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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5502, 14 November 1878, Page 2

The Hineraoa sailed for Lyttelton yesterday afternoon, in order to bring his Excellency the Governor, tho Hon. Colonel Whitmore, the Hon. Mr. Sheehan, and the Hon. Mr. Fisher to Wellington. The Hinemoa will proceed to Kawau on Monday next with tho Hon. the Premier. A printer's error occurred in our report of Mr. Dransfield’s speech. The words “ odour of sanctity” were printed “ odour of the city,” which of course makes tho sentence nonsensical. A meeting of the Committee of tho Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday at 3 p.m. Among the subjects discussed was the question of tho best site for the railway station. Tho committee decided that they would not take any separate action in the matter, but would urge the subject upon tho consideration of the Chamber at the next general quarterly meeting on December 11, It was also determined to form a deputation to wait upon.the Government to suggest, in the first place, that a steam-tug should be procured for the use of the harbor ; secondly, that inasmuch as the Corporation had undertaken to provide a site for the erection of a sailors’ home upon the Thorudon reclamation if it was handed over to them, as the land had been retained by the Government they be requested to reserve a site for this purpose. A difficulty had arisen in some quarters between the Customs’ authorities and the merchants of this city about passing certain entries according to the invoices as received from England. In many instances an allowance of discount upon the value was made for cash payments. This discount is either not entered upon the invoice at all, or if entered is in a different handwriting, and often lacks the signature of the firm. The deputation was anxious that the Customs’ authorities should receive instructions to permit the disputed entries to pass in the usual form as received from England. A very lively scene occurred at Mr. Hutchison’s meeting last night. Mr. Marks was addressing those present, when a ratepayer inquired whether Mr. Marks was making a speech or asking a question. Mr. Marks said if the persons who’ interrupted him wished to speak he would sit down until he finished. One word led to another, and the ratepayer in question made use of an insulting expression with reference to Mr. Marks’persuasion. Mr, Marks thereupon became very warm, and said he would turn the person out of tho room if he dared to repeat his insulting observation. -The person in question thereafter held his peace, and Mr. Marks continued to address the meeting. Tho Court of Aepoal sat for tho first time yesterday for the despatch of business. There were present on ‘the Bench "the Chief Justice, and Judges Johnston, Gillies, and Williams. After aomo discussion several cases were put low on the list, to give counsel time to reach Wellington ; notably, the case of Clarke v. Grey, in which Mr. James Smith, of Dunedin, and.the Attorney-General are engaged. Brigham v. Morton and others was then proceeded with. This is an Auckland case. It seems a Mrs. Brissenden agreed to mortgage certain land to one Brigham, her own trustee, in consideration of his raising money for her benefit, but the agreement, which was in writing, was not registered. Mrs. Brissenden, after getting the money from Brigham, subsequently conveyed the property to Morton and others for the benefit of her creditors. Under that conveyance the property was sold and dealt with in favor of the creditors. Brigham, when he heard of this, instituted proceedings to get an account from Morton and others, with a view of taking steps to secure the money he had lent to Mrp, Brissenden ; and they, in reply, set up this deed of assignment, and denied any liability to render an account to Brigham. Hence the suit. Tho case bristles with technicalities, and is very involved, and comes before the Court as an appeal against the decision of the Court below upon a second demurrer. Mr. Hesketh represents the appellant ; the Attorney-General and Mr. Travers appear on tbo other side. The case occupied the Court all day, and judgment was reserved. A report will appear to-morrow. The annual meeting of the Wellington Circuit of the Wesleyan Home Missions was held last night in the Wesleyan Church. The chair was occupied by the Rev. J. Reid. There was a very large attendance. On the platform were tho Revs. Neilson, Wallace, Williams, and Mr. Slade. Tho report read showed that the circuit was indebted to the general fund of the mission to the amount of £l2O, The collections made in churches amounted to£lo3. The Maunors-sfcreefc collection amounted to £BS ; Adelaide-road Church, £3 ; and that at Thorudon, £lO. It was explained that the object of the mission was for tho propogatiou of the Gospel amongst the natives and Europeans who resided in the outlying districts, the support of the Scandinavian mission at Norse wood settlement, and the theological institute at tho Three Kings. These works were stated to bo in a very statisfactory condition. Several interesting addresses were delivered by those on the platform. During the evening tho choir sang several chants. Tho sum of £9 13a. 9d. was collected, which will be added to the £lO3 above referred to. At Mr. Hutchison’s meeting lhat night ono of the audience insinuated that Mr. Dransfield had increased the hours of labor on the wharf to ten hours per day. Cr. Maginnity did not allow the misstatement to pass unchallenged. He said the City Council received an intimation from the Government that owing to the pressure of business at the port they had resolved on increasing tho hours of the Customs and wharf officers by two hours per day, and asking the City Council to do likewise so far as their employes on the wharf were concerned. This was done, but the City Council employes would be paid for tho two hours additional. The opening of the stone-breaking machinery erected by Messrs. Fay and Roberts at Kaiwarra will take place this afternoon. Those who have received invitations to witness the ceremony will be conveyed to the place by vehicles leaving the Occidental Hotel at 2 p.m. We draw attention to the high prices realised for merino sheep imported from Australia to Canterbury, as reported in a telegram to the Press Agency. Tho prices quoted range from 20 up to 200 guineas, though some were sold at lower figures. Several complaints have reached us about the smoke that was created by tho tram-car engines during yesterday afternoon. It was specially noticeable upon one occasion about 2 o’clock on Lai>ibton-quay. This :is a departure from the terms of the concessions granted to the company which is likely to. cause trouble if not discontinued. On Tuesday last Councillor Fisher gave notice of tho following motions for this evening : —l, ‘‘That the Town Clerk bo instructed to enter upon the records the date upon which the Wellington City Tramway was opened for public traffic.” 2. “That Mr. D. Oiiraie be retained as Drainage Engineer.” On Councillor Fisher handing in tho above notices of motion, tho Town Clerk stated they could not bo discussed at this evening’s meeting of tho City Council, as the requisite three clear days’ notice had not been given. Since tho opening of tho railway from Foxtou to Wanganui tho rise in tho value of land in that vicinity has been very great. Sections near Holcombe have lately changed hands at a profit of from 400 to 500 per cent. The railway has given an impetus to trade, and townships on tho Foxtou and Wanganui lino of railway have facilities for shipping their goods which enable them to bring more produce to market, and for this reason small farms in tho district of Halcombo arc being much sought after.

It is understood that the case of Brogdon and Son v. the New Zealand Government will be tried in Dunedin. Tho only business at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday was the disposal of three drunkards. We draw attention to the fact that a poll for the election of an auditor for the Equitable Building and Investment Society will take place to-night. - ; There was again a good attendance at the. Theatre Royal last night, and the new items submitted to the audience were loudly applauded. Tho Carlotta was sold yesterday by Mr, Thomas, the auctioneer. The cbance of the cargo, 480 tons of coal, fetched £25, and tho wreck herself £25. It lias been determined by the PostmasterGeneral that the mails for Pahautauui shall be conveyed daily by the Wanganui coach, which passes through that township. Yesterday a seaman fell down on the wharf in a fit, and he was at once taken to the Hospital, where restoratives were applied successfully. It appears that the poor fellow is subject to periodical attacks of this kind. Wc hear that a new boat, named the Huia, has been successfully launched by Messrs. Youraans and Co. The steamer has been built for Messrs. Seager, of this city, and is intended for the coastal trade near Wellington. We publish in another column the report of the first part of the inquiry that has been held into the accident to the Taupo. We are indebted to a Southern paper for the information. By a telegram we learn that the inquiry has been concluded, and that the decision will be given to-morrow. A preliminary inquiry relative to the stranding of the ship City of Auckland was held before the Collector of Customs yesterday. The evidence of tho master, first and second officers, and an able seaman, was taken, a report ofr which appears in our shipping column. The magisterial inquiry will be held on Saturday. Madame Tasca’s benefit is fixed for tomorrow night, at the Imperial Opera House, and she deserves to have a crowded house on the occasion. Since her arrival in Wellington the amount of patronage bestowed on her performances has been by no means commensurate with her deserts. She is acknowledged to be a pianistc of rare ability by those who have heard her perform, and it is to be hoped that on the occasion of her last appearance she will have a bumper house. We hear that some changes are to be made in the Railway Department shortly. Amongst others, Mr. W. Stone is to be removed to Nelson, and will be succeeded here by Mr. G. Ashcroft, who is now at Nelson, in. the position which Mr. Stone will take up in that city. Mr. W. G. King, stationmaster at Featherston, is to be transferred to Marton, and Mr. Stevenson, stationmaster at Foxton, is to receive the appointment of stationmaster at Featherston. The Wairarapct Daily says :—We understand there is an early prospect of a fire-engine arriving in Masterton for the use of the borough, and wo trust the officers and members of the brigade will endeavor to display it to the public of Masfcerton before many days are over. There are some sceptical people about who will not believe that a brigade does exist in the borough, and were a fire to occur now we scarcely imagine that the present organisation would be of any great use. Tho Nelson Colonist remembers that the Parliament began to sit on “ tho unlucky day,” Friday, and is half inclined to attribute the barrenness of the session to that cause. It says:—“ After consuming fourteen weeks in idle talk, the members of the General Assembly are sent back to their homes. Any person who is inclined to be superstitious might fancy that the old dread of beginning anything on Friday is justified by the history of the past session. A Government, that rose to power on the most lavish promises of reform that fiave ever been heard in this colony, has wrecked its reputation for no other discoverable reason than a desire to prolong its tenure of office. Tho Wairarapa Standard complains that the reasons for the withdrawal of the Brewers and Companies Tax Bills were explained to the House by the Government last session ; but no explanation has been afforded why the Electoral Bill was allowed to suffer the same fate. We submit that this is not treating their supporters with the courtesy they have a right to receive, and we kuow from a pretty long experience, both before and behind tho scenes, that such thoughtlessness or indifference is quite exceptional on the part of the members of popular Governments. Not only their friends, but the public, have a right to know why the Electoral Bill was abandoned. From the Patea Mail we learn that three survey staffs arc now engaged on the line from Normanby to Waverley. It has been rumored at Hawera that *tlie site for a railway station will be somewhere near to the Police Office, or at any rate close up to the township. We only hope this rumor may prove exactly true. In spite of tho fears entertained by manv that tho railway line would not approach within a mile or mile and a half of town, its settlers have never lost heart nor slackened their rapidly progressive pace. The progress there made in building and general increase of business and price of land lately has been simply astounding. The fixing of the site of the railway station within the township would be a just and fitting reward for the pluck and enterprise shown by Hawera settlers. The Wairarapa Standard says:—lt is being kept quite dark by New Zealand merchants, and the colonial Press, that there is just now a considerable tightness in the monetary chest, and somehow or other everybody appears to be in possession of the secret, which of course in such a case is no secret at all. The effects of this tightness are being felt at Mastertbn and Featherston, where a good deal of speculation has been indulged in on borrowed capital. The attempt to hide the fact is like that of tho silly bird which fancies that by putting its head under its wing it will escape the eye of the huntsman. It is silly for other reasons, and one of these is, that the scare can only bo temporary^ Wc learn from the Tv.apclca Times that the opening of the Weatherstone Cement Company’s battery took place on the 6th instant. That paper says :—All eyes are now turned to this company’s doings, as upon the success of their crushing will in a great measure depend the future prospecting of the cement, Should it turn out well, as there is every indication that it will, several other batteries will doubtless bo erected in a very short space of time. Wo heartily wish the company that success which they are thoroughly deserving of through their energy and enterprise, and wc hope at tho cud of a mouth they will be able to exhibit a cake of amalgam sufficient to cover working expenses and pay a handsome dividend.

We learn from the IToharton Mercury, a reliable source, that in the middle of last month some salmon smelts came down the troughing leading from the River Plenty to the salmon ponds. This is the fourth season that smelts have come from that river through the same troughing. and tho fact is particularly interesting, as it proves that the parent fish must go up the River Plenty (in which river salmon were first liberated) to deposit their ova. A writer in an English exchange says:—“ It appears to mo that England is now going through a period very similar to that which wo went through iu Australia just oue and twenty, years ago. The glory of the diggings had passed away ; the reckless speculation of old digging days could not be continued; immense profits had become a thing of the past; wages were greatly reduced ; all classes of tho community found themselves compelled to reduce their expenditure, aud there was weeping, aud wailiug, and gnashing of teeth ; but, iu that practical part of the world, people were uot content to ait still and * cry over spilt milk they recognised the necessities of tho times ; they set to work ; if they could not got employment at one kind of work they took another ; they began to develop tho great and natural resources of tho country ; and success, unlooked-for success, has attended their efforts. England must'follow the example of her more go-ahead offspring.” There will be a sale of furniture at Newry, the late Mr. Ludham’s property, at tho Hutt, to-day. Wo hear that the garden there is really beautiful just now, and those who desire an agreeable onting may make the sale an excuse for combining a great deal of pleasure with a little business. A writer in tho Tasmanian Mail says : Another salmon of five to six pound weight has been shown iu Hobarton this weelc, iu addition to the two I have noticed in another place. There cannot now, as I have before observed, be a doubt that we have in Tasmanian waters thp representative of tho fish which is regarded at Home as the kiug of the streams.

We notice that passengers to Foxton by coach will in future be required to book the day before, to ensure a seat, Wo understand that the Suez mails are ex* pected in Wellington to-day. Tins will be about nine clays iu advance of contract time. The steamer Arawata brings the mails. It is stated (says the Oamani Mail) that the manager of the Mount llaugitoto Silver Mine is just now taking out some splendid ore, some of which he describes as u pure ore,” free from all rock, and fit for smelting as it is taken from the mine. He states also that the vein is fast improving as it is entered upon towards the eastward, or heart of the mountain. This vein is in the lower workings of all, and the prospects of the mine are considered excellent. It is hoped that a crushing will be ready for shipment before Christmas, when all expenses will be materially curtailed until the results of the smelting are known.