Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4195, 31 August 1874, Page 4

Both Houses of Assembly met on Saturday, but the business was merely of a formal character, and occupied only a very short time. In the Lower House, the Hon. Mr. Reynolds made an explanation with regard to some remarks which had been made by the Minister of Justice (the Hon. Mr. Bathgate) during last session, having reference to the discharge of the duties of agent for the Curator of Intestate Estates by Mr. George Donne, J.P. Mr. Reynolds supplemented his statement by reading an official document on the subject of the remarks made by the then Minister of Justice, and both the statement and the document went to exonerate Mr. Donne from the insinuations which, under misapprehension, had been made against him. The explanation was specially made -with a view to its being recorded in. Hansard, in which the previous statement had been reported. Both Houses adjourned until 2.30 p.m. to-day, and it is understood that the prorogation will take place at 3 o’clock. A majority of the Canterbury and Otago members have already loft for their homes by the steamship Tararua; some of the Nelson members also sailed by the s.s. Taranaki ; and other Nelson and West Coast members will take their departure to-day by the s.s. Albion. The Auckland members left yesterday by the Luna. Shortly after eight o’clock on Saturday night two members of the Central Volunteer Eire Brigade reported to Captain Moss that their services had been called into requisition a short time previously in assisting to extinguish a fire which had taken place on the premises of Mr. B. Cohen, Willis Street. Captain Moss at once proceeded there, and examined the premises, and found that there had been a fire in a bedroom on the upper floor, and that the building had had a very narrow escape from being consumed. The are occurred through the carelessness of a servant girl, who had been in the room a short time previous with a lighted candle, a spark from which must have caught the curtains of the bed. There was no civil business dealt with at the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Saturday. The criminal portion disposed of was the dismissal of one charge of larceny, the committal of Eliza Rains to three months’ imprisonment on a similar charge ; one drunkard fined, and one assault case dismissed. This evening one of the cleverest companies that have ever visited Wellington will make their first appearance in the Odd Fellows’ Hall. They are the Californian Minstrels, and they include in their number not only some old acquaintances, but a number of artists who are new in Wellington, and who bring with them a high reputation. These minstrels bear the bell for talent. There is not the slightest doubt the company is the most talented that has yet visited the Colony, and we hope they will be appreciated as they deserve. On Thursday evening last a complimentary dinner was given by the members and exmembers of the Taita Volunteer’s to Lieutenant Welch on his retirement from the command, and the amalgamation of the corps with the Hutt Rifles. The dinner -was provided by Mr. Mountain, of the Traveller’s Rest Hotel, in first-class style. Apologies were tendered from Colonel Reader and Major Ludlam for their unavoidable absence. Mr. Milne, M.P.C., occupied the chair, and Mr. Ross the vicechair. After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts had been given and responded to, the chairman proposed the guest of the evening, and in doing so, reviewed that gentleman’s connection with the corps for the past ten years, and the interest and anxiety he had always manifested for' the prosperity of the company. He further said that private members of Volunteer corps had not the least idea of the arduous duties officers had to perform and the loss of time arising therefrom. Under the circumstances, the company had come to a wise conclusion in uniting with the Hutt Volunteers. Mr. Welch thanked them for the very kiild manner in which they had just drank his health and for the handsome entertainment provided for him. He was pleased to see so many gentlemen assembled to do him honor. He believed the time had been when the united Volunteers of the Hutt district had been the means of keeping peace and the possession of their homes, and if ever their services were again required by the Government the Taita Volunteers would come forward to a man. The chairman proposed “The Army and Navy" very impressively, and the toast was suitably responded to by Major Lockett.. Toasts and songs were the order of the evening, and the company retired about midnight, concluding with a vote of thanks to the host and and hostess for the very liberal provision made for their entertainment. Amongst the passengers who sailed for Melbourne by the Tararua was Miss Rosa Towers, the very popular and clever little actress who has, for some time past, so delighted and astonished New Zealand audiences. Miss Rosa goes to Melbourne to pursue her profession on the stage of that city. In doing so she enters upon a great undertaking ; but one which, from the talent she has already displayed, she may fairly be pronounced equal to. The Melbourne public, whilst being a critical one, and difficult to please, is one which readily recognises and appreciates talent. Under such circumstances this little lady’s advent may be looked forward to with confidence, as one which will prove highly satisfactory and successful. 'lt is simply impossible for any one of ordinary intelligence to ■ witness her performance of “ Grif ” and “ Tho Waif of the Streets ” without being more than pleased and forcibly struck with her rendering of two parts in which the comic and pathetic ■ are so peculiarly blended, and so faithfully represented. She is pretty; her manner is engaging ; and in addition to these advantages she possesses a peculiar and remarkable talent fitting her for the profession in which she has engaged at so early an age ; so her future promises to be a most brilliant one.

The Steele-Keogh Dramatic Company were passengers by the Ladybird from Dunedin to Christchurch, where they are again to perform for a season. Messrs. Cagli and Lyster’s Italian. Opera Company will visit New Zealand before the end of tho current year, arriving at Dunedin, and performing at the principal towns up the coast. . Miss Clara Stephenson, with a dramatic company including the comedian Mr. Newton, has lately given a series of performances at Eenwicktown and Havelock, in the Province of Marlborough. The thorough-bred horse Opawa has been sold by Mr. J. Murphy, of Marlborough, to Mr. Jackson, of Wanganui,'for stud purposes. He was bred by Mr. C. Redwood, and he won two races last meeting after standing the season, and obtained the second prize for thoroughbreds at the last Agricultural Show. Informers do not seem to bo appreciated in Melbourne. The Herald mentions the case of Mr. John Connor, a Good Templar, of Hothara, who obtained a glass of ale from a publican on Sunday, and then informed against him. The publican was fined, but Mr. Connor was mulcted in the penalty of £3 Bs. for having aided and abetted in the offence. A proposal is now before the Tasmanian Parliament to spend £SOOO upon the erection of a suitable residence for His Excellency the Governor of the Island, at Launceston. The Governor's residence is at present at Hobart To um, and the building is one of the handsomest in the Australian Colonies, A correspondent of the Lyttelton Times, who has been furnishing notes by the way during his travels to England and the Colonies, ■writes rather hardly of the Christchurch hotels and Dunedin bagmen. Regretting the retirement of an ancient hotel-keeper, he says : The question is, where to go t If you can put up with the “ .commercial gent” element, developed to the very worst degree, you can get comfort, cleanliness, and civility not far from the Bank of New Zealand. But the “ commercial gent” is rampant there ; he talks and boasts from morn till eve of the sundry “ lines” he has done ; he growls at meals about everything he sees before him. One would think he had been brought up in. the kitchen of a London club, instead of being, in all probability, accustomed for the best part of his life to the simple fare of ordinary middle-class people. He reminds me of a cook who has bought a new suit of clothes and gone out for a holiday. Your Australian travellers are, in the main, pleasant genial gentlemen ; but your Dunedin “gent”—well, he is a “gent.” If anybody has any ambition to emulate them, he has only to talk shop continually, ■with just. a smattering of indelicate remarks now and then about “ lady ” acquaintances, to offer to bet “ hats round” that he has done more “lines” that day than anyone else in the room, and above all, to be continually growling about the cookery without the slightest reason, and he may congratulate himself on having arrived at some degree of fitness for his vocation. Seriously, it seems strange that a town of such -pretensions as Christchurch should not possess a first-class hotel. The good ones seem full to overflowing, and there is ample room for more. I got used to the commercial gents as soon as I conk], and found, in all other respects, the hotel referred to comfortable and pleasant.

East Eriday night, says the Wairarapa Standard, a public meeting was held at the Foresters’ Hall, Masterton, at which most of the principal men in Masterton were present. Mr. A. Kenall in the chair. The subject for discussion was the desirability of starting a newspaper in this township. Messrs. Bright and O’Meara stated that the capital that they required to start it on would he £2OO. They would subscribe £IOO themselves if the other gentlemen in the room would subscribe the remaining £IOO, for which they guaranteed to pay 10 per cent., giving the plant, &c., as security. The money having been guaranteed by some of the gentlemen present, Messrs. Bright and O’Meara thanked the company, and hoped that in a short time they would be able to print the first copy of the Wairarapa News.

It is evidently a hopeless case with foot-ball in Wellington; and the supposed players, and would-be representatives of the place in that game, are apparently determined to make themselves appear in as ridiculous a position to the public as it is well possible to imagine. Not satisfied with making a farce of the practices, by the continued absence of almost all who would be likely to form a team for an interprovincial match, an announcement was made to the effect that a match—likely to prove an interesting one—would be played on Saturday afternoon; and the names of those who were to take part in the game, were published. The public, who attended in good numbers, waited until long after the appointed time, and were most effectually fooled and disappointed. Some sixteen players in all were present dribbling the ball about; and out of this number, there were probably not more . than three or four of the thirty whose names “■had been made public. The Wellington football players have, by this last neglect, put a damper on the game, the effect of which it will be most difficult, if it be desired, to rck move. CANTERBURY. A daily coach has been started between the Ashburton Railway Station and Timam. An accident occurred to the Hokitika coach on Thursday last. On the arrival of the coach from Hokitika at Kelly’s Creek, the creek was found to be very much swollen through the late heavy rains experienced on the coast. All the passengers, with the exception of one who remained on tho box with the diiver, crossed by the wire bridge. An attempt was then made to cross the stream, when the coach was washed down by tho strong current, the driver and passenger having a very narrow escape, and tho two leaders being drowned. The mails were washed-out of the coach, and one bag is missing. The driver had to send to Hokitika for another coach, and the passengers and mails arrived in Christchurch at two a.m. on Friday, the latter, as might be expected, soaked through. OTAGO. A [large portion of a superior farm, lately purchased by Mr. Lamach at Green Island, is now being surveyed into business sites and villa residences. The situation, says the Daily Times, is highly eligible, being intersected by the branch railway from Saddle Hill, and fronting the Main South Road. On his return from Melbourne, Mr. A. Brown contemplates surveying a large portion of his farm into villa residences near the station, and from its favorable position and proximity to coal, it cannot fail to attract purchasers. It is also probable that others whose lands are contiguous to tho Main South Road will place them ere long in the market for townships.

We are very glad to Bay, writes the Lake Wakalip Mail, that the anticipated heavy loss from sheep, owing to the iate unparalleled and protracted winter season and heavy snow falls, ia not likely to he realised. Old ewes have mainly suffered, and so have lambs. The "loss will be above the average of the usual winter ; but not so as to cause any alarm. The Cromwell Argus congratulates its readers on the astonishing number of buildings which have recently been erected, or arc in course of erection at Cromwell, the most important among them being a school-room, an Athemcurn, a Church of England; and a stone structure by Messrs. Hallenstein and Co. The latter building, when completed, will be the finest in the district. Tenders are also called for the erection of a district hospital, to cost about £9OO. Our contemporary says that, until lately, there was not a decent building in the town except the Catholic Chapel and the Post Office. Two years have now (says the Otago Times) elapsed since the Chain Hills tunnel lias been commenced, but such have been the unforeseen difficulties encountered at the approaches that comparatively little progress has been made. On the Dunedin side it will bo some months before the mouth can bo attained, in conse-. quence of the landslips blocking the entrance. On the Taieri side, however, better progress has been effected, the tunnel being substantially built with brick and mortar so far as it haa been excavated. On either side the rails

are laid down to tho works, and the dilapidated stone bridge over Abbot's Creek is being temporarily propped for the conveyance of a million of bricks, which have been manufactured on ground close to the station. By the time the tunnel is finished, however, it is very probable the line will be in full working order from the Taieri to the terminus. Another cargo of railway sleepers, of questionable quality—the product of the pine forests of Vancouver Island—has arrived m Dunedin in the barque Colusa. The Haily Times has it on good authority that such timber is never used by our American cousins for railway sleepers, the wood being too light and unenduring, and is moreover particularly susceptible to the evil influence of water. It very soon rota away in damp ground.