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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5740, 22 August 1879, Page 2

The proceedings at the City Council meeting last night were throughout of an extraordinary nature, and seldom before have we known the majority of the members to be so uncontrollable. Councillor Maginnity set the ball rolling by drawing attention to what some wicked journalist had written regarding the action of the Mayor in making a wharf appointment, and this gave Councillor Moss, a member of the Wharf Committee, who had not been consulted in the matter, an opportunity of “ going for ’’ the Mayor,, in which he was supported by Councillor Young, his Worship being asked a number of searching questions, which he failed to answer satisfactorily. The committee appointed to investigate the matter will, no doubt, thoroughly elucidate the present mystery of how a committee that never assembled when summoned could make appointments such as the one called in question, or even to transact any business whatever. This little breeze over, other Councillors seized every available opportunity of introducing subjects foreign to the particular business under discussion, and the Mayor had a difficult matter to control them, and had to make frequent appeals for order. The unruly members were probably effervescing in consequence of electioneering excitement ; but they have the satisfaction of knowing that their conduct considerably delayed the business of the evening, and caused one important .matter to be deferred for another fortnight. A condensed report of the proceedings appears in another column.

A meeting of persons desirous of forming a Working Men’s Eights League was held last evening at the Commercial Hotel. About forty were present, and Mr. Evenden, the chairman of the last meeting held during the previous week, occupied the chair. The Chairman read the minutes of the previous meeting, and briefly explained the object of the League, which he said was the outcome of letters signed “Philo” in the Evening Post, bn the question of immigration. Before proceeding ,to the business of the meeting it would be as well if those who wished to join the League would give in their names. Several names were then given in. Mr, C. E. Worth hoped that when the present political excitement was over, this League and the Liberal Association would join together as one great association having the saine object in view. The Chairman then read the proposed constitution as drawn up by the committee. It embodied a number of by-laws of the usual character in such associations. Some discussion took place on the subject of the name of the institution, and it was ultimately resolved to call it “ The Working (Men’s Eights League." The rules of the league were adopted, after a considerable amount of discussion. The following were then elected the committee of management ; President, Mr. Evenden ; secretary, Mr. Hilton ; treasurer, Mr. Eaves ; committee : Messrs. Vivian, Worth, Black, Pegrum, Lees, G. Downie, Coffey, Hibbard, Kemp, Dixon, Griffiths, and Handcock. The meeting then adjourned. Councillor Hunter made a useful suggestion at the meeting of the City Council last night, namely, that when divisions are called for, a bell should be rung, or some such means taken to summon Councillors who might happen to be in the adjoining rooms, and who would like to record their votes were they aware that' a division was being taken. The suggestion is worth acting upon.

At the meeting of the Philosophical Society, to be held to-morrow evening, Dr. Kemp will read a letter on the “ Education of Children,” considered from a medical point of view ; and Mr. J. T. Thompson, E.8.G.5., will contribute a paper on “Barat Eossil Words.”

All preseat and past D.G.L. officers and representatives of Masonic Lodges are requested to attend at the Foresters’ Hall at 2.30 p.m. to-morrow, in order that they may occupy their assigned positions at the installation of Brother Christian Julius Toxward as K.W.G.D.M. for the North Island. Mr. T. Mason will deliver addresses at the Upper Hutt this evening ; at Wainuiomata, to-morrow ; and at the Lower Hutt on Monday—at half-past seven o’clock each evening. 1

A committee meeting of the Liberal Association will be held this evening, at half-past seven o’clock, at Lloyd’s Booms. 1 Divine service will be held every Sunday evening, at half-past six o’clock, in the church room, Tinakori-road, in connection with St. Paul’s Church, Thorndon. Sir George Grey, accompanied by his private secretary, Mr. Mitchell, left yesterday afternoon in the Government steamer Stella for Christchurch.

A meeting of Good Templars and Kechabites will be held in the hall belonging to the latter society in Courtenay-place, on Monday evening. . ... The claim of Wi Kingi Tutepakehirangi and others for a re-hearing has been granted, the demand being for a piece of land called Hupenui, situate at Greytown. 1

There are some curious stories told of the slips of legal geatletneu at the dinner-table, and even some of the Chief Justices of England have frequently been found inadvertently “talking shop” outside the sacred, precincts qf the Hull of Justice. la-the’report furnished by our correspondent of Mr. Izard s meeting at Pahau anui, the would-be representative of the Wellington Country Districts, in recounting the laches of his opponent, gravely’ addressed the “ free and independent electors ’ assembled as “ gentlemen of the jury.” The gravity of the meeting was immediately changed, and loud peals of laughter were heard from all parts of the room. Mr. Izard himself gave way, and explained that the mistake must be attributed to the force of habit.

John Joseph Walsh, secretary of the Hiber-nian-Australasian a, atholio Society, was arrested yesterday afternoon on a charge of larceny of funds belonging to the society. He will be brought up at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning.

The Hudson Surprise Party had a very good attendance at their entertainment at the Academy of Music last night, and the various performances passed off as successfully, aud were as well received, as on former occasions. The company stand very high in popular favor, and the estimation in which they are held is thoroughly deserved. Their programmes are prepared most carefully, and the changes are so rung that there is never a surfeit of one particular element of the entertainment before it is succeeded by another. Whether performing singly or in concert, the members of the company give proof of a conscientious desire to satisfy their patrons, aud the manner in which every item is rendered shows a most careful rehearsal. The gem of last night’s programme of the company was doubtless the popular air of “ Juanita,” arranged as a duet for two of the lady singers, which was received with the most demonstrative applause. The accompaniments, too, to the vocal music are invariably excellent. We hope the troupe during the remainder of their stay will be favored with better weather than they have hitherto The Thames is giving Otago a fast run as to which shall be the most favored portion of the colony. By an order in Council, published in yesterday’s Government Gazette, no less than 20U0 acres are reserved for the purpose of being granted to the Thames Borough Council 1 Mr. McLean, who formerly carried on business as an auctioneer on the West Coast of the Middle Island, has opened an auctioneering business in Mr. George Thomas’s old premises, opposite the Athenceum, the title of the new firm being “ William McLean and Co.” This new addition to our “knights of the hammer” comes with first-class credentials from other places. The football team selected to play at Christchurch met a picked eighteen on the Basin Reserve yesterday afternoon, a considerable number of spectators, and among them many of the fair sex, having assembled to witness the contest. The Fifteen won by two goals and a touchdown, but the victories were not by any means easy ones. The selected team will leave by the Wanaka this afternoon. The following are the names :—Gowie (captain), Bayly (sub-captain), Warbrick, Thomson, A., Davy, Berry, Lynch, Galbraith, Stewart, Ronaldson, Hole, Smith, Cooper, Campbell, and Wright; emergencies, Leckie and Barnes.

There was a very good attendance at the Theatre Royal last night, when that favorite ladies’ play, “East Lynne,” was produced. The dual character of Lady Isabel and Madame Vine is one of those strongly emotional parts which appear to sit so well upon Miss Rose Osborne, who last evening added one to her many already deserved laurels. She was particularly effective in the two death scenes, which caused many an eye in the theatre to moisten. It is needless to say that she was ably supported by Mr. Chaplin, who acted up to her in every way. The cast was, on the whole, a very good one, and the performance throughout was a great success. To-night Shakspere’s beautiful comedy, “As You Like It," will be produced, and as it is now a considerable period since this charming play was performed in Wellington, and as, moreover, Miss Osborne is credited with being a very fine exponent of the part of Rosalind, there will no doubt be a large attendance to witness it.

A large audience was present last night in the Arcade at the concert given for the benefit of several prominent members of the late Opera Company. The entertainment was under the patronage of the Naval and Eire Brigades, and many members of these bodies were present in uniform. The icneficiares are to be congratulated upon obtaining such a good audience, for, owing to circumstances beyond their control, their path hitherto in Wellington has not been particularly smooth, and a change of fortune must therefore prove very acceptable. The first part of the entertainment consisted of a number of vocal pieces, by well-known local singers. These were all well rendered, and were generally well received. The second part of the programme was the opera of “II Trovatore,” the parts being taken by Mr. and Mrs. Florence, Madame Le Oouteur and Mr. Browning. The opera was tolerably well rendered, considering that the company were deficient in a good many of the usual stage accessories, and the work was well received by a not over critical audience, considerable allowance being made for the difficulties under which their entertainers labored.

The annual meeting of the members of the Widows’ and Orphans’ Eund, 1.0.0. E., M.U., was held last night at the Odd Eellows’ Hall, Mr. Isaac Clark in the chair. The annual report and balance-sheet were read and adopted. The progress of the society has been very satisfactory during the past year, and the funds have been considerably augmented, although a large amount of money had been disbursed towards the objects for which the society, was formed. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of about £B4O, which must be highly gratifying to the .members, of whom there are about fifty good on the books. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year ;—President, C. W. Bell; vice-president, James Martin ; hon. secretary, T. W. McKenzie ; trustees, Messrs. J. Smith, jun., S. Levy, and G. Leggett; auditors, Messrs. S. Waters and J, J. Webb ; committee, Messrs. J. Smith, R. A. Marshall, S. Kent, E. A. Hewitt, J. Clark, B. Smith, H. Blair, G. Leggett, E. Eurness, and S. Levy. A vote of thanks having been passed to the retiring officers the meeting separated. The following aditional immigration regulations were published yesterday :—“ The sum of £5 will require to be paid in cash, in advance, for each male adult, whether married or single at the time of making the nomination. Single women suitable for domestic service will receive free passages and free conveyance by railway or steamer to the port of embarkation in the United Kingdom, and they will not be required to pay any sum towards their expenses of outfit.”

The 25th of next month has been fixed as the date upon which the votes of ratepayers and owners of property shall be taken for the proposed Eoxton and Sandon district railway. The polling places will be at the Csunty Council Office, Eoxton ; at the schoolbouse, Carnarvon ; and at the company’s office, Sanson. Mr. Henry Sanson, sen., has been appointed revising officer; and Mr. J. W. Gower, presiding officer.

The New Zealand Steam Shipping Company’s coastal fleet will be submitted to auction on the 16th of next month by Mr. J. H. Wallace. These include the steamers Rrngatira, Manawatu, Stormbird, and Jane Douglas, and also the coal hulk European. The lease of section 150, on which the company’s offices are erected, and having about thirty-fire years more to run, will be brought under the hammer at the same time. We trust that some of our local merchants will see their way to keep this fine little fleet in Wellington. It would be a great pity if it were allowed to pass into other hands.

The stranded ship Hyderabad, as she now lies on the beach near Poston, including sails, spars, life-boats, aurf-bbats, cutter, portable engine, chronometer, dinner and dessert services, will be submitted for sale by Messrs. Bethune and Hunter to-day, at the Exchange Buildings, Te Aro. This should prove a good opportunity for a few speculative men, and there will probably be a large attendance at the sale, the hour for which is fixed at two o’clock.

The Snowflake run, in the district of Ivaikonra, Marlborough, containing about 4000 acres, will be submitted to auction by the Marlborough Land Board, on the 10th September, the upset price being fixed at Id. an acre per annum.

His Honor the Chief Justice has appointed Mr. Frederick Parish, solicitor, London, to be a commissioner for the purpose of administering affidavits.

Letters of naturalisation have been granted to Olaf Moller, clerk, Wellington.

Mr. Archibald Douglas Burns baa been appointed a cadet in the Survey Department. ■

The resignation of the Hon. John Hall of his seat in the Legislative Council appears in the last Gazette. Mr. Hunter will address the electors at the Athenmum on Saturday evening at eight o'clock.

Dr. A. K. Newman will be a candidate for Thorndon War i at the next municipal election. The general committee,lformed to secure the return of Mr, Hunter, will meet at his office. Old Custom House-street, this evening, at half-past seven o’clock.

There are 150 men at work on the railway at Normanbv, and the other po-tion of the line near Stratford is all ready to be let by contract. Mr. Levin will meet the electors this evening, at 8 o’clock, at the Princess Theatre Hotel.

Mr. Henry Jackson will deliver an address at the Taita this evening, and at Wainuiomata on Monday evening. The general committee appointed to secure the return of Mr, Levin will meet at Panama Chambers to-morrow evening.

Mr. Greenfield will address the electors at the Princess Theatre, Tory-street, at half-past 7 o’clock on Monday evening. The times and places fixed for the nomination of candidates, and also the dates of polling, will be found in our advertising columns.

The filthy state of the Supreme Court has been a matter of public comment for some time past, and the condition of the updairs rooms has been drawn attention to in our columns upon more than one occasion. It is, therefore, satisfactory to find that at last the matter has been attended to, and a regular cleaning out was in process all day yesterday, preparatory to new oilcloth and matting being laid down. The old ragged matting was removed, revealing the fact that the floor of the Court, passages, and grand jury room were coated with dust to the thickness of an inch or more. Women were engaged during the day cleaning this up and sweeping the floors, and numerous were the buckets of soil removed, the clouds of dust that were raised being very disagreeable to those who had business there. That the Court should have been allowed to get into such a filthy condition is a disgrace to the authorities, for it is only reasonable that some arrangement should have been made for a regular periodical cleaning of the place. The most original address yet published is that of Mr. William Swanson. He has reprinted his last address. He says he is the same, and the same address will do !

There have been some curious insolvencies during the past year, to which must be added the following which we clip from the Patea Mail :—“The whole of the assets in a late bankruptcy estate here amounted, we believe, to two chairs. The liabilities were about £140."

Major Atkinson held very satisfactory meetings at Manutahi and Kakaramea on Friday and Saturday last, and votes of confidence were passed at both places. The Major has gone to New Plymouth, where, no doubt (says the Patea Mail) he will make his colonial speech. A. gentleman who was in Carterton on Wednesday night informs us that Mr. Bunny addressed the electors that evening. The attendance was not large in consequence of the wretched weather. Our informant states that the candidate fenced with all the questions put to him in a manner which would have done credit to some of those 'cute Irish witnesses we read of. He was asked several qestions as to what he was likely to do, and under who-e leadership he was prepared to fight, and whether Sir George Grey’s administration, and that of his Ministry, was either good or bad ; but he adroitly parried all the thrusts of those who might have wished to create a flaw in his political armour. The only decided answer that could be dragged from him was, that if the majority of the new Parliament happened to be Liberal, and elected a leader, he should be prepared to fight under his banner. “ The strangest part of the whole affair,” adds our informant, “ was that a vote of confidence was passed in Mr. Bunny, notwithstanding the fact that a straightforward answer could not be obtained to a single question put to that wily politician.” An application for letters patent, for improvements in gasoline and air gas making machines, has been lodged by James Strang Thomson, of May-street, Wellington. Objections will be heard by Mr. W. S. Reid, patent officer, on the 24th October.

On Monday, during a rifle match at Waihi, the marker was struck in the eye with a splinter of lead from the target. Dr. Keating was at once wired for, and was in attendance as soon as possible. It is feared that the eye, if not altogether lost, will at least be permanently injured. Councillor Maginnity raised a laugh last night at the City Council meeting by referring to a map which had just been hung on the wall. This map had been moved for some months ago by Councillor Thompson, and Councillor Maginnity had then ventured the opinion that it would be mouths before it was ready. Eor this he had been very severely taken to task, and told that it would be ready much sooner than he stated. He felt sorry for his remark at the time, for it really appeared that he had been too hasty, but what he had said had now been verified, for that very evening the map had been placed on the wall.

Thirty-five cases of oranges, just landed from Sydney, will he offered for sale by Mr. Sidey to-day, a', two o’clock, at the Arcade. There will also be sold at the same time a large quantity ofj’grocery stores, household furniture, &c.