Page 2 Advertisements Column 4

Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 108, 9 May 1887, Page 2

With regard to the Representation Bill difficulty, the country members, it is stated on vory good authority, have decided that they will not accept leas than the 20 per cont. They are wiljing to allow clause 3 to be recommitted in order to give a full House a further opportunity of considering the number of members, and they are prepared to make a concession in tho "margin" by substituting 750 for the 1000 already agreed upon, but beyond this they will not go j and if tho Premier, who, we believe, has been informed of the dooislon, announoos on Tuesday that he will "proceed no further in this business " nndor the circumstances, it is probable somo other hon. gontloman will stop forward and undertake to pilot the Bill throngh committee. The country members profess to be sufficiently strong to carry a proposal of this kind. Some interesting developments may therefore bo looked for to-morrow unless tho Premior meanwhilo gives way and accepts tho position as it stands. It is said that the Opposition will not raiso any serious obstacles to the passage of the Bill for legislative reform, bnt that they will insist upon a clause being inserted providing for tho election of the Speaker of tho Council by the membora of that body, instead of by the Governor, as is at present the case. Tho Premier will not, of his own motion, insert such a clause. Mr. Ballance's Land Acquisition Bill will probably be hotly opposed in tho Houso of Representatives, and rumour hath it that a number of the Government supporters will not bo found voting with their leaders on tho measure. Mr. Seddon's Gold Reduction Bill proposes to roduce tho duty on gold by onei»lf. __^______ On our fourth page to-day will be found "Later News from Tonga" and some intorosting correspondence Sir Robert Stout suggested this morning during his intorview with tho University graduates' deputation, that tho public of Wellington ought to try to convert tho Athonaram into a public library by levying a penny rate. This would leave the General Assembly library for students who were engaged on special subjects. The Rev. W. H. West remarked that there were very substantial reasons for the want of support of the Athenreum. The library was housed in a miserable building, and it was regarded chiofly as supplying the requirements of people who wanted cheap novels. Mr. Justice Johnston observed in tho Court of Appeal this morning that the sittings of the Supreme Court in the smaller towns of the colony were throwing the whole work of tho Appeal Court out of gear. Most of our readers will learn with regret that Dr. Levinge is about to be transferred from tho Mount View Asylum to the Sunnyside Asylum, Christchurch. Dr. Levinge's management of tho Wellington Asylum has earned for him the highest encomiums from his official and political superiors, and his loss will be greatly felt by the patients at Mount View and their friends. The transfer, however, will add to Dr. Levinge's salary. Dr. HaconJ of the Sunnyside Asylum, will take Dr. Levinge's place here. Notice has boen given that the following motions will be moved at next Thursday's meeting of tho Harbour Board : — By Mr. Potherick, "That this Board contribute tho sum of .£l5O towards tho erection of a new clock on tho General Post Office." By Mr. Dransfield, "That the secretary be instructed to report for consideration at noxt meeting tho class of steam fire engine which he would recommond the Board to import, having especially in view protection from firo of tho wharves, sheds, and shipping of the port." James Grant, tho novelist, whoso death is recorded in a cablegram recoived to-day, was born at Edinburgh on tho Ist Angußt, 1822. When only ten years old he sailed with his father, who had the command of a detachment of soldiers, for Newfoundland, and was several years with the troops in America, his education being principally receivod in barracks. To this military training may be traced the style and character of many of his works. Returning home in 1839, he was gazetted to an ensignoy in the 62nd foot, joined the provisional battalion at Chatham, and in 1840 had charge of the dep6t. He left the army soon afterwards, and devoted himself to literature and the study of Scottish antiqnitieß. His first work, " The Romance of War; or, Highlanders in Spain," was published in 1846 ; an additional volume appearing in 1847, with the secondary title of " Highlanders in Bolgiuin." This work had an immediate success, and has since been read with delight by thousands of schoolboys. During the next 30 years Mr. Grant published a large number of novels, amongst which may be mentioned "Walter Fenton," "Philip Rollo, or the Scottish Musketeers," " Legends of the Black Watch," " Only an Ensign," " Dulcie Carlyon." Most of his works have been printed in the United States ; all have been translated into German and Danish, and several into French. Mr. Grant has been a constant contributor of memoirs to the Dublin University Magazine, the United Service Magazine, &c. In December, 1875, Mr. Grant abjured Protestantism, and was received .into the Roman Catholic Church by the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster. Tho meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estato of Charles Libline, labourer, convened for to-day, did not take place, owing to there being no quorum. The funeral of Mr. Edward White, who died on Saturday, from tho effeots of a fall from his horso, in Tinakori-road, took place yesterday, and was largely attended. The deceased was buried at Johnsonville. The array of legal talent at the opening of the Court of Appeal this morning was not so great aa is usually the case on such occasions. The Judges present were — Mr. Justice Johnston, Mr. Justice Richmond, Mr. Justice Williams, and Mr. Justioe Ward. The Chief Justioe is still in Napier, and will not return till Wednesday. Tho barristers in attendance were— the Attornoy-Gonoral, Moesrß. Garrick (Christhurch), Chapman (Dunedin), Gully, Chapman, and Devino (Wellington). Nono of the lawyers were ready to go on with any of the oases, oither to-day or to-morrow, and the Court was reluotantly obliged to adjourn until Wednesday, when Isaacs and others v. Mills and others (Dunedin) will bo taken. After that has been disposod of, a case in which the executors diepnte the amount of stamp duty in the estate of the lato A. De Bathe Brandon will be argued . Locke and another v. Kahutu and others (Gisborno) has been fixed for Friday. Weston v. Ell (Christchuroh) will probably be taken on Thursday. In reference to this case, Mr. Ell appeared before the Court and asked that it should not be be taken before Wednesday, as Mr. Holmes, whom he intended to retain, wonld not be able to get up from Christchurch until then. Their Honours decided that the case shonld not be called on again until after Isaacs and others t. Mills and others had been hoard. The Court sat at 11 o'olock and adjourned a quarter of an hour later. We are informed that a gentleman in Wellington is negotiating for the purchase of tho MataDgi, one of the litest additions to Auckland s splendid fleet of pleasure yaohts. The Matangi was built by Logan, >f the North Shore, to the order of Mr. C. B. Stone, at a cost of between .£7OO and .£BOO. She is a vessel of about 10 tons, and although not designed for racing, she is one of the fastest boats on the Waitemata. Should she oome to Wellington some fine contests may be expeotod to take place between her and the laoa. It is said that the oxperiment of acclimatising the Amerioan whitefish has turned out Buocessful in Lake Wakatipu, numbers ot them having been seen of late.