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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5688, 23 June 1879, Page 2

The conference between the committees of the City Council and Fire Underwriters’ Association and the architects of the city, upon the proposed amendments in the building regulations, has been adjourned to 2.30 p.m. tomorrow. The conference was to have sat on Saturday afternoon, but that day being mail day, and the only members present being Messrs. Chatfield, O’Neill, Tringham, and Toxward (architects), and Graham, B. Smith, and Simpson (underwriters), it was considered best to adjourn as above. Fifty men of the Armed Constabulary left for New Plymouth in the Government steamer Stella yesterday afternoon. A portion of the new recruits were sent on from Napier and other places a short time back, and some of them have already seen service under Colonel Whitmore. Altogether, they appeared a very soldierlike lot of fellows, although halt a dozen or so might be denominated as belonging to the awkward squad.

We have it on good authority that there are no less than 140,000 rounds of Snider, and 100,000 rounds of Enfield ammunition stored in New Plymouth at the present time. George McLean and James Livingstone, Esqs., both influential settlers on the banks of the Waingongoro, about three miles from Hawea, and Arthur Messer and Costlett Johnston, of Keteonatea (the latter of Tura Tura Mokai notoriety), have been compelled, with their families, by the threatening aspect of native matters to take refuge in Hawera. Insurance companies are getting chary of accepting any further risks in the populous parts of the city. We heard of a case the other day where a gentleman was refused a renewal of his policy for premises in Willis-street, the local agent informing him that he had strict orders from the head office of his company not to take any insurances in the city for some time to come.

A misprint in the latter part of Mr. Eisher’s letter, which appeared in our issue of Saturday, somewhat interfered with the sense of the argument. The sentence in which the misprint occurred should read in this form ; —“ It is true that we require special wharf accommodation for the coal ships, but I cannot see how that it is to be provided until the Te Aro reclamation is completed.” The word “ wool " was substituted for the word “ coal.” An advertisement will be found in another column re the insurance of plate glass windows, &c., against breakage. We have been surprised that in a township such as Wellington, with so many shop fronts glazed with plate glass, some such insurance has not been in existence before. Mr. W. Tustin has been appointed Wellington agent of the company, the headquarters of which are in Melbourne.

The name of Thomas Lynch, builder, Masterton, has been added to the list of insolvents. The first meeting of creditors will be held at the Supreme Court on the 30th instant.

The following tenders were received at the Public Works Office, Wellington, for the Wanganui workshops contract of the WanganuiManawatu' Railway :—Accepted : Gibbs and Pinches, Wanganui, £1436. Declined : C. Rosinskey, Wanganui, £1640 ; Alexander and Macfarlane, Wanganui, £1963 ; John Randall, Wanganui, £1991 ; Alex. Reese, Wellington, £1995; N. G. Bassett, Wanganui, £2058 ; Jas. Russell, Wellington, £2153 ; Robt. McLean, Foxton, £2477. A landslip occurred at the rear of Mr. H. Bennett’s Commercial Hotel, in Willis-street, at about five o’clock yesterday morning. Some hundreds of tons must have fallen down, and the sound ,of the crash was something similar to that from a battery of artillery. Fortunately no damage was done. It would be well if some plans were adopted for sowing the slopes of these terraces with gorse, or some plant which would have the effect of holding together these clayey banks, .which must be a constant source of danger to those unfortunate enough to be in close proximity to them. The Good Templars in Tasmania have established a building society, which continues to progress remarkably well. In the first year the profits were only £43 16s. 6d. ; whilst during the past year —the fifth :of the society’s operations—they amounted to £577 4s. 4d. The dividend declared was proportionately large, as compared with previous years. We have received the “Wellington Monthly Price Current ” for June from Mr. S. Carroll, proprietor and publisher. This really useful publication contains a lot of commercial inform - ation, and will be found a handy means of reference for business men: either at Home or in the Colonies.

Messrs. Barry and McDowell,' who have just completed their contracts for - the new Hospital, are said to be the successful tenderers for the new Supreme Court House, the price being stated at £23,000.

We are given to understand that a Commission will sit to-day .to enquire into certain charges made against the Registrar of the Supreme Court by a solicitor in practice in this city. The gentlemen composing the Commission will be Messrs. Batkin, Audit Department ; Langdon, late of the Transfer Department, Nelson ; and Loghlin O’Brien, late of the Supreme Court, Auckland. Mr. Duncan’s auction room will probably be the temporary abode for the postal and telegraphic work during the erection of the new building for that branch of the Civil Service. It is stated on good authority that negotiations have been pending between the Government and Mr. George Crawford, the owner of the property, and that it is very likely arrangements will be made for a temporary lease. The total number of objections sent in against the Land Tax in the Wellington district is 2200, the greater majority of these being from the city. The number of objections sent in from the Canterbury district is 2800. The Appeal Court for the Wellington district will sit on July 9th, being the first sitting of this Court in the colony.

We understand that Mr. Amelins Smith has been appointed private secretary to the Colonial Treasurer.

It is understood that Inspector James has resolved to hold an inquiry into the conduct of Detective Sullivan, in connection with the recent entrance by that officer into a house on the Adelaide-road without a search warrant.

Early on Saturday morning Sergeant McMahon noticed that some of the debris of the recent fire had broken out into flames, and the assistance of two members of the Eire Brigade had to be obtained to suppress the fire, which appeared likely to spread, there being a quantity of malt scattered about. We noticed that on Saturday afternoon some of the rubbish was still steaming. We have been shown a very handsome album, which is to be sent to the Sydney Exhibition as a sample of the skill in bookbinding attained by the Wellington establishment of Mr Burrett. It is a demy-folio volume, full bound in morocco, in dark green leather inlaid

with crimson and fawn-colored ornamentation work. The style is known as modern antique, illuminated, and great taste has been displayed in the get-up of the volume. The gold scroll and arabesque, all of which has been done by hand, is a marvel of neatness, and is both chaste in design and handsome without being gaudy. We understand that the gentlemen entrusted with the work were Messrs. T. Hall and R. Thompson, and we hope that their skill and painstaking care may be rewarded with a prize or honorable mention at the Exhibition.

A notice of motion has been given in by Councillor Allen for difoussion at the next meeting of the City Council, affirming the desirableness of steps being taken to widen Manners-street and Cuba-street where the buildings have recently been destroyed by fire. A man named John Bright, a navvy working on the railway line at Kaitoke, was brought into the Hospital on Saturday afternoon, suffering from concussion of the brain. It appears that a boulder fell on the man’s head, inflicting a slight fracture and rendering him unconscious. Ho remains in the institution under medical care.

The I) Battery of the New Zealand Volunteer Artillery will parade for monthly inspection at the Central Fire Brigade Station tomorrow evening, at half-past seven o’clock. Interest on the Caledonian Society's debentures will be paid on and after to-day, at the office of Mr. G. Crawford. The new debentures having been issued for a further period of five years, it is necessary that the old ones should be surrendered at the time of receiving the interest.

Mr. H. Jackson will address a meeting of electors at the Upper Hutt this evening, at half-past seven o’clock, at the Odd Fellows Hall.

The double bill at the Theatre Royal had the effect of bringing the largest assemblage together since the advent of the present company to Wellington. It is not much to be wondered at that they should gain in favor with Wellington play-goers as they become better known, for although there are no stars of the first magnitude in the ranks of the company, yet, taking it as a whole, there are real sterling actors to be found in the persons of Mr. D’Orsay Ogden, Mr. Theo. Hamilton, Mr. H. Daniells, and Mr. J. G. Joyce. Mias Beatrice has been gaining so much in popular favor that it seems almost unnecessary for us to say that she richly deserves the frequent applause bestowed upon her by the audience. On Saturday night she sung a hunting song and “ Sweet Birdie” in such a way as to demand an unmistakable encore for each. The sparkling comedy of “ Our Girls and Boys,” which has had immense runs in some of the larger cities, pleased the audience to such an extent that at the end of each act the players were recalled before the curtain. The same bill will be produced this evening, and will be almost sure to draw a crowded house, should the weather be anything like favorable.

The ship City of Madras, which recently arrived from Lend m, brought 50 tons of ammunition to the order of the Government. She completed discharging this portion of her cargo on Saturday. We learn that it has been finally decided that the new railway buildings are to be erected on the reclaimed land, between Mills’ foundry and the rear of the Government Buildings. A concert will take place this evening at the Athenaeum Hall. The programme is an excellent one, and as the entertainment is the last to be given under the management of Mr. Cary, it will be sure to attract a large audience. There is no novely to be introduced, Mr. J. W. Morgan, a Welsh harpist, having tendered his services.

Mr. Mason will address meetings of the electors during the week:at the following places:— Lower Hutt, at the Odd Eellows’ Hall, on Tuesday ; Upper Hutt, on Wednesday; Taita, on Thursday ; Wainuiomata, at the school house, on Friday. The hour fixed upon each evening is half-past seven o’clock. Speaking of the Californian salmon, the Lyttelton Times says :—“A large number of these fish are still at the Opawa fish-breeding establishment. Their greatest enemy has proved to be the kingfisher, which is attracted by the fish leaping out of the water after flies. Losses have also been occasioned to the various fish by ducks. Recently some of these birds, belonging to a neighbor, killed 15 salmon, which were remarkably fat and well grown. Some measured inches; the smallest 4J-. Although not possessing the flavor of salmon, the fish proved very good eating. One of the largest was found full of milt, a fact which would lead to the conclusion that the American variety come to maturity for reproductive purposes much earlier than the English.” In connection with the information telegraphed with respect to the natives ploughing Mr. Livingstone’s land, near Hawera, ■ the following extract from “ Holiday Rambles,” in the Manawatu Times, will doubtless prove interesting From Carlyle to Hawera the distance is about twenty miles further, and on the way the traveller will get a fine view of Mount Bgmont, with its cloudy mantle spread over it, and which rears its head some 8200 and odd feet above the level of the sea. As I looked at this giant production of nature, 1 could not help wondering what an influence it must have had on a man of the character ascribed to Te Whiti, who perhaps believes that his race has been unjustly treated by the pakeha, and who imagines that He, and he alone, can rectify the misdeeds of the past. Hawera looks a prosperous and busy inland town. There appears to be a good healthy rivalry between it and Oaryle, and for the present the two places seem to be on allfours. The respected Chairman of the Patea County Council, Mr. McGuire, resides in Hawera, and not far distant one of the oldest settlers in the district, Mr. Livingstone, who lost his all in the last war, and had to begin Me over again. It was he who, after the fall of the gallant Von Tempsky, led the colonial troops out of a very perilous position, his knowledge of the country being of invaluable assistance. ‘ Like a good many brave men, Mr. Livingstone is not at all over anxious for another war. In a conversation which I had with him he said that it was very well for newspaper editors in Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and other places to talk big, but if they were in a similar position to a lot of the out settlers, they would perhaps be inclined to think and speak differently. Neither does he and a number of other settlers around imagine that we have all the right on our side. The feeling is pretty general that had ample provision, in the shape of reserves, been made, and had the surveyors not acted so childish and foolhardily as to have surveyed right through the potato gardens of the natives, the present feeling of disquiet and discontent might have been averted. There are others, however, who hold a contrary opinion. They state that, no matter how liberal the Government would have been, nothing short of a

fight would satisfy the natives, and that fight it must be sooner or later, even if the late Sir Donald McLean or the Hon. Dr. Pollen had been Native Minister, instead of the colonial “ John the Baptist.” A valuable piece of leasehold property, having S*i year to run. on which is built a nine-roomed house, will be offered for sale to day. at 2 p.m., by Messrs. J. H. Bethuno and Co. The premises were ocoupi-d for some time by the well-known firm of Barton and Fitzherbert, and Messrs. Guthrie's and Larnach’i odices were also in the same building.