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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5533, 20 December 1878, Page 2

The Chamber of Commerce has received a communication from the Government to tho. following effect :—That ovving to tho absonco of the .Minister -of, Public Works from town a dofinito reply cannot at present bo given to their communication,/« the p'ste of tho raihvay station on the Thorndon reclamation j but immediately upon hia.roturn a .definite reply will be forwarded to the Chamber.

Thousual railway time-table on the Wairarapa railway will only be suspended on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day. On the intervening days the present time-table will be adhered to. After the first of January the trains will run according to the new time-table which will shortly be issued.

The Supreme Court will sit in banco to-day, to tako the business set down for Wednesday last, but which was postponed to allow of two Circuit Court cases coming on. His Honor the Chief Justice will also sit in chambers on Saturday, and again on Monday at 10.30, and at 12 o'clock in bankruptcy, and subsequently on same clay banco business will be taken, so as to clear off all work prior to the Christmas vacation commencing. The holidays will extend from the 21th iast. to the 2nd January, inclusive.

Sections 15, 21,33,40, and 57 of tho Sheep Act come into operation ou the first ot next month. The clauses referred to give power to the sheep inspector to call upon any sheep-owuer to make a declaration testifying to the fact that he believes his flock to be free from infections disease. An alteration is also made in the date upon which the returns of the number o£ sheep belonging to any one flock shall be sent in; besides amending and altering the law respecting the posse.-sion of infested sheep and their removal from one district to another.

A meeting of the creditors of Thomas McCarthy, coach proprietor, of Masterton, was held yesterday at the Court House. Debtor's schedule showed that his liabilities were about £2IOO and his assets £2600, but the proofs of debt submitted seemed to indicate that the balance would be on the other side. Mr. R. G. Williams was appointed trustee, and it was resolved that the next meeting of creditors should be held at Masterton. By far the greatest part of the debts aro confined to the Wairarapa District, and it is on this account that the next meeting of creditors ivill be held in Masterton. We have reason to believe that Mr. McCarthy may then be prepared to make an offer to his creditors whioh 1b likely to prove satisfactory. This would save the expense of having the estate wound up, a point which is well worthy the consideration of the creditors.

The dispute between the Corporation and Mr. R. Port in regard to the rental of certain of the Town Belt sections came before the Supreme Court yesterday. It seems three sections were included in the one lease, and on the Corporation desiring to rpsutne possession of part of the sections Mr. fort threw up the whole lot. The Corporation hold that he only had a right to abaudoa the one section, of which part was required by the Corporation, for although the three sections were included in one lease, there was yet a complete and distinct contract in respect to each section. The Court is therefore asked to amend the lease in regard to the one section, leaving the others still in the hands of Mr. Port. Evidence as to the facts was taken,and argument on matters of law postponed till the new year.

A complimentary lunch was given on Wednesday last to Mr. B. G. Williams, of Masterton, upon the occasion of his retiring from the Mayoralty. A pressure of private business induced Mr. Williams to refrain from undertaking the duties of Mayor of Masterton any longer, and he welcomed his successor in Office, Mr. McGregor, very csrdially, and instated him in due form. Mr. Williams has for many years taken a leading part in all matters affecting the welfare of the township of Masterton, both before and since it became a borough, and he was heartily thanked for his past services, at the luncheon given in his honor.

We understand that the proposed visit of a cricketing team to Nelson has fallen through. An eleven has been formed to visit the Wairarapa, and it is exceedingly doubtful whether another eleven that can be termed fairly representative of Wellington cricketing talent oan be got together in time. A doubt about the services of a steamer being available on the occasion has also hindered the promoters of the trip from enlisting the services of many players. The Choral Soniety met in large numbers last night at the Provincial Hall, for the last practice previous to the final rehearsal on Saturday, for the concert to be given at the Imperial Opera lb .use on Monday next, when Mendelssohn's grand oratorio " Elijah " will be performed, under the direction of Mr. Robert Parker, for the first time in Wellington. It will be seen by the advertisement in this issue than the upper-circle and pit will be open to the public, the obher parts of the theatre being required for the subscribers. We have been requested to remind performing members that the final rehearsal will take plane ou Saturday evening at balf-past seven punctually, at the Imperial Opera House, and that the theatre will be closed to any visitors. Wo hen;- tjiat.there)" - "\""»Cv o£ ». ™.i«l™>fcing team being got up by the Civil Service to visit the iVairarapa during tho forthcoming holidays. If a team is got together the intention is to play matches at Masterton, Greytown, and Featherston before returning to town.

Some of tho rights and privileges in connection with the Foresters' fete ou the Basin Reserve on Boxing Day were sold by auction by Mr. J. H. Wallace yesterday. The following were the prices obtained:—Grand-stand booth, J. Overton, £7 10s ; No. 1 refreshment booth, H. Phillips, £2 10s; and No. 2 do., H. Phillips, £2 ss. Mr. McArdle subsequently bought No. 3 publicans' booth for £i. Booth No. 2 has not yet been disposed of. Sergeant Smith resigned his appointment in the Wellington police yesterday. He has since taken over the Star and Garter Hotel, in Cuba-street, having purchased the interest from Mr. TJrwin for about -£2OOO. The new proprietor is well and favorably known to many of our townsmen, both as sergeant of police and as sub-iuspector of the armed constabulary, and no doubt his numerous friends will wish him every success iu hi* new line of business. The negotiations were conducted by Messrs Watty and Ames. There was another splendid house at the Theatre Royal last night, when as usual Miss Amy Sberwin delighted the audieuce by her sweet siuging. Last night her part of the entertainment was brought to a close by her sustaiuing the part of Leonara from the opera of " Trovatore." In this piece her acting, as well as her vocal powers, were considerably tried. The audience wore most enthusiastic in their applause, and on her re-appearance before the curtain sho was greeted with a shower of bouquets. The performance closed with the laughable comedy of "Checkmate," in which the Misses Johns and Messrs. Hydes, Wilkinson, aud D'Elmaino were most amusing.

A meeting of persons interested in the antiChinese immigration movement waa held at the White Swan fclotel last night, for the purpose of risin" subscriptions in aid of the seamen who have struck work in Sydney. Mr. Hutchison was in the chair. The following were elected as a committee ;—Messrs. Capper, Marks, Crooks, Taylor, Hall, Watson, Alnnrs, Millß, and McColl. Subscription lists have been printed, aud it was resolved that they should be distributed throughout the city. Another meeting will be held on Monday. The share list for the new company formed to take over the drag business of Messrs. Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co. will finally close to-morrow, the 21st inst. We understand that the applications for shares have been vory numerous, and that the company is likely to start under very auspicious circumstances. Mr. Walton has organised a dramatic compauy in Wellington, and intends to play a short season in VVanganui. They leave by the Manawatu to-day. The troupe comprises a number of talented artists, aud may be expected to do a very good business. During tho passago of tho ship Wairoa from London one of the sailors made use of the expression " May God strike mo dumb." Tho unfortunate man was immediately struck dumb, and has been unable to utter a word since then up to the present time. A meeting of the mombova of the Church of England was held last evening, to consider a scheme for the financial support of tho Church, Tho meeting was a success, tho only drawback bein" a characteristic speech from tho Rev. Mr. Coffey. Wo hear that tho Rainbow Hotel at Kaiwarra has changed hands ; Mr. Cook, the late proprietor, having disposed of his leasehold interest to Mr. Shanahan. The price'has not transpired. Messrs. Watty and Ameß arranged tho transfer. The annual distribution of prizes and an entertainment took place at the Marist Brothers' schools: last night, under tho presidency of" the Bight Rev. Vr. Redwood. A full report of tho proceedings will be found in another column.

'The Christinas gathering of the Young Mou'a Christian Association is unavoidably postponed.

A meeting of the anti-Chinese immigration, committee will be held n't the Major's office, Toyru Hall,' at 4 p.m. to-day;

The distribution of prizes at the Convent select school took place yesterday. A full report of the proceedings appears elsewhere. It may interest St. Paul's parishioners to know that the grand organ in their church is now undergoing a thorough tuning at the hands of Mr. Berkeley, a Christchurch gentleman.

The amount of light dues collected in the colpny during the year ended the 30th June last was £11,517, 19s. 2d.; at the port of Wellington, £2327 7s. sd. The amount of pilotage, port charges, &c, collected in the colony during the year ended Juno 30 last was £18,586 14s. 4d, ; in Wellington only, £3695 6b. 7d.

The following is the telegram in full, as received from the Press Agency, the misinterpretation of which has been commented on. We accept the reading chosen by our contemporaries, but submit that the wording of the telegram is sufficiently obscure to excuse the err or :—" Some tribes Kurrina Valley show hostile disposition three men killed two ofEcers thirteen men wounded attack Morguls yesterday baggage train Roberts column defeated heavy loss."

A team of cricketers will probably leave the Wairar.ipa about the 4th of next month, to visit the West Coast. Mr. Lister-Kaye, whose Bkill in the cricketing field is well known, will probably undertake to act as captain of the Wairarapa eleven. Arrangements have been entered into to visit Palmerston, Marton, Feildiug, aud Wanganui, and possibly some further matches may be arranged. Several interesting contests are expected to result from the trip.

A weighbridge is now in course of erection at the ICaiwarra toll-gate. The machinery has been imported from America by Mr. E. W. Mills, and it is one of those known as Fairbank's patent. Wo notice that it is capable of weighing up to six tons—a. load quite heavy enough for the bridges and culverts ou most of our local roads.

The usual meeting of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Society was held last evening, the Rev. A. Reid in the chair. An essay on " quacks " was given by one of the members. Tha essay drew forth a considerable amount of discussion of a somewhat amusing and varied description. The chairman intimated that the society would not meet again until the 23rd of January in the New Year.

A meeting of the directors of the Caledonian Society was held last evening *it the New Zealander Hotel; Geo. Crawford, Esq.,>iu the chair. The following gentlemen were appointed :—Handicappers, Messrs. A. Young, J. S. M. Thompson, andT. Buchanan; starter, Mr. A. Young; timekeeper, Mr. H. Mace. Judgos for various events were also appointed. The privileges for the forthcoming meeting are to be sold by public auction on Friday, the 27th inst., by Mr. 0. H. Bethune. A very full programme has been issued, and there is every prospect of the meeting proving a great success.