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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5660, 21 May 1879, Page 2

Mr. Hunter addressed about 150 of the ratepayers of the city at the Newtown Hall last night.' He spoke at considerable length upon municipal matters, more particularly the drainage and reclamation, schemes. Mr Hunter was listened to .with great attention by the meeting, and at 'the conclusion of his address answered a» few questions which were put to him. A full report will be found elsewhere. The Board of Education .prizes have been purchased, and are ready to be handed over to the school committees for distribution. Several of the committees are desirous .of repeating the ceremonial of. .last year, when so large a gathering'took place in the Opera House, and when the prizes were presented by his Excellency the Governor. Arrangements for boldine anch another demonstration will probably a weetortwo;-’:;:.-:' U THe following fresh tenders were received at the Public Works Office! Wellington, for. the Wingatui contract (formation only) of the Otago:,Central Railway : —Accepted : Daniel McKenzie, Dunedin, £48,839. Declined;: Proudfoot and McKay,. Dunedin, £49,680 ; W. Bell, Dunedin, £55,900 ;J. I M. Watson and Co., £59,893. ' :i ' ■ :

His Excellency the Governor has accepted an invitation to dinner on the 28th instant at the Wellington Club. A meeting of the creditors of G. N. Fareley, called for yesterday, lapsed for want of a quorum.

We believe Ministers have almost definitely settled that Parliament shall be called together for Thursday, 21th July. Tho failure of Mr. W. G. Watt, storekeeper, of Marton, is announced. There is a deficiency of about £12,000, and Mr Watt, of Wanganui, undertakes to pay ss. in the £.

The Diorama of the Husso-Turkish War was well patronised last night, and gave every satisfaction to those present. The gifts were of more than ordinary value. Mr. Ellaby is the successful tenderer for the conveyance from the Wellington breastwork of 1008 tons of rails and fastenings ex Western Belle, also 3700 sleepers, for the sum of £1579 11s.

A meeting of the creditors of Joseph Emmett, storekeeper, of Wellington, was held yesterday. The statement filed by debtor showed tho liabilities to be £1451, and the assets £1577. Mr. S. Carroll was elected trustee.

The Royal Commission, consisting of Capt. Rose, Commander Hewitt, R.N., and Captain Cross (Nelson), left by the steamer Wanaka last night, for the purpose of making a thorough investigation into the circumstances under which the Taupo was wrecked. . Their report will be looked forward to with great interest.

A quantity of very valuable reference books have just been added to the Athenmum. They are very handsomely and strongly bound, and are remarkable for their completeness and the modern date of their publication. These books have been purchased with money bequeathed to the institution by the late Hon. W. B. Rhodes.

The case of Mr. J. G. Kinross, of Napier, who is charged with perjury, was mentioned at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday. His Worship the Resident Magistrate thought it would be desirable that when the case was once commenced undivided attention should be given to it until the evidence was complete; but he did not know when he would be atle to take the case. Mr. Rees said he understood it had been arranged to take it that morning, and therefore he had come down from Napier, and brought with him all his witnesses. Mr. Mansfprd replied he could hot allow a Napier case —even it he had power to deal with it at all—to interfere with the ordinary business of -his Court, but would be quite willing to fix a special day for the case. Mr. Bees said he would be glad it his Worship would do that, and asked when the day would be. Mr. Manstord, on looking over his diary, said the first day he should have at liberty would be the 10th of June. Mr. Rees said it would be extremely inconvenient for him and his witnesses to wait so long, and hoped it would be taken earlier. Mr. Mansford did not think it could be fixed earlier, having regard to the ordinary business. Mr. Rees retorted that be presumed administration of justice was the ordinary business of the Court, and that as this case had arisen in Wellington, it ought to be taken in ordinary course. Mr. Mansford said if a case likely to last twelve months cropped up, it could not. b» supposed he would hear such a case, to the exclusion of all other work. Mr. Rees said this case would probably be got rid of in a day. After further conversation, Mr. Mansford agreed to devote Tuesday next to the case, beginning at 9 a.m., and said ha would get two justices to perform his ordinary duties that day, Mr. Bees mentioned incidentally that he expected to call twelve witnesses. Mr. Reynolds’ large collection of pictures has been the centre of attraction for all persons having any business along Lambton-quay. A large number of persons have visited the collection this week, and yesterday afternoon his Excellency the Governor spent some time in looking over the various works of art. We hope that Mr. Reynolds will be liberally patronised during his stay here, as such a collection of pictures have never been shown before in the colony. A considerable number of persons attended last night to witness another very interesting exhibition of the phonograph. The proprietor, Mr. Griffiths, has, we believe, determined to reduce the price of admission to one shilling only. At so low a figure of admission we expect to find this marvellous performance very much patronised. Schools and students of all descriptions who have not hitherto had an opportunity of witnessing the self-registering power of sound should make a point of giving Mr. Griffiths a call. A more complete proof of the truth of the wave-theory of the transmission of sound by vibration could not be desired, and an opportunity is now open, to anyone of convincing himself that sound can be made to imprint itself in such a form that by mechanical means it can be made to repeat itself distinctly years afterwards. We (Marlborough Times) have it on good authority that the hon. member for Cheviot, Mr. A;; Saunders’ resignation of his seat in the Assembly, will be placed, in the hands of the Speaker within the next few days. The reason assigned for that step relates entirely to personal matters. Although Mr. Saunders has only occupied his seat for the Cheviot during last session—having been elected about twelve mouths ago in room of Mr. L. Harper, resigned—he ranks amongst some of the older representative men in New Zealand, having occupied seats in different Parliaments for Nelson constituencies. As a good, well-de-fined'party l man, Mr. Saunders stood well'in Parliamentary circles, and, as an opponent to the present Ministry, his conduct was characteristic! of’ bothi firmness-and' fairness. ! In debate he brought considerable breadth of view to bear on intimate local matters, which had the effect of invariably securing for his utterances respectful attention from both sides of the House. Rumor has it that the vacancy will call out at least two candidates, neither of whom can'be called novices in' the ■ art of l Parliamentary representation.;'Further particulars, however, are, withheld for .the present.