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New Zealander, Volume XXI, Issue 2252, 18 October 1864, Page 4

Tiie Meetixo of tub Assembly.— The question as to where the Assembly is to meet is still in statu quo. The Ministry insist upon convoking the Assembly at Wellingion, while his Excellency is reported to hold the opinion that ha cannot consistently with the publicinterest, and especially the welfare of this Province, be absent from Auckland at the present time, As we have already reported, tiie Governor has offered tosign the pro damnation calling the Assembly at Wellington a> once, but on the distinct understanding that be will not personally be absent at the present juncture from Auckland. The Ministers are said to have gone even further than the official forms of representativeGovernment are usually understood to require or authorise, in urging the adoption of their views. In a preceding column will be found a notification that the petition of the fifteen hundred and thirty-nine inhabitants of Auckland and its vicinity,, presented on Thursday last, was under the consideration of his Excellency ami his responsible advisers.

Official Rsport of tug Shat of Government Commissioneus. —By the courtesy of the hon_ the Colonial Secretary, we to-day give in another column the official report to His Excellency the Governor of the three Commissioners appointed to select the mose suitable site in Cook’s Straits for the Seat of Government. As will be seen, Wellington is, as previously announced by us, the chosen site. Dock Stealing.-— ln the Police Court yesterday, Thomas Flynn, William Smith, Eugene Banks and George Jones pleaded guilty to the charge of having stolen some ducks from various residents in town. His Worship deferred sentence until thii day, remarking on the difficulty that the Bench experienced in dealing with cases of this description, where juveniles were the offenders, and expressing a hope that during the coming session of the Assembly a Bill might be enacted which would afford some more satisfactory means of dealing with them, than by sending them to the common gaol to herd with the older criminals.

Vagrants. —John Haanigan, an old offender, appeared at the Police Court, yesterday, in a wretched state of destitution, and was ordered to be imprisoned for two months. The Capjf ain and Mate op the Bessie. —The Lyttelton Times of the 6th inst. has the following with respect to Captain Thomas Gay:—“ The news by the ‘ Phoebe,’ from Auckland, comprises an account which will be read with a sorrowful interest by a great number of settlers in Canterbury, of the trial and conviction of Thomas Gay, master of the barque ‘ Bessie,’ for assault upon the high seas. Captain Gay is better known here as long connected with Pigeon Buv, where he resided with his family when not pursuing his profession. For some time he commanded a trading vessel to the Australian ports; and more lately the whaling schooner ‘ Corsair,’ the first fitted out from Lyttelton. With his family and relations, the well-known hospitable settlers in Pigeon Bay—-the Sinclair family —Captain Gay removed a short time ago, and settled in the island of Nihihu, which they purchased. Ha brought thence in the ‘Bessie’ a cargo of mules for New Zealand, and put into Auckland. While there he was charged by a seaman on board, named Boyle, with the assault, the particulars of which will be found elsewhere. Captain Gay’s brother was mate of the vessel; and it appears that Boyle, who was a clever, designing, and unscrupulous man, had fallen under the displeasure of the mate, who marked him as a man to be dealt firmly with on any emergency. An occasion arose when Boyle and the mate had their quarrel out ; and perhaps if it had stopped there, Boyle might have received as large a share of punishment as he afterwards got, and no harm would have been done. But in the interest of discipline the matter was brought under the notice of the captain, who put the man in irons, and, on provocation being given, undoubtedly went beyond the limit of the law in punishing him. The result of the trial has been to clear Captain Gay of the charge of barbarity which at first was laid against him, and of which every one who knew the man knows him to be incapable. The actual fault, as will be seen by the report of the trial is reduced to a very narrow com* pa-s, and the witnesses bear testimony freely to Captain Gay’s invariable humanity and ki dness of heart. This testimony was we are happy to say, materially strengthened by the evidence of Mr. W. Montgomery, who had gone up from Christchurch for the sole pn-pose of speaking to the character of his friend, and otherwise supporting him.'when in trouble among strangers. Some well-signed testimonials from Canterbury contributed also to the same result. Judgment had not been given when the ‘ Pheebe ’ left ; but it was expected not to exceed imprisonment for a week, or at most a month.” 1.0.F.M.U. —A general meeting of the above body will be held to-morrow evening, at the room of the Royal Parnell Lodge. Private Grievances.— All persons who have petitioned the Council in reference to private grievances, are requested to communicate with the clerk of the committee forthwith, otherwise their petition cannot be heard.

r The City Board.—Tha Commissioners held their usual weekly* meeting yesterday at three o'clock, in--1 stead of on Tuesday as heretofore. There was little beyond the 'usual routine business, except that the Board determined to seek legal advice in the proposed amendment of the City Board Act during the present session of the Provincial Council; and to select an adviser they* appointed a sub-committee. An appeal committee was also nominated to hoar appeals against the present assessment. IxPORMAxrox Wanted—The Military authorities request Alexander Smith, late 27th Foot, temporary pensioner at 7d. per day, to report himself at the Military Accountant’s Office, Commissariat, Auckland, in order that a report concerning him may bo forwarded to the Commissioners at Chelsea Hospital. Cutting Timber on Crown Lands.—The Commissioner of Crown Lands informs parties catting timber without the necessary license, that the penalty for trespass will be enforced. Stopping a Thoroughfare.—Hitherto there has been a foot-road across the Barrack hill from Symondsstreet to Grafton-road. It has been rather a rough and difficult road in wet weather, but still it has been a great convenience to pedestrians from various places cast of Auckland, besides being a short cut to the Domain from a largo portion of the city. The Commissioners have decided to block up this road and have staked out the ground adjoining Grafton-road in building allotments for lease. They have also staked out for the same purpose the pretty grass-plot which has been used as a bowling green. The gentlemen who have been at an enormous expense in draining what was formerly a swamp and making the spot an ornament to the place will most likely grumble a trifle, but it is possible the memorial sent in may have some effect. Pickpockets.—lnformation reached the police in the course of yesterday that a gentleman of the name of Bell had his pocket picked at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night of a sum of money amounting to some £2O. The police, we understand, are on the scent of the offenders. Lecture at Newton.—A very excellent lecture was delivered last evening at the Mechanics’ Institute, Newton, by Mr. Eastwood, on “ Mary Qteen ot Scot*.” A pressure ot other matter compels u* to hold over the full report until to-morrow. Ax the Prince of Walss’ Theatre, last evening, the drama of “ The Will and the Way ” was very excellently presented. There was a remarkably good optical illusion or ghost scene, which was loudly applauded. A fancy dance by Miss Maggie Griffiths and Miss Julia Corcoran was deservedly encored. Theatre Royal.—Want of space necessitates our excluding in our present issue a more extended notice of the entertainment at the Theatre Royal last night, which was comprised in Shakespeare’s great play of the “ Merchant of Venice,” and the amusing afterpiece of “ The Bonnie Fishwife.” Suffice it, however, to say that there was a large audience present, and that no piece has as yet been presented at this Theatre which was received with warmer expressions of approval, or proved a more decided hit. We shall refer more fully to the performance in to-morrow’s issue. Theatre Royal.—The popular Scotch drama entitled “ Rob Roy ” was represented for the second time at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night, followed by the amusing afterpiece of “ The Toocflea.” All the appointments, scenery etceteras incidental to the drama were of the host order and description ; the cast of the piece, too, which is a large one, comprised the whole strength and talent of the company, who vied with each other in order to give the piece due 'effect, and interest to the production. The scenery and dresses were most appropriate, a large number of auxilaries, including a file of Royal Artillerymen being pressed into active service. The music-incidental to the piece, the greater portion of which was admirably rendered, was received with much applause,, more especially the song of the hundred pipers, which was capitally rendered by Miss Royal, who personated the character of Francis Orbaldiston. The cast comprised Mr. G. Fawcett as the Baillie; Mr. T. Fawcett, Hob Roy; Miss Juno, as Helen MacGregor-, Mr. J. Dunn, the Dougal ; Miss Dunn, Diana Vernon ; Miss Grant, Mattie; the minor characters being well filled up by the remainder of the com pany. Miss Juno played the part of Helen M‘Gregor in a manner that earned for her many warm expres-ions of approval Atom the audience by whom the- piece generally may be considered to have been very favorably received, there being a warm call before the curtain at the conclusion of the second act, whore the curtain falls on the scene in which Rob Roy is taken captive by tha red coats. Mr. J. Dunn as the Dougal was very good. Mr. Fawcett’s make-up as the Buillie was an excellent one, and his delineation of that really difficult character would have been capital had his accent been somewhat more Scotch. Mr. and Mrs. Toodles, always favorites wherever they go, never played more successfully than they did last night. Mr. John Dunn’s delegation of that jolly individual cannot easily be surpassed;-it is good in every way, in appearance, in dress, and in impersonation. ■ The stage business is very clever, well studied, easy and natural, showing practically the finished old actor of a really good school. The laughable little duet of “ When a little Farm we keep ” was executed by Mr. and Mrs. Toodles excellently, and called for an unanimous encore, which was readi y granted. All the other characters in this laughable little comedy are also, deserving of notice, they having done their best to ensure its success .