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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5824, 28 November 1879, Page 2

A considerable portion of the time of the House was yesterday taken up in the discussion of the Members of the General Assembly Expenses Bill. Sir George Grey moved that there be no payments given to the members of the Upper House, and ultimately the Bill was thrown out.

The progress of the House is still very slow, and although there is some talk about a prorogation in a fortnight, this is exceedingly doubtful. Two of the Bills before the House were discharged from the Order Paper, one of them being the Special Settlements Bill, and the other a measure introduced by Mr. Turnbull on the question of local self-government. One Bill was read a third time and passed, viz,, the District Courts Proceedings Validation Bill. The whole of the night was taken up in discussing the Land Bill. A number of Bills were read a second time. There are no less than 86 Bills on the Order Paper, in addition to a large number of notices of motion. Taking this into consideration, as well as the Public Works Statement, the Estimates, the Property Assessment Bill, and various other measures, it is quite certain that unless a little more progress is made than is being made at present, the House is hardly likely to be prorogued before Christmas.

The following despatch was received by his Excellency the Governor by the last mail from Sir Michael Hicka-Be ich, Secretary of State for the Colonies :—“ Downing-atreet, 11th September, 1879.—T0 Governor Sir Hercules Robinson.—Sir, —l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No 38 of the 15th July last, enclosing letters from Sir George Grey respecting the grant by the Queen of the retention of the title of Honorable by retired Judges of the Supreme Court, and the bestowal of honors by her Majesty on residents in New Zealand. In reply, I have to state that I do not desire to prolong a correspondence resulting from a misapprehension on the part of Sit George Grey, which unforInnately appears to continue to exist, as to the functions and prerogatives of the Sovereign in regard to the grant of honorary distinctions in a colony, whether under responsible government, or having any other form of constitution. The instances to which Sir George Grey especially refers appear to me rather to illustrate the advantages of continuing the practices under which the Secretary of State takes the responsibility of advising the Crown with regard to the respective merits ef rival political leaders,—l have, &c., M. E. Hicks-Beach.”

A petition has been presented by Mr. Sutton, the member for Napier, from four Maoris, of Hawke’s Bay, in which some startling revelations are made with reference to the £17,500 which was paid by Watt Bros, for a fresh conveyance of land purchased by them from the Maoris. This was obtained through the so-called friends of the Maoris, in order to compensate the latter for the “ grievous wrongs ” which the repudiation party in Hawke’s Bay alleged had been inflicted upon the poor, unsophisticated Maoris. It now turns out, according to the petition, that the money was paid to Messrs. Henry Russell and John Sheehan. The petitioners allege that large amounts have been paid into the bank by Messrs. Russell and Sheehan, as trustees acting on behalf of individual Maoris ; bur. that the moneys have somehow been withdrawn from the bank, and have not been used on behalf of the owners, nor accounted for to them in any way. The natives allege that they have memoranda signed by Mr. Sheehan, setting forth the amounts to the credit of each of them ; and that although they have bank receipts for large sums of money, they now find that it has all disappeared, and that they cannot find any person prepared to account to them for it, or show them where it has gone to. The Repudiation party in Hawke’s Bay have made so many “ startling discoveries,” and have labored so hard to prove to the poor misguided natives that they, and they alone, were their only “true friends,” that a good many persons will be anxious to hear the result of the petition presented by Mr. Sutton. The Hawke’s Bay natives will now be able to assess the friendship of the Repudiation party at its true value. There was witnessed in the Upper House last night within an hour and a half more acrimonious feeling and personal bitterness than have been shown in that usually serene Chamber during the whole of any previous session within the last few years. The measure under discussion was the Lawrence Athenaeum and Mining Institute Bill. The Council was in committee on the Bill, and after several clauses had been got through with considerable difficulty, a decided stand was made by several hon. Councillors at the provision for borrowing, the amount asked for being £4OO. It appeared the trustees of the Athenaeum had adopted the expedient (following the high example of the late Government, as some hon. members said) of spending the money before obtaining authority, and the measure was therefore in some sense an indemnifioatory one. The discussion of the abstract principle of this became imperceptibly warmer and warmer, until finally it rose to such a height that there was presents the spectacle of venerable legislators advising each other to study better manners. Those advised to learn, while professing their willingness to do so, expressed their intention to seek knowledge from some other source than those giving the advice. Then half a dozen gentlemen would rise simultaneously to different points of order, while others would cross the Chamber to enlighten opposing members by extremely loud sotto voce arguments. Ultimately the Chairman had to order everyone to their seats. At the meeting of the City Council last night, Councillor Allen enquired who authorised the painting of the Council room, the walls of that chamber being redolent of fresh paint, of a dark green color. The Town Clerk replied that it was part of an old contract which had not been completed in consequence of the plaster not being dry enough at the time, a deduction having been made from contract price in consequence. Cauncillor Logan then gravely enquired if it was intended to have the portraits of his Worship and Councillor Allen, as the oldest members of the Council, hung on the walls, a query that caused considerable merriment, in which his Worship joined. The sale of properties in the estate of Messrs. Moody and Smith attracted a large attendance yesterday at Messrs. T. K. Macdonald and Co.’s auction mart. The competition was keen, and the prices realised were considered satisfactory. The following sales were effected:—Clifton House, Ghuznee-street, Mr. George Pirie, £675 ; section in Girrettstreet, 30ft. x 78ft., Mr. B. Smith, £l9O ; two cottages in Cuba-street, on which there was a mortgage of £IOO, Mr. John Smith, £625 ; section 3, Woodville, Mr. L. O. Fagan, £9 ; sections 62 and 63, Woodville, Mr. Jobberns, £l6 ; cottage in Drummond-street, on which there was a mortgage of £305, Mr. O. Moody, £55 ; section 280, Vogeltown, Mr. Biidges, £l6. The total amount realised, including the mortgages, was £2036. The Kilbirnie Hotel, the Adelaide-road Music Hall, and the house in Kilbirnie, were Withdrawn from sale, and can now be had privately. When passing the Patent Act Amendment Bill through Committee last night, the Legislative Council expressed a strong opinion that the fees and charges in the taking out of patents should be made as low as could possibly be afforded to prevent actual loss to the State. A proposal was made that the Bill should be altered in this direction, but it was found that as patent fees went into the Consolidated Revenue, this was beyond the power of the Council. It was then proposed to reject the measure wholly, in order that a new Bill providing for a still further reduction of charges should be introduced into the Lower House. This was opposed by Mr. Whitaker, who read a comparative table of the charges for patents in all English-speaking countries, which showed that this colony occupied a medium position, the highest being Victoria. Mr. Whitaker also pointed out that though the actual fees were not largely reduced by the new Bill, it provided that the charge foradvertisinginventions should be much lessened, so that the total expense inventors would in future be put to would be only three-fifths of that now borue. After this explanation the Council passed the Bill. A full meeting of the general committee of the Masonic body was held yesterday afternoon, Bro. Jonas Woodward occupying the chair. The programme of the procession was submitted and approved of, and also the ball programme. The tickets are going off very rapidly, and those who wish to be present should lose no time in securing cards. _ An invitation has been sent to Mr. Villiers, the special artist of the London Graphic, to be present at the ball. Active preparations are going on in the furnishing and decorating of the hall, and the celebration will, in all probability, be one of the most successful ever held in Wellington.

Sir George Grey yesterday gave notice that on going into Committee of Supply he would move that that portion of the report of the committee declaring his election for Christchurch invalid be expunged from the records of the House ; also, that the report of the same committee, declaring the Hon. E. Richardson duly elected as a member for that House, be likewise expunged. We understand that lawyer’s letters have been sent to the directors of the Tramway Company, on behalf of some of.the shareholders, threatening legal proceedings in connection with the floating of the company.

A tabulated statement showing the receipts and expenditure of county councils and road boards throughout the colony was yesterday laid on the table of the House by the Hon. the Brernier, ami at the request of the hen. member for Hokitika (Mr. Seddon), the Premier gave a promise to have it summarised and printed.

A meeting of the Amalgamated Friendly Societies’ Sports Committee was held at the Foresters’ Hall last night, when the balancesheet was presented, showing that there was a credit balance of £3 13s. 4d. A vote of thanks was cordially passed to Mr. Ashcroft for h;s courtesy, and the efficient manner in which the train service had been performed upon Prince of Wales’ Bk’.hday. It was resolved that the balance mentioned above should be handed over to the Benevolent Institution, and it was also recommended that an amalgamated fete be held annually upon the Prince of Wales’ Birthday.

His Worship the Mayor is not generallygiven to punning, but he perpetrated a “ goak” last night at the City Council meeting, which is worth reproducing. He was putting a question to the vote, and one Councillor responded “aye" and another “no.” Again Mr. Hutchison put the question, with the same result, only one voting on either side. At Ijhis Mr. Hutchison said, “ Will the Councillors please to give their voices 1 One gentleman says ‘ aye,’ and another ‘ no,’ and I know not which side has it.” !he gem was lost upon the gentlemen addressed, who signally failed to see the force of it, thus allowing their chief to “ waste his sweetness on the desert air.”

Mr. Alexander Speed Webster, of Sydney, has been appuinted resident commissioner at Sydney to the New Zealand Commission. Mr. E. J. T. Ford, secretary to the Standard Brewery Company, Christchurch, has applied for a trade mark for ale and stout, of which the following description has been sent to the Hon. John Hall, as Colonial Secretary and Registrar of Trade Marks :—An engraved vignette of “ John Bull,” after Teuniel, as published in the London Punch, with the followidg words written underneath : “ Yours truly, John Bull.”

A complimentary benefit has been tendered to Mr. Montague Browne, late manager of the Imperial Opera House, by the Amateur Patchwork Dramatic Company, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Hart,of the well-known Happy Hours Entertainment, andseveralother amateur and professional friends. The entrrtainment will be, in every sense of the word, a variety one. The Patchwork Amateurs will reproduce their “ Revels,” with new songs and sketches, and will give an entire change of songs and “locals,” in the first part, while Mr. and Mrs. Hart will give selections from their Happy Hours Entertainment ; and a gentleman amateur from Christchurch will contribute a sketch entitled “Legmania,” introducing grotesque dancing of the Girard school. The orchestra will include about sixteen instrumentalists. We may therefore confidently anticipate a very fine programme, which, added to the fact of Mr. Browne’s favorable connection with theatrical matters in this city, is sure to draw a crowded house. The entertainment will take place at the Theatre Royal on Thursday evening next. Mr. Manstord presided at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, and disposed of one drunkard in the usual way. A woman named Eliza Broughton, charged with vagrancy, received a sentence of four weeks’ imprisonment, and a Maori named John Warn, for disturbing the peace in Lambton-quay by quarrelling with his wife, was fined 10s,, with the usual alternative in default. In Dudgeon v. Simpson, a judgment summons case, in which £2 9s. was in dispute, defendant was ordered to pay 10s. per month, or go to gaol for three weeks. In the following civil cases judgments were given for the plaintiffs:—Cooper v. Mo Donald, £3 155.; Kebbell v. Tonks, £2 Is. sd. ; Gas Co. v. Battersby, £2 7s. 2d. ; Back v. Houghton, £7 10s. ; Pasooe v. Mirbach, £2 55.; McDowell v. Davies, £6 12s. ; Scott Bros. v. Raymeut, £2 ; Fleet v. Brown and another, £2O; Bowden v. Smith, £l2. In the afternoon Messrs. J. G. Holdsworth and J. E. Smith, J.P.’s, sat upon the bench, and Phillip Barron, charged by Mr. Johnson with wasting water, was fined 20s. and costs. A charge laid by the harbormaster against J. Morgan for a breach of the harbor regulations was dismissed, the principal witness not being in attendance. An inquest was held at the Royal Tiger Hotel yesterday morning, before Dr. Johnston, upon the body of George Rae, whose death was reported in our yesterday’s issue. From the evidence of Mrs. Rae it appeared that while deceased was working at the Wesleyan Church building oa Monday, he hurt himself by lifting a quantity of zinc, and lie had been complaining ever since. Dr. Tripe proposed to having made a post mortem examination, and having found one of the vessels of the heart ruptured, probably by lifting a heavy weight. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony. The usual meeting of the Waste Lands Board was held yesterday at the Provincial Buildings. Present— Messrs. J. G. Holdsworth (in the chair), T. Mason, E. Pearce, and H. Bunny. The business transacted was only of a routine character, and no land was reported to have been sold since the last meeting. The following are the handicaps for this evening’s sports on the Bisiu Reserve : Quarter-Mile Handicap.—Bishop, scratch ; Lambert, scratch ; Davy, 4yds ; MoOardell, Bdys; Berry, 10yds; Sandilands, 10yds; Warbrick, 10yds; Lynch, 15yds; Galbraith, 15yds; Blood, 18yds; Thomson, 18yds; Burues, 18yds; Hickson, 20yds ; Russell, 20yds ; Ludbrook, 28yds. Walking Handicap, 11 miles.—Berry, scratch; Prance, 15sec; Beswick, 20sec; Galbraith, 30sec; Lynch, 35seo; Lambert, 35seo. Throwing the Hammer.—Messrs. Warbrick, Lynch, Blood, Sandilauds, King, Werry, and Stuart, all at scratch. Mr. Whitelaw, superintendent of the Asylum, desires to acknowledge the receipt of £1 from Mr. John Plimmer towards the billiard-table fund.

The second performance of the organ recitals at St. Mark’s Church took place on Wednesday evening, Mr. Robert Parker presiding at the organ. The state of the weather was unfortunately such a? to render a limited attendance inevitable ; indeed, it is a matter for surprise that so many faced the storm, about 100 auditors being present. The organ playing of Mr. Parker was a musical treat. The selections were choice, without being elaborate, and the execution was distinguished by that accuracy which always attaches itself to Mr. Parker’s manipulation. The vocal portion of the programme was very enjoyable as a whole. The quartette, " God is a spirit/' was somewhat faulty, principally on the score of inequality of the voices. Spohr’s “As pants the hart,” was very nicely given, and was undoubtedly a treat. The elaborate anthem by Goss, the “ Wilderness,” was given with fine effect, although rather weak in places. Altogether the recital was a most enjoyable one, and well repaid those who ventured in such weather to hear it. The organ appears to be a fine instrument, both in tone and power, but as it is hardly in perfect order yet a definite opinion of its quality can given. The formation of private streets was objected to at the City Council meeting last night by Councillor Brown, who said these private streets were generally lanes of filth. The objection was taken upon an application by Mr. Tomlinson for the formation of Levinstreet, and Councillor Miller pointed out that the locality was on top of a hill, where there were no houses. To this Councillor Brown replied that they looked forward to houses being there some day, and it was time to make a stand against the formation of so many private streets. The application was granted. The Naval Brigade, the Artillery, aud the City Rifles will take part in the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new Supreme Court buildings on Monday next. The opening services in connection with St. Peter’s Church will take place on the third Sunday in December. The Choral Society will give Mendelssohn’s “ Elijah ” on the Tuesday following, the vestry having kindly placed both the church and organ at the disposal of the society for that occasion. At the sale of properties in the estate of Henry Sexton, storekeeper, Newtown, by Messrs, Plimmer, Reeves, and Co., the following prices were realised Allotment of land, Riddiford-street, with house, £132 ; allotment of land, Owen-street, £lls ; allotment of land, Rhodes-street, £7l ; allotment of land, Riddi-ford-place, with bouse, £212; book debts, £4O; Rechabite Hall Company’s shares (which can only be held by Good Templars), I3s. each. The exportation of dynamite from New Zealand to any of the South Sea Islands has been prohibited by an Order in Council dated the 25th instant.

Mr. Thomas McLaren, writer to the signet, Edinburgh, has been appointed by Mr. Justice Williams a commissioner for taking affidavits in Scotland.

There will be a parade of the Wellington Naval Brigade on the reclaimed land this evening, at half-past seven o’clock.

The C ourt of Appeal .-tan Is adjourned till Tnes lay next, when the Court will deliver judgment in the various brought before their Iloiurs in which judgment has been re* served.

There will be a sitting of the Supreme Court iu banco on Wednesday next at 10 a.in. After the Ist of January next, the sittings of the District Court will be held iu Wellington on the third Friday in every mon th, OX. cepting December. Sitting-* of the C -urt will be held at on the second Friday iu the months of January, March, May, July, September, and November ; au \at Mu»terton on tlie sec.*nd Fri-.Dy in Urn inMiths uf February, April, June, August, October, and December.

The Venerable Archdeacon Stock has been appointed honorary chaplain to the Naval Brigade. The designations of the following post offices have been changed:—Duvauchelle’s Bay, Canterbury, to Davauchelle ; Luigbush, lu.ercargUl, to Woodlands ; Lovat, Canterbury, to Aylesbury; Waihi Bush, Canterbury, to Woodbury ; Warepa, Otago, to To ro. The weather being again uepropitious, there was no performance ut the circus last night. Mr. Henry Mauders, ex-M.H.lt, for the Lakes district, in Otago, has been gazetted a certificated accountant in bankruptcy. Concerning the charge made against Captains Sellars and Todd, at the time of the accident to the steamer Tui, we have received the following communication :—“ Sir, —With reference to the assertions made by the advertising agent of Cliiariui’s circus, both here and in Wanganui, neither Captain Sellars nor myself think it necessary to refute the statements.— B. Todd."

Messrs. E. J. McFarland and A. F. Douglas have passed respectively the second and brst years'examinations of the New Zealand University, which were held at Wellington College on the 27th, 28th, and 29th October last. The Hewitt Family will appear at the Academy of Music on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next. Mr. Hewitt is said to be a wonderful instrumentalist, and, as a cornet player, second only to the celebrated Levy. Mrs. Hewitt is stated by the Southern Press to be a charming performer on the pianoforte, and also the possessor of a rich voice. If the Hewitts be at all as good as report speaks of them, they may depend upon a hearty reception in Wellington, which seldom fails to recognise musical talsnt.

The programme of the Wellington and Wanganui athletic sports, to be held at the Basin Reserve on Boxing Hay, appears in our advertising columns. In addition to eleven events, to be contested by the members of the two clubs for the championship, there are also nine others to be competed for. It will be seen that a very attractive programme has been provided for the lovers of athletic amusements.

A stranger in the shape of a herring was, says the Riverton paper, brought to our office last evening by a fisherman named McGregor, caught by him in the river yesterday. It undoubtedly possesses all the characteristics of the “real Lochfine.” A similar fish was caught on Monday, full of roe, which indicates that there are more of that ilk in these waters. These ate the only kuown instances in which herring have been caught here, or, as far as we are aware, on the New Zealand coast.

The Press reports that the largest trout which has been taken in the Avon was caught on Friday night by Mr. Wagner, of the Clarendon Hotel, a little below the dam at the HereforJ-street bridge. This monster, which was taken with an ordinary fly, weighs no less than sixteen pounds, is thirty inches in length, and has a girth of sixteen inches. There is at present (says the Otago Daily Times) a great demand above and beyond the supply for agricultural land, and the Land Office has applicants continually inquiring whose needs cannot be met. Indeed there is hardly an acre of decent land in the market at the present time, Both Mr. Green and Mr. Maitland at the Land Board yesterday referred to this land hunger, and Mr. Bastings, by way of comment on the Colonial Treasurer’s complaints about the falling, off in returns from land sales, said he believed a quarter of a million could be realised from such a source in Otago within the next twelve months if the thing were properly gone about. During its sitting the Board classified the block recently surveyed near Waipori, which comprised Cable and Drummond’s old run. Something like 1500 acres of the best of this was set aside on d- ferred payments ; a quantity of the middling laud it was agreed to sell at £2 per acre, and the remainder at £l. The best of the block is said to be of very fair quality, but as it is almost the only agricultural laud in the district, there will probably be a local demand for it.

We are requested to call the attention of athletes to the Athletic Club’s programme of sports to be run off on Boxing Day. In addition to the eleven events which decide the contest between the Wellington and Wanganui Clubs, there are three other events open to members of the two clubs, besides three races open to anybody not a member of the club, and as many must be getting fit for New Year’s Day, a great number should enter for these events. There are also two boys’ races and kicking the football.

The cricket match between the Excelsior Cricket Club (second eleven) and the Telegraph Cadet Cricket Club, postponed from last Saturday, will be played to-morrow, the 20th, at Polhill’a Gully, at 2 o’clock. The following will represent the Excelsior Cricket Club : Harle, Bannister, Ridings, Crichton, Beswick, Augarde, Holmes J., Hickson, McGowan R. and J., and King ; emergencies—McFarlane, Vine, and Holmes E. A match will be played on the Basin Reserve on Monday next between the AVanderers and the Wellington Clubs.

The correspondent of the Press at the Sydney Exhibition writes ; —“ A steel plate, engraved, and proofs from same, by Mr. R. T. Holmes, of AVellington, is the only work of the kind by a colonial exhibitor in the Garden Palace, and is an admirable affair. The subject is a young girl seated by the roadside ; the title, “ The Wayside Reverie.” Several fantasias in pen and ink, by Messrs. AVrigg, of AVellington, and Gordon, of AVanganui, are prominently hung, and are a good deal noticed. They represent surfaces, strewn with sundry articles, such as newspapers, sheets of music, letters, cheques, &c., most cunningly imitated, and shaded under the edges in a fashion calculated to make the drawings extremely realistic.”

A new Australian delicacy is finding its way into the London market in the shape of dried kangaroo tongue.

Two members of the Mormon Church addressed a large audience in the Lower Temperance Hall, Dunedin, on Sunday afternoon. Although they were for the most part listened attentively to (says the Herald) those present showed their disapproval of this sect’s doctrines upon two or three occasions. They purpose making a stay of some duration in Dunedin.

Five hundred laurel wreaths and several thousand violet bouquets for the Prince Imperial’s funeral were manufactured at Munich, neither London nor Paris artificial flowermakers being able to undertake the work in the time allowed. Four thousand persons are employed in that industry by 37 factories in Munich.

The Council of the Acclimatisation Society (says the Lyttelton Times) have purchased five pairs robins, eight pairs siskins, and one cock nightingale, recently imported from Germany by Mr. Brandmiiller. The price paid was £SO. The birds have been placed in large cages at the society’s grounds, and will be carefully looked after until they have become acclimatised. The whole of the birds are in good condition, and were fed on the passage from Home with preserved Russian black ants and ants’ eggs. The nightingale is the first introduced into New Zealand. Mr. Brandmiiller brought the hen bird safely to Dunedin, but it died on the trip up.

A Large trade sale of glass and earthenware will to held by Mr. Francis Sidey at the Arcade to-day, at 11 a.m.

Sheep, cows, poultry, dairy utensils, &c., will be offered for sale to-day, at 2 p.m., by Mr. J. H. Wallace, at the Taita, on the property of Sir. Henry Ilussell.

A sale of household furniture will be held to-day, at 2 p.m., by Messrs. Dwan and Co., on the premises of Mr. Vetts, Tory-street, near Pascoe’s Brewery. Messrs. H. Moss and Co. will hold a clearing sale to-day, at 11 glassware, china ware, cutlery, furniture, and sundries.

Holloway's Ointment and Pills will be found the beat friend to persons afflicted with ulcerations, bad legs, sores, abscesses, fistulas, and other painful and complicated complaints. Printed and very plain directions for the application of the ointment are wrapped round each por. Holloway's alterative pills should be taken throughout the progress of the cure, to maintain the blood in a state of perfect purity, and t'. it'-'Tint the health of the whole body being jeopard I . by the local ailment; bad legs, old ages great grioviiLces, are thus readily cured, without confining the patient to bed, or withdrawing from him the nutritious diet and generous support so imperatively demanded when weakening diseases attack advanced years or constitutions evincing premature decrepitude,—[ Ann.]