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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4185, 19 August 1874, Page 2

The adjourned debate on the resolutions proposed by the Government on the subject of j Provincialism was resumed yesterday in the House of Representatives by Mr. Macandrew, I who spoke briefly. He ,was followed by the Commissioner of Customs. The progress of the debate is recorded in another column. At the rising of the House the discussion was again postponed until to-day. The House of Representatives was engaged yesterday in a very solemn bit of business. It arose out of the petition presented by an elector of Waitematit against the return of | Mr. Von der Heyde. - A bar had been erected —very like a Brobdignagian towel-h'orse, or the head portion of a mbdern English bedstead —behind the centre cross-bench, and behind it [ again were two chairs, one of modern and the other of meduevel type, for the accommodation of strangers or prisoners—the strangers in the gallery were unable to decide which. Then the Sergeant-at-Anns was instructed from tho Chair to examine the precincts of the House, and, arming himself with the authority of a lethal weapon, in the shape of tho mace, he duly did so. Returning, and depositing the emblem of the authority of the House in its accustomed place, the Speaker mildly inquired whether any hon. member knew whether the petitioner was represented by counsel ? The lion, member for Dunstan ventured, in a mild whisper, to say that he thought counsel were in attendance. Thereupon the Sergeant-at-Arms was again instructed to make a voyage of discovery in the precincts, and he speedily returned, bringing under his convoy Messrs. Moorhouse and Buckley, in full professional robes, who took their stand behind the bedstead, the former representing the sitting member (Mr. Von der Heyde), and the latter the petitioner. The Speaker then invited Mr. Von der Heyde to name a member of the Select Committee about to be appointed to; take care of his interests. The hon. member named Mr. Reader Wood. Counsel for the petitioner was then asked to select a member to represent the petitioner, and Mr. Buckley responded, by naming Mr. R. J. Creighton. The Speaker next named Mr. Walter Johnston as chairman. It was then arranged that the Committee itself,, on the suggestion of Mr. Von der Heyde, Bhould be nominated at an early hour this forenoon. The gentlemen of the long robe were then informed that they had the gracious leave of the House to-.rotire: They did so, and this most solemn piece of business was over. ■ Appended to the statistics relating to health in the principal towns of the Colony, which we quoted on Monday, are the following remarks by Mr. W. R. B. Brown, the RegistrarGeneral :—" There has been very little difference between the number of deaths in June and July from zymotic diseases. The deaths from constitutional diseases were much less numerous in July, being 24 in June, and 14 in July—the deaths from phthisis having fallen from 16 to 9 ; but the deaths from local diseases have increased from 43 in June to 5.4 in July. The increases are chiefly in—diseases of the nervous system from 15 to 19, diseases of tho organs of circulation from 5 to 9, and diseases of the respiratory system from 13 to 16. I have again to notice the fact that cases of diptheria appear to be more prevalent in Ohristchurch and Dunedin than in the other boroughs. Of the deaths from that cause, and from cynanche maligna, 5 occurred in Ohristchurch, 2 in Dunedin. Of the 6 deaths in Hokitika, 2 were of twin children, from premature birth. The meteorological report exhibits again for last month an unusually heavy rainfall in Wellington, it being B'7B inches, against 5 - 12 inches for the same month in previous years, giving thus for June and July last a rainfall of 17'042 inches, against 10'419 inches for,the samfe two months in previous years ; whereas in Hokitika a decrease on the two months is shown from 21 '382 inches in former years to 13'120 indies this year." In answer to Mr. Williams, in the House yesterday, Mr. Vogel stated that it was expected the telegraph lino between Russell and Hokianga would be completed in February next. It would be 236 miles in length, and for its formation not fewer than 4700 telegraph poles were required. Mr. Richardson stated yesterday, in answer to Mr. Ormond, that the railway between Napier and Paki Paid would be opened for traffic in the course of October next. • Leave was given yesterday in the House to Sir Donald McLean to bring in an Act to amend the Volunteer Act 1865. • Mr. Carruthers, 0.E., who lately visited Hokitika, reports that the river there shows a dangerous tendency to leave its present channel alongside the town and'go over to the opposite side. He makes several recommendations with the object of preventing such a contingency?

The s.s. Otago reached the Bluff yesterday morning from Melbourne, on her usual monthly round voyage. The news she brings will be found in another column. The Otago is expected in Wellington.on Friday. The steamer Hero isexpected to leave Auck-_ land at noon on Thursday, the 20th instant. Telegrams for the Australian Colonies or Europe, via Java cable, will be received at the Wellington office for transmission to Sydney up till ten a.m. on that clay. Many persons will learn' with regret that Mrs. Wright, of Goatlmrst Farm, is very Beriously ill. Perhaps there is no one of the old Wellington settlers who is better known and more respected than this lady, whose kindness and hospitality.from the early days of the settlement until now have" been proverbial. It is sincerely to be hoped that her illness may yet take a favorable turn. The following is an approximate list of the immigrants expected to arrive at Wellington by the Strathnaver : —Married couples without children : 6 laborers, 1 railway waggon builder, 1 painter, 1 bootmaker, 1 carpenter, 2 miners, 1 blacksmith, 1 gardener, 3. farm laborers, 1 sawyer. Married couples with children : 9 laborers, 1 farm steward, 5 farm laborers, 1 pensioner, 1 painter, 1 blacksmith, 1 engine fitter, 1 baker, 1 mason, 7 miners, 1 gardener, 1 porter, 1 sawyer, 1 bricklayer, 1 fitter, 1 tailor, 2 bootmakers, i carpenters, 1 carman, 2 railway waggon builders. Single men :24 laborers, 1 painter, 2 bakers, 5 carpenters, 1 telegraphist, I bootmaker, 1 tailor, 3 masons, 4 sawyers, 4 miners, 1 shepherd, 1 saddler, 1 miller, 1 railway guard, 2 blacksmiths, 12 farm laborers, 1 railway waggon builder, 1 gardener, 11 lads. Single women: 14 general servants, 7 housemaids, 1 1 laundrymaid, 1 housekeeper, II young girls, 1 dressmaker. It was stated or suggested in a paragraph which appeared in a Wellington paper, on the clay, of Mr. O'Borke's retirement from the Ministry, that the House had been adjourned for a quarter of an hour for the purpose of enabling the Premier to have. an interview with the hon. member... A similar statement was telegraphed to the Canterbury Press. In that paper the following appears as a telegram from Wellington:—"Mr. O'Borke has resigned. There is an adjournment for fifteen minutes : it is supposed to enable it to be patched up." It is to be presumed that the "it" referred to was Mr. O'Borke's resignation, but up to that time, according to all' available evidence, he had not resigned, nor had he intimated his intention of doing so ; and we understand that the Premier's request for a short adjournment was made simply for the purpose of ascertaining the correctness of figures which he intended to quote, and had no reference whatever to the unexpected resignation of Mr. O'Korke. At the Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday seven drunkards were dealt with in the usual manner, and the following civil cases were disposed of :—Styles v. Taylor and Co., £5 10s. 9d.; a set off was put in and a verdict returned for the defendant, £1 3s. 3d. and costs. Asher v. Taylor, £lo—judgment for defendant and- costs. Stevenson and Another v. Wheeler, £2 9s.—order for amount and costs. —A considerable time was occupied yesterday in the hearing of a case of threatening language. The defendant was James Wilkins, who lately figured at the Supreme Court on a charge of attempting to poison a cow ; and the complainant, Mary Crouin, is the wife of one of the witnesses who were called for the prosecution, on the poisoning case. Mr. Ollivier appeared for the defendant and Mr. Allan for the complainant. Several witnesses were ■ called, , some testifying to the objectionable conduct of the complainant's, family, and others to the threatening language .of the defendant. The decision of the Magistrate was that Wilkins should be bound over to keep the peace for three months, in one surety of £lO. Several cases of drunkenness were dealt ,with, and other cases adjourned. In the civil business the two following cases were disposed of:— Murphy v. Belcher, £ll 10s. 6d. —order for amount and costs. Muir v. Stuart, £6 13s. 4d.; £5 had been paid into Court, and judgment was given for that amount, plaintiff to pay costs. A fine Clydesdale entire horse, Lord Baglan, arrived from the South by the s.s. Omeo. He is the property of Mr. Pritchard, of Dunedin. Lord Baglan is a dapple bay with black points, possessing great strength of bone and muscular power, of fine symmetry, and stands seventeen hands high. His pedigree is excellent, and he has gained numerous prizes at exhibitions. Two Clydesdale mares have also been brought up by the same steamer.

The members of the Wellington Literary Association met last evening in the schoolroom attached to the Presbyterian Church, Willis Street ; the Rev. Mr. Paterson being in the chair. Several recitations were given by members of the Association, and afterwards the rules brought up by the Committee were discussed and agreed to. There were upwards of fifty members present. A Thomdon resident, who signs himself " Health," writes :—" Is there any rule for the Wellington cemeteries as to the of graves? I passed through the Church of England one onFridayafternoon and sawan open grave, evidently, from the ropes across, ready for the reception of its tenant. I leaned over and touched the bottom with a walking cane. Further, the grave had been dug close to one of the walks where the ground has a natural slope, so that the bed of the grave would be about on a level with the walk, and I .should think not more than some two or three feet from the air. ■ Is this, from a sanitary point of view, a sufficient covering ?" A complimentary dinner was given at Donecker's Union Hotel last night to Captain Hauschildt, of the Hamburg ship Reichstag, by a number of the passengers by the ship, and of the residents of Wellington. About thirty gentlemen sat down to an excellent repast, served in host Donecker's well-known style. The room was tastefully decorated, the viands were enticing and choice, and the wines were of rare quality. Mr. Krull occupied the chair. After the edibles had been done full justice to, the 'usual loyal toasts were drunk, commencing vvith "the Queen." That of " King William" followed. " Prince Bismarck" was next toasted, and then " The Governor." Next came . " The Guest of the evening," which was given with musical honors. In proposing this toast it was made a point of congratulation that Captain Hauschildt. had commanded the first German ship direct to this port. Remarks of a very flattering nature characterised the speech, which was received most enthusiastically. The guest responded in fitting terms. The remainder of the evening was Bpent in a most pleasant manner in drink-' ing toasts, interspersed with songs and speeches, and the company separated after a very agreeable social meeting. Notice has already been taken of a collection of water-color views of New Zealand scenery, painted by Mr. W. M. Cooper, and now to be seen at the Colonial Museum. The collection has been referred to as containing views of the Mount Rochfort coalfield, but these form but a small part of the series. They include pictures of the scenery in nearly every Province of the Colony ; but the illustrations of the West Coast are especially numerous, and Mr. Cooper has selected some of the grandest scenes from Cape Farewell to Milford Sound, while faithful drawings of the centres of settlement 'have also been made. The collection is not only interesting but valuable, and had the Government known of its existence they probably would have made from it a selection for the purpose of publication among the views which are to appear in the New Zealand Handbook. They are so valuable by their accuracy, and the artistic taste shown in their selection and execution, that it is well worthy of their artist's consideration whether he should not endeavor to have copies of them made in chromo-lithograph or by such process as may be best suited to their reproduction. They would be certain to command a ready sale both within and beyond the Colony. There was a soiree at the Odd Fellows' Hall on Monday night, which was well attended, and passed off successfully. ; The entertainment consisted of glees, songs, chorußes, readings, &c, all of which were rendered most satisfactorily. Dancing commenced at ten o'clock, and was kent up with much spirit until a late hour, to the lively straina of an excellent band,