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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5530, 17 December 1878, Page 2

For some few days past statements respecting the conduct of the principal of the Wellington College, Mr. Kenneth Wilson, have been freely circulated and published in the evening papers, and the Wellington College Governors will probably consider the matter to day. Purposely we have hitherto abstained from publishing a word in connection with the subject, because enquiry at a variety of sources baa led to the conclusion that the statements made concerning Mr, Wilson are scandalously false, and are without even colorable foundation, but at the same time we think it would be unfair to Mr, Wilson for the Board to accept the Chairman’s suggestion to hold the enquiry with closed doors, so far as the Press is concerned,. People have a habit of distrusting private proceedings of this character, and regarding as unsatisfactory any decision which may be come to ; and if anything be required to justify the conduct of a portion of the Wellington Press in this affair, a secret enquiry will supply it. It is to be hoped that the governors will look at the matter from all points before deciding upon so objectionable a proceeding. By consent of parties and by order of Judge, the two causes, Wiiltou v. Kilmister, and the Corporation of Wellington v. Port, set down to be heard by common juries at last circuit sittings of the Court at Wellington iu October last, will bo tried before the Chief Justice without jury, tho former ou Wednesday and the latter on Thursday next. In consequence of this arrangement the business set down for the usual banco sitting on Wednesday will be taken bj the Court on Friday. The Court sits to-day in bankruptcy as usual at twelve o’clock.

The public meeting to discuss the railway terminus question will be held in the Athenremn Hall punctually at half-past seven o'clock this evening. The committee met at tho White Swan Hotel, Ouba-street, at eight o’clock last eveaing, to settle preliminaries for the anti-Chinese immigration meeting to-night. The chair was occupied by Mr. VVatson. Several letters were read, amongst others, «ne from the Hon. Mr. Baiiance, in which ho expressed sympathy with the movement, but regretted his inabilit y to attend the public meeting. It was decided that the first resolution should be moved by Mr. W. Hutchison, and seconded by Mr. Capper; the second by Mr. Crook, seconded by Mr..l. Me oil; and the third by-Mr. C. Hill. It was also determined that a fourth resolution should be proposed, for the appointmentbf,*, fresh committee to carry bn the movement to a succes-fui issue. We have received a circular letter from Messrs, Holt and Maoarthy, of the Press Agency. It contains proposals to form a board of directors to act as a Press agency under the combined direction ef the New Zealand Press. A somewhat lengthy aeries of propositions are contained iu the circular, on which we are not at present prepared to express any very decided opinion, only remarking that they appear to be prompted by a desire to meet the wishes of tho Press generally, and to offer a fair and equitable solution of the difficulties that have arisen, in the hope that the new a=rvice proposed may be more economical, and equally satisfactory in other respects. A meeting of the College governors was held yesterday, when a number of matters were disposed of as reported iu another column. At the conclusion of the business the meeting adjourned till next day at 2 p.m., when certain statements made in reference to the conduct of the principal are to he inquired into. A committee was also appointed to inquire into the present financial condition of the College, to consider the best means of making it selfsupporting. There appears to bo great dissatisfaction at the present arrangements, whereby six or seven masters are employed at very high salaries, in several oases to teach 60 or 70 boys; and it is probable that a very sweeping reform will be proposed, if not carried out.

A meeting of tho Drapers’ and Clothiers’ Association was held at tho Athenasum last evening, when the question of a weekly halfholiday was discussed, and it was proposed to invite the employers iu the trade to meet representatives of the employes at a meeting to be held on Friday at 11 o’clock (No. 11 room, Athenaeum), to discuss the question. It was mentioned at tho meeting that the rate of mortality in the drapery trade was higher than the average rate in other trades, and it was felt to be imperatively necessary to try and obtain at least one halt-holiday per week, so that those engaged in this line of business might have an opportunity of procuring sufficient out-door exercise for the requirements of health.

The farewell benefit and last appearance of Mr. P. M. Bates at tho Theatre Royal last evening was numerously attended. The curtain rose to “ Ingomar,” in whioli tho part of the Barbarian was sustained by Mr. Bates, and that of Partbenia by Mrs. Bates. Tho acting of both was all that could bo desired from the most exacting audience, of both Mr. and Mrs. Bates, receivine several rounds of applause. The other characters were very creditably sustained, and tho piece went with remarkable smoothness throughout. A short musical interlace followed the drama, and Mr. and Mrs. Bates then appeared in the aide splitting farce entitled “ The 'foodies,” in which Mr. Bates convulsed the house with roars of laughter by his capital acting. Toodies is, of course, the very antipodes of such a part as Ingomar, and the sudden transition from one to the other on the same night showed what a versatile actor Mr. Bates is. We understand that Mr. and Mrs. Bates will leave for Sydney on Saturday next. It is to bo hoped that they will pay Wellington another visit, and that Mr. and Mrs. Bates will at some future time consider it to their advantage to go into management in this city and make it their permanent home, seeing that they have formed so many warm attachments amongst its inhabitants. At tho Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday judgment was given against Captain Hellers of tho Zealandia in a case where the plaintiff sought to recover damages for injury sustained through tho falling of a rocket stick, discharged from the ship when lying at the Wellington wharf last New Year s mormng. £SO and costs was the amount recovered.

It is expected that the railway extension from Feathorstou to Masterton will bo completed in eighteen months from tho present time. On the Napier side the extension is being proceeded with from Kopua to Ormondvillo, and therefore by the time tho line reaches Master, ton there will be a break of about 00 or 91 miles to bo completed before through railway communication j? established between Wellington and Napier.

The examinations of pupils attending the Convent schools will be commenced to-day. Mr. Farnali, ex-M.H.R., has received an appointment in the Annuities Office, Auckland.

The Hon. Mr. Sheehan is expected to leave for Auckland and the East Coast on Thursday next.

The anti-Chinese immigration meeting takes place at the Atheumm Hall at eight o’clock to-night.

The Ministers at present in Wellington are the Hon. Colonel Whitmore, the Hon. Mr. Sheehan, and the Hon. Mi. Fisher.

We are requested to direct tho attention of our readers to the fact that the annual examination at the English High School, for special prises, will take place ou Thursday, and not Wednesday, as previously advertised, Mr. Henry Varley addressed a crowded meeting in the Woodward-street Congregational Church last evening. It will beobservod in our advertising columns that he gives another Bible reading this afternoon, and an address in the evening in the same place.

From Auckland wo hear that the a.s. Rotomahana brought up from the Thames last week four boxes of gold for the Bank of New Zea laud, containing 39330 z. The same vessel also brought up a box of gold for the National Bank.

Tho public schools generally in the Wellington district will break up lot the Christmas vacation on Friday, but in the case of the Terrace school tho breaking up will take place a day or two earlier, by permission of the committee, as two of the masters wish to go up for examination in the higher education. By an advertisement in another column Messrs. Turnbull and Co. notify that consignees per Star, from New-York, can obtain a settlement of the average matters. This Star has evidently been a very unlucky one, as on tho voyage she has had to bear up twice for a port of refuge, each time getting bottomried for expenses. The new railway time-table will come into operation on New Year’s Day. For the present a raving of forty minutes will be effected in the journey from Wellington to Feathers ton, and it is expected that the time will be still further lessened when the line becomes more consolidated, and the trains can travel at a greater speed without risk. The stoppages at the various stations will of course have to be reduced to a minimum.

Last night the “ Ticket of Leave Man ” was played at the Imperial Opera House. This drama, which is of the sensational class, is known to most playgoers, and has had several very marked ‘‘runs,” particularly when in London it was played at the Olympic for over five hundred nights. The piece was carefully put on the stage of the Opera House, and was well rendered, Mr, Walton and Miss Andrews taking the principal characters. They were ably supported by the other members of the company. The attendance was not up to the merits of the play. The piece announced for to-night is “ The Willow Copse.” The New Zealand Telegraph Boating and Cricket Clubs gave a concert of sacred and secular music at the Atbenmum Hall last evening, under the patronage of bis Excellency the Governor and the Marchioness of Norxnanby, tho Hon. Colonel Whitmore, the Hon. Mr. Fisher, and the Hon. Mr. Baiiance. The {rent seats were fully patronised, and the back seats were also fairly occupied. The coucert was under the able direction sf Mr, Robert Parker, organist of St. Paul’s, who played the accompaniments in a masterly manner, and created an excellent impresason by his clever performances on ths harmonium, of which instrument he is a most accomplished master. As the absence of other names from tbe programma would seem to indicate that the performers desired to preserve their anonymity, wo shall respect their wishes, and furthermore refrain from referring to the programme item by item, and so avoid the risk of creating invidious comparisons. It is sufficient to say that the concert was a great success, and that the sacred portions of it more particularly were rendered in a highly commendable manner. Another concert of a similar kind, and so ably conducted, would doubtless attract a large attendance on some future occaai >n.

The condition of the working people in any country is best told by the statistics of savings banks. On more than one occasion we indicated our belief (says an Auckland exchange) that the cause of the so-called dalness was more due to overtrading than to any want of spending power on the part of the working men. Tbe bank returns bear out this view, and we learn that during tbe three months ending the 30th September last the working c asses were able to deposit no less a sum than £*27,047 18s. 7d.—an amount nearly equal to £lo,uoo a month.

From Fiji we hear that a remarkable escape from at least a serious accident happened to a Fijian boy at Wai Torn. He, with others, was assisting t; round in some cattle to Mr. Sinclair’s slaughter-yard, when a bullock made a rush at him, and the boy not being quick enough in getting out of the road, the animal, to the startled onlookers, appeared to have gored him and carried him off on his horn, but it so happened that the boy had on a strong leather belt, which caught over the horn, and the bullock went tearing about with the boy so fixed. After running about one hundred yards tho horn broke short off, and the boy fell one way and the bullock another. The former was picked up insensible, but, beyond a few slight bruises, was nothing tbe worse for his dangerous and involuntary ride.) From Sydney wo hear that two medals have been manufactured to commemorate the occasion of the trip of tbs Australian team to England by Mr. Weieeuer, jeweller. Toe medals are of Sue gold, about one and a half inch in diameter. The centre of one shows a raised (bas relief) figure of a bowler in the act of delivering ths ball, while the other represents a batsman making a vigorous drive. Both have the following inscription ; —“First Australian Eleven in England,” while the name of recipient, (be., is intended to be engraved on the edge of rim. The frame is adorned with eight (Roman) shields, bearing the crests of tbe most noted cricketing counties of England, while between these their respective names appear. The whole is surmounted by throe larger (Grecian) shields, representing Australia, England, and America, a graceful ribbon, with motto “ Advance Australia,” attaching same to tho body of the medal. The intention of the manufacturer is to present them to the best bowler and batsman of tbe team, the Cricketing Association having undertaken to make the selection and presentation, in case of dispute. In accordance with tho recommendation made by the Commissioners of Railways, Messrs. Lawson and Conyers, tenders have been invited for the extension of the railway in Auckland to the Queen-street wharf, along Custom Housestreet. Until tbe permanent station buildings shall have been erected, a temporary station will be built contiguous to ths wharf, and rails will be laid along Custom House-street iu order that trains may run quite close to tbe main thoroughfare of the northern capital. It is proposed to increase tbe width o! Custom House-street from 85 to 100 feet, so that the ordinary traffic may in no way be interfered with. The recommendation made by the Commissioners has mat with the general approval of the Auckland public, whose convenience bas been consulted by bringing the railway into tho city from the present inconvenient site on which the terminus stands. It is to be hoped that ere long the people of Wellington will have equal cause for satisfaction with regard to the locality of the railway terminus.

Tho attitude of the Wellington people with regard to tho railway site bas had its effect upon ths Government. Tho evening Minister! d journal last night made the following announcement;—“ We understand that the Government are desirous of meeting tho wishes of tho public in the matter of tbe railway site, and that arrangements will he made to reserve a site near Mills’ foundry for tho purpose. We are glad that this is so. As, however, a public meeting is to be held to marrow night on the subject, it is probable that when tho chairman forwards to the Government tbe resolution passed, some definite and official assurance as to the railway site will be sent in reply. Tho Hutt-Waikanae line of railway will be proceeded with now as expeditiously as routine circumstances will permit. The Hon. Mr. Sheehan since his return has succeeded in arranging with tho owners for the land necessary for tho purpose, and tenders will shortly be called for tho construction of the line. This will set at rest all doubt upon the subject."

The fastness which prevails in some of tho fashionable circles of London is exemplified by tho following paragraph from tho European Mail. An amusing incident occurred the other day on tbe London and South-Western railway during a journey from Thames-Dittou to Waterloo. Into a smoking carriage stepped two young ladies, much to the disgust of the same number of gentlemen, who were enjoying their cigars. “ Wonder why ladies will gat jpto smoking carriages,” growled Senes Major

ia an undertone to Senex Minor, making his voice distinctly audible to everyone in the carriage. Senex Minor replied, in an audible aside, that “it was really a shame, you know.” Here a clear, bell-like voice made both gentlemen look round at their fair neighbors. “ Will you have onet" said a pair of laughing brown to a pair of dancing black eyes, handing at the same moment to her vis avis a lilliputian morocco cigar case. In another instant two small dainty cigars—not cigarettes, but real honest cigars—were reposing between two pairs of ripe red lips, and Senex Major and Minor had collapsed. From a recent number of a Dunedin paper we extract the following short critique of Miss Sherwin's powers:—“lt is rare'y thar. the public of Dunedin have the pleasure of listening to an artiste who has not only vocal abilities of the highest order, but as an actress displays an exquisite refinement of manner. In fact, there has been no singer to equal her here since the time of Da Marsha, and no actress of her mark since the time of ScottSiddons ; and wo are convinced the period is not far distant when Miss Sherwin will take her place among the lead eg operatic artistes of the day.”