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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5786, 15 October 1879, Page 2

In the Statement made by the Hon. Mr. Hall in the House yesterday afternoon a pledge was given that in future the Government advertisements would be divided amongst the newspapers, without any regard whatever to the political opinions which they might hold. Mr. Hall further added that whatever Government was in power it would have to adopt the line of policy which he had sketched out with reference to the Government advertising. All right-minded men on both sides of the House will, we feel confident, agree with the Hon. Mr. Hall that the course he indicated is the only one that should be adopted in any country which cares about the purity of its administration, the greatest safeguard for which is to be found in an uncorrupted and unfettered Press. Sir George Grey’s “ advertising policy ” and “ special wire policy ” lost him and his party more votes than they are aware of. But Sir George Grey lost what is of considerably more importance by the selfish policy he pursued the moral support of the thinking portion of the community—of that class of persons who can distinguish between high-sounding pretensions • and mean, contemptible actions. We trust we shall never again have to recur to the subject of the attempted corruption of the Press in New Zealand. The House resumed yesterday, when the leader of the Opposition intimated that they should obstruct the business of the country until the no-confidence debate was decided. An early adjournment was made until the evening, when Major Atkinson made a financial statement, in moving the reading of the Public Revenue Act, over which along debate occurred, a report of which appears elsewhere.

The Suez jir-.il, which arrived here by the Taiaroa yesterday aftornuon, was landed eight days in advance of contract time at the Bluff, m i was delivered in Wellington ten days in advance.

-Sir F. D, Bell’s motion for a committee to inquire into the late Government’s railway contracts was carried in the Council yesterday, and tile committee was likewise directed to examine into the w rking of the Audit department. The Hon. Mr. Waterhouse described that branch of the Civil Service as '* a large and costly machine to make more easy the straining at gnats and the swallowing of camels.” Another incident of the sitting was that the Hon. Colonel Brett wished for a week's adjournment, as he “intended to get into the country to renovate his health, away from the stinks and smells of this abominable city.” The Legislative Councilsatanhourand a half yesterday, the principal business being the delivery of a Ministerial statement (summarised elsewhere) by Mr. Whitaker, That hon. gentleman seemed perfectly in his element in the more sedate of the two chambers of the Legislature, and preserved the well-known easy bearing that was one of his distinguishing characteristics in the Lower House. Mr. Whitaker explained that his position was not new to him ; it was merely a renovation, as he had been the first Councillor appointed in the colony and had represented the Government in the Council about a quarter of a century ago. The only change noticeable in the Chamber, beyond that of the Attorney-General’s advent, was that Colonel Whitmore had walked across the flour and placed himself beside his erstwhile hete noire, Sir P. I). Bel!, using the Hon. Mr. Hall’s late seat. The gallant Colonel, too, seemed tacitly to resume his old position of leader of the Opposition in the Council by a short passage with his successor as t« the conduct of public busideas, pending the noconfidence motion in the Lower House.

The Supreme Court sittings were continued yesterday, when the criminal business was concluded. The Maori defendants in the East Coast case were sentenced to one day’s imprisonment, and were also bound over to keep the peace for six months. David Salmon was convicted of stealing money from Cornelius Murphy on board the s.s. Southern Cross, and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, with hard labor ; and John Joseph Walsh was then arraigned upon the third and fourth charges of appropriating cheques, the property of the H.A.0.8. Society. One charge (the third) fell through in consequence of there being no evidence of fraudulent appropriation of the cheque by the prisoner, and the last charge resulted in prisoner being found guilty. He was remanded till to-day. The Court, at 0,10 p.m., adjourned till 10 a.m. to-day. The civil sittings of the Supreme Court will commence to-day, before hia Honor Mr. Justice Richmond, when the common jury case of Beere v. Czerwouka will be called on. The other cases on the list are as follows Bath v. Williams (common jury), Farrell v. O'Malley (special jury), Bishop v. Macdonald (do.), Carkeek v. Williams (do.), Richardson v. Bank of New South Wales (do.), and Schultz v. Wellington Corporation, to he dealt with by his Honor without a jury.

The premises of Messrs. T. Kennedy Macdonald and Co. will be lighted up this evening for the display of furniture. The rooms will well repay a visit, as the firm have on view a first-class assortment of furniture, fancy goods, pictures, &c., just received.

Thera was a large attendance of members and friends of the Wellington Literary Association and the Wesleyan Mutual Improvement Association at the debate between the two associations, hold in the St. John’s schoolroom, Willis-street, last night, the subject of the debate being “ la direct taxation the preferable system of taxation for New Zealand which was argued in the affirmative by the members of the Wellington Literary Association, the members of the other association taking the opposite side. After a lengthy debate it was put to the meeting, and decided in the affirmative.

The entertainment in aid of St. Mark's Organ Fund, under the auspices of Mrs. FitzGerald, who is so well known here and in other parts of the colony in connection with music and works of charity, was in every respect an unqualified success. There was a numerous audience, in spite of the attractions in “another place"—a triumph which was due, no doubt, to the perseverance and energy displayed by the promoter. The salient features of the concert were, as might have been anticipated, the exquisite singing of Mrs. Cotterell in Ganz’s ballad, “ I seek for thee in every flower ” (for which an encore was demanded, but not given), and in her rendering of “ Maid of Athens,” with the encore, “ In distant land and also in Mrs. Fitz Gerald's singing of Kalliwoda’s “ Regret,” with a violin obligato by Mr. Bonnington. His Excellency the Governor, the Hon. Lady Robinson, Miss Robinson, and suite were present. We regret that the space at our disposal precludes our noticing many other deserving morceaux. Financially, as well as musically, the concert was a grand success, and the result will prove a great accession to the funds in aid of the St. Mark’s Organ Fund. The Oriental Exhibition was again well patronised yesterday. We would remind our readers that the exhibition will only last about a week longer, so that those who have not visited it should not lose the opportunity of doing so. Messrs. Kaurt and Ali announce that in consequence of the success of the last masked ball at St. George’s Hall, they intend holding another one on Monday next. There was a narrow escape from fire las evening in Mr. Cohen’s tobacconist shop, next the Evening Post. The gas set fire to one of the window blinds, but one of the Fire Police* who was on his way to do duty at the Theatre Royal, happened to see it, and, with the aid of two or three passers-by, quickly extinguished the flames, before any damage had been done.

It is not often in the conduct of proceedings in the Supreme Court that it becomes necessary to “pray a tales,” but such a circumstance occurred yesterday. When the jury in the case of David Salmon had given their verdict, his Honor relieved them from attendance until 3.30. Upon the next case being called on, several of the jurymen were challenged, and as the previous twelve were not present it was’found that there were two short of the required number to make up the “ twelve good men and true.” The Crown Prosecutor thereupon prayed a tales , which was granted, and the Sheriff accordingly called upon by name such bystanders of the Court as happened to be on the jury list, to do duty as jurymen. Several of these being witnesses in the case were challenged in the usual manner, but the process was continued until a jury was formed.

One of the tram cars got off the siding opposite Kirkcaldie and Stains’ warehouse yesterday afternoon, but was got on to the track again without much difficulty. Those really clever young artists, the “ McLean Troupe of Lilliputian Troubadore,” again appeared last night in “ Milky White ” and “Patchwork,” at the Theatre Royal. Their performance was far too good for the meagre audience they had, but all who were present enjoyed the entertainment immensely, as did also, apparently, the performers themselves.

In a paragraph which appeared in yesterday’s issue, referring to the practice of plucking flowers, leaves, &c., in the Botanical Gardens, we omitted to mention that the eloquent M.H.R. referred to belongs to the Opposition, and not to the Ministerial side of the House.

Last evening the half-yearly social gathering of the Young Men’s Christian Association took place at the room of the association, and was numerously attended A capital tea was provided, which, it is needless to say, was much enjoyed, as was the whole of the proceedings. At the meeting which followed Mr. J. G. Holdsworth (president) occupied the chair, and in a few remarks spoke of the extended influence of the socisty. Mr. C. M. Boss, the secretary, gave an account of the work during the past six months. Mr. Webb then, on behalf of the members of the Bible class, presented Professor Kirk with a gold pencil-case, as a token of their esteem for him as conductor of that class. Professor Kirk feelingly replied, and spoke of the course of study taken up by the class. The Evangelistic choir sang some anthems very sweetly, and a most enjoyable evening was brought to a close by the whole assembly singing “ The Sweet By-and-bye.” The usual weekly meeting of the committee of the Wellington Benevolent Institution was held at the Provincial Buildings yesterday. Present: Mr. J. G. Holdsworth (in the chair), Revs. P. Kerrigan, R. Coffey, W. H. West, J. Paterson, W. Kirk, and Messrs. J.’E. Smith, L. Levy, J. Woodward, B. Smith, and O. P. Powles. A number of cases were considered and relieved, and the committee adjourned. The Tramway Company invite tenders fo advertising in the tram cars.

A special telegram, despatched fr. m Dunedin at 12.58 this morning, conveyed the intelligence that Waters, rise occupant of the coft in the building recently de-troyed by fire in i lunedio, was acquitted. One of the witnesses for the Crown, reamed Ritchie, alias “Scottie,” committed what appeared to be very like perjury, and on asking to be allowed to make a statement the judge ordered him to leave the Court. A summary of the proceedings w ; l! he found in our telegraphic columns. We have received, the “ Australasian A.B.C. Guide” for October from the publishers, Messrs. Gordon and Gotch, Melbourne. It is got up with the usual amount of care. Messrs. Laery and Campbell will hold a sale at their rooms to-day, at 11 a.m., of fruit and produce. Mr. (ieorge Thomas w-ill hold a sale at his rooms to-day, at 2 p.m., of properties in Wellington and Xarat’ahi: and immediately afterwards there will be a sale of fencing wire, groceries, wines and spirits, Ac We have been requested to draw attention to Messrs J. H. Dethune and Co.’s sale of a magnificent collection of Japanese fine art manufactures, which have been selected by the importer in Japan, consisting of porcelain, fancy goods, and curios, which takes place this day at 2 o'clock. A large number of people attended the auction room yesterday to inspect the articles, which will well repay a visit, and we have no doubt the sale will attract a numerous attendance of buyers. Messrs. T. Kennedy Macdonald and Co. will hold a sale of valuable property in their mart, this day, at 2.H0 p.m.. when they will offer part of section 3G9, Roxburgh street: part of section 371, Clyde-quay ; part of section 3GS. Clyde-quay ; part of section 2IS, Tory-street, on which is erected the Cricketers’ Arms Hotel ; part of section 20(1, buckle.street; part of section 199, Dixon and Willis streets; section No. 1 on the plan of the Harbor District ; and a threeroomed cottage in Leeds street.