Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5654, 14 May 1879, Page 2

We are requested to state that the Hon. Lady Robinson will receive visitors every Friday afternoon from three to four o’glock.

The Rakaia, the first ship with immigrants of the intermediate season, is expected to arrive in the colony by the beginning of September.

Mrs. Sarah Phillips was arrested on suspicion, by warrant, yesterday, for setting fire to the house lately occupied by her at Kaiwarra. On the application of the police she was remanded for a week.

The question of establishing a home and habitation for the Hutt County Council occupied the attention of that body yesterday, and led to sharp words and warm manners in the Council. Pretty well ever since the inauguration of the county system the Council has had rooms at the old Provincial Buildings, Wellington, free of cost, but as the Government wanted the use of these the Council was compelled to turn out. Pending a decision as to where headquarters were to be fixed the Council adjourned to the old tollhouse at the Hutt Bridge, and yesterday the question came up for discussion. It may be mentionedthat at the last meeting a committee was appointed to invite tenders for accommodation in Wellington, visit the offices offered, and report, but for some reason or another the committee never met. When the subject was brought up yesterday, it became evident that those members in favor of making the Hutt the county town were in a majority, and the majority had their own way, the minority freely exercising their right to complain, and dividing the vials of their wrath equally between the Chairman and Councillor Taylor. The arrangement arrived at after ail may be considered but temporary. The real fight will come on at the next meeting, when a motion will bo brought forward for the erection of permanent buildings at the Hutt. The minority of yesterday will then probably be turned into a majority, as Councillor Taylor distinctly stated his opposition to any expendisure in the present unsettled state of local government affairs, and practically said he only voted in favor of the Hutt because there was no rent to pay. The following tenders were received at the Public Works Office, Wellington, for the Wyndham contract of the Edendale Toitois railway :—Accepted : James Shirley, Invercrrgill, £9723. Declined; J. T. Weaver, Invercargill, £10,219 ; J. Maokay, Dunedin ; £10,600 ; C. Abbott, Dunedin, £10,651 ; Henderson, and Fergus, Dunedin, £lO 982 ; J. B. Blair, Dunedin, £11,619 ; J. Ml Watson, Dunedin, £12,500; Hughes and Menzies, Invercargill, £13,682. We desire to acknowledge the receipt of printed lists of the successful and unsuccessful competitors for the Cambridge University local examinations within the colony. From an advertisement in another column it will be seen that out of a total of 1534 candidates in the senior classes, 807 passed ; and out of a total number of 4563 candidates in the junior classes, 2979 succeeded iu satisfying the examiners. The number of candidates from the Wellicgton centre was 17, of whom 11 failed, and six passed ; four of them passed in honors. None of the four girl candidates succeeded in passing. The next examination will beheld on Monday, December 15. All entries must be made to Mr. Kenneth Wilson, the local secretary, on or before July 26 next. The members of the Naval Brigade were drilled last evening by two sergeants of the Armed Constabulary force. There were about ninety members present. After the drill a meeting took place. The rules of the brigade, as brought down by the committee, were with slight alterations approved of. Captain Johnston stated that as some of the Wellington tailors had expressed a wish to tender for theuniforms, subject to some alterations in the terms of the tenders, he had directed the time for receiving the tenders to be extended, and he hoped arrangements would be come to so that the uniforms might be made in Wellington. Mr. Vine, a gentleman who has lately arrived here from London, will deliver the first of two Bible addresses in the lower hall of the At hence am to-night. The subject will be “ The last hours of our blessed Lord.” The addresses are under the auspices of the Wellington Young Men’s Christian, Association. Last night Mr. Vine gave an explanatory address concerning his two lectures. The room upstairs was crowded, and the President of the Association, Mr. Holdsworth, occupied the chair, and briefly introduced Mr. Vine, who was listened to most attentively. During the evening there was a service of song by the evangelistic choir, who sang several of Moody and Sankey’a hymns. We are pleased to notice that all the successful candidates from Wellington at the last Cambridge local examination are from the College, and of these six two have obtained honors, while three have gained special distinction in Latin. We understand that the total number of candidates from the College was ten, and that these ten comprised not merely the picked boys who were considered likely to pass, but all whose age and work rendered them eligible to enter. This is clearly the fairest way of using such an examination to test the work of a school. Under these circumstances the measure of success obtained by the College boys is highly creditable to themselves and the institution. We think it a pity that an examination like this, where the number of candidates is so large and the standard so clearly defined, is not more widely used in this country. We are glad to hear that the number of candidates this Jyear is likely to be much larger than on any previous occasion, comprising a number of entries from Dunedin, Lyttelton, and Nelson, as well as from Wellington.

On Friday last there arrived from Wanganui by the night train a very large canoe consigned to Governor Hunia, of Horowbenua.. The canoe is sixty feet long, and has been cut out of a totara tree. It and another smaller one were conveyed to Foxton on four trucks. It is intended to take the canoes to their destination by sea, and if the weather be favorable today, the Osprey will take them down.— Herald. The JVatrarapa Standard says :—The present depression in the money market, which has hitherto only been of serious effect to tradespeople, is now making its way to the laborers, as we are informed that several of the saw mills at Carterton have reduced the wao-es, and also propose reducing the number of men unless the aspect of affairs in general brighten.

Under the heading “Symptoms of Sobriety,” the Tiniani Herald says:—“The total estimated expenditure on spirituous liquors in the United Kingdom in 3873 amounted to £144,961,91”, compared with £149,772,610 in IS77—thus showing a diminution of upwards of four and a half millions.” Another and more probable explanation might be a considerable reduction in the price of liquor.

There was a very good attendance at the Imperial Opera House last night to witness the second -ppearance of Mr. Cte-wick in the character of Cardinal Wolsey, in the principal act of “Henry VIIL” Mr. Creswick also took the part of Benedick in: “ Much Ado About Nothing.” In both characters it is a matter of course to say that he fully justified the high encomiums already parsed upon him by the Press as a most able exponent of Shaksperian characters. Mr. Creswick was as usual excellently supported by Miss Helen Ashton and by the other members of the company. To-night Massinger’s celebrated piece, “A New Way to Pay Old Debts,” will be played, Mr. Creswick appearing as Sir Giles Overreach, and Miss Ashton as Margaret. It will be, we believe, the first performance of this fine old play in Wellington. Mr. Creswick takes a benefit on Friday night, when “ William Tell” and “ .Katherine and Petruchio ” are to be performed. His Excellency the Governor has promised bis patronage on the occasion.

The diorama of the American war drew another good house at the Theatre Royal last night. A number of gifts as usual were given away.

Inspector Johnston tested yesterday 990 cases of kerosene, ex Thames, cross brand, consigned to Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co. All the kerosene was over test. The Manawatu Herald tells the following story:—Some time ago an account was published of a ride from Wanganui to Palmerston, in which it was inferentially stated that Mr. Henry McNeil's horse had beaten the train. It appeared, however, that Mr. McNeil himself took the train for Turakina, where he picked op his buggy, and drove into Palmerston, beating his friends who started several hours after Mr. McNeil iu the next train. A few days ago, however, a feat was performed by Mr. Tom McKenzie, with his well-known bay horse Tartar, which deserves to be recorded. Mr. McKenzie was iu Wanganui and wished to reach Bulls. Hearing that the cost of taking himself and his horse to Greatford (which is four miles from Bulls) per tram would be £1 95., he determined to use his animal and save the money. He accordingly mounted, and warned some friends who “ chaffed ” him that he would be waiting at Bulls ready for them to shout. As Mr. McKenzie crossed the Wanganui bridge on Tartar, the train he was racing started at 7.5 a.m. He travelled at a rattling pace, and reached Bulls twenty-seven minutes before his friends, Mr. McKenzie reaching there at 9.40, and the passengers per train at 10.7. Travelling over thirty miles of tolerably rough road in two hours thirty-five minutes is good work, and the train passengers heartily acknowledged they were beaten, notwithstanding their four miles of coaching. It may also be mentioned that the coach is always waiting at the Greatford Station, and that it travels at a good pace.

The Lyttelton Times of the 9th says : " From inquiries made yesterday morning full details as to the present state of the labor market were obtained. The books at Mr, J. J. Parker’s office, Manohester-street south, show that there are now plenty of laborers unemployed, and that amongst them there are some first-class ploughmen. Were a steady rain to take place for a few days, so as to bring the soil into better condition for working,, the ploughmen would doubtless bo at once absorbed. There is a brisk inquiry for potato diggers, the price paid ranging from Bs. to 9s. per ton, including digging, sorting, and bagging. There is a like demand for men to clear land from timber in readiness for ploughing, at contract rates at from £7 to £8 per acre. Married couples are greatly in excess of demand, though there is now a fair enquiry for couples without encumbrance, for farm work. Useful boys seem to be in great request. A growing demand is expected for men to undertake contract fencing, and already several orders have been received for hands for bush clearing, 355. to 40s. per acre being offered. For all classes of domestic servants there is a steaddy increasing demand. The rates of wages now ruling are as follows :—Ploughmen, 20s. to 225.'6d per week, with rations ; married couples, £65 to £75 per annum, and found ; boys, 10s. to 12s. per week, and found; general servants, £3O per annum ; female cooks, £4O; housemaids, £25 ; nursemaids, £2O ; housekeepers, £4O ; nursegirls, ss. per week ; waitresses, 15s per week. For barmaids there is absolutely no enquiry at present, and for male servants for hotels the demand is very limited.”

Mr. Sidey will sell by public auction to-day at 1 o'clock, in the Arcade, 30 crates of crockery.