THE CANTERBURY MEMBERS AND THE MINISTRY.

Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 58, 5 September 1885, Page 2

THE CANTERBURY MEMBERS AND THE MINISTRY.

It is understood that the East and West Coast and Nelson Bailway party held a meeting yeaterday and resolved to insist on tha Government making the .£150,000 vote for commencing the railway a Ministerial question. This resolution has, we believe, been communicated to Ministers, accompanied by a diatinot intimation that unless the terms are acceded to, tha party will be prepared to assist any further attempt which may be made to oust the Government from office. We are not aware whether any formal reply has been sent to this communication, but we believe that the Government will absolutely refuse to comply with its requirements, and oertainly all members, whatever their party differences on questions of general policy, Bhould resist such an impudent attempt at dictation on a matter of this kind — an attempt to levy blackmail on the oolony.

The Public Petitions Committee have recommended that Mr. £. M. Smith's request to be heard at the bar of the House, on tbe subject of colonial industries, should net be acoeeded to.

We are requested by the Post Offioe Department to point ont that onr correspondent " G," in his letter published in onr issns ojf the 2nd instant on the Bnbjeot of Foat Oflioe S»Tinga Bank interest, wrote under a complete misapprehension of the rule. Exoept in the oase of accounts ojosed I dnring the year, the interest dne to depositors is calculated to, and credited on, the 31st December in each year ; and it is then that interest for the month in whioh an aooonnt iB transferred from an old to a new book is placed to the depositors' oredit. The railway station and the Wellington terminus hare been placed in communication with the Telephone Exchange, the aervioe being condaoted on the samo wire.

A serious error occurred in the report published by oar morning oontempormry yesterday of the proceedings before the Hospital Commission on the previous day, a remark made by the Chairman of the Hospital Committee expressing his individual opinion about the dismissal of the nurses being attributed to the Chairman of the Eoyal Commission, Mr. Beeves. We need hardly say that Mr. Beeves did not express any opinion on the point. The New Zealand Times should this morning certainly have corrected its error, as the mistake had led to Mr. Beeves being made the subject of severe censure and attack, of course quite undeservedly. As the Times has not made the correction we now draw attention to the error. The matter was also referred to by the Chairman of the Commission at its meeting this morning. A report of what Mr. Beeves said on the subject will be found elsewhere. The remark made by the Chairman of the Committee was correotly reported in our issue on Thursday evening. Mr. D. Climie, C.E., has obtained letters patent for a graving dock, the most important feature of which is that it will require no elaborate or expensive machinery for pumping. The case of Warn v. Taylor, an aotion to recover damages for alleged breaoh of contract in connection with the ereotion of a cottage in Percival-street, was continued in the Supreme Court until a late hour yesterday afternoon. The suit was not finished when the Conrt rose, and it will be resumed on Monday. The quarterly meeting of the Cook lioensing Committee was held at the City Counoil offices at noon to-day. There were present — Messrs. F. H. Fraser (ohairman), S. Danks, and James Wilson. Applications for permanent transfers were granted as follows : — City Hotel, from Jessie Ewing to Geo. M. Tabor ; Prince of Wales Hotel, from Henry Phillips to Charles B. PreßS. The attention of the Bench was directed to the faot that no application had been made for a permanent transfer of the license of the Army and Navy Hotel from J. F. M. Faber to William Gill. In order that the house might not be shut tip at onoe, the Benoh adjourned the consideration of the matter for a fortnight. Keplying to the Chairman, Inspector Goodall stated that he had heard no complaints regarding the closing of the hotels at 11 o'clook. The Chairman mentioned that he had heard some publioans say that several of the houses were not punctually closed. The Chairman further said there were two matters which had been brought under his notice in conneotion with a certain hotel in Cook Ward. He had been informed that three girls, none of whom were over 14, had entered the house in question and been Bupplied with liquor. In regard to the other matter, he had been told that a fight had taken plaoe on the premises within view of the general public. His informants were respectable people, and were prepared to verify their statements Inspector Goodall promised to make enquiries and report to the next meeting. An application made by the owners of the Albion Hotel for the removal of the oonyiotions agaioat the house was adjourned until next meeting. In reference to the olaim whioh has been advanced on the part of the late William Taylor as being the originator of the eight hours movement in New Zealand, we are informed that the honour is really due to Mr. 8. D. Parnell, who was the originator of the movement at Britannia, now known as Petone. Mr. George Hunter was the first employer of labour who recognised and paid for eight honrs as a day's work, and Mr. Parnell was the first man who insisted that the hours Bhould be from 8 to 5 o'olook and no longer. The wages for oarpenters then were 5b per day. W. J. Sadler, of Petone, carpenter, hap filed a petition to be adjudged a bankrupt. The ordinary 11.15 train to-night to the Lower Hutb will run through to Masterton, stopping at intermediate stations if required. This will permit country visitors to witness the performance of Lights o' London " at the Theatre. The business at the Magistrate's Court this morning was unimportant. There was no appearanoe of either party in a case in whioh Olivia Cornell oharged her husband, Robert Carnell, with an assault. The information was accordingly struok out. The hearing of a case in which Lydia Carswell applies for a maintenance order was adjourned for a week. Judgment for the plaintiff and costs was given in the suit of Roche Barrow v. Edward Brown, a claim of ss, value of a pane of glass broken by defendant's boy. This concluded the business. Tho half-yearly sitting of the Snpreme Court in Wanganui commenoes on Monday week. Thofollowing is a list of the oriminal oases to be tried :— Thomas Fitzgerald, larceny from the dwelling; Christopher S. Cross, embezzlement ; Hori Urupa, sheep stealing ; Patriok Bradley, larceny from the person, ; Maurice Flynn, receiving stolen goods ; Hutana M'atanga, house-breaking. The Chief Justice will preside. Another old settler, in the person of Mr. Thomas Jackson, has pasted away, at the age of 73. Ho oame to this oolony with the 65th Regiment, of which he was tv member, and got his discharge when the regiment was ordered Home in 1846, after whioh he was a warder in the Wellington gaol, under Messrs. Mills and M. Bead. Daring his 39 years of colonial life he made many frieuds, and was greatly respected. He leaves a family of nine children, all grown up. Last evening a meeting of sporting men was held at the Te Aro Hotel, and arrangements were made for a 24 hours' go-as-you-please match between Crofts, the well-known pedestrian, and H. Bedford. The articles, whioh were Bigned by both men, stipnlate that the raoe is to be for .£2O a. side, and is to come off on the 25th instant. JJIO a side was deposited in the hands of Mr. T. Smith, and the balance has to be made good by the day before the raco. The oonoett given at the Upper Hutt last night in aid of the Public Sohool Prize Fund was a most successful affair. Of those who bo generously assisted it is unnecessary to say more than that the ladies, Mesdames Greenwood and Parsons and Miaseß Sutoliffe and Parsons, were at their best, and that the ! gentlemen, Messrs. E. J. Hill, A. Hill, Prouse and B&ijlie, were equally good. The audienoe was highly demonstrative, and the applause was loud and frequent. The arrangements were of the best possible kind, and the promoters of the conoarb ar« to be highly complimented. When all the tickets have been aooounted for, it is expeoted the proceeds will realize more than .£l7. " The Lights o' London "bids fair to have a moat successful season in Wellington. The drama has now been produced by Messrs. MacMahon and Leitoh"B Company two evenings, and pn each occasion the Theatre Eoyal has been literally packed. The andienoe last night was quite aa numerous as pn the previous evening. Every seat in this house was filled, and both upstairs and downstairs a number of persons were obliged to stand. The performance was more satisfactory than the one whioh preceded it, everything going off in the smoothest possible manner. The ourtain rose punctually at a quarter to 8, and the drama waß over at five minutes to 11. The intervals between the acts were by no means long, and hence the reason why the Eerformance terminated over half-an-hour efore that of the opening: night. Continning our notice of the individual characters, Miss Gwynne Herriok deservos a word for the oapital way in which she takes tho part of Hetty Preen. As Shakespeare Jarvig, son of the Showman, Mr. Harry Diver is fairly successful. Mr. H. Browne appears as porter of the workhouse, and creates roars of laughter by the peouliar reception whioh he accords to the miscellaneous collection of broken-down humanity who apply for a night's shelter at the establishment. Mr. Chas. Thompson makes the most of the part of Percy De Vere, a swell " down on his luok," while Mr. W.H. Herbert's pourtrayal of the oharaoter of Marks, the lodge-keeper at Annytage Hall, is by no means indifferent. The remaining characters do not call for speoial mention. " The Lights o* London " will be produced again this evening. The adjourned annual meeting of the Ashley Cricket Club will be held on Monday evening, at the Athenaeum. Mr. Thomas Garland, tinsmith, has shown us a very usef al milk-Btrainer, for whioh he has taken put a patent. It is of the same shape as the ordinary strainer, but instead of having a fixed gauge wire bottom, it has a moveable one, whioh can be taken out and replaced in a moment. The advantage of the new arrangement is that the wire gauze can be kept thoroughly olaan and can be renewed as often as required, whereas undor the old style as soon as the wire begins to corrode the strainer is done for. Specimens of this useful strainer are to be seen at Mr. Garland's stall at the Exhibition. Tha completion of the new portion of the Newtown Bohoola is to be celebrated on Tuesday next by a grand vocal and instrumental concert, to be given in the sohoolroom. A capital programme, whioh will be found elsewhere, has been drawn up, and it will be seen thai some good talent baa beep secured. The price of admission is fixed at one shilling for adults and sixpence for children, and the proceeds are to be devoted to the Bohool organ fund. A meeting of the Wellington College Old Boys' Asßooiation was held in the Chamber of Commerce last evening. Mr. A. De Bathe Brandon was voted to the chair. A set of rules drawn up by a committee appointed at a previous meeting were considered at length, and several alterations and additions were made. They were then adopted. The election of offioo-beorers resulted as follows :— Patron, Mr. J. Maokay, Principal of the College; President, Mr. W. FitiGerald; Vice-president, Mr. A. De Bathe Brandon ; Treasurer, Mr. A. F. Crombie ; Secretary, Mr. M. C. Burnett; Committee, Messrs. J. P. Firth, D. Cameron, P. P. Webb, W. Barton, J. Gray, D. G. A. Cooper, C. Kreeft, and Barnifloat. A Vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated tho proceedings. ' ' Two vessels passing "V?eßt Wanganui have reported signs of supposed shipwrecked persons being on shore there. Surely the Government should send down one of their steamers to ascertain the facts, and afford relief, if it is needed.

The quarterly meeting of the Karon Licensing Benoh waa held in the Magistrate's Courthouse at noon to-day. Present : Messrs. F. Dowsett(chairman), W. J. Tabor, and H. Cook. An application tor the transfer of the license of the Eilbirnie Hotel from John Compton to Sarah Compton waß granted. Home diconssion took place as to the legality of the Bench's action a few days ago in allowing a publican in the city to sell liquor at the Island Bay raoes to-day. It was suggested that the Clerk (Mr. James) should write to Government on the subject. That official, however, pointed out that aa the Bench were administrative officers, Government would probably not take any action in the matter, and the Court decided not to adopt the course suggested. Mr. James expressed the opinion that the Benoh were perfeotly justified in allowing the city license in question to be extended, and the subject then dropped. Playgoers will be glad to learn that Mr. Wybert Beeve will appear at the Theatre Boyal on Monday week in a new original drank written by himself, and entitled, " In Duty Bound." Mr. Beeve is as skilful a playwright as he iB a graceful and accomplished aotor. His second Eeason here, Bupported by Mrs. Chippendale and the other members of his exoellent oompany, should be a most suocesßful one. At the recent nomination of councillors for Palmerston North there were no candidates for two of the wards, and the proceedings lapsed. Mr. F. H. Wood (says the Standard) may be congratulated on his inaugural fortnightly stock sale held at Mr. Ray's yards, Taratahi, on Thursday. All the yards were filled with stock ; the email paddooks adjoining hod to be called into requisition, a muoh larger number of etook coming forward than had been entered. Tbe attendance of bnyerß was good, and all lots offered were cleared at very satisfactory prices, both sheep and cattle being in good demand. Prices realised were as follows:— Sheep — hoggets, 8s to 8s Gd ; ewes and lambs, 12s 6d to 16s 3d (the latter being for an exceptionally fine lot) ; ewes in lamb, 10s 6d to 12s. Cattle—yearlings, mixed, 35b; 2-year-old steera and heifers, £2 16s to £4 4a ; 3-year-old steers, £5; cowb, £3 to £6 ss; stags, £4 2a Cd to £5. Horses— hacks, £5 10s to £8 10 a. Pigs (weanera), 4s 9d to Ca ; store do, 28s. Prior to the commencement of the sale Mr. Wood announoed that the erection of new yards would at onoe be prooeeded with, and the sales for the future held fortnightly. The quarterly meeting of the Featherston Licensing Committee (aays the Daily) waß held at the Court-house on Tuesday. The transfer of the Boyal Hotel from C. M. Brunakill to B. Isen was granted. The transfer of the Bailway Befreshment Booms from Mrs. Hayward to Robert Buokeridge was also granted. Mr. J. Donald, one of the Licensing Committee, protested very strongly against the manner in whioh the transfers had been effected. In his opinion not sufficient publioity had been given to proposed changes of licenses. The other members of the Committee thought the law had been complied with. The Wairarapa Standard is responsible for the following :— A young man named Rntherford, whoae friends live in Carterton, was travelling with a companion and a paokhorse carrying a load on Monday, from Glenburn towards Masterton, during the heavy gale, when a sudden gust oame and carried the horse with its load right away into the gully, killing the horse in the fall. Rutherford and his friend threw themselves on the ground and held on by the grass, or they might have ahared the same fate with the horses. The first annual report and balance-sheet of the Australian Mutual Live Stook Insurance Society (Limited) Bays :— The reoeipts for the year were £12,074 0s 6d— less reinsurances, £473 12s 8d; net, £11,600 7s lOd. After writing off the whole of the preliminary expenses (£IB4O Cs) and stationery (£BOS 19s 2d), there remains a balance of £1792 11b lid, from which a dividend is declared at the rate of 10 per oon t. per annum, absorbing £415 10s, placing £1000 to a reserve fund to meet contingencies, and carry forward a balance of £377 Is lid to next year. Over one-fourth of the Sooiety'B shares are held throughout New Zealand. Mr Dransfield, the looal agent, had 5000 shares to dispose of here ; only a few were sold, but sinoe the report has appeared tho shares are being eagerly inquired for. A Southern paper says :— "An examination of the CoroniUa shows that she sustained considerable damage by going on the reef outside Wellington harbour. Several of the plates are deeply indented, two fractured, and butts and bolts were started." According to tho looal papers, tho Wairarapa school teaohers objeot to paying Cs each for the privilege of bringing their pupils up to the Fxhibition, and are inclined to refuse to accompany thorn. The responsibilities of the tnp will certainly prevent it being muoh of a pleasure excursion to the ladies and gentlemen in charge. The b.b. Gordon has boen put on to run between the wharf and the fortifications at regular intervals every day, and on Sundays at 2, 3, and 4 o'olock, at low fares. The Egyptian Cigarette Company have established a depot at the Chamber of Commerce for the sale of their brands of Egyptian and Turkish oigarettes. . The cigarettes are made from the finest Turkish and Egyptian grown tobacco, and are both mild and fragrant in smoking. The Clydesdale stallion Model Block Legs is advertised to travel this season. He is a dark bay with blaok points, and stands 16J hands high, and is a prize-taker at the Marlborough Agricultural Show, 1881 and 1882. The final trial of the Harden Star Hand Grenade will take place on the reclaimed land on Monday, at 4.30. An address on the " Social Evil " will be given by Mr. W. Price, at the Eeohabite Hall, on Monday evening. Mr. J. F. Floyd, Evangelist, is advertised in another column to preaoh, in the Christians' Chapel, Dixon-street, on the subject of " The Baptism of the Holy Spirit." To-morrow evening, at the Lyceum, Mr. Gorbie will deliver a discourse on some of the ohoioest gema of Shakespearian literature. Purchasers of building sites will note the sale of a number of seotions, Russell Terraoe, overlooking the Newtown Reserve, to be Bold by publio auction on Friday next by Meßßrs. T. Kennedy Maodonald & Co. Lithographic plans, with full details, have been issued, and each seotion carefully pegged off, with flagß denoting the number of each, so that intending purchases can have little tronble in finding the numbers.