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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5795, 25 October 1879, Page 2

Things in the House of Represented n-v yesterday assumed a new phase, and one which completely changes the whole aspect of affairs •political in the House, forming the party which was previously the weaker into the stronger one, and giving the Government a majority of two votes. It was rumored early in the day that Messrs. Reader Wood, Swanson, Hurst, aud Colbeck, had left the Auckland party and were going to join the Government. It was evident very soon after the House met that there was some truth in tha rumor, for at an early stage the Premier in so many words challenged the Opposition to bring forward their motion —a challenge which was tacitly declined. But very soon the truth came out. References were made to the rumors outside, and ultimately Mr. Reader Wood rose amid the cheers of the Government party and explained the action of himself and those who proposed to join the Government, at the same time giving a very full explanation of the reasons for the course adopted by them. The rest of the day—afternoon and evening—was taken up in a debate on the question of adjournment, for the sole object of giving members an opportunity of explaining their opinions on the turn in the tide which had taken place. A report of the debate appears elsewhere.

The Hoa. the Premier yesterday laid upon the table correspondence from Sir Julius Vogel on the subject of his position as Agent-Gene-ral, and moved that it be printed.

Tha nominations for the Hutt Local Board took place at the Mechanics’ Institute, Lower Hutt, on Wednesday. Seven candidates were duly proposed and seconded, but as only five commissioners were required to form the Board, a poll was demanded by Mr. J. H. Brann. The poll accordingly took place, at the same building, on the following day. Punctually at half-past four o’clock, the Returning Officer (Mr. Joseph Hall) read the state of the poll, and then declared the following gentlemen duly elected : —Messrs. J. H. Brann, Robert Cleland, W. A. Fitzherbert, James Knight, and J. G. F. Welford. The result was received with loud cheering. The newly-elected Commissioners returned thanks for the honor the electors had conferred upon them in a suitable manner. A vote of thanks was passed t« the Returning Officer for the manner in which he had conducted the election, and especially for the promptitude he had displayed in declaring the state of the poll. The Returning Officer thanked them for the hearty vote of thanks they had given him, and also for the quiet and orderly way in which the election had been conducted. The clock presented by Mr. J. F. E. Wright to th 3 Athenaeum arrived by the lone, and the works have been fitted up on his own premises by Mr. Jenness, watchmaker, Willis-streot, to whom the order was given by Mr. Wright. The bell is a massive affair, weighing no less than 5 cwt,, but it has a very beau'iful tone, and it is calculated that it will be heard a distance of about two miles from the Athenaeum. There are four dials, which are 3ft. Sin. in diameter each, and are cast in one piece, the minute strokes showing out in bold black figures. The centre of the dial plates will be glazed with plate glass, over which there will bo a sheet of opal glass, and the different apertures between the minutes will be filled in with opal glass also. All the wheels and bearings are cast in bell metal, and are so put together that any of the wheels can be taken out without disturbing tha others, the whole of the train of wheels being set jjp on a wrought-iron frame. The striking is driven by a pressure of 2001!)*., and the compensation pendulum weighs about 1 cwt. All the lines are patent wire ones, and appear to be exceedingly strong. The clock has an inner dial attached to the back of the movement, so that the hands belonging to either of the four dials can bo correctly set from the inner one. The hands will be 4ft. away from the works, the minute hands being 21in. and the hour hands 12in. in length, and will be seen a considerable distance off. It is expected that the clock will be placed in position in the course of a fortnight. To give an idea of the bulk of the handsome present made by Mr. Wright to the Athenreum we might mention that the clock fixings were packed up in eight cases, and the weight is about a ton, the bell and dials alone weighing nearly half a ton. The clock will only strike the hour, but the four dial plates will amply compensate those who might have expected either the half or quarter hours to be rung out. The clock will set off the Atheuocum to much advantage, and will, besides, be a groat convenience to people living at the Te Aro end of the town. We trust, however, that some definite plan will be fixed upon to keep a uniform time all over the city, for notwithstanding the firing of the time-gun every Saturday there is still something to complain of in the variety of time kept by the different clocks in the city. “ The New Zealand Tourist,” compiled by Mr. Thomas Bracken, the well-known poeteditor of the Saturday Advertiser , and published by the Union Steam Ship Company has been issued. The volume is a very handsome one, general and varied information being placed before the reader with an admixture of light and pleasant reading, such as might have been expected from the clever and versatile pen of the poet-laureate of New Zealand. We shall probably refer to this volume at greater length in a few days. Mr. H. Santley, the agent for the Hudson Surprise Party, arrived in town yesterday, and passed on to the Wairarapa, where the company will appear a second time.

Mr. W. F. Keith, the agent for Professor Jonas’s ghost and illusionary entertainment, arrived by the Albion yesterday to make the necessary arrangements for the appearance of the spectral company in this city. The company is at present playing in Christchurch, and doing an excellent business. The Lyttelton Times and Press speak very favorably of their performances. The last Government Gazette contains proclamations setting forth a large number of reserves, under the Confiscated Lands Act, 1867, for the use of the natives. Mr. William Snowden, assistant surveyor, has been authorised to lay down roads in the survey districts of Paikakariki, Belmont, Port Nicholson, Bimutaka, Akatarama, and Pencarrow, which are locally known as Pahautanui, Porirua, Takapu, Horokiwi, Ohariu, Terawiti, Karori, Makara, Ohiro, Kaiwarra, Hntt, Wainuiomata, and Muragaroa Districts. The sittings of the Wanganui District Court have been fixed as follows :—ln the Courthouse at Wanganui, for civil and criminal business, on the second Monday in the months of March, June, September, and December in each year ; for civil business and bankruptcy business, on the second Monday in the months of January, February, April, M>y, July, August, October, and November in each year; for bankruptcy business only, on the fourth Monday in the months of January, February, March, May, June, July, August, September, and November in each year. In the Courthouse at Palmerston North, for civil and criminal business, on the third Monday in the months of March, June, September, and December in each year. The raising of the German man-of-war, the Grosser Kurfurst, of which news has been received by the San Francisco mail, is being done under the superintendence of Mr. Thos. Napier Armit, brother to Mr. Joseph Armit, who is engaged in the commercial department of the Times. Mr. Armit has raised a number of vessels already, and was for many years in the service of the Glasgow Underwriters’ Association.

A somewhat amusing scene occurred in the House yesterday afternoon when the division took place on the motion of Sir George Grey for the production of certain correspondence. It was thought that parties would be pretty equally balanced, th- Government party going into the ayes lobby, and the Oppositi'-n into thences. But a large number of the Government party, including several Ministers, voted with the noes. Attention was called to the fact that the Hon. the Pr-onier ha 1 given his vote with the noes, and on tin- voices had voted with the ayes. This b'-ing admitted, the Speaker ruled that having given his voice with the ayes, his name must go with them. The ame objection was made with regard to Air. Wakefield, who said he had voted with the ayes on the first voice*, but did not remember how he had voted on the second call. The hon. the member for Geraldine had accordingly to be classed with the ayes, although he had gone into the noes lobby. An attempt was made to get at Air. AlcLeau in the same way, but he was too wary, not having, as it appeared from his statement, given his vote at all upon the voices. The Hon. the Treasurer, however, was not so successful, having given his voice in the first instance with the ayes. Air. Rolleston was attacked in the same way, but he denied that he had voted at all on the voices, and so the lobby in which he had voted received the benefit of it. It need scarcely be said that these little incidents in the debate created a good deal of amusement. Yesterday was a very busy day in the House of Represent itives—not for the amount of work got through but for the amount of talk that was indulged in to little purpose. Only six questions were asked —the remainder of the business consisted of a discussion on the subject of the four Auckland members haring joined the Ministry. The second reading of the Amended LicensAct was, on Thursday evening, passed and its committal made an order of the day for next Wednesday. By an error, we stated in our yesterday's columns that the motion for the second reading had been lost instead of carried.

The little steamer Mo a will make her first excursion trip of the season this afternoon at 1.30. A large number will probably avail themselves of the opportunity of getting some fresh air aud viewing the pleasant scenery of Howry Bay, as the fares are cheap, and the weather promises to be favorable. Tickets can be had on board.

The baud of the Wellington Guards will perform the following selections in the Botanical Gardens this afternoon :—Slow March. H. Basquit; fantasia (the Royal Chriatys), Metcalf ; the “ Blue Eye* ” waltz, Montgomery ; Quick march, “ Grandfather’s Glock,” Metcalf ; selections, “La Fille du Regiment,” Donizetti ; quadrille, “Agnes Son-1,” A. Le Duo ; galop, “ Beautiful Danube,” Strauss. God Save the Queen !

Mr. Lingard arrived here yesterday, and was piloted about the city last evening by the active business manager of the Theatre Royal, Mr. R. A. Marshall. Mr. Lingard looks quite as young and jolly as ever, and he evidently belongs to the Charles Matthew stamp of men, who never grow old. He will appear with his company at the Theatre Royal ’this evening in Byron’s fine comedy of “ Our Boys.” Mr. and Miss Lingard made such a favorable impression when they formerly played in Welington, that we feel it is needle-s to apeak of the way in which they have been spoken of both in Christchurch and Dunedin. A reference to our advertising columns will show that the characterof Mr. Middlewickhas beenplayed by Mr. Lingard over 700 times, while that of Mary Melrose has received more than ample justice at the hands of Miss Alice Lingard for over 500 times. It there are any dyspeptic sufferers seeking relief, they will probably find u cure in the performance at the Theatre Royal this evening. We trust that a crowded house will welcome the return of these accomplished artists to Wellington. An advertisement having appeared in an evening contemporary, asking carpenters to go on by the piece in making railway waggons, a number of the unemployed applied, but after working a short time they found that at the prices current they would be unable to make more than 6s. or 7s. a day. Mr. J. Maginnity, therefore, waited upon the Government on behalf of the unemployed, and urged that arrangements should be made by which small contracts for the making of the waggons might be let direct to the working men. By this means they considered they would be able to make reasonable wages, as the profits of the contractor would g« towards swelling the workmen’s wages. They did not wish to interfere with the contractors in any way, and they only asked for the concession in order that they might be able to earn a fair rate of wages. The Government promised to take the matter into its favorable consideration.

We have received the Union Company’s handy little time-table for November. Amongst the quantity of information packed into the little pocket volume, we find that an hotel register is kept at the office of the Secretary to the International Exhibition in Sydney by which means visitors will be able to ascertain where accommodation is available, and elso the probable charges at the various hotels in Sydney. A scene occurred in the Athenaeum Hall yesterday morning during the sitting of the assistant Resident Magistrate’s Court. A woman named Mary Pugsley was charged with being drunk, also with being an habitual drunkard. She pleaded guilty to the first charge, but protested vehemently against the latter, insinuating that the charge was the result of spite on the part of Sergeant Anderson. Superintendent James, however, stated that it was customary to prefer such charges when a person had been three times convicted of drunkenness. The Bench sentenced the defendant to a fortnight’s imprisonment upon the first charge, and a month's imprisonment upon the second. The defendant then retired to a seat, but the next case had not been called on when she gave vent to a loud wail of distress, and cried out, “ 'h, my God 1 I’m ruined !” The poor woman apparently felt her position acutely, and could not control her feelings. The police were ordered to remove her, but upon a constable approaching she cried out, “ It’s no use, I’ll not go,” and a struggle then took place between the officers and the defendant. Other policemen went to the assistance of the first, and one of them received a smart slap in the face from defendant, who f.ir some minutes resisted all attempts to remove her. At length she was half carried, halt dragged, out of the Court. During a brief adjournment, which took place shortly afterwards, it transpired that the record of the sentence showed that a fine of 10s., or ten days' imprisonment in default of payment, had been inflicted for the first offence, the Bench having apparently ascertained that for such offences imprisonment could not be ordered without the option of a fine, as was dona when the sentence was first pronounced. Messrs. Joseph Payton and Job Vile have been appointed trustees of the Masterton cemetery, vice Mr. H. Bannister, deceased, and Mr. K. G. Williams, resigned.

The appointment of Mr. Henry Hall, as Deputy-Registrar of the Wellington Supreme Court, has been gazetted. A notification from Colonel Burne, secretary to the Indian Government, has been published in the Gazette for general information. It states that with a view to assist shippers of horses to India and to save risk and expense which has been hitherto incurred in landing and stabling horses imported to Calcutta, the Government of India have authorised arrangements being made at the Government remount depot, 18, Garden Reach, for the reception of horses arriving from Australia ; and that in such cases as may appear necessary, the Government of India are prepared to advance the amount of freight required to clear the consignment of horses from the ships, together with captains’ and other fees connected with the voyage—such advances to be recovered from the shippers on payment by the remount agent of the value of horses purchased by him.

Entries for the Amateur Athletic Club’s Sports, which take place on November 10, must be made this evening at the Star Hotel, where the committee of the club will meet from 7 p-m. until 10 p.m. No post entries will be received. Handicaps will be declared on Saturday next. About 300 persons witnessed the dissolving views entertainment, given by Captain Metcalf of the ship Rakaia, at the Arcade, last eveninm The chief feature was a grand view of St. Peter’s Church, with the bells ringing, which was received with loud applause, the bells being played by some mechanical process in a very effective manner. The entertainment will be repeated at an early date for the benefit of some of our local charities ; but that of last night was given towards defraying the cost of manufacturing the oxygen, and other expenses connected with the popular entertainments given by Captain Metcalf and the officers of the Rakaia in this city. Mr. L. Smith, district surveyor, has been authorised to take and lay down roads in the Awhea Block, East Coast District ; and Mr. E. R. Foster, district surveyor, in the Pahaoa and Awhea Blocks in the East Coast District.

Mr. Edward Henry Power, of Wellington, has been appointed a certificated accountant in bankruptcy. Mr. R. P. Greville has been appointed a cadet, and Mr. C. Lewis an assistant surveyor, in the Survey Department. Messrs. Archibald D. Alichie, of Melbourne, and Alfred Mitchell, of Ballarat, have been appointed Commissioners for taking affidavits iu Victoria for the Supreme Court of this colony. There will ffoubtless be a large attendance at the sale of furniture and household effects by Messrs. Kennedy Macdonald and Co. in Webb-street to day at p. rn. We understand here is a very Urge and varied collection of furniture, and as the owner is leaving the city it will be a good opportunity for parties furnishing to obtain furniture at their own prices. Air. Francis Sidey wi’l hold his usual weekly sale of furniture to-day, at 1 p m. sharp, at the Arcade ; and at 2 30 p.ra., dwelling house, with 33 feet frontage in Ade aide-roatl; and building sections iu Newtown, and In the township of Stratford. Messrs. W. McLean and Co. will hold a sale to-day at 2 p m., at their rooms, of fancy goods, wines, teas, and general merchandise. Messrs. Dwan and Co. will hold a sale at their auction mart to-day, at. 3 p.m., of china and glassware, furniture. Ac. t and horses, buggies, drays, Ac., will be offered at the Nag's Head yards.