Town News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 313, 20 April 1878, Page 14

Town News.

The San Francisco mail, which arrived here on Friday afternoon per the Taranaki, consisted of 5161 letters, sl>o books, and 11,000 newspapers.

There are rumors of pending change in the aspect of New Zealand politics, a new party, it said, being likely to be formed under very able leadership, which will not give in its adherence to the present G-overnment —at all events, not to Sir George Grey. It will be seen by reference to our telegraphic intelligence that Mr. Kennedy, M.H.R., has resigned his seat for the Grey Valley district, and it is said that Mr. W. H. Harrison is likely be elected iu his place unopposed. Several persons have reported to the police that they have had their pockets picked when in the crowd outside the ticket office at the Circus. It is quite evident that some expert thief is at work, aud possibly a sm ill gang may be acting together and taking advantage of people pressing forward to secure their tickets. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday Oweu Cameron was brought before the Court aud remanded until next day on a charge of obtaining £lO from Messrs. Wilson and Richardson by means of a valueless cheque. The accused, it is stated, has defrauded Mr. Sinclair, of Wainuiomata, and several other persons in like manner. Information was sent in to the police from Wainuiomata of Cameron’s doings, and he was arrested by Sergeant O’Connor on Tuesday as he wa3 passing along Manners-street in a cab. Telegrams are sometimes confusing, and it at times requires no small exercise of ingenuity to get at the meaning intended. But we give the following up. The special cablegram which reached this office on Monday morning, referring to the late terrible murder in Ireland read as follows :—“Leitrim murder debated both Houses Paleo Palaver reporters excluded,” &c. The message might have left England as “ both Houses of Parliament ;” but we hesitate to identify the Imperial Houses of Parliament with so suggestive a word as palaver. The ICaiwarra Volunteers mustered about 40 strong on Tuesday on the occasion of an inspection by Major Stack. After the parade the annual general meeting was held at the Rainbow Hotel, Captain Thompson in the chair. Some routine business was transacted, and it was then agreed that on Tuesday next the corps should visit Wainuiomata, iu response to an invitation from the local company. There will be a picnic, a rifle match, and various sports, so that a pleasant day out may be expected. At the meeting a letter from the City Rifles, with reference to holding a leview on the Queen’s Birthday, was discussed, and it was decided that the corps should take part in it. Great excitement was caused on Monday by a report that a man had been stabbed ou the Tinakori-road. One version of the tale was that a murder had been committed, and another was that a man was supposed to be dying. The news was brought to the police station by a messenger who reached there about eight o’clock in a very excited state and said that a man had been stabbed. He added that he had been told by a little girl that her father was being stabbed with knives. Sergeant Smith and Constable Macdonald at once went off in a cab, expecting to find a serious case. On inquiry they ascertained that there had been a fight between an Englishman and a Swede outside the Karori Hotel, but no one had been stabbed, and both the men had gone away, neither being much the worse for the affray. One had received a cut ou the hand when he fell down, but it wars said to have been caused not by a knife but by a piece of road metal. No arrest was made. A New Zealand Gazette of Thursday last contains a notification of the season in which native game may be killed, viz , from the Ist April until the 31st July next. The regulations under the Fish Protection Act are gazetted, by which it will be seen that fishermen using nets must take oat” a license, which they can obtaiu from the collectors of customs on payment of £l. The 20tli of April (the Saturday following Good Friday) is proclaimed a bank holiday. A return of lands sold and deposits received iu the Provincial District of Wellington from Ist February to to the 31st March last shows that 1020 acres 1 rood 2 perches have been disposed of, and £1052 11s. Id. received. An order by the Governor-in-Council is published, altering the boundaries of the Nelson an 1 Westland judicial districts. It is notified that the Gourt of Appeal will sit at Wellington on the 13th May next. The following revising officers are appointed :—Lowther Broad, Esq., for the electoral districts of city of Nelson, suburbs of Nelson, Waimea, Mutueka, Oollingwood, Picton, and Wairau ; Henry Samuel Fitzherbert, Esq., for the city of Wellington, the Hutt, Wellington country, Wairarapa, Manawatu, Rangitikei, and Wanganui ; George Andrew Olliver, Esq., for Napier and Clive ; and Hex--bert William Brabant, Esq., for the East Coast.

A warrant was granted on Tuesday for the apprehension of G. E. Toop, a Napier hotelkeeper, who is believed to be in Sydney, on a charge of defrauding his creditors. It is probable that iu addition to the varied schemes which have been suggested for giving the city a large water supply, one will be proposed for bringing in water from a creek near the Hutt by means of an open aqueduct. The idea is to carry the water in an open race for the greater part of the distance, using pipes and fluming where a considerable saving in length would be effected. A storage reservoir would be constructed near Wellington. Mr. R. S. Ledger, the secretary of the Wellington and Hutt Building Society, notifies that the offices have been removed to Messrs. Hickson and Ledger’s, Custom-house-quay. These gentlemen, who have recently entered into partnership, have taken offices in the building lately purchased by the Loan and Mercantile Agency Company from . Messrs. Befchune aud Hunter, where they will carry on the business of shareholders, commission agents, &c. The Foxton coach broke down on Friday evening near Kaiwarra, and the passengers had to proceed on to town in other conveyances, or on foot. IVe understand that no one was hurt, and that the damage done to the coach is not very serious, consisting of a broken wheel. Considering the rough roads over which our up-country coaches have to travel, the rarity of serious accidents, says a good deal for the care and skill exercised by the drivers. Iu this case we are informed that no blame whatever is attributable to the coachman. It seems that on the west coast of the Middle Island there are two lawyers’ clerks who are famed for the neatness of their engrossing, their writing being beautifully regular. It is said that Judge Weston has publicly announced that one bears the palm for combined ueatness and illegibility. On Tuesday Mr. Justice Richmond referred to a brief written by the other, and while acknowledging ths elegance of each sheet as a whole, said that writing in such a style was a serious nuisance to anyone having to peruse a long and difficult case. The characters were described as backhanded and arrow-headed. Perhaps these two engrossing clerks will in future seek legibility at the expeuse of angular uniformity. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Friday, before J. G. Crawford, Esq., R.M., Messrs. Marks and Watty, commission agents, sued Mr. Williams, the proprietor of the National Hotel, for £62, being commission for the finding of a purchaser for the National Hotel. The plaintiffs were nonsuited. From the evidence it appeared that Mr. Williams employed the plaintiffs to sell the property in question, fixing the reserve price at £2400, aud excluding from the sale certain furniture. Mr. Marks it appeared was in ignorance of this proviso, which, however, was imparted to Mr. Watty. Mr. Marks found a purchaser for the property, furniture included, for the amount above stated. Mr. Williams, however, declined to complete the purchase under the circumstances. The Court, after hearing the witnesses on either side, nonsuited the plaintiffs. Mr. Gordou Allan and Mr. Ollivier appeared for the respective parties to the suit. A committee meeting of the Athletic Club was held on Saturday evening, and all matters relative to the arranging and managing of the Easter Monday sports were finally decided. The handicaps appear in another portion of our columns, and judging from the handicaps, something good in the running line may be anticipated. The winner of the championship, the athlete who scores the most points in the four champion events, wi 1 receive a silver medal. The medal is now being made by Mr. Shappere, of Willis-street. The committee intend printing on the programmes the time at which each race will stai’t, and will punctually observe it. They also decided to have boys’ races during the intervals between the programmed events, so the public will not have cause to find the time flagging. The entries for all the eveuts not handicaps are very numerous. The weather is now the only matter that troubles the club. The sports bid fair to be even a greater success than those of any previous year. We may state that the manner in which the committee of the Athletic Club ai’range aud carry out their meetings is unequalled by any society iu Wellington, the whole committee working with equal zest and energy. A telegram received fiom Wanganui ou Monday evening stated that Mr. Valentine, of the Hutt, had bought a boat-coach. People wondered what a boat-coach could be. It arrived on Tuesday by the Storm bird, and it turned out to be a well-built square-stern boat placed ou a sort of skeleton drag, and the whole affair looked very neat. What it was meant for was a puzzle to most. Some thought it was intended for crossing flooded rivers, so that when the water got above the wheels the boat would float and carry the carriage ; and others said it was meant to be used iu this way : when a river was reached the boat would be lowered, and the passengers ferried across, while the horses dragged the framework over. On Tuesday night a use was discovered for the boat-coach, aud it took passengers to the Circus. On a trip one of the horses jibbed iu Willis-s.reet, and the driver was quite unable to go ahead. After some minutes’ delay the passengers became discontented. Two seized oars, and tried to shove the boat along, but the horse was too strong for them. A third found some steps, and having lowered them over the side, disembarked. Then a four-horse coach was seen approaching, and a nautical man, who sat in the stern of the boat, and seemed to think he was steering, called out “Hard a port!” and the coach passed safely. When most of the crew had lauded on the footpath, a constable thought it would be well to prevent the crowd from becoming larger, and coaxed the horse to make a start. This it did suddenly, and several of the passengers were left) east away in the gutter.

Messrs. Barton and Fitzherbert, solicitors, have dissolved partnership. The Mungaroa Valley small farm sections, Wallaceville, Upper Hutt, wilL be sold on Thursday next, the 25th instant, as advertisedby Mr. j. IT. Wallace, at his saleroom, Hunterstreet. :gMr. C. Hausmann, the late landlord of the Criterion Hotel, Lambton-quay, died somewhat suddenly on Thursday morning at the Mel - bourne Hotel, Willis-street. The deceased had been unwell for some time past, and was under medical treatment; there!ore, we understand, it will not be thought necessary by the authorities that a coroner’s inquest should be held. Sp? We understand that Mr. P. A. Buckley has purchased, through Messrs. Bethune aud Hunter, the property known as the Lyells Bay Station, belonging to the estate of the late Mr. Alexander Sutherland, containing 500 acres freehold land, being sections Nos. 1,2, 3,4, and 6, each 100 acres. The exact price given has not transpired, but we have good reason to believe that the sum to be paid is considerably under £15,000. At Mr. Duncan’s land sale on Tuesday, lot 1, Hospital reserve, 0a 2r sp, was knocked down to Mr G. V. Shannon at a rental of £35 per annum, aud all the other lots were withdrawn. Apiece of land at the corner of Courtenayplace and Tory street was placed at an annual rental of 45s per foot, and a piece having a frontage of 40ft to Tory-street brought a rental of 35s per foot. The Greytown and Kilbirnie properties were withdrawn, and there was not a bid for properties offered at Feilding and Paliautanui. —° S?A general meeting of the members of the Loyal Britannia and Antipodean Lodges, 1.0.0. F., M.U., was held iu their new lodgeroom, Lambton-quay, ou Thursday evening last. There was a fair attendance of the brethren, and Mr. Daniel Susans presided. The chairman read the advertisement convening' the meeting, and explained the objects for which it had been called. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The seventeenth annual report and balancesheet of the Odd Fellows’ Hall and Building Committee were then read. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, made a few appropriate remarks; and,afterseveralquestions had been answered, the report was adopted unanimously. The report stated the cost of the new Lodge chambers to be £2030 12s. Bd., the contractor’s account being £1591 165., and £l3B 16s. Bd. had been expended for furnishing, architect’s fees, &c. The property had been made a freehold, aud the title is uow under the Land Transfer Act. There was an overdraft due to the Bank of New Zealand of £203 14s. 7d., on account of cost of. new building ; but since the accounts had been made up, £125 had been paid iu, and the rents accruing would be sufficient to pay the balance in less than two years, if uo other means were adopted to pay the overdraft ; but the trustees were about to"take step>s to obtain money at a less rate of interest than nine per cent., when the overdraft would be paid off. In concluding their labors, the committee congratulated the members on the handsome and convenient addition to their property, and expressed a hone that it would be the means of cementing the Lodges in the bonds of friendship, love, and truth, and of spreading the benefits of the institution. The auditors in their report complimented the secretary (Mr. R. A. Marshall) “on the very clear and accurate manner in which the books had been kept,” and the meeting voted a sum of £ls iu recognition of his efficient services. £5 was also voted to the chairman, and £2 each to the committee, to be ‘expended in the purchase of suitable testimonials, in recognition of their services. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings of the evening. * The resignation by Mr. Stafford of his seat in the New Zealand House of Representatives is a noticeable event. It was not, indeed, unexpected, as it has been known for some time that Mr. Stafford was about to take a trip to England. But at the present juncture, when the political life of the colony is exposed to one of its severest trials, the loss from the deliberations of Parliament of a politician of the experience and ability of Air. Stafford, Whose influence has been used on the side of moderation, is a serious loss indeed. There have of late beeu many things which have tended to make parliamentary life in New Zealand distasteful to those who have known it in better days and under better conditions. During the last couple of years there has been in the proceedings of Parliament a strain of virulence, reckless aspersions, and class prejudice that might well operate to make a selfrespecting politician, not bound by any party responsibility, desire to quit so uncongenial a sphere of labor. This is the most dangerous effect of the rampant demag.->guism which has lately been introduced into New Zealand politics. Men of respectable character are willing to take their fair share of the victories and defeats of political conflict. But they shrink from a contest iu which, if not defeated, they are sure to be befouled aud disgusted. And hence the danger that just that class of men who can least be spared—men with a sense of self-respect, a feeling of honor, and a care for reputation —will be driven by sheer di-gust to abandon the field to unscrupulous demagogues and adventurers. An experienced New Zealand politician has declared that a great change for the worse has during the present Parliament been noticed in the tone of the debates. The stumping process so assiduously pursued by the Premier, as an appeal from Parliament to the mob, is likely to tend to a further demoralisation of public affairs. We in this colony can betterthan any appreciate the disastrous effect of men of hi'di character holding themselves aloof from public life, and leaving politics to become a gambling game at which sharpers live and thrive and honest men go to the wall. We hope a better destiny for New Zealand, while recognising that, at the present moment, it stauds in peril of a similar one.

meeting of creditors in the estate of J. T. Love, plumber, was held ou Thursday, at which Mr. Berry was appointed trustee. Air. E. W. Mills guaranteed 7s 6d in the £. allotments in the proposed township or Kensington have been presented by Air. Fiunimore as prizes to be drawn for in the art union promoted by the committee of the Working Aden’s Club. The committee wilL be glad to receive donations of all kinds, in land, goods, or cash, in aid of the funds for furnishing the premises now in course of erection for the club. On Friday morning Air. Loudon and Air. Bishop, of Foxton, waited upon the Alinister of Public Works in reference to increased wharf accommodation at that place, the want of which is much felt, and in view of the growing importance of the locality will be sure ere long to be still more urgently required. Air. Macandrew said that the Government had already given instructions for the wharf to be extended so as to give accommodation to another vessel. This information was regarded by the deputation as so far satisfactory, and having thanked the Alinister for his courtesy and attention to the matter, they withdrew. The Nelson and Wellington cricket match was celebrated by a dinner at the Metropolitan Hotel on Thursday night. Air. G. E. Barton occupied the chair, and Air. Alace the vice-chair. An excellent spread was laid by Host Beattie, and the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were done justice to. The Chairman proposed the toast of “ The Nelson Team,” which was responded to by Dr. G’anney; and Dr. Canney proposed the toast of “ The Wellington Team,” which was responded to by Air. J. A. Salmon. A very pleasant evening was spent, and the Nelson team were seen away by the Wellington men at midnight. < The abrupt change from bright sunlight to the intense darkness of a mine often causes a temporary blindness where the journey from the top to the bottom of the mine is made quickly. To allow the miners to recover their sight, it is the custom in some mines to have a well-lighted whitewashed room at the foot of the shaft, where the miners can sit while recovering the use of their eyes. To obviate this delay it is suggested that if one eye is closed for a moment or two before entering the pit, and kept closed until the bottom of the shaft is reached, on opening the eye the miner will be able to see distinctly the moment the lower darkness is reached. This custom is already carried out by miners in AEexico, who come to the daylight and then return at once, keeping one eye closed during their brief excursion into the sunlight, and thus find no inconvenience in the change from dark to light or from light to dark. Compressed air on being released from pressure can be cooled down to a very low temperature by throwing it into a jet of cold water. Advantage has been taken of this fact in contriving a new refrigerator or freezing chamber, and we are informed that at a trial which took place with a view to commercial purposes, “in half an hour after commencing to work the machine, the thermometer within the freezing chamber stood at twenty degrees below zero; the interior of the chamber was covered with hoarfrost halt an inch thick, bottles of water were frozen solid, and the general temperature of the room in which the freezing chamber stands was reduced to thirty degrees Fahrenheit.” It is clear that by this invention a very cheap way of producing ice and maintaining coolness has become available; and that it should have beeu adopted by a company for use on board ship to keep meat fresh during the voyage from Canada is what might be expected. Bearing in mind that in April of the present year the United States sent to England more than eight million pounds of meat, the importance of the new cooling method will be appreciated. Moreover, it may be applied to many other purposes which require a low temperature. “ An amusing and highly successful telephone experiment was made at Wishaw lately. Mr. Mitchell, draper, has a theory that'“ all the talk about magnetism and electricity in connection with the telephone is merely to hoodwink the public.” All that is required to conduct sound, he says, is merely a connection of “ any kind ” between the bells. To illustrate this, he supplied himself with a couple of old tin coffee-canisters and a twopenny ball of twine, and, along with a number of friends, went to the Public Park to experiment. A hole was bored in the bottom of each of the coffee-canisters, and the twine being opened out (about 200 yards), a canister was fixed to each end, with a common shirt button to prevent the cord from slipping. Mr. Alitchell now announced the telephone to be in working order, and applying liis mouth to one of the canisters, a newspaper reporter put his ear to the other, and was immediately greeted, in clear and distinct tones, with “How do you do ?” A regular conversation was then carried on for about a quarter of an hour. Several songs were sung, and in such as “ Auld Langsyne ” the words were clear and distinct ; while in smgs with rollicking airs, such as “ Paddy, says she, but you bother me,” the words, from the rapid succession in which they followed each other, were not so easily made out. ' In the evening the same “instrument” was tested in houses on opposite sides of the street, and the result was equally successful. It may be stated, for the beuefit of those who wish to try the experiment, that the canisters used were a little larger than an imperial pint measure ; but a iy size will do, and the thinner the tin the better the effect. Cord of any description is suitable for a connection, and a few knots here and there have no injurious effects. PERFECTION.—Mrs. S. A. A. Alien’s Wori-di Hair Restorer never fails to restore Grey Hair . > its youthful color, imparting to it new life, growth and lustrous beauty. Its action is speedy and thorough quickly banishing Greyness. Its value is above all others. A single trial proves it. It is not a dye. It ever proves itsel the natural strengthener of the Hair. (The genuine only in Pink Wrappers.) Sold wholesale by Peltox, Grimwade, & Co., Wellington; Kempihorse, Prosser, & Co., Dunedin and Auckland; and retail of all Chemists and Perfumers throughout the Colonies

A. correspondent of the New York Post complains that the wages of household servants increase from year to year, while wages of all other kinds of labor decline. Many people have wondered that in their despair the Turks did not unfurl the Standard of the Prophet. Their forbearance was a necessity. According to the Gazette de VAllcmagne cla Novel, it is no longer in the possession of the Porte. An Italian traveller is declared to have stolen it, unobserved by the keepers of the Mosque, and the relic is now in the Turin Museum. A sad fatality occurred recently. A man named Michael Planagan, aged forty years, a resident of Lothian-street, Hotham, was working at a store in Queen-street, when he saw a bottle which he supposed to contain wine. Without staying to ascertain if such were the case, he put the bottle to his mouth and swallowed a small quantity. The bottle proved to contain carbolic acid, and the corrosive poison took immediate effect. He was at once taken to the Melbourne Hospital, where every endeavor was made to save" life, but without avail, and he died in great agony in about thirty minutes. The American public libraries bid fair at no distant day to equal all but those of first rank in Europe ; they are year by year increasing in number, magnitude, and value. Mr. Horner, the librarian of the State Library at Albany, in a recent report, gives some valuable information respecting the increase of libraries in the country generally, which he represents as being truly astonishing. -In the year 1800 there were but 49 libraries in the United States, containing in the aggregate 80,000 volumes. There are now in the country 3682 libraries, and of these 2240 have been organised since 1850. All the libraries contain 13,000,000 volumes, not counting those in common and Sunday schools. The public libraries of the State of New York—627 in number, of more than 300 volumes each—contain in all more than 2,000,000 volumes, of which 1,000,000 volumes are to be found in New York alone. An important advance has been made towards solving the problem of illumination at sea by an adaptation of what is known as the Holmes’ distress signal, in the form of a shot, for illuminating purposes, to be fired from mortars at ranges varying from five hundred to two thousand five hundred yards. These signals possess the remarkable property of emitting a very powerful white light the moment they come into contact with the water, and when once ignited are absolutely inextinguishable by either wind or water, and burn with a persistency that is almost incredible, thirty or forty minutes being an average duration. The shot containing this light is constructed so as to be upon the water, and, at the same time, with sufficient rigidity of form to withstand the concussion of the powder. Upon striking the water at the required range, the shot, floating up to the surface, immediately bursts into a brilliant flame with great illuminating power. Half-a-dozen of these shots f red from an ironclad or gunboat would effectually surround her with an impassable cordon of light at any required range, and by such a device the enemy’s movements of attack would become plainly discernible, and any attempt to break through the illuminated zone of light be at once detected, however dark the night. 0 DINNER TO MR. CLARKE, C.E. On Tuesday evening the Mayor of Wellington entertained Mr. Clarke, the eminent hydraulic engineer, and about 80 other gentlemen, at a sumptuous dinner at the Club. Amongst those present were the Hon. Colonel Whitmore, M.L.C., Sir William Eitzherbert, M.H.R., A. De 15. Brandon, Esq., M.H.R., G. Hunter, Esq., M.H.R-, H. Bunny, Esq., M.H.R., all the members of the City Council, the Town Clerk and other corporate officials, and a number of professional men and other leading citizens. The usual loyal toasts, “ The Queen,” “ The Prince of Wales,” and “ The Governor,” were giv’en. from the chair and duly honored. The Town Clerk: (Mr. Graham) next gave “The Army, Navy, and Reserve Forces,” coupled with the names of Colonel Whitmore, Mr. J. C. Crawford, R.M., and Major Pearce. The toast was warmly received, and responded to by those gentlemen very appropriately. Colonel Whitmore, in speaking of the army, referred to the past services of British soldiers, and to their present state of efficiency. He expressed his warm attachment to the service to which he formerly belonged, and said he was certain that if their services were again required in the field they would do their duty as they had done in the past. In responding on behalf of the navy, Mr. J• C. Crawford alluded to the fact that the material of which warships were made in his early years had considerably changed ; but although the material had been 'altered, the men were of the same stamp now as then, and would give as good an account of themselves as their predecessors had done, if called into action to-day. Mr. Pearce, in replying on behalf of the reserve forces, remarked that he had lately been in England, where he had seen what the reserve forces were there, and how this, amongst other things, had contributed to enable the country to take the firm stand it had lately. The Chairman then rose to propose the health of the guest of the evening, Mr. Clarke, and dwelt at some length upon the advantages which would result to the city from that gentleman’s visit. He expressed a hope that whatever suggestions were made by him in reference to the carrying out sanitary works here would be adopted, m order that the evils which it was admitted existed here should be removed. Mr Clarke replied in an able and eloquent speech, which everyone present regretted it was not possible to have reported fully, no reporters being present. Mr Clarke pointed

out the difficulties which would attend the preparing of a scheme for an efficient system of drainage for a city like Wellington, composed as it was of one or two exten ive flats surrounded by hills of every size. The death rate in Wellington was not as heavy as in many other cities of like size, but the evils re ferred to as existing must not be permitted to continue, for the longer time they were allowed to continue the more they would grow and tend to increase the death rate. He said the great difficulty he had to grapple with was the want of a proper plan showing the levels of all the streets in every part of the city. Until he was furnished with this it would be impossible for him to prepare any report that would be satisfactory to the City Council. He should remain in 'Wellington for some weeks, and before leaving hoped to be able to be prepared with such a scheme for the drainage of the city as if carried out would confer a lasting benefit upon the place. He deprecatedin most powerful language the discharging of any portion of the sewage into the harbor, pointing out the evils which had been made apparent from the adoption of such a plan in older cities, and instanced Sydney as an illustration. He expressed his great satisfaction at his visit to the colonies, and said that on his return to England he should have great pleasure in pointing out the advantages which men of sober, steady, and industrious habits would derive by emigrating to these colonies. He had been very much struck by the appearance of comfort and prosperity which seemed to be enjoyed very generally by all classes of the community. The Chairman next proposed “ The Health of her Majesty’s Ministers,” remarking that politics were excluded from the topics to be discussed at the usual gatherings of the Club, but still he thought everyone present would be glad to drink the health of the Ministry, with which toast he would couple the name of the Hon. Colonel Whitmore. Colonel Whitmore, in responding, said he deprecated the introduction of policical topics at these social meetings, and approved of the rule of the Club on the subject. He regretted that he was the only member of the Ministry able to be pi’esent. His colleagues would gladly have availed themselves of the opportunity of being present if they could. On behalf of the present Government he could say that it had the interest of the colony at heart, and he hoped when its policy was fully explained to the country, that if not wholly approved of, the Ministry would at all events obtain credit for good intentions, and for having worked hard in their various positions. He referred to the fact that the Ministry and the Governor were on excellent terms, notwithstanding what had been said to the contrary, and which had appeared in some of the publications which they could not help seeing. He certainly did not think the Government required the services of any Cashmere watchman. Mr. Pearce proposed “The Health of the Members of the General Assembly,” and refei'red to the able men who had labored in the past in forming the laws under which we now live. He considered that the New Zealand Parliament would favorably compare with that of any other Legislative body in the colonies, and even with the Imperial Parliament. He would couple with this toast the name of Sir William Eitzherbert, who had been one of the leading politicians of the colony from the commencement of Constitutional Government here, and who now occupied the high position of Speaker in the House of Representatives. Sir William Eitzherbert replied very ably and at some length, touching on a great variety of topics. He deprecated the habit many people had of undervaluing themselves and their representatives, and referred to recent proceedings which had taken place in the British House of Commons. He expressed great gratification in hearing what had fallen from Mr. Clarke, and hoped that it would bear fruit. The City Council had a serious duty to discharge, and they must do it well, and without fear, favor, or affection. In early life be himself had studied the science of hygiene under some of the ablest instructors of the time, and there could be no doubt that Mr. Clarke’s views on the subject were sound. If people sowed poison they must expect to reap death. There was great credit due to the Mayor for bringing together so large an assemblage to hear Mr. Clarke’s views, and. they must support the City Council in taking energetic measures to remedy the evils so ably pointed out by Mr. Clarke. Mr. J. Woodward proposed “The Health of the City Council” in a few complimentary remax'ks, and coupled with the toast the name of Councillor Hunter, whose father, it was well known, was the first Mayor of the city. Mr. Hunter replied on behalf of the City Council, and said he hoped, as their duty had been pointed out to them so clearly by Mr. Clarke, that they would not fail to discharge it. Mr. Clarke asked leave to propose a toast. He said since he came to the colony he had been privileged to take up his abode at the Club, and he found himself very comfortable ■in it. He congratulated its members on possessing such a fine building, situated in such a beautiful situation. He could speak with some knowledge on the subject, as he had been staying at various Clubs in the Australian colonies. He again spoke of the kind reception he had met with in the colonies at the hands of Governors, Ministers, and Municipalities, and concluded by proposing “ The Health of the President of the Wellington Club.” ° Mr. Hunter acknowledged the toast, and said he was pleased to hear Mr. Clarke speak in such a satisfactory manner of this Club and its management. This concluded the speeches, and the guests shortly afterwaids separated. Ihe above is necessarily only a brief report of the proceedings, as it had been agreed beorehand that reporters should not be pres.ent, they not being, as a rule, invited to social gatherings of this kind at the Club, but we believe the account furnished to us will be found substantially correct, as we have it on reliable authority,

the CIRCUS. Eme weather prevailed on Saturday, and the matinee performance was attended by over 2000 persons, the juvenile element predominating. A grand triumphal cavalcade introduced the entire company mounted on gaily caparisoned horses, the herd of elephants, camels, banner-bearers, &c. The entree was a very effective one. The elephant Titania followed in a series of wonderful feats, which her trainer, Professor Johnson, had’ taught her , and a lengthy and varied programme was gone through in a manner which both astonished and delighted the spectators. After the circus performance, those present were afforded an opportunity of seeiug the animals fed, which being a novel feature to most of those present proved highly attractive. The collection of beasts includes a herd of six elephants, a drove of camels, a black hairy rhinoceros, a sea-lion, two lions and a lioness, a Bengal tiger, an American bison, au American elk, a snake, &c. A concert and variety entertainment concluded the afternoon’s show. EVENING performance. It was announced that the doors woukl be open at i o clock for the evening performance, but long before that hour people began to crowd in, and by a quarter past more than three-fourths of the seats were filled. The desire to get good places, or indeed auy place at all, pi evented many from spending much time bi the menagerie tents, and the animals did notreceive much attention, as would other wise have been_ the case. When the circus was as full as it was fair to the spectators to crowd it, the doors were closed, and many hundreds who intended to pay a visit had to go away disappointed. Of these a good many patronised what is called a “ side show,” where there were several curiosities, including the learned pig, who rather astonished the beholders by playing and winning a game of euchre, its opponent being one who was deemed an expert. The immense body of people grouped round the arena in the large tent had an imposing effect, and it may be safely said that many of those present had never in their lives seen so laige a number assembled together. Young Wellington was greatly astonished, and old people could not but regard the gathering as a striking proof of the rate at which the population here has increased of late. The performance commenced with the usual cavalcade, and the horses and riders, all gaily bedecked, looked as usual picturesque. The appearance of the trained elephant Titania and the tricks it performed afforded surprise to tnose to whom such a sight was a novelty. _ The huge ungainly animal proved its. docility, and (if the term may be used) its agility, by waltzing, walking on its knees, balancing on a pedestal, and by various other tricks, all of which were gone through with ponderous" deliberation. The act concluded with a sensational scene. Mr. G. W. Johnson, the trainer, stretched himself on the ground and allowed ffitania to step over him twice. Abalardo Lowande introduced the fiist equestiian act, and, proved himself very expert in leaping ; his feat of throwing three somersaults in quick succession over banners earned him very hearty applause. One of the best things done was the leaping from a spring board by Mr. W. Batchelor, who after some preliminary jumps, in which he was accompanied by other members of the company, gave an astonishing proof of his skill. Next to the spring board there were placed three elephants] side by side, then four camels and one dromedary, and over these spraug “ the champion leaper of the world,” as the bill styled him, turning two somersaults as he went flying through the air. This was sensational, but that which followed was more so. Martiuho Lowande, after doing all sorts of things on a bare-backed horse, had handed to him his son, a tiny little fellow of four years, and after several proofs of the baby’s skill and coolness, the child stood on his father’s head, and kept his balance there without any assistance, the horse cantering round the ring all the. time. Then Tony, a few years older, eclipsed this feat by standing on his father’s head, with one foot, while holding his other foot in one hand. There was some clever juggling by a Japanese, who is no doubt proud of his name, Awati Catnoshin. Professor Richards gave an excellent performance with the Indian clubs, an exercise which when well done is decidedly graceful, and requires strength and great skill, with quickness of the hands and sight. There were many other acts, in which the various performers acquitted themselves successfully. The bumpkin who stumbles into the ring and will insist on riding a horse, and who turns out to be one of the company, was duly represented, but it was a failure as far as cleverness was concerned, and might well be omitted. Ihe joke is too stale, and to be worth a laugh must be much better carried out. Act No. 15 and last consisted of Professor Johnson, the lion-tamer, entering a cage with three lions, and when there making them go through some tricks. A startling effect was produced by the professor firing off a revolver rapidly, thus causing not a few to think that he had been attacked by one of the lions. After the circus part of the show was over, a concert, for admission to which a shilling was charged, was given to a large audience. It took a long time for the immense crowd to get out by one doorway, and it would be very convenient if one er two more exists were provided at the close of the main portion of the entertainment. Those who had to show the audience to the seats and find room for such a crowd, did their work very well indeed, and prevented any confusion arising. It would be advisable for young children to go in the afternoons, for they would have a much better opportunity of seeing the sights in the menagerie than they can have at night, and they would not be so crowded. MONDaY AFTERNOON PERFORMANCE. This, varied entertainment was liberally patronised on Monday afternoon, and immensely enjoyed by all present, the shrill treble of

the four-year-old and the hearty guffaw of the countryman testifying to the keen appreciation of the humor of the scene. After the usual opening cavalcade aud the performance of the trained elephant (already described), Abalardo Lowande went through his striking acts of somersault equestrianism with an ease aud grace which added to their effect. The “ Female Samson,” Madame D’Atalie, with her two pupils, then went through her part, amongst other novel effects placing a brass piece of ordnance of considerable weight across her shoulders, which one of her pupils fired off. After an exhibition of leaping by a crowd of athletes Mr. Batcheller essayed with success his astounding feat of turning a double somersault over no less than ten huge animals (five elephants and five dromedaries and camels). This was decidedly the biggest leap we have ever seen. Next the two tiny Martinhos appeared in the arena with their father, and went through the wonderful acts which we described previously. A pleasing feature in these efforts was the evident enjoyment which the children themselves took in the apparently dangerous feats which they performed. Professors Libby and Richards having shown what could be done with connon balls and Indian clubs, a contrast was afforded in the juggling of Catuoshin, who with balls and a couple of light sticks demonstrated what wonders could be effected in the way of balancing. The “ Boneless Wonder” having proved the extraordinary elasticity of the human subject, the entertainments of the circus proper were brought to a conclusion by Signor Martinho Lowande managing with surprising dexterity seven horses at one time, and by Professor Johnson entering the lions’ den and showing his entire command over these beasts. The circus was followed by a really enjoyable concert, and the side show, where are located the learned pig and other attractions, was well patronised during the afternoon. But the menagerie alone is worth the money charged for admission. When shall we again see six elephants together in Wellington ? The two lions (one Asiatic the other African) are nobl e looking beasts, as is their female companion; while the royal Bengal tiger shows the beautiful, if terrible, proportions of this scourge of the Indian jungles. Then there is the rhinoceros, one of two captured on the Nile by the well-known hunter, H. Paul, and brought by him to the United States. Here also may be seen a specimen of the shaggy and fiercelooking North American bison, captured with the lasso on the great plains of the American desert, stretching from Wyoming to Utah territory. These are the plains, it will be remembered, on which the Prince of Wales enjoyed some exciting sport during his visit to the United States. Here are jaguars and deer, elephants and monkeys, dromedaries and tiny ponies—a wonderful collection, in sooth, to travel and see the world. The show all round is an unmistakeably “ big thing,” and no one should miss the opportunity of seeing it. A number of children from the Catholic Orphanage, availing themselves of the kind invitation of Messrs. Cooper and Bailey, were present during the afternoon. EVENING- PERFORMANCE. In the evening the Circus was again crowded to repletion, hundreds being unable to obtain admission. The programme was gone through to the intense delight and satisfaction of the great concourse assembled. Each member of the troupe seems to particularly excel in his or her own line of business. The elephant Titania was loudly cheered for her various tricks and feats ; Professor Johnson, her trainer, was also warmly applauded. The Female Samson went through her astounding performance in a remarkably easy manner. Mr. Batcheller repeated his wonderful leap, throwing two somersaults in mid-air over three elephants and four camels. Mr. Lowande, champiijm hurricane rider, once more performed' the feat of riding and driving seven horses at the same time. The manner in which the young Lowaudes performed standing on their father’s head with the horse going in full career was almost marvellous. The Menagerie was crowded with eager spectators, and the learned pig, the fire-eater, and the ventriloquist were also extensively patronised. TUESDAY’S PERFORMANCE. The last performance of Messrs. Cooper and Bailey’s popular show came to a close about 9 o’clock on Tuesday night. Although very little dissatisfaction was openly expressed at the rather early termination of the performance, yet it was but too evident, from the facial expression of the majority, that they did not expect to hear “ God Save the Queen” quite so soon as 9 o’clock. As if to compensate, however, for this drawback, our old friend; Mr. Sackett, early in the evening came into the ring and announced that after the circus performance came to an end there would be a wonderful exhibition in the side-show, consisting of the learned pig which bears the name of the great German statesman, the great fire-king, the champion ventriloquist, the African serpent, &c., &c., at a charge of “ only one shilling extra.” Our American cousins are certainly up to business, and if they do not succeed the fault cannot be attributed to their want of enterprise, for immediately after Mr. Sackett’s announcement, two or three persons commenced selling tickets for the “ great after performance,” and as the people left the circus two gentlemen stood on boxes, and in sonorous tones asked the gentlemen to give the ladies and children an opportunity of seeing such wonderful things as they had in their side-show. And who could resitt such affecting appeals ? It is certain that a good many did not feel inclined to do so, for in a very short space of time the place was crowded. “ Bismarck, the learned pig,” surprised those who went to see him by playing the game which Bret Harte tells us in such a wonderful way the “ heathen Chinee” played, but which he did not understand, and which is now known as euchre. The circus performance did not vary very much, if at all, from those of the two previous evenings. The feats of the two youngsters, Masters Tony an 4

Martinho Lowande, created great enthusiasm; and taking advantage of the feelings of the audience, the youngest boy came around, accompanied by a gentleman, selling photographs of his father, brother, and himself. Very few could resist gratifying the wish of such a pleasant child, who seems to have made himself as great a favorite with the audiences as the “ Luck of Roaring Camp” did amongst the diggers. There was no concert after the circus entertainment, and as it was announced in the programmes which were given away that such would be the case, there was some disappointment at its not taking place. There was no afternoon performance, but a good number paid a visit to the exhibition during the day to see the animals, which were a never-failing source of interest to the youngsters. The average attendance per day was about 3000, or about 9000 altogether who visited the show during its stay in Wellington. It would j.ot be an easy matter to give the correct amount of money taken, as Mr. Bailey, in a very courteous manner, informed our reporter that he never told anybody as to what his takings were. If the average is put down at three shillings per head, and we think it may fairly be put down at that amount con■idering the large number who only paid a shilling to see the animals, the total sum might be put down at between £I3OO and £ISOO. The amount of the takings at Christchurch (which we' heard put down at £8000), and other plaees, must be, we think, greatly overstated. The circus has been very popular wherever it has visited, and vast crowds have flocked to see it. The largest attendance, Mr. Bailey informed our reporter, was at Ballarat, in Victoria, where 8000 persons visited the show during the two days that it stayed in what used to be called “ the metropolitan goldfield.” Before the termination of the performance, some of the smaller tents were taken down, and by about 12 o’clock at night the immense tent and all its belongings were cleared from the ground, which will be a sad disappointment to many a youngster who expects to have another look before going to school at the wonderful animals he has been told so much about. The troupe will start this afternoon for Auckland, where, we believe, they play for the last time in New Zealand. Messrs. Bailey and Cooper will be long remembered in Wellington, not perhaps because they brought the best circus to our city, but because they brought the most varied collection of animals. They will also be remembered for their courtesy to everybody with whom they came into contact; and in saying this, we do not wish it to be understood as confined to Messrs. Cooper and Bailey, but it applies to the entire troupe, who made themselves decided favorites with the people of Wellington ; and we are sorry to be compelled, in the exercise of our duty to the public, to make a complaint about the rather sudden termination of their last performance here. We now cordially wish them a prosperous journey.