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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5714, 23 July 1879, Page 2

There is going to bo a “great Liberal meeting” at the Arcade to-morrow evening. The gathering will be for the purpose of formiuo- a “ New Zealand Liberal Association," and also for the “political education of the people”! These are about the same set of stock phrases which have been the stock-in-trade of place-hunters and office-seekers in the neighboring colony of "Victoria for a number of years. The working classes in that colony are at length beginning to see the fallacy of the doctrines of their self-appointed “ teachers,” and we have too high an opinion of the working men of Wellington, and of New Zealand, to imagine that they will he gulled by a number of men who would like to constitute themselves their “ teachers.” Neither will the stump orations of Sir George Grey and the other heads of the “great Liberal party ” avail to lead the working classes of this city, or of this colony, away from the paths which their own common sense will be sure to point out to them.

The House was well patronised by visitors anxious to hear the great debate on the want of confidence motion. Those who attended the sitting were grievously disappointed. Both the new Ministers spoke, and confirmed the opinion which we have always held of their mediocrity. Mr. Gisborne preached a very dull and prosy sermon, and Mr. Thomson made a ridiculous exhibition of himself. Mr. Saunders, as usual, made a sound and careful attack on the Ministry, full of sterling matter; and Mr. Bees made a speech which, if he had reserved it tor the great Liberal meeting to be held in the Arcade, would also have deserved a word of praise, but it was totally out of place in the House, and fell very flat for want of a gallery. The debate was closed by Sir William Fox, who stated that if the Government had been willing the Opposition were ready to have closed the debate without any. further adjournment. However, in compliance with a request from the Native Minister, the party had, out of courtesy, agreed to adjourn until half-past seven this evening, in consequence of the indisposition of Mr. Sheehan. The Premier stated that it would only be fair to give the Native Minister an opportunity of defending himself from the gross aspersions cast upon his character, but it was impossible to say for certain that he would be able to reply at the time fixed. Sir William Fox, however, made it perfectly plain that any delay in the granting of supply to the Ministry could not be attributed to the action of the Opposition, as, if a division were called for at once on the amendment before the House, the Opposition would raise no difficulties in the way of supply being granted immediately after the result of the division was made known.

Mr. Thomson made a most amusing oration in the language peculiar to him, which has been described as Caledonian English. It was not intended to be jocular, but nevertheless it caused much amusement. He appealed to the Maori members not to support the amendment of Sir W. Fox, that hon. member advocated the over-reaching of the Maoris, even in such a simple matter as a bargain for a few fish. He considered the moral of the story told by Sir W. Fox very questionable, and hoped that hon. members would not instruct their daughters, who were being initiated in the mysteries of housekeeping, to attempt any such sharp practices even over a simple bargain for fish. The illustration was ridiculous in the extreme, and the joke was all the more appreciated because the latest addition to the Ministry was quite unable to see it.

Mr. Murray-Aynsley yesterday gave notice that he would to-day ask the Minister of Justice whether he intends to carry out the re.commendation of the Gaol Committee last session that the salaries of the various gaol officials throughout the colony should be equalised.

St. George’s Hall, which has lately been made such a popular resort by the “ Mammoth Minstrels," was well patronised last evening, and the audience enjoyed the performance thoroughly.

There was only one northern wire working all day yesterday and daring last night. Up to 2.30 o’clock this morning we had nut received a single telegram from either north or south, all the southern wires being blocked by the messages transmitted from here.

Mr. Wakefield's motion in favor of the adjournment of the debate re.the establishment of a direct steam mail service with England was evidently a wise one. Mr. C. Gibson, surgeon-superintendent of the Stad Haarlem, reports as follows against a steam-immigration service : —“ I am of opinion, notwithstanding the success of the present experiment, that steamers are unsuited for the carrying of large bodies of emigrants, and chiefly on the following grounds :—(1.) The large numbers that—from a paying point of view—would have to be carried, and the consequent increased risk of contagious disease breaking out. (2.) The necessity for calling at coaling stations, and the risk either of emigrants running away altogether, or returning to the ship and possibly introducing on board some contagious or other malady prevalent on shore. (3.) The bilges, and risk of diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal affections from this source.' (4.) The probability of saloon and other class passengers being carried, and the impossibility of keeping these apart from the emigrant contingent, as the present regulations require. (5.) The dirt and filth caused by'coaling ments. (6.) The want of adequate deck space, as contrasted with the room for exercise on sailing ships. On these, and other grounds, I am in favor of sailing ships for the carrying of Government emigrants.” When the cases brought by Crowther, Browning, and Martin, against Simmons and Mitchell, of the English Opera Company, for wages due to the plaintiffs, as members of the company, were called on, Mr. Ollivier, who appeared for the defendants, said he would consent to judgment being entered for the plaintiffs, which was accordingly done. His Worship, however, observed that he bad received a notification to the effect that the defendants had filed a declaration that they were unable to meet their engagements with their creditors.

At the usual meeting of the City Council, to be held to-morrow, the reports of the Hospital and Charitable Aid, the Waterworks Drainage, Wharf, Finance, and Public Works Committees will be considered ; and also the report as to negotiations with respect to the widening of Manners and Cuba streets. The following notices of motion will come up for discussion ;—His Worship the Mayor to move —“ That the resolution of 12th June, 1879, relative to the Council taking no action against the introduction of a Harbor Board Bill by the Chamber of Commerce be rescinded, and that the necessary steps be taken to constitute the Wellington City Council a Harbor Board for Port Nicholson in the terms of the Harbors Act, 1878.” Councillor Maginnity to move—- “ That no part of the £IOO,OOO loan be expended on any street until such street is reduced to its permanent level.”

A novel case came before Mr. Mansford yesterday, being an action brought by a man named Pierman against J. W. Noman, for possession of a shovel. Some time back the plaintiff lost the article in question, and seeing what he believed to be his property he laid hold of it and took it home ; whereupon the defendant, accompanied by a couple of policemen, went to plaintiff’s house, and claimed what he asserted was his property. Pierman then gave the shovel up, because, as he asserted in Court, he “ would rather be summoned twice than locked up once.” During his examination he gave a graphic description of the disputed shovel, and his manner of describing it, and his answers to the learned counsel, created frequent bursts of laughter from the legal gentlemen and the spectators. Even the usual gravity of the worthy Resident Magistrate had to give way more than once, whilst the policeman, who every now and again had to cry out “ Order in the Court,” found a clear articulation very difficult indeed. The case was of too much importance to be decided in an off-hand manner, like the generality of civil cases ; consequently it was adjourned till to-morrow..

Notice was yesterday given in the House of a question to be asked the Government to-day relative to the light house at Cape Egmont. Mr. Stevens yesterday asked the Colonial Treasurer when it was intended to bring down the quarterly returns. Sir George Grey said it was not usual to do so before the Financial Statement was given. The return, however, on this occasion would be laid on the table in a day or two.

Mr. De Lautour yesterday presented a petition signed by the residents of Mount Ida, ashing that a tax should be placed upon the Chinese residents, and that they should be prohibited from having employment on the public works of the colony.

Judge Haliburton, better known as Sam Slick, was probably one of the best critics of human foibles who ever lived. In a scr-md edition of “The Attachd,” published in 18;3. he wrote about Liberalism in the following strain :—“ By natur, there is sunthun’ noble and manly in a Britisher, and always was, till this cussed spy system got into fashion. They tell me it was the Liberals first brought it into vogue. How that is, I don’t know ; but I shouldn’t wonder if it was them, for I know this, if a feller talks very liberal in politics, put him into office, and see what a tyrant he’ll make. If he talks very liberal in religion, it’s because he hante got none at all. If he talks very liberal to the poor, talk is all the poor will ever get out of him. If he talks liberal about corn law, it tante to feed the hungry, but to lower wages, and so on in everything almost. None is so liberal as those as hante got nothin’. The most liberal feller I know on is ‘ Old Scratch himself.’ If ever the Liberals come in, they should make him Prime Minister. Ha is very liberal in religion and would jine them in excludin’ the Bible from common schools I know. He is very liberal about the criminal code, for he can't bear to see criminals punished. He is very liberal in politics, for he don’t approbate restraint, and likes to let every critter ‘go to the devil’ his own way. Oh, he should be head spy and Prime Minister that feller.” The extract appeared to us to be so singularly applicable to some of the Liberals of the present day that we could not resist the temptation of republishing it.

The Illustrated, New Zealand Herald for July is to hand. The sketches are all very good indeed, and the only fault we have to find is, that they are all Australian, not a single sketch pertaining to New Zealand being amongst the number. So far as the present edition is concerned, it might not inaptly be termed the “ Illustrated Victorian Herald.” A narrative of travels in the country north of Auckland, including a description of Sir George Grey’s island home, will be published in the course of a few days. The letter-press is from the pen of Mr. James Gray, whs is well known in Christchurch and Wellington, and who is at present a member of the Hansard Parliamentary staff. The work will contain several illustrations by Mr. W. B. Gibbs, landscape photographer. The temperance movement (says the San Francisco correspondent of the Auckland Herald) at the head of which is Francis Murphy, an intelligent and very delightful Irishman of culture—is making rapid strides. He lectures every evening, and enrols hundreds of apostles, who are all decked with a small ribbon, which they carry on their breast for a living witness. Mr. Murphy is so gentle in his teaching that he cannot fail to win his way. There is a total absence of rant in his talking, and he keeps the audience cn rapport with him by his genial manner and amusing anecdotes. Ladies, old and young, with scores of little children, run down to the signing-table at the close of the lecture, each receiving a blue bow and ticket. Several thousands have signed during the last month, and he stays among us yet another month. There is little open drunkenness seen in these streets in comparison with other countries I have dwelt in, and the crowds are quite the most peaceable I ever saw. After a race or a procession they seem to disperse without any drunken demonstration.

The Choral Society concert was repeated last night to a crowded house. Everything went even better than on the preceding occasion, and we may say without any flattery that the second performance was nearly perfection. Everyone seemed on his or her mettle, and determinefl to excel in the performance of the difficult music. We shall not attempt to single out anything for special criticism when all was so fgood, but before quitting the subject we must advert to the exceptional sldll displayed by Mr. Herman on the violoncello, which alone was worth going to hear; and Mr. Parker, the conductor, may be again congratulated on the success of the performance as a whole. Mr. Locke, who had such a narrow escape from drowning on Monday night, and who also met with a broken leg, continuss to progress slowly, but is no worse we are glad to state.

Messrs. P. K. Watty and Joseph Ames have dissolved partnership by mutual consent, the former gentleman naying and receiving all moneys in connection with the late firm.

Curiously enough, while our autocratic Premier has been proposing to make the Council an elective body, the news comes from Victoria that the Reform Bill introduced by the ultrademocratic Premier of that colony proposes to make the Upper House there a nominee one. “Transported for Life” was repeated at the Theatre Royal last night. The audience appeared to be well pleased, if frequent bursts of applause be any indication. The play will be repeated again this evening for the last time, the popular comedy of “ Pink Dominoes ” succeeding to-morrow evening. We were pleased to hear that Mrs. Darrell was recovering from her severe attack of bronchitis, which, we are much afraid, must be put down to the already big account of our changeable climate. •

The case of the West Wanganui Company v. Turnbull, for calls alleged to be due, was struck out of the cause list yesterday by Mr. Mansford, as his Worship stated that he had no jurisdiction ; and the case of Bould v. Donald and Pascoe was also struck out for a similar reason.

Creditors who have not already proved their claims in the estate of James Ranson, builder and contractor, are requested to do so immediately ; otherwise they will be debarred from sharing in the dividend, which will soon be declared.

A meeting of those who have signified their intention of joining the Wellington Guards will be held this evening in No. 4 room, at the Athenaeum.

Mr. George Thomas will hold a sale in Upper Featherston-terrace, at the back of Grant-road, today, at 2 o’cleck, of a quantity of superior furniture. Messrs. T. Kennedy Macdonald and Co. will told a sale, at half-past 2 o’clock, on the site where the Imperial Opera House stood, of a quantity of galvanised iron, piping, &c. Mr. Francis Sidey will sell at the Arcade, by order of the bailiff, a quantity of paperhangings, furniture, sewing machine, piano, &c., in addition to which he will also offer several lots of furniture.