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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5823, 27 November 1879, Page 2

The business transacted in the House yesterday was of a miscellaneous character, it being a private members’ day. None of it was of very great interest. The whole of the evening was taken op in discussing a motion having for its object the completion of the Charleston water-race, and in the discussion of several private Bills. Yesterday Sir G. Grey gave notice that he intended to ask the Government if it was true that a Mr. Armstrong bad been given in custody by the manager of railways, and lodged in waol, for walking upon the railway wharf at Westport.

In answer to a question from Mr. Gisborne the Premier yesterday stated that a telegram had been received from Sir Julius Vogel on the subject of the New Zealand Agricultural Association, and his connection with the same. It would be laid upon the table on the following (this) day.

On the motion of Mr. Maoandrew, the House yesterday resolved that the standing orders should be so amended that the House cannot, after their confirmation, sit after halfpast 12 o’clock. We understand that the tender of Mr. E. W. Mills, of the Lion Foundry, for the repairs to the s.s. Tui, was accepted yesterday by the owners.

His Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson and Lady Robinson have, we learn, accepted the invitation of the committee to attend t’as Masonic hall in St. George’s Hall on Monday evening next, after the laying of the foundation stone of the Courts of Justice. Sir Hercules is, we believe, a brother of the craft. As through a misprint some misapprehension has arisen in regard to the price of the ball ticket--, we may state that the charge is £1 Is. for gentlemen, and 10s. Gd. for ladies.

The Upper House sat for two and threequarter hours ye-terday afternoon, and disposed of a large amount of general business, 0 n none of which, with the exception of that taken in committee, was there any but the briefest discussion.

Mr. J. T. Fisher yesterday gave notice that on a future day he would ask the Government if they intended to make any provision in the shape of a suitable building for his Excellency the Governor in the two large centres of population where at present no such accommodation exists. The hon. gentleman was understood to lefer to Christchurch and Duuetlia.

We regret to state th it a telegram received from Sydney last evening gives no hopes whatever of the recovery of Captain Holt. The many friends of that gent email in this city, and throughout the colony, will be very sorry to learn that the medical men in Sydney have been unable to afford him any relief.

Yesterday evening, a letter of which the following is a copy, was handed to Mr. ri, Crombie Brown, the special correspondent of the Lyttelton Times “ House, Wednesday.— Dear sir, —Please notify to your valuable paper that I was to-day elected Mayor of Wellington. Yours very truly, W. Hutchison.” Upon inquiry being made, the note, as was fully expected, was found to be hoax.

It will be seen from our report in another column that at the annual meeting of the Hutt County Council, yesterday, Councillor Taylor was elected to the office of chairman for the ensuing year, in the place of Mr. Thomas Mason? The latter gentleman was not allowed to retire without a vote of thanks being passed for the satisfactory manner in which he had conducted the business of the county during his term of office.

Chiarini’s Royal Italian Circus, comprising a number of performing animals, was announced to open yesterday evening on the reclaimed land, and active preparations for the event were being made during the day. Towards evening, however, it became apparent that if the exhibition did take place it would be attended with considerable danger to the canvas, and this is the view that the management appear to have taken of it, for on the hour for commencing having arrived, it was found that the large tent had been lowered, and a postponement was announced. There were of course some disappointed ones, but as by this time a Wellington gale was blowing its best, it cannot but be conceded that the management acted wisely. A man named George Rae, a plumber by trade, who was employed at the new Wesleyan Church building, Taranaki-street, went home at about ten o’clock yesterday complaining of a pain in the heart, and after being seated at home for a short time he fell down, apparently in a fit. Dr. Tripe was sent for, but on his arrival he pronounced life to be extinct. Deceased was a native of Scotland, and came to this colony from Victoria about five years ago. He leaves a widow and five children. An inquest will be held by Dr, Johnson at the Royal Tiger Hotel at 11 o’clock to-day. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr. Mansford, a respectable looking young man named James Lrancis ihompson was charged with obtaining goods from Mr. H. Gnorlall to the amount of £3 12s. 6d., and also £1 7s. 6d, in cash, by means of a valueless cheque. On the application of the accused a remand for a week was granted, bail being allowed, himself in £IOO, and two sureties of £SO each. There was a very good audience at the Theatre Royal last night, when McLean’s Juvenile Troubadors made their last appearance, “ Milky White” being placed upon the boards, followed by “ Hash.” The various performers were loudly applauded, Mister Farlato coming in for a very large sharge of approbation.

The following is the judgment which Mr. Mansford haa delivered in the case of Burrett v. Wallis, proprietor of the New Zealand Punch :—“ There is sufficient evidence in this case to satisfy me that a document in writing oicicts, chowiug tba b™« and. fm-minc Dart of the contract for printing Punch. I am ot opinion that the defendant is not bound to produce it, and that no notice having been given for its production, that secondary evidence of its contents cannot be given, and therefore that the plaintiff has failed to establish a case for the defendant to answer. The plaintiff must therefore be nonsuited, with costs.” A fresh summons has been taken out by the plaintiff, who will now give notice to the defendant to produce the agreement. Wo learn that it is contemplated to tender a complimentary concert to Miss Bandall. This charming soprano singer, who has so often aided our numerous charities by the sweet tones of her voice, deserves [some acknowledgment for her services. We are therefore pleased to observe in our columns to-day that an effort is about to be made by numerous admirers of this young lady to secure her some recognition of her praiseworthy efforts. The concert is announced to take place at the Arcade on Monday, the Ist of December, when we trust the result will be very favorable to this fair cantatrice, several well-known amateurs having tendered their services. Mr. Phillips, late second officer of the ship Bakaia, gave an exhibition of his dissolving views, with lime lights, at the asylum on Tuesday evening, Captain Metcalf kindly giving the descriptive lecture. We have been given to understand that the statement in the Wanganui Herald, and telegraphed to an evening contemporary in this city, condemning the action of Captains Tod and Sellars, who were on board the Tui at the time of the accident, is entirely without foundation. Captain Sellars will probably reply to the communication in a day or two, giving his version of the matter.

Charles Bird, who fell down the stairs a few weeks ago at Moore’s dining rooms, died yesterday at the hospital from the injuries which he sustained. The deceased was fifty-six years of age.

Another suicide was attempted on Tuesday night by a man named Maokay, hut owing to the prompt action on the part of the medical gentleman called in the life of the man was saved. It appears that Mr. Maokay was lodging at a house known as Oxley Villa, near the railway station, and before retiring to bed for the night he wrote a letter to Mr. Scott, a friend of his who resided some few doors lower down the road, stating his intention of poisoning himself with chloral at ten o’clock that night. Mr. Scott received the letter on his arrival home at 10.30, and at once ran to the Hospital, and then went to Oxley Villa with Hr. Gillon. 'Mr. Mackay was found lying on the bed in his clothes, and completely unconscious. Dr. Gillon applied the stomach pump, and also used means to restore consciousness, his efforts proving successful after some trouble. A bottle half full of chloral, bearing the label of Clark and Go,, Chicago, was found near the bed. Upon the would-be suicide recovering strength he expressed regret that he had not taken enough, but it appears that he had actually taken 600 grains, a sufficient quantity to kill four men. Dr. Gillon informed the police of the affair, and a constable was placed in charge of Mackay until yesterday, when he was taken before Mr. Mansford on a charge of attempting to destroy himself, but (after hearing Dr. Gillon's evidence) the case was remanded for seven days, in order that an effort might be made on the man’s behalf to get him employment. His name is Angothe St. Just Maokay, and he was formerly a journalist, and was also in the Government service for some time. He is about forty years of age, and is rather cleat. He has lately returned from England, and has been in a depressed state of mind on account of not being able to obtain employment. Judging from Mr. Mackay’s letter to Mr. Scott, and also from another one written by him to a gentleman to whom he had applied for employment, the attempt at self-destruc-tion was deliberately planned. Drs. Diver and Collins examined Mr. Mackay yesterday morning, and pronounced him to be quite sane. It is to be hoped that employment will be found for him, as the want of it appears to have been Mr. Mackay’s only motive for his present action. The unfortunate man is reported to have been well off at one time, and is stated to have been the proprietor of a plantation in Cuba many years ago.

Chiarini’s Circus arrived early yesterday morning from Nelson by the Union Company's steamer Taiaroa. A large crowd of youngsters gathered on the wharf, and appeared to be delighted with what they saw of the animals belonging to the circus. The next sitting of the Licensing Court will be held on Tuesday, the 2nd December.

The Board of Education had a sitting of an hour and a half’s duration yesterday, and disposed of a large amount of badness, among which was the dismissal of a teacher for drunkenness. It was stated in the discussion on this matter that cou-i leralile precaution had to be adopted in the case of a summary dismissal, the dismissed one generally making things rather unpleasant for his successor by destroying books, tc. One teach-r, it was asserted, who had been peremptorily superseded, had expressed his objection to this treatment by throwing a few dead cats into the well and so poisoning the water for some weeks. During the meeting an opinion was generally expressed by the board that no further large works should be undertaken in the out districts until the e locational wants of the city had been tolerably well supplied.

The Hutt County Council cannot be charged with extravagance so far as the accommodation provided for their meetings is concerned. The room in which the business of the Council is transacted is not a very suitable one for the meetings of so important a body. Its capacity is about 10 x 12, the walls and floor are bare, and the table (also bare) consists of a cedar plank upon tressels, as rough and uncouth as back-yard wood-horses. The table is not a lilt too large fornine Councillors to sit at, and yet it sofills the room that Councillors have to squeeze round it one at a time, and should one of them require to get out, half the Council have to leave the room first to allow him to pass. Surely a room better adapted for these meetings could be found. The landslip at the Blue Rook cutting has not yet been cleared away, and the through traffic will not be resumed until to-night or tomorrow morning. Fully 1000 additional tons of earth have fallen since the slip took place. When Mr. Ashcroft left the cutting yesterday, the debris was being cleared away at the rate of 200 tons per hour, the work being facilitated by means of a simple contrivance brought into use for that purpose by Mr. Ashcroft.

There was a fair attendance yesterday at the sale of furniture at Messrs. T. Kennedy Macdonald and Co.’s auction mart, and very reasonable rates were secured, considering the state of the money market. Owing to the length of the catalogue, the sale was not concluded, and the balance will be offered to-day at 3 p.m. Some watches and jewellery will also be, offered at the same time. A somewhat curious circumstance was mentioned at the Board of Education meeting yesterday. It was stated in conversation, but not brought officially under notice, that at the recent scholarship examination in the Wairarapa masters of schools were allowed to be present during the examination, and that one master had been observed to slip a paper into che hand of one of his pupils who was competing. On the pupil (a girl) being asked, subsequently, by one of the examiners, to show him the paper she refused, but on compulsion gave it up. Before the examiner could read it, however, it was snatched from his hand by the teacher who wrote it. The paper was as-erted to contain answers to the questions put to the contestants. The matter was not brought formally before the Board ; therefore no names are given. It was understood that the Inspector was to make inquiries iuto the matter and report to the Board. At the annual meeting of the Selwyn Council Council yesterday the Hon. John Hall was again re-elected chairman. We have received three charming pieces of music by Miss A. E. Wilson—one, a Gavotte and Musette after Sebastian Bach, a clever production; another a Bourree. the legato oi which is so beautiful as to call for especial admiration ; and a song, “ I watched the sun rise o’er the hill,” whose plaintive melody cannot fail to be a universal favorite, with our vocalists. We strongly advise our readers to procure a copy of each, and not to lose the opportunity of securing a souvenir from the pen of so talented a lady as Miss Wilson.

The Patchwork Amateur Dramatic Company have kindly tendered a complimentary benefit to Mr. Montague Brown, the wellknown journalist and theatrical agent, who met with a very severe accident about four months ago, through a buggy which he had been driviug having been capsized at Kaiwarra. Since then Mr. Brown has been entirely incapacitated from attending to business, and the offer of the Patchwork Company is particularly well timed. Mr. and Mrs. Hart, who are well known in connection with their “ Happy Hours ” entertainmpnl.s, liu.ve also Irlnclly nnmp forward : so that a first-class entertainment may he expected. Mr. Brown was manager of the Imperial Opera House for a considerable time previous to the great fire.

The general committee appointed by the Masonic fraternity will meet at the Panama Chambers this afternoon at 4 o’clock.

The Hutt County Council having elected a new chairman it is to be hoped that that gentleman will endeavor to preserve the order of debate, as clearly laid down in the standing orders—ll to 35. According to rule 19, “No councillor shall speak a second time on the same question, unless entitled to reply, or in explanation;” but yesterday a councillor, who is generally afflicted with caccethes loquendi at the Council meetings, spoke three or four times upon one question without hindrance. Judge Weston was severely bitten by a dog last week in the luangahau District, and on his return to Beefton it was considered necessary to cauterize the wound.

The balance ’of salvage stocks from the wrecks of the ships Hydrabad and City of Auckland wilt be offered for sale to-day, at 2 p.xxx., by Mx - . Geo. Thomas, at his old stores, Brandon-street.

Properties in Masterton and Ohariu will be submitted to auction to-day, at 2 p.m., by Mr. J. H. ■Wallace, at his rooms.

The sale of furniture will be resumed to-day at 3 p.m., at Messrs, T. K. Macdonald and Co.’s auction mart. Some watches and jewellery will also he offered at the same ti tie.

An important sale of properties in the estate of Messrs. Moody and Smith will be held to day at 2 p.m., at Messrs. T. K. Macdonald and Co.’s auction mart. The following terms will bo offered to purchasers :—ls per cent, cash, and the balance by bills at from three to nine months.

Parties furnishing will have a good opportunity of doing so '»y attending the sale of household furniture and effects on the premises of Mr. Wardrop, chemist, Tory-street. The sale will commence at 2 p.m. to-day, Mr. Sidoy being the auctioneer.