THE SUN'S CENTRALISM.

Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 61, 9 September 1885, Page 2

THE SUN'S CENTRALISM.

limit its application to those who only have unencumbered property to that value. The tax would scarcely be worth the cost of collection if imposed on property worth less than .£IOO.

Mr. Macartbur asked in the House yesterday afternoon- (1) Has the attention of the CoTernnient been diawn to the caaes nnder the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, lately decided in the Magistrate's Courts in Wanganni and Palmerston North, in whioh the aotion of borongh councillors who bad sup* plied goods in the ordinary way of trade at ordinary prices across the counter to the borough authorities has been held to be a contract within the meaning of the 61st clause of that Act? (2) If so, will the Government take Bteps to pass a ehort Bill this session relieving business men of a disability which will tend (in small boroughs, at any rate,) to prevent a most suitable class of men from taking office as councillors. In reply, the Premier admitted the necessity for an amendment of the Act in the direction indicated, and a Bill would be introduced into the Upper House dealing with the matter. It is rumoured that if Captain Russell's amendment is accepted by the Government or oarried, it will b« immediately followed by another resolution, insisting on the Government taking back their Publio Works Estimates and recasting them, so as to effeot the desired reduotion. This, of course, would be practically a vote of want of confidence. The time for receiving tenders for the San Francisco mail service has been further extended until noon to-morrow. The Native Lands Disposition Bill has been prnotioally shelved for this session by the Native Affairs Committee resolving, on the motion of Mr. Trimble, that it is not deeirabb that it should be proceeded with at present, but that the evidenoe accumulated by the Committee in reference to it should be published for consideration during the recess.

The eleotion of a representative for Thorndon Ward in the City Counoil takes place to-morrow. Messrs. C. T. Benzoni and W. H. Warren are the candidates. The fortnightly meeting of the City Counoil will be held on Friday, when Councillor Petheriok is to move, " That the street now known by name Warinsr Taylor, the words Waring Taylor be Btrnok off the plans of the city, and in future the street be named Britannia-street, such alteration in the name to be as soon as this Counoil shall direct the said name to be changed." Several judgments were given at a sitting of the Supreme Court in Banoo this morning. In the case of Warn v. Taylor, an aotion to recover damages for alleged broaoh of contract in regard to the ereotion of a honse, Mr. Justice 1 Siohmond gave a verdiot for plaintiff for J2175. His Honour nonsuited tho plaintiffs in the case of the Gear Meat Company v. Burt, it suit brought to reoover possession of a house at the Taita and the sum of .£37 as rent of the premises. In the case of Murohie's trustees y. tho Victoria Insuranoe Company, an aotion to recover £1000, the amount of a polioy on property insured by a former owner and transferred to Murchie, the Chief Justdoe and Mr. Justice Riohmond gave judgment in favour of the trustees, Messrs. Nathan and Sbera, of Auokland, holding that the assignment was perfectly legal. Judgment was given for the defendant in the suit of Tnoker v. Coleman, an aotion relative to the oonveyanoe of native land at Poverty Bay. Mr. Justice Riohmond allowed the plaintiff a month in which to appeal ajjainst the verdiot. With regard to the application made by Mr, Travera, on behalf of the husband, for- a new trial }n the divorce case of Ryan v. Ryan, the Chief Justioe held that the verdiot of the jury was not against the weight of evidenae. His Honour accordingly refused the motion with oosta (£5 ss). The Conrt fixed tomorrow as the day on whioh Mr. Jelliooe could move for a deoree of judicial separation In the oase of Ollivier y. the Bank of Australasia, relative to the priority of oortain mortgages, judgment was given for the defendants. The steamer Snva, whioh we mentioned in our last issue as having touched on a rock off Flat Point, was taken up on the Patent Slip yesterday. On examination it was found that two plates in her bottom were damaged, and they are now being replaced by new ones. The magisterial enquiry into the cause of the aooident was oommenoed this afternoon. The five seamen belonging to the barqne Formosa who were ordered to be put aboard yesterday by Mr. Wardell, R.M., remained on board the vessel sufficiently long to get their suppers, and then deserted the ship onoe more. The master of the barque will ship a new crew here. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Committee of the Benevolent Sooiety was held yesterday, Mr. H. S. Wardell, 8.M., in tho ohair. The other committeemen present were Messrs. B. Smith, J. E. Smith, H. J. Williams, S. Danks, C. P. Powles (Hon. Treasurer), T. M'Kenjrie, Bpv. H. Van Staveren, and Mr. A. G. Johnßon, Seoretary. The disposal of the relief fund (,£B3) subscribed for the survivors of those men drowned in the Evans' Bay boat aooident was considered, and it was deoided to place the sum of £22 10s at oompound interest for the benefit of the stepson of the drowned man Neilson, who is at present in the Industrial School. The balance of the fund i\ was deoided should be placed to the credit of Mrs. Costello and her five children, less JSU 13s dd which had been expended on behalf of the Costello family. Nations were also grg,uti)d to the family for a timo. The case of a woman who applied for relief was considered, but as it was stated that she and a daughter were earning money no aotion was taken. Application for assistance was made on behalf of a family, the father of whioh was temporarily inoapatiated through an acoident from working. As it was shown that the eldest Bon was earning .£2 los per week, the oommittee declined to entertain the application. The Believing Officer stated that the " old men." had finished picking the oakum in hand, whioh amounted to 5761b5, at 2d per Jb. It ' was deoided to expend the amount in olothing and little comforts for the old people. A respeotable-lookipg man, aged' 55 years, who had arrived in Otago 'frijm .Glasgow five weeks since, was recommended for relief by the Rev. Mr. Ogg. The man stated that he had been in Wellington for two weeks, and was without friends in the colony. He was totally destitute, and in addition was ill, He informed the committee that 28 years ago he had worked in this city for Mr. John M'Lean, boatbuilder. Board and lodging was acoorded him. Other oases having been dealt with, the meeting adjonrned. The annual masting of the Suocess Gold Mining Company was held at the offioe of Mr. Wm. M'Lean yesterday evening, Mr. F. Bull being in the chair. The report of the direotors was to the effect that work in the uijne had been stopped in accordance with a resolA^cn of the shareholders ; that a sum of £48' had j'uat been paid to the owner of the ground as arrewo of rent ; that the indebtedness of the company W(va ,£6B 6s 4d ; that to meet this liability the ilhreatof s proposed to strike a call of Id' per share] and that, in the opinion of the direotors, the olaim should be further prospecoted. The report W4P adopted. Messrs. Bull, Gray, Gardner, (Bishop, jnnd Parsons were re-eleoted direotors, and Messrs. Kennedy and' Warburton auditors. 'Work Id to «c rssnmed in the claim next week. Th.c conoert given by a number qf aroateyrs ct the Newtown Sdhool'last'evening, in aid of tho organ fund, was eminently successful. Tap attendee was very large, and the various vocal an,d instrumental items were excellently rendered ana Joudly apphvad,6d. Lovers of the wonderful in nature shonld inspect the lusus nature ia the shape of a donbl&bodied lamb, which is at present being exhibited in a shop opposite the Athenneum. Tha animal, but for the faot that it has only one head, would bo a specimen of conjoined twin lambs, as the trunks are perfect and aro furnished with fonr legs to eaoh body. The monstrosity will bo on view for a short time only. The " Lights o' London" was performed for the filth time last evening. Notwithstanding tho anooeßS of this realiatio drama it will tonight give place to a still more exciting and sensational pb»y entitled the "Pearl Divers," fop the production of wbjoh extraordinary preparations were rondo byLZes2rs..M'Mshon and Leitoh in Auckland, whore it was recently played for the first time in the oolonie'B. : The piece involves in its production a large number of anxUairies, an| neqessj&ates the expenditure of a considerable amount .of money in scenery and other theatric adjnnots in order to eeouro a thoroughly realistic representation. Last evening the children attending St. Pe.fcep's Mission Sohool were provided with their usnol 1 monthly entertainment by the teachers. There was <& full attendance of members and visitors. Dftririg ,fche evening songs were given by Mr. Johnson, Mies Gaby s and others, besides several of the ohildren. The concert was concluded by a short address by Mr. Johnson and the singing of the National Anthem. The entertainment was under the able management of Mr. Johnson, and the accompaniments were very nicely played by Miss Woodman. The Perseverance T*nfc, No. G, held its fortnightly sasßlon last eveain* e,t the Primitive Methodist Schoolroom! Sydneystreet, presided over by Bro. Joseph Holmes, C.B. One new member was added to the roll of membership. Bro. J. Watkin Hall' read on essay on the Licensing laws of the .colony, which was well received. Our readers are reminded of the Service of Song to be given by tho Baptist Chnrch Choir, Vivian-street, to-morrow evening. We are requested to remind our lady readers that the weekly meetings of the Women's Prayer Union will be returned at the Congregational Church to-morrow afternoon at 3 o'oloek. At the close of the prayer meeting % meeting of the Committee will be held.

The divoroe suit of Webb v. Webb is to be heard_ by the Chief Justice to-morrow. The petition is by the wife, who prays for a dissolution of marriage on the grounds of her husband's adultery and desertion. Mr. Shaw will appear for the petitioner. The Poneke Football and Cricket Club announce their intention of giving a conoert, under the patronage of the Eaet Christohnroh and Meriv&le footballers, on Monday next, at the Atheiueum Hall.