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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4166, 28 July 1874, Page 2

The mail steamship Pera, it is reported, had arrived at Glenelg with the English mails of the 12th June—six days before contract time —before the departure of the Tararua. If so, the s.s. Albion, with the mail, may be expected to reach the Bluff within the next thirty-six or forty hours. The principal business in the Legislative Council this afternoon will be, we presume, the motion of the Hon, Dr. Pollen, that he should have leave to introduce a Bill for the amendment of the Constitution Act. It is anticipated that in the House of Representatives, this evening, the chief business will lie in the adjourned debate on the State Forests Bill. The Ward-Chapman Committee of the House of Representatives held several meetings last week; and took the necessary preliminary steps to carry out vigorously the inquiry that has been entrusted to them. It is understood that Judge Ward has been required to appear before them, aud that he will arrive by the first steamer from the South, to answer to the summons of the committee. The committee apparently intend to sift the whole matter thoroughly. During a rather prolonged silence at the meeting on the licensing question last night, when everyone seemed waiting for somebody else to say something, the audience was suddenly startled by hearing a voice from the centre seats saying in persuasive aud plaintive tones,—“ I say, Mister Chairman, it you don’t move your Beer Bill alougalittle bit quicker, we shan’t get on our Beef Bill.” The gentle reminder evidently came from one deeply interested in a meeting of the Co-operative Butchering Society, which was to be held at the conclusion of the other, and who was anxious to “get on the Beef Bill.” “ I say,” quietly remarked some one in the front to a friend, “ I guess there are plenty here ’aiut in such a hurry to ‘ get on ’ their beef bill ; in fact, they’d rather ‘be off ’ it while meat is so high —in price.” Nothing further has been heard as to the intentions of the Maoris with reference to the use of the Oroua Bridge, in connection with which the outrage of Macdonald against the law had lately to he reported. Wo learn, however, that Mr. Young, the mail contractor, received a telegram yesterday, requesting him to reserve the whole accommodation of the down-coach to-day for a party of influential Maoris, -who will arrive in town this evening, and whose business with the Government —for they come to see the Native Minister—is as to their claims, and the read and bridge in question. A meeting of the members for Westland of both Houses of Parliament was held in the Parliamentary buildings yesterday forenoon, to consider how the interests of the district they represented were affected by the Ministerial statements as to finance and public works. A meeting of the members for the province of Nelson was held in the afternoon with the same object. At both meetings a programme was agreed upon, which will be submitted to the Premier. By the s.s. Otago the Bauk of Now Zealand, it is understood, received from the Melbourne Mint twenty thousand pounds iu sovereigns and ten thousand pounds iu half sovereigns. Change for notes has been so scarce here for some time that the announcement will be received with pleasure. It would have been still more gratifying, however, if a supply—still more needed—had been received of the “ imperial boh,” the “nimble uinepenoe,” and the “imperceptible sixpence,” for silver coin is most disagreeably scarce iu this city as a medium of exchange. Y\ e may add a hope that we may escape a visitation from a dangerous counterfeit, which is reported to have gone into circulation, not only in Loudon, but also iu Sydney and Melbourne. It is described as “ a small brass counter, bearing upon one side the Queen’s head, aud upon the other the representation of a woman seated at the table, encircled by the legend ‘ Keep your temper,’ which must seem very sarcastic to the person who takes the counter for a sovereign.”

It was omitted to be mentioned, in briefly noticing the proceedings of the Wellington Philosophical Society on Saturday last, that among the articles lately presented to the institution there were exhibited some really magnificent specimens of tin ore from Queensland, obtained by the Hon. Mr. McLean during his recent visit to Australia, and presented by that gentleman to the Museum. We are requested to notice that the adjourned meeting of the Co-operative Cattle Dealing and Butchery Society, will take place this evening, at the side-room in the Odd Fellows’ Hall. It was unavoidably postponed from yesterday. We regret to learn that up to the present time not a single application has been made to the Secretary for tickets for the proposed course of lectures on Zoology, to be delivered by Mr. Kirk, F.L.S., in connection with the Wellington College, and that in consequence of this apathy the idea has been abandoned. This certainly is not a healthy sign in a city like Wellington, where so many young men have the evenings to themselves. Notwithstanding the announcement that the play to be performed was “ A Story of Australian Life,” and that the story was “ Grif,” and that its author was Mr. B. L. Far jeon, the Theatre Royal was not crowded last evening. The wonder was that anybody hut the performers was present. The weather was such as to deter anyone but the most severely stage-struck from severing himself from the amenities of the domestic hearth, the hack parlor, or the bar. There was heavy, steady rain, sufficient to damp clothes and ardor. In spite of these circumstances there was a good attendance, and there were frequent and warm expressions of satisfaction with the performance. It- is not possible to criticise fully a performance partially seen, or to compare it with the story upon which it is based, hut, to judge by what was seen of it, the dramatist has done his work well, and has produced the elements of a plaj which, for its perfect success on the stage, requires only good performers. In most of the parts, last evening, this excellence was exhibited ; and it is doubtful if there could be found a colonial company capable of producing the play more effectively than that which has been collected by Messrs. Burford and Towers, Mrs. Towers, Mr. Burford, and Mr. J. P. Hydes, were especially good in the representation of character, and Miss Rosa Towers showed more capacity for acting the part of “ Grif" than could have been expected from a girl of her years. She realised the character much more than her tutor, or her tailor, who dresses “ Grif ” in the highest style of low comedy costume. 'Mr. Kemp, as scenic artist, contributes much to the success of tlie play by the presentation of several admirable scenes, and he deserved, what he did not receive, a call to the front. The drama will be repeated this evening, and, with anything like fail- weather, should attract a large attendance. The steamer Paterson, as she lies wrecked in the Waitara, was submitted yesterday to public competition by Mr. Wallace. Though the attendance was numerous the sale nearly proved a fiasco, Giving to the particulars as advertised being in the first instance departed from. The lot, as read by the auctioneer, excluded her spars, sails, anchors, chains, steering wheel, ropes, and boats —an announcement which was received with derisive laughter. Mr. Hunter, on behalf of the Insurance Companies, protested against the steamer being sold in such a manner, as it was calculated greatly to depreciate the property. Mr. Johnston said that he had been instructed to hid up to a certain figure for the steamer as advertised, and her not being so sold devolved an amount of responsibility on him which he would rather not undertake. Several other gentlemen intimated that they ivere in a similar position. It was then decided to sell the lot as read. It was put up by the auctioneer at £IOOO ; an advance was made of £SO, when the bidding flagged. After a conference with Mr. Billing, the auctioneer announced that it had been determined to sell the lot as advertised. This seemed to give great satisfaction. The bidding started at £IOSO, and rose rapidly by fifties until £3300 was reached, at which figure the lot was knocked down to Mr. Johnston, for Messrs. Levin and Co. A preliminary inquiry was held yesterday, before Mr. McKellar, Collector of Customs, into the circumstances touching the collision between the steamer Manawatu and the brigantine Kate Brain, which occurred on the night of Monday, the 20th inst., as the former was leaving and the latter entering this port. Captain Edwin was present as Nautical Assessor, and Mr. Quick appeared to. watch the proceedings on behalf of the master of the Kate Brain. The evidence of the officers and some of the crew of each ship, was taken, and a report on the affair will now be sent in by the Collector to the Commissioner of Customs, The proposed conference of the Education Board with the Provincial Executive, yesterday, lapsed owing to the impossibility of obtaining a quorum. Two of the members who were to have formed part of the deputation were unavoidably absent. This fact was communicated by the secretary to the Superintendent, who expressed his regret at being unable to grant them a conference before Monday next. It is to he hoped that then a sufficient number of members of the Board will he able to attend, as its usefulness is greatly impaired by its present unsatis. factory financial position.