease in the value of our exports being £31,000 in round numbers.—The cash receipts for telegrams show an increase of £2238, and the value of General Government telegrams an increase of £l626.—Mpnday, the 11th of November, is notified as a public holiday,' in lieu of Saturday.—A circular letter from V. F. Stanford, Esq., is published, offering a £IOO prize for the best 'essay on the “ Nature, Prevention, and Treatment of Hydrophobia,” to bo awarded by the Royal College of Surgeons, London.—A notice is also given that wharfage dues of 2s. per tou will be charged for all goods landed or shipped at Napier. The remainder of this Gazette is of local interest only. A man named James Anderson, working at Booth’s sawmills, Taratahi, met with a fatal accident yesterday. He was moving a heavy log, which by some means rolled on him and, crushed him severely. Ho died about three hours later. An inquest will be hold to-day. In another column will be found the nominations made for the Wellington QokLCup. Messrs. Jobborna, Thompson, and Young have boon appointed handicappers. Designs for the gold cup will be invited from the manufacturing; jewellers in the colony.

■\ man named William Oolsie, a resident of the Hutt, died in the Hospital yesterday from an abscess in the throat. He was 51 years of age, and had suffered severe pain. We understand that two men named respectively Sehulter and Buck have been arrested at Palmerston for having in their possession an illicit still. Mrs. Harding, widow of the late Mr. Joseph Harding, has purchased Mr. Walkley’s interest in the Brunswick Hotel, Willis-street. j Burton’s circus, after playing a most successful season, left by the Rotorua yesterday evening. It is very probable the froupa will pay Wellington another visit. The order for the fire escape will be despatched by the outgoing mail. Subscriptions have been collected sufficient to warrant the order, which had been delayed in consequence of the email amount of support that was at first accorded to the undertaking. We trust that the.sum required will be forthcoming in full very shortly, as a considerable amount of assistance is yet required to cover the cost of the escape. We are requested to remind all intending competitors in the comiug sports to be held by the Amateur Athletic Club that the entries close this evening, at the Star Hotel, between the hours of seven and nine. A great number have already been received, and it is expected that at the close of the entries the number will exceed that of any previous athletic uieetiug held in Wellington. The programme of events appears elsewhere, The Mamwatu Times says that on Tuesday last, as tho up coach was crossing the Ohau, owing to there being no becous to show the ford, and the boy who generally leads the way being absent, the coach touched on a snag, and was at once upset. Fortunately there was not much water in the river, and the passengers escaped with very little injury, except a good ducking. Mr. Bryce, M.H.R., who was a passenger, lost his portmanteau ; it has not since been recovered. We also hear that a small mail bag for Ohau was lost. Mr. Bryce was highly complimented in the House on Thursday night. Mr. Swanson, who has been nicknamed the Diogenes of the House, and who is not in the least likely to be guilty of flattery, proposed that Mr. Bryce should be appointed a commissioner to inquire into the Mangonui and Bay of Islands scandal. In doing so he said there was not a single member of the House who had not the highest confidence in Mr. Bryce, and in the ability, patience, and impartiality with which such an inquiry as this would be conducted by that lion, gentleman. Mr. Bryce lived far away from the Bay of Islands, and could not possibly be biassed one way or the other. He (Mr. Swanson) felt satisfied that no man who could be selected would give such satisfaction as Mr. Bryce would give, if he could be induced to go to the Bay of Islands to hold the inquiry. He believed that all parties would be thoroughly satisfied if that gentleman were chosen, and they would then get at the truth of the whole matter. We believe that it is a rare thing for any public man to.commaud so much confidence in his impartiality and judgment as this shows, and we draw attention to it as being exceptional. Tho two following speakers, Mr. Maofarlane and the Premier, added their testimony to the same effect, the latter intimating that in all probability Mr. Bryce would be appointed if he consented to act. Wo hope that he will be asked. A correspondent of the Auckland Weekly News sends the following :—“ Some of your subscribers here are indulging in a little chaffing, connected with a statement made by Archdeacon Clarke, of Waimate, at the annual church meeting held in the Choral Hall, at Auckland, on the 12th instant, in which he mentioned, ‘as a fact not generally known, that the present Premier (Sir George Grey) was actually saved from a “ Maori oven” through the instrumentality of his father,’ an announcement which has caused no little sen sation. That the rev. gentleman believes this to be really true, no one for a moment doubts; while, on the other hand, its authenticity, possibly, is not beyond question, and, with good old Paley, would listen with attention to the evidence of some orodable witnesses, and thus truly be able to realise the hairbreadth escape of the theu Governor of the colony, but for the timely presence and interposition of his late respected father. If, theu, all this be true, Sir George Grey must ever remain under a deep and lasting sense of gratitude for his deliverance. But it has been suggested, at the same time, as to whether, under the circumstances, a personage so exalted might not have escaped the mortification of being cooked in a ‘ Maori oven,’ and, - rather, to have been spared as a decent 1 hostage in the hands of cunning but ill-advised semi-barbarians.’ Moreover, Mr. Clarke mus know that, as a trophy during war time, the possession of his own living body by the rebel natives would more than have counterbalanced the relish to bo looked for from partaking of a dish at once so dainty and so precious.”. The Ashburton Mail says;—ln the borough of Sydenham a good many requests aro annually made for tho remission of rates on account of inability to pay through poverty. Tho borough councillors aro not hard-hearted men, but they are evidently very ingenious. They have resolved not to remit the rates in such cases, for thou they could not claim any subsidy on them, but they will with one hand collect them, and with the other disburse them in charitable aid to the persons from whom they have collected the money. By adopting this course the councillors hope to be able to secure a subsidy, not only on all the rates collected in the borough, but a charitable aid subsidy on those which are returned to indigent persons in the shape of charitable aid. Of all the members of the Council, the Mayor, Mr. James Booth, was tho only one who is said to have expressed a doubt as to the honesty or legality of this piece of municipal sharp practice. It may be very ingenious, but as a matter of fact its proper name is obtaining public money by means of false pretences. The Auckland Evening Star, in speaking of Waikato coals, quotes the following extract from Appendix N, attached to Mr. Macau-, drew’s Public Works Statement, which confirms our former statement of the positive saving of £2OOO per annum on the Aueklaud-Waikato railway through the use of Waikato coal : Under the heading of “Returns of native coals used on New Zealand railways from the Ist July, 1577, to the 30th June, 1878,” it is stated that “ the consumption of Waikato coal is as 115 to 110 of New South Wales coal. The latter, however, costs 355. per ton; hence, in using native coal there has been a saving of £2175 during tho year.” The general manager of the Auckland railway, Mr. A. V. Macdonald, has from the first taken tho greatest interest in the question of utilising native coal, and lias personally watched and directed experimental operations. Attached to the return appears tho following instructions, showing that tho alterations required to enable the imported engines to be used arc three, —1. Closer fire-bars. 2. A pipe to discharge water on the hot ashes in tho ash-pans, to cause evaporation aud thereby keep the flues cool, otherwise they would melt from the intense heat of the brown coal. 3. A spark-catcher on chimney. Total cost, £2B. —A. V. Macdoxald, general manager.” The foregoing extracts demonstrate high appreciation of the usefulness of Waskato coal, which may yet prove an enormous colonial gain. A somewhat curious circumstance has been brought to light (says the Auckland Weekly News) namely, that a case of suicide occurred some days ago near the Maori village at Orakei, and no steps whatever have been taken to investigate the circumstances, nor did tho occurrence even come within tile knowledge of the police. Beyond the fact that a man did hang himself in a whare about a fortnight ago, aud that he was cut down and buried, nothing definite is known ; but it is alleged that the deed was caused by jealousy. Tho man in question resided for some time in Parnell, but x-emoved to tho Maori settlement with his wife some time before he put an end to Ilia existence. Wo are not aware whether tho Native Department has taken any action, or intend to take" any, but it seems that a circumstance of this nature has not been fully investigated before this time. We aro aware that Maoris have a very strong objection to coroners’ investigations or post mortem, examinations, and it is possible that the Native Department may have concluded that, as there was no reason to suspect foul play, it would be unnecessary to interfere. “The House of Commons,” says Truth, “instead of legislating for the good .of the country, has become n groat talking chib, to euablc bores to show off their specialities, to ventilate their hobbies, and to pul - political adventurers, crotchet-mongers, needy gentlemen, and ambitious banisters into commisaioners, colonial governors, aud judges.” The above extract is somewhat severe, but judging by tho results of this session appears to be appropriate to the Parliament of the Britain of tho South as well as to that of the mother country. >

The Melbourne Age gives high praise to the 1 Kelly and Loon Minstrel?. It says :—The i gentlemen who, under the above denomination, gave their initial representation at St. George’s i Hall on Saturday night, before a suffocatingly { large audience, are the most unique body of ( performers that have yet appeared in this city. Separate altogether from the others is M. < Leon, the gentleman who assumes the feminine i role, and who, as compared with all his pre* i decessors in the same line, is as Mdlle Jenny i Clans to au itinerant street fiddler. It would $ be far easier to speak of M. Leon as of the feminine gender, for there is not, from the time of his entrance until he quits the stage, the slightest suggestiveness of a disguised i member of the sterner sex. His speaking ' voice is the usual musical treble of a woman, and it is only in high ringing passages that an occasional break gives a faint indication of its masculine origin. Altogether, we should say that M. Leon’s disguise, did he choose to go about in the habiliments of a woman, could not be penetrated by the most acute of either sex. Mr. Courtwrlght, in addition to being tambourine, is a dancer, whose apparently jointless limbs are capable of unlimited and grotesque distortions. Ho is quite the equal of, if not better, than the Girards. Japanese Tommy, a broad-shouldered, muscular dwarf, 2iu. shorter than Tom Thumb, is also one of the features. We notice that Mr. William Delauey has undertaken to run 50 miles within eight hours on the Prince of Wales’ Birthday. As this requires the runner to average over six miles an hour during the time, it is a fair test of his endurance. In addition to the above a 100, 200, and 300 yards handicap has been arranged, and a two-mile walking handicap. The sports will take place at the Victorian recreation ground, adjoining the Victoria Hotel in Abel Smith-street. A cricket match is to be played this afternoon at KUbimie between the Royal Oak and United Clubs. The following are the names of the players :— Royal Oak : Dodsworlh, Platt, Burrett, Maplestoae, Cheesman, Lambert, O’Brien, Kennedy, Kendall, Nicholson, Laurance, Banks, J. Emeny. United : Muut (captain), Dryden, McGirr, Brown, Keefe, Wylie, Howe, Linklater, Sunley, Mountier, and Ashillemergencies, 13. J. Chatwin and J. Doyle. Mdlle. Alice Charbonnet gave her second concert at the Imperial Opera House last night to a very appreciative audience. The performance, as on her first appearance, was a brilliant success from a musical point of view, and all present appeared delighted with her talented execution on the pianoforte. She is certainly one of the most accomplished performers that has visited this city, and her playing last night was really a musical treat. At her first appearance on the stage she played a pianoforte recital. Concerto No. 2 (Allegro), in which she displayed brilliant execution and great power of expression. The applause she received was most genuine, and an encore was demanded ; in fact, she had to return to the piano l after every piece she played. Her second performance consisted of the pianoforte solo Andante Spinnato and Second Polonaise. This also was most vociferously encored. In the second part of the programme she performed a' remarkable (our de force from Prudent’s fantasia on “Don Pasquale” with the left hand alone. Miss Florence Neville, who has a rich contralto voice and uses it with exquisite taste, added considerably to the success of the concert. Hiss Hewitt also sang several ballads very sweetty. Wo desire to call attention to tho fact that Messrs. Beauchamp and Campbell’s produce sale will take place to-day at 11 a.m.,audnot at 2 o’clock, as previously advertised.

Liabilities aud engagements .. .. 115,440 0 0 • L—Public Departments .. 109,073 18 7 II.—Law and Justice.. .. 144,454 7 4 Class III. —Postal and Telegraphic.; 2-15,139 0 IV. Customs 40,906 13 0 X . V.— Marino 48,359 14 10 VI. Education 222,270 0 0 YII.—Native 32,239 15 0 Class V.TI1.—Militia amVVolunteovs .. 30.178 13 0 Class IX. —Constabulary and Defence 144,904. 0 X.—Railways 403,162 11 0 XI. —Public Domains amlBuildings 32,541 4 0 Class XII.—-Crown Lands, Survey, and Goldfields 541,333 9 11 ClassXIII.—■•Miscellaneous, Special, and Temporary Objects .. 157,292 IS XIV. —Provincial Liabilities .. 237,257 14 4 Class 2

187S. 187?. Barley £2507 £107+ Malt .. .. .. D70 370 10,003 2017 Wheat .. 30,021