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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4149, 8 July 1874, Page 2

The reply to the Address of His Excellency will be moved in the Legislative Council by the Hon. Mr. Campbell. In the House of Representatives last night, in answer to Mr. T. L. Shepherd, the Premier stated that, it was not desirable to make any alteration in the present arrangements with regard to the sorting and delivery of intercolonial or foreign mails arriving in the chief ports of the Colony on Sundays. At present no postmaster could compel a clerk to attend on Sundays to sort mails ; but many of them preferred to attend on Sundays in such exceptional cases to sort mails, rather than to come to the office for that purpose at a very early hour on Monday mornings, and were allowed an extra allowance for so doing.

The subject of Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister is about to be brought under the notice of the Legislative Council, by the Hon. Mr. Waterhouse, who has given notice of his intention to legalise such marriages. In this course, if he succeed in making such a bill law, New Zealand will only be following the example of the Australian .-cnw»ii,~. . Vhn..?u»y>witv of...BiioK. * k "»-;»- New Zealand is becoming apparent, gossip having it that it is not an uncommon occurrence for persons so situated with regard to each other as the widower and the sister of his deceased wife to go to neighboring Colonies, where marriage between them may be legally celebrated.

The site of a lighthouse on Cape Egrnont, said the Hon. the Commissioner of Customs, in answer to Mr. T. Kelly, in the House last night, had not yet been decided upon. In answer to the same hon. member, the Premier said that the telegraph had not been extended between Opunake and Stoney River—a distance o£ some twenty or twenty-three miles—because the track was narrow, and the wire would be constantly exposed to damage from falling timber, while the moistness of the air would often interrupt its successful working. It was at one time contemplated to lay a sea-cable, in place of the land wire alluded to, to bring New Plymouth.into direct telegraphic communication with the rest of the Colony, but it was now thought that difficulties in ««, tray ot widening ■ the track would .soon be removed, when the line would be extended.

Mr. Curtis, the Superintendent of Nelson, has lost no time in introducing in the House of Representatives the Loan Bill, which lie was authorised by the Provincial Council to submit to Parliament. Yes'terday afternoon, immediately on the meeting of the House, he gave notice of his intention to bring in a bill to authorise the Province of Nelson to borrow a sum of £250,000, for the purpose of reproductive public works in that Province.

There were three roads projected between Tauranga and Cambridge (Waikato) said Mi-. Richardson to Mr. Sheehan, in the House last night. The centre one was reported on as the best. The Native owners of the land it would traverse for some time objected to the survey of the land, but these had been removed, and the survey would now be proceeded with, to be followed by the construction of the road. The port of Tauranga, said Mr. Sheehan, was one of the best ports on the east coast of the North Island,, and it communicated with a district which would yet. become of great importance.

The Smith Combination Troupe resumed their performances at the Theatre Royal last evening with a remarkable entertainment. The DeCastro children eclipse all previous exhibitions which have been witnessed in Wellington, not excepting those of the Angel family, of which Lottie was the shining star. The flying somersaults of "Young England" and the graceful feats of his father, form an exhibition of skill which shows to what perfection athletics have been brought of late years. "Young England," in fact, though aboy of very youthful years, is by far the cleverest gymnast the Colonies have ever seen, and the other infants of the family are little behind him in dexterity. The feats were watched with a greater degree of comfort on account of the whole area of the theatre above the pit being covered by netting strong enough to Bustain the weight of the elder De Castro. Aireo's singular power of balancing upon the trapeze, and the exceedingly clever ladder feat elicited continuous plaudits, and as a whole the performance was certainly such as has nover before been witnessed in Wellington. Val Vose's ventriloquism varied the performance, and gave an agreeably humoroxis turn to the entertainment, which was rendered still more attractive by the harp solos of Professor Saunders and the character singing of Mr. St. Vincent and Mdmo. Montebello. ■ A change of programme is announced for this evening, but "Young England's" wonderful performance on the flying trapeze will, no doubt, bo repeated. The following aro the name 3 of the immigrants by the Euterpe, nominated for Wellington :—■ Charles Humwick and family, 3J adults; John Walls and family, 3 J do; Phillip Pitcher and family, 3 do ; Thyrza Knight, 1 do ; Elizabeth Pye and family of single women, 1 do ; Margaret Ritchie and 2 children, 1 do (Wanganui) ; Blanche Innes, 1 do ; Emma Wilson, 1 do (Wanganui) ; Mrs. Boady (matron) and family, 3 do; Ellen Walls and family, 2, Total, 20 adults.

The Premier. last night, in answer to Mr. O'Neill, stated the Government..had no intention this session of introducing legislation on the subject of Gold Mining. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the City Council will be held at four o'clock tomorrow (Thursday). Mr. Hall, the City Missionary, acknowledges the receipt of contributions towards the Mission during the past month, amounting to £ll Gs.

The business at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday was unimportant. Two men charged with having been drunk were fined 10s. each, and several small civil cases were either adjourned or settled out of court. It will be seen with pleasure that the Kennedy Family will, on passing through Wellington, give their popular Scottish entertainment for three nights in the Odd Fellows' Hall. These nights will be the 16th, 17th, and 20th instant.

We understand that the Rev. Joseph Waterhouse, who has labored for twenty years as a Wesleyan missionary in Fiji, is about to visit this City. Mr. Waterhouse will preach her-e on Sunday, July 19, and on the following Monday evening deliver a lecture on his mission to Thakombau.

Mr. Duncan directs attention to his large auction sale on Thursday and Friday next, at his rooms. The samples of the six cases of vases and toilet sets are described as worthy of inspection, being quite new designs, nothing of a similar kind having ever been offered here at auction.

Notice was given in tbe House of Representatives, last night, by Mr. J. L. Gillies, of a question as to whether the Government had taken any steps to investigate the charges made against His Honor Judge Chapman in telegrams which purported to have emanated from Judge Ward, but Che authenticity of which was now denied. Mr. Gillies is also to ask whether the Government will have any objection to lay on the table any correspondence that may have passed by letter or telegram on the subject. We acknowledge the receipt from Mr. Audley Coote of papers relative to the introduction into the Parliaments of New Zealand and Queensland of a Bill relative to the Submarine Telegraph line between New South Wales and this Colony. Mr. Coote also sends a plan, showing the proposed Cable line between this Colony and Australia, and also of that proposed and in operation between Australia and various countries in the old world.

Intercolonial reciprocity in trade is thus emphatically written upon by a correspondent of the Dunediu Star.—" Reciprocity is no new thing : it has for years worked well between Canada and the United States ; it existed in the Germanic Confederation (Zollverein) ; and the commercial treaty with France was nothing but an act of reciprocity. For these Colonies, situated as they are, to tax each other's products, is about as absurd as it would be for each Province of New Zealand to maintain hostile tariffs towards each other. In about half-a-dozen years the Colonies will be as closely united by the aid of steam and telegraphy as the various Provinces of New Zealand were about a dozen years ago. There is no doubt that free trade, in its widest sense, is most desirable, but I see no way of accomplishing this except by conserving the public estate, and waiting on for some years ; meanwhile, on the principle that ' half a loaf is better than none,' we should be satisfied with free trade with the Australian Colonies. There is no doubt there are difficulties in arranging the matter, but should the Premier succeed in overcoming them all, he will have carved for himself a niche in the temple of fame_ far beyond the most sanguine results of his immigration and public works schemes. With extensive and profitable markets opened up to our productions, public works and immigration may be left to take care of themselves." AUCKLAND. Guided apparently by the practice at the shipping ports in the Home country, the Harbor Board of Auckland have recommended, if they have not undertaken, the established system of informing- the public of imminent changes in the weather. At the last meeting of that body, Mr. Von der Heyde moved, " That, in the opinion of this Board, it is desirable that a barometer of the most approved construction be procured, fixed in the Harbormaster's office on the wharf in such a manner as to be visible at all times, day and night, and that the wharfinger be instructed to see to its being set every morning and evening." The mover stated that he had put himself in communication with a gentleman of high scientific standing about this matter, and that he had sent him one of Browning's (London) catalogues. In it he found such a barometer as would suit them could be had for £2O. Mr. D. H. M'Kenzie seconded the motion, and thought that they should have a signal point to denote the rise or fall of the barometer. The chairman said that he had learnt during his stay in AVellington that the Government expected a supply of barometers, juiJ probably one would be sent Here. He had also learnt that the Government would not establish the storm signals for some time.—The motion was carried.

The residents of the Coromandel district, as .already reported by telegram, are anxious to be directly 2-epresented in the Assembly, and have prepared a petition which will, no doubt, in due course, be laid upon the table of the House of Representatives. The petition, of which a copy has been published, shows : " That the present entire electoral district of the Thames contains two chief centres of mining and commercial industry—those of Thames and Coromandel —which are situated 25 miles apart, and connected by water communication only. That the interests of these two centres are necessarily loss coincident than individual and separate, rendering a distinct representation in your honorable House indispensable to the interests of Coromandel. That the population of Coromandel will be found by census returns to be not less than 1954 persons, the great majority of whom are adult males. That of the twelve principal saw mills in the Thames district nine are situate in the Coromandel part of the district, producing annually timber to the value of £IOO,OOO. The export of gum for the past year being £25,000, while the ascertained shipments of gold have averaged £OO,OOO per annum, whereas ship and boat building, for which extraodinary facilities exist and have to a limited extent been availed of, are not present in these returns. That the great length of seaboard, with numerous harbors, extensive forests as yet almost untouched, mineral resource, and commanding commercial and geographical position of the Coromandel district are lying mostly waste and unproductive for want of that sufficient legislative representation and attention which would tend to their development and assist in relieving the burdens of the Colony at large." A mau named James Kenworth, a sawyer by trade, left the Wairoa on the 23rd nit., for the express purpose of proceeding to Auckland. He arrived at Riverhead, and after staying a couple of days, during which his conduct appeared strange, left with the avowed intention of walking to town. Not reaching it, however, his wife and child, who have been expecting his arrival, reported the matter to the police, and on Tuesday morning early Mounted Constablo Bullen was despatched to Riverhead and the district to endeavour to gain some' tidings of the missing man. Such information as was procured is thus reported by the Herald : —On Monday evening last, a madman was reported to have been seen in the vicinity of Lucas Creek. The man was stated to be in a state of nudity, and was observed crawling about the bush. To settlers who conversed with him ho gave the name of Kenworth, and stated that ho had- lately come from Melbourne. Early on Tuesday morning the police boat was despatched to Lucas Creek, and a constable left there to prosecute a search for the man. Foot marks have been discovered, and the constable assisted by the settlers, has been engaged in endeavouring to follow up the same. No intelligence has been received in town yet of the result of the search, but it is feared that by this time the poor fellow must have died from exposure and hunger.