Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5747, 30 August 1879, Page 2

Another victory has been scored by the Opposition, the Hon. John Hall having been returned unopposed for Selwyn yesterday. Against the hon. gentleman’s return, and that of Mr. Rolleston for the Avon, must be put that of Sir. Shanks, a Ministerialist, who has been returned unopposed for Mataura. The nominations for the Parliamentary elections for the City will take plane on Monday next ; for the Wellington Country Districts, on Wednesday ; and for the Hutt District, on Thursday next. The polling days are fixed for Friday, the sth September, for the City ; for the. Country Districts, on Tuesday, the 9th September ; and for the Hutt District on Thursday, the 11th September. The nominations for the Wairarapa will take place to-day at Featherston, and the election will be held on Thursday next, on which occasion a special train will be despatched from Wellington at 9 a.m., returning to Wellington at 2.30 p.m. The nominations for the Manawatu will be held at Poxton to-day, and the election will take place on the following Saturday. There was a short sitting of the District Court yesterday, before his Honor Judge Hansford, when the case of Mrs. Hedges against the Corporation was again brought under notice. It will be remembered that the action had been previously brought by Mrs. Hedges, and a verdict for £147 obtained ; but Mr. Travers, for the Corporation, applied'for a re-hearingj and yesterday was the day set down for hearing the application. Mr. Ollivier appeared on behalf of Mrs. Hedges to show cause, but after waiting for some time the defendants did not put in an appearance, and the application was dismissed, with costs. Last evening Mr. Hunter held another very successful meeting at the Princess Hotel, and received an almost unanimous vote of confidence.

The following petition, signed by a great number of the settlers at Porirua and Pahautanui, has been sent to Mr. Butts, Chief Postmaster, praying for an alteration to be made in the carrying of the mails to those districts ; “We, the undersigned settlers of Pahautanui and Porirua, most respectfully solicit you to reconsider the alteration which has been made respecting the carrying of the mail to our districts. We beg to inform you that when it was carried by Prosser’s coach it suited our interests and convenience far better than the present arrangement by Hastwell’s coach, as we could then send our letters and orders into town and receive answers all within the one day. Your petitioners respectfully and earnestly entreat you to give this matter your serious consideration, and we trust that there will be no obstacle in the way to prevent you going back to the old arrangement.” We trust that Mr. Butts will be able to accede to what appears to be a very reasonable request on the part of the settlers of Porirua and Pahautanui, There can be no doubt that the present arrangement is a most unsatisfactory one.

The following extracts from Mr. Florence McCarthy’s evidence before the Press Telegrams Enquiry Committee, are deserving of the widest publicity, on account of the grave charges which were made against the Press Agency, at the time when the special wire job was exposed in the House of Representatives by Mr. George McLean : —The Chairman : What leads you to think that any person entertained personal hostility to Captain Holt? Well, the general impression got abroad. That was the idea I had, and many others had the same. I knew there were not very amicable relations between Sir George Grey and Captain Holt, and one circumstance that I may mention assisted in creating this feeling. A few years before Sir Donald McLean died he came to Captain Holt and asked him if he knew anything about the Omaranui transaction, and if he would have any objection to supplying the information. He gave it on a piece of paper, and Sir Donald McLean made no use of it whatever, but in a debate which occurred after his death Mr. Ormond made use of it, ■when political feeling was running high, and from the paper having no date upon it, it appeared as if it had been just supplied, whereas it had been supplied to Sir Donald McLean a year before. I have often thought that the misapprehension which the fact of the date being omitted created, did Captain Holt a great deal of injury, and indirectly, of course, it injured me.—Mr. McLean : That was your feeling with reference to the matter ?—That was the only feling I had. I proposed to Captain. Holt that it would he better, under the circumstances, if he withdrew, as there was nothing for it hut loss, and Captain Holt had something to occupy him, and I had nothing but to stick to the Agency, or throw it up altogether.—Was there a living in the Press Agency before the Government gave this concession to the Press Association?—There was just a fair living in it, for which we worked hard.

We have been requested to state that Mrs. Drake, of Bolton-atreet, has collected £9 towards providing a fund for patients, who, after their recovery at the Hospital, may wish to proceed into the country, but who may riot be able to command the necessary funds. This is a step in the right direction, and we trust other ladies will imitate Mrs. Drake’s example. We have received the Union Company’s time-table for September, which is one of the handiest little volumes printed. A very fine Clydesdale stallion arrived by the Albion yesterday, having been purchased by Mr. David Toshaok from Mr. Moffatt, in Canterbury. Bothwell, which is the name the horse is known by, has a first-class pedigree, and has taken prizes at some of the shows in Canterbury. Those curious in horse flesh can have a look at this fine specimen of a good draught horse at the New Zealander stables, Manners-street.

By the latest account to hand the score in the New Zealand chess tourney match stands as follows :

Mr. Veel .. .. .. 4 8 1 Ifc will be seen by the above that Mr, Jacobsen still keep the highest score, with Mr. Berry second. Workmen were busy yesterday constructing a plain but substantial platform in front of the Supreme Court, which is intended for a hustings for the city nominations, which take place on Monday. For a neat specimen of pictorial art, commend us to the Punch which has just been produced in “Sleepy Hollow.” The typographical work is on a par with the woodcuts, and if the enterprising proprietors would open a shop in the principal cities of How Zcalaud, the publication would command an extensive sale, if only as a curiosity.

Mr. Hunter will address the electors this evening, at seven o’clock, at the Primitive Methodist scboil-room, Thorndnn ; and at the Newtown school-house on Monday evening at ei,ht o’clock “ The Theory of Combustion ’’ wiil form the subject of a lecture at the Philosophical Society’s meeting this evening, Mr. Cox, Assistant Government Geologist, being the lecturer.

The Wellington Liberal Association will hold a meeting at the Foresters' Hall, Torystreet, tins evening, at S o'clock, to discuss matters in connection with the municipal elections.

A meeting of the Board of College governor! will be held oa Wednesday next at the City Council Chamber. The monthly parade of the Naval Brigade took place last night, at the Arcade, when both watches, to the number of about 200, mustered under the command of Captain Johnston. After going through some preliminary drill, the force was marched out, headed by the band. The principal streets of the city were paraded, the force presenting a very creditable appearance, and the brigade was ultimately dismissed at the Arcade.

There was a moderate attendance at the Academy of Music last night, when Hudson’s Surprise Party again went through one of their excellent programme, to the delight 'of the audience. This evening is announced as the last night, so that all who have not witnessed the entertainment should avail themselves of the opportunity. We have much pleasure in stating that Constable McGrath, who has, during his stay of three or four years in this city, proved himself a courteous and highly efficient officer, has been promoted to the rank of a third-class sergeant. He has been transferred to the Patea district, and loft yesterday by the steamer Wellington. Henry Lovering, a steward on board the steamer Albion, was arrested yesterday on a charge of embezzlement. He was brought before Hr. Harding, J.P., and allowed out on bail in two sureties of £25 each. The accused will be brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning. The Wellington Football team may be expected from Christchurch some time to-day, and we hope that a hearty welcome will he accorded to them by all lovers of athletic sports, as they have well sustained the credit of Wellington in both the matches they have played. A lecture on “ English Music and Musicians” will he delivered on Tuesday next by Mr. Robert Parker, in St. Paul’s Church Room, Tinakori-road. The subject is a highly pleasing one, and when it is stated that it will be aided by vocal and instrumental illustrations, that should prove sufficient to fill the commodious room to the uttermost. The people of the Hntt District will have a good opportunity of witnessing an enjoyable performance on Monday evening, as the Hudson Surprise Party have determined to give an entertainment at the Odd Fellows’ Hall, Lower , Hntt, on that occasion. A meeting of all committees and canvassers interested in the return of Mr. Greenfield will be held at the Central Committee Rooms, Willis-street, at half-past seven o'clock this evening.

A notification from Mr. John Brush, one of the largest manufacturers and importers of saddlery and harness in Sydney, will he found in our advertising columns. The following extract from a letter received yesterday by Mr. Bite from Mr. Cowie, captain of the Wellington Football Team at Christchurch, will be read with much interest, after the brilliant play exhibited by our footballers against Otago and Canterbury :—“ The match Canterbury v. Otago was a very good one, but Otago had the best of it all throughout ; it, however, ended in a draw. We were held in great contempt by the Dunedin men, who said they would run through us. They found, however, that the ‘ boot was on the other leg,’ as, if there was a difference,'it was in our favor all through the game, which was the hardest and fastest I ever played in. Our fellows played exceedingly well, and our collaring was universally admired. The result of course you know. The Dunedinites have all gone home now, very quiet, and Canterbury are getting their very strongest and heaviest team for our benefit to-morrow ; so we are in for another knocking about. I, however, think we will manage to pull it off somehow, or, at any rate, make a draw. X never thought our men could play so hard and well ”

The report presented to the shareholders in the Union Bank of Australia, held in London on the 14th July, concludes with the following remarks :—“The general manager, the chief officer tor New Zealand, and the London manager have had anxious and trying times to contend against, and their able and careful management calls for special commendation. The official balance-sheet presents a net amount of profit of £144,131 14s. 2d., out of which the sum of £16,500 has been transferred to the reserve fund, and the balance, viz., £127,681 14s. 2d. is available for division. Of this the dividend and' bonus on 59,500 shares will absorb £119,000, leaving £8631 14s. 2d., to be carried forward. The dividend warrants will he transmitted by post on the 21st inst., and the dividend and bonus will be payable in the colonies at such time as the general manager shall fix after receipt of telegram.” We hear that our footballers, who are to arrive by the Wakatipu this morning, will meet with a very hearty reception. A number of the members of the Reform Club, and lovers of the game generally, will assemble on the wharf and give them a right hearty reception, which is nothing more than might ha expected after their double victory over Canterbury and Otago. It is said, too, that the vessels in port will be dressed for the occasion. There was an unusually large quantity of fish brought in yesterday, and its exposure for sale near the wharf strongly suggested the advisability of the erection of a fish market at an early date. Such a market has long been an institution in Auckland, and there the housewives are to he seen in the early morn making their own purchases, altogether independent of the profits which had to be paid to the middleman before the establishment of the market in that city.

Mr. Christie, at present the manager of the Oamaru branch of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand, has been transferred to Wellington to take chaige here. He will probably arrive in a few days. The model of the steamship Rotomahana is on board the Wakatipu, en route for Sydney, where it will he placed in the Intercolonial Exhibition. This model has been placed on exhibition in Dunedin and is described by all who have seen it as a marvellous work of art. Certainly nothisg like it, has ever been seen in. the colonies. Mr. Mills, the local agent for the Union Steam Ship Company, has applied to the head office for permission to keep it in Wellington for a few days for exhibition.

A grand tour is being organised in Biel-' bourne, in which a number of influential gentlemen are taking part. It comprises (according to the Sydney Telegraph) a visit to Hobarton and other places of interest in Tasmania ; thence to those wonderful freaks of nature, ths Sounds or fiords on the West Coast of New Zealand ; then overland across the ranges, and through the lake and river scenery of that romantic region, and through the various townships, diggings, &0., inland and coastwise, of New Zealand ; thence to Newcastle and the Hunter district ; and on to Sydney, with a view of visiting the Exhibition, Blue Mountains, &c., prior to returning to Blelbourne. It is proposed to charter a first-class steamer, and to start about the middle of December, the trip to extend over 50 days. The tour is under the management of Mr. R. P. Whitworth, the well known litterateur, who has explored this part of New Zealand, and who may be said to know every inch of the country. Mr. W. R. Guilfoyle, director of the Botanic Gardens, Blelbourne, who will accompany the expedition as botanist, acts as hou. secretary. The affair is being carried out under highly influential auspices, and there is no doubt that New South Wales will contribute her quota of visitors to so enjoyable and interesting a tour. Blr. Hunter’s general committee and subcommittees are requested to meet at seven o’clock this evening, at the Central Committee Room, Old Custom House-street. The polling for the Baugitikei district will take place on Wednesday next. Blessrs. Rothschild, according to a recent Parliamentary return, were paid £99,414 11s. Id. for advancing the £3,976,582 2s. tid. required to purchase the Sue;: Canal shares in 1874. '■ Messrs. Liery and Campbell will hold a sale of fruit produce, grocery stores, io., at their rooms to-to-day, at 11 a.m.: and at 2 p.m. t at the horse bazaar. Manners-street, the usual sale of horses, buggies, &c., will take place. Mr. Francis will hold a sale of Waltham watches, furniture, groceries, &c., at the Arcade, at 1 p.m, today.

Players. Garnet Played. Won. Lost. Hev. 3. E. Asli .. S 31 a *h Mr- E. Bray .. 7 2i Mr. P. Jacobsen .. .. 8 6 2 Mr.Janion.. .. 0 n71 Mr. Newman .. 4 0 4 Mr. Hay .. .. G 4 2 Mr. Hookham .. 6 31 2*i