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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5768, 24 September 1879, Page 2

The new Parliament will be opened by commission this afternoon at two o’clock. The business will consist of swearing in such members as are present, and electing a Speaker. It is also probable that a Chairman of Committees will be elected. His Excellency’s speech will not be delivered until Friday afternoon, so that little or no business beyond that indicated can be transacted in the meantime. The newly-elected Speaker will be presented to his Excellency on Thursday. A caucus meeting of the Opposition was held at the residence of Mr. George McLean, M.H.R., yesterday, but nothing definite was resolved upon, several members of the party not having arrived in Wellington. The Opposition are satisfied with their prospects, which under the present aspect of affairs are decidedly favorable. Mr. O’Rorke, member for Onehunga, will be nominated for the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives this afternoon, and will be elected unopposed to the position he filled so ably and impartially during the last session. With regard to the Chairmanship of Committees, it was at first thought that there would be a contest, but it is now generally understood that Mr. Seymour, the previous^occupant of the chair, will be elected without opposition. We understand that Mr. E. Pearce has definitely declined to stand for the forthcoming Mayoral election, much to the regret of his many friends and admirers. It is rumored that Councillor Allen is a probable candidate tor the position of chief magistrate, and the Hon. G. M. Waterhouse is also mentioned. We have more than once lately had to complain that no notice of forthcoming deputations had been given us. Under the circumstances, we are compelled to give such infer mation as can be obtained from outside sources. We hear that a deputation from the Wellington Liberal Association, consisting of Mr. E. Crook and Mr. Griffiths, intending to wait upon Sir George Grey yesterday, by a fortuitous accident met his Worship the Mayor in the vicinity of Government Buildings, and were by him introduced to the Prouder. The deputation respectfully pointed out to Sir George Grey that, as rumors were alloat to the effect that he was going to call a well-known and respected resident of the city to the Upper House, they begged respectfully to bring before his notice the superior claims of Mr. G. V. Shannon, who had strenuously exerted himself in the formation of the Liberal Association, and had expended considerable sums in its behalf and in securing the return of the members chosen by the association to the House of Representatives. We understand that Sir George Grey replied to the effect that, pending the meeting of Parliament and until the position of parties was assured, he mmht imperil his position by recommending any fresh nominations, because, if his recommendation were refused, he would be forced to resign.

The Liberal Association in Wellington helped to secure Mr. Levin’s return to Parliament. He did not require their assistance, but was no doubt grateful for it. As that body chose to promise their support to a Greyite and also to an anti-Greyite, we did not feel called upon to express any opinion as to their merits or demerits. Politically speaking, their action disfranchised Wellington during the term of office of the precent Ministry. It will be seen by a telegram elsewhere that the Grahamstown Liberal Association has passed a resolution to the effect—'“ That no member of the association is eligible to hold office or to be a member of the committee, unless he is a supporter of Sir George Grey and his policy as now declared.” This resolution,_ if adopted elsewhere, would completely extinguish the association. Mr. Stevens afterwards gave notice of a very. different resolution, to the following effect—“ That in- dealing with rebel Maoris the Government are vacillating, and their actions humiliating to British subjects, who object to a Ministry which js unwilling or incapable of enforcing protection of life and property.”

An exchange says ;—“ The common belief that a publican is obliged to serve ail comers, provided they are not intoxicated, must now be relegated to the category of popular delusions. The Court for Consideration of Crown cases has decided that the right to purchase drink is not included among the inalienable rights of Englishmen, The Judges have laid it down that the obligation to serve applies only to inns, and then only in the case c£ travellers.”

We learn from the Telegraph Department that cable communication between Batavia ami Singapore is now open, and that communication on the Siberian lines is restored.

The work of erecting a powder magazine at Kaiwarra will shortly be commenced under the supervision of Mr. C. O'Neill, C.E., by whom the plans and specifications were prepared. Mr. W. F. Oakes is tho successful tenderer, the amount being £2591.

At a meeting of the Music Committee of the Choral Society, held on Monday evening, it was decided that the second part of the programme for the first concert should consist of miscellaneous selections. The instrumentalists are to meet Mr. Forrest, the new conductor, next Tuesday evening. The question of the establishment of an orphanage for Wellington has been under consideration recently, and correspondence has been going on between the Colonial Secretary and the Mayor upon the subject. The Government are willing to give one pound for every pound subscribed iu aid of the institution. We understand that there is already a fund of £I7OO available for such a purpose, and there is also an orphanage reserve of three acres, so that under these circumstances Wellington ought not to be long without an orphanage. No information has yet been received by the police concerning Mr. John Houghton, who has been missing since the 7tb instant. The wells in the neighborhood of his house have been dragged, and a thorough search all over the premises and adjoining grounds has been made.

The usual weekly meeting of the Benevolent Institution was held at the Provincial Buildings yesterday. Present—Mr. J. G. Holdsworth (chairman), Revs. R. J. Thorpe, P. Kerrigan, W. Kirk, J. T. Hinton, O. S. Ogg, Mr. West, and Mr. J. 15. Smith. A number of cases were considered and relieved.

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce will hold its quarterly meeting at the rooms of tho Chamber, Lambton-quay, this afternoon. A landslip took place on Saturday at the new excavation works near the Botanical Gardens, by which an elderly lady had a narrow escape. The shock of falling earth was felt at the rise of Lewisville-terrace. More earth continued to fall on Sunday and also on Monday. Some cf the fence is down, and as the face of the work is nearly perpendicular it is rather dangerous, especially as the locality swarms with children.

A sitting of the Bankruptcy Court was held at the Supreme Court yesterday before his Honor Mr. Justice Richmond. An order of discharge was granted in re Jesse Bond, and in the cases of Mitchell and Thompson and Benjamin Wilson the deeds were declared completely executed.

An ingenuous student of the lovely speech lately delivered at the Theatre by that friend of “ all ” the human race—-excepting Chinamen and Legislative Councillors—Sir George Grey, has furnished us (Free Lance) with an analysis of the speech from the “ veracity ” point of view. He makes it out to contain 19 regular “ whoppers," 27 “ white lies,” 30 specimens of that kind of falsehood known to casuists as suppressio vert, and 33 specimens of the suggestio falsi ; giving a grand total of 109 lies of various grades, being a fraction more than 18 in each column of the reports; that is, if true, no doubt “pretty well for high.” Our friend is as full of rapturous admiration of the great orator as Mr. Shera or even Mr. Moss himself can possibly be ; but we think that he proves a little too much. It is on that ground that, suspecting him, we decline to insert his contribution except as an advertisement. Moreover, the brilliant passage with which he concludes is not original ; it is a shameless adaptation of an eulogium of Wolffe’s Schnapps which we have read in a local journal very recently, and which the agents, L. D. Nathan and Co., have promised to supply to our columns shortly. Wo are glad to see (says the Vfaltar apa Daily) the Masterton and Opakt Jockey Club coming to the fore again. Nothing daunted by the unusually depressed state of the times, they have decided to hold two days’ racing iu December, in spite of all warnings and persuasions to hold but one day. They are very sanguine of being able to carry out their two days’ sport successfully. At the last meeting of the club, in addition to the present members some twenty additional names were proposed, and if the stewards and members of the club unite to advance its position, we have no doubt that this race meeting will be the best yet held at Opaki.

We remind our readers of the sacred concert to be given in the Arcade this evening by the choir of the Wesleyan Church, in aid of the organ fund. Mr. J. M. Morgan, the Welsh harpist, will assist the performers, and the programme comprises selections from the works of the groat masters. Should the weather be fine, there will no doubt be a good attendance. We may state that the new organ is to arrive per lone. The instrument is by Messrs. Conaoher and Co,, Huddersfield, and contains all the most recent improvements, amongst which we may mention the Balanced Swell and Radiating Concave Pedals. The organ will be blown by hydraulic power. It is said to be a very fine instrument. The following is a list of the stops :—Great Organ, 7 stops, viz.: Open Diapason, Dulciana, Viol di Gamba, Elauto Traverse, Principal, Wald Fliite, Mixture. Swell Organ, 10 stops : Bourdon, Geigen Diapason, Rohr Eliite, Salicional, Voix Celeste, Harmonic Elute, Gamba Salicional, Harmonic Piccolo, Horn, Oboe. Pedal Organ : Open Diapason and Sub Bass (these two stops have an extra octave of pipes for the Pedal Octave Coupler). Couplers: Swell to Great, ditto Super Octave, Pedal Octave Coupler, Great to Pedals, Swell to Pedals. Total number of stops, 24 ; total number of pipes, 1186. There are three composition pedals to the Great, and three to the Swell Organ. “ H.M.S. Pinafore” was performed last evening at the Acacemy of Music for the tenth and last time, which speaks more strongly than any words could do of the popularity it has enjoyed. It has to be withdrawn this evening to make way for “ The Sorcerer,” which, if all that is said of it be true, is sure to obtain as strong a hold on popular favor. It has been in active preparation for some time past. The whole of the company have parts in it, and as Miss Leaf is now again in excellent voice, it will be a matter of surprise if it does not draw crowded houses during its run. According to a Southern exchange the plot is a very simple one. A philanthropic guardsman, Alexis Pointdexter, who is betrothed to Aline Sangazure, anxious that as many as possible may be equally happy with himself, procures from a sorcerer, John Wellington Wells, a philter, which he dispenses to the people of the neighboring village, Ploverleigh. The consequeince is a general application from all the unmarried folk to the village parson, Dr. Daly, for his services ; but as the philter has caused each to fair in love with the first individual of the opposite sex met after its “ exhibition,” the couples are remarkably ill-assorted. The rest of the dramatis persona are Sir Mannaduke, father of Alexis, a notary ; Mrs. Partlett and her daughter, a matter of fact old lady whose calling is that of a pew-opener, the latter an aspirant for the love of the parson ; and Lady Sangazure, mother of Aline. The sorcerer is by no means a necromancer of the Middle Ages, but one of the most modern school, having a firm faith in the merits of advertising, and keeping up a respectable appearance.

The Napier Daily Telegraph has the following :—“ The following strange statement appears in the Northern Luminary :—A great deal of surprise was evinced, on Monday eveniu<r, after Mr. London's meeting was over, by that gentleman producing a bundle containing at least sixty voters' claims from Kawakawa, purporting to have reached the returning officer a few hours too late. The question naturally arose as to how he came by them. But no satisfactory answer being given, we concluded be got them also by a fluke, and examined the post-marks carefully, showing plainly the Kawakawa post-mark of 27th March, and the Russell post-mark of Ist April. More will evidently be heard of this matter by-and-bye. We were glad to observe that no Auckland post-mark was on the parcel, as it was surmised that it had been sent to Auckland in a mistake, which shows plainly that no post office bungling has been perpetrated in tjhis town at any rate. Six days travelling twenty miles, and now in the hands of a candidate !” We may remark that it is the ordinary practice of registration officers to allow claims sent by post, if they bear the mark of any post office within the district of earlier date than 31st March. That being the custom, the claims in question should have been allowed. How the claims passed into private hands is another question. It seems hopeless to expect any electoral matters tjo be conducted in a proper manner at the Bay of Islands. Perhaps a temporary disqualification of the whole district might have a salutary effect. The sale of furniture, Ac., at the Albion Hotel was largely attended. The bidding was spirited, and good prices were obtained by Mr. W. McLean, the new auctioneer.

The Hinemoa arrived in harbor at ha'f-past j eight last night, bringing the Auckland mem- | hers of the General Assembly. The steamer i left again shortly after arrival for Napier, whence she will reach port ag-du about noon to-morrow with the blast Coast members. The usual monthly meeting of the Board of Education will be held to-day. A sitting of the Supreme Court in Banco will j be held to-day. 1 In spite of the heavy downpour which continued yesterday the attendance at the Oriental Exhibition showed a decided improvement on that of the preceding day, nearly 400 ririring Mesers.Kaurt and All’s collectionof curiosities. Prominent amongst the exhibits may be mentioned the odvevrood cigar and tobacco boxes, and the pressed flowers of the Holy Laud. Not the least important attraction, however, is the collection of photographic views of numerous parts of Palestine. The exhibition will continue for a few more days, when it is to be hoped the weather will improve, and enable the inhabitants of Wellington to visit it in greater numbers. As might have beer expected from the wretched state of the weather, there was not much of an improvement in the attendance at the Theatre lloyal last evening. Nevertheless the performance was gone through with great spirit by the juvenile and talented performers. The programme consisted of “ Conrad and Lizette" and “Patchwork,” which will be repeated again this evening. Although tree-plauting in Melbourne, for shade purposes, has not been so successful as could be desired, the work still goes on. A gentleman in Victoria writes that parties of men are employed digging trenches in Coilinsstreet. The trenches are filled with rich soil, and the young trees are put in at regular distances. Each tree is protected by a neat light guard-fence, and the effect is described as decidedly good, even in the trim, fashionable Collins-straet. The trees set out in Romaatreet, Brisbane, do not look fine, nor anyanything like it. Each one is inside of a graveyard-like picket fence of heavy battens, and the whole have a wretched look. Messrs. McLean and Co. will soil to-day, at 2 p.m.» chairs, drapery, wines, spirits, groceries. Ac. Mr. F. Sidey will continue selling to-day, at the Arcade, the balance of stock from the West Coast, consisting of groceries, drapery fancy goods, sowing machine, novelties, Ac.