Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1877.

Evening Post, Volume XV, Issue 279, 28 November 1877, Page 2

Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1877.

It appears from a statement made by Mr. Sheehan last night that the Government intend to bring down a new Land Bill, based upon Mr. Larxach'b financial proposals. The further consideration of the Land Bill at present before the House has, therefore, been postponed. There is no subject on which legislation is more imperatively necessary than that of the administration of the waste lands of the Crown. Probably, also, there is nothing which demands more pains, labor, and careful consideration than the framing of a good and liberal land law. The bill at present before the House contained some objectionable features and not a few defects in its original shape, but the Waste Lands Committee so altered and modified it as to make it a tolerably satisfactory measure. We do not know what sort of new bill the Ministry propose to introduce, but should suppose that a great deal of the machinery of the present bill would be retained with respect to Waste Lands Boards, local administration, provisions for sale of land on deferred payments, classification of land, and other matters of detail. The new features of the bill would require to provide for dealing with the land revenue in accordance with Mr. Larnach's financial proposals. There should be no difficulty in preparing such * BUI, simply because three-fourths of the re- ¦ quired machinery will be found ready to hand in the .measure now passing through the Assembly. By utilising this machinery, a satisfactory Bill could be brought dewn almost at once. It is too late in the session to begin preparing an entirely new measure, varying materially in detail from that which has already been introduced. Nor would it be advisable in any case to have much alteration in those details, except in one or two points, to which we have alluded in previous articles. The present Land Bill is the outcome of much patient thought and industry. Several of the members of the Waste Lands Committee are gentlemen who possess much practical knowledge of the land question, and to them are due the provisions which were incorporated with the Bill for the purpose of furthering bona fide settlement, and affording encouragement to people of moderate means desirous of taking up land. There is much that is good in the Bill, and that should not be lost.

Mr. J. N. Wilson has, after all, been called to the Legislative Council by his Excellency the Governor. This fact is somewhat significant. His Excellency, in the first instance, objected to call Mr. Wilson to the Council while a motion of "no confidence" was pending. Out of this there arose a terrible fuss, and a question of privilege, which for some time sorely exercised both Parliament and Press. At last the privilege business was shelved, and now that the turmoil has subsided Mr. Wilson is called to the Council, though as a matter of fact the famous " No. 3 motion " of " no confidence " is still somewhere on the Order Paper. Probably, however, his Excellency does not attach the same importance to this second " no confidence " motion as he did to the first, and does not think it threatens any particular danger to the Ministry. As we nave always contended, his Excellency should have called Mr. Wilson to the Council when first advised by Ministers to do so, quite without reference to any matter which was pending in the House affecting their fate. However, his Excellency has done at last what he had better have done at first, Mr. Wilson will prove an acquisition to the Upper House. He is a gentleman of considerable ability and culture while his legal knowledge will be of special value. It is thought possible that Mr. Wilson may succeed Colonel Whitmore in the Ministry.

Mr. Macfarlane has given notice that he will to-morrow move the feliowingr resolution in the House : — "That, in the opinion of this House, the present mode of selecting immigrants in Great Britain is unsatisfactory, and ought to be discontinued ; and that Government assistance should be confined to immigrants nominated by their friends in New Zealand." In a great measure this resolution is in accordance with views which we have frequently urged of late. The time has come for putting a stop to an indiscriminate introduction of immigrants at the expense of the colony. Moreover, it is '• both injudicious and wrong to bring out] skilled tradesmen to New Zealand when the j market for their particular kind of labor is so heavily overstocked. Government aid in sending out immigrants nominated by their friends in the colony, and free passages provided for ! single girls of good character is all that is wanted in the way of immigration for some time to come.

A local print of last night, and the Times of this morning, make wonderful announcements about the serious illness of Mr. Larnach, and his consequent impending resignation as Colonial Treasurer. There is just about as much truth in this as in the majority of the Times' political rumors. Mr. Larnach is merely suffering from a cold, and is not even confined to hisDed. It has been known from | the first, that, at the end of the session, the Cabinet will probably undergo reconstruction. Mr. Larnach will then, if he can, shuffle off the coils of office, and Mr. Montgamery will very likely take his place, but Mr. Larnach's indisposition has nothing to do with this. Mr. Fisher, it is also said, may resign, and give way to Mr. Ballance; but no change whatever has yet been absolutely decided upon, and the positive announcements of our contemporaries are founded merely on lobby rumors, which must be taken for what they are worth.

Mr. Gisborne has given notice that he will on Friday ask the Government whether they win give a suitable Bite, out of the reclaimed land, or other Crown land in the Thorndon district of the City of Wellington, for a school under the Education Act? The Government has decided not to place any sum on the Estimates in future for a colonial prize-firing, but merely to put on a small sum for local faring. Thus, unless this decision be reversed, the next colonial prizefiring will be the last of its race. It is to be feared that this will be a heavy blow to volunteering;, as there can be little doubt that the hope ot making one of that chosen band, who enjoy a pleasant free trip and come back with plenty of prize-money, is a great incentive to assiduity and efficiency. However, economy of necessity must be the order of the day, and we suppose 'this annual volunteer festival is a luxury which the colony cannot afford just new. The following notices of motion have been given by Councillor J. A. Allan fop the next meeting of the Gity Council :— (1.) That in future all tenders for contracts must be accompanied with a deposit of cash' , or banker's marked cheque, good ' for at least seven days from date of reception of tender, such deposit to amount to i 0 per" cent, on contracts up to £200 ; 5 per cent, on tenders oyer £200 and not exceeding £500; 2£ per cent, over £500. That further security to the extent of 4 per cent, be provided for due fulfilment of contract, and that all tenders will be receivable up to. ths advertised hour for consideration of contracts. (3.) That when any member of theGounpjlc^lg fflraoommitteß the number of such committee shM b> ptprjnined by vote of the Council, and the membefs b> arawn feom the whole Council, as in the manner the Supreme Court juries ape drawn. It is probable .that the new Land Bill of the Government will be brought down to-day, by message from his Excellency the Governor, It is said that it will supersede the Land BQI at present before the House, but we hear on the best authority that the exact form of the new bill is not yet decided upon. A cyjnapr t will be given in the Schoolroom, Lower Huti. iOz-mprrow evening, in aid of the Indian Famine Relief Fun4> The tramway is now close to Manners, street, having been laid nearly the whole length of Cuba-street. Although some interrundon unavoidably has been caused to traffic, yet through the excellent management of the contractor, Mr. 3.. Brown,, this has been reduced to the smallest degree practicable, while, as we have mentioned before, 'the lighting of the obstructed parts at night has been ad« mirable. Hence not the slightest accident has occurred during the work so far.

The concert given by the choir of St. Peter's Church, in the Princess Theatre, Tory-street, last evening, passed off on the 'whole very successfully. The programme comprised several of Sir H. Bishop's glees, very well sung by the choir, three quartets (including the "Prayer" from Bellini's "Purjtani"), a duet, a song with violoncello obbltgato, a solo each for pianoforte and violoncello^ half-a-dozen songs, and a recitation. It concluded at 10 o'clock precisely. The Yen. Archdeacon Stock occupied the chair, and Mr. R. C. Hamerton conducted in his usual able manner. The proceeds will go towards the cost of a hydraulic blower for the church organ. The two seamen of the Zealandia's crew, who were detained in quarantine on Somes Island after the ship, passengers, and the rest of the crew were admitted to pratique, being the last two who were attacked with smallpox duriug the voyage, were released yesterday, and brought over from Somes Island. No indication has appeared of any probability that the dreaded disease was not thoroughly stamped out by the prompt and judicious measures adopted to secure isolation and disinfection, and it is. to be hoped that this small-pox alarm will pass away as harmlessly as the previous ones. A special meeting of the Hutt County Council was held to-day at noon, for the election of the chairman for the ensuing year, and the transaction of other special business. Peesent — Councillor -Mason (chairman), and Councillors Taylor, Chew, Lancaster, Morgan, Speedy, Dick, and Smith. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, Councillor Morgan, in a few flattering remarks, moved that Mr. Mason be re-elected chairman. The motion was seconded by Councillor Chew, and carried unanimously. The chairman stated that the Government had promised to consider the question as to the amendment of the Counties Act, with the view of allowing payment to members of Councils, and likewise allowing these bodies greater borrowing powers. The Engineer reported that he had inspected the line of road from Kaiwarra to Johnsonville, being a deviation of the present Kaiwarra road, in company with Councillor Chew, and he wa9 of opinion that aq good line of road could be formed with a gradient "not steeper than one foot in twenty, at a cost of from £5000 to £6000. It was agree that the matter should be postponed until the next regular meeting of the Council. This was all the business before the Council. This is the day for the regular monthly meeting of the Education Board, but in accordance with an arrangement made at the last meeting of the Board, the next meeting will not be held until Wednesday, the 12th December. The Inspector of Schools has been detained so long over the examination of schools on the West Coast, especially at Wanganui, owing to constant interruptions caused by holidays, that he will not be back in Wellington until Monday next, and consequently will be unable to examine the Wairarapa schools until after the Christmas holidays. No further particulars have reached town relative to the fire at Palmerston yesterday beyond those given in last evening's Post, excepting that the Press Agency's telegram to the effect that the Liverpool and London and Globe Company had a heavy insurance on one of the buildings destroyed, has been confirmed. We now learn that the office above mentioned j had an insurance to the amount of about £1000 on Mr. J. H. Snelson's building and stock. The annual match between the Star and Armed Constabulary Cricket Clubs will be played on the Basin Reserve on Saturday next. Play to commence at 1.30 sharp. We are requested to state that it has been decided not to hold the usual Wednesday ser- ' vice at St. Paul's Church this evening, as there will be a special mission service on Friday. At St. Peter's Church the Wednesday evening service will be held to-night as usual. We may remind our readers that the concert at the Karori School-room, in aid of the Parsonage Fund, takes place at 8 o'clock this evening. Mr. Spiers' coach will take out performers and visitors from town, returning to town after the concert. We venture to suggest to our boating men that it is high time they were bestirring themselves in earnest, if they mean Wellington to take a good place in the coming colonial regatta. The weather now is all that possibly could be desired for aquatic purposes, and although we notice occasionally some desultory attempts at practice, there is no appearance as yet of any definite organisation to ensure the adequate representation of Wellington at the regatta. The weather over the colony to-day Is less uniformly fine than yesterday, although as magnificent as ever in Wellington. Rain is falling on the West Coast of the South Island, and a Southerly gale is blowing at Port Chalmers, while the barometer is falling generally. The wind in Wellington to-day has been fresh from the Northward, with an unusually heavy sea in the bay, but a change to the Southward is expected before evening. Mr. Meech is making some extensive additions to his baths on Clyde Quay, which will render them far more spacious and commodious even than at present. The work is being pushed on as rapidly as possible so as to cause no more inconvenience or annoyance to bathers than can pdssibly be helped. If the fine weather lasts it is hoped that the additions will be completed within a few days. The committee of the Indian Famine Relief Fund met yesterday afternoon, when it was announced that the subscriptions already received amounted to £1782 19s Id, of which £1700 has been forwarded to London by telegram. As the list still continues open, and' several sums are known to be yet outstanding, it is confidently anticipated that the total amount will reach £2000 by the time the list is closed. The proceeds of the performance at the Theatre Royal on the 12th ult, and of the concert at the Odd Fellows' Hall on the 16th inst., have yet to come in. The ordinary weekly meeting of the managing committee of the Wellington Benevolent Institution was held yesterday afternoon. Present — Mr. Crawford, R.M. (chairman), Yen. Archdeacon Stock, Rev. B. W. Harvey, Rev. J. Paterson, Rev. C. S. Ogg,, Rev. W. H. West, Rev. F. Trivett, Rev. H. B. Redstone, Rev. A. Reid, Messrs. J. G. Holdsworth, C. P. Powles, H. C. Wilson, and D. Lewis. The following subscriptions were/ received : — Thompson, Shannon &z Co,, £5 5s j J. C. Crawford, £2 2s. Additional funds are urgently needed, as at present the cash in hand is inadequate to' meet the regular expenditure, any intermission of which would cause great distress to the permanent recipients of assistance from this source. We hope this appeal will be promptly responded to. There was a capital attendance again last evening at the Theatre Royal, when " Camille " was repeated to a most enthusiastic audience, both Signor and Signora Majeroni coming in for then- full share of the applause which was general throughout the evening. To-night we notice tb,at. tb~e new play, entitled "A Living Statue,'' will be produced, a pjece whloh has been highly spoken of elsewhere. Bf ew scenery has been painted' expressly for the piece, which will no doubt draw a crowded audience. In the Appeal Court yesterday, after we went to press, the case of the Queen v. Pain came on for argument, being a Crown case reserved from the Supreme Court, Dunedin. It appeared that Pain had been convicted of embezzling the funds of a local Board, with which he was connected as clerk, and a point was afterwards raised that the conviction could not be sustained, on the ground that his appointment was notduly made under seal. The conviction was confirmed. The Napier Telegraph says that when stopping at that town, on his way to Auckland, Mr. Whitaker expressed himself as strongly of opinion that, owing to dissensions in the Grey Cabinet, a reconstruction of the Ministry must take place soon, , ¦ Mrs. Sauites begs to. afiknpwjedge fte. jssejpt of the following donations of gash and goods in aid of the distressed family at Ngahauranga ; — A Friend, ss} Mm. Perry, 2s j A Friend, lsj Jtrs, H. Barber, a small parcel of children's clothing; Mrs. Waters, a small parcel of groceries. In the shop window of Messrs. Wiggins, saddlers, Lambton Quay, can bexseen a catoaial made side-saddle. We understand that it is first saddle of the kind made in this city ; the ornamental sewing was done by Miss J. Thomson, and deserves great credit, as the workmanship is all that could be desired. The leather was prepared by Mr. Hurst, and is us good as any sent from the home country, if not better. Altogether, the saddle is well worth seeing, and we trust Messrs. Wiggins will receive numerous orders from the ladies. In the Resident Magistrate's Court this afternoon, before Captain Holt and Mr. R. J. Duncan, J.P.s, a m&n named John Windsor was fined 10s for having been drunk, and on a

second charge of assaulting hts+wife he was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labor. It appeared from the evidence of Constable Smart, who arrested thfe accused, that he had grossly maltreated his wife -last and had -been in the habit of doing so fpr some timebacft. t The seconjLappearance of the Alleen .troupe last eveningfla St. George's Hall was welcomed with a crowded house, and • the whole Entertainment was most enthusiastically received. The double songs and dances by the infant performers, Masters Arthur and Harry Elder, were much admired, as also the performance of the lady gymnast, Miss Alleen Laurel. The same performance will be repeated this evening. A Maori excited a good deal of amused attention in Willis-street yesterday afternoon, by appearing in an extemporised kilt, com-" posed of a scarlet plaid shawl, richly fringed, which hung gracefully around his manly form, while the ordinary nether garments were conspicuous for their absence. The whole effect was very gorgeous and striking. A 'well-attended meeting ot the Wellington Literary Association was held last evening, when a discussion took place on the question—" Is the civilized man happier than the uncivilized 1" After a warm and interesting debate, the question was put to the vote of the meeting, and carried in the affirmative by a majority of one. This will complete the series of meeting till the Ist of March next. A special private meeting of the City Council in Committee was held yesterday afternoon to consider the draft of the bill to be introduced by Mr. Travers for the legalisation of the proposed Te Aro reclamation. The Mayor presided, and Mr. Travers attended to read and explain the proposed bill, which was approved by the Council. This comprised the whole of j the business. In the civil sittings of the Resident Magistrate's Court this afternoon, in the case of Robert Bryant v. George Styles, for the recovery of a debt of £4 12s lid, the sum of £3 9s had been paid into Court, and judgment was given for 19s 5d additional, with 15s costs'. It is rumored that the Hon. Mr. Fox and several other enthusiasts in the cause of teetotalism purpose holding a lodge of Good Templars on the summit of Mount Egmont during the ensuing summer. We earnestly hope that the cause of temperance may be promoted greatly by this step — or series of steps, Mount Egmont being a mountain of respectable height. Still, we feel bound to warn Bro. Fox that however sober he and his friends may be when they start from the foot of the mountain, they are certain to be " elevated " by the time they reach the top. Telegraphic communication is interrupted to-day between Wellington and the South of the other island. The interruption is expected to be only of a very temporary nature. All the shipping in port, and several of , the mercantile establishments in town, exhibited a brilliant display of bunting to-day, in honor of the wedding of Mr. Bernard Holmwood, of the firm of Zohrab, Knocker and Co., and Miss Louisa Mills, daughter of Mr. E. W. Mills, of this city. We learn from Palmerston that the funeral of Mr. H. W. Waite. the master of the Government school, who died on Sunday last, took place yesterday, was very numerously attended, and was followed by 70 of the school children, Mr. Waite being widely and deservedly respected. His loss will be much felt by ltis late pupils and by the Education Board. The members of the Artillery Corps were unable to work at the time-gun last evening', it being the parade night, but they were at it again this morning, and made such progress' that they hope to have the gun so far in position this evening as to bo able to fire three rounds in honor of then* victory over the difficulties of the task. We have seen plenty of people trying to hook up fish, but yesterday there was a change,'for w,e saw a number of sailors on the, wharf fishing for beef. It appears that as one of "the sailors belonging to the May was taking on board a basket full of corned beef from Messrs. Woods, Crosbie and Co.'s cart, he went too near the side of "the gangway, which turned over, and shot his load to the bottom of the harbor. The man only just saved himself by clinging (amidst great excitement) to the rail of the gangway. He was speedily rescued, however, and then commenced the operation of " fishing for beef." The European Mail says : — An ingenious instrument for the cleansing of trees from caterpillars has just come to light. It is invented by a Frenchman, M. Damaniou, of Roziere, near Sainte Foy-la-grande, Gironde, and after a careful trial by the engineer-in-chief in charge of the public thoroughfares in the department of the Seine, has been adopted by the French Minister of Public Works for the cleansing of trees on the public roadways. The instrument consists of a brass tube about four feet long and one inch in diameter, enclosing another of -the same length, which is i Worked by telescopic action. To one end of this an indiar übber tube of equal length, with a mouthpiece is affixed; and at the opposite end is .a small brass receptable for oil, with a fine spray" nozzle. ¦ Petroleum, ! being the most deadly liquid known for the destruction of caterpillars, is preferred to all other oils for use in this instrument, through which it is blown in dense fine spray on to the nests of the insects, causing immediate destruction to them without injuring the trees. The Minister of Education in Victoria, Major Smith, has issued an anti-flogging circular to teachers. This has been very generally criticised during the, discussion on the education vote, but the hon. gentleman stands to it stoutly. He quoted from the London Specta- I tor to prove that flogging was "dying out," and he went on to argue that it is the English and not the, native born boys who are guilty of " cheekiness." The boys kept in in the State school last Saturday for misbehaviour numbered 1508, and of this number only one-sixth were native born. This, says Major Smith, is "a grand fact," disproving the allegations made against the boys of the colony. The Bay of Plenty Times says :-^-Some sheep having died at Colouel Harrington's farm, Mr. j F. Moon, who was working there, made every effort to discover the cause. In the" case of one of the sheep he has found that it was killed by a warm, which had entered the brain, and it is reasonable to suppose that the death of others may be attributed to the same cause. Mr. Moon has shown us the worm, which is about an inch in length and one third of an inch in circumference. In general appearance it is like a caterpillar, though eoidently not one of that species. It was found in the bark part of the base of the brain, and. had made a track from the. fronts part of the train near the back of the eye." Mi\ Moon states that when first discovered it was boring its way along. Previous to its death the sheep had for sometime given signs of irritation 'about the head by rubbing it with its forelegs, and finally it was seized with staggers or paralysis. It can only be a matter of conjecture how the worm entered, whether it germinated from something eaten, or if the germ perforated the sweat ducts, or entered - through the eye. Its . existence in the sheep, and its destructive power aje hovyeye* facts, of gtaye interest to sheep farmers, some of whom may perhaps know more of the matter, than we do. In the interests of the public we should therefore be obliged, if any of our readers are in possession of any knowledge on the subject, they will supply us with it. so-colled medicinal impoptations whioh ate announced to contain the same curative ingredients as UDOfcPHQ WqLTß's SpHEIDAM Aromatic Schnapps, or to possess its peculiar properties. ' The public would do well to avoid such humbugs,, as well as beware of counterfeits of the real article. Both are adulterated and hurtful. Inquire for the genuine.