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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5521, 6 December 1878, Page 4

Judges Johnston and Williams leave for Canterbury and Otago respectively ou or about Monday next. The immigration nominations properly speaking closed last evening, but the list will not be made up till this morning. The nominations for the month number about 80.

A preliminary inquiry was held yesterday at the Custom House, before the Collector of Customs, relative to the wreck of the Southminster. A report will be found in our shipping columns. The magisterial inquiry will be held to-day. '

It is expected that the Hons, Messrs. Maoaudrew, Fisher, and Sheehan will all have returned to Wellington before the end of the week, and it is probable that tho AttorneyGeneral will then pay a visit South, during which he will take the opportunity of enlightening his constituents ou things in general, and on Ministerial doinge in particular.

The first of a series of wool sales by tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency was held at tho wool stores belonging to the company on Lambton-quay yesterday afternoon at 3 o’clock. Before the sale opened his Worship the Mayor in a few words wished the company a successful series of sales, and commented favorably upon tho enterprise they had shown in instituting the same. He concluded his toast by wishing the auctioneer a good sale upon this particular occasion, as a good omen for future sales. Mr. Trapp, the auctioneer, thanked the Mayor for his good wishes, and at once proceeded to business. The attendance at tho sale was good, but the bidding was languid. In the face of the recent heavy fall in the price of wool, as reported from London, this was not surprising. Cross-bred greasy wool of fair quality fetched from Bd. to B£d. A full report of the prices will he found in our commercial columns.

Tho reply of his Excellency the Governor to the petition of cahdrivers, &0., in regard to the tramway, is to the effect that he does not feel himself justified in acceding to their prayer that the use of steam may be prohibited, but that the Tramway Company will in future be required to keep strictly to tho regulations. Petitioners are referred to a report by Mr. Blackett on the tramway. That officer says : —“ Steam power can only bo considered ‘ dangerous, inconvenient, or a nuisance to the public’ in a certain degree, and according to the manner in which it is used. Tho same remark will apply to horse power as applied to tho traction of any vehicles in the public streets, which may be made absolutely dangerous if tho speed is not kept within certain limits, and the horses under proper control. The regulations provide against excessive speed, and it duly observed would, in this respect, reduce tho ‘ danger, inconvenience, and nuisance’ to a minimum. Tho escape of steam, however, is also a ‘ danger’ and a ‘ nuisance’ which could bo abated by the proper use of the apparatus expressly attached to tho engines for that purpose. It will bo remembered that the value of this was, while tho tramway was being ‘promoted,’ brought strongly before public notice as a special advantage.” Ho also thinks the speed is too high in many of the streets, and that tho company should be made to conform moro strictly to tho regulations in respect of tho points touched upon by him-

The glorious uncertainty of tho law was exemplified tho other day. A defendant in a suit to recover some hundred pounds or so either thought his case so had, or so much desired to stop further litigation, that ho was willing to pay tho sum claimed into Court on the morning of tho day of trial, but there was no sitting in chambers before tho Court opened, and the case had to proceed, Tho finding of the jury, or tho Judge’s ruling as to tho law, was altogether in favor of defendant, and he has now changed his mind about paying tho money.

The police have in thoir possession a lady’s pork basket which was found on Lambtonqufty. Tbo owner can have tho same by applying at tbe dejipfi.

There was a clean sheet at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. At a meeting of the creditors of Reynolds and Coilious, contractors, yesterday, Mr. Berry was elected trustee. The wreck of the ship Southminster will be sold by auction to-day by Messrs. Bethune and 00., at their rooms, on behalf of whom it may concern.

The Blenheim sittings of the Circuit Court commence on Tuesday, and his Honor the Chief Justice will probably leave Wellington for Blenheim on Monday afternoon or evening. We hear that a Royal Commission has been issued appointing Mr. H. Bunny, M.H.R., Dr. Giles, and Mr. Whiteford, R.M., to inquire into the condition of the Jackson Bay Settlement. The Commission will visit the settlement next month.

A notice is published in another column from which it appears that any objections to the proposed levels of Pirie, Brougham, and Daniel streets must be lodged before the Ist of January. Plans are on view at the oifice of the City Surveyor. We hear that the alleged case of mismanagement at the Wellington Hospital is now being inquired into. The result of the inquiry will probably be made public, in order to clear the character of the ex-matron, whose honesty was publicly impeached.

In our advertising columns will be found a list of the books for sale which formed the library that was owned by the late Mr. Ludlam. A number of standard works and books of reference are included in the list, which might prove of service to the Athenieum or kindred institutions.

A cricket match will be played on the Basin Reserve to-morrow afternoon between the Wellington and Wanderers cricket clubs. The last match between these clubs was not completed. It is to be hoped that to-morrow the two teams will tic on the ground at 2 o’clock sharp, so that at least one innings each may be got through. “ Across the Continent ” was played for the last time at the Theatre Royal last night, in the presence of his Excellency the Governor and suite. Considering the boisterous weather there was a very fair attendance. The piece is, as we have mentioned before, highly sensational ; and last night, as previously, the performance was thorouglily enjoyed. To-night “Elizabeth” will be produced. The weekly meeting of tho Young Men's Mutual Improvement Society was held last evening, in the Manners-street vestry. The president and vice-presidents were in attendance. Vice-president Williams occupied the chair. The arrangement of the new syllabus for next half-year formed the chief business of the evening. After a few readings had been given by various members, the meeting was brought to a close. A large number of the parishioners of St. Paul’s Church were in attendance at the usual practice of the choir on Wednesday evening, in response to the invitation published in our columns, for the purpose of rehearsing the Christmas carols which are to be sung at the special Christmas Eve service. The churchwardens have had the carols printed, and they were circulated amongst those present, and under the direction of Mr. Parker, the recently appointed organist, a very satisfactory practice was held, The parishioners are invited to be present again next Wednesday after the usual service.

There was a fairly good attendance at the Imperial Opera House last evening, when the sensational drama “ Green Bushes” was presented. Miss Tilly Andrews’ Miami was a vigorous performanee, and Mr. Walton rendered the character of Connor O'Kennedy very tastefully and accurately. Mr. Haygarth's Wild Murtagh was a fair representation of the rough, scheming rascal, and Mr. Oily Peering threw plenty of fun into the character of Jack the Sailor. Geraldine was nicely played by Miss Marie Wilton, while the villagers, Indians, &0., were all up to the standard of stage orthodoxy. To-night is to be a grand fashionable night, when “ Society ” is to be produced. The Court of Appeal closed its sittings yesterday after judgment was given in the case of Buckeridge v. Wardell, a case interesting to the Wairarapa people, because of the property in connection with which the suit is brought being situated in that locality ; and interesting to legal gentlemen, because of the important principle it involves in regard to lands titles whore the dealings are not altogether fair and square. In this case a surveyor named Alzdorf some years ago disposed of the land in question to two different persons, and each of the purchasers had again dealt with the land, the result being that plaintiff and defendant in the action having each purchased in ignorance of the sale to the other they have had to fight out the question of title. Mr. Wardell has lost the case, it being proved that his opponent's title was prior to his own.

We hear that the Telegraph Department has notified to the Press Agency that they will not continue to supply the morning papers in Wellington with duplicate copies of Press Agency telegrams as heretofore. The reason for this step is said to be that the preparation of duplicate copies has caused extra trouble to tho telegraphists, and some delay in the official transmission of telegraphic news. As this delay has been complained of, and can be avoided by furnishing one official copy only to the agency, the department will in future adopt this system. The extra labor and delay caused by the copying required at the Press Agency office will he a source of very serious expense, and the delay will also at times effectually prevent the publication of late news. In the interest of the public we hope- that some more satisfactory arrangement may be entered into between the two parties. The Choral Society’s first subscription concert of the season will take place on Monday, 23rd instant, at the Imperial Opera House, when Mendelssohn’s grand oratorio “ Elijah” will be performed. This work has been under rehearsal during the past six weeks, and we anticipate a great musical treat. The oratorio, though probably familiar to many of our readers, has never yet been performed in Wellington. At a meeting of the committee held ou Wednesday evening the hen. secretary, Mr. Garrard, suggested a plan with reference to the much-vexed question of reserved seats, so as to overcome the difficulties experienced previously. Last season the opinions of subscribers were obtained, and three-fourths were found to be in favor of having seats reserved, but the rush at Bennington's when the box plan was open was found to be so great, all the dress-circle seats being secured withia an hour, that considerable dissatisfaction was expressed by tho non-suocessful applicants, who quite forgot the fact that it was impossible for the holders of the 500 tickets all to obtain seats in the dress-circle, in which there are only 250 seats. The hou. secretary has suggested the following plan : —That subscribers’ names should be alphabetically divided, and that for tho first concert tickets for dress-circle should be issued to those whose names are included iu letters A to H, the balance receiving tickets for tho stalls. For tho second concert it is proposed to adopt the same course, only reversing the position of subscribers, giving the latter half tickets for tho dress-circle, and it is thought by adopting this plan all subscribers would be placed on an equal footing, and be relieved from the sense of annoyance caused previously. The committee resolved to have a special meeting next week to discuss _ the matter. From the advertisement in this issue intending subscribers can obtain full information as to tickets, &c.