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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4187, 21 August 1874, Page 2

The notices of motion having been postponed yesterday on the motion of the Premier, and the amendments of tho Legislative Council on the Inspection of Machinery Bill having been agreed to, tho adjourned debate on the resolutions on the subject of Provincial Government in tho North Island was resumed at five minutes past three o'clock by Mr. J. E. Brown, who supported the Government. Mr. Camngfcon followed on the same side, but without pledging himself to vote for the Bill that might follow until he had seen it; Mr. J. Shephard gave reasons for his intention to vote

for the resolutions ; Mr. Taiaroa thought the Premier deserved credit for bringing.in these resolutions, which he supported, and expressed a wish that they should apply to the Middle Island as well ; Mr. O'Neill followed, and stated that he would support the resolutions, and would have done so still more heartily if they had applied to the whole Colony. Immediately after the usual adjournment for dinner a division was taken, with the following result: —For the resolutions proposed by the Government, 41 ; for the previous question, 16. Mr. Vogel suggested that, after such a division, members might not be disposed to proceed with the ordinai-y business of the day. The House, however, desired to go on, and the ordinary business was disposed of.

An important question of order was brought before the House yesterday by Mr. Rolleston, (on the order of the day for the resumption of the debate on the resolutions proposed by the Government for the abolition of Provincialism in the North Island), who contended that the debate had been closed on the previous night, when the Speaker had taken the voices "aye" or "no," and the voices had said "no." According to " May," and the standing orders, there was nothing left to do but vote. Mr. Vogel reminded the hon. member of what had been the practice of the House for years past, and remarked that if the rules were to be observed with excessive strictness the discussions of the House would have to be conducted in a calmer and more orderly manner than they now were. The Speaker said that according to his view of the matter the debate Ttsis not closed, as the question was not fully put until the bell had been rang to summon members from the lobbies, and when the question was then put, and the voices had been taken, there could be no more speaking on the question before the House on the subject. The question had not been fully put on the previous night. After some further discussion the matter dropped. In answer to a question by Mr. Curtis yesterday in the House, Mr. Vogel stated that it was proposedby the Telegraph Department to extend a fourth wire to Christchurch, to lighten the work on the existing wires. It was also proposed to run a light line, by way of the present road by the Buller, to put Nelson in direct communication with the West Coast. That line would be to some extent a test line as to the value of light lines of telegraph. In reply to Mr. Rolleston, the Premier stated in the House yesterday that it was not considered desirable by the Government to lay on the table the correspondence between them and the Crown agents as to the negotiation of loans during the past year. Those communications were naturally of an unreserved character, and it was desirable that they should be so. For that reason it was not thought desirable to produce them. He might say, however, that the Government were perfectly satisfied with the action of the Crown agents. After the division on the resolutions proposed by the Government yesterday on the subject of Provincialism in the North Island, Mr. Vogel intimated to hon. members that the Government hoped to bring the session to a close in the course of the following week. Mr. O'Neill asked the Government yesterday if steps had been taken to place in possession of the Thames municipality the foreshore at Grahamstown and Shortland. Mr. Vogel could have desired that the question had not been put until the House had voted upon the resolutions before it. He had consulted Mr. T. B. Gillies, when ho was Superintendent of Auckland, and it was quite understood that the foreshore in question should be handed over to the Thames Municipality, but the present Superintendent had taken a different view of the case, thinking that the matter should be referred to the Provincial Legislature.

Mr. McGlashan informed the House yesterday that when he had informed the House on the previous day that the hon. member for the Hutt would speak at half-past seven o'clock on that night, he did so on the authority of that hon. member. Why the hon. member had not then spoken, he did not know. Mr. Macandrew explained yesterday that in ejaculating, during the speech of the Minister for Public Works, on the previous evening, that the Provincial Engineer of Otago was a man of very bad temper, he did so ironically, and with reference to a dispute between the Colonial and the Provincial Engineering department, iu which the Provincial Engineer was supposed to have shown some temper. That officer bore the very highest professional character, and he did not think there was another engineer in the Colony who could hold a candle to him. The remark was received with applause. The following particulars of the results of the sealing season-at the Snares, are furnished by the Southland Times: —The cutters Rosa and Pilot have returned from a sealing cruise to the Snares, after a very successful trip. Two parties, consisting of twelve men, landed from the above cutters on the 10th June on the Snares. After landing her party, the Rosa, sailed for Stewart's Island, and on the 25th June, in company with the Awarua, sailed' again to work the reef off the Snares. The Rosa's party succeeded in obtaining fifty-eight skins on the reef, and the Awarua's party seventeen skins. A lively competition seems to have been carried on between the crews of the Awarua and the cutters, as we find the Rosa watching the Awarua, and landing her men just where tho Awarua was bound to, and in the meantime the Pilot taking another crew to the next rookery, and in this way the cutters seem to have outdone the Awarua altogether. After assisting to work the Snares, the Pilot, with a party of two men, ran down to Preservation, where they succeeded iu picking up twenty-seven skins. The Rosa and Pilot left Stewart's Island on the 2nd inst. to bring the crews away, and after two attempts succeeded on the 6th. After an eight hours' run they arrived at the South Cape. They report having seen two large sperm whales off Port Adventure, on their way to the Snares, and further south they passed through a very large school of black fish, which, according to the statements of old whalers, denotes whales in the vicinity. The Rosa brings 477 skins, and the Pilot 503 skins, which have been disposed of to Mr. J. Waddel, of Bluff Harbor.

There is little additional news to that already published in • respect to the Greenstone rush. A traveller from that part who reached Hokitika lately, states that within the past day or two numbers of storekeepers have been visiting the ground with the view of establishing themselves in the neighborhood. We hear (says the West Coast Times J that already two of our business people propose starting branch stores there, and that a butcher and baker will be in full operation this week. The population continues to steadily increase, and few condemnations of the rush have yet been heard among those holding claims, which may be looked upon as favorable. It will take a week or two yet before it can be fairly determined whether the ground will carry an extensive population. The visit of Mr. Holloway to the Province of Taranaki is thus noticed by the local Herald of Saturday :—Mr. Holloway arrived in New Plymouth on Thursday evening last, by Cobb's coach. He was accompanied on his journey from Hawera by the Civil Commissioner (Mr. Parris), from whom he had an opportunity of learning the history of the whole district through which he travelled. Several influential gentlemen of the place waited upon Mr. Holloway yesterday morning ; and in the afternoon he, in company with the Deputy Superintendent, drove as far as Waitara. To-day being market day, Mr. Holloway will doubtless have an opportunity of making the acquaintance of several, who, n, few years back, arrived here (as they are not ashamed to own) " with scarcely-a shilling in their pockets," and are now well-to-do farmers. The Southland News states that the settlement at Martin's Bay is likely to,be abandoned, owing to the difficulty of saving grain crops, from the ravages of small birds and the effect of the prevailing wet weather. The benefit tendered at Christchurch by Mr. J. ]?. Smith, of the Combination Troupe, for the widow and orphans of the late lamented Captain Hart, yielded £4O. In Oamaru and Timaru liberal subscriptions are being made in aid of the same fund.

Twelve shillings per day are the wages offered to navvies on the Westport and Mount Rochfort Railway. We are requested to state that there will be no meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society on Saturday evening. The Criterion Hotel, Hokitika—at one time one of the most largely patronised houses in the Colony—is now being demolished. The Grif Company are now performing in the Wairarapa district. They have entertained large audiences in Greytown, and proceed thence to MasterWh.

There was a good house at the Theatre Royal last night, when the Loyal Troupe gave a change of programme, which was received by the audience with frequent and hearty marks of approval. The last new thing in linen-drapers' shops in Paris is a billiard-room for husbands and brothers to beguile away the time while their fair companions are making their purchases. A good lunch and glass of wine are also provided gratis. Mr. Hollo way, the representative of the Agricultural Laborers' Association of England, proceeded from Wanganui to Patea, and at Daniell's Albion Hotel he had an interview with a number of the residents of the district, regarding which a correspondent of the Herald says :—" In the course of conversation Mr. Holloway stated that he considered the Patea district the best part of New Zealand he had yet seen, and he hopes that at no far distant date he may be able to arrange for a special settlement in the district. I believe the Waimate plains is the spot that he would like to see surveyed in small blocks, and sold on the deferred payment system to a number of persons whom he would send out from England. He also made enquiries from those present as to whether wheat could be grown in the district, he having been informed in other Provinces that it would not grow in this Province. In reply he was told that before the Europeans settled in the district, the Natives grew a large quantity, and had several mills in different parts of the district; that the European settlers had not yet gone in for growing wheat ; that from the time the district had been populated by Europeans grazing had been the principal pursuit followed, the abundance of natural grass in the district having enabled the settlers to get a quick return for capital invested in live stock, but that now the district was more thickly populated, settlers are expending large sums of money to improve their properties. He was informed that a large quantity of wheat was grown every year at the New Plymouth end of the Province." The same correspondent says : —" Mx-. Holloway intends to have an interview with Tito Kowaru on his way up the coast if possible : he will then be able to tell his friends in England that he visited the rebel chief who in 1868 drove the Colonial Government forces from the district, but who has now settled down and is cultivating the land. Mr. Holloway was informed that the Native difficulty was considered settled in this district, and that even when there was a disturbance the settlers residing in the district did not trouble themselves so much about it as persons living a hundred miles from the place." A correspondent of the I/ytlelton Times gives the following description of a fish, seen lately off Plea Bay by a Greek sailor, named Dominique, and another man named Pierce, engaged in trading to the bays for produce : Whilst lying becalmed off the bay the attention of Dominique was called by Pierce to a fish which had just risen and made a noise like a man blowing water out of his mouth. It was seen to rise again straight out of the water and look into the dingy which was towing behind, and then settle straight down. It seems to have been a most curious thing from Pierce's description of it. Its head was something the shape of a horse's, but smaller, but very smooth and round on the top, and quite black, with very large white eyes, longish neck and broad shoulders; the shape of its I body was not seen, but it-had a tail something like a shark.. The tail was seen as it went underneath the dingy the first time. The harpoon was got ready in case it should have risen again, but after waiting some time for its appearance and not seeing it, they made sail for Akaroa. Both these men have seen seals of all kinds, and state positively that it was not a seal.

Some facetious young creature in Dunedin, anxious apparently to occupy the spare moments of ten to four and nine to five, is said by the Otago Guardian to have been amusing herself by soliciting private interviews with a favored few. Written on rosecolored and delicately-perfumed paper, and enclosed in envelopes of the prettiest pattern, the invitations, in many cases proved absolutely irresistible, as demonstrated by the punctuality of many of those selected by the fair correspondent. These gentlemen, however, originally delighted at being honored with so much feminine attention, are gradually becoming wroth because ten or twelve of them have met nightly at the same hour, always in the same place, and always without any satisfactory result. The manner in which Marlborough Province has been " settled" seems to have made as forcible an impression upon Mr. Holloway as it has upon every person who has visited it and realised its great resources.— now almost exclusively, and indifferently, utilised by the runholder, instead of being, as they well might be, and ultimately will be, an attraction to thousands of an industrious population. While at Patea, and in an interview with some of its settlers, as we learn from a correspondent of the Wanganui Herald, Mr Holloway " made some remarks about the way the Province of Marlborough is situated. He found that the land was in the hands of large capitalists, who owned from 40,000 to 100,000 acres each, which he considered was a very bad state of things. He would much rather see a class of small farmers who would improve what land they held, instead of large runs, which only required a man and dog to attend to a large extent of country." Mr. Luscombe Searell, who will be remembered in musical circles here as a pianist of some ability, has sent to the Canterbury Press a fantasia composed by him on Offenbach's air, "The Bold Gensdarmes," in "Genevieve de Bral>ant," which was made such a feature by the clever acting of Messrs. Kainford and Vernon during the opera season. The composition is an 'exceedingly brilliant one, the theme being embellished with very florid runs and crescendo passages. Mr. Searell has been very successful with it, a first, edition having been sold in a very short time ; and not only has he composed'several smaller pieces, but is about to produce an English opera, called " Constance," in Sydney. The fantasia under notice is dedicated, by permission, to Sir Hercules Robinson, Governor of New South Wales, and was played by the composer at the Exhibition Concert, in April last. The " Radical Reform League," of Nelson, seem to have a very wide scope of self-imposed duty. At a late meeting they discussed the Government of the Colony and the management of the Nelson Botanical Gardens, and of their last meeting the Mail says ; —"There was a very large meeting of members last night, and the discussion, touching the City Council election, was an animated ono. The doings of the late Executive, with regard to the gas and waterworks accounts, were severely criticised, and the taking over by the City Council in the manner done, instead of by valuation, was condemned. Several persons were mentioned for nomination at the next City Council election." A melancholy accident, whereby a man named Christian Lawson met with a most sud.den death, was lately reported by telegraph. It appears that the unfortunate man, who had been mining for some time past at Greek's Gully, went out shooting at nine o'clock, in company with his mate. They had got nearly up to Sandy Stewart's, at the junction of the lamplough track, when by some means or other the gun which was carried by Xawson went off, the contents entering under his oar, and blowing the back part of the skull right off. The poor fellow only lingered an hour or two, expiring about noon. The body was removed to the Waimea Hotel, at AVaimea, where an inquest was held.

A correspondent of the Nelson Colonist recommends the Government to assist in the planting of the larch as a tree which will materially improve the soil, and add largely to the wealth of the country.

" The Great World of London" is the name of a drama now being produced with some success at the Princess Theatre, Dunedin. It had been produced previously in Auckland. Mr. Utting is the author.

On Saturday, Mrs. Barnett, of Wakapuaka, was in a chaise cart near Mr. Hingston's store, in Waimea Street, when the horse got its leg down the hole of a drain. The trap was broken, Mrs. Barnett was thrown out, and sustained a severe fracture of the right arm above the elbow.

Commodore Goodenough, in reply to a toast in the Melbourne City Hall, referred to Sir Hercules llobinson as having borne testimony to the orderliness of the Melbourne people on a recent great racing event, when there were 40,000 persons present. He said it would take three hours' search on a good horse to find one man intoxicated.

A special meeting of the Greymouth Borough i Council has been held to consider a message from the Deputy-Superintendent of Westland, who had asked the Mayor, through Mr. Wickes, M.P.C, how many immigrants it would be advisable to send to Greymouth. It was resolved to send an answer recommending that fifty female servants, twenty-five farm laborers, and a few coal miners with families should be sent Business seems to be in a satisfactory state in Dunedin. The Guardian of a late date says: —Those who have been in the habit of reading the reports of the Supreme Court in Bankruptcy will have noticed that, as compared with the business disposed of . during the early part of this and previous years, that transacted recently has been very small. In alluding to the subject lately, His Honor Mr. Justice Chapman said the public were to be congratulated on the fact, and that the applications made to him on the present occasion were the result of pure misfortune. The physical enforcement of an argument appears to be becoming popular in the body known as the Borough Council of Holdtika. The occurrence of the following disgraceful scene is recorded by the West Coast Times : "It is not often that Borough Councillors come to actual fisticuffs, though such breaches of the peace are often reported as being imminent, but we regret to say that yesterday, at the conclusion of the special meeting of the Council, a fight took place between Councillors Barrett and Lynch. In justice to the latter we may say that the disgraceful affair was entirely and wholly provoked by Cr. Barrett. After the Council broke up, Cr. Barrett, without the least provocation on the part of Cr. Lynch, went up to him, seized him by the beard, and struck him on the face. Cr. Lynch immediately retaliated, and a straggle commenced, which resulted in Cr. Barrett being thrown against one of the tables, the two combatants holding each other by the hair and whiskers. Just at this time, when victory seemed to incline to the one attacked, Cr. Cassidy came up and separated them, with great difficulty. It took all his time, assisted by Mr. Hudson, of the Cleveland, to prevent a re-engagement, but after a while Cr. Barrett was persuaded to leave the room, and peace was re-established." 'As tending to show the remarkable aptness that Maoris in the North have for business transactions, says - the Otayo Daily Times, a barrister of the Supreme Court related the following anecdote :—He was drawing up a lease for his Maori client, and when reading it he came to the words "more or less," upon which the Native asked, " What is that ; more or less ?" The lawyer replied in explanation. "Then," said the Maori, "strike out the more, and leave in the less !" The l-acy manner in which the anecdote was told caused some fun in Court.