WELLINGTON.

Press, Volume VII, Issue 797, 19 May 1865, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

The Elections.—The Spectator, in its monthly summary, gives the of the elections for thet: Provincial Council :< —In provincial affairr the most noticeable; are theelectionsfor members of the Provincial Council, which have just terminated. The following are the names of the members returned :—For the City—Messrs. Pearce, Turnbull, Borlase, Bhodes, Dransfield, Hunter, Taylor, Crawford, Fitzherbert, Hickson, Wallace and Pharazyn. For E_urori and Makara—Messrs. Jolmston and Beading. For Porirua —Messrs. Brandon, Taylor and G_llo__j. For theHutt—Messrs. LudJLsm,.,

Fagan, Milne, Burt, M'Dowall. For Wairarapa—Messrs. Bunny, Masters and Welch. For Wanganui—Messrs. Watt, Kells and Bryce. For Rangitikei—Messrs. Malcolm. Milne and Allison. There is a vacancy tor Wairarapa East; at the nomination, Mr. Tully was present as a candidate, but there was only one elector of the district on the spot, so there was no election, and a newwrit will have to be issued. The members returned are about equally divided between the supporters of Dr. Featherston and the opposition. We have no doubt, however, but that the Superintendent will be able to secure a working majority favorable to his

views. Public Impeovements. — The Empire City is gradually assuming the appearance of a large town, dwelling-houses, shops, merchants' warehouses, and hotels, being rapidly built. New streets are being formed and old ones improved, and in several streets the footpaths are being covered with "asphalte pavement" in detached pieces; but we hope to see shortly a uniform plan carried out for paving the whole of the footpaths in the principal streets with this composition, which forms a nice clean, smooth, and hard road, and is said to wear well. The General Government are having great alterations effected in Government House, which is being considerably enlarged and improved. The sharp corner of the Domain, where Moles worth street and the beach join, is to be rounded off, and a gentle curve formed instead of the present dangerous angle; and the footpath from this corner to Kuinuto point is to be widened to 12 feet aud covered with asphalte. The Market Hall is now open, and several of the stalls are occupied by sellers. The. Oddfellows' Hall has been transformed into the " Theatre Royal," under the able management of Messrs. Towers & Co.; the pieces have been put on the stage in a very creditable manner, j and have drawn crowded houses. AI private theatrical club has been established in Wellington, under the designation of the " New Zealand Civil Service Dramatic Club." They gave their first performance last week, assisted by the ladies of the regular company, when the pieces were performed in a very clever manner; the proceeds are to be devoted to the relief of the destitute in Wellington. Another sign of our rising importance is the call for increased Church accommodation. A spacious and handsome church is to be erected by the Episcopalians at Thorndon, as a parish church, which is to be commenced immediately ; the Presbyterian congregation, in connection with the Church of Scotland, ministered to by the Rev. Mr. Muir, are taking preliminary steps for the erection of a new church and manse; the Roman Catholics are also making efforts to repair their present church, and enlarge it for the purposes of a cathedral; the Congregationalists, under the pastorate of the Rev. J. M. Pell, are likewise about to erect a handsome church on a fine site abutting on Wellington Terrace, overlooking the harbor ; the Wesleyans too are about to erect a new residence for their clergyman, and are talking abouo increasing the size of their present church. — Spectator, May 13. Melancholy Accident. —One day last week Mr. John Dorsett, second son of W. Dorsett, Esq., of Wellington, was thrown from his horse at Carterton, fell with his head on a stone, and received severe injury on the skull, causing concussion of the brain. He «was immediately conveyed to Dixon's accommodation house, where he was attended by Drs. Spratt and Welch; but was quite insensible after the accident. We learn that he is since dead.— lbid. The Patent Slip.—We learn from an authentic source that the contract for the erection of the Patent Slip here, was finally concluded on the day the English Mail left.; Some time ago a general agreement was entered into, but afterwards some difficulties arose which were happily surmounted through the representations of C. R. Carter, Esq., the member for the Warirarapa, who; has, during his stay in England, frankly given his time and services for the benfit of the province. Mr. Carter would been, back to the colony much earlier, :had it not been that he was urgently requested to remain in England for some months* to raise a select body of emigrants ; some of whom have now reached us per Berar, and to give information to the intending contractors relative to the patent slip. The last meeting of the Assembly thus passed over, and ere the intelligence reached England that another meeting would be held in May or June, Mr. Carter, at the earnest request of Mr..Morrison, agreed to defer his departure' from England till July,-in order to see that all the material for the wharf ami-patent slip is prepared and shipped according to contract. We regret very much, that Mr. Carter will not therefore be found in nis place when the session opens, but as his presence in England will thus effect a great saving to the province, and ensure the success of two important undertakings, we think he is fairly entitled to an ; extension of his leave of absence.— Independent, May 13. Birds. —When the ship Berar left the Docks, she had on board a small freight of rabbits, hares, and brrds, consisting of 20 chaffiinehes, 20 linnets, the same number of greenfinches, 6 larks, 6 thrushes, and three brace of pheasant, all of which were being imported by C. R. Carter, Esq., M.G.A. Unfortunately very few survived, and beyond a brace of pheasants, some rabbits, and three hares, none of the number will reach the Wairarapa.— lbid. Pbovdtcial Pbize Fiß_sro>.—The Wanganui Chronicle, May 10, says:—rThe various companies of Volunteers and Militiamen are at present busily engaged in firing for the provincial prizes. The highest score yet made is that of Captain and Adjutant Ross, who scored 43 yesterday. The highest score on the other side of the river is 38, made by a member of Captain Allison's company. At Rangiti-ei the best shooting has been that of . Captain Wilcox's company, which made an average of about 20; the best shot (Sergeant James Johnston) scoring 36. j