Evening Post. FBI DAY, AUGUST 5, 1881.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 31, 5 August 1881, Page 2

Evening Post. FBI DAY, AUGUST 5, 1881.

THE L T QUARTER'S ACCOUNTS. ? The accounts of the colony for the last quarter (ended 30th June), the first of the current financial year, are now published. Starting on Ist April with a cash balance of i>85,533 in hand, the receipts for the quarter from taxation, "services," and all other sources excepting land sales, amounted to £764,012. This was made up as follows (shillings and pence in every case being omitted): — Taking first the prooeods of taxation, Customs yielded i 5309,977; Property Tax, .£35,361 j stamps, .£30,630 ; beer duty, £12,296 ; arrears of land-tax, £636 ; total, £388,902. For " services rendered," the respective receipts were : — Railways, £219,671; postal, £33,929; telegraphic, £18,4 M; judicial, £12,035; land transfer and deeds registry, £10,795 ; resistration and other fees, £3249 ; marine, £2788 ; miscellaneous, £12,946; total, £313,8ii0. To the3e has to be added the legitimate territorial revenue, i c , that derived from depasturing licenses, rents, &c.,— the proceeds of land sales of conrse being excluded — producing £01,249. This brings up the total ordinary revenue for the quarter to £764,012. The ordinary expenditure during the quarter amounted to £718,860, classed under the following headings: — Permanent appropriations, £340,911, viz.— Civil list, £6456 ; interest and sinking fund, £325,016 ; appropriations under special Acts of the Legislature, £9408. The expenditure under annual appropriations amounted to £376,973, viz :— Legislative, £2100 ; Colonial Secrotary's Department, £48 764 ; Treasury, Ac, £9913; Justice Department, £26,887; Postal and Telegraphic, £55,467; Customs, £15,491 ; Stamps, £5151 ; Education, £68,633; Native Affairs, £3998; Mines; £2309 ; Pnbho Works, £101,480 ; Defence, £36,725. To these sums has to be added £975, on account of " services not provided for," bringing up the total to £718,860. Deducting this from the total ordinary revenue, £764,012, it leave 3 a surplus for the quarter of £45,152. lint in addition to the ordinary expenditure above quoted, deficiency bills to the amount of £94,200 were paid off during the quarter. These were bills issued undor the Public Revenues Act, 1878, and fell due on 30th June. Against this may be set the balance from the previous quarter, £88,533, whioh increased the total receipts to £852,546, so that after meeting the total expend tnre, £813,060, there is a Burplus of £49,486 for the quarter. On the other hand, however, new deficiency bills to the amount of £200,000 have been issued in aid of revenue. This increases the apparent receipts to £1,052,546. If from thh sum bo subtracted £813,060, the total expenditure—, made up of the ordinary expenditure £718,860, and the deficiency bills paid off, £94,2c0-an apparent surplus of £239,485 is left, that being the credit balance on 30th June last.' This balance is composed of the following items : — cash in the public account, and in transitu, £49,524; advances in the hands of officers of the Government, £178,310; worn silver coin in transitu to tho Melbourne mint, £11,650. In regard to the last item a sum of £8500 appears among the roceipts as having accrued under this head. The re3u.ts of the quarter's operations as above set forth, are on the whole satisfactory and encouraging The Land Fund Account, so far as it relates to land sales, is kept entire'y separate. It is to be hop-, d that this will always be done, in the spirit as well as in the lottcr, the folly of treating land-sale proceeds as revenue — equivalent to regarding capital as income - haviDg been abundantly manifest in late years. Iho recaipts from cash land sales during the quarter were £50,176, and those from sales on deferred payments £2815 ; total, £52,991, tha actual land rovenuo for tho quarter. The credit balanc9 brought forward from the previous quarter was £32,373. The expenditure was £47,824, "viz., £29,095 departmental expenses, &c. ; £15,618 endowment to tho New Plymouth Harbour Board; £2842, one-third proceeds of deferred-payment land sales, paid to local bodies, and £-66 under the Ellesmere and Forsyth Reclamation and Akaroa Railway Trust. Deducting this from tho receipts, a balance of £37,541 is left to be carried forward to next qnarter. The large proportion of the land sale prooeeds handed over to the New Plymouth Harbour Board — nearly one-third of the entire sum — ought to elicit some comment in Parliament, 'lhe Hon. Mr. Waterhouse took up the question very ably last year, and we hope he will revive | the matter this session. Ho showed conclusively that the Board was not legally entitled to chum this large cl.cc out cf the proceeds of confiscated land 3 sold, and the moral claim is still woakar. At any rate the Board ou?ht only to receive the net proceeds after all the expenses to which the colony has been put in rendering it saleable had been deducted. Assuredly the West Coast hind ought to be charged with the cost of keeping the large p.rmy of Constabulary in that district. If this is not done, a very uncomfortable suspicion is created that tha rest of the colony '

is mulcted in £ 100,000 a year or co, merely to acquire endowmei ta for the Taranaki Harbour, which seems likely to remain a harbour in cloud-land for many years to come. The question &s to the justice of Taranaki'a claim to receive 25 per cent, of the confiscated land proceeds ought to be raiped in the House of Representatives as it was last year in the Legislative Council by Mr. Wat^rhouse. As it is the entire colony is largely subsidising one particular Harbour Board, and it is not surprising to p.nd. Timaru, Gisborne, and a host of otner minor portß clamouring for similar substantial endowments. Nor is it easy to deny the justice of their claim while the law is so widely stretched for the benefit of Taranaki.

This afternoon a caucus of Nelson and Westlan.d members was held with reference to the Redistribution of Seats Bill, when it was decided, we understand, that Mr. Gisborne should move, when the bill came up, a resolution to the effect that the basis of population alono in the distribution of representation is unsuitable to the requirements of the colony, and that the principle of dividing the whole colony into single electorates is unsatisfactory. It is eaid that if the Government proceed with the financial debate to-night, a no-con-fidence motion will be moved. Mr. Levestam will to-day ask leave of the House to introduce a bill to authorise the Construction of a Patent Slip in Nelson Harbour, and to provide an endowment in support of the cost of the construction thereof. Mr. Hufchißon, who has recently manifested an affectionate and fatherly interest in printers connected with the Government Printing Office, will to-day, barring accidents, ask the Colonial Secretary whether, a<3 >"t is now proposed to discontinue tho deduction of 10 per cent, from the salaries of Civil Servants, he will not also order the discontinuance of the daily extra hour of work given by the printers in the Government Printing Office -a daily extra hour imposed on those employes in lieu of the 10 per cent, reduction ? Tha bill introduced by Mr. Stevens, M.H.R., to amend the Municipal Corporations Act, 187 C, is a very short one of only four clauses. Its effect is to empower Municipal Councils to make by-laws, not repugnant to tho laws of the colony. In the House yesterday, the Hon. Mr. Dick had the pleasure of presenting a petition signed by 112 Christchurch residents against the Gaming and Lotteries Bill, which he is endeavoring to father through the House. Mr. Stevens also presented a petition from 845 residents in Canterbury against the prohibition of consultations. Query— How many of these 845 consultationistshad a stake in George North's Sweep? Sir George Grey's Parliamentary Oaths Bill provides that, it shall bo lawful for every person elected to be a member of tho House of Representatives, before taking his seat therein, to make, in lieu Of the oath now by law required to be so taken, the following promise, affirmation, or declaration before the person or persons empowered to administer the same, that is to say — " I, A.8., do sincerely promise and affirm for deolarej that I will be faithful, and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria." The twenty-second annual report of the General Pest Office has beon presented to Parliament. Tho amalgamation of the Postal and Telpgraph Departments is stated to have worked satisfactorily. Amalgamation of offices enabled fifteen officers to be dispensed with, whose aggregate salaries amounted to £2761. The total revenue, for the first time on record, exceeded the expenditure, tha excess being £8957. Hitherto there has always been an excess of expenditure. During the year 22,821,468 letters were posted or delivered, an increase of 1,866,650 over the preceding year. The letters posted in the colony averaged 24 to each person of the population. The Post Office collected £41,266 of tha total sum yielded by the Property Tax. It is proposed that for the future the Post Office shall collect the whole of the Property Tax, as well as other items of revenue. The " official correspondence " between New Zealand and j Great Britain amounted, during the year, i 65S tons, the postal value being £109,049. A parcel post between Great Britain and the colony is under consideration. During the past 10 years the postal revenue has increased 219 per cent., but the expenditure only 57 per cent. Since tha establishment of Post Office Savings Banks in the colony in 1867, 120,799 accounts have been opened, and 82,132 closed. The total amount deposited from the commencement of the savings bank system, inclusive of the interest credited to depositors, was £7,539,696 5s 9d, and the total amount withdrawn was £6,635,930 8s lid. The total amount of interest placed to the credit of depositors since the establishment of the Post Office Savings Bmks in this colony was £278,545 4^ Bd. During tho last quarter of the year 1830 the balances at the credit of depositors wero classified according to their amounts, with the following result :— 2O depositors had balances exceeding £500, 42 from £400 to £500, 99 from £300 to £400, 374 from £200 to £300, 1696 from £100 to £200, and 3963 from £50 to £100. The remaining depositors— upward of 31 000— had balances of under £50 at the credit of their aoconnts. Up to the end of March last 3681 new savings bank accounts were opened by means of the arrangement recently adopted in the United Kingdom for facilitating the saving of pence, by accepting cards having penny postage stomps 10 tho value of one shilling as a deposit of that amount in Po3t Office Savings Banks, which was introduced in Now Zealand in February last, for tho exclusive convenience of schoolchildren. A first meeting of the creditors of Charles Philip iSisson was convened at the Supreme Court Buildings at 11 o'clock this morning. The debtor estimates his liabilities at £77 14s, the principal debts being due to Mes3rs. W. Nicholson (cabinetmaker) and J. Gear (butcher). The assets comprise £25 worth of wearing apparel and furniture. Mr. M'Donald presided, and Mr. A. Barlow was* elected creditors' trustee. In the course of a brief examination the debtor stated that his salary was £148 10a per annum, which was supplemented by a contribution of £1 per week from his son. Out of this income he had nine mouths to feed. Having filed, he was now suspended from his situation. Ho had no offer to make, but if the creditors wero able to suggest any course, he would be most happy to meet them. The creditors Eaid they would oppose M 3 discharge if they were unable to obtaiu any satisfaction out of the estate. The following appointments have been made in the Grey town Rifla Volunteers :—: — Captain John Tully, New Zealand Militia, to be captain ; Daniel Cameron to be lieutenant ; Joseph Avery to be sub-lieutenant ; Henry Howell Spratt to be honorary assist-ant-surgeon ; Rev Henry Vere White to be honorary chaplain. The lad Thomas Cameron, who was brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday as a neglected child, and remanded for the purpose of enabling the police to make enquiries regarding his circumstances, was again taken before the Magistrate during the course of the afternoon, and committed to the Auckland Training School for a term of three years. Mr. J. B Redward visited Somes Island in the steam-launch Te Aro yesterdiy, with the view of Boeing that the quarantine station wa3 in readiness, in anticipation of the arrival of the s.s. Wakatipu from Sydney next week. Section 22a, Block X, Paikakariki, containiug 249 a2r 32n, and Section 3, Block IV., Bolmont, containing ldd\ acres, both in the Wellington District, have been set apart by proclamation as endowments for primary education. The Postmaster-Genera] in his annual report remarks : — "' The department was instrumental in intercepting and returning to tho writers 55 letters, containing £70 7a 4d in notes, money orders, and cheques, posted to the promoter of a" Consul tation " for a very large amount on one of the principal horse races, but who, in the meantime, levanted with a considerable portion of the spoil. Several letters, which had been opened, were also returned to thePobt Office from the business establishment of the proprietor. An examination of these disclosed that the remittances in notes and gold had been appropriated, but that money orders and bank drafts had not been disturbed. This circumstance is mentioned merely for the purpose of showing the additional security afforded chose who send remittances through the post by means of money orders, bank drafts, or cheques." The vestry of St. Peter's parish have decided to make a quarterly appeal to the congregation, commencing next Sunday, in order to bring more constantly under their notice the necessity there is for reduoing the debt upon the church as quickly as possible. The offertories on those Sundays, after deducting the ordinary average for general expenses, will be devoted to the fund for reducing the debt. A sum of £196 16s 8d was colic.ted last year, when a drawing took place, and debentures amounting to £195 paid off therewith. We are informed that three milk cans, which are to be seen every morning at the railway station, prior to their being retnrned to tha Hutt, arc in a most offensive condition, emitfe'ng a stench that is absolutely overpowering. The so-called "cans" are in reality old oil-drums repaired, and it is to be hoped that the want of cleanliness observed in regard to them by tho owner is the exception and not the rule among dairymem who supply Wellingtoa.

II is expected that there will be a long debate in the House of .Representatives to-night on the financial proposals of the Government. The Estimates will probably be gone on with on Monday next, and the Public Works Statement will moat likely be brought down on Tuesday. In reference to the Estimates for the Police Department, we are informed that they involve a reduction in pay to the extent df sixpende per diem to all Bergeants and constablos in the force. The case of Alexander Brogden, Henry Brogden, and James Brogden, suppliants, against her Majesty the Queen, respondent, came before his Honor Mr. Justice Richmond, in Chambers, this morning. The Bnppllanta appeared to show cause why all proceedings in this action should not bo stayed, on the grounds, mainly, that the claims in the petition were disputed within clause 32 of the general conditions of the Contract set ont in the second count, and that such claims ought to be submitted to arbitration in the manner directed by "The Government Contractors Arbitration Act, 1872." Mr. W. T. L. Travers, with him Mr. C. W. Cave, appeared to show cause ; and Mr. Gordon Allan, with him Mr. H. D. Bell, for the respondent. After hearing the argument, his Honor reserved hia decision. On Saturday (to-morrow) evening the train ordinarily leaving Wellington for Lower Hutt at 7.30 p.m. will start at 7.15, a quarter of an hour earlier than usual, and will return from Lower Hutt at 10.45 p.m. An accident occurred on board the ship Fernglen this morning. The engineer in charge of the steam-winch while the vessel was discharging cargo, unfortunately managed to get his hand jammed in the machinery, crushing it badly. He was taken at once to Dr Diver's by the mate of the vessel. Dr. Diver lound it necessary to amputate three fingers at the first joint. The mate, who wa3 kindly assisting the injured man, and holding him during the operation, found the task too much for his nerves, and fainted, falling so heavily as to cut his head rather severely. His wound was dressed, and wo understand both sufferers are proceeding favorably. The enquiry into the stranding of the s.s. Wakatu, at Patea, was held before the Collector of Customs this morning. Captain Evana' evidence went to show that, while crossing the bar, the yes-el was struck by a heavy sea, and, the water being shallow at the time, she was canted on to the beach inside the bar. The mat-t's evidence corroborated that of the captain, and proved that there was no blame to be attached to anyone. The plaintiff in an interpleader snmmons case was committed for trial by Mr. X Shaw, R.M., yesterday afternoon on a charge of wilful and corrupt perjury. The case originated through the disputed ownership of a spring-cart. John William Noman, a well-known carter of tht3 city, sued Adam Miller to recover the vehicle in qnestion, which ho alleged to bo his property, and to have been illegally detained by the defendant. Upon this a claim to the cart was set up by the Equitable Building and Investment Society, on the ground that the vehicle was included in a certain bill-of-sale held by the society over property in Noman's possession. The cart, it appears, was placed in the custody of Miller some time ago for repairs ; and Miller now stated that it was loft in his possession as security for a certain debt owing by jSoman. The plaintiff, however, deposed on oath, that at the time ho took the cart to Miller he only owed him a few shillings. On the other hand, Miller deposed, with an equal degree of affirmation, that at that time Noman owed him £8 Is. The two statements beinsr directly opposed to each other, hia Worship, looking at the probabilities of the case, ordered Noman to be taken into enstody to stand hia trial at the. next sittings of the Supreme Court, on a charge cf perjury. Meanwhile, the further hearing of the intarplead'ir summons was postponed to await the result of that trial. The prisoner was afterwards admitted to bail on his own recognisance of £200, and one surety of .£IOO, Mr. S. Bishop giving tho necessary security. The bazaar opened at the Athenaaum Hall yesterday afternoon, in aid of tho funds of St. Mark's Church, attracted a very larg? number of visitors, both during the afternoon and in the evening. The fair stallholders succeeded in driving a good bnpk business till the hour of adjournment, the purchasers evidently being uuable to resist the exceedingly reasonable prices afc which the articles are marked. The music provided by the band of the Wellington Guards waß of a very eDJoyable kind, and in no small measure added to the many attractions of the bazaar, which was continued to-day, and will close to-morrow evening. These desirous of combining with pleasure a little business in the way of purchasing " bargains" might do much worse than visit tho Athenroum while the bazaar remains open. Yesterday's takings amounted to <£L4l. The following additional names of thoso ladies who assisted at tho bazaar have beon supplied to us : — The Misses Krceft, Pauling, C Munroe, Kennedy, Lee, and Barnard. Mrs. Brown has charge of the chinaware stall, and Mrs. Francis presides over the dolls stall. In our previous notic3 tho names were reversed. Mention ought also to bo made of Miss Mountain, who makea a most efficient post-mistress. The namo of Miss Ateaoham accidentally appeared as " Miss Meek " yesterday. Regarding those addenda, we have to explain that the names already furnished were supervised by the ]tev. Mr. Coffey, the incumbent of St. Mark'B, and the omissions referred to have occurred quite unintentionally. Tho names already published number no fewer than forty-seven. Our readers will remember the Rodanow watch swindle It has cropped up again in the report ot the Postmaster-General's, who makes the following observations on the subject : — '* Tho extent to which bogus companies have boon established in the United States, and advertised for purposes of fraud, is well known. The evil had assumed such proportions that the United States Post Ofiics determined, in the public interest, to interfere, and to intercept letters addressed to per.30113 or companies known to have been established and advertised for fraudulent purposes. One of those, the Bodanow Watch-manufacturing Company of Boston, recently advertised very extensively in this colony, and numbers of persons, eager to secure a first-class watch at a moderate price, sent remittances to the so-called company. How many remittance letters from Now Zealand may have reached the company it is impossible to state, but by recent mails from New York 61 letters addressed to the Kodatow Watch-nmnufaoturing Company, Boston, originating in this colony, and covering bank notes, drafts, money orders on London, and postage stamps, to the value of .£163, were returned to this office, which would otherwise have been lodt to the senders but for the vigilance of the Post Office officials. It ha-s been estimated that no less than 207 persons or firms were, at the commencement of this year, conducting throughout the United States fraudulent lotteries and other schemes to defraud the public. It therefore behoves tho publio to be satisfied of the hond fides of advertisers. It is not always possible to detect fraudulent companies in their initial stages." It has been arranged that a football match shall be played at the Lower Hutt to-morrow afternoon, between teams picked from the Civil Service and Town players. Ihe teams will proceed to the scene of action by a train which leaves the Wellington station at 2 30 p.m. The following aro the names of th« Town team: — Morrah, Firth, Barnicoat, Luxford, Kenner, Harris, Peat, Flint, P. C. Brown, Roberts, H.Burns, Lewis, Jagger, Mansfield, and W. Mansill ; emergencies — Stohr and Chubb. The Civil Service team will comprise the following players -. — J. W. Brown, Campbell, T. Davis, Dumbell, Duncan, Gibbes, Hickson, W. Holmes, King, Kreeft, Mit», M'Cardell, Eobert% Eussell, and Warbriok; emergencies — Gardnsr, Porter, and Varnham. A special train will leave the Wellington station at 2 30. We have received a copy of the " Peasant Polka," arranged by Mr. A, E. King, of this city, and published by Mr. G. Eeichardt, Lambton Quay. It is a pretty and sparkling polka, in the key of E flat, with the usual *' trio" in the subdominant. It is not difficult to play, and with the present revival of the polka as a fashionable dance, it will no doubt be in large demand. A correspondent wishes to be informed whether, under the new and very stringent laws framed for tho prevention of gambling, it will be criminal to use the expression " you bet." We should say unquestionably. Mr. E. E. Evenden writes to us :—": — " I, for one, in answer to your challenge, for it is nothing less, am quite willing to give every facility for an inspection— either by the public or any other person appeinted— of the dairies which supply me with milk, and the utensils used in the delivery of it." The second-clas3 shots and band of the Wellington Naval Brigade will compete for two cups and other prizes to-morrow afternoon, at the Polbill Gully range. The regular monthly meeting of the Standing Committee of the Wellington Diocesan Synod was held last evening. Present— The Bishop (President), Archdeacon Stock, Eev3. B. W. Harvey and T. Fancourt, Hon. C. J. Pharazyn, Messrs. Powles, Lowe, Didsbury, Quick, and Eons Marten. A lengthy discussion took place relative to the General Church Fund, and it was resolved that reminders should be sent to those whose promised subscriptions were in arrear, also that the clergy of the diocese should be reque-ted to take every opportunity of bringing before the parishioners the claims of the fund. The President mentioned that it was his intention to call the Diocesan Synod j together as early in October next as the bu mess could bo got ready. After dealing with various routiuo matters the meeting adjourned. '

The subject of the address to be given tomorrow evening by the Rev W. J. Habens, at the rooms of the Wellington Young Men's Christian Association, will bo " Illustrations of cases stated in the preface to the revised New Testament." "A Late Member" writes—" If the committee of the Athenasum wish an increase of members by adapting their rule 3to the timefl, I tnink they may do so. Let them make a uniform charge of, say fiTe shillings per quarter, whether yearly or quarterly ; and also allowing the public to join at any date, the quarter commencing from the same Also let them bring their terms to the public notice." The ordinary weekly meeting of the Wesleyan Mutual Improvement Society was held last evening, whpn a very interesting essay on "111-temper, ill-humour, and ill-nature," was read by Mr. J. W. Ffrost. There was a good attendance, and the President (Key. W. Kirk) occupied the chair. The various volunteer companies will assemble at the Drill Shed this evening at 7.30, for inspection by Lieut.-Colonel Pearce. Mata returned to New Zealand by the Te Anau, on Tuesday, and was landed at Port Chalmers, being taken thence to Goodman's etasles, at the Forbury. His ultimate destination, says the Canterbury Times, ia at present uncertain, for one or two persons in Dunedin are negotiating for his purchase. In any event, he is pretty sure to take part in the Canterbury Spring Meeting. He is in very good condition, and will not want a great deal of work to make him fit by November. The Star of Wellington Lodge held its wflakly session last evening in No. 0 room at the Athenasum. Several reports were read, which showed that a number of members have joined the lodge during the quarter. The following officers having been duly elected, were installed by Bro. Harris, the Lodge Deputy : — Bro. Thompson, W.C.T.; Sister Thompson, W.V.T.; Bro. Payne, W.S.; Bro. Robinson, W.T.; Bro. Frances, W.F.S.; Sister D. Valentine, W.C.; Bro. J. Arcus, W M ; Bro. Stagpoole, W.1.G.; Bro. D. Ellis, W 0.G.; Sister J. Tucker, W.D.M.; Bro B. Arcus, W.A.S.: Bro. D. D. Hydo, P W.C.T. It was announced that the Rescue Lodge had removed its quarters to the Primitive Methodist school-room, Webbstreet, and that the Karori Lodgo would give a fraternal vidit next Thursday evening. The Lyttelton Times takes much the same view as ourselves in regard to the Gaming and Lotteries Bill. It says: — "We can only suggest one improvement. Let a clause bo added providing for the whipping of offenders at the post and the cart's tail, for the free use, in this regard, of the pillory and the stocks, and for the application of torture to suspected persons, and the measure will be complete. Then, if it is labelled with a remote date, say A.D. 1300, and exhibited as a relic of the good old times at some show like ' Ye old English Fayro,' of which the illustrated papers are jnst now full, it will be en regie. Under no other circumstances can the bill be looked upon with toleration. ..... The logic of this tremendous attempt to make severe moralists of all colonial mankind is quite incomprehensible. It regards the totalisator as moral, but condemns bookmaking as wicked. What is the difference between them in principle ? They are both gambling. There is the same identity of principle between the totalisator and a sweepstake, or a ' consultation,' and less difference of degree. Yet the first is a proper thing for the people to indulge in, while the others are puni9hed with fine and, if repeated, with imprisonment And this is the bill upon which so much Ministerial thought and labor have bean extended. It is a compromise with the public acknowledged propensity for gambling, and a stupid compromise. It includes so much in its sweeping provisions that it can never be enforced." The New Zealand Herald, referring to Mr. Murray's Bill re duration of Parliaments, says — "It were not easy to conceive a more glaring instance of the treatment whi^h constituents raceive from the members, than the impudent attempt which is now being made to tamper with tho constitution. It was but yesterday that Triennial Parliaments were approved of by the Legislature, and now Mr. Murray has cirried the firsb reading of his Bill again to alter their duration and period, and the second reading has been affirmed by 37 votes to oi There has not been any sis;n of dissitisfaotion shown with tha late change ; no meeting hai been hold condemning it; not a petition has been presented to the House to repeal it, and yet, in the last session of Parliament, and without" the oonstituents being allowed to express any opinion on the matter, an attempt is being made to effect such a change. That this matter has been arranged there can be no doubt, because nothing were easier than to hold the matter over and allow the constituencies to expros3 their opinion at the approaching general election. It is presumed, however, that they would not tolerate this and bo Parliament is asked, and 37 members consent to give their constituencies th-i go-by, and leave them to make the best of what they could not help. Mr. Murray has so far been fairly sucoessf ul, but should tho House have the audacity to alter the duration of its own existence, without first having the approval of their constituencies, these same constituencies should, at the noxb general election, inflict such a penalty as would taach tho offenders and all othera tho peril of exercising a power which depends upon their good pleasure." The Nelson Colonist records an act of liberality on tho part of the Norwich Union Insurance Company. Mrs. Hyland, of Motueka, had arranged to insure her house, but through a misunderstanding omitted to pay the premium, supposing ehe had commissioned a friend to do that. Her house, which she supposed to be insured, waa burned, and on the local agent laying tho case before the Home directors they replied that they did not wish to avail thotnselves of a teohiicality, and being satisfied that the non-pay-ment of premium waa a pure oversight, they instructed that the sum intended to be insured, ;Cl5O, should be paid in full, which was done accordingly. The Lyttelton Times of yesterday has a strong article condemning the Irish sympathy meeting held in Wellington on Monday last, and especially tho resolution carried on the motion of Mr. Tole, M,H.R., in favor of establishing a branch of the Land. League in New Zealand. The Ly fctelton Times says : — '' It is a deliberate proposal to import the f eu Js and grievances of the Mother v. ountry into this community. As such it calls for sharp rebuke and disavowal. Sanctioned as it is by members of the Liberal Party in the Assembly, efforts will doubtless be made to connect the projeot with New Zealand Liberalism. On behalf of that Liberalism, a prompt denial should be made. As a mere mattor of expediency, nothing could be more short-sighted than to attempt to force a branch of the Land League on New Zealand. What have we to do with the League, or it with us ? The very name would throw an ill-omened shadow on the party concerned, however indirectly, in the attempt. Most assuredly, either the language of the last resolution has been misreported, or the meeting which endowed it must have done so with very little consideration." Messrs. Sidey & Co. will sell to-morrow, furniture, tea, &c. Messrs. Croskery, Hasell & Co. will sell to-morrow, mare, waggon, furniture, &c. Messrs. Laery & Campbell will sell tomorrow, fruit, produce, tobacco, &c. Messrs. Dwan & Co. will sell to-morrow, furniture, cbinaware, tea, cheeae, &c. Messra. W- M'Lean & Co. will sell tomorrow, tea, ironmongery, furniture, &c.