INTERVIEW BETWEEN MR. ROLLESTON AND TE WHITI.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 89, 13 October 1881, Page 2

INTERVIEW BETWEEN MR. ROLLESTON AND TE WHITI.

• Another "State secret" has taken air through the medium of the Patea Mail, which states that the Minister for Native Affairs (Mr. Rolleston) visited Te Whiti by invitation a few days ago, when they had a long interview, and discussed the situation through an interpreter. It is said that Mr. Rolleßton used very firm language, but that To Whiti appeared dogged, and that the fact of the visit having been paid was kept strictly secret. We find on enqniry that these statements are in the main correct. Mr. Rolleston did visit Te Whiti at Parihaka by invitation, and the result was unsatisfactory, but more than this cannot at present be ascertained, as considerable official reticence is preserved on the Bubject. There is every reason, however.Jto believe that it will not be very long before steps of a decisive nature are taken to put an end to this long standing native difficulty on the West Coast.

The civil sittings of the Snpreme Court will be resumed to-morrow, at 10 a.m. The list for disposal is:— Brown v. Macdonald and another, Gill v. Taylor, Georgeson v. Dransfield and others, Phillip3 v. Foist, and Hill y. Cockburn. The above are all common jury cases. The first case to be heard 18 the one first mentioned. A delay of nearly an hour was experienced at the B.M. Court to-day. Mr. Shaw, Br.ML, we understand, -was unable to attend the Court, intending to pay a visit to Nelson for a few days. The delay occnrred, we suppose, in hunting up the necessary two Justioes to take his place. There was a capital muster of members of the Naval Brigade last night for Captain's parade. About 20 men of the Hutt and Petooi contingent, under Lieutenant Fitzherbert, were among the number. After the corps had been inspected, Captain C. Johnston, on behalf of the Brigade, presented Mrs Eoper, wife of Sergeant Eoper, with the marble time-piece referred to in our yesterday's issue. Sergeant Koper acknowledged tho compliment in suitable terms. The cups given by Messrs. Kohn and Co. and Dr. Diver, were presented to tho winner Seaman A. Dixon, and Mr. Morpeth's medal waa presented to Band-Sergeant H. Dixon. A correspondent writes to ask what is the cheapest material to use for removing the hard substance from the back of pawa shells. We believe hydrochloric acid is generally used, but perhaps some of our readers can give detailed informrtion on the subject. The boating season will be opened on Saturday altarnoon next with a procession of boats, which promises to be an unustially interesting spectacle this year. Particulars will be found in our advertising column*. Additional subscriptions received in aid of the Doran family :— Andrew Young, £1 Is ; L. L. Harris, 10s ; E. Anderson, £l Is; H.D., s* ; Casey and^M'Donald, 10a 6d. Members of the Wellington Guards are notified by advertisement that a special general meeting of the corps will be held this evening at the Manners-street Fire Brigade Station at 7.30 p.m , for the purpose of transacting very important business. A full attendance is particularly requested. The Hospital returns for the week ended yesterday are as follows :— Admissions : Males, 5 ; females, 1. Discharges : Male, 1 ; females, 2. Death : 1 male. Eemaining in the institution : Males, 58; females, 16: total, 74. A correspondent, signinghimself " Militia," writes to U3 :—": — " It is said that the Constabnlary are short of officers, and I can well believe it. A remedy is handy. Ask competent officers of volunteers from any part of the colony to offer their services, say for three months, and ' attach ' them to the A.C. on sub-inspectars' pay. I have no doubt that many volunteer officers, who could afford the time, would gladly avail themselves of an opportunity of seeing active service." It is unfortunate for the sake of the reputation of what is really a very good opera company that Mr. Cary should have placed "The Sorcerer" on the boards of the Theatre Eoyal last night. It was evident that little timo had been given to its preparation, and the consequence was that the majority of the performers did not even know their parts, and the performance was considerably below the level of the amateur representations of the opera that have been given here. We ought to except from the general censure Miss Leaf, who, if, as Aline, she did not come up to the standard of her other impersonations, at any rate played and sang with care. Signor Carmini Morley was not so well acquainted with his part as he should have been, but sang some of the numbers with effect, notably the added song, " It is not love," which elicited almost the only genuine round of applause accorded during the evening. Mr. Wentworth, who appeared as the Vicar, had not the remotest conception of the part, both his acting and make-up leading one rather to suppose that he was representing an habitual criminal disguised in clerical' attire for larcenous purposes. At any rate, no one would have taken him for the grave and dignified vicar of a quiet country village. -Mr. Lissant, who took the part of Fir Marma'duke Pointdextre, the pink of old-fashioned courtesy, stood on the stage for the greater portion of the time in the attitude of a comic countryman. Mr. Barry O'Neill, who came on as Mr. J. W. Wells, sanf the Sorcerer's song— or at least as much of it as he could remember — as if it were a music-hall ditty of the "motto" order. Madane Morley appeared as Lady Sangazure, Miss Amy Johns as Mrs. Partlett, and Miss Lena Wyatt as Constance. There was a well-filled house, and it is a pity so good an audience had not something better put before them. This evening tha company will appear for the last time, when the first act of each of the three operas, " Pirates of Penzance," " Cloches de Corneville," and "Sorcerer," will be presented. At Petoni Church-room laat evening, Mr. George Ashcroft delivered a most interesting lecture on Egypt, g'ancing at the past and present state, and pointing out the probable futnre of that promising country. Mr. Ashcroft's long residence in Egypt and observant mind eminently fitted him for the task he undertook. The lecture was given in aid of the building fund of the Churchroom. Unfortunately, in consequence of a large number of the residents having to attend the parade of the Wellington Naval Brigade, the gathering was not so numerous as it otherwise would have been, but Mr. I Ashcroft kindly promised to repeat the lecture on a iutura evening. Could Mr. Ashcroft be induced to give it in Wellington, he should secure an appreciative audience, who would have an opportunity of hearing a capital lectnre. The tea meeting held last Monday evening at the Good Templar's Hall, Lower Hutt, in connection with the Perseverance Lodge, was well attended. The after-meeting wa3 presided over by Mr. James Godber, and addresses were delivered by Messrs. Price, Hall, and Strand. Miaa Bruce ably presided I at the harmonium, and several recitations were given by members of the order. The Kising Star Juvenile Temple held its weekly ses»ion on Monday evening ; it was condacted by Mr. W. Johnson. A further increase was niado to the membership. Several of the children gave readings and recitations. Members and friends of the Wellington Young Men's Christian Association are reminded of the half-yearly social gathering which is advertised to take place at the Association Kooma this evening.

Having in view possible " contineencies" on the West Coast, the Government have sent a circular telegram to volunteer officers in all parts of the colony, asking if their respective districts would be disposed to furnish volunteers for service on the West Coast, the men to be paid at the same rate as the Armed Constabulary. To this Major Pitt, of Nelson, sent the following reply :— " Government can rely on services of volunteers Nelson district in case required. Will consult corps and communicate further withont delay. Respectfully venture to suggest that Governor should call out all efficient corps in colony for active service for limited period in case of emergency under section 36, Volunteer Act, 1881." The clause of the Act referred to empowers the Governor to call out for active service any volunteer corps or portion of corps ; and officers and men so ordered are bound to assemble and remain in active service until released, but no member, except with his consent, or in any case of emergency, is compelled to serve in any place distant more than twenty mi!e3 from the headquarters of hU company. The Karori United Lodge, No. 46, 1.0. G.T., held its usnal weekly session la-:t evening. 'Iherewasa large attendance of members, and two additional candidates were added to the roll. A fraternal visit was received from the Star of Wellington Lodge. Bro. Johnston, G.W.C.T., gave a short address, and congratulated the lodsre on the great improvement he saw every time he visited it, both in the numbers and the tone of the lodge generally. Songs, dialogues, and recitations, were given by visitors and members, and a very pleasant evening was Bpent. The Band of Hope held its usual weekly meeting on Tu°Bday evening, at the Taita, Lowpr Hutt. Mr. W. Haynes superintended the children and gave an address. Mrs. James, who takes a great interest in the children, gave a suitable reading. In connection with the approaching bazaar of the Wesley Church Sunday School, a meeting of the School Committee, teachers, stall-holders and their assistants is convened to take place in the schoolroom, Taranakistreet, to-morrow evening. Cats are proverbially gifted with nine lives, and in this respect are entitled to much admiration. They must, however, look to their laurels if they desire to maintain this reputation, for they possess a formidable rival in the shape of a Cubastreet hen, which has jast accomplished a feat which is only superseded by that of tho late celebrated Pr. Tanner, of America. Exactly three weeks ago some boys took it into their heads to give chase to the fowl in question, which, in its fright, flew on tho top of a house adjoining the establishment of Mr. Gear, butcher, Cubastreer, concluding by lodging itself between two walls only a few inches apart. Here it found itself firmly wedged in, and like the famous sticking plaster in the well-worn song, the more it tried to get free " tho more it stuck the faster." Last evening Mr. Barlow's attention was attracted by a faint, half-hearted " cackle " coming from the direction of the place where the hen had lodged herself. After a great deal of trouble he, with tho assistance of a very sma 1 boy, who creDt through a hole made in the boarding, succeeded in rescuing the hen (which by this time was nothing more than " a bundle of feathers ") from its perilous pos'tion. How it managed to sustain life during this long period without food and in such an inconvenient situation borders on the marvellous Meanwhile, the hen is still alive, and means to contrtbute its quota to the Wellington egg-market with as little delay as possible. The Feilding Borough Council has decided to raise a loan of ,£5,000. Tho "Timaru Labour League" some short time addressed a communication to the Government of Queensland, enquiring what inducements they would hold out in the way of assisting people from here to go to QueenFland and settle there. A reply was received on Saturday stating that no assistance or promise of any sort conld be given. It will be Been by an advertisement in another column that the manager, Air. Gallic, of the New Zealand Clothing Factory, notifies that they were awarded at the late Dnnedin Exhibition First Order of Merit, and also highly commended for the excellence of their manufactures. The manager also announces that he is now showing new seasons goods, which are well worth inspecting. Messrs. T. Kennedy Macdonald & Co. sell to-morrow, at 230 o'clock under instructions from the Registrar of the Supreme Court, town acre 753, situated in Adelaide Road, near the Tramway Hotel, together with a cottage erected thereon. After which the sale of part of the household furniture of the late Dr. Harding, particulars of which appear in another column. Messrs. Francis Sidey & Co. will sell tomorrow, asphalte plant, furniture, landau, waggon, tallow, &c.

Lawn Tennis is now suoh a favorite pa«time and mode of recreation that attire suitable for it becomes a Necessity. James Smith, Te Abo House, has just received per mail steamer, a select assortment of Lawn Tennis Hats, in cream, pale blue, Royal blue, Bcarlet, cardinal pink, brown, and mottled. For garden parties, games of croquet, and lawn tennis, nothing is so becoming and charming as the Japanese ¦Sunshades, just imported. 'Lhese are in universal use in the Old Country, and being exceedingly pretty, novel and inexpensive, should, as the quantity is but limited, meet with a ready sale. For Lawn Tennis Dresses nothing can surpass a beautiful make of diagonal twilled cream serge. For perfection of finish and durability this material is unrivalled, and can be obtained at James Smith's, 1c Abo House.— FA dvt."|