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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5683, 17 June 1879, Page 2

In another column we publish a short preliminary address to the Hutt electors from Mr. T. Mason. There is but little room for comment in the address itself, although we are glad to note that the candidate advocates a tax upon other property as well as land. Mr. Mason is well known and very highly esteemed in the Hutt; the country people describe him

as a very “straight” man ; truthful, upright, and honorable. This character he has maintained for many years, and men of his stamp are 'both rare and valuable in any Assembly. In regard to his qualifications as a member we desire to say as little as possible until after he as well as the rival candidate has had an opportunity of expressing their opinions on political subjects ; hitherto the severest piece of adverse criticism of Mr. Mason which has readied us is an opinion that he is rather too good, rather too slow, and rather too circumscribed in ids views for a first-class member. Wo do not accept the criticism as being strictly accurate, bub we offer it in a kindly spirit as a hint to the candidate to speak up and show what be is made of. As an incident in connection with the late fire we may mention a conversation respecting the fire and 'the land-tax which may he thus summarised: —A cynical friend who was making merry at the expense of the department yesterday, was very anxious to know whether the debris from the fire, which littered the ground were to he deemed improvements or not, because if so he was prepared to sell his share of them very cheap. One of the party gravely assured the questioner that the broken bricks, curled sheets of iron, &c., could not be termed improvements, but strictly speaking represented the Attorney General’s “ unearned increment.” The conversation then degenerated into a discussion as to what proportion, if any, of tho land-tax would now be payable by the ex-tenants, who had lately occupied houses on the laud, but had been forcibly ejected during the currency of their leases. Such abstruse points of law were quite beyond the capacity of any ordinary layman, and it was resolved to refer them to some learned gentleman of tho law at the first opportunity. The following question was then propounded: If the Opera House were standing, what would he a fair ground rent for the site of the Nag’s Head Hotel for an hotel business ? And what is a fair ground rent now ? Tho reply was to the effect that the ground rent would be worth nearly twice as much with a theatre as without one.

At the Supreme Court yesterday forenoon several meetings of creditors were held In the matter of the bankruptcy of Mr. W. E. Mason, blacksmith and stonemason, a statement of assets and liabilities was put in; the former amounting to £lO9, and the latter to £730. Mr. Ellaby was appointed trustee of the estate,—ln the matter of the bankruptcy of Mr. Cooley, at tho Hutt, Mr. Carroll was appointed trustee.—A meeting of the creditors of Captain Hart was also appointed to be held yesterday, but none being present .it was adjourned till to-day. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court to-day, the adjourned hearing of Kinross’s perjury case will be resumed before Mr. Mansford, B.M. The ordinary police business will be transacted before Justices of the Peace at tho Atbemeum Hall, where for the future we have much pleasure in announcing that all police cases will be heard, that hall having been rented by the Government for the purpose. We understand that there will be two sittings per week, one on Tuesday and one on Friday at 10.30 a.m.

Six men were looked up early yesterday forhaving goods in their possession belonging to sufferers by the late fire. One man was sentenced to four weeks imprisonment. The remainder were adjourned until Thursday for the production of additional evidence. Sixty of tho Armed Constabulary left here yesterday evening by the steamer Stella, for Taranaki. They are a fine looking body of men, and amongst their number are several men who have seen active service. 50,000 rounds of ammunition were also put on board the steamer. It will be seen from an announcement in our advertising columns that the business ef the Te Aro branch Bank of New Zealand, will be carried on for the present at the temporary premises, at Mr. Falconer's, Manners-street. We have received a letter from “ A Tenant,” asking for an interpretation of clauses 50 and 51 of the Band Tax Act. We desire to point out to our correspondent that the clauses were published by us on'May 31st, and that in the next issue, on June 2nd, we attempted an interpretation of them, and put a case exemplifying the reading adopted by us. We may add that we consulted a legal luminary on the subject, and were partly guided by his reading of the clauses, which are far from lucid. In Dunedin an agent offers by advertisement to prepare and fill up objection forms ; it is unfortunately too late tor anyone to imitate such an excellent example in Wellington. The adjourned meeting of the Wellington Teachers’ Association was hold on Saturday afternoon in the Sydney-street school. There was a rather small number of members present. It was arranged that papers should be read before the regular business, and that the reading of papers should be immediately followed by the discussion on' the paper r6ad at the previous meeting. Correspondence from the Blenheim association was read. Mr. Willis read his promised paper, and received a cordial vote of thanks. The members strongly objected to an article in a late number of the New Zealand Times, comparing the Teachers’ Association to a trades union, and a motion to that effect was carried.

His Honor Judge Richmond arrived here last night by the steamer Napier, from Blenheim.

Considering the wretched weather there was a very fair house at the Theatre Royal last night. As we before noticed Messrs. Hiscocks and Hayman’s Star Company performed there. It was intended that the sensational drama of “Rose Michel, or Paris in 1765,” should have been produced, but as nearly all the scenery appertaining to the piece had been destroyed by the fire it was found impossible to place it creditably on the stage. Mr. Joyce, stage manager, came before the curtain and briefly apologised for any shortcomings on the part of the performance. He publicly thanked Mr. Marshall, manager of the theatre, for the manner in which he had placed the Royal at the disposal of the Star Company. He also stated that owing to the fire it was found next to impossible to perform the piece as advertised, but that “ Minerva, or That Mother-in-Law of Mine,” would be played instead. It is almost unnecessary to make much comment on this sparkling comedy, as we have before noticed it. Mr. R. H. Ogden as Horace Greenfield was amusing in the extreme ; Miss Beatrice, as Minerva, was very funny, and caused considerable amusement. The rest of the characters were well sustained by the other members of the company. To-night the bill will be played. Mr. Cary’s concert at the Athenreum Buildings last night was again very well attended. Miss Smith presided at the piano, and played an overture and a fantasia in a very creditable manner. The programme as on previous occasions had been arranged to suit the moat fastidious. Amongst the items worthy of notice were the songs, “ The British lion,” “ Rage, thou angry storm,” and the “ Village blacksmith,” all of which were encored. A Shaksperian recital was very well delivered by a gentleman amateur. The duet, “ Sound now the trumpet," was probably the most enjoyable part of the entertainment, and met with a deserved encore. The same gentleman, who was so happy last year in amusing the audience with his comic songs, appeared last night and met with a most hearty reception. The concert must be acknowledged as a most successful one, and there is very little doubt but that all present thoroughly enjoyed it. On Friday afternoon a number of the business community of Lyttelton met in the reading room of the Colonists’ Hall, Lyttelton, to take part at a presentation to Mr. J. C. Boddiugton, manager of the Lyttelton branch of the Bank of New Zealand. Mr. H. R. Webb, in making the present, said that it gave him very great pleasure to do so. A few friends, upon hearing that Mr. Boddington was about to remove from Lyttelton to Masterton, had a day or two a"o determined that he should not leave without taking with him a slight memento of their friendship. Mr. Webb spoke of the active part Mr. Boddington had taken in several public matters at Lyttelton, particularly as treasurer of the Lyttelton Regatta, and a member of the Colonists’ Society. Mr. Boddington suitably acknowledged the present, which consists of a parlor time-piece, showing the changes of the moon, the days of the week, of the month, and the months in the year. It is set in a casing of black marble, upon the base of which in silver is engraved the following : —“Lyttelton, 13th June, 1879.—Presented to J. C. Boddingtoc, Esq., by a few friends, on bis removal from the Bank of New Zealand, Lyttelton, as a mark of their esteem.” Mr. Boddington is the son of an old Wellington settler, his parents having resided for a number of years in Porirua, and his mother afterwards removed to Wellington, and took up her resideuce on the Terrace. In common with Mr. Boddington’s friends, we are glad to see him back amongst ns, and feel pleased at the honors conferred upon tne son of one of our earliest settlers bv his fellow-colonists at Lyttelton. Mr. Boddington arrived by the Hawea on Sunday, and will proceed to Masterton in the course of a few days.

The brig Robin Hood brought 450 tons of coal from Newcastle yesterday, for the Wellington Gas Company. Hr. A. L. Webster has been appointed clerk to the Waiohino Board of Conservators.

Tenders are called by Mr. Tringham for the erection of temporary premises for the Nag’s Head Hotel, in Cuha-strset.

The annual examination of pupil teachers will he held in the Thorndon School, Wellington, and in the Greytown School, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Bth and 9th July. The partnership between Messrs. R. W. Williams, 11. Cameron, and A. B. Jackson, carrying on business as Williams, Cameron, and Co., saddlers, has been dissolved. The Working Men’s Club had a committee meeting last evening at the White Swan Hotel, the trustees, .Messrs. Hutchison and Brown, being pressnt. We understand that certain proposals have been made by the trustees in the estate of Messrs. Eddie and Jack, and the committee are doing all they possibly can to get suitable premises, and the members can rely that other rooms will soon he forthcoming. In the meantime they must have patience, and not expect that everything can be done at once.

Mr. Engelmann, who occupied a shop in front of the Imperial Opera House, has lost very considerably by the late fire. His insurance was only £3OO, whilst he estimates the value of his stock which was burnt down at something like £2400. In our advertising columns, Mr. Engelmann returns his sincere thanks to all who assisted him to remove his goods, and he would wish that any persons whe may have them in’ their possession would remove them to the National Bank, Te Aro, or if they would inform him, he would call for them himself. We believe that Mr. Engelmann contemplates starting in business as soon as he can find suitable premises.

Mr. Sidcy will soli at tho Arcade, this day, at 12 o’clock, weighing and copying machines, &c. A superior quality of office furniture will be sold this day, at 2 p.m., on tho premises of Messrs. Guthrie and Larnach, in Manners-street.

Me>srs. Lacry and Campbell will hold a sale of a boat, suitable for a fisherman, at their rooms, at 11 o’clock this day. Mr. A. A. Barnett will dispose of a.lot of superior office furniture, at 2 o’clock, atfhis rooms, Lambtonquay.