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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4151, 10 July 1874, Page 2

The session of the Assembly has not long begun when a personal grievance has cropped up, to bo brought under notice. In the House of Representatives, yesterday, the business began by the attention of the Speaker being drawn by the hon. member for Dunstan to a telegram of a most personal and insulting character, which had been sent from Wellington and published in the Auckland Even ing Star. The hon. member had certainly a right to complain of the language which appears to have been used to him. But Mr. Shepherd had no right to assume that the author of that telegram was connected with the press of Wellington ; and if it emanated from any “ correspondent” of the press at a distance, whose business is merely to telegraph sensational and probably false items, or to write highly-spiced letters, giving eccentric views of the proceedings of either House, we can only say—speaking for those who have the daily work of the press of Wellington to do—that we should be glad if the press gallery of the House of Representatives was in the control of the Speaker. The House of Representatives yesterday went into Committee of Supply, on the motion of Mr. Vogel. The committee agreed to recommend that supply should be granted, and the resolution was reported to the House. The Government ask for £250,000 —the same sum as waa taken last year, and the House will perhaps pass a Bill appropriating that sum to-day. A Gazette was published yesterday, in which it was notified that the Victorian Government had issued a proclamation placing all vessels that arrived from the Port of Lyttelton, in New Zealand, in quarantine, in consequence of small-pox being prevalent there. Also, it was notified that a treaty of commerce had been concluded between Great Britain and France, the provisions of which were notified. Mr. J. L. Gillies, in the House of Representatives, yesterday, moved that all the correspondence in the Ward-telegram case be laid on the table of the House. After some observations from Mr. Vogel, Mr. Fox, and Mr. T. B. Gillies—-alluded to elsewhere—the motion was agreed to. The papers will be laid before the House in a few days. We have been shown some samples of hematite paint, introduced into Wellington by Mr. George Pound, of Willis Street, who is agent for it, and from the appearance of it and the account given of its properties, we should think it will be an article greatly used in painting buildings, shipping, &c., as it is said to be more durable than lead or zinc paint, whilst the price is less. In Nelson Province, where the hematite is obtained, the paint is largely used, both on buildings and on the locally owned steamers, and its use is being greatly extended, with increasing approval as to its good qualities. To-night is announced as a fashionable one at the Theatre Royal, and a grand programme has been prepared by the Combination Troupe. Val Vose will introduce his greatest wonderful illusions, the talking hand and the celebrated mechanical talking head. New acts will also be performed by the other members of tho company, so that a particularly attractive evening’s amusement will be afforded to the numbers who should undoubtedly take advantage of the opportunity. It is understood that tho elite of Wellington and many members of Parliament will be present, consequently a bumper house may be anticipated. In answer to a question in the House yesterday, Mr, Vogel stated that it was not the intention of tho Government this session to bring in a Bill to alter the representation of the country. This Parliament had still another year to run, and tho subject was not one to be meddled with lightly, or because _ a few inequalities might exist, and these in the distribution of the representation.

Eighteen appointments in connection with the Public Works Department are gazetted. Ten of the gentlemen appointed are engineers. Inquiry is made, through the Colonial Secretary’s Office, respecting a person named John T. Sellers, formerly of London, who is supposed to have arrived in New Zealand in 1857 or 1858.

A committee has been appointed at Greymouth to draw up a memorial to the General Assembly, urging the necessity of expediting the prosecution of the contemplated harbor works at that port. It is intimated by the Acting-Minister of Justice that Mr. W. Bedlington, J.P., of Whangarei, has been appointed a Coroner ; that Sir Samuel Osborne Gibbes, Bart., J.P., has resigned his Coronership ; and that Mr. C. C, Bowen has been appointed a Visiting Justice of the prisons of Canterbury. It was incidentally stated in the House last night by Mr. T. L. Shepherd, that in a district with which he was acquainted a convicted sly-grog seller had been placed on the Licensing Bench—a step which, of course, he considered improper. The lion, member was asked to name, but remained silent.

We have to acknowledge receipt of a copy of a scientific work, which seems to have required a large amount of careful compilation —namely, “ A Catalogue of the Tertiary Mollusca and Echinodermata of New Zealand, in the Collection of the Colonial Museum.” The catalogue is prepared by the Assistant Geologist, Mr. T. W. Hutton, and is briefly prefaced by the Director of the Museum, Dr. Hector. It has been printed in the Government Printing Office, and in creditable style. It would be as well if the police •would continue their visits of inspection a little nearer Mount Victoria than they do. On Thursday, at mid-day, a drunken man fell over a perambulator nearly opposite the street turning towards the Te Aro Baths, and hurt the child propelling the little vehicle and also its inmate. A return, showing the amount of trade done between Tasmania and New Zealand in the last three years, was moved for by Mr. G. B. Parker yesterday. He saw, he stated, that arrangements were proposed or agreed to between these Colonies, and he desired some information as to their business relations. Mr. Reynolds suggested that the hon. member should see him at his office, when the fullest information on the subject would be placed before him. The hon. member accepted the suggestion, and withdrew lias motion. The following statement as to England’s wool trade with all places, and, from Customs Returns, in lbs., may be interesting to some of our readers : IMPORTS. 1840 ISSO 1860 1870 1871 1872 1873 50 74 148 259 319 303 813 Millions EXPORTS. 1 14 31 02 135 137 123 „ 49 GO IX7 167 184 IGG 100 „ All less than one million is not shown. ' In the Supreme Court, Nelson, in banco, on' the 3rd insfc., the case of Eyes v. Dodson, was the subject of a motion. On the motion of Mr. Pitt, who appeared for Mr. Dodson, of Blenheim, the defendant, a rule nisi was ordered to issue, calling on the plaintiff to show cause, within fourteen days after service of rule, why the judgment entered up by plaintiff in this action, and all the proceedings subseqnent thereto, should not be set aside.

The following is an approximate list of the immigrants expected to arrive by the Euterpe : —Married couples without children ; 4 laborers, 4 carpenters, X blacksmith, 1 painter, 1 plasterer, 1 railway guard. Married couples with children : 9 laborers, 4 farm laborer's, 2 bricklayers, 1 printer, 1 plumber, 2 brickmakers, 1 coppersmith, 5 blacksmiths, 3 carpenters. Single Men : 19 laborers, 5 lads, 1 bricklayer, 3 blacksmiths’ laborers, 1 policeman, 4 dairymen, 1 brickmaker, 1 rivetter, 1 baker, 1 'tailor, X painter, 6 carpenters, 3 blacksmiths, 7 farm laborers, 1 wheelwright. Single women : 9 general servants, 1 nurse, 2 dairymaids, 2 cooks, I housekeeper, 1 kitchen maid, 1 housemaid, 7 young girls, 1 seamstress. The following tenders were received at the Public Works Office, Wellington, for the Paki Paki contract, Napier and Waipukurau Railway : —Accepted : C. McKirdy, Wellington, £19,532. Declined : Oakes and Nathan, Wanganui, £21,877 ; Collie, Scott, and Wilkinson, Wellington, £21,903 ; W. Strachan, Wellington, £23,501; Brogdeu and Sous, Wellington, £23,773 ; H. McNeill, Palmerston, £24,840 ; Mackay and Monteith, Napier, £29,173. The Resident Magistrate gave his decision yesterday in the cases of the five publicans who were proceeded against by the police on the 2nd inst. for Sunday trading. Mr. Buckley, who appeared for Collins, whose case was only heard yesterday, asked that that publican might be allowed to make a state- -B ment. On the request being acceded to, 7 Collins said that on Sunday night, the 2Sth June, two men came into the hotel, and asked for brandy. He replied that he did not sell on Sunday ; but as they insisted, saying that they had been travelling about that night and it would do them good, he served them. They paid for it, and then said they were policemen. The Magistrate said that he had considered the case and the point raised for the defence at the former hearing, and had concluded against the defendants, who were fined £5 each.

Besides the decision on the Sunday trading, ' there were a few cases adjudicated on by the Resident Magistrate at his Court yesterday. One drunkard was brought up, but as he had,, not recovered from his intoxication he was remanded for a day. In a civil case, Sommerville v. Bell, £3 25., for breaking in a horse and one feed, 2s. had been paid into Court for the horse-feed, and the balance disputed on tho plea that the horse had not been properly broken in. The evidence clearly supported the defence, and a verdict was given for only tho amount paid in ; plaintiff to pay all costs. In the case of McEaohen v. Jackson, in which the plaintiff sued for £l6 damages sustained through failure of a contract on the part of the defendant, it appeared that McFachen had hired a horse from defendant, which, it was asserted, would draw a certain weight a given distance within a stated time. Plaintiff swore that the horse jibbed and was no good, thereby delaying him, and that consequently the goods that he waa conveying, being fish and other perishable matter, were completely spoiled, and ho now claimed for their value, loss of time, and cost of hiring another horse, &c. After hearing a good deal of evidence, a verdict was given for defendant, until costs. A meeting of trustees of the Greytowa Trust Lands was held at the Foresters' Anns Hotel, Greytown, on tho 3rd inst. Present : Messrs. Haines, Ivempton, Walker, Dr. Smith, and Mr. R. Lucas, chairman. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. An application was made by Mr. S. Jackson, for leave to transfer his lease of reserve town acre, No. 92, which was granted. An application was made by Mr. W. Smith, for the use (on certain terras) of the Town Hall, three hours one night each week, for the Greytown Quadrille Club. The secretary was instructed to reply, stating that as the trustees are about making alterations in the management of the hall, the consideration of Mr. Smith’s application is postponed till such alterations are made. In the mean time, tho quadrille club may occupy the hall on tho same terms as before. Tho secretary was instructed to write Mr. Braggins, asking him to name on what terms per night he will undertake to provide oil-wicks, lamp-glasses, and attend the lighting-up of the hall when required. The secretary was instructed to write Mr. W. Skeet, asking on what terms he will peg off the , Town Belt sections. Resolved : That notice be given to the Education Board to vacate the Greytown Public Hall, by August Ist at latest. Resolved ; That tho sum of £IOO be placed in the Bank of New Zealand by the treasurer, as a fixed deposit for three mouths. The chairman was instructed to see Mr. George Beetham, and arrange for the completion of purchase of the Town Hall. The payment of £6 for salary to the secretary was authorised. Resolved : That in future the meetings of the trustees be held in tho Wairarapa Institute, The meeting then adjourned.