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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5818, 21 November 1879, Page 2

The steamer Taiaroa, with the San Fran, cisco mail on board, arrived in the harbor just as we were going to press.

The Port Darwin telegraph line north of Tennant’s Creek, South Australia, was interrupte‘l yesterday, but was again restored at 4 •'dock in the afternoon.

A good deal of business was got through in the House yesterday afternoon, but the who'e of the evening was taken up in discussing the Wanaanui Endowed School Bill, in the course of which discussion divisions without end took place, and it was evident there was a section of the House who were determined that the Bill should not pass. Ultimately progress was reported and leave given to sit again. Another large mass of business was cleared by the Upper House yesterday, the sitting lasting from 2.30 till 5.20. A great part of the time was occupied in committee on small local Bills. There were two short debates—one on the proposed new taxation, and the other on the Volunteer question, which occurred upon the second reading of a Drillshed Bill. The chief feature of the former discussion was a suggestion to value property on the same plan as imports are appraised ; while the main incident of the second debate was that Colonel Brett once more prophesied the probability of our all being slain in our beds, and our lands wrenched from ns by an invading foe, if we ,Hd not well look after our Volunteer force. The gallant and genial Colonel (who usually brings up this subject several times every session) grew more than usually excited while speaking on his favorite topic—so much so, indeed, as occasionally to raise loud laughter by a confusion in his terms, whereof “ bang” for “ buck,” and “ wool” for “ drill,” were the most conspicuous examples. Such phrases as 11 the laud going bang to the Government,” and “ the Volunteers going into the woolshed,” had an irresistibly, ludicrous effect, when spol en in most sonorous tones, accompanied with extremely impassioned gestures. However, the hon. gentleman effected his immediate object, which was to get the Drillshed Bill through. Captain Moonlight, the leader of the gang of bushrangers in New South Wales, of whose exploits we have been informed by cable during the week, was convicted about nine or ten years ago at the Circuit Court at Ballarat, on a charge of robbing a B ink at Kgerton, which is distant’about thirteen miles from the golden metropolis of Victoria. If we remember aright he was a schoolmaster in the neighborhood, and his real name was Scott. After robbing the bank, he left a commnnication, under the signature of “Captain Moonlight,” detailing the manner of the robbery, and entirely exonerating Mr. Brunn, the young man in charge of the bank.' Suspicion, however, fastened itself very strongly on poor young Brunn, and he was placed under arrest, charged with complicity in the crime. Through good and evil report, Brunn’s father, who was a German, had confidence in the honor and integrity of his son, and long after the police had abandoned the charge against the son, he placed a private detective, at his own expense, on the track of Scott, who was at length found in Sydney, brought back to Victoria, and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. It is only a short period since the ruffian was again let loose upon society ; but during the time that he has, apparently, been maturing his plans for his present exploits, he went round upon a lecturing tour, detailing, in language worthy of the immortal Pecksniff, the horrors of the Victorian penal establishments, and expatiated upon their utterly bad and demoralising tendencies. We remember reading the report of one of these lectures in the Ballarat Star, which was delivered in the Unicorn Hotel, one of the rendezvous of mining speculators and men in search of rapid fortunes. But we really thought, like most of his hearers, that the ruffian had profited by his bitter experience, and that he was not likely to offend against the laws of society during the remainder of his lifetime. But Scott, or “ Moonlight,” as he delights in styling himself, appears to be one of those individuals whose chief desire is to be notorious, no matter at what cost the desired end may be accomplished. He has certainly succeeded, but as he has been captured by the New South Wales Police Force he will not be likely to have another chance, at all events, for a very lengthened period. Mr. Dick yesterday presented a petition to the . House very numerously signed by the telegraph operators, praying for the redress of certain grievances. The same gentleman also gave notice that he would move for the appointment of; a committee •to consider the same.

There wag yesterday a laugU raised in the House at the expense of the hon, member for Motueka (Mr. Ilursthouse). A division had just been taken on Mr. Hamlin’s motion re the Auckland workshops, when Mr. Shrimski drew the attention of the Speaker to the fact that one member in the House had not voted, and the member for Oamaru added that he could not have done so, inasmuch as he was asleep. All eyes were at once attracted to the hon. gentleman, who was fast in the arms of Morpheus on one side of the back seats behind the Government benches. He was immediately aroused from his slumbers, and asked how he voted. He unhesitatingly gave hig voice with the ayea amidst the loud laughter of the House. Whether the hon. member knew what be was voting for is questionable. A meeting in connection with the Wesleyan Home Mission Society was held last evening in the Thorndon Wesleyan Church, Moles-worth-street ; the Rev. William Kirk, chairman of the district, occupied the chair. The hymn, “All bail the power of Jesus’ name,” was sung, after which the Kev. Mr. Bellow engaged in prayer. The chairman then called upon the Kev. W. J. Williams, who delivered a short address, giving some financial details. The Rev. W. Rishworth, of the Hutt, in a practical speech, related instances of the kindness shown to him by the Maoris, and stated that on one occasion, when he and the Rev. W. Barton, native missionary, were in a canoe in a perilous position, they were rescued by a native young lady, who swam to their assistance, and pulled the canoe ashore, Mr. Tawhai, M.H.R., deliveredan eloquent speech, relating his religious career from childhood, and also giving a clear account of his father, and the way in which he embraced the Christian faith ; a Biole which was possessed by the latter is now in Mr. Tawhai's possession. The speech was ably interpreted by Mr. John White, M.H.R. Addresses were also delivered by the Revs. W. G. Oliver, of Gisborne, and W. L. Salter, of Napier. The speeches were interspersed with singing by the choir, which added much to the success of the meeting. A collection was made amounting to over £2. The 742nd -Hymn having been sung, the chairman closed the meeting by pronouncing the Benediction.

Mr. William Hutchison was nominated yesterday for the Mayoralty of this city by Messrs. T. W. Young, E. H. Hunt, and J. Collins ; and Mr. George Allen was nominated by Messrs. Bayliss, Astill, Hayes, and Tinney.

A meeting of fruit importers was held at the Commercial Hotel yesterday evening, to consider the proposed duty of 15 per. cent, on fruit ; Mr. Campbell occupied the chair. The importers present expressed the opinion that it would be a great mistake to levy the proposed duty on the shipper's values of fruit, with 10 per cent, added to the value on arrival here, as proposed, as there was so much lost in transit. It would be fairer to take the real value when landed here. The Chairman was of opinion that this was a matter of Customs arrangement, and that all would be set right after aa interview with the Collector of Customs. It would, of course, be unfair to charge duty upon damaged fruit. After some consideration it was resolved upon the motion of Mr. Ross, that a deputation, consisting of Messrs. Campbell, Cato, and the mover, wait upon Mr. McKellar upon the subject to-day, in order to ascertain upon what principle the duty would be assessed. The question was also mooted of endeavoring to get apples and other fruit better packed in Tasmania, which would do away with much of the pillaging on the vessels, and would also cause the fruit to carry better, but no resolution was proposed upon the question. Various other matters in connection with the subject were also discussed, amongst which we may mention the question of having a Customs officer in readiness at all times to pass fruit on the arrival of the steamers, and to permit sight entries for the same.

Messrs. J. H. Bethune and Co.’s sale of freehold properties yesterday was well attended. The dwelling-house and land in Hopper-street realised £7OO ; and corner section No. 328 in the township of Bedding sold for £SO. The family residence on Wellingtonterrace, formerly the property of the late Mr. J. Henderson, C.E., was withdrawn at £2500, and is now for sale by private contract. Messrs. J. Smith and H. Udy, sen., have been nominated for the Mayoralty of Greytown. A close contest is expected.

A. general meeting of members of the Local Industries Association will be held this evening at the Rechabite Hall, Manners-street, at 8 p.m. :

Messrs. James Linton and Sylvester Coleman have been nominated for the office of mayor for Palmerston North.

The following handicaps for the Amateur Athletic Club sports at the Basin Reserve, this afternoon, were declared yesterday :—250 Yards Handicap—First heat: Davy, scratch ; Warbrick, scratch ; Bishop, scratch ; Johnston, 3yds. ; Berry, Byds. ; Thomson, 10yds. ; De Castro, 10yds. ; Blood, 13yds. Second heat : Rambert, scratch ; McCardell, scratch ; Sandilands, 4yds. ; Lynch, lOydi. ; Ru Wl, 13yds, ; Humphries, 13yds. ; Hickson, 13yd?.; and Ludbrook, 18yds. Mile Handicap —J. Berry, scratch ; E. Davy, 35yds ; G. Bishop, 35yds.; H* A. Lambert, 45yds. ; F. Johnston, 50yds.; J. A. Warbrick, 65yds.; Lynch, 7‘7ycK; Russell, 70yds. ; Blood, 80yds. ; Ludbrook, 100yds. Long Jump—McCardell, penalised 12in. ; Warbrick, penalised, Biu. ; Johnston, Davy, Bishop, Lambert, and Sandilands, penalised 4in. ; Lynch, Berry, Blood, and ■ Hickson, scratch. It has been decided to add throwing the hammer to the sports on the 28th inst., and putting the stone to those on the sth December.

A meeting of the officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge, 5.0., District Grand Lodge, E. 0., and Masters and Wardens of subordinate Lodges waa held in Panama Chambers- yesterday afternoon, to make arrangements for the imposing ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new Courts of Justice on St. Andrew’s Day, which as already announced is to be performed by the Hon. F. Whitaker, P.G.M., N.L., N.Z., S.C. ; D.G.M. Bro. Toxward, E.O. ; and P,D.G.M. Bro, Johnston, S.C., and about twenty brethren were present, the chair being occupied by Bro. Jonas Woodward, P.M. A number of preliminary arrangements were made, and a committee, consisting of Bros. Toxward, Johnston, White, Gillon, Sir E. Gibbs, Griffiths, Marks, Elliott, Forrest, Ladd, and Cloke was appointed to complete all necessary arrangements. The committee meet in the same place this evening. It is anticipated that the ceremony will be the most important and impressive of the kind ever held in the colony. An accident happened at the railway works at Woodside on Saturday last to an engineer named Clapham. It appears that while working the engine the fly-wheel suddenly flew off, striking the man on the knee, arm, and face, breaking his arm, and otherwise injuring him. He was conveyed to the Wairarapa Hospital, Greytown, where he remains, and is progressing as favorably as possible. In reference to the gold prospecting in the Wairarapa, the Standard says : —“The men who went from Carterton in search of gold took the southern direction and came to the Waiohine. There they obtained ten or twelve pounds of quartz, of which a small piece showing metal was tried in Greytown, first with acid, which did not affect the metal, and it was then subjected to fire, when the heat destroyed the metal. The men, when asked why they did not bring more stone, replied they had no tools, not even a hammer, and had to break the quartz off with a largo stone. It was evidently pieces of the cap which were exhibited. It looks very much as if the ten or twelve pounds tried in Wellington are the same as those of which the men gave this statement as those obtained on the Waiohiue River. They further stated they passed a large landslip, and looking up saw rock, and fannied they could see coal, or something very like it. The reference to Mr. Groves’ quartz reef beyond Masterton has evidently been taken from a letter which that experienced miner wrote from Auckland to a gentleman residing in Greytown, and which he forwarded to Masterton, for the use of some expedition contemplated long since in search of gold.” The Academy of Music was but moderately attended last evening, notwithstanding that the performance was entirely new. Billy Wilson’s jig, and Mr. Cary's song, “Nancy Lee,” were most appreciated, the latter gentleman being encored. Two farces were very cleverly performed, entitled “ Household Troubles ” and “ Midnight Marauders.” Tonight is, we learn, to be a fashionable night, and as it is the last occasion bub one that the “ black gentry ” will appear in this city, they may anticipate a good audience. We are informed that the season was to have closed tonight, but arrangements have been made for an entirely fresh programme on Saturday, which will be the farewell performance of the minstrels. .

The late severe frost has proved very disastrous to the crops about Feilding. French beans, cucumbers, and pumpkins were completely destroyed, while potatoes, as their oifcuatloa Wfta -open nr rlinlt.nred, were .either

greatly checked or escaped with comparative immunity. In exposed situations the early potatoes will, we fear (says the Manawatu Times), be completely destroyed. The frost seems to have been pretty general, and not confined to one particular district. Those set-

tiers will feel it most who have forward potatoes, as under the most favorable circumstances they will be thrown back a fortnight or three weeks at the least, by which time prices will have recede* I .—The Wanganui Chronicle says that a gentleman who came from Manawatu states that the recent frosts

have done considerable damage in that part of the country, variously estimated at from £2OOO to £IO,OOO. There will be races at Awahuri on the 27th of next month, and ten events have been arranged for ; but no persons will be allowed to enter horses who have not subscribed. one guinea to the race funds. An old man named Charles Thompson was yesterday afternoon observed by Constable Christie to take a pair of boots from the shop of Mr. Stone, Lambton-quay. The constable at once gave chase, and succeeded in arresting his man after a good run. Thompson, who is an old offender for larceny, will be taken before Mr. Mansford this morning. Mrs. Hindge, of the Karori Hotel, Tinakoriroad, was summoned by Mace and Aikell, yesterday, for a sum of money alleged to be due as lawyer’s fees in making over the hotel in question. Mr. Fitzherbert, who appeared for the plaintiffs, subjected the defendant to a minute cross-examination, in the course of which several sharp passages at arms took place between the learned counsel and the witness. Mr. Mansford had to interfere on more than one occasion, and had to administer a rebuke to the learned gentleman for some of the questions put to the witness, and to the latter for the mode of answering them. Notice is given to the Wanganui Harbor Board that the Government intend taking, under the Harbor Board Act, 1878, a piece of land opposite the Victoria-avenue, on the eastern boundary of Taupo-quay, at its intersection with the centre line of the Wanganui road bridge. “ David Garrick ” and the “ Lingard Sketches ” formed the programme at the Theatre Royal last night. Miss Lingard, as Ada Ingot, gave a splendid rendering of the character,'whilst Mr. Lingard’s representation of the famous actor was all that could be desired. Mr. G. Leopold enacted the old father with great effect, and Mr. Warner, as the Squire, had a part which suited him remarkably well. Mr. Lingard concluded the entertainment by eight sketches, all of which were well appreciated. He, however, won most applause as “ Napoleon,” “ The Prince of Wales,” and “ Sir Julius Vogel,” which were admirably done. The Lingards will appear to-night for the last time, when they will perform “ The New Magdalen.” There should be a bumper house, as the performance will be for the benefit of Miss Lingard, and will be under the patronage of the Hon. Lady Robinson and suite. Miss Liugard’s rendering of the character of Mercy Merrick, the heroine of the piece, has received very high encomjums from the Press in nearly'every place where these talented artists have appeared. The Wellington Working Men’s Club and Literary Institute has been registered under the Friendly Societies Act, 1877. We find by the Gazette that Mr. W. T. L. Travers, aa devisee under a will of the late Mr. Edward Jerningham Wakefield, is entitled to receive Government scrip to the value of £2OO, in satisfaction of a land order ; and the same gentleman, as agent for the representatives of the late Mr. William Bowler, is also entitled to receive Government scrip to the value of £2OO, in satisfaction of a land order lodged with the Commissioner. Amendments as to the Constitution of the High Commissioner’s Court, under the Western Pacific Order-in-Oouncil of 1877, dated at the Court at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, the 14th day of August, 1879, are published for general information in the Gazette issued yesterday. In the event of the death or incapacity of the High Commissioner, the powers to be exercised by him shall be vested in the Chief Justice of Fiji, until such time as a successor shall be appointed by her Majesty the Queen. Mr. James Maokay has been appointed Resident Magistrate for the district of Greymouth, Hokitika, and Nelson, South West Goldfields, with a jurisdiction up to £IOO. He has also been appointed Warden for the provincial district of Westland, and all the other appointments held by the late Mr. Broad are vested in him, such as Coroner, Chairman of the Licensing Bench, &c.

In reference to Government adverting, the Manawatn Times remarks :—“ As we have been staunch opponents to the present Ministry since its assumption of office, we can claim credit for sincerity in the following remarks. We have been shown a circular forwarded to one of the Government officials iu Polrnerston in which instructions are given to

issue Government advertisements to newspapers without the slightest regard to their political opinions. That this is not mere claptrap we are prepared to assert, inasmuch as that during the short time the Hall Ministry have been in power we have received double the amount of patronage that we obtained in the same time under the Grey regime. The gro>s corruption in matter of advertisement patronage was one of the dark ?p--»ts during the Grey administration—one which we more than once severely lampooned—and we are pleased to see that in that particular matter the present .Government have been as good as their word. And while upon the subject of State advertising, we feel bound to say that there has been some sad mistake in the return recently published. The A [anawntu Times was credited with £124 for the last eighteen months : unfortunately, however, the figures are far from correct ; we only wish for our own sake that they were genuine.” A cricket match will be played in Mrs Leach’s paddock to-morrow afternoon between a secon.l eleven of the Excelsior Cricket Club and an eleven of the Telegraph Cadet Cricket Club. The following will represent the Excelsior Harle, Bannister, Ridings, Crichton, Augarde, J, Holmes, King, J. T. B. Hickson, Beswick. 11. and J. McGowan. Emergencies : Macfarlaue, Vine, and E. Holmes.

The cricket match to be played on Saturday at the Hutt will be between the first eleven of the Wellington Cricket Club and the next twenty-two. It is notified in the Gazette that portions of sections 44, 47, 48, 50, 51, and 52 have been taken for the purposes of the Greytown Branch Railway. The attendance at Miss Fidler'a cooking classes was very good yesterday, great interest being manifested in the instruction imparted. The last lessons of the series will be given to-day, when Miss Fidler will, amongst other things, initiate her pupils into the mystery of boning a fowl, besides doing other things not usually attempted in the colonies. From New Zealand Miss Fidler proceeds to Tasmania, where she intends to instruct the fair lasses of the “ tight little isle” in culinary science, after which she will visit Victoria We feel sure that Miss Fidler will meet with that success in her colonial tour that her important mission so truly deserves. A telegraph station will be opened on Monday next at Greytown, in the county of Taieri, Otago. The Wanganui Chronicle , in recording the death of an old colonist, says ; —“ Mr. Lockett arrived in the colony iu the Stains Castle on the 22nd January, 1841, being the first anniversary of the foundation of the province of Wellington, and soon afterwards came to Wanganui. For many years he hold an appointment in the Customs here, but was compelled to resign through ill-health about twelve mouths ago. Though he had been ailing for some time, his death was rather unexpected. Mr. Lockett was very much respected by a large circle of friends. He leaves a widow and one son and daughter.” The amount of money taken at the gates at the Wairarapa and East Coast Pastoral and Agricultural show on Wednesday was about £55, being nearly similar to the amount realised the previous year. At the meeting of the Philosophical Society, to be held to-morrow evening, papers will be read by Dr. Curl, and Messrs, Crawford, Coleman Phillips and Hamilton, A special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce will be held on Monday afternoon, to consider the question of the duties charged upon cases, wrappers, &c., containing goods liable te ad valorem duties. Tobacconists and storekeepers are requested to attend a meeting at the Theatre Royal Hotel this evening, for the purpose of considering the future price of tobacco.