The Evening Post. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1865.

Evening Post, Issue 219, 20 October 1865, Page 2

The Evening Post. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1865.

The half-yearly meeting of the New Zealand Steam Navigaiion Company was held this afternoon at half-past two o'clock in the Athenceum. The attendance of shareholders was large. Mr. Hunter occupied the chair, and read the report, commenting fully on different items of receipt and expenditure, &c. Mr. Rhodes seconded the adoption of the report, when a warm discussion ensued, which had not concluded when we went to press, and are therefore compelled to hold over our report till to-morrow. The news brought by the Ahuriri .lait night, of Major Brassey's arrest, without any further particulars than that it took place at CJte instigation of Majors Stapp, M'Donnell, and George, the former taking the command, has caused no little speculation as to the reason why, and reports prejudicial to the dignity of the gallant major are being freely circulated ; but we refrain from giving publicity to what we trust will prove, on the arrival of the steamer St. Hilda, a base libel. Government are unable to afford information on this unpleasant matter, not having received despatches by the Ahuriri. Yesterday Mr. Sewell gave notice he would move that the house having heard MrStafford's statement, had no confidence in his Ministry, whereupon the Premier objected to carrying on the business of the country with such a motion hanging over their heads ; bat if the honorable member would next day apply for a suspension of the standing orders, Government would not throw any obstacles in his way, and he could go on with the want of confidence motion, the effect of which, if carried would be that the Government would treat it as requiring that the house should go into the question of supply only, and no other business would be gone through this session. Mr. Sewell withdrew his motion, and stated subsequently his opposition to the Government was at an end, and he would endeavour to expedite the business of the country as far as possible. The Premier yesterday obtained leave to bring in a bill to remove the restrictions which prohibit the sale below par of debentures authorised to be issued under the New Zea-

land Loan Act, 1863 ; and also moved for leave to bring in a bill authorising the ex - tension of the currency of the debentures issuable under the Debentures Act, 1864 ? until 30th June, 1868. On the motion of Mr. W. W. Taylor, a sura of -350 a year during her widowhood was granted to Mrs. Hewitt j also 400 acres of the confiscated lands of the Wellington and Taranaki rebel natives. The Hon. Dr. Monro, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Mr. Gledhill, of Taranaki, left yesterday in the Phoebe. Mr. Stafford proposes that for the remainder of the session the house shall meet at five o'clock, and that the days of sitting be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. At a meeting of the I Zingari Cricket Club, Mr. C. B. Borlase was elected president, Mr. G. Crawford vice-president, and Mr. J. B. Wallace honorary secretary. Having filled that office since the formation of the club, and ably discharged its duties, a vote of thanks .was passed to that gentleman. An advertisement elsewhere in our columns informs the public that some beautiful scenery of Europe and America will be on exhibition at the Odd Fellows' Hall this evening and to-morrow, at eight o'clock, and that it has been before the London public for 280 nights. Her Majesty, through Major- Gen. Grey, expressed her great pleasure at having witnessed this splendid pictorial exhibition, the property of Messrs. Cressy and Ayers. At the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day, Michael Scanden was fined ten shillings for drunkenness. Witli the exception of a few uninteresting debt cases, there was no other business.