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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5419, 9 August 1878, Page 2

A very handsome and successful entertainment was given'last evening by his Worship the Mayor and members of the City Council, by way of house-warming, on the occasion of opening the new Muncipal Council Chambers-. His Excellency the Governor, his Ministers, many members of both Houses of the Legislature, as well as the delegates of the several Municipal Councils of the colony, wore amongst the guests.

In the Legislative Council on Tuesday, the Hon. Captain Fraser asked, without notice, if the Colonial Secretary would inform the Council whether it was the intention of the Government to afford to the Assembly the opportunity of presenting an address to the Imperial Prime Minister, Lord Beaconsfield, on the successful issue of the late European Congress at Berlin. The Hon. Colonel Whitmore is reported to have replied as follows : “ I may state, air, that a few days since the Governor, at the request of the Ministry, applied to Earl Beaconsfield for an official intimation of the result of the late European Congress. The Governor has not yet received an answer. As soon as it is received, the Government will be prepared to lay certain proposals before the Legislature." The announcement appears to have been received with an expression of great satisfaction by the Council.

In all probability the Municipal Conference will terminate its business to-ilay. During its sitting the members have gone very carefully through the different clauses of the Municipal -Corporations Act, and suggested a variety of amendments.

Many bon. members still proclaim their inability to hear what is said by the members of the Government, If it is difficult for those on the floor of the House to catch the utterances of the Ministry, how much more difficult must the task be to the reporters, when it is considered that Ministers when speaking turn their backs to the gallery ? Should the question of erecting new Houses of Parliament crop up in the future, it would be well to consider whether it would not be advisable to follow the example of the French and erect a tribune, into which hon. members must go when they wish to address their brother legislators. A provision of this kind might have a beneficial effect in more ways than one. Under existing circumstances there would be less cause for complaint if members of the Government would only take a leaf out of Mr. Barff's book, and comply with the very frequent request that is made to “speak up."'

Daring the discussion on the Alcaroa Railway Bill last night Mr. McLean pointed out a strange inconsistency in the conduct of the Premier and his colleagues. When in opposition they were never tired of talking about the impropriety of giving powers to the Governor-in-Oouncil in local affairs, but now, according to Mr. McLean, every Bill of a local character yet introduced contains clauses giving large powers to the Governor-in-Council.

A meeting of persons interested in the pro* pased railway line to the West Coast-was held in the office of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon. Mr. Travers, who convened the meeting, spoke at some length On the subject, giving it as his opinion that a company could easily be formed in' England to carry out the work. After a good deal of discussion had taken place a committee was formed to wait on the Government and report in a fortnight to another meeting to be held on the subject. Some amusement was caused in the Legislative Council yesterday by a provision in the Dog Registration Bill. It is therein provided that a dog shall bo killed or destroyed. Sir Dillon Bell wished to know how tho dog was to be killed after it was destroyed. But, said Sir Dillon, with a mild compliment to whoever drafted the measure, the gem of the Bill was iu the 36th clause. There it was carefully directed that the dog should be killed or destroyed by hanging. The hon. member deprecated such useless verbiage, when tho words that the animals should be destroyed would have served all the purposes intended. At the Supreme Court yesterday the arguments on the demurrer raised in the action Kawatini v. Kinross were proceeded with. The action was originally brought to recover rent under a lease, and it was alleged that this lease was void, another lease having been sub-, stituted for it, and that this was nob only a lease but a mortgage ; and that it was not. stated in the declaration that the requirements in the Native Lauds Act in such case made and provided had been complied with. The arguments were purely on points of law. At the conclusion of-the arguments the Court reserved judgment. The Attorney-General and Mr. Beil appeared in support of the demurrer, and Mr. Travers, Mr. Conolly, and Mr. Chapman on the other side. The plaintiff in the action, it appears, died on Saturday last, but • the Court has no judicial'knowledge of the' fact. Whether this will put a stop to tho action, or whether it will survive to plaintiff's successors, remains to be seen. The following cases, which are also demurrers raised in actions against European holders of land at Hawke's Bay, purchased or leased from natives, were postponed, pending judgment in the above case Te Ringauolm v, Sutton ; Tahiti v. Kinross ; Waiholo v. same ; Kapo v. same ; Ikahiki v. same ; Te Hapuku v. same; Kavvatini v, Sutton. Councillor Macdonald will move the following notice of motion at the City Council today : —That sub-section 3 of clause 1 of Public Work's Committee's report, adopted 16th May, IS7B, as under,be rescinded : “Thatthe parties applying for permission as aforesaid, undertake that no buildings, now or hereafter, shall be built at less than 66 feet from each other, or from other buildings measured perpendicularly across such court or alley." The Wellington Artillery Volunteers have decided to hold their annual ball at an early date, and a committee for making tho necessary arrangements has been formed. At a meeting held last night all preliminary matters were dealt with, but it was found impossible to finally fix the date or place at which the event is to come off, as it is not known whether permission can bo obtained for tho use of the Provincial Hall for the purpose. There appears to bo a difficulty in obtaining a room suitable in all respects for a ball hero, notwithstanding tho number of theatres and halls well adapted for other entertainments.

Anyone who has had experience on diggings’ townships, will recollect the sudden way in which the roadway, or it might be perchance some valuable building, subsided in a mysterious manner. These “ accidents” were frequent at ono time, and wore the result of the attempt to satisfy the thirst for gold at all hazards. There is a subsidence in Manners-street, however, which has a different cause, and is due to 11 improvements.” A new box dram has been put down, and the clay has been so carelessly thrown back that it has sunk some distance, causing the footpath to follow. It is to bo hoped that the contractor for this work has not been paid, and that he will not bo, A fancy dress ball was held at the Princess Theatre last night. As those present wore there by invitation the company wore very select, and the whole affair was a great success. Some of the dresses worn by the ladies were very handsome, and showed a considerable amount of taste on the part of the fair wearers. Dancing commenced about 10 o’clock, and was kept up with much spirit, until an early hour this morning. The music was excellent, aud the affair was in every hiay a most successful one.

There was only a very short sitting at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Alfred Thompson, aliaa “ Tubby,” was charged with stealing a watch, valued at from Ihomas Walker. After some preliminary evidence had been taken Sergeant Smith asked for a remand, which wa* granted, .

Hon. members who are interested iu the. General Assembly ball will hold a meeting in Bellamy’s on Monday next at 11 a.ra. Mr. Barton presented a petition yesterday from the Wellington G.is Company against the To Aro Reclamation Bill in its printed form.

A solemn requiem mass will be celebrated iu St. Mary’s Cathedral at 7a. in,'on Saturday next for the repose of the soul of the late Mary Cathriue. The funeral will take place immediately afterwards. Information has been received from Napier that Kawatini, the plaintiff in the case of Kawatiui v. Kinross and others, now before the Supreme Court, died somewhat suddenly on Saturday last. A somewhat sharp shock of earthquake was felt here yesterday morning about 8 o’clock. By reference to our telegrams it will be seen that the shock was felt in various other districts, but it appears to have done no material damage anywhere. We understand that Mr. Hoskins will appear at the Opera House, accompanied by Mrs. Hoskins and company, on the 17th inst., and will probably remain here about a month, when he will leave for Sydney. This is stated to be bis farewell tour prior to his retirement from the stage. Workmen are busily employed getting the tramway passenger carriages ready for use. One of them was finished yesterday, and shows what commodious and handsome' carriages they are. There can be very little doubt that as soon as the lino is open for traffic it will be largely patronised by the public. Anniversary services in connection with the Congregational Sunday-school, Courtenayplace, will be held on Sunday. The Rev. P. Trivett will officiate in the morning and the Rev. W. J. Williams in the afternoon. In the evening the Rev, W. H. West will deliver an address to parents. On Thursday evening next there will be a tea and public meeting, when addresses will bo delivered by several clergymen and laymen.

The following tenders have been received for the erection of the new Presbyterian Church (St. Andrew’s) :—Scoular and Archibald, £3937 (accepted) ; John Baird, £5850 ; John , McKenzie, £4435 ; Barry and McDowell, £4185 ; Valentine £6IOO ; James Russell, £5150 ; Murdoch and Rose, £4790 ; James Wilson, £4271 ; James Lockie, £4025.

A coroner’s inquaet was held at Porirua on Wednesday last on the body of David Brown, jun., a youth about-seventeen years of age, who was drowned in Porirua Bay on Monday evening last. The Coroner (Dr, Johnston, of Wellington) having sworn the jury, Mr. Geo. Goldfinch was elected foreman. Mr. David Brown then gave evidence, stating that he last saw his son alive on Monday afternoon about three o’clock in his own house. At about four o’clock he was in his garden, when William and Henry Harris came running to him, and asked if any of his children were out in a boat, as they had seen some person iu a boat off the end of Long Point who appeared to be in difficulties-. Hr. Brown said he was not aware of any of his children being absent, but he immediately sent for Mr. Hill, one of his neighbors, who was au experienced boatman. Iu the meantime he aud Mr. Harris launched his boat, and as soon as Mr. Hill arrived they all started to render what assistance they could. When they arrived upon the spot they could not at first see anything; but after searching for some time they discovered an old punt swamped and floating bottom upwards. They dragged it on shore, and then searched for the body, bub were unsuccessful. Mr. Brown then sent for the assistance of some fishermen, who came with their net, aud at the third cast of tho net they succeeded in dragging tho body to shove, about six o’clock iu the evening. Mr. W, Harris and Mr. Hill gave evidence which corroborated what Mr. Brown had said, and the jury gave their verdict that David Brown, juo., met his death by being accidentally drowned in Porirua Harbor on Monday evening last.