THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 83, 9 April 1891, Page 2

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The death of the Hon. W. Reeves renders the Government still weaker in the Legislative Council, where they Wore all too w»ak before. Tho Ministerial supporters there, whom Mr. Buokloy can depend en to follow him, scaroely excoed half a dozen. Sir Georga Whitmore is more of a candid friend than a Ministerial supporter, and beyond him the Ministerial Party, led by Mr. Buckley, oan only bo calculated on to inoludo the Hons, Dignan, Frasec, Martin, Shepherd, Shrimaki, Wilson, and possibly one or both the native members. If party feeling runs high in the Counoil, as with Sir Harry Atkinson in the chair it probably will do during tho coming neesion, tho Government will bo in a hopeless minority in that Chambur, and absolutely unable to carry their measures. Undor such cirCunistandes thoy Will certainly be justified in calling fresh members to tho Council, but the disparity of strength be» twecn tho two sides is bo groat that it will scarcely be poasible to restore equilibrium by fresh oreations. The policy of tha late Ministry in packing the Counoil with an overwhelming majority of its partizans will almost certainly prove productive of disastrous results next ses-ion, and may lead to a complete politioal dead look.

A report of the United Hunt Club's run at Miramar yesterday, also extract reading matter and correspondence, will be found on our fourth page to-day. The rovenue of the Post and Telegraph Department for the past financial year amounted to £331,3i7, or about £3000 moro than tho estimate. Under almost all heads tho revenue came remarkably near the expected amount, the prinoipal excosH being £3100 from telegrams. The Hon. B. Seddon returned from the South by the Penguin last evening. It is worth while to point out to our readers that tho chief provisionn of the Triennial Licensing Bill take effect this year, in tha,t all committees elected during the year will hold office for three yoars — instead of only 12 months, as heretofore— and that the elections and the local option polls will be taken together. The Commissioners who have been enquiring into the teohnical phases of the Shelly Bay disaster concluded their investigations to-day. A large nnmber of witnesses were examined upon questions of practice, including Captain Powoll, of the Auckland Torpedo Corpf. The Commissioners are now preparing to draw up thoir report to the Governor. Tho Medical Conference sitting at Nelson, at whioh tlie Otago Medical Sobioty is represented by Drs. do Zouohe and Truby King, has reHolved to drop the Medioal Bill, and to advooate the amendment of the existing Medical Practitioners' Registration Aot, with a view to the formation of a medical council/and to secure a higher standard of medical education. In the oourae of an interview with Mr. Shera, M.H.U., tie Hon. J. G. Ward said the telephone system of this colony is the best in all the colonies. Dr. Lemon deserved special credit for this. He had on several former visits to Australia had opportunities for making comparisons, and he had no hesitation in saying that ours is the best in the colonies. Financially it had also been very successful. In order to render its use more general he was of opinion the subscription should bo reduced, but to what extent he was not prepared at present to say. He was having various returns prepared, and later on he could judge what it waa desirable to do. He hoped to produoe a workable schema. Farther details of the tendering for the City Council's annual oontracts are as follows :— General supplies— J. Duthie and Co. (aocepted), 8$ per cent, off schedule prices; Stewart and Co., 7} per cent.; E. W. Mills and Co., 6$ per cent. English cement — J. Duthie and Co. (accepted), 15s 10} d por barrel ; B. W. Mills and Co., 15s lid per barrel. Colonial cement— Milburn Lime Co. (accepted), 15s 3d per barrel, with 2^ per cent, discount ; E. W. Mills and Co., 15s Gd per barrel. Foundry work— Luko and Son (accepted), 5 per cent, over schedule rates ; Cable and Co., 10 per cent. over. Supply of 40 pairs trousers and 12 tunics for Fire Brigade— C. Cathie (accepted), £1 16 a 6d for tunics and 17s 6d for trousers. Other tenderers— Thompson and Co., J. H. Shine, and J. Coogan. _ Thg steamer Jubilee, from the South, waa signalled as we wont to press. The licensing election campaign began to" day, with the receipt of nominations for scats on the Katori Licensing Benoh. In this case, however, there was no competition. Mr. H. Damant, Returning Officer; had tberofore the pleasant duty of declaring the five nominated gentlemen returned unopposed viz. : — Thomas Campbell, proposed by P. Monaghan and A. Lewer ; John Hooper, by P. Monaghan and W. R. Trotter ; Kdward Monaghan, by J. Hooper and T. Campbell ; William J. Monaghan, by T. Campbell and J. Blake; William R. Trotter, by P. Monaghan and T. Campbell. We understand that a number of tbo passengers by the Rose of Sharon, which arrived in this port on Anniversary Day, 1857, are now settled in the Manawatu and Wairarapa districts, and dssire information aa to whether tho late Hon. W. Reovcß, M.L C , also camo to the colony iv tbe Rose of Sharon and on the voyage referred to. We are in a position to state that this was the caeo, and that the deceased gentleman was identical with their shipmate of that name, who was co popular among all handß on board. The adjourned meeting; of the oreditors in the estate of E. J. M'lntosh, plumber, of Petono, a bankrupt, did not take place this morning, as none of the oreditors attended. A smart frost wafi experienced throughout the Wairarapa on Tuesday morning. During the recent heavy southerly weather a portion of the old Thorndon Baths was washed away. An offioe in the block of bnildings on Lambton-quay, running from the Union Bank to the New Zoaland Insurance Co. 'a buildings, narrowly escaped destruction by fire last night. Its tenant had gone ont and left a kerosene lamp burning against tho wall. Ihe lamp, being vory foul, its burner took fire, and quite an alarming blaze ooourred. About 30 bystanders gathered ontsido and watched the affair through the window. No one felt justified in bursting open the door in the owner's absence, unless the building was actually on fire, but messengers were sent off to bring a policeman or a fireman, and the former, arriving on the scene, forged his way in and put an end to tho danger. Tho quostion of the desirableness of altering the law so as to enable a oompany to amend memorandum and articles of association in whiohever way it thinks fit was considered yesterday by the Connoil of the Chamber of Commerce, and as a result of the discussion, the following resolution was passed :—": — " That the Secretary be instruoted to writo to tbe Government drawing attention to an Act passed in England last year, giving joint stock oompanios power to alter the memorandum and articles of association, and to ask the Government if tney will introduce a Bill next session similar to the English Aot— namely, an Aot to give further powers to companies with nwpeot to certain instruments, under wbioh they may be constituted or regulated." HThe attention of mechanics, oarpenters and indeed all persons who have a bent for mechanical contrivances, is direoted to an advertisement in another column with reference to the exhibition in Messrs. Nees and Son's shop, Cuba-street, of Sohlaadt's new circular saw and fret saw combined. The invention is said to bs a great laboursaving maobine, and of special nse to stationowners, farmers, &c. The monthly meeting of the Wellington District Road Board was held yesterday at the Board Offices, Lower Hutt. Present — Messrs. J. Wakeham (ohairman), D. Speedy, F. E. Darby, S. Russell, F. A. Death, and J. Barton. Mr. Jelliooe, solioitor, wrote asking for a oopy of Messrs. Whileman's authority to lay a tramway along the Akatarawa-road. It was resolved that a copy of the resolution p»ssad by the Board in Jannary last, to the effect that permission be given to lay the tramway, should be forwarded to Mr. Jellicoe. It was decided to allow W. H. Hagger six weeks extension of time from the Ist of April to complete No. 1 oontract, for forming and metalling the Lower Mungaroa Valley road. The aoceptanoe by the Board members of tbe following tenders was approved: —H. Galloway, for metalling 22 chains of Hayward's line, at 13s 6d per ohain ; W. Galloway, metalling 30 chains of Belmont-road, at 24s 6d per ohain ; W. Cook, metalling 20 chains of Hayward's line, at 17s 9d per chain ; J. Cook, forming 6 chains of Mount Cecil-road, at 45s per ohain. Mr. Russell was authorised to oall for and accept tenders for carting 200 yards of metal for the Nai-Nai road. A deputation of settlers waited upon ths Board in regard to the extent

■»«" •*■■ "**" «.u»\» iiuui l^gimuriuiKa so me Horokiwi road and was informed that the Board would allow jEI for £1 for any gum collected up to .£2OO, ot for work done to that amount by the eettlera of the district, provided the deed of dedication to the Road Board ia signed by Mossm. Harrington and Bell, owners of the property through which the road would pasf. Another deputation, consisting of settlers of the Mungaroa Valley, was informod that the Board had no funds at present for metalling 35 chains of road just formed in Parks-line, a3 was desired. Mr. Prießt waited on tho Board and protested against the construction of the tramway along tho Akatarawa-road. It was afterwards deSidecl thai Mr. Spsedyi the Warden ot the district, should interview the settlers on the subject. Accounts amounting to £2 M) 13s 6d were passed for payment, and the Board then adjourned. The Stewards of the Wellington Eacing Club will entertain Mr. and Mrs. J. S. M. Thompson at lnncheon in the grand stand at the meeting on Thnrsday next. Mr. Thompson is ono of the vice-presidents of the club, and no man in Wellington has worked harder for ito interests. As Mr. Thompson is about to settle in Australia, the present meeting it tho last which he will be able to attend as as officer of the Wellington Racing Club. The Chamber of Commerce has appointed a OomthittcS. to consider the draft of the Bankruptcy Bill prepared teat pe&r ,by Mr. Lewis, solicitor, of Christchurcii, find wrficl has been circulated amongst the various Chambers. The members of the Committee are— Messrs. J. Duncan, J. Duthie, M.H.E., J. n. Cock, T. W. Gale, J. B. Harcourt, £, W. Mills, and T. E. Macdonald, M.H.R. The meat freezing cornpnnios' oonferenot concluded last night. The nature of the business transacted has not tfdnspJtei beyond. v the fact that an Exeoutivo Com mittee vras appointed, etfasißting.pf Messrs Gregg, Chrys'lal, W. C. Buchanan, K.E.B. J. Gear, K. White, and A. M. Clarke, tc continue the negotiations already begur with the shipping companies as to the term! of freight contraots. A meeting of the Wellington City Tram way Employes' Union was held in th« Temperance Hall, Nowtown, on Wednesdaj jvening, when these was a good attendance The usual rdutine of business was gone through, and altogether the Union is on t vary sound basis. The police have so far been unable to die jover the whereabouts of the boy Bioharc Matthews, who ran away from home yoster lay. The inquest in connection with the deathi of Iloighton (Rose) and Denscm, the victimi at the gun Cotton explosion at Shelly Bay was resumed in the common jury room tbii morning, but after a while an adjournment was made to the Suprome Court chamber tho Chief Justice having placed it at th< disposal of the Coroner. In tho annual report of tho Trustees and Stewards of the Wesley Church, whioh wai presented at a meeting held, last evening, it was stated that between J7OO dud .£BOO hai been promised by the various congregatioii! in the circuit, towards the Jubilee fund which was instituted a short tim'o ago. The payment of these promised contribution! extends over a perlofl of three years. Mr. C. C. Graham, E.M., presided over tht civil sitting of the Magistrate's Court to-daj in plaoe of Mr. Kobineon, who is engaged al the Coroner's enquiry into the Shelly Baj disaster. Plaintiffs obtained judgment as follows in undefended cases :— M. Fruhanl v. M. Cohen, £11 10s, costs Is ; S Pluoknett v. C. A. Johnson, £2 ss, costs 6s ; E>. Martin r. J. B Chapman, £8 Is 2d, cost! 11s ; J. Duthie and Co. v. T. and E. Chora, side, .fill 7s 2d, costs £1 6a ; J. Young v. W, Heginbotbam, £ios Gd, costs 7s ; W. Newell v. P. Brady, 9a 7d, costs Gs. Judgment sum. monses— A. Sample v. W. Barnes, £1 5s defendant to pay the debt by instalments ; S. Danks and Son y. Ed. Battersby, .£ls 5s sd, to be paid by instalments ; B. Bailey t, E. T. Shiel, .£46 17s 2d, to be paid by instalments j J. H. Blankarfc & Co. v. B Donnelly £39 16s. no ordor; W. Newell v. G. B, Philp, £3 63 Bd, no order. Defended case - S. Plucknett v. K. Beok (Mr. Brown for de. fendant), claim of £3 10a, being the price oi an enlarged photograph, plaintiff nonsuited, as it appeared that the wrong person had been sued; W. Newell v. D. Cuff (Mr, Haseldon for plaintiff), olaim of 18s" for rent., judgment for defendant, hifl Wotsbip de. oiding that the house was proved to have been unfit for habitation. It appears that the local police spent twe days in searching the oity for the woman Sarah Ann Durant, who oreated something of a sensation on board the s,s. Oreti on the arrival of that vessel at New Plymouth last Tuesday night. As she was laßt seen upon tho Queen's Wharf, it was featod by her f.-iendfl here that she had drowned herself, and it was not until yesterday they were apprised of her whereabouts. Mr. Alfred Boardman, in another oolumn, announces that ho is a candidate for the vacancy in the representation of Thorndon Ward in the Oity Council. An election for the representation of Nos. 1, 3, and 4 Wards, of the Wellington Dietriot Highway Board, ia to tike place the first week in May next, when the present sitting members — Messrs. Darby, Speedy, and Wakeham— retire by effluxion of time. The monthly meeting of the Seatoun Eoad Board was held yesterday afternoon, when it was decided to allow Mr. H. D. Crawford to expend a sum not exceeding JE2O in repairing the road to the signal station. The Clerk wag instructed to ask Ah Fong to furnish tho Board with farther particulars as to the repairs effeoted by him to tho road near his garden. Accounts to the amount oi £d 19s (3d were passed for paymont. and the Board then adjourned, there being'no other business. Tho fourth of Professor Mason's series of entertainments was given in the Exchange Hall last evening, and was well attended. The entertainment will bo repeated to-night, when the Professor leotures on the throat and lungs. The action of the Associated Brokers and Shipowners' Association of England in declining to consider the bill of lading drawn up at the conference of representatives of colonial Chambers of Commerce in 1888 was recently disoussod by the Melbourne Chamber, and it was decided to ask the various Chambers in the oolonies to enter a formal protest against tho decision above referred to. A oiroular on the subject from the Melbourne Chamber was considered yesterday by tho Council of the Wellington Chamber, and after some discussion the following resolution was passed: — " That it be represented to the Government that a oombination exists in tho London Bhippin? trade whereby oargo can only be there shipped by steamers under bills of lading, which exempt ohipoWnors from all responsibilities as to the condition of goods on delivery, and that it is desirable, einoe there is no freedom of contraot, that the Shipping Act be co amended as to render delivery in the same good order as shipped obligatory, unless where damage arises from perils or accidents boyond oontrol of the shipowners or thoir servants. Further, that Government be asked to represent the position to the Imperial Government requesting legislation in a similar direction.' ' That the Wellington Chamber oordially agrees with the protest suggested by the Melbourne Chamber, and hereby authorises the Melbourne Chamber to sign the same on their behalf." "That the Wellington Chamber suggests to the Melbourne Chamber that they should endeavour to indnce the Australian Governments to make representation to the Imperial Government with the view to making Bueh alterations in the Shipping Act and the Board of Trade regulations as will bring about the reform sought in reference to bills of lading." " That a report of the action taken by the Wellington Chamber and their representations to the New Zealand Government bo forwarded to the Melbourne Chamber and other New Zealand Chambers." " Presented to the Prince Imperial by the ladies of Chislehurst, March 26th, 1874." This is the inscription on a large silver onp exposed for sale— as an unredeemed pledge, we Buppose— in a Melbourne pawnbroker's shop. On the date in question his Imperial Highness was just twenty years old, a dashing and gallant young fellow. Whether he ever showed the oup to Mb mother, the ex-Empress Eugenic, is open to doubt; otherwise she might have asked the why and wherefore, and kept an eye upon it. In that case it would never have reaohed Australia. The Prince ultimately bestowed the cup upon a very charming actress. She afterwards came to Melbourne, married, and died. Later a sale of her effects was held, and amongst them the oup was disposed of. The purohasar must have fallen upon evil dayß, and Bonght the aid of hia ' uncle," otherwise at this moment it would not be on view. The fortnightly meeting of Court Sir William Jervois, A.0.F., was held last night in the Schoolroom, Donald M'Loan-gtreat, Newtown— C.R., Bro. A. Skene, being in the chair. A large number of members were present. The past quarter's balanoe-sheet was read and confirmed, and showed that the Court is making steady progress. After the quarter's aocounts hod been passed for payment, the Court adjourned for harmony. A social gathering and entertainment ia to be held in the Tinakori-road churchroom on Monday evening, when a largo assemblage of parishioners of St. Paul's is expected, as this will be an opportunity of extending a welcome to Eev. Mr. Walker, the recently appointed assistant ourate. Mr. G. St. Hill has kindly undertaken the task of arranging the music. The proceeds will be devoted to the Churoh Sunday School Association. A general meeting of the Parnell Memorial Committee is advertised to be held tomorrow evening. An advertisement of interest to lecretaries of societies and clubi is inserted to-day by Stone, Son and Co. Noble Campbell * Co. will sell to-morrow, privileges in connection with the Wellington E.C. Autumn Meeting. George Thomu & Co. will sell to-morrow, fruit, &c. Fob the seasonable, the attractive, the fasoinating in material, shapes, styles, and the very latest fashions and novelties just to hand per steamer Bimutaka, ladies should not fail to embrace the opportunity now offered, and pay a visit to the mantle department, at Te Aro House. Wb are now showing some marvellous " oreations " in ladies' sealette jaokets, and specially note the following : — "The llelba," with deep beaver facing, high Fife collar, whioh can bo worn in four distinot ways, and at pnoes ranging from 3to 6 guineas ; " The Ramsay," faced with nutria fur, reversible collar, oord ornaments, latest styles, from 2 to 4 guineas, at Te Aro Houbb. An exceedingly handsome garment is " The Douglas " sealette jacket, faced witk Persian lamb and real astraohan, high reversible medioi collar, lined silk throughout, from 2J- to 5 guineas. An equally charming sealette jacket ia " The Isle of Wight," with deep facing and oollar of pure squirrel fur, price 5 guineas, at Te Aro House. In plush, seal, plushette, and sealette jackets we have an immense variety. A finer assortment waa never yet shown in the colony. The new stock is larger, better aeleoted, and more complete than we have ever previously been able to exhibit, and'

ire are sure that any lady requiring the latest fashions in iaokets of every description, ulsters, maiintoehes, fur-lined cloaks, travelling wraps, 4c, will find everything iesirablo now on view, at Te Aro House. — ADtT. The shootine seaßon is near, and Bportsmim will require guns, rifles, powder, shot, cartridges, &o. The best place in Wellington is Messrs. Wilkina & field, MannersBtreet, who have on band or to arrive irame« diately the largest, best, and most varied Block of everything necessary at the lowest possible prioes. — Advt. There can be no doubt that the best dinplay of ironmongery in Wellington is to bo fees at Hesors. V/ilkins & Field, Mannersstreet. Amongst the numerous articles just arrived is a beautiful set of fireplace brasses, comprising enrb, fireirons, fire dogs, stop, and coal vaße, all to match, also a large variety of black and bras* fenders, afternoon spirit lamps, As., &o. — Advt. F. Walcot's Gold Medal Emory File Sharpening Stones will arrive shortly, for a few days only, in Wellington. 18.G49 of these stones were sold in the South Island Bince 20th January, IS9I. Patented in New Zealand in October, 1890. 750,000 of these stones were sold in Europe last year. — Advt.