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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5685, 19 June 1879, Page 2

The Mayor has convened a public meeting, to be held on Tuesday next, for the purpose of taking into consideration the necessity of providing a new cemetery for the city. The matter is an important one, and there should be a large meeting on that occasion. The step is not taken a moment too early, and a good many have wondered why some action has not been taken before now. Another alarm of fire was raised at six o’clock last evening, but fortunately very little damage was done. What little fire there was happened in Mr, Meek’s house, on Kentterrace. It appears that that gentleman’s son was sketching in his bedroom, and carelessly placed a lighted candle close to the window blind, which at once ignited. The fire-bells rang out the alarm, and both. brigades were quickly on the spot. The only damage sustained was the burning of a small portion of the gable end of the house. The City Council, as a temporary measure, have been lighting the streets at the scene of the late fire with kerosense lamps. We understand that the ordinary street lamps, which were destroyed by the fire, will be replaced to-day.

An improvement has recently been effected in one of the railway carriages by Mr. Ashcroft, by which the noises caused by the rattling of the windows has been done away with. Several other improvements are also in progress.

A special meeting of the Central Fire Brigade was held last night at the brigade room, but the business transacted was of a purely private nature, so far as we could gather, A very laudable object is just engaging the attention of some of our, leading amateur singers, who purpose giving an operatic performance at the Arcade some time next week in aid of the sufferers by the late fire. The opera will probably be the favorite one of “ Maritana,” and this fact, combined with the worthy object for which the entertainment is to be given, will be almost certain to bring one of the largest audiences together ever seen in Wellington. The amateurs are deserving of great praise for being the first to move in the way of relieving those who have so heavily suffered by the late calamitous fire, and we trust that the good example which they have set to the rest of the community will not be lost sight of. Some amusement was caused at the meeting of the Wesleyan congregation in the Arcade yesterday evening by two speakers who had occupied the attention of the meeting for some time being brought to a full atop by the harmonium being played in the gallery, where the choir was located. On the first occasion the speaker sat down with rather a bewildered expression upon his countenance, but when the second gentleman was cut short he remained standing, and the chairman requested the choir to wait until the speaker had finished. The gentleman who had been interrupted, however, good humoredly remarked that it was a very good way to stop lengthy speakers. He had been talking too much, and perhaps it, was time, he was stopped. He then resumed his seat amidst much laughter. The annual meeting of the Hutt Licensing Court was held yesterday. There were no applications for now licenses. With the exception of the Golden Fleece Hotel, at Pakuratahi, all the hotels' had their licenses renewed.

We understand that Captain Mackay, of the schooner Herald, who has just returned from a trip to Picton, where he has safely landed the large engine for crushing and pumping at the Golden Point Mine, has been very favorably impressed with what he saw there. He states that very good gold is being got out of the small shaft, which is down about 100 ft., and that some very rich specimens have been procured.' A couple of good engineers will go to the mine on Monday next from Mr. Mills’ foundry, and put the machinery together, when crushing will at once begin. Some thirty or forty tons of atone are now on the ground, and the party on the spot are very sanguine of the result. Some little amusement was occasioned on the wharf yesterday ‘ afternoon shortly after the arrival of the Manawatu. The wellknown porter, Pat MoCafferty, who never misses attending the arrival of a steamer, had on this occasion managed, as he generally does, to obtain a customer. Pat was stopping from the steamer to the wharf, when his foot slipped, and he would certainly have fallen in the water had not some person standing by made a grab at Pat’s great-coat. Two other men then got hold of the coat, and for some seconds it was a matter of speculation whether the coat would hold its wearer’s weight, which is not altogether inconsiderable. It (l"-t got a slit right up the back, and then acres the shoulders. The position became a very trying one. Pat was swinging in a horizontal position, but gradually, as the coat began to tear, he shifted perpendicularly, and then hung in anything but a pleasant position. After a lot of tugging and pulling, during which the coat suffered considerably, Pat was hoisted on the wharf from the perilous “ land-slip ” which he managed to put himself into. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court .yesterday, Daniel Sinclair was charged with stealing a coat. Sergeant Anderson said he wished to withdraw the charge, as the accused had been arrested in error. The accused observed thatit was very hard that he should have been subjected to the indignity of arrest. Sergeant Anderson said that the police could do no more than they had done. The Bench remarked that cases of mistaken identity would occur occasionally. The charge would be withdrawn. William Christie Sinclair was then arraigned for stealing a coat from Mr. Hill’s boardinghouse, Willis-street. Prisoner said that he had taken the coat through mistake. Sergeant, Anderson said that the prisoner was a recent arrival in Wellington, and was suspected of being implicated in a robbery committed at the Melbourne Hotel. ■ The Bench sentenced him to seven days’ imprisonment with hard jlabor. Messrs. J. H. Wallace and E. W. Mills were the presiding Justices. Two large whales were observed in the harbor yesterday morning about opposite Ngahauranga. The late heavy southerly gale may probably account for their visit in the harbor. Had there been a couple of fishermen, with boats and gear ready, they would, in all probability, have made a good capture. At a recent meeting of the Sandon Railway Company, Mr J.W. Gower after pointing out the importance of the through line to Auckland via Murimotu and Taupo, remarked that the discovery of so short a route via Marten effectually removed any claim Feilding had made for the Wellington line to connect at Palmerston. The through line must go over the shortest route, which was via Foxton and Sandon to Marton. A vote of thanks was passed to the provisional directors for the trouble they had taken in starting the company. . The committee of the Working Men’s Club have secured, we are glad to be able to state, temporary premises at the rear' of Messrs. Ashton and Jacobs’shop, in. Manners-street, formerly occupied by Mr. Pallant, bootmaker. It would be difficult to find a more convenient locality than the one which has been chosen, and we hope to hear that the premises are also suitable. Itisapity that “some of the members” are not gifted with' a little more patience, and that they should have attempted to do the work which the committee was so earnestly striving to accomplish for them.' Although the old proverb says thas “ two heads are better than one,” yet there is a very old saying which tells us that “ too many cooks spoil the broth.” If every member of the club were to act like “ some of the members,” it is much to be doubted whether the club could be again properly organised. Mr. Thomas Bnsor, who will be remembered by many persons here as manager of Mr. Crease’s business in Willis-street, and who is now landlord of the Junction Hotel at Sanson, was charged before Mr. Ward, R.M. at Bulls, on Saturday last, with manslaughter. The charge arose out of the recent death of Henry Holmes from injuries received through falling down an unprotected hole at rear of Junction Hotel. The case was dismissed. At a meeting of the Greytown School Committee, held on Monday, it was stated that the average attendance at the school was 139, and the highest attendance 150. It was resolved that from twelve to eighteen prizes should be procured, to be given at the discretion of the head-master for progress, regular attendance, and good conduct. Grace Nicol, aged 92, died on Monday last at the residence of her son-in-law, John Allan, at Alexandra, Waikato. Some interest is perhaps attached to this announcement, from the fact that Grace Nicol one resided at Tullicheltan, Perthshire, and was.the mother of Robert Nicol, the young Scottish poet who was designated “ Scotland’s second Burns” by the late George Gilfillan.

The Hon. J. D. Ormond, M.H.R., will address his constituents at Waipawa on Wednesday, 25th inst. With reference to a paragraph which appeared about a fortnight since with regard to the question of supplying sleepers for the Government railways, we have received the following communication from Mr. Cross, of the Cheltenham sawmills, which we publish with pleasure—we are glad to find that our sawmillers are able to hold their own against the other colonies, notwithstanding all that has been recently said to the contrary : —“ lam surprised to see in your issue of the 7th inst. that the Manawatu has not tendered for any of the sleepers inquired for by the Government. The fact is that the gentleman deputed by the Government has received tenders for half as many again as he is empowered to accept. I think it very unfair to get sleepers from Tasmania, when they can be got as cheap and as good here. Manawatu is quite capable of supplying half a million of sleepers. I should like to get twenty or thirty thousand to supply at the same price as those that have been already tendered for and accepted.” The Eangatira, which arrived at Wanganui on Tuesday, brought down from the Manukau two racehorses for the Wanganui races. One of them got strangled on the passage, but we were unable to ascertain its name.

A small landslip occurred at the back of Lambton-quay on Tuesday, near the premises of Messrs. Lyon and Blair. Some of the debris came in close contact with a part of the workshop, but the damage sustained, we are glad to say, was very slight. A special meeting of the shareholders in the Sandon Steam Flour Mill Company is called for Thursday, the 3rd of July, to consider a proposal to sell or otherwise dispose of the mill.

The Wanganui Steeplechase meeting takes places to-morrow. There are some good entries, and capital sport is expected.

The manner in which the whole of the settlers from Taranaki to Waitotara have come forward (says the Pate a Mail ) to take up arms in defence of their country, is a deed that will long be remembered. Maori warfare is not a novelty, therefore the eagerness to handle weapons cannot be attributed to that, but there is a fixed determination amongst the settlers to have satisfaction in one shape or another from the Maoris. Old and young have come forward—aye, from the boy of 16 to the greyheaded old man of 60 ; and although it is not a pleasing sight to see those so advanced in years having to take up arms, yet it is an act that will ever be recollected to their glory. Much is now being said about the firm stand Government is making ; but we should ask this question : Is it not the settler, and not the Government, who has put the country in its present state of defence ? We say the Government are entitled to no praise for their action in this matter ; they were simply compelled to follow out the demands of the people, and a Ministry that requires driving to do that which is urgently necessary, is not fit to hold that responsible position. The settlers may safely take all credit to themselves ; and although there may not be one who wishes to see a war, there is not a man who would not die in defence of his country.

The sensational drama entitled “ Rose Michel—or, Paris in 1765,” was produced at the Theatre Royal last night to an exceedingly good house. The piece was well mounted, and went very smoothly from first to last. Rose Michel was taken by Miss Beatrice, and received an unusual amount of applause. Pierre Michel, an old miser and innkeeper, was played by Mr. D’Orsay Ogden, and he was also several times applauded for his portrayal of the character. The part of Moulinet, as played by Mr. Daniels, created considerable amusement. The minor characters in the piece were well sustained by the remainder of the members of the company. The same programme will be produced to-night. The charge preferred against Mr. Squires, landlord of the Metropolitan Hotel, is likely to come before the Court again. It seems that an error occurred in -the summons issued to Mr. Squires, which set the case down for hearing on the 27th instant, instead of on the 17th. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that when Mr. Squires was called upon to answer the charge he was nowhere to be found. There appears to be some difficulty in accounting for the mistake. The partnership hitherto existing between Messrs. C. Ryan and A, Pierlo, carrying on business as bakers and grocers, in Cambridgeterrace, has been dissolved. Mr. James Smith, Te Aro House, requests all those who aided in saving his premises during the fire on Sunday night, to call at Te Aro House on Friday, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., in order that they might receive some compensation for the bravery on that occasion.

A quarterly communication of the District Grand Lodge of Freemasons, E. 0., will be held this evening at the Masonic Hall, Boul-cott-street. The lodge will be tyled at eight o’clock.

Mr. R, G. Palmer has been appointed clerk and collector to the Foxton Local Board. There were only two applications- for the appointment.

Very great surprise and considerable disgust is expressed by almost everyone on discovering what their properties are valued at for the purposes of the land tax (says the Wellington correspondent of the Manawatu Herald), and the objections will almost equal in number the valuations. Really the gentleman appointed to value city properties seems to have had immense faith in the present and prospective prosperity of the place.

A calculation has been made as to the number of theatres in Europe, with the following result: —ltaly stands at the head of the list with 348 ; France comes next with 337 ; Germany has 191 ; Spain, 168 ; Austria, 152 ; England, 150 ; Russia, 44 ; Belguim, 34 ; Holland, 28 ; Switzerland, 26 ; Sweden, 10; Norway, 3 ; Portugal, 16 ; Denmark, 10 ; Greece, 4 ; Turkey, 4 ; Eoumania, 9 ; and Servia, 1.

Upon her next trip the Jane Douglas will go up the Manawatu Biver to Mcßeth'a mill (says the Manawatu Hernld) for a load of timber, an order having been given by Messrs. Compton Brothers, of Wellington, for about 40,000 ft. The valuation roll for the purposes of the Land-tax Act, so far as the Borough of Blenheim is concerned, is a fearful and wonderful thing. Our attention being drawn to it on Thursday (says the Marlborough Express), we took steps to obtain a few extracts for the purpose of comparison, and the result is a conclusion that the so-called valuation is a great farce. Taking Maxwell Koad, we find the best acre section valued nett, that is after the improvements have been deducted, at £64, while others immediately near run at £250 and even £3OO, one half-acre adjoining is set down at £252 ; and the next to this consists of 4J acres, and is valued at £362. A little further along the road; nearer the centre of the town, are quarter-acres at a street end, valued, on the town side, at £l4O, and the opposite one at £SB, the adjoining ones are set down at £9O, £9O, and £122. Another person, who has 16 acres in various parts of the town, is valued at £1775 ; a paddock of two acres is £ll4O nett, a single acre opposite to "it on -the right side of the road, £100; and a lot of 4 acres adjoining, £945. One and a half miles from the centre of the town, is a sub-divided paddock of 21 acres at £IOO, and a quarter acre at ; £75 ; proceeding half a mile further, is 23 acres, at £IBO. In another place two adjoining acres are £lB5 and £246 respectively. In Grove-road there are the same contradictions, adjoining quarteracre sections are set down at. £35 :and £/0, while in a back street they are £SO to £l3O, contiguous eighth-acres at and £47 ; another set of adjoining properties in quarteracres run thus : £IOO, £7O, £SO, £4BO ; eighth acres, £47, £27, £175 ; again similar acre pieces fronting to the road, are £350, £345, £225, £l6O, £l4O. We might go on with any amount of similar cases. Our readers will wonder how this ridiculous assessment has come about, and after puzzling ourselves to discover the modus opcrandi, we went to Mr. John T. Bobinson, the valuer, and asked him to unravel the mystery. His reply was to the effect that where the return sent in by the owner was under £SOO, the amount was filled in at the owner's value, but when above £SOO, they were considered and added to if below what he believed to be their true value. It follows, then, that those people who have made absurd returns for any reason, will find them recorded and probably brought against them in the next valuation, in which case they will only have themselves to blame.

The “ champion drunkard” has made his appearance at Birmingham. The Pall SLall Gazette says “ A carter and corn-dealer named William Poole, forty years of age, made his 99th appearance on a charge of drunkenness before the magistrates at the Birmingham Borough Police Court recently. He was fined 40s. and costs, and informed the Court that he had paid £2OO in fines. Strange to say, the man was in excellent health,”

In San Francisco, in addition to most efficient fire brigades, they have also fire patrols, or salvage corps. It was formed by the San Francisco underwriters, with the special object of saving property from fire and water, not the extinction of the fire nor the saving .of life, though in both these it frequently renders valuable aid. The patrol has one station, the staff consisting of a captain with twelve men, with horses, waggons, and tarpaulins, the stock of tarpaulins alone being va'ued at £3OOO. On arrival at the fire—and they have all electrical appliances to inform them instantaneously of its outbreak—the men rapidly gather all the articles of furniture or goods in danger of being consumed, make a huge pile of them in the centre of -the room, and cover them over with the fire-proof tarpaulins. The fire may blaze away, but they are safe. At the first fire attended by this patrol £15,000 worth of property was saved for the underwriters. By this systematic method of working the destruction of property by rough handling is reduced to a minimum.

The rumor that Messrs. Stuart Brothers had sold their saw-mills at Carterton Is contradicted by the local journal, which states that owing to the large stocks of timber on hand, the firm has considered it advisable not to keep the mills in full working until the screw on the money market is somewhat released. A case of sheep stealing is reported to have occurred on Sir. Tanored’s farm, at the Taratahi.

Amongst the unfortunates who last week were obliged to file their schedules, figures the name of a bank manager, Mr. Oakly, of Masterton. We presume (says the Wairarapa Guardian) that assignments and bankrupts are now so much in fashion, that the bank manager imagines he might be out of the world as out of the fashion.

A correspondent of a contemporary mentions a source of danger in the use of kerosene lamps which seems to have been generally overlooked, namely, the habit of allowing lamps to stand near hot stoves, on mantelpieces, and in other places where they become heated sufficiently to convert the oil into gas. Not unfrequently, persons engaged in cooking or other work about the stove, will stand the lamp on an adjacent mantelpiece, or even on the top of a raised oven ; or when ironing, will set the lamp near the stand on which the heated iron rests. It is unnecessary to enlarge on the risky nature of such a proceeding. Speaking of the proclamation which recently appeared in the Government Gazette, abolishing the extended jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrate’s Court for the Napier and Waipukurau district, the Telegraph says :—“ Now that we have a patient and painstaking Resident Magistrate, whose legal training and long experience on the bench point out hie fitness to administer the most extended jurisdiction of his Court, its powers have been circumscribed. It would be difficult to discover the consistency of the Government in this respect were it not sufficiently obvious that, in the establishment of a District Court, a mistake had been committed which it is now sought to cover. A District Court without any work to do would never be able to justify its existence. It was well enough known in Hawke’s Bay, and it is idle to suppose that the Government was not as well informed on the subject, that there was no work for a District Court here ; but in pursuance of a most unpopular course, the Ministry resolved to establish one, in spite of all representations to the contrary.” The Manawatu Herald has a very sensible article, advocating the establishment of at least one bonded warehouse in Foxton. There should not be much difficulty in providing a suitable building. A meeting of the creditors of H. A. Cowper was held at Greytown on Monday, but was postponed on account of the absence of Mr. Cowper. A statement of accounts showed that he owed £240 previous to coming to Greytown, and his liabilities since amount to £216 ; he paid £44 off the old accounts. His present liabilities exceed £4OO, and assets £7. It was also shown that ho was receiving a salary at the rate of £275 per annum. As illustrating the progress made by Fiji in the growth of coffee, we extract the following from the Fiji Times We are in receipt of a remarkably fine sample of coffee beans grown on Mr. James E. Mason’s Alpha Estate, Taviuni, a considerable quantity of which is at present in the market. The seed from which the present sample has been propagated, was originally selected by Mr. Mason’s agents from four of the finest Ceylon plantations. The improvement in the size of the bean, as compared to that from which it was produced, is the best possible evidence of the peculiar adaptibility of our soil and climate for the growth of this particular product. On a further comparison of the sample under note with the best procurable imported beans, the advantage is still more decidedly in favor of the local article ; whilst in flavor- it is pronounced by connoisseurs to possess as marked a superiority. The consignment at present to hand is prepared for seed purposes only, and its quality may be inspected either at our office or at the office of Mr. Mason’s agents, Messrs. H. Cave and Co. The well-deserved success which has attended coffee culture on the Alpha Estate, proves what can be done under equally skilful management, and will, no doubt, be a sufficient incentive to others to embark readily. in so remunerative an industry. From the Seventy Mile Bush we learn (says the Napier Telegraph) that the railway surveys are being pushed forward. Two survey parties are out at the Kopua end, another party is exploring and surveying between Masterton and Woodvile, while another party has commenced the survey of the line through the Gorge. The Geelong Advertiser is responsible for the following:—“lt is not often that a man mourns over what his relations will have to pay the State at his death for succeeding to his property. A wealthy man, however, ,in this district is greatly exercised on this matter. In conversation with a friend lately he observed ‘ Do you know I am thinking of selling off my property and taking the proceeds to New South Wales.’ ‘ Berry blight, I presume V answered his friend. ‘ Well, not exactly ; but I find that the succession duty upon my property would come just to £60,000 more here than in the other colony.’ ” The Dunedin Tribune, after showing some of the absurdities of railway carriage as compared with road carriage charges, remarks : “The New Zealand railways have been made, not with a narrow-minded view of their being worked so as to show a profit in the department, but with the purpose of aiding and developing the resources of the colony, and more particularly such industries as that to which we refer, and we assert that the former view has been kept in sight, while the latter has been ignored. The fact is, the whole question of our' railway tariff requires to be reconsidered, not by a tew exclusively departmental officials, but by a mixed commission of men thoroughly well acquainted with the business life of the colony, and its requirements. It this be done, and a more liberal tariff adopted for both passengers and goods, we believe an additional impetus will be given to the traffic, by which not only the department, but the public also will greatly benefit.”

The gieat earthquake that was to be has not prevented the issue of our daily sheet (says the Wanganui Herald of Friday last), but we shall not be safe till midnight. We believe in fair play, even to earthquakes, so we will give that famous humbug, Te Whiti, till twelve o'clock to-night to stir up the elements and produce the tremendous convulsion with which he promised to astonish the confiding natives, as well as the self-confident pakeha. Perhaps he expected to bring about the fulfilment of his prophecy by the universal trembling which would seize upon us when the fateful day should come. So tar we have not enjoyed the novel sensation of a tremble, and we shall try to be firm for the remainder of the twentyfour hours, buoyed by the hope that the prophetic engineer will be hoist, with his own petard when his followers find that the great earthquake, like a badly-made firework, will not go off.

A babe was ushered into existence last week (says the Wanganui Chronicle) under circumstances which we should say its mother, at least, is not likely soon to forget. As the story was told to us, it appears that a man and his wife got into Cobb’s coach at Kai Iwi, and shortly afterwards, when going up the Kai Iwi hill, the woman was taken suddenly ill, the nature of the ailment being such as to induce the other passengers to vacate their seats, and indulge in a spell of walking. Upon arrival at Messrs. Moore and Currie’s station, the coach stopped, and mother and child were transferred to the care of Mrs. Moore,-who kindly received them.

The Clntha Leader states that Messrs. Robinson, of Tokomairiro, have lost two valuable young draught horses by eating raw wheat. Some cattle broke the fence enclosing the wheat and the horses got in, tore some of the bags, and ate a quantity of the contents, which proved fatal to them. This should ac t as a warming to farmers.

There are over one hundred civil cases set down for hearing at the Resident Magistrate’s Court to-day.

The Club Hotel, Marton, has been leased for fifteen years to Mr. Baker, formerly of the Occidental Hotel, Wanganui.

The two racehorses Grey Momns and Ben Lomond left by the steamer Manawatu last night for Wanganui.

A shareholder desires us to call attention to the meeting of the Tramway Company on Monday next. An alteration of considerable importance has been proposed in respect to the borrowing powers of the company, and as the financial position of the company is supposed to be somewhat doubtful, be thinks the shareholders ought to be reminded of the meeting. In the interests of our readers we, comply with the request, although we have not been favored with a■ notice in the usual form of au advertisement.

Professor Long, who kept a gymnasium in Dunedin for some time, has just arrived in Wellington, and intends opening Mr. Spiller’s hall in Boulcott-street as a gymnasium. Mr. P. Mclntyre has received a letter from the Dunediu Football Club, in which the profe.ssor is spoken of very highly ; and it is further stated that the club would not have been so successful in the matches which they played all over the colony had it not been for the skilful course of training which the team received from the professor previous to their departure. The woman Emogeue Flinders, who was arrested a few weeks ago for attempting to commit suicide by jumping off the wharf, has made her escape. She was remanded to the Hospital, and, it appears, she has in some way managed to effect her escape. It is supposed she has gone to Melbourne. At the Hutt Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday the following civil business was disposed of :—H. Southey v. Johu Stack, claim £1 165., for goods supplied; defendant did not appear, and judgment was given by default for the plaintiff for the amount claimed and costs. G. Gilbert v. J. Mclntosh, claim £7 6a. 9d., for goods supplied ; judgment for plaintiff for the amount claimed and costs. J. H. Rose v. Henry Harvey, claim £3 6s. Sd.; judgment by default for the amount claimed and costs. This was all the business before the Court. ■

A novel sweepstake has just been decided in Auckland. Last year it was arranged between Messrs. W. Marks, of Epsom, S. Morrin, Remuera, and T. Stevens, that a sweep of £5 each should go to the propagator of the biggest crop of mangolds on a specified area of ground. Much public interest has been awakened, and there was a legion of wagers on the issue. Some long shots were taken on the following double, viz,—“ The Melbourne Cup and Mangolds.” Mr. Samuel Morrin won the sweep, the following being the result; —S. Morrin, 10 tons 150 wt.; T. Stevens, S tons 3cwt.; W. J. Marks, 7 tons IScwt. Referring to Mr. Stout’s contemplated retirement from the Ministry, the Rangitikd Advocate observes ;—“ It will be seen by our telegrams that the Attorney - General has made timely preparation for the inevitable. We question the wisdom of this step, in so tar as he himself is concerned. The reason assigned is ‘ owing to pressure of private affairs.’ This will scarcely be considered satisfactory by the country at large. It has grown to be a proverb that rats abandon a vessel which their instinct tells them is in danger of sinking. Has Mr. Stout been similarly impressed ? Is he aware that the beginning of the end has showed itself, and that the fate of the Grey Ministry is doomed ? Their vessel is already among the breakers, and with a few more heavings of the surf of popular displeasure and popular disappointment, will be left high and dry on the shore, a warning to similar corrupt, incompetent, and unscrupulous Administrations in futurp. We should prefer to have seen Mr. Stout take his chance with the rest, rather than retire prematurely on the plea of ‘ urgent private affairs.’ On the other hand, we believe Mr. Stout to have been the best of the crowd, and immeasurably superior) to his colleagues in brains, principles, and political morality. It is a great pity that all the present Government had not had private affairs sufficiently urgent to have kept them out of that misohief which Satan generally finds for idle hands to do. The ordeal for the colony has been a trying one, but the results will not be all dead loss. The lessons taught by experience are generally enduring and profitable in proportion to their severity.” The Waimrapa Daily says that on Sunday evening last, the reflected glare of the great fire at Wellington was noticed by many settlers in Masterton ; and the Guardian states that a number of settlers in Carterton had plainly seen the reflection.

Messrs. Leery and Campbell will hold a sale this day, at 2 o’clock, at their rooms, ot a lot of furniture, which will be disposed ot under a distraint for rent. Mr. George Thomas will hold a sale at 12 o’clock this day, at his rooms, of the balance of the stock-in-trade in the assigned estate of George Thomas. Messrs. T. Kennedy Macdonald and Go. will hold an important sale ot. horses, drays, express wagons, contractors' tools, &c., in Guilford’s Horse Repository, Manners-street, this day at 2 o’clock. This opportunity should be taken advantage of by all who, are desirous of starting the carrying.business. Messrs. Dwan and Kirton will hold a sale this day, at 2 p.m., at Mr. McCarthy’s malthouse, of several thousand bushels of malt and barley, which have been damaged by the late fire : they will afterwards sell a lot of general merchandise at their auction rooms, at 3 p.m. Mr. F. Sidey will sell, under a distraint warrant,' this day, at 11 a.m., sates and office furniture ; and at 2 p.m. ho will hold a sale of furniture at Mrs. George’s house, Cambridge-terracc.