Evening Post. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1878.

Evening Post, Volume XVI, Issue 43, 2 February 1878, Page 2

Evening Post. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1878.

The labours of the Waterworks Investigation Committee have by no means proved fruitless. The mere appointment of such a committee had the effect of causing the waterworks contract to be pushed on towards completion with additional vigor, while the searching investigation made by Mr. Blackett into the claims advanced by the contractor for extras shows that the latter claimed £4551 14s 6d, while in fact, after allowing for a contra account, a Bum of only £2487 14s was really justly due. It is fortunate for the ratepayers that Mr. Blackett's investigation will result in saving them so large a sum. Connected with this subject, our contemporary, the New Zealand Times, asserts that the Waterworks Engineer, Mr. Marchant, had informed the committee that the extras on the contract would amount to between £6000 and £7000. This statement, if true, would make Mr. Makchant responsible for having committed a very gross blunder. But the statement is not true. Turning to the evidence of Mr. Marchant, as given before the Committee, we find that he Bays: — "When Mr. Saunders made a chum for £3969 for extras, I deducted £1000 from it until Mr. Blackett could look into the matter." At another stage of his examination, Mr. Marchant, after explaining that the sum of £2970 had been paid to Mr. Saunders "on account," added :— " A sum of £3000 is still due to Mr. Saunders for extraß, if he can *«6stantiatc his claim to iL" In the words printed in italics lies the important part of the statement. Mr. March ant's meaning was that Mr. Saunders was prepared to make a claim for this sum, but that he (Mr. Makchant) was not prepared to say

that such a claim -was well-founded. On the same point, Mr. Saundebs says :—": — " I furnished a detailed account to Mr. Makchant of the extras for which the £2970 was paid. I claimed £3969, and Mr. Maechant, after going carefully through the items, said he would only give me a certificate for £2970 on account until Mr. Blackett had inspected the work." The conclusion to be arrived at from -all this is, that while Mr. Marchant thought that at least £2970 was due, Mr. Blackett has since discovered by a more searching investigation that the actual amount owing was £2487 14s, or £483 less. There is not a very great discrepancy after all between the calculations of Mr. Blackett and Mr. Makchant. The facts elicited by Mr. Blackett's investigation go to show how necessary it is that extras in a contract should be examined into and paid for as the work is executed. Had Mr. Saunders retained the cheque for £2970 which was paid to him in such unseemly haste, he would have received £483 more than bis due. As the case Btands, the points in dispute have been cleared up, an excessive claim has been equitably reduced, and the interests of the ratepayers have been protected from injury.

The war news is of the most serious moment. Russia has perfidiously been pretending to desire peace negotiations in order to gain time, and advance upon Constantinople. Already her forces are advancing upon Gallipoli, and unless intervention takes place Constantinople will be threatened. England is apparently now seriously alarmed. The House of Commons has been asked for a huge war vote, and the Mediterranean fleet is ready at a moment's notice to proceed to Gallipoli to defend that place. Sulieman Pasha is to land an army there, and undertake the defence alike in that quarter and at Constantinople. Should peace not now be made, it is evident that a struggle of terrible magnitude and momentous interest is closely impending, because the Turks will fight to the very last extremity.

In another column will be found a graphic and interesting account from " our own correspondent " of the interview which has taken place between the Maori potentate, Tawhiao, and Sir George Grey. Our correspondent, with both skill and graphic power, has contrived to biing all the more interesting incidents of the scene before the minds-eye. His letter will repay perusal.

Our usual Saturday evening's supplement is published with this afternoon's issue of the Evening Post. Cable communication has not been restored, but a steamer arrived at Batavia yesternight, bringing about two hundred telegrams for Australia, and fifteen for New Zealand. We understand that Mr. Travers' proposed visit to Europe has been postponed, owing, wo believe, to a contemplated change in the partnership arrangements of bis firm. In a paragraph in our last issue we stated that Mr. T. Lowes would contest the seat for the Wairarapa with Mr. Pharazyn. The name should have been Mr. William Lowes. The letters of Councillor Fisher and Mr. Crombie are crowded out till Monday. By the outward San Francisco mail, which left at noon to-day, were forwarded from Wellington 306 letters, 21 books, and 225 newspapers to America ; and 4487 letters, 318 books, and 3270 newspapers to London. Advertisements intended for the books of the races on Thursday and Friday next must be sent in to the office of the Evening Post by Tuesday next. The books this year will be better arranged than heretofore. Besides cards of the races, a betting book and sweep tickets will be added, and the railway timetable for each day will also be printed in the book for the day. The governors of the College have awarded scholarships to the three boys who stood highest at the late Provincial Competitive Examination. Their names are Reginald Greville, Wm. Ridler, and Wm. Callaghan, and all are from the Thorndon School. Of the seven scholarships that have hitherto been granted by the College five have been gained by the pupils of this school, the other two falling to the lot of country boys. This speaks volumes for the efficiency of "Mr. Mowbray's teaching and conduct of the school which has been for so many years under his able direction. After the conclusionof the Waterworks Investigation Committee meeting yesterday afternoon, a rather lively scene occurred between Councillor Fisher and Mr. J. M. Perrior, who exchanged various uncomplimentary remarks and challenges to personal combat with refreshing earnestness. No blood, however, .was shed, and as we understand that the affair is to come before the Resident Magistrate, we refrain from entering into any particulars or giving any descriptive details, the case being practically sub judice. The evidence is likely to be exceedingly amusing when the case comes on for hearing. In accordance with the resolution of the City Council, Mr. O'Neill, acting City Surveyor, made arrangements for firing the timegun on Mount Victoria at noon to-day. Lieut. M'Credie and Gunner Robinson, of the Wellington Artillery Volunteers, went up to instruct the signalman in the use of the gun, and he will in future fire it each Saturday at noon. The flash of the gun was almost instantaneous with the fall of the time-ball at the Custom-house, which is taken as the signal for firing. There was another crowded house at the Odd Fellows' Hall last night, when a new programme was presented. Every item was, it is almost needless to say, performed with exceptional ability, from the charming ballads and sentimental songs of Messrs. Brahara, Rockefeller, Amery, and Campbell, to the broad negro sketches and clever dances of Messrs. Hudson and Holly. The United States Minstrels have found out the way to be funny without being vulgar, and to this no small share of their success may be traced. The performance of last night will be repeated this evening. We are requested to state that Mr. W. C. Chatfield, architect, has removed from his late offices, in Panama-street, to larger and more commodious rooms in Mr. Alcorn's building, Lambton Quay. Notice is given by advertisement in another column that an address will be delivered on Sunday evening next, at half-past six o'clock, in the Princess Theatre, Tory-street. A man named Mahonoy came into town yesterday, and in the evening found himself in Jones' barber's saloon. Gambling commenced, and the stakes were gradually increased, until Mahoney was eased of £56. Suspecting foul play, he gave two men with whom he had been playing into custody. Their names are Lewis King and Alexander Muir, and they are known to the police as members of a gang of card-sharpers at present in Wellington. They were this afternoon brought before Mr. Crawford, R.M., and remanded until Monday. Messrs. Kennedy Macdonald and Co. will hold an important sale of freehold and leasehold properties, in both town and country, at the Exchange Land Mart on Monday afternoon. The particulars may be ascertained by a reference to our advertising columns. Mr. Crawford, R.M., had a curious civil action before him this morning. A Mr. Bird sued a Mr. Buck for sixpence, the value of 24Ibs of coal, which plaintiff alleged were short in a hundredweight supplied to him by defendant. Mr. Edwards appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. FitzGerald for defendant. The plaintiff alleged that when he received the coal he weighed it in lots in a pair of small shop-scales, and found 241bs short. It appeared from the evidence that there was illblood between the parties, arising from a dispute at a fire four years ago. Judgment was eventually given for defendant, and the plaintiff was oraered to pay £1 10s costs, besides which he will have to pay his own lawyer. We have received from Mr. Carroll the Wellington Monthly Price Current and Trade Report. The market report this month will be read with exceptional interest. Trade is reported to be sound on the whole, and the demand has been steady, but the market has been somewhat overstocked, owing to arrivals of cargoes from London and elsewhere. The wool shipped from the port of Wellington between November and January 31st is given as 7,102,0101b5, representing a value of £391,862. Although the projected Deep Sea Fishery Company has fallen through, several merchants in town have determined to take the matter up as a private speculation, and Capt. Scoones has left in the cutter Margaret Scolley for Pelorus Sound, for the purpose of building a smoke-house in connection with the undertaking. The head-quarters of the fishery will be at Wellington, and the Margaret Scolly will run regularly to and from the fishing grounds and the port. The Rev. J. Dumbell will fill the pulpit at the Woodward-street Congregational Church to-morrow morning, and the Rev. J. Paterson in the evening. The advertisement states that the Rev. Mr. West is expected to resume his pulpit labors on the Sunday following. {i Richelieu* was produced, at the Princess Theatre last night, with Mr. Dillon as the

Cardinal, and Mias Pender as Julie. To-night a special bill wfll be presented,* opening with the « Blind Girl's Love." This will be followed by a concert, and the sensational drama of "Dick Turpin" wfll conclude the programme. The Choral Society bad a capital rehearsal of " Paradise and the Peri" last evening. There was a large muster of vocalists and instrumentalists, about 70 being present, and the practice was thoroughly successful. A notable feature was the punctuality with which it begun and ended, a reform introduced by the new conductor, who intends rigidly to adhere to it. The Rev. T. Harrington will preach again at the Polytechnic Hall to-morrow morning and evening. The subjects announced are "Comfort for sorrowing- Saints," and "A Startling Announcement."